into one Opinion that thereby no reason given to the House their Restraint was an Arrest of the whole Body and a breach of Priviledge must needs follow which was so remonstrated to the King and they therefore released But what ground â—r Presidents had the Judges a late law of their own making for it is well observed That in the Parliament 35. Eliz. Sr. Peter Wentworth and Sr. Henry Bromley by petition to the Upper House to be supplicants with them of the Lower House unto her Majesty for entailing the succession of the Crown the Bill being drawn by them These two were summoned before Sr. Thomas Henage one of the Privy Councel and commanded to forbear the Parliament and to stand secured to their Lodgings and after further examination before the Councel were committed Wentworth to the Tower Bromley and other Courtiers to the Fleet. Another instance Mr. Morice Attorny of the Dutchy of Lancaster for moving against the justice of the Courts of Ecclesiastical Iudges Subscriptions and Oaths was taken out of the House so saith another Authour and committed to Prison for whose release Mr. Wroth humbly moved the House to be petitioners to her Majesty But was answered That the Queen must not accompt for actions of Royal Authority which may be of high and dangerous consequence nor can it become them to search into the Prerogative of Soveraigns These Members were five in all and might have been Precedents for the King and his five Members in due place hereafter But this course now taught the Lords to resent the like indignity to them in the Earl of Arundels case who lay committed to the Tower as before said and so they would sit still without motion to any matter till that he might be reâ—admitted which was instantly done To ballance with the Dukes Enemies Three Persons his confederates were made Barons to compeer in the Lords House the Lord Mandevil the eldest son to the Earl of Manchester created by Patent Baron Kimbolton Grandison son to the created Baron Imbercourt and Sr. Dudly Carlton made Baron Tregate being newly returned from his Trade of seven years Leiger Ambassadour abroad in Venice and Holland But it is said That the Lords found out an Old Order to Counter checque that designe That no Creations sedente Parliamento should have power to vote but onely to sit Not to Iudge but to learn to understand during that Session so that their Suffrages were excluded But I am assured of the contrary for they sate and voted Hence it is truly observed That in the late Parliament 1640. Seymor Littleton and Capel were so created sedente Parliamento and Digby Rich and Howard of Charlton called by special Writ were also admitted their votes and afterwards the last of the nineteen Propositions to the King at York for the King to passe a Bill to restrain Peers made hereafter to sit and vote in Parliament unlesse with consent of both Houses To which the King absolutely refused But however they were admitted the Duke was put to his own Innocency partially stiled impudency and lodges injustice on the Peers whose ill opinion he sayes deprest him and partial affection elevated the other who received the Attornies charge with undaunted spirit and returned so home an Answer as the House was amply satisfied of which take his own so saying for we hear not a word more nor other of it than that he saies so But the Dukes defence came quick to the Lords the eighth of Iune Who he sayes sequestered him from the House until his cause was determined upon which he was much dejected when really of himself he had forbore the House And therefore this morning had resolved to send it but was advised to present it himself which we shall finde to this purpose The Commons Impeachment and Declaration against the Duke of Buckingham FOr the speâ—dy redresse of the great evils and mischiefs and of the chief causes of those evils and mischiefs which this Kingdom of England now grievously suffereth and of late years hath suffered and to the Honour and Safety of our Soveraign Lord the KING and of his Crown and dignities and to the good and welfare of his people the Commons in this present Parliament by the authority of our said Soveraign Lord the King assembled do by this their Bill shew and declare against GEORGE Duke Marquesse and Earl of Buckingham Earl of Coventry Viscount Villers Baron of Whaddon great Admirall of the Kingdoms of ENGLAND and Ireland and of the principalitie of Wales and of the Dominions and Islands of the same of the Town of Calais and of the Marches of the same and of Normandy Gascoigne and Guyen Generall Governour of the Seas and Ships of the said Kingdoms Lieutenant Generall Admirall Captain Generall and Governour of his Majesties Royall Fleet and Army lately set forth Master of the Horses of our Soveraign Lord the King Lord Waâ—den Chancellour and Admirall of the Cinque-ports and of the Members thereof Constable of Dover Castle Iustice in Eyre of all Forests and Chaces on this side of the River of Trent Constable of the Castle of Windsor Lieutenant of Middlesex and Buckingham-shire Steward and Bailiffe of Westminster Gentleman of his Bed-chamber and one of his Majesties honourable Frivie Councel in his Realms both of England Scotland and Ireland and Knight of the most noble order of the Garter The Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences Crimes and other matters comprised in the Articles following And him the said Duke do accuse and impeach of the the said Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences and Crimes ARTIC I. The Duke 's 1. Reply THat he the said Duke being young and unexperienced hath of late years with exorbitant ambition and for his own advantage procured and engrossed into his own hands severall great Offices both to the danger â—f the State and prejudice of that Service which should have been performed in them and to the discouragement of others who are thereby precluded from such hopes as their virtues abilities and publique employments might otherwise have obtained THat his late Majesty did of his own Royal Motion bestow them upon him and he hopeth and concieveth he may without blame recieve what his bountiful Master conferred upon him if the Common-wealth doth not suffer thereby Nor is it without precedents that men eminent in the esteem of their Soveraign have held as great and many Offices as himself But if it shall be proved that he falsely or corruptly hath executed those Offices he is and will be ready to resign them with his life and fortunes to his Majesties dispose II. Reply 2. That in the 16. year of the Reign of the late King he did give and pay to the then Earl of Nottingham for the Office of Great Admiral of England and Ireland and of the principality of Wales and Generall Governour of the Seas and Ships of the said Kingdomes and for the surrender of the said Offices to the intent the said Duke might
long here retarded his service of Lieutenant of Ireland commissioned the Earl of Ormond Lieutenant General of the Forces there and presently after he received a confirmation of that charge from the King in Scotland together with the sum of twenty thousand pounds in Spanish pieces of Eight which passed there in Ireland for four pence more in each piece which the Merchants had for assuring the Money thither and all landed safe when upon the one and twentieth of November News came that the Rebells were in March and in sight of Tredagh which expected a present Siege to whom some small Relief was sent Novemb. 17. The Mill Mount in the Town of Tredagh the most defensive for the Guard of Meath side was fortified with four Guns The whole County of Louth scarce a Gentleman that was not a Papist excepted were drawn into this Conspiracy so that they were beset on that side of the Town Northward with five thousand or as their own List reported eight thousand The Infection spread over the Town One Stanley a Parliament Burgess there and created a Captain and many others nay the Sheriff of the County revolted Knight of the Shire also from us to Rebellion He with Stanley were used Commissioners from them to the Town upon pretended Treaties but to espy upon our Actions who were received not amiss as to protract time They pretended to Accommodation in respect of their Estates in the Town professing extraordinary affection to the Lord Moor advising him to retreat to his house Mellifont or any of their Castles where his Father lived secure during Tyrone's Rebellion and proffered him to be their General of all Meath and Louth and satisfaction forthwith to him and his Tenants for any Detriments this they did to draw from the Protestants such a noble and right faithfull Commander And so much cunning the Conspiratours used every where at the first that the State had sent aid into several Counties even unto such as proved Enemies which were understood by the Lord Moor and prevented in their way above more than a thousand Arms. The Lord Gormonston by petition procured five hundred Arms to his own house for securing of Meath which the Enemy waited to surprize but was discovered and the Arms brought to Tredagh by the Lord Mainman with a Fortnights pay for the Regiments which served them for twenty Weeks after The Parliament now drawing on the Lord Moor came to Dublin making most noble offers to raise six hundred men more Clothes and Pay till Supplies from England conditional that the four Companies in Tredagh not yet affixed to any Regiment might be added to his command there to make up a thousand by which Dundalk Aberdy and the whole County of Louth might have been secured but this not accepted yet the very offer being publick the Rebells thereat enraged took opportunity likewise of his absence and plundered his Estate to the purpose He was the onely Protestant Lord of the Pale except the Earl of Kildare and the Lord Hoath It was of a Sunday November 21. in the Morning that Mellifont three Miles off was beset and therefore two hundred Foot and a Troop of Horse was commanded out of Tredagh to aid the Forces there already when the Enemy marches down Tallihascot Hill with a thousand which gave a stop and the Men designed were staid in expectation of the Enemy to fall upon the Town which proved but to divert whilest fifteen hundred from several parts were drawing towards Mellifont The Forces there were but four and twenty Muskets and fifteen Horse some Servants and two Scouts abroad one of them cut off the other pursued to the Gates with a Note in writing from Mac Mahon directed to the Warders of the House to surrender upon Quarter and withall a Bullet for a Token The Quarter-master of the Troop boldly bid his Master do his worst they would never yield to Traitours The Enemy was lodged on the top of the hill their foot by marching over the Garden sides in multitudes whom those few from the house forced to retreat four or five times and ere long killed 140. and might have been made up to many hundreds had they not wanted powder having but six shot a peece cutting their bullets in halfes and to make even with their powder rammed in five or six together and did great execution Not a Man lost till all their powder was spent At their entrance the Serjeant did his best with his Halbert thrust some through others their braines broken out These at last yielded upon quarter whom yet they threw out of the window the horse unable to hold out opened the Gates made a desperate charge through the thickest and came safe to Drogheda The Enemy slew in all thirteen And one the next day being alive with fourty wounds they hacked him to death with their skeens An old Gentleman of eighty years they seized to shew them the house who brought them into the wine cellar and having well drunken they run him through and so to another blind Man they cut his throat so inraged they killed the dogs plundered and defaced the house to the loss of 2000. l. stripped the women and so departed so did another ruder rabble of the Tenants devastating all in one night And yet after all this the Lord Moor authorized by Parliament to treat with them they proffered to him all assurances of satisfaction on his part if he would turn to their side offered a Cessation till a Messenger might be â—ent to the King but all their pretences were feigned talking of the Kings prerogative That the Lord Deputy might be of their own Nation of their own pressures to have freedom of Religion which they alwaies confidently avouched confessing that their Priests and Fryars instigated them to this Rebellion as indeed was too true There was a rumour that O relies having taken Kebs Abracen and the Navan advanced from the County of Cavan towards Tredagh whereupon the State sent supplies thither but miscarried The two and twentieth of November 600. foot and 50. horse seâ— out of Dublin towards Tredagh marching but six miles that night to Swores and had advice to hasten thither the next day accordingly the Governour issued out with a sufficient force of foot and horse to meet them but in a Mutiny the other souldiers would go no further than Balradbury six miles more the next day somewhat on this side the bridge of Gillingstone in a great stubble field they were met with 2000. of the Enemy and in a fog were within Musket shot ere diâ—cried The Captain drew up the Rebels making a stand did so also And although his men seemed forward to fight yet commanded a Counter march in which compelled to take a ditch the Enemy misjudging it a flight began to shout which so afrighted them into confusion that they were charged and the most slain Two Captaines killed and the other three in all with one ensign escaped the 50.
with Mr. Hotham who was in ill case to continue but must be forced to retreat to Hull The Forces of the West in Cornwall for the King began to form into a Body near Pendennis Castle the Governour thereof Sir Nicholas Slaning a gallant Gentleman and assisted 〈…〉 others Sir Bevil Greenvile who possessed themselveâ—â—â—aunston the County Town of Cornwall but not long after Sir Ralph Hopton appears in chief command over the Cavaliers The Parliament had Plymouth the neighbour Port Town of Devonshire bordering Cornwall in the South and Sir George Chudly a Stickler for them for a time onely The Kings party increased in Mid-Wales and descending Southwards as he marches the Welch come to him from all parts of Hereford Monmouth mightily increasing by the power and industry of the Earl of Worcester their Brigades reaching to Oxford and round about where Prince Rupert commanded who took Powder and Match marching through Staffordshire to reprieve Manchester The Parliament party lay about Warwick Coventrie Worcester Buckingham and their Brigades round about even to Glocester Some Arms for the King are landed at Newcastle and ten thousand pounds in Money to raise Dragoons in Northumberland and to fall into Yorkshire which appeared for the King The King on his march from Wales descended Southward and now being near Stafford the Parliament order That the Citie of London be strongly guarded and Posts Bars and Chains be erected and set up in places and by-lanes of the Parishes of St. Margarets Westminster St. Martins in the Fields St. Clements Savoy Holborn St. Giles Covent-garden St. Johns Street â—lerkenwell Criplegate Shoreditch White-chapel Islington Mile-end Southwark Lambeth or any other places necessary at the charge of the Parish by equal Assesment Octob. 22. And the Parliament declare a solemn Protestation to all the world In the presence of Almightie God for the satisfaction of their Consciences and the Discharge of that great Trust which lies upon them That no private passion or respect no evil intention to his Majesties person no Design to the prejudice of his just Honour and Authoritie engaged them to raise Forces and take up Arms against the Authours of this War whereof the Kingdom is now inflamed And after they have by clearing themselves lodged the occasion upon the Contrivers Papists about the King for extirpation of the Protestant Religion wherein principally this Kingdom and Scotland are concerned as making the greatest Body of Reformation in Christendom they conclude For all which Reasons they are resolved to enter into a solemn Oath and Covenant with God to give up themselves lives and fortunes into his hands and defend this his cause with the hazzard of our lives against the Kings Armie according to a form agreed upon and to be subscribed and to associate and unite with all the well-affected of the Citie of London and other parts of his Majesties Dominions 〈…〉 expect their dear Brethren of Scotland that they will help and 〈◊〉 defence of this Cause which if the Popish partie prevail must needs involve Scotland in the like alteration of Religion and engage them also in a War against this Kingdom to defend their own Religion And this they do again they say protest before the everliving God to be the chief end of all their counsels and resolutions without any intention to injure his Majestie either in his person or just power Octob. 22. And the Battail of Edg-hill the next morning being Sunday After the Kings party had beat the Enemy at Worcester Fight the three and twentieth of September he joyns all his Brigades near hand and marches to meet General Essex hovering thereabout to watch the Kings Designs who lodged on Saturday night October 22. at Sir William Chancies six miles near Keinton and Essex at Keinton And early the next morning being Sunday the three and twentieth drew up into a Body near Keinton and ascending the top of Edg-hill with his Prospective Glass took view of Essex his Army in the Vale of the Red Horse about a Mile distant but before the King could draw into order he was saluted with three Pieces of Cannon from the other side with three Shouts of their Souldiers And being asked by his Officers what his Majesty meant to do To give him Battel said the King it is the first time I ever saw the Rebells in a Bodie God and good mens prayers to him assist the justice of my cause And instantly ordered the Fight by the return of two Shot of Cannon in answer to theirs about two of the clock after noon the Word was God and King Charls his greatest Body of Horse was on the right Wing and on the left some Horse and Dragoons The Parliaments Army was put into this order the Foot a good space behinde the Horse when the Charge began three Regiments of Horse on the right Wing the Generals Regiment commanded by Sir Philip Stapleton Sir Balfore's Regiment who was Lieutenant General of the Horse and the Lord Fielding's Regiment which stood behinde the other two as a Reserve Sir Iohn Meldrum had the Van with his Brigade Colonel Essex the middle the General 's Regiment the Lord Brook and Colonel Hollis had the Rear in the left Wing were twenty Troops commanded by Sir Iames Ramsey Commissary General And thus they stood The Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain of England was the Kings Captain General but the Fight was ordered by the Lord Ruthen since made Earl of Forth a Scotish man and the General lead on the main Body with a Pike in his hand it is said that General Essex lead on his Forces also but then it is confessed that he was advised to retire from Danger and so he escaped when the other was killed The Forlorn Hope was commanded by Major Baâ—stake and Captain Hamond both of them Officers in Sir Lewis Diveâ— Regiment of Foot and drawn down the Hill to the side of a Ditch lined with Musquetiers and both sides had no sooner fired but that the Kings Cannon followed and discharged six or seven Shot Prince Rupert General of the Horse commanding the right Wing routed their left Wing and followed them in chafe to Keinton Town and two Miles beyond killing all whom they overtook the Lord Ruthen ordered the left Wing of the Kings Horse with the Lord Wilmot both of them doing gallant service 't is true Prince Rupert presumed that he had left a sufficient Reserve of Horse behinde under command of the Earl of Carnarvan with some other Troops who seeing the Enemies Horse and Foot to run his spirit not accustomed to stand still followed too far and left their own Foot naked of Horse which Essex espying took the advantage and with his Horse fell upon the Foot including these Regiments the Lord Generals Colonel Fieldings and Colonel Bowels a Regiment raised by the Lord Paget and did much execution upon them this service being done by Colonel Hurry afterwards Major General for the Parliament The Lord General Lindsey
being too forward in the Fight and incompassed by the Enemy his noble Son the Lord Willoughby hastned to his rescue not staying for greater assistance than such by chance about him and were both over-powred and taken Prisoners the Father â—ore wounded and evil intreated died the next day Sir Edmund Varney Knight Marshal and Standard-bearer was killed and the Standard ingaged till a gallant Gentleman Mr. Iohn Smith instantly shot him dead and rescued it for which service he was presently dubbed Knight and Bannoret the first of that Honour and bore the Standard after and relieved Colonel Fielding with some others of quality repulsing their Enemies Horse and followed the pursuit The Foot on both sides continued hot fiering untill the Day was spent and Night five a clock parted the Fight which no doubt was fairest on the Kings side had he enjoyed the Light somewhat longer to have increased his advantage towards a Victory It must be acknowledged that the General Essex his Regiment of Foot Colonel Hollis and Colonel Hambdem's stood the brunt of the Battel most of their Men being London Prentices fresh and good Firers did bold service Among the Plunder General Essex his Waggon Saddles Cloke-bags and Cabinet were taken and therein some Letters and Papers of Intelligence sufficient to discover one Blake a secret Traitor in the Kings Court for which he was forthwith hanged in the high way a sign to all Traitors betwixt Oxford and Abingdon this Fellow had been a Merchant and for some service at Sallie in Barbarie releasing English Slaves purchased repute at home which shadowed him from any suspition to be an Intelligencer at the Kings Court to divers his Corresponds City Friends for which he so suffered After the King had given the first Word espying one to steal to the Enemy he altered it to God and King Charls The Kings Troop consisted of an hundred and twenty Noblemen and Gentlemen able to expend an hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year of their own and these charged first with much courage and so performed it that Day commanded by the Lord Bernard youngest Brother to the Duke of Richmond and afterwards created Earl of Lichfield Sir Arthur Aston commanded the Dragoons and gave notice to him the Lord Bernard how he should order his Charge which was to second him and to follow the Dragoons who beat off those that lined the Hedges having that Intelligence of Sir Fortescue's Cornet who was come from Essex's Army with assurance that his Captain would follow with his Troop as he did at the first of the Fight The Kings Army was about twelve thousand the Parliaments sixteen thousand men exceeding well armed and furnished with excellent Ammunition compleat The loss by view of the dead might be between five or six thousand between them The King certainly lost the lesse in number but the most of value men of great merit but not the most in place and Office of Command But now the question will be who had the better If you will not admit it a drawn Battel consider these particulars following The Kings design was to March on his way and Essex resolution was to attach him which he did not but rather Skirted his Marchings and gave the occasion that the King encountred him though being met he began the Challenge After the Battel the King kept the field in his Coach all that Night with great fires and the next day in the Fâ—eld Proclaimed several Pardons to such of the Enemy that would submit And then Marches to Aino the seven and twentieth of October where he dated his Proclamation of Grace and Favour to the Cities of London and Westminster The King without Interruption of his Enemy buries the dead Marches to Banbury Took the Town and Castle and they take Arms under him so then he was Master of the Field commanding his own way and doing his own work which he came about and Marches to Oxford His Enemy General Essex wheeles towards Warwick does no more and retreats to London where hâ—s Army Lodges for Recruits The next day after the fight the King sends Sir William Neve Garter Herald to Essex to exchange the Lord Willoughby Earl of Lindsey for the Lord St. Iohn Hue Bullenbroke of Bletso but ere iâ— could be dispatched St. Iohns dies by which he paies the first of his debts to his Creditors and the last debt to sin and death with the undoing of many of his Country worthy Gentlemen men bound for him in great sums of Money Colonel Essex Lieutenant Colonel Ramsey both slaine But to go on with the story The King Prince and Duke that Night retreated to the side of the Hill resting in their Coach all Night keeping divers fires but could discern but one fire from their Enemy so that it was supposed their General was Marched away untill the Morning discovered them to be drawn out and Colonel Brooks Regiment of Foot and others coming to joyn with them The King draws up also upon the Hill and about noon Essex Marches away The King at Edge-hill Proclaims his pardon to the Rebells now in Arms against him so be they will come in to him and seek it the four and twentieth of October And in Aino the seven and twentieth of October He sends his gracious Proclamation of Pardon to his Cities of London and Westminster excepting therein Alderman Fulk and Manwaring On Tuesday Morning at nine a clock the King forth with his forces faced the Town of Banbury being ready to fall on Captain Marrow who Commanded the Castle treated a while and by twelve a clock delivered up the Town and Castle though there were therein two Regiments of Foot blew coats belonging to the Lord Rochford and Peterborough and Captain Saiers Troop of Horse The Prince with three peeces of Cannon and some Foot and Horse Marched against Broughton House belonging to the Lord Say and at the first shot of Ordinance through and through it was delivered up From thence to Southampton The Earl of Essex retreated this while to Warwick and so the other way Marched to London But the Kings Forces returned to Oxford so through Abington and to Henley where they refreshed two or three daies then to Mâ—idenhead Windsor and Stains Saturday being a misty morning the Kings Forces made their Rendevouz on Hownslow Heath the Parliaments Forces being that morning drawn out of Kingston giving Liberty to the King to Command both sides of the River Thames who about eleven of the clock forced the Enemy out of Brainford but ere we go on let us return to some Civil affairs which were Acted by both parties after Edge-hill fight however controverted amongst parties Interested The King Publishes his Delaration to all his Loving Subjects after his late Victory against the Rebels on Sunday the three and twentieth of October 1642. Ascribing the preservation of him â—nd his Children in the late bloody Battel with the Rebels to the Mercy and
chief of the Forces in Glocestershire or Colonel Min Commander of the English Brigade that came out of Ireland or Colonel Washington at Evisham or the Governour of Berkley Castle As soon as you send an Answer you shall receive satisfaction from Your assured Friend G. D. Backhouse replies and conceives Sir William Vavisor the fittest to comply and gives his Reasons but the present payment of the three hundred pounds was waved by Stanford and as deeply pressed by Backhouse till they in private met at Coflawn without Arms or Attendants where he receives two hundred pounds and a promise to disingage a Bond of his of fifty pounds And the Plot was thus that Colonel Massie should be drawn out of Glocester with a strong party towards Berkley Castle with assurance that the Castle should be rendered in whose absence Backhouse was to open the Gates and deliver the Word but with some counter considerances The fifteenth of February was now come the time assigned and nine a clock at night the hour and a Messenger is sent to the Cavaliers Quarters with the Word but the Design of Backhouse was discovered and so nothing was effected But how Backhouse could receive the Money and dispence with his deep Oaths to be sincere and just to his promise I know not certainly so much Money could not satisfie for an evil conscience nor can his part be excused from corruption in the highest nature if duly examined The Actions of Glocester against the Welch set up Sir William Waller and the Kings party thereabout to withdraw for Sir Matthew Carew forthwith quitted Teuxbury which within twelve hours was possessed by Captain Iohn Fines with sufficient strength of Horse and Dragoons to whom also their affected Friends at Glocester came home again hastily and with much confusion but no sooner warm in their new possession but the former Forces with a greater power returned upon design The Assistance was of Horse a gallant Brigade commanded by the Lord Grandeson which came from Chiltenham without the least intelligence to the other and as little to his Lordship to be met with by Glocester Forces which came suddenly to the succour yet Fines had been surprized with all his Horse had not a ridiculous Accident prevented it Captain Fines at a Miles distance off the Town meets a Man whom they question he supposing them a party of the Parliament to curry favour tells them of vast numbers and great strength of Cavaliers but seems to defie them with indignation this frightens Fines to a Council of War and were about to fall back which delay gave an hours respite and so the Enemy entred After Sir William Waller had refreshed his Men about the first of April he advanced towards Monmouthshire invited by some Gentlemen to reduce their parts at his coming to the Town of Monmouth the Garison of the Lord Herbert retired leaving a naked place to Sir William where finding small success of his parties sent abroad for Supplies of Moneys he marched to Usk and spending some time to no purpose in that County he returns the stream of the people affording him no welcome being all universal Tenants of that County to the Earl of Worcester In this time Prince Maurice enters Teuxbury with a Brigade of Horse and Foot added to the Lord Grandeson resolving to make after Waller or to meet his return out of Wales A Bridg of Boats wafts him over Severn with a Body of two thousand Horse and Foot Waller was nimble in his Retreat not to be catcht in a noose or neck of Wales but by a Bridg of Boats came back at Chepstow with his Foot and Artillery and himself with his Horse and Dragoons passed through the lowest part of the Forest of Dean near the River side of Severn and ere the Prince had notice sends forth two Parties to fall upon two of the Princes Quarters which was performed whilest Waller's main Body slipt between both and a Party was left also to face them and make good the Retreat which came off but disorderly with loss of some Souldiers It was held a handsome conveyance and unexpected to bring himself out of the Snare by uncouth ways This Allarm soon reached Glocester and caused Massie there to send assistance of two Troops of Horse and three hundred Foot to fetch him off This Party met him two Miles off the Town where being combined they design to set upon Teuxbury and taking conveniency by the Princes absence and Waller's supposed Defeat instantly they march and come up to the Town by break of day one part whereof fell into the Ham seized the Guard left with the Bridg-of Boats and cut off that Bridg but his Horse with the rest of the Foot came up Glocester way surprized and slew the Centinel climbed over the Works cut down the Draw-Bridges the Horse and Foot rushing in and the party on the other side Avon ready to enter also There they found in the Town three hundred men commanded by Sir Matthew Carew whom the Triumph of yesterday's supposed Victory had lull'd asleep and now awakened by this sudden Allarm rowsed up to a shufflâ—ng fighting posture and then to a Retreat and after to an Escape and but some Souldiers taken These sudden Surprisals gave various intelligence to Oxford not able to credit any Relations being so strangely inconstant but onely to chances Yet a party of the Princes Horse appear from the top of the Hill near Teuxbury as if his Body were hard by whereupon Waller marches thither that Evening resolving to break down or make good the Bridg at Upton upon Severn besides which there was no Pass nearer than VVorcester but the Scouts told him the Prince was there before and guarded it The next day VValler advances and found him in Ripple-field his Army drawn up and divided into three Bodies faces him but would not fight being fewer in number no Shot prepared no Cannoneers few Foot the Winde nor Sun to friend and their Retreat if need were through a long Lane In this posture though some perswade to fight others would not and so VValler retreats into the Lane commanding a Party of Dragoons to face the Prince and the Musketiers to stand at the corner to make good his Retreat But the Prince falls on the Dragoons fly over Hedg and Ditch broke over the Bridg disordering their own and were killed or taken Massie sends to Teuxbury for Supply but Haselrig with his Troop and some Foot made a Charge which in part took off the foulness of the Flight for at the end of the Lane a Ditch stopt their haste and a Gate flung off the Hinges barred the Pursute with time to make a Stand no longer than that the Prince came up but then faced about and fled in a great hurry and loss till a Supply of Foot from the Town met them near Mith-hill and there made a false Stand rather to take breath than to fight for their
1000. Foot odds of their Enemies and yet left their Siege works well manned at Chester and meet the Cavaliers in their March sending their Forlorn by Captain Otter the Body commanded by Mitton Iones and Louthian against men of resolution and gallantry but overmastered because overpowred and with other advantages to boot defeated the Cavaliers kild some and took Horse and Foot more then will be imagined and this was 1. of November A second design of Relief was nobly attempted by the Lord Aston who in his way was met with near Stur-bridge Horse to Horse each a Regiment Aston too forward was wounded and taken prisoner he scaped no better others payed dear on both sides loss whereof neither bragged and this was ten days after the other defeat Thus abroad and more at home for Byron was a brave man discreet and valiant but could not doe much more then he did within doores for wearied a long time with Sallies outward was now overpowred and overpressed that he was forced to keep in and feed upon nothing even to nothing in great distress when Horse-flesh failed Sir William Brereton and Col. Mitton now command the Leaguer heretofore knowing the resolution of gallant Governours supposed it to no purpose to summon Byron that never used to yield yet now each Opposite fall to treat but the Overtures high neither of them would condiscend November 28. for Byron had intelligence of the Kings earnest desire and unfortunate endeavours for his Relief and the Parliament debating and voting for a Committee on purpose to order force upon force to joyn with Brereton for the gaining of this Garison blocking up and guarding all ways and passages about the County to hinder Relief December 9. And therefore the Townsmen murmur first then mutiny which Byron appeases with promises after a weeks expectation of Relief if none comes to treat upon Surrender and as yet none comes nor can and therefore Brereton ingeniously writes to him For the Lord Byron and the Mayor of Chester SIR Experience tells you on what Foundations your hopes of Relief were grounded but that you may see â—y tender care of the preservation of the Lives and Estates of the Inhabitants once more I summon you to deliver this Garison into my hands for the use of the King and Parliament with expecting your speedy Answer Your Servant Will. Brereton Chester Suburbs Jan. 17. But Byron was busie and did not answer Brereton sends the second time again SIR I perceive my Desire to preserve the Citie encourageth a great obstinacie as though you expected as good Conditions when you can hold out no longer as if you had treated the last Summons which proceeded not from any fear of disturbance for I believe your self is hopeless of Relief but to prevent further miserie and the ruine of that Citie which will be remediless I expect your Answer by three a clock this Day Your Servant Will. Brereton Jan. 12. To which Byron answers We are not convinced by experience of the groundless Foundation of our hopes of Relief neither is our Condition such as to precipitate us to a prejudicial Treatie however if within twelve Days we be not assured of Relief by a Gentleman and Citizen whom we shall send for that purpose with a Trumpet of ours and a Pass from you we shall then be contented to enter into a Treatie for Surrender upon honourable and orderly condition Charls Walley Mayor Your Servant John Byron Chester Jan. 12. And instantly replied unto the same Day The Writing sent by the Drummer is not satisfactory to the Summons neither will I assent to your Desires in any part of it If you return not a positive Answer before ten a clock to morrow morning expect no further Treatie Will. Brereton This was sharp and sudden but Byron stirs not having sent out a Messenger whose return he expected That if Relief came not by the end of this Moneth Ianuary at the furthest he could hold out no longer This Messenger is intercepted on his way which Brereton sends to the Parliament having private order if possible to spare the storming and plunder of that City which Brereton hoped to govern hereafter and he being that Countreyman was not willing to ruine the chief Town The time is come and they treat ten Days spent with several Transactions in hope of Relief for which strong preparations were made whereof the Besiegers had frequent advertisement that Sir Iacob Ashley and Colonel Vaughan had united and lay hovering about Bridg-North their Intention to have joyned with the Welch Forces under the Lord St. Paul and some Irish that came over in December last and those other lately landed at Blewmorris who were part of the Lord Digby's Regiment as the intercepted Letters mentioned to prevent which Conjunction Brereton sends three Regiments of Horse the Warwickshire the Reformado's Regiment and part of the Staffordshire Horse and Foot and also of the Cheshire Dragoons together with some of Colonel Mitton's Horse and Foot which Party was commanded by Mitton who marched to Ruthen the four and twentieth of this Moneth Ianuary intending to fall upon the Cavaliers Quarters who made their way and marched to Denbigh and so to Conway but Mitton came in good time after for Ruthen Castle was so ill provided that he hath hope to master it however the Conjunction of the Cavaliers is frustrate which probably occasioned the Cavaliers Retreat quite away so as now the Besieged hopeless sent out their Commissioners Ian. 30. to treat with the Assailants The first Day nothing was concluded The next Day the Besiegers importuned to lengthen the Treaty for three Days longer which being denied they conclude the first of February Between Iohn Lord Byron Field-Marshal General of North-Wales and Governour of Chester and Sir William Brereton Knight and Baronet Commander in chief of all the Forces of Cheshire The Lord Byron and all Noblemen Commanders and Officers and Souldiers in all their Apparel whatsoever The Lord Byron with Horse and Arms and ten Men alike accomplished to attend him His Lady and Servants with Coaches and in each four Horses with such other Ladies and Gentlewomen as he thinks fit and with his Books Evidences and Writings in his possession and all of them with not above fourty pounds in Money and twenty pounds in Plate The rest of the Noblemen and their Ladies answerable with Honour and Arms and not above thirty pounds in Money Every Knight and Colonel alike with ten pounds in Money and so in a respective condition and quality of every Officer to the common Souldier who was to march away with twenty Shillings In a word throughout their degrees Men and Women answerable and as reasonable for the Citizens So that I shall conclude for the honour of Sir William Brereton although he knew the Distress of the Garison yet he was so noble and so much a Gentleman and a Souldier that in earnest I finde his Concessions worthy of honourable Record which I mention
by the Kings command expresly to leave the House and attempting to rise was by force held down by Master Hollis who swore he should sit still whilest they pleased but not prevailing Sir Peter Hayman moved Hollis to reade these Articles which the House protested First whosoever shall bring in Innovation of Religion or by favour seek to introduce Popery or Arminianism or other Opinions disagreeing from the true and orthodox Church shall be reputed a capital Enemy to this Kingdom and Common-wealth Secondly whosoever shall counsel or advise the taking or levying of the Subsidies of Tunnage and Poundage not being granted by Parliament or shall be an Actor or Instrument therein shall be likewise reputed a capital Enemy to the Common-wealth Thirdly if any man shall yield voluntarily or pay the same not being granted by Parliament he shall be reputed a Betraier of the Liberties of England and an Enemy to this Common-weath To each of these in order the House gave there a loud applause at every close which distempers reaching but to the Kings ear he sent for the Serjeant of the Mace but he was kept in and Sir Miles Hobart a Member locked the Door and kept the Key The King incensed at these insufferable Contempts sent Maxwel the Usher of the Black Rod to dissolve the Parliament but him and his Message they excluded which put the King into a forcible Posture the Captains with their Pensioners and Guard to break their entrance they fearing the effects suddenly slunk out of the House not daring to abide his anger who instantly came to the Lords and told them My Lords I never came here upon so unpleasant an occasion it being the Dissolution of a Parliament therefore men may have some cause to wonder why I should not rather chuse to do this by Commission it being a general Maxime of Kings to leave harsh commands to the Ministers themselves onely executing pleasing things Yet considering that Justice as well consists in reward and praise of virtue as punishing of vice I thought it necessary to come here to day to declare to you and all the World that it was meerly the undutifull and seditious carriage of the Lower House that hath made the Dissolution of this Parliament And you my Lords are so far from being causes of it that I take as much comfort in your dutifull demeanours as I am justly distasted with their Proceedings Yet to avoid mistakings let me tell you that it is so far from me to adjudg all that House guilty that I know there are many there as dutifull Subjects as any in the World it being but some few Vipers amongst them that did cast this mist of undutifulness over most of their eys yet to say truth there was a good number there that could not be infected with this contagion in so much that some did express their duties in speaking which was the general fault of the House the last day To conclude as these Vipers must look for their reward of punishment so you my Lords must justly expect from me that favour and protection that a good King oweth to his loving and dutifull Nobility And now my Lord Keeper do what I commanded you Who in the Kings name dissolved the Parliament But because Tunnage and Poundage was much disputed we shall shall say something to the first ground and occasion of them It is a fundamental truth essential to the constitution and government of this Kingdom and hereditary Privilege of the Subject that no Tax Tallage or other charge might be laid without consent in Parliament this was ratified by the contract of this Nation with the Conquerour upon his admittance and declared and confirmed in the Laws which he published and yet afterwardâ— broken by King Iohn and Henry 3. then confirmed by Magâ—â—â— Charta and other succeeding Laws but then attempted to be broken by the two succeeding Edwards when the Subject pursued those Breaches by the opportunity of frequent Parliaments and found relief procuring the right of the Subjects to be fortified by new Statutes And it may be observed that those â—ings in the very Acts whereby they did break the Law did really affirm the Subjects liberty and disclaimed that right of him a thing which hath been since challenged by successive Sovereigns the Merchant in those times usually giving consent to such Taxes but limited to a time to the ratification of the next following Parliament to be cancelled or confirmed But mostly these upon Merchandise were taken by Parliament six or twelve per pound for time and years as they saw cause for defence of the Sea sometimes also granted unto Noblemen or Merchants but for that use and afterwards they were granted to the King for life and so continued for divers Descents Between the time of Edward 3. and Queen Mary never any Prince some say demanded any Imposition but by Parliament Queen Mary indeed laid a charge upon Cloth by the equity of Tunnage and Poundage because the rate set upon Wool was much more than that upon Cloth and little Wool being transported unwrought she had reason to impose so much more as brought them to an equality but that there still continued a less charge upon Wool wrought into Cloth than upon Wool carded out unwrought untill King Iames his times when upon Nicholson's advice there was a further addition of charge which is that which we call the pretermitted Custome In Queen Elizabeths time some Impositions nay many increased the general prosperity of her Reign in the conjuncture of time and forrein affairs overshadowing and her power and will commanding without regret or complaint That of Currans was one for the Venetians having taxed a charge upon our English Cloth she raised that of the Currans with pretence to be even with them the sooner to take off the other And this came to be denied to King Iames by Bates a Merchant and a Sute in the Exchequer adjudged it for the King The three Judges then no more distinguished their several opinions The first that the King might impose upon forreign Commodities but not upon Natives to be transported or necessary to be imported for the use of the Kingdom The second Iudg was of opinion he might impose upon all forreign Merchandize whether superfluous or no but not upon native The third was absolute seeing the King had the custody of the Ports and Guard of the Seas and might shut up or open the Ports as he pleased 〈◊〉 had a Prerogative to impose upon all Merchandize exported or imâ—â—rted Afterwards King Iames laid charges upon all Commodities Outward and Inward not limited to time or occasion This Judgment and the right of imposing was a question in 7. and 12. Ian. and in 18. and 21. Ian. It was declined by the Commons House But in 1 Car. it was renewed by the Kings Propositions and then rather confirmed not abolished It was not sufficient for the King to break up the School of dissension
the Room foreâ—shortened and looking downwards as from the clouds the rarest postures that late ages can paralel being the portraictures of King Iames in several relations with all Imaginary similitude of Him tending towards Eternity for which he was well rewarded with the honour of Knighthood to boot Indeed the Artist had an indifferent esteem for his skill and by his wealth was wise enough to receive Informations on both parts in reference to Peace but never to be Plenepotentiary of either side for truly I cannot call him so much as Agent for any unlesse we admit him Ambo-dexter-Ambassadour for he was the means that a greater man Don Carlos Colonas came after to do the work And I have some knowledge in the particulars that the other was rather set on by us when with that conveniency we had him here It was in Iuly That an Arrest was made upon one Billingham sometimes a Captain at the Isle of Rhe and an attempt made to his Rescue by some Templers being acted in their Quarters of Priviledge to their Houses and to their cost they were wounded by the opposition of the Lord Major and his City Bands that were wilde to flourish out their Ensigns against any Gentlemen their Patrons This undertaking increased to a hot skirmish of above five hundred Of the Majors Militia four were killed and sundry others hurt above an hundred on both sides and so the Evening parted the This uprore so neer the Court caused the King to speed Justice with an extraordinary Session to be held in Guild-Hall London for Arraignment of several of the Malefactors seized vpon in the quarrel And by ill hap laid hold on Two who were accounted Principalls because more publique Captain Ashurst and Iohn Stamford the late Dukes servant for it was no medling with the Students And though Stanford came by but by chance in a Coach and onely drew his sword without any part in the fray These Two onely were found guilty by the City Jury and executed at Tyburn Stanford had his pardon before being in company when a Watchman was killed at a Tavern called Duke-Humphreys and his relations to his late Master made his crime the more remarkable now exceeding the bounds of Reason so without the bounds of Mercy There had been a Manuscript Book contrived long since by Sr. Robert Dudly at Florence 1613. that discontented Catholique who descended from the Dudlies Earls of Warwick and so he stiled himself It was a Rapsodie of severall Projects for increase of the Kings revenue and somewhat in prejudice of proceedings in Parliaments Sundry Copies thereof were disperst by such as meant not much honour to the King and therefore suspected to contrive the Book though pretended for his Majesties Instruction as the manner had been to force such feigned discoveries and fix them for the Kings designes and therefore the Earls of Bedford Somerset and Clare Sr. Robert Cotten Mr. Selden and Mr. Saint Iohn were committed and an Information entered in Star-chamber against them But Sr. David Fowles upon oath cleered the suspition and discovered the Authour and so it ended William Herbert Son of Henry Earl of Pembrook dies in April He was the third Earl from his Creation 3 Elizabeth Baron Herbert of Cardiff Lord Parr Ros of Kendal Marmion and Saint Quintin Lord Warden of the Stanneries Governour of Portsmouth Knight of the Garter Chancellour of the University of Oxford and lately Lord high Steward of the Kings Houshold but not of England He married Mary the Eldest daughter and co-heir of Gilbert Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury and dies without issue so that his honours descended to Philip Herbert his brother He supped the night before his death with the Countesse of Bedford at Bishops-gate upon the day of his birth fifty yeers since from thence he went home to Baynards Castle sitting up as usual very late for he was a hearty feeder and went to bed very well But not long after he fetcht a deep and deadly groan which startled his Lady that lay by and she not able to awake him called for company who found him speechlesse and so continued till eight in the morning and then died as a figure flinger had told him many years before We are told his Character in a high strain of Magnificence but we may give way to his good commendations in a reasonable measure A proper Person well set of graceful deportment his minde truly generous of the ancient stock and manner of Nobility His defects were in letters and Travel He had onely the breeding of England which gave him a conceited dislike of foraign men their manners and mode or of such English that professed much advantage thereby so that the Scots at Court and he were ever separate and therefore he was onely the old Courtier that kept close to the Commonalty and they to him and was therein trusted by his two Soveraigns as not over furnisht with abilities to be lesse then loyal which jealous Princes usually suffered In May 29 day the Queen was brought to Bed of a Son Surpassing joy there was of all true hearts and good subjects and in Iune the 27. baptized at Saint Iameses with princely Ceremonies and named Charles His Godfathers were the King of France and the Prince Elector represented by the Duke of Lenox and the Marquesse Hamilton the Godmother was the Queen Mother of France and her Person represented by the Duchesse of Richmond A man would stand amazed to believe that a sort of pretended sanctified subjects should not desire the King to have any issue I have my Author The Puritan-party that could not descern the cause of joy when the Queen was with childe God having better provided for us then we were aware in the hopeful Progeny of the Queen of Bohemia These men brought in the Reformed Religion Presbytery when it would be unâ—ertain what Religion the Kings children would follow And he observes to his own knowledge that when the most of the Parish gave publique signes of rejoycing with Bonefires Bell-ringing and mutual feasting onely the Presbyterian or Puritan party as he stiles them were shut up as on the day of general mourning And it may be remembred that afterwards as the Kings Issue increased the Common Prayer for the Kings onely Sister and her children was left out and in place thereof a Prayer compiled for preservation of the Kings Issue for though the Presbyterians hated the whole Book they would not stick to mention the one in their Prayer of the Pulpit and leave those other out of Gods blessing till by express command they were made to conform At his Birth there appeared a Star visible that very time of the Day when the King rode to Saint Paul's Church to give thanks to God for the Queens safe delivery of a Son upon which occasion these Verses were then presented Rex ubi Paulinas accessit gratus ad aras Immicuit medioâ— lucida stella
service nor any Man to March upon such pretence the three and twentieth of October and Copies sent abroad to all the Countiâ—s And the same night the Lord Blaney arrived with the newes of the surprisal of his House his wife and children by the Rebels of Monâ—ghan This Rebellion began first in the North in the Province of Ulster so that every day and hour ill newes came posting like Iobs Messengers of fearful Massacres upon the English which increased a fear of some Massacre in Dublin by the Papists there The Council began to consider of their own forces to defend and were assured that the Mony was in the Exchequer the Kings revenues and English Rents for that halfe year lodged in Tenents hands a fit prey for the Rebels which they seized some Artillery Arms for 10000. men 1500. barrels of powder with Match and lead laid in by the last Earl of Strafford By which Lâ—st of his it appeared that the old standing Army in Ireland consisted only of 41. Companies of foot and 14. Troopes of Horse The foot Officers 246. and of Souldiers 2051. Inall 2297. The Horse Officers 42. and Horsemen 901. In all 943. These so dispersed as not without difficulty to march yet the Councel sent their Patents to several Garisons to march to Dublin And Letters dispatched to the King in Scotland and to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland not got out of London of the Rebellion and ill State of the Kingdome depending on Gods assistance the fidelity of the old English Pale and aid out of England that they intended to prorogue the Parliament and adjourn the Term. And that their present Army now subsisting contain but 2000. foot and 1000. Horse the five and twentieth of October 1641. with a poscript for recompense to Conally for his discâ—very as may stand with the Mark of his Majesties bounty for that service who had a present peece of money and a certain annuity during his life very considerable who carried these Letters to the Lord Lieutenant Those to the King were sent to Secretary Vane in Scotland and convayed by sea by Sir Henry Spotswood Other Letters were sent to the Earl of Ormond at Carick to repair with his forces to Dublin and commissions were sent to the Lords Viscounts of Clandeboys and Ardes and to others for the raising of the Scots in the Northern parts into Arms with power to destroy the Enemy or to receive them to Mercy but all these dispatches were sent by sea the whole Land passages stopt by â—he Rebels The Lords of the English pale repair to the Council offering their faith and service It is a large Circuit of Land possessed by the English from the first Conquest being the Countiâ—s of Dublin Mâ—th Lâ—wth Kildare Yet some of these Lords Popish â—umbly offered their sense of the wars in the late Proclamation as to be misinterpreted viz. the Conspiracy of evil affected Iâ—â—sh Papists as to reflect upon their persons which were afterwards explained to please them and so Proclaimed And now the Rebels up in all places they in Ulster had by the latter end of October possessed themselves of all the great part of the Province of Ulster except the Cities of London derry Colraingue and the Town aâ—d Castle of Eâ—cikillen the chief Rebels were Sir Philip Oneale 〈◊〉 Oneale his brother Rowry Mac Guire brother to the Lord Mac Guire Philip O Rely Mulmere O Rely Sir Conno Mac Gennes Call Mac Ruian Mac Mahon these with others the chief of every Sept had as at one instant surprized the Castles and places of the most considerable strengths and the English being lovingly intermixed with the Irish for a long time made the Conspiracy more easily to be effected Besides such of the English as had gotten into some places of strength able to indure a siege yet upon good quarter rendered themselves were sure to be butchered and murthered in cold blood men women and children And to keep of the Assistance of the Scots they openly professed and really did spare them the more easily afterwards to be swallowed up at a bit These were the first fruits of the Rebellion in all the Northern parts acted by Phelim O Neale the chief of that Sept and the onely remain of cruel alliance to the late Earl of Tirone He was of very mean parts with courage or conduct His education in England a Student of Lincolns Inn and a Protestant till of late lived lasily of a mean estate untill now that the Natives set him up for their General and with such Numerous a rabble that he marched down towards Lisnagarvy neer the Scots and fell upon them now without mercy and with other forces came up into the Pale and took in Dondalk about the beginning of November then they marcht to the County of Lowth and incamped at Ardee a small Town within seven miles of Tredagh antiently called Drohedagh which they Besieged afterwards The Newes from Dublin being instantly posted to the Town of Tredagh was there encountred with the like mischievous tidings from the North the treacherous surprisal of the Castles Blainey Carrick Charlemont Monahan with others came thick and three fold one upon another and a rumour that Dublin was already taken confirmed by numbers stripped and wounded that fled hither The first succour was the Lord Viscount Moor being then at Mellifont ten miles off who by the sad newes of his Sister the Lady Blanâ—y and her children imprisoned made speed to save himself with some part of his Troop not more than sixty hither at Midnight joyned in Counsel with the Major suddainly to prevent the mischief by many vipers in their own Bowels but of all the Muster not above fourty to be found gave great suspition the rest were not found Instantly were drawn out many old peeces scowred and planted at several Gates fower more were heaved out of a Merchants Ship in the Harbour and some powder the Lord Moor posts to Dublin offers to make up his own Troop and to raise one hundred foot with amunition which was speedily brought thither with him with a Commission to Captain Sea foule Gibson to command these Men and instantly to take the watch who was the 〈◊〉 and last worthy of Record for his faithful service watching 〈◊〉 own perâ—erson for ten nights together and continuing the war became Colonel of a Regiment By this time the Rebels had taken Dundalk and Dromiskin and pillaged all the Protestants within five miles The Papist Townsmen were discovered by their smiling countenance All promised relief failing Sir Faithful Fortescue being Governour posted to Dublin where finding no hope of Assistance he quitted his charge not willing to loose himself and his honour to boote in an impossible undertaking After a solemn fast some forces sallied out upon the thickest of the Rebells who fled and left much plundred goods and Cowes to comfort the Towns-people two hundred Rebels and eighty brought in Prisoners
horse of the Lord Ormonds Troop made their way through without loss of a man A great loss to us and a greater gain to the Rebells of Ammunition and monies and now it appeared plain who were the Enemies in the Pale heretofore Neuters The Governour of Drogheda upon our Scouts intelligence issued out with 600. foot and two Troopes of horse but came too late and now it became certain that whilst the Commissioners were in the Treaty at the Town they themselves were of this Plot. Not long after the Enemy took another advantage The Master of a Chester Bark corrupted by some Popish Merchants abroad he run her on ground at the Skerms in faire weather riâ—â—ing the English Passengers of store of money and fraughted with powder and Ammunition designed for Dublin At the which Landing of the English the Lord Netherfield as in favour to them sent them to Dublin assuring them that he would take Tredagh the next morning which was believed at Dublin before the Account and evermore in these surprisals the Enemy would boast of the special hand of Gods providence in their successes and likelyhood to deliver the Kingdom unto Catholiques The Lords and Gentlemen of the Pale being secretly the first contrivers of the Rebellion and had now drawn the Rebells down from the North into the Pale and that presently after the defeat of the English at Gelianston bridge the Lord Germanston a secret conspiratour summons the County at Dulick and after to the Hill of Crofty to the number of 1000. persons to whom came divers of the chief Leaders of the Northern Rebells where they are associated to live and die in their quarrel And a week after the like summons was to all the Lords and Gentry of the County of Meath to meet at the Hill of Taragh where multitudes assembled And now by reason the Northern Rebells had setled their Camp within the River of Boyne besieging Tredagh between that and the City of Dublin and all entercourse of the Pale interrupted the passages stopt so that the State were ignorant of what passed there They therefore called a grand Council of the Lords within distance of Dublin and so Letters were posted to them in effect That the State had present occasion to confer with them concerning the present estate of the Kingdom and the safety thereof And pray and require to his Lordship to be at Dublin the eight day of this Moneth at which time others of the Peers will be here From his Majesties Castle of Dublin the third of December 1641. To our very good Lord Georg Earl of Kildare Your very loving friends William Parsons John Buclaâ—r c. And the same day to other several persons who near about that time had made the publick Combination with the Ulster Rebells And there they frame their General answer thus in effect May it please your Lordship We have heretofore presented our selves and freely offered our advice and furtherance which was by you neglected c. Having received advertisement that Sir Charls Coot had uttered at the Council-board some speeches tending to execute upon these of our Religion a general Massacre by which wee are deterred to wait on your Lordships not having security for the safety of our lives but rather to stand upon our Guard till we shall be secured from perills Nevertheless we all protest to continue faithfull advisers and furtherers of his Majesties service concerning the present state of this Kingdome and the safety thereof Your Lordships humble servants Fingale Germaston Slame Dunsany Netervile Oliver Lowth Trimbleston Dec. 7. 1641. To this Letter the State gives answer by Proclamation with all satisfaction to the Lords to remove all misunderstandings and clear Sir Charls Coot from any such pretended speeches or any intention thereto and pray the Lords to attend the Board on the seventeenth day after But not prevailing Netervile and others of the Pale gather forces and quarter at Swores within six miles of Dublin and there encamped To whom the State send theiâ— warrant Immediately upon sight hereof to disband and separate and that Netervile and six other principal persons amongst them do appear to morrow morning at ten a Clock before the Council upon their utmost perills  Ormond Ossery c. Dec. 9. 1641. To which they answer That for the safety of their lives they were constrained to meet and resolve so to continue till they might be assured of their lives Hereupon by publique Proclamation the Earl of Ormond Lieutenant General of the Army hath warrant to suppress them and to bring up such shipping and vessels to the new Crane at Dublin and to destroy the rest the fourteenth of December The Rebels now declare Germanston general of their forces in the Pale Hugh Birne Lieutenant General and the Earl of Fingale General of their Horse and several Commissions to raise forces and in a very seemly order and proportion frame an Army with all manner of provisions accordingly The sad condition of Ireland was very often recommended to the King and Parliament of England with a proposition 10000. Scots to be sent over from Scotland with Letters met the King at his return from thence to London And Commissioners out of Scotland arrived at London to treat with the Parliament therein they make offer of 10000. men provided to receive forth an advance of 30000. l. of brotherly assistance to be afforded them by the Kingdom of England to have shipping for their transport and upon Landing in Ireland to have 100 horse joyn with each 1000 foot but to receive order and to obey their Scotish General which was condescended unto and great hopes of the effeâ—ts specially that the Parliament was so very often urged thereto by his Majesties several speeches as that of the fourteenth of December 1641. More he could not say or offer to do in person therein But ah alas all was delaied and nothing performed for the Parliament was more busied to quarrel their priviledges with the King and the house of Commons utterly refused to send any English Forces which the Lords proposed to be 1000. Foot so that Dublin began to be nearly distressed All the provinces of Munster likewise in rebellion The State therefore again send over Letters into England That the Rebells were formidable 20000 in a Body besides several other Brigadoes in divers Counties and complain that of the 20000. l. lately sent to them they received but 16000. But in fine the last of December arrives Sir Simon Harcourt with his Regiment out of England Tredagh was now beset on all sides by Sea and Land all ways of entercourse to Dublin stopped divers designs were devised for conveyance of intelligence thither And now upon this grand confedaracy of Meath and Lowth they style themselves the Catholique Army The Town increased their Fortifications Breast works before each Gate Platforms in convenient places where the walls were defective centinels put to their stands Ordnances mounted abundance
Provisions also from Sea and good success in all the Sallies made the Besiegers finde themselves besieged The Lord Moor would needs visit his own Rebell Tenants at Tallaghhallon protected by Callo Mac Brian he had but four hundred Foot and eighty Horse the Enemy were three for one whom Colonel Byron with the Foot attached but after the reply of the Rebells to three or four Ranks they fled four hundred men with seven Captains were slain Moyle Mac Moghan his Head valued in the Proclamation beyond his merit was taken Prisoner stripping himself naked was taken among the Dead sculking perswading himself that his Life should secure the Lady Blany and her Children not one of the English slain And the next day the Governour marched firing and pillaging round about the Enemy not appearing For the Rebell Generalissimo O Neal with all his Commanders were privately risen and gone leaving the Countrey to mercy and many of his secret Conspiratours in Tredagh to answer for all The Enemy now fled towards Dundalk and this Town now set open Gates and Ports for all the Countrey to come in with abundance of Provision to the refreshed Souldiers the 20. of March ending this year 1641. with News of their new Markets Eggs fifteen a Penny Hens two Pence a piece a milch Cow five Shillings twelve pence a good Horse Wheat the finest of eight Shillings a Barrel As the Enemy marched and fled they cut throats of all English Men Women and Children at Aberdee and Slane The Earl of Ormond Lieutenant General was marching to finde out an Enemy with three thousand Foot and five hundred Horse burning the County of Meath and so visited Drogheda which was now able to bid his Army welcome Here a Council of War was called the Lord Moor the Governour Sir Tichburn Sir Thomas Lucas Sir Simon Harcourt Sir Robert Ferrald with other Colonels and Captains resolved to pursue the Rebells but the Lord Ormond was called back by the Lords Justices to Dublin vvhich gave heart to the Rebells to gather again at Aberdee and Dundalk vvhither thousands resorted from all parts of Meath and Louth To unkennel them the Lord Moor marches out vvith a thousand Foot and tvvo hundred Horse tovvards Aberdee about a Mile from thence the Enemy appears in tvvo Divisions of tvvelve hundred a piece betvveen vvhom and the Tovvn a party of Horse gets and another party besides them and a Bog a Forlorn of an hundred scoured some Ditches stumbled on an Ambuscado beat them out and fell upon their Body vvho fled and four hundred slain but if my Intelligence and Authours tell truth here as in many the like Defeats not a man of the English slain sometimes for hundreds of the Rebells and here as it is recorded not one man lost onely an Horse-man shot in the Heel and an Horse in the Hoof. It may be supposed that the Protestants are partial to themselves but in assurance to the contrary take this for truth the Rebells naturally traiterous to their Sovereigns treacherous to each other their falsity brings them to covvardice and fear makes them cruel vvhere they prevail But on they go the English burning all about and marched tovvards Dundalk the Receptacle of Magazine and place of Protection for the County Provisions vvhich vvas assaulted the next Day fortified vvith double Walls double Ditches Marshes on the one side and the Sea on the other The next morning all the poor Protestant Prisoners vvere clapped up close vvith an intent to have hanged them all if the Tovvn came to hazzard The English approached about nine of the clock in the Morning their Ordnance planted upon a small Hill not far from the Gate vvhich vvere manned vvith five hundred men the Protestants Forlorn Hope of an hundred gave fire to the Gate vvere beaten avvay but came again a Division of three hundred commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Waiman began to pick-ax the Wall vvho fired the Defendants and entered the Breach the Horse follovving upon the Spur but made a Stand against three Brass Pieces maintained by five hundred men and therefore the Assailants retired but out of a small Castle they slevv ten of the English and three Officers and an Horse-man and here also was Ensign Fortescue eldest Son to Sir Faithfull Fortescue slain a hopefull Gentleman and the first of that Rank lost in any Fight But it was no time to delay having won the out-Town then fired all the houses about that Castle carrying the smoak and fire to the very Tower and Castle and so undescried got under the Walls to the very Gate blew it open and those within choaked and fired leaped out at the Windows A Serjeant with five men by promise of Pillage enter and were Masters of the Castle and thirty good Musketiers manned the Streets drew up Ordnance against the inner Gate and with ten Wool-packs ready in the Castle with which making a kinde Defence the Enemy fled leaving their Guns loaden Their Generalissimo O Neal now in the Town stole away with others over the River Tichburn enters killing all before him and sends to the Lord Moor that the Town was deserted who entered another way and were Masters of all by seven a clock at night above an hundred slain and of the Assailants but fourteen But by this O Neal had fled to Bally Muscomilen a Castle of the Lord Moor's and in revenge burnt it This Victory was the Break-neck of the Rebellion Northwards And the Lord Moor had Commission from the Lords Justices to be Governour thereof In this time Captain Gibson commanding the Garrison at Bewby harrased the Countrey killed many Straglers so that the whole Countrey lay at the Protestants mercy And thus far we have proceeded in the intire story of the Irish Rebellion for this year But we must look back to England and see what they did here from the Kings return out of Scotland the latter end of November 1641. The King returns from Scotland magnificently feasted by the City of London and he at Hampton Court caresses them with a Banquet and dubbed divers Aldermen into the honour of Knighthood but how well they deserved forthwith we shall finde their merit The King convenes both Houses and the second of December tells them in effect That although he had staid longer than he expected four Moneths yet he kept his word in making so much haste back again as his Scotish affairs could any way permit In which he hath had so good success that he hath left that Nation a most peaceable and contented People but he is assured that his expectation is much deceived in the condition wherein he hoped to have business at his return for since that before his going he had settled the Liberties of his Subjects and gave the Laws their liberty he expected to have his People reaping the fruit by quietness But he findes them distracted with Iealousies and Allarms of Designs and Plots That Guards have been set to defend both Houses He
the Kings Answers unsatisfactory And that the Kingdom be put into a posture of Defence in such a way as is agreed upon by Parliament and a Committee to prepare a publick Declaration from these two Heads 1. The just causes of the Fears and Iealousies given to the Parliament and to clear them from any Iealousies conceived against them 2. To consider of all matters arising from his Majesties Message and what is fit to be done A man would wonder upon what grounds they should arm by Sea and Land specially so hastily resolved as the next day March 2. Advertisements they say of extraordinary preparations by the neighbouring Princes both by Land and Sea the intentions whereof are so represented as to raise a just apprehension of sudden Danger to the King and his Kingdoms unless the wisdom of Parliament prevent it And therefore the Earl of Northumberland Admiral of England is commanded with all speed to order the Rigging of the Kings Ships and fit them immediately for the Sea And to frighten us into fear all Masters and Owners of Ships are perswaded to do the like for the emergent occasions of publick Defence In order to these the Beacons were new made up Sea-marks set up such riding posting with Pacquets whispering and Tales telling as put the people in fear of they knew not what wise men onely told the Truth discovering the Enemy wholly at home I have been as brief as may be in the business of this year and yet to satisfie the curious I cannot omit all the occasions of this miserable Eruption which follows presuming yet that this Declaration designed may be spared the recording for certainly no new matter can be invented and what hither to hath been the cause the Reader has leave to judg But not to amuse your imaginations it self must satisfie the Declaration was born to Roiston by the Earls of Pembroke and Holland He who read it to the King this Lord being raised and created to become his most secret Counsellour the most intimate in affection the first of his Bed-chamber his constant companion in all his sports and recreations even in that place and to this hour At the sight of him the Kings countenance me thought mixed into compassion and disdain as who should as Caesar did Et tu mi fili But on he went to this effect March 9. The manifold Attempts to provoke your Majesties late Armie and the Scots Armie and to raise a Faction in London and other parts the Actours having their dependence countenance and encouragement from the Court witness Jermin's Treason who was transported beyond Sea by your Majesties Warrant and that dangerous Petition delivered to Captain Leg by your Majesties own Hand with a Direction signed C. R. The false and scandalous Accusation against the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members Plotting and designing a Guard about your person labouring to infuse into the people an ill opinion of the Parliament as if to raise Arms for a Civil War in which Combustion Ireland would be lost That the Lord Digby was sent to Sir John Pennington to be landed beyond Sea to vent his traiterous conceptions for the King to retire to some place of strength offering to correspond by cyphers with the Queen as if to procure some forreign Forces to assist your Majestie answerable to your remove with the Prince as in a readiness for the acting of it Manifold Advertisements which they have from Rome Venice Paris and other parts expecting the effects of the Kings Design to alter Religion and ruine the Parliament That the Popes Nuntio hath solicited the Kings of France and Spain to lend his Majesty four thousand Men a plece to help to maintain his Royalty against the Parliament And this foreign Force the most pernicious and malignant Design of all the rest so they hope it is from his thoughts Because no man will easily believe you will give up your People and Kingdom to be spoiled by strangers if you did not likewise intend to change both your own profession in Religion and the publick profession of the Kingdom that so you might be more assured of these foreign States of the Popish Religion for the future support and defence They â—eseech his Majesty to consider how fair a way he hath to happiness honour greatness plenty security if he would but joyn with his Parliament and people in defence of the Religion and Kingdom This is all they expect from him and for which they shall return their Lives Fortunes and utmost Endeavours to support him and Sovereignty And for the present have but onely this to desire To turn away his wicked Counsellours and put his trust in Parliament At the reading of that part which mentioned Master Iermin's transportation by his Majesties Warrant the King interrupted him and said That 's false And at the business of Captain Leg he told him 'T is a Lie And at the end of all he said He was confident the Parliament had worse information than he had Councils What have I denied you The Militia said Holland That 's no Bill The other replied It was necessary Which I have not denied but in the manner His Lordship would perswade the King to come near the Parliament Have you given me cause said the King This Declaration is not the way to it and in all Aristotle's Rhetoricks there is no such Argument of perswasion Pembroke that he might say something said it over again The Parliament prays him to come to them The King told him Words were not sufficient What would you have Sir said he The King replied To whip a Boy in Westminster School that could not tell that by my Answer Then the Lord asked him to grant the Militia for a time Not an hour this was never asked of any King with which I will not trust my Wife and Children But his Majesties Answer to all was this That to their Fears and Iealousies he would take time to satisfie all the World hoping that God would in his good time discover the secrets and bottoms of all Plots and Treasons to set him upright with his people For his Fears and Doubts are not trivial while so many scandalous Pamphlets seditious Sermons sundry Tumults publick are uninquired into and unpunished He must confess his Fears calling God to witness they are the greater for the Religion for his people and for their Laws than for his own Rights or safetie of himself and yet he tells them none of these are free from Danger What would you have said he Have I violated your Laws Have I denied any one Bill What have ye done for me Have my people been transported with Fears and Apprehensions I have I offer a free pardon as your selves can devise There is a Iudgment from Heaven upon this Nation if these Distractions continue God so deal with me and mine as all my thoughts and intentions are right for the maintenance of the true Protestant profession the observation and preservation of
peoples Their many and sore oppressions grieve me I am above mine own what I want in the hands of force and power I have in the wings of Faith and Prayer But this is the strange method these men will needs take to resolve their Riddle of making me a glorious King by taking away my Kingly power thus I shall become a support to my Friends and a terrour to mine Enemies being unable to succour the one or suppress the other For thus have they designed and propoâ—ed to me the new modelling of Sovereigntie and Kingship so without any realitie of power or without any necessitie of subjection and obedience That the Majestie of the Kings of England might hereafter hang like Mahomet's Tomb by a Magnetick Charm between the power and privileges of the two Houses in an aierie imagination of Regalitie But I believe the surfeit of too much power which some men have greedily seized on and now seek wholly to devour will ere long make the Common-wealth sick both of it and them since they cannot well digest it Sovereign Power in Subjects seldom agreeing with the Stomachs of fellow Subjects Yet I have even in this point of the constant Militia sought by satisfying their fears and importunities both to secure my Friends and overcome mine Enemies to gaine the peace of all by depriving my self of a sole power to help or hurt any yielding the Militia which is mine undoubted Right no less than the Crown to be disposed of as the two Houses shall thank fit during my time So willing am I to burie all Iealousies in them of me and to live above all Iealousies of them as to my self I desire not to be safer than I wish them and my people if I had the sole actual disposing of the Militia I could not protect my People further than they protected me and themselves so that the use of the Militia is mutual I would but defend my self so far as to be able to defend my good Subjects from those mens violence and fraâ—d who conscious to their own evil merits and Designs will needs perswade the world that none but Wolves are fit to be trusted with the custodie of the Shepherd and his Flock Miserable experience hath taught my Subjects since power hath been wrested from me and imployed against me and them that neither can be safe if both be not in such away as the Law hath intrusted the publick safetie and welfare Yet even this Concession of mine as to the exercise of the Militia so vast and large is not satisfactorie to some men which seem to be Enemies not to me onely but to all Monarchie and are resolved to transmit to posteritie such Iealousies of the Crown as they should never permit it to enjoy its just and necessarie Rights in point of power to which as last all Law is resolved while thereby it is best protected But here Honour and Iustice due to my Successours forbid me to yield to such a total alienation of that power from them which civilitie and dutie no less than Iustice and Honour should have forbad them to have asked of me For although I can be content to eclipse mine own beams to satisfie their fears who think they must needs be scorched or blinded if I should shine in the full lustre of Kingly power wherewith God and the Laws have invested me yet I will never consent to put out the Sun of Sovereigntie to all posteritie and succeeding Kings whose just recoverie of their Rights from unjust usurpations and extortions shall never be prejudiced or obstructed by any Act of mine which indeed would not be more injurious to succeeding Kings than to my Subjects whom I desire to leave in a condition not wholly desperate for the future so as by a Law to be ever subjected to those many factious Distractions which must needs follow the many-headed Hydra of Government which as it makes a shew to the people to have more eys to foresee so they will finde it hath more mouths too which must be satisfied and at best it hath rather a monstrositie than any thing of perfection beyond that of right Monarchie where counsel may be in many as the senses but the Supreme power can be but in one as the Head Happily when men have tried the horrours and malignant influence which will certainly follow my enforced Darkness and Eclipse occasioned by the interposition and shadow of that Bodie which as the Moon receiveth its chiefest light from me they will at length more esteem and welcome the restored glorie and blessing of the Sun 's light And if at present I may seem by my receding so much from the use of my Rights in the power of the Militia to come short of the Discharge of that trust to which I am sworn for my peoples protection I conceive those men are guiltie of the inforced perjurie if so it may seem who compell me to take this new and strange way of discharging my Trust by seeming to desert it or protecting my Subjects by exposing my self to Danger or Dishonour for their safetie and quiet Which in the Conflicts of Civil War and Advantages of Power cannot be effected but by some side yielding to which the greatest love of the publick peace and the firmest assurance of Gods protection arising from a good conscience doth more invite me than can be expected from other mens fears which arising from the injustice of their actions though never so succesfull yet dare not adventure their Authours upon any other way of safetie than that of the Sword and Militia which yet are but weak Defenses against the stroaks of divine vengeance which will over-take or of mens own consciences which always attend injurious perpetrations For my self I do not think that I can want any thing which providential necessitie is pleased to take from me in order to my peoples tranquillitie and Gods glorie whose protection is sufficient for me and he is able by his being with me abundantly to compensate to me as he did to Job whatever honour power or libertie the Chaldeans the Sabeans or the Devil himself can deprive me of Although they take from me all Defence of Arms and Militia all Refuge by Land of Forts and Castles all Flight by Sea in my Ships and Navie yea though they studie to rob me of the hearts of my Subjects the greatest Treasure and best Ammunition of a King yet cannot they deprive me of mine own innocencie or Gods mercie nor obstruct my way to Heaven We enter upon the militarie effects of this civil uncivil War betwixt the King and Parliament both parties preparing their several Armies The King is Generalissimo himself in person over his own his Captain General as yet named was the Marquess Hertford but when he came to action he elected for his General that faithfull loyal wellâ—experienced Commander the Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain of England And the Earl of Essex was Captain General for
Earl of Essex to Brainford so near the King and if peace had been intended by the Parliament it would be conceived more proper to have sent to the King rather a Paper of just Propositions than an unjust Accusation of his Councils proceedings and person And his Majesty sent them word that he intends to march to such a distance from London that may take away all pretence of apprehension from his Armie that may hinder them from yet preparing Propositions of peace to present him and thereby to receive them or end these pressures and miseries I am the more curious in the controversion of this Accident to relate the Narrative and leave the Censure to the Readers impartiality And now again the four and twentieth of November the Parliament with their old Mode petition the King to return to his Parliament with his Royal not his Martial Attendance and they shall be ready to give him Assurances of such security as may be for his honour and the safety of his person To which the King answers with so much reason confuting their pretended loyal desires by the effects of their violence against him from the first of their Petitions of this kinde remindes them of their pretensions and of his candid and gracious offers and actions wishes that his Declarations Protestations Messages Answers and Replies to the Parliament were ingenuously published by them to undeceive his people abused into misbelief of him and his best actions and so returns to Reading The effect of all this intended Address for Accommodation rather increased a more desperate Division between the King and Parliament by a far stretched exasperating Relation styling it The barbarous and cruel passages of the Kings Armie at Brainford The Preamble belcheth out such unnatural inhumane and strange cruelties which send forth a voice and that voice so loud that it awakes even secure mankinde and stirs up their bowels to an inflamed and united indignation like the divided pieces of that woman abused to death c. There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came out of Egypt c. It is a Lamentation and to be taken up for a Lamentation no such thing hath been done since England came out of the Egypt of Rome Acts so far out of ken and view of Christianitie that they are void of humanitie yea short of the nature of wilde beasts c. And a great deal more of such stuff that a man might be amazed to finde the Parliaments Order for the speedy imprinting it Nov. 24. Then follows the Relation so poorly penned so short of expectation so pitifully expressed and yet so far differing from the truth being within the ken of last days remembrance that in earnest I need not confirm it with Rhetorick that these times took up a liberty to amaze the people with even Impossibilities which yet were believed Some reputation the Kings successes here took with his Friends beyond Seas that by a Letter written from the Hague to Secretary Nicholas intercepted and read in the House it appears what effect it wrought Which successes of the King hath supported our credits here says the Letter that the Prince of Orange hath advanced all those sums we are to expect from him of which twenty thousand pounds are sent towards you as much to New-castle and as much at least we bring with us besides the great business we expect a final end of this day which will advance sixty thousand pounds more We have sent over ten thousand Foot Arms two thousand Horse Arms twenty Pieces of Canon we bring over Wagons and all Accommodation to march so soon as we arrive with considerable Officers from hence and by the advice we receâ—â—â— from that side there are eight thousand Foot already six Troops of Horse and the rest will not be long a raising after we come there General King is designed for Lieutenant General he hath been with the Queen and will be suddenly there From Denmark are likewise sent Arms for ten thousand Foot and two thousand five hundred Horse with a Train of Artillerie and every thing proportionable to the very Drums and Halberds Two good Men of War come their Convoy and in them an Ambassadour to his Majestie a person of great qualitie from Denmark Cokram comes along with him We have great apprehensions here intimated by my Lord of Holland of a Treatie entered into c. Hague Nov. 22. 1642. And this supposed to be from Colonel Goring or rather so set out by the Parliament for at the publishing of this Letter they shew so much Danger as necessarily to require thirty thousand pounds to be lent by the City on Tuesday next that the Ministers are required to stir up their Parishioners and the Church-wardens to assemble their Parish to morrow after Sermon and on Munday next the Money is to be brought in at Guild-hall which they shall raise of Contribution From Saturday to Tuesday thirty thousand pounds Loan and God knows how much Church-offerings and all upon a ranting Letter made up for that purpose 'T is true that afterwards supplies of Arms and Money did arrive but as yet no certainty but by intelligence from beyond Seas which you see did their work in earnest for borrowing Money Since the first of December to the tenth the state of the military affairs in the North stand thus the Earl of Newcastle for the King came to York and joyned his Forces to the Earl of Cumberlands making in all eight thousand Horse and Foot of which there are above two thousand Horse Dragoons a strength too potent to be resisted by the Lord Fairfax who now had Commission for the command of the North for the Parliament for upon Newcastle's coming over the Tees Sir Edward Loftus with all the Richmondshire Forces and Sir Henry Anderson with those of Cleveland about a thousand returned home to their houses so that the whole strength of the North is but one and twenty Companies of Foot and seven Troops of Horse and one Company of Dragoons That Captain Hotham is made Lieutenant General under Fairfax and the rest with Fairfax at Tadcaster but both of them joyned upon the coming of the Earl of Newcastle to Tadcaster where the several Forces encounter from eleven a clock till four in the evening in a sharp dispute the Earl had won part of the Town beaten Fairfax's men and placed some Companies in several houses which were forced back again to a Retreat and an hundred slain and seventeen Prisoners The Parliament party lost but six men they say and Captain Lister shot into the head and twenty more desperately wounded but not being able to sit it out for a second Encounter the Lord Fairfax quitted the Town and marched to Cawood and Selbie to receive Supplies dividing their Army into those places From Selbie Sir Thomas Fairfax is sent with five Companies and two Troops to Leeds but was forced back again That the
the middle Rank of people the Gentry in general for the King which made the Contribution heavy upon the other grumbling at Taxes always covetous where they are not affected In Ianuary it was that the Kings Forces marched resolving to storm Cirencester but they onely faced the Town and retired And the Parliaments Forces had their Design upon Sudeley Castle kept by Captain Bridges for the Lord Chandos Lieutenant Colonel Massey draws from Glocester with three hundred Musquetiers two Sakers and four Companies of Dragoons from Cirencester In the Castle were sixty Souldiers and all things sufficient and endured several shot and Cannon The next day they drew up to the Assault and kept by the help of Beds and Woolpacks tumbled before them to save them from shot the Horse and Dragoons possessing a Garden under the Castle fired the Hay and Straw smothering the House in the Blinde whereof the Ordinance were brought up and planted against the West part of the Wall and so became surrendred upon quarter to pass to their homes and to leave their Arms and were to pay for the Goods in the Castle five hundred pounds in six days or to lose them But some days after comes Prince Rupert with four thousand Horse and Foot pretending to regain it but marched by to Cirencester a stragling open Town neither fortified nor indeed capable of defence the champion Countrey helpfull to the Horse his greatest strength and on the first oâ— Febr. the Assault was first made upon a House a flight-shot from â—he Town defended an hour by an hundred shot then the Prince draws up their Musquetiers and by Granadoes fired the Barns smothered the Guard and marched into the Town by main force and in two hours mastered all and the Earl of Stamford's Regiment put to the sword and many more slain eleven hundred Prisoners and three thousand Arms laid up for the Countrey Magazine are taken and so carried in triumph to Oxford to shame them for disobedience The next day the Prince marches to Glocester his hasty Summons startled them at these strange turnings but Massey makes Answer That they were resolved to defend the Citie for the use of the King and Parliament and would not surrender at the Command of a foreign Prince And to maintain its strength the outward Garisons as Sudeley was deserted Teuxbury Garison wanting to secure themselves the Countrey backward to come in to them the Governour draws up Propositions for Peace and sent them to Sir William Russel which were granted The Army in Wales raised for the King by the Earl of Worcester and his Son the Lord Herbert begins to appear and designed for Glocester and was marched forwards and come to Coford in the Forest of Dean three Miles from Monmouth where Colonel Burrows Regiment for the Parliament had made a loose Garison for defence of the Forest where the Welch fell on and drave their Enemy before them divers Officers slain Sir Richard Lundy Major General of South-Wales and for the Parliament Lieutenant Colonel Winter and many other and fifty taken Prisoners And thus this Welch Army prevailing march on towards Glocester and setle at Hingham house two miles off and there intrench and Sir Ierome Bret Major General demanded the Town but was refused with scorn as not to yield to a Welch Army that denied twice Prince Rupert's Summons before but indeed they expected the Prince to assist them on the other side of the Town the cause that they lodged nastily so long as five weeks never attempting their Enemies out-guards nor the least party that issued out Mean while the Prince was to wait upon other Designs the Bristol Plot offered it self upon whâ—ch he attended before their Gates thence he was drawn off to stop Sir Waller's advance for the Relief of Glocester who deceived the Prince by false Reports and Night-marches drilling along his small Army The Governour Massey could attempt nothing till Captain Iohn Fines came from Bristol with two hundred Horse and Dragoons which issued out and skirmished with the Welch and so imployed till that after the taking of Malmsbury Waller came to Glocester laying his Design to surprize the Welch and Massey to draw out at the time appointed Horse and Foot before Hingham and to keep them in action not to understand his apâ—â—â—ach and for the flat-bottom'd Boats brought from London to be â—worsdâ— to Frampton passage six miles below Glocester where the Horse and Foot arrived by noon passed over by night and intrapped the Welch Massey likewise drew up all his Horse and five hundred Foot with his Ordnance near to the House keeping them near fifteen hundred in play till evening at Sun rising they were fresh allarm'd by the great Guns and held to it by the Musket-shot when in the forenoon the Welch Horse forced their way through the Horse-guard and put them to a disorderly Retreat but coming up to the Foot-guard received a Repulse whichâ— Foot-guard was thought too weak and had Relief of a party drawn from the Artillery the Welch at that instant fell upon the Ordnance likely to be deserted in this point of action Waller comes up with his Warning Piece on the other side much amazing the Welch and revived the other who thus encouraged they ran upon a Redoubt and took it with two Captains and thirty Souldiers Waller made a better shew than in substance two Foot Regiments made some few shot of Cannon upon the House and the Welch sounded a Parley with this Result To render the House and themselves Prisoners but the Officers should receive quarter as to their qualities Upon these hard terms they resolved to break through in a dark and rainy night but the common men would not and so they yielded upon these terms Divers persons of quality were here taken the Gentry of Herefordshire The next day the Prisoners were lead to Glocester The Scots Army marched Southward and crossed Tine March 13. and met no Enemy till they were forced from Bowdsn Hill by the Earl of Newcastle twenty days after And to end this Year the Synod began to sit at Westminster and what to do to reform or rather to set up a new model of Church-government Presbyterian and what they shall do God knows what they have done we can tell received their Wages for many years since of four Shillings a Day and rose again without finishing so much as their intended Directory We conclude with these two Letters of the Pope sent to his people of Ireland which were returned from them to the Parliament of England to put them in minde of that miserable Kingdom The Pope was not wanting to encourage the Rebellion with his Apostolical Letters to Oneal and other Letters to the Ecclesiasticks thus Dilecto filio Eugenio O Nello c. To our beloved Son Eugenius O Neal Health and Happiness Beloved Son It hath ever been our constant custom to lay hold on every opportunity whereby you following the steps of your progenitors
Ordnance before to choose out so many commanded Musquetiers of the English of late come out of Ireland as might well be spared out of that Garison These were a thousand Musquetiers of Colonel Broughtons and Colonel Tilliers Regiments with a hundred and twenty of Colonel Sir Fulke Huncks All these sent down by the Severne met the Prince at Bridgenorth on Fryday Of Horse he took along his own Troop and Regiment with twenty of Major General Sir Hurrey's with these Forces he drew along three Field-pieces At Wolverhamton next day was his Army recruited by a hundred Horse and two hundred Foot of Colonel Levesons On Munday night he had notice at Ashby de la Zouch of two thousand two hundred Enemies under Sir Edward Hartop sent out by Meldruâ—â— to the pass and bridge over the Sore a mile from Loughborow in Leicester-shire Their purpose was either to intercept General Major George Porter or to prevent his joyning with my Lord Loughborow For thither with four Regiments of Horse and aâ— thousand commanded Musquetiers of my Lord of Newcastles men was Master Porter now come from about Newark to hinder the farther inroads into Leicestershire Dayly slight Skirmishes here passed For Meldrum not able to force the passaâ—â— and hearing of my Lord of Loughborow's drawing out they stole away Porter thus dis-ingaged was the next day together with my Lord Loughborow's forces conjoyned to the Prince's That night they all quartered in a Close by Bingham eight miles short of Newark About two of the clock the Moon then well up the drums beat and all marched Hitherto had the marches been so speedy as fame it self was prevented for by Meldrum's own Letter sent to the Lord Fairfax which was intercepted the night before they had no more but an uncredited rumor of Prince Rupert's coming On this dayes march Rupert had notice by his espyalls how the Enemies were busied all that morning in sending away their Cannons which proved no other then their drawing them off their Batteries into their chiefe work at the Spittle or Excester House a little more then musket shot from the Town for into that one Quarter had they that morning drawn all their Regiments and Amunition The Prince having intelligence of their amassing themselves into one Body which he supposed a preparation to march off suddenly advanc'd his Van of Horse upon the spur to overtake them the rest of his Horse had order to keep along with the Foot Cannon and Amunition Coming near the Beacon-hill a mile short of Newark he perceived some Horses of the enemies who upon his approach drew down the other side to their own Grosse The Prince thus easily gaining the hill increased his natural courage upon his apprehension besides of having many advantages upon a retreating enemy Whereupon Courage sayes he let 's charge them with the Horse we have and ingage them till our Reer and Foot be march'd up to us Trooping thus to the edge of the hill he perceived the most of the enemy in Battalia Horse and Foot near the Spittle all except four great Bodies of Horse who expected him at the very descent of the hill The Prince thus ordered his own few Forces first himself with his own Troop of Life-guards undertook to attack that Body on the left hand appointing my Lord Loughborow's Troop to second him and Colonel Gerard's Troop to be as a Reserve a little on my Lords right hand The Princes Regiment was cast out into five divisions two Troops to each division in the first and very right hand of all were Captain Gardiner and Captain Richardson then Captain Cobb and Captain Martin then the Lord Grandison and Sir Thomas Dallison next them the Troops of Sir Lewis Dives and the Lord Dillon Major Leggs and Lieutenant-Colonel O-Neales Troops being next unto the Life-guards this Regiment was seconded by Major General Porters Regiment the Field-word was King and Queen theirs Religion The fight began about nine a clock and after a while grew sturdy especially on Rupert's right wing the other doubling their files from three to six deep and charged two outmost Troops upon the Flanks so hard that Captain Martin came timely in to help to beat them off the Prince himself having pierced deep into the enemies and being observed for his valour was dangerously at once assaulted by three sturdy persons whereof one fell by Rupert's own sword a second being pistoll'd by Master Mortaigne one of his own Gentlemen the third now ready to lay hand on the Princes collar had it almost chopt off by Sir William Neale He thus dis-engaged with a shot only in his gauntlet with Sir Richard Crane and his own Troop charged quite thorow that Body pursuing them in rout home to their very Works at the Spittle presently after this his Regiment with their seconds likewise routed the three other Bodies four of the Troops charging even into the Work and bringing away a Captain Prisoner Loughborow also deported himself honourably some of his shrunk at the second charge himself rode back to rally and bring them up again Major-general Porter charged with much bravery though some of his also retired up the hill in disorder Colonel Charles Gerard did here like himself but by the fall of his horse was bruised shot in the arm and taken prisoner After a while both sides began to rallie and make ready for a second charge the Prince to make impression and they to receive it and though for a good while they disputed it toughly yet by fine force were they and all the rest driven quite out of the Field beyond their own Work Foot and Cannon at the Spittle divers of them hasting by a bridge of boats over that branch of the Trent into the Island four other Troops with as many Foot-companies hasted up to Muskham bridge upon the other side of the Island and main stream of the River about three quarters of a mile both from Newark and the Spittle here they stayed till towards evening when breaking the bridge behinde them and throwing one piece of Cannon into the Trent they then hastned to Nottingham In both these stiffe bouts the Prince took Five Cornets and Ninetie Prisoners whereof three Captaines some Gentlemen three Cornets besides other Officers and two Cannoniers And now as if an universal truce had been agreed upon there was some half an hours silence excepting that the enemies Cannonado's disturbed it For the Foot had not yet advanced and their Horse by this time had enough of it As for the Prince he now stayed for his Foot and Reer of Horse both left full two miles behinde when his Van began to double their march to overtake the enemy anon came up his Foot all that day commanded by Colonel Tilliar these resting themselves a while upon the hill the first division being part of those that came from Shrewsbury were led on by the Colonel these marcht down in the face of the enemy hooting at their Cannon these
which was assessed in Money proportionable to the condition of the Family The Scots are come and great care taken at Westminster for pay of that Army the twentieth part over all the North they have power to assess for themselves and all Malignants Estates that they can seize within their reach Nay several Counties and Associations are assessed for them Against whom the Marquess of Newcastle marched Northwards and to attack him in Yorkshire follows Sir Thomas Fairfax who was guided by his Father as the Father is by the grand Committee at Westminster as the Committee is by the Scots This dependency being very necessary to assure them good Welcome for so says their Letter to the Lord Fairfax My Lord VVe have taken into consideration the opportunity offered for reducing of Yorkshire whilest the Marquess of Newcastle hath drawn his Forces towards the North to oppose the Scots and how necessary it is to hinder his further Levies that Sir Thomas your Son march into the VVest Riding with all his Horse with two Regiments of Foot out of Lancashire and that your self take the Field with what Forâ—es you can and joyn with your Son for effecting these ends to hold a continual Intelligence with the Scots Army by drawing near Tees March 2. Northumberland Jo Maitland And here we see the great Earl of Northumberland invites the ancient Enemies of England into his own County and the Lord Fairfax into Yorkshire Cambridg University lay under the ordering of the Earl of Manchester Serjeant Major General of the Association where these Heads of Houses were turned out Dr. Beal Dr. Martin Dr. Stern in whose places were put in Masters of the Colleges Mr. Palmer Mr. Arrowsmith Mr. Vines as men more fit indeed such others as these were changed into the like I know not how more fit I am sure some of them are famous for false Latine Sir William Waller forward on his way to finde out the Lord Hopton who was drawn out of Winchester with sufficient Horse to oppose Sir William Balfore whom Waller had sent before to possess Alresford but came last for his Lordship was there first and forced Waller into small Villages in the morning Hopton drew down to Bramdean Heath and found Waller on a fair Hill and would not be forced thence till a long Dispute the Hill thus gained Colonel Lisle with his commanded Men kept it all night in this time of darkness Waller had mastered another Hill of greater advantage by the covert of Trees and Hedges which Colonel Appleford was to repossess and found it a hard Task to mount up against the powring shot of such as lined the Hedges not seen from whence it came Volleys well performed which yet were fain to give way to force which cost them dear enough for they paid a good price for it Here was a pretty breathing if Waller went off Hopton would follow to his undoing if they came on they would undo themselves but the Allarm was given by a mistaking Corporal of Hopton's who took his Enemies for Friends and so were engaged too far to seek throughout within their Ambuscadoes who now play their parts by this Advantage and put Hopton to a Retreat and neither parts had cause to cry Victoria for both sides were soundly beaten I intitle the Fight to the Lord Hopton but General Forth was there upon the other score he came in with the Lord Iohn Stuart sore wounded but I know not how concluded for dead yet Sir Arthâ—r Hasâ—erig called it A safe Deliverance though at London it was cried up for a Victory on this side Sir William Balfore in his Letter to his General â—ssex numbers then to be eight Commanders killed by him the Lord Stuart indeed and Sir Iohn Smith died afterwards of their wounds two gallant Gentlemen so did Colonel Sandys and Colonel Manning and Colonâ—l Scot Colonel Appleyard and Captain Pierson Sir Edward Stowel and Sir Henry Bard these were hurt and deserve honourable mention But at London they mention three Lords killed Stuart is confessed but not the General who they make a double one for his two Titles Forth and Ruthen And so they are described to be Gebal Moab and Ammon and to be utterly vanquished by the Servant of God Sir VVilliam VValler And the Parliament had some of theirs slain Dalbier wounded and Colonel Thomson had his Leg shot off by a Cannon Bullet And this happened upon a Friday March 29. The Cavaliers in disorder drew their Cannon off towards VVinchester but wheeled off unseen to Basing House VValler marches to VVinchester which was rendered to him upon Summons and Hopton is now at Oxford But a solemn Thanksgiving was ordered in London for this Victory and some Members sent to the City to encourage them for Supplies The Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery told them That the City Auxiliaries had done their part and if they went but once more they would rid the Kingdoms of these Rogues the occasion of all our miseries And upon these preparations and success of the Parliament the King draws all his Forces to a Rendezvouz to oppose his Adversaries And as VValler had done such Encouragements heightened others to undertake Mountains Colonel Griffith commonly called Prince Griffith had the confidence to propose to the House of Commons That if he might have a Commission to command in chief of all North Wales next under General Essex and to have Delinquents Estates there by him to be discovered and the Income of such as he should conquer in North Wales not exceeding the Sum of fifteen thousand pounds he would engage his Life and Estate to raise such Forces as should reduce Wales to obedience Which was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms And he set out in all magnificence with his Silver Trumpets and guarded Coats But at his first Encounter with some of Prince Rupert's Forces whom he sought out for a single Duel Prince Griffith was totally routed which occasioned a merry Lady to tell him He looked sadly ever since he lost his Silver Trumpets And so cashiered he became debaucht and abused the Lady Herbert for which he was imprisoned but her honour much concerned he was released and so having spent a reasonable Fortune he was necessitated to travel beyond Seas where at Paris he was killed in a Tavern the end of his impudency We may enter this Spring with the setting out of General Essex and his Army to be recruited to seven complete Regiments of Foot and six Regiments of Horse and a constant Pay of thirty thousand five hundred and four pounds a Moneth for four Moneths And the Parliaments Navy to be complete for this Summer with addition of twelve Merchants Ships in the places of nine others unserviceable and fifteen small Catches to be added to the Fleet. And a new way of Contribution was devised for getting Moneys towards the charge of arming the Auxiliary Forces now raising within the City of London That all Inhabitants
Merits The Queen began her Journey this day from Oxford towards the West of England those parts the most free from the poweâ— of her Enemies and more peaceable for her quiet rather than Oxford where though she were safe yet not secure from noise and business not much though regarding their Forces nor much troubled at the falsities for which the Parliament at VVestminster had voted her a Traitour besides the vain Libells that were let loose from Press and Pulpit in much plenty against the honour and dignity of Majesty and so she was conducted by the King Prince and Duke of York waited on with the chief Nobility and Gentry the first days Journey The King in presence of his Peers before they parted from Oxford received the holy Eucharist at Christ's Church from the hands of the Arch-bishop of Armagh used these publick Expressions immediately before his receiving the blessed Elements he rose up from his knees and beckning to the Arch-bishop for a short forbearance made this Protestation My Lord I espie hâ—re many resolved Protestants who may declare to the world the Resolution I do now make I have to the utmost of my power prepared my Soul to become a worthy Receiver and may I so receive comfort by the blessed Sacrament as I do intend the Establishment of the true Reformed Protestant Religion as it stood in its beauty in the happy daies of Queen Elizabeth without any connivence at Popery I bless God that in the midst of these publick Distractions I have still liberty to communicate and may this Sacrament be my Damnation if my heart do not joyn with my lips in this Protestation The King had caused a Garison in South Wales at Swansey a Town of good note in the County of Glamorgan under command of the high Sheriff residing there in person and were summoned from a Ship-board by Captain Molton To the Mayor and Gentlemen of Swansey Gentlemen these are to will and require you in the Name of the right honourable Robert Earl of Warwick Lord high Admiral of England Wales and Ireland and his Majesties Navy Royal at Sea that you forthwith yield the Town and Garison to the King and Parliament c. And this is the advice of your Friend who endeavours to preserve you if not I shall keep you without Trade till your forced obedience bring you to the mercie of him that tendereth to you grace and favour Milford-haven from the Ship called the Lion Ro. Molton This Lion-like sawcy Paper the high Sheriff received and suddenly sends Answer To Robert Molton Subscriber unto the Paper directed to the Mayor and Gentlemen of Swansey We cannot understand how we may with any justice or loyaltie return you the name of a Gentleman in answer to your rude and rebellious Paper in the front whereof you have the boldness and presumption in the Name of the right honourable as you term him whom we account otherwise Robert Earl of Warwick by you styled high Admiral of England and his Majesties Navie Royal which he hath illegally possessed to will and require us forthwith to yield the Town and Garison of Swansey into the obedience of the King and Parliament c. In defiance of which your traiterous Summons under a spurious shew of your loyalty and subjection to his Majestie We will not yield Town nor Garison nor any the least interest we hold of Life or Fortune under protection of his sacred Majestie but will defend the same against your proud and insolent Menacingâ— wherein your proper Trade is exhibited and in the account of a Rebell and Traitour we leave you to your self May 14. Subscribed by the high Sheriff and Gentlemen of Glamorganshire Certainly this Frolick for a Ship Captain to attach a Land Garison was not with any assurance to master it by his great Guns or that he could imagine so great fear in Master Sheriff to quit his trust upon a weak Summons rather it was with an intent to answer that Knack of a Troop of Horse in the North who finding some Sailers drinking in an Ale-house seized their Ship and Goods hard by in a blinde Creek If Captain Molton could have done so by Swansey he needed the less to give warning by Summons but he left it as he found it in the Sheriffs command Latham house was sore beset with a Siege against that noble Countess of Derby for above three Moneths by these Commanders Ashton Moor and Rigby nay by the power of Sir Thomas Middleton and Sir William Fairfax addition upon whom the besieged have sallied out and killed many at several times Colonel Moor's men erected a Breast of Mutton on a Pikes point held it up to the hunger-starved Rascals within daring them to come out and dine and the Countess was called to by name a young Gentleman Captain Chisnall desired my Lady that he might sally out ere the Table should be taken away which he did ere they had dined forced into their Trenches took divers Prisoners and some Colours which instantly they carried to the back Gates of the House opened them and shewing these Colours cried out A Latham a Latham the House is taken hereupon the Enemy being ignorant of this Deceit concluded it to be taken and advancing in a Body came in speed to the Gate where they were welcomed with three Pieces of Cannon and much execution and thus this Lady held out Latham till Prince Rupert came to her Relief For on Tuesday May 21. he marched on his way towards Lancashire and the five and twentieth towards Stopwash a border Town of Cheshire seated on the Banck of the River Mersey dividing these two Counties here the Parliament had a strong Garison who drew out with three thousand Horse and Foot and faced Rupert's Horse but at the coming up of his Foot in the Evening about six a clock the other side withdrew to the Hedges and lining them shot through which he must pass and therefore he commands Colonel Washington with some Dragoons to scowre the Hedges and forced them to the Town whom the Prince followed so close that he entered with them and took the Town Cannon Army and Amunition and many Prisoners Then being so near he sends Relief to the Countess of Derby who had now opposed a strong Siege of eighteen Weeks but her Adversaries were rising and going in fear to stay for Prince Râ—pert yet not without some Farewell therefore the Garison sallied out fell upon the Enemies Rear killed some and took Prisoners and so way was given for the Earl of Derby to return home to his own house The King having drawn out all his Forces from several Garisons to meet at Goring Heath in Oxfordshire the Parliament at Westminster was much troubled ordering that their General Essex the Earl of Manchester and Lord Grey with what Forces could be raised at London with the Garisons of Windsor and Alisbury and all to meet at the general Rendezvouz Alisbury in the
at Burford where they both met what their Councels were we may imagine by the sequel In the mean time it was confidently affirmed that divers of Essex his Souldiers were weary of their marching and left him Buâ— here at Burford it was concluded that General Essex with his heavy Guns should march fair and softly to these Counties of the West Countries to reduce them to the Parliament and that Sir W. Waller with the lighter Field Pieces should joyn with Massey's Forces and pursue the King to which Waller seems unwilling for he was the rather for the West to recover his late misfortunes there until his friends advised him to his own game better to act at a distance from Essex that two Suns cannot shine in one Sphere So that Essex marches to Farindon and Sir William towards Glocester which design gave jealousie to the Members at Westminster who voted ten thousand pound a moneth from their General to Sir William of which the Earl complains to the Parliament in a Letter and subscribes Your innocent though suspected servant ESSEX The King marches from Bourton on the water with his Army to Pershore and on Tuesday to Worcester joyfully received by that Loyal City He sent out relief to Dudly Castle and afterwards hearing that Waller came nearer by tedious and hungry marches the King intended to tire him out and to that end advanced towards Bewdly Iune 12. where he stayed four dayes But then considering how maliciously he was traced by a contemptible Adversary the King turns back vvith resolution to be furnished vvith Amunition from Oxford and to give him Battel Some Troops of Horse vvere therefore ordered to shevv themselves along the Shore of Severn tovvards Bridgenorth as if he meant to march to Shrewsbury Waller at Brovesgrove hears of this and had quartered some of his Horse at Kiddermister vvithin tvvo miles of his Majesty and presently dislodged them and made vvhat haste he could to get before the King Knovving that having a full proportion of Pikes and Ordnance of which the King had none he might fight at great advantage But the King amazed him and with his Foot came before night to Worcester his Horse soon following leaving Waller to encounter with his shadow two daies march behind And the next day Iune 16. the King marches through Eversham to Bradway and the next day to Burford and there he was provided from Oxford to meet the expected Wallers coming and meant to fight him Aâ— Whitney 7. miles from Oxford the King staies where some Forces came and imbodied with his Army during those marches the Parliament heard thereof and of the Kings absence from Oxford they vote therefore that all the Horses about London should be taken up to scour the County of Oxford from victualling that City least they should they said be troubled with a winters siege and crosse the Proverb after the stable door is shut to steale the Horses But the King being at Buckingham and having intelligence that Waller was at Chipping-norton and the next day to Pillerton in Warwickshire His Majesty marches to Brackley 26. of Iune and Waller to his Rendezvouse in Keâ—nton Fields where his friends came to him from Coventry VVarwick and Kenelmworth Castle with these he ascends Edge-hill and so to Harley The King marches to Culworth and lay that night at Sir Samuel Danvers On Friday VValler gets to Hanwel and so to Croch-hill near Banbury hither was the King come into Grymsbury Fields facing his Enemies all that day and stayed all that night having sent 1000. well commanded men under Conduct of Colonel Thelwall to defend that side of Burley towards his Enemy and also Nethorp a Village adjoyning which was disputed with losse on both sides till night But so soon as the Sun VValler drew off and advanced to Burton Hill somewhat neerer Banbury and stood in Batalia upon advantage of ground nor could be drawn dovvn so that he marches to Daintry leaving a Guard of Dragoons at Copredy Bridge being the passe over Charwel betvvixt the tvvo Armies The Kings Van and main Body gon and the Reare only passing by and the Musquetiers at the Bridge gon off then VValler makes dovvn to the Bridge vvith 2000. Horse and 9000. Foot 14. Pieces already gon over the rest of his Army coming after sufficient he thought to distresse the Kings Rear consisting of the Earl of Northampton and the Earl of Clevelands Brigades of Horse and Sir Bernards Tertia of Foot These faced about tvvice charging through and through and were so vvell seconded that they routed Sir VVilliams Horse and Foot killed 150. took his Ordnance viz. five Sakers one tvvelve pound Piece one Demiculverin tvvo Minions and tvvo three pound Pieces vvith other Leather Guns made by VVeems a Scot the Kings svvorm Servant and Master Gunner of England for vvhich Gun he had received of the King 2000. l. and by his place had 300. l. per. an for all vvhich he vvas novv become General of VVallers Artillery and novv God put him a Prisoner to the Kings mercy vvith the vvork of his hands and being brought before the King he said good faith his heart was alwaies with his Majesty There vvere these Prisoners Lieutenant Col. Baker Lieutenant Col. Baines three Captains Ramsey VVort and Hill tvvo Lieutenants Perry and Goodwin four Coronets Camfield Nichols Linde and Blades vvith other Ensignes and Officers 188. Common Souldiers and five Gunners The King lost tvvo Noble Kentish Knights Sir VVilliam Boteleer and Sir VVilliam Clark divers hurt the Lord VVilmot Lieutenant General of the Horse he vvas tvvice prisoner but rescued by Sir Frederick Cornwallis and Mr. Robert Haward Knighted for that Action Colonel Nevil hurt and so vvas Capt. Hatcher Capt. Boswel tvvelve Coroners vvere taken four of Foot and eight of Horse Coronet Bruke sore hurt vvith many Common Souldiers and 20. slain and this Defeat vvas performed the 29. of Iune and the King marched to Eversham and so to the Bath from vvhence vve hear no more of Sir VVilliam VValler but at London vvhither he travelled for Recruits and met his Dear Lady at VVestminster vvho saluted him aloud thou man of God come kisse me And in earnest Sir VVilliam did not much more in this Journey in reference to his Errand vvhich vvas to cath the King from his evil Councellours Indeed he faced VVorcester but at the like distance as an other Army did at Oxford vvheeled off and vvent to Glocester in hope of some Recruit to joyn vvith his Forces vvherein he failed for I finde from the very beginning of his Successes he was cried up for the London Conquerour and so stole the glory from their General who was used but coursly in their Discourses somewhat more dishonourably than he deserved and so increased eâ—mity and neglect between these two great Commanders and their confidents Massey being one devoted to Essex The King marches to Bath 15. Iuly and so towards the West into Cornwal in pursuit of General Essex
in him by the Parliament and adhered to the Enemie to be proved by his words by his Letters and by his actions and 1. His compliance with the Enemie the Lord Digby and the Marquess Newcastle 2. His Refusal to supplie the Lord Fairfax with Amunition to the great Disservice of the Parliament and prejudice of the Affairs in the North. 3. His uttering divers scandalous words against the Parliament and Close Committee 4. His endeavouring to betray the Town of Hull to the Enemie 5. His holding correspondencie with the Queen by several Messengers 6. His causing a Demi-culvering to be planted on the top of the Castle against the Town and two Pieces in the Block-house to give fire on the Parliament Ships 7. His sending away Mayor Captain of the Ship Hercules 8. His quitting of the Garison at Beverley which strengthened the Town of Hull 9. His endeavouring to escape so soon as his Designs were discovered All which were proved upon him by several Witnesses above thrity persons and that was the business of this day On Munday after he comes to his Defence beginning with a tedious Narrative of his faithfulnesâ— in maintaining the Town of Hull against his Majestie at the beginning of the War when he might have expected great preferment and advantage To the first Article he saith That Captain Mayor sailing forth to meet the Providence the first Ship that brought the King Amunition took a Catch in the River Humber wherein was the Lord Digby in disguise of a French man Col. Aâ—hburnham and Sir Edw. Stradling whom he brought Prisoners to Hull where the Lord Digby told him that he was a Souldier of Fortune and for his Libertie would adventure to the Enemie and give Sir J. Hotham Intelligence which accordingly he did and returned several times but at last gave the slip and then sent a Letter of Inticement that he was the Lord Digby and wished him to return to his Allegeance to his Sovereign after which he had no further Treatie with him That he treated with the Marquesse Newcastle was to no other end but to keep the Riding of Yorkshire free from plunder for the maintenance of Hull which was then destitute of money That for the Letters which he should send to the Marquess He alledged he knew not but that they might be counterfeit being only like his hand Then he proceeded by way of defence producing Witnesses on his own part which were Commissarie Coply and other Knights and Gentlemen on purpose only to take off the testimonie of Examinants against him but they proved to little effect And so after some daies spent in examining Witnesses pro and con he was sentenced 7. December to be carried back and from thence to the place of Execution to suffer death by having his head cut off Two daies after comes his Son Captain Hotham to his Trial. His Charge against him was in effect That he being a Commander in the Parliament Service had Traiterously betrayed the Trust reposed in him perfidiously adhering to the Enemy all which would be proved And was by the Advocate of the Court the chief matters were these That he had been disobedient to the Commands of the Lord Fairfax Commander in chief of the Northern Counties and that he had refused to account for the Parliaments moneys raised in Yorkshire and converted to his own use And for his adhering to the Enemy It was instanced by his going into the Enemies Quarters and returning without any ingagement His several private Treaties with the Enemy under pretence of Exchanging Prisoners and private discourse with the Marquesse Newcastle twice by his own confession and that the Marquesse offered him to be made a Lord and to have General Gorings Command or any other Honours if he would turn to the King His omitting several opportunities to fight with the Enemy and permitting a Convoy from the Queen with Arms upon her first landing at Burlington and to passe to York without fighting That Lord General Cromwel being in Lincolnshire with him upon a Design against the Enemy Hotham was to Charge the Right Wing and Cromwel the Left whom he Routed and Chased them above two miles who returning found the Enemies Right Wing unmoved and so Hotham had not charged at all That after the discovery of some of his Treachery and whilst committed prisoner to Notingham Castle he sent his Servant John Keyes swearing him to secrecy with a Message to the Queen then at Newark how he was imprisoned and to be speedily sent up to the Parliament or to the General and prayes her Majesty to send a Party of Horse to rescue him and that he had a Regiment of Horse under his Command and should be ready for the Service she expected in Lincolnshire That his Company of Foot at Lincoln the Town of Hull Beaverly and the Ship called the Hercules were all at her Majesties Service That after his being released from Nottingham Castle he went to Lincoln and gave out many scandalous Speeches invective against the Parliament with inticements to Colonel Rositer to betray his trust who detesting such perfidie Hotham went to Hull to his Father and forthwith both of them received Letters from the Marquesse Newcastle about the betraying of Hull and other matters And that the day before they both were apprehended at Hull 18. June 1643. Hotham writ to the Marquesse an Answer to his Letters which were found in his Chamber sealed not having time to send them away wherein much of his treacherie was therein laid open On Thursday 12. Decemb. Hotham makes his defence large and verie formal from four afternoon till eight at night That he treated with the Enemie for the Parliaments advantage in setling a course for exchange of Prisoners and the like which he conceived he might doe without acquainting his Superiour and to that purpose pleaded the priviledge of all Commanders instancing divers and that he knew no Law against it nor was it prohibited by the Ordinance of War That before he adventured upon Treaties he still had advice of his Commander in Chief Sir John Hotham and some of his own Captains That for his not fighting the Queens Convoy they were far stronger yet he attacked the Rear as far as he might with safety And had learned this Maxim of War that a Commander in Chief is not to adventure upon an Enemy but upon advantage or compelled by necessity That for the businesse betwixt him and Lord General Cromwel He offered to prove that he charged the Enemies Right Wing to the utmost though it proved not so effectual as the others Actions upon the Left Wing That when he was committed to Notingham not knowing his crimes or by whose Order committed He sent to his Father to Hull to enquire the cause but denyed he sent his servant to the Queen and made many Objections against his man Keyes testimonie therein The words which he spoke to Rositer he confessed but were in passion and he recalled them
beaten off and afterwards were driven on again by the Horse up to the top of the Works where they stood firm and fired but then again beaten off by the violent charge of the Horse within until a party of the Assaylants Horse on that side drew up close and having a small breach made for their entrance fell in and beat off those within from that Bulwark this while another Party had made a breach and entred near the Bridge and now they tumble over the Works on all sides and charge up both Horse and Foot with equal gallantry bore down those within and mastered the Garison This Conflict was hot and difficult for almost an hour and maintained by the Garison with wondrous courage and resolution The Assaylants lost many men two Officers and a dozen private Souldiers there and in other places more than they within The Prisoners taken were about five hundred of whom two Colonels one Major thirteen Captains and other Gentlemen Reformadoes The evening before the assault about a hundred Horse were sent to keep off any approaching Horse from Worcester and kept guard five miles from Evesham faced a Party of Horse who gave the Alarm to Worcester where they finde four great Guns to summon the County This was Massie's last action to take leave of his Government at Glocester where he did very diligent and acceptable service but was evil requiâ—ed by the Parliament and after other publick actions took his farewell at London and got over beyond the Seas taking part with the Royalist against the Parliaments designs ever after to this day And hereupon it was ordered by the Parliament that Master Luke Nurse Maior of Glocester Alderman Singleton and Colonel Blunt or any two of them shall have the command of the Garison of Glocester and of the Forces and Garisons in Glocester-shire as Colonel Massie had untill the appointed Governour come down there or the Parliament take further order The King marching as we said towards Chester the fear of his approaching made Brereton quit the siege and so the Kings Work being done wheeled about and sat down before Leicester and after sumons not long about it with great courage in an instant fell to storming the last of May the first news whereof sends away Fairfax thither leaving the siege of Oxford to Brown onely for Cromwel is gone to the Isle of Ely his old Garison to order them into a frame But Leicester though not able to withstand the potency of the Kings entrance yet they held fight for three hours in the Market-place having their Cannon at the cross to oppose the Assaylants But being overcome were killed the Committee men imprisoned the Scotish Reformadoes and Dalbin's men slain Major Emis Barchly and some others fled and escaped to Rochingham Castle The Governour Colonel Gray and Hacker taken Prisoners and much Ammunition and Plunder of the Town sent to the Kings Garisons thereabout as Newark Belvoir Ashby de la Zouch This was a notable advantage to the Kings affairs for the present and gave him good cause to say in a Letter to the Queen I may without being too much sanguine affirm that since the Rebellion my affaires were never in so hopefull a way And thus it seemed to the Parliament themselves and therefore Fairfax is sent for out of the West who comes to Newport Pagnel Cromwel from Ely their Forces about Oxford called off opened that City to more Elbow room All the Forces of the associated Counties are called into a Body with the help of the Scots also and all to Rendezvouz at Brickill Friday the 5 of Iune and Scouts sent out who bring word of the Kings being about Daventry And now was Cromwel called for who by the late Ordinance was near his time limited to quit the field and to come to counsel the civil affairs in Parliament But there was need of his valour and interest in the Army and therefore Fairfax beseeches the Parliament to spare his return and to Authorize his continuance in the Army as also to Commission him Lieutenant General of the Horse and Skippon ordered to draw the form of a Battel for now they meant to fight Whilst the King drives the Countrey of Cattel and Plunder and sends all to his Garison of Oxford Himself and Army now near Northampton Fairfax at Geslington the Scots come down to Notingham And so near each Army to other that the twelfth of Iune their Forces Skirmish with equal successe and sufficient to Alarm each other for now they mean to fight The King continued about Daventry and quartered upon Burrough-hill Fairfax is come within four miles at Gilborough advancing directly upon the King who was abroad not a Hunting as is surmized and the Souldier not very careful having expected the Enemy and took leasure to have them nearer And now take Alarm towards night and there it rested till the next day But Fairfax rides about his Guards at midnight heedful to observe and coming to an Horse Quarter he had forgot the Word Excusing himself to be their General and desired the Centinel to give it him who refused to take notice of any mans person nor to give but to take the Word and so the General was stopt in a great shower of rain till he had aid from the Captain of the Guard to give the Word to the General for which judgement and discretion the Centinel was preferred but this was in the dark night The Duke of Buckingham Lord General and Admiral was so served at Portsmouth his brave Fleet ready to disembarque there He would needs skip from Dinner with his Courtiers about him and to 〈◊〉 a sight at Sea but mounting the Works was charged to stand till a Corporal was called who took him by the Coller set his Sword point to his breast and carried him prisoner to the Guard without any respect or reverence to his person indeed the Duke was angry for by that stop he lost his desire and of which he complained to the Governour who said himself would have done so and to make all friends the Corporal was well rewarded About five a clock in the morning Iune 13. the King drew off from Burrough Hill towards Harborough and Pomfrait that if the Enemy followed they might fight him at more advantage further Northward but Cromwel is come in from the Associated Counties and brings six hundred good Horse and Dragoons and bids them draw out to Battel each one ordered to his Port. The Van of the King was at Harborough the Rear within two miles of Naseby It was midnight when the King raises Prince Rupert quartered near hand and calls a Councel of war and all conclude speedily to give Battel and because Fairfax had been thus forward on his way the King resolved not to stay for him but to finde him out And Saturday Iune 14. Fairfax had marched from Gelling towards Nasebie and by the morning sun-shine might see the King puting his Army
privitie or directions of his Majestie or the Lord Lieutenant or any of his Majesties Council there But true it is that for the necessarie preservation of his Majesties Protestant Subjects in Ireland whose case was daily represented unto him to be so desperate his Majestie had given Commission to the Lord Lieutenant to treat and conclude such a Peace there as might be for the safetie of that Crown the preservation of the Protestant Religion and no way derogatorie to his own Honour and publick Professions But to the end that his Majesties real Intentions in this business of Ireland may be the more clearly understood and to give more ample satisfaction to both Houses of Parliament and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland especially concerning his Majesties not being engaged in any Peace or Agreement there he doth desire if the two Houses shall admit of his Majesties Repair to London for a personal Treatie as was formerly proposed that speedy notice be given thereof to his Majestie and a Pass or safe Conduct with a Blank sent for a Messenger to be immediately dispatcht into Ireland to prevent any accident that may happen to hinder his Majesties Resolution of leaving the managing of the business of Ireland wholly to the two Houses and to make no Peace there but with their consent which in case it shall please God to bless his Endeavours in the Treatie with success his Majestie doth hereby engage himself to do And for a further explanation of his Majesties Intentions in his former Messages he doth now declare that if his personal Repair to London as aforesaid shall be admitted and a Peace thereon shall ensue he will then leave the nomination of the persons to be intrusted with the Militia wholly to his two Houses with such power and limitations as are expressed in the Paper delivered by his Majesties Commissioners at Uxbridg the sixth of February 1644. for the term of seven years as hath been desired to be given immediately after the conclusion of the Peace the disbanding of all Forces on both sides and the dismantling of the Garisons erected since these present Troubles so as at the expiration of the time before mentioned the power of the Militia shall intirely revert and remain as before And for their further securitie his Majestie the Peace succeeding will be content that pro hac vice the two Houses shall nominate the Admiral Officers of State and Iudges to hold their Places during life or quam diu se bene gesserint which shall be best liked to be accountable to none but the King and the two Houses of Parliament As for matter of Religion his Majestie doth further declare That by the libertie offered in his Message of the fifteenth present for the â—ase of their consciences who will not communicate in the Service already established by Act of Parliament in this Kingdom he intends that all other Protestants behaving themselves peaceably in and towards the Civil Government shall have the free exercise of their Religion according to their own way And for the total removing of all Fears and Iealousies his Majestie is willing to agree that upon the conclusion of Peace there shall be a general Act of Oblivion and free Pardon past by Act of Parliament in both his Kingdoms respectively And lest it should be imagined that in the making these Propositions his Majesties Kingdom of Scotland and his Subjects there have been forgotten and neglected his Majestie declares That what is here mentioned touching the Militia and the naming of Officers of State and Iudges shall likewise extend to his Kingdom of Scotland And now his Majestie having so fully and clearly expressed his Intentions and Desires of making a happy and well-grounded Peace if any person shall decline that happiness by opposing of so apparent a way of attaining it he will sufficiently demonstrate to all the World his Intention and Design can be no other than the total Subversion and Change of the ancient and happy Government of this Kingdom under which the English Nation hath so long flourished Given at our Court at Oxon the twenty fourth of January 1645. To the Speaker of the House of Peers c. This did not satisfie for upon the reading of this Declaration or Message in the House of Commons they produce other Letters and Papers taken at the Defeat of the Lord Ashley amongst which they finde Letters of the Arch-bishop of Yorkâ—o â—o the Lord Ashley and the Lord Digby's Letter from Ireland to the Archbishop concerning this business out of which and Glamorgan's own to the King hereafter they concluded much matter To the Right Honourable the Lord Ashley Most Noble Lord Your Lordships Letter of the twelfth of January I received late at night the nine and twentieth I have communicated to the Lord Byron the Marquess of Ormond his Letter of the twelfth of December and by this time not sooner the Lord Byron's Answer is at Dublin which I sent by his Lordships Chaplain it implied some Fears of holding out Chester thus long c. Colonel Butler tells me even now that the men and the shipping are still ready in Ireland though retarded hitherto by reason of this Distraction which sithence Tuesday last is so composed that the Earl of Glamorgan is out upon Bail of six or eight Noblemen whereof the Marq. of Clenricard is one c. from the Lord Lieutenant I have received no Answer in writing as yet though mine to him were many since the first of January nor from the Lord Digby any more to the purpose than this inclosed There is no relying on these Irish Forces for this Service though if they come they shall be carefully transported to such Rendezvouz as I shall hear is most â—itting for the passage of your Lordships Armie and to that end your Lordship shall be punctually informed of their landing and condition Conway Jan. 25. 1645. Your Lordships c. John Eborac The Lord Digby's Letter inclosed May it please your Grace I give you many thanks for your obliging Letter by Mr. Moor I have likewise sent yours to the Marquess of Ormond and I am glad to finde there that you do nott ake the Allarm at my Lord Glamorgan's Commitment so hot as upon it to despair of the Relief of Chester which though it hath been somewhat retarded by it yet I make little question now but it will go on speedily and effectually and of this I desire you to certifie my Lord Byron Dublin Jan. 21. 1645. Your Graces c. G. Digby And then to discipher the Mystery this of the Earl of Glamorgan's to the King was read also in the House For his Sacred Majestie May it please your Majestie I am now at Waterford providing Shipping immediately to transport six thousand Foot and four thousand more are by May next to follow I hope these will yet come opportunely to the Relief of Chester What hath been the occasions of so long Delay and
comes the Marquesse Douglasse and Sir Io. Daliel with other his friends in this Extremity with a small Party of Horse not a hundred charged through the Enemy and escaped and being pursued he made his Stand slew divers and took Bruce a Captain of Horse and two Cornets with their Colours Prisoners Traquair Triumphingly reported Montrose and the Kings party totally defeated But Montrose was well and made the best use of his evil fortune and therefore marching easily with good guard and valiant hearts he marched Northwards forded over Cluid River where met him by the way many of his Souldiers with the Earls of Crawford and Airly and now he was strong two hundred Horse and some Foot and with convenient hast he resolves to go Northward into Athole and so passing over Forth River and then Erne he comes to Perthshire And in his way he had sent Dowglasse and Airly with Angus North East and the Lord Eisken into Marria to raise their friends and dependance and sent Daliel to the Lord Carnegy with Commissions to that purpose and Letters to Mac-Donel and to Aboin to return to him with their Forces About August the Atholâ— Men furnished him with four hundred good Foot to march Northwards and when ever he returned Southward he should command the whole County only they desired to be spared now for their harvest Montrose with wonderful speed and unspeakable toil clambers over Gransbane Mountains to meet with Aboin and Mac-Donel whom he expected and so the return of other his Messengers with their New Forces then to return Southward again to meet with the Kings Horse which by sundry Letters he was promised from England Aboin was of himself faithful and forward enough but restrained Ersken was sick and Huntly was returned home but with envy and ambition crossed under hand Montrose's designs but at last Aboin meets him with fifteen hundred Foot and three hundred Horse at Druminore a Castle of the Lord Forles and that his Brother Lewes was coming with more Thus impowered he instantly returns the same uncouth wayes over Gransbane Mountains and to take up Erskins and then Murries Forces and so to march Southward Lewis was come and marching together the first dayes Journey stole away the next with such Forces aâ—s followed him And the third day after his Brother Aboin with the rest of his Men desired leave to return pretending their Fathers Command the Marquesse Huntly whose County was in danger by the Enemy now about Marre and would suddainly ransack their Country but was content his Father should be treated with To him therefore Montrose sends Donald Lord Rose and Iermin kinsmen whom he had lately releived from Imprisonment Rose was honest and ashamed of his Kinsmans refusal fell sick and could not return Iermin most noble never forsaking Montrose to the death came back with doubtful Letters fast and loose And so Aboin must go home Montrose came down through the plaines of Marre and Scarschiock into Athole and so with increase of Forces he falls into Perth Here Aboin sends him word that he had got leave to return and would be with him before the time limited by his Forlough And here also meets him two Messengers after each other Captain Thomas Ogleby of Pomie and Captain Robert Nesbet with Commands from the King That if possible he should march Southward to the borders to meet the Lord Digby Son to the Earl of Bristol who was sent to him with a Party of Horse The same Bearers he dispatches with the Letters to Huntly and Aboin but in vain expectation he trifled away much time at Strath Erne in the Perth And here dies that gallant Man the Lord Napier of Marcheston truly Noble of an Ancient Family his Father and Grand-father Philosophers and Mathematicians Famous through Christendom But indeed this man exceeded them in Civil Affairs highly heretofore esteemed by King Iames and lately by K. Charls made Lord Treasurer of Scotland and advanced into the Rank of higher Nobility his Loyalty had suffered all the effects of his Enemies malice often Imprisoned Sequestred and Plundered of all his Substance whose Elaborate Discourses of the Rights of Kings and of the Original in the Turmoyls of Great Britain I have heard of and read some Manuscripts in Parcels but heartily wish may be publick Montrose is now passed the Forth and come into the Lands and Estate of Sir Iohn Buchanan a stiff Ring-leader of the Covenanters and descended from old Buchanan ingrateful Schoolmaster to King Iames and yet for his sake he and King Charles had advanced this man to what he was Hereabouts at Leven Montrose Encamps being so near Glasco that oftimes he forces the City on purpose to deter the Convention of the Coâ—enanters here who sat in Councel to arraign their Prisoners whom Montrose endeavoured to rescue Here they had for their Guard three thousand Horse and he not more than 3. hundred and fifteen hundred Foot wasting the Countrey without resistance Notwithstanding before he came they had executed three gallant men we may not neglect their memory The first was the afore mentioned Sir William Rollock Montrose his first Friend and Companion in Arms. He was sent to the King after the Battle of Aberdine and taken prisoner and condemned but upon Arguiles offer of life he was dealt with to murder Montrose whose life he valued far above his own and to save him he accepted this offer and so got loose and instantlyâ— found out by Montrose discovering all which saved Montrose for the present and was the cause of his own suffering promising upon his word that if he did not doe it to return prisoner by such a day which he did to the grief of Montrose and paid dear for it to the death The next was the aforesaid Alexander Ogleby Eldest Son to Sir Iohn Imercarrit descended from those Famous in the Scotish Chronicles he was not yet more then youth under eighteen but of a dareing Spirit and Loyal to the King for which he was executed Unless we admit him of the Family in deadly fewd with Arguile Then comes Sir Philip Nesbit I finde him the Son of Col. Nesbit a Regiment in the Kings service in England we may adde those two Irish men that suffered at Edenburgh some dayes before Colonel O-Cahen and Colonel Laghlin the crime of them all concentred in this new Treason against the King and Covenanters Montrose having long looked for six weeks his absent Confederates out of the North Mac-donel Alboin and others the Lord Digby's Forces defeated by the way and he not able to hold out a piercing hard winter Camp He the 20. of November departs from Levin Marching Northward over the Snowy Mountains of Taich through Woods and Loghes the Strathern and over the River Tay returns into Athole where he met Captain Ogleby and Captain Nesbit whom we told you he had sent with the Kings Letters to Huntly but prevailed not Here against Montrose sends to Sir Iohn Dalyel to mediate the
the Force that could be spared from all the Southern County and the City of London also It was vigorously assaulted and gallantly defended with â—uch Sallies at several times and successes as rendred the Gâ—â—eral â—ot very prosperous At last the whole City was surrounded and by often Skirmishes they within grew weak of fighting men provisions of all sorts spent both for Ammunition and Victuals and whilst they within had hopes to their hearts they neglected â—ay disdained offers of Treaty or capitulation for almost three moneths when horrid necessity inforceth them to consider of a Treaty when Horse-flesh and Dogs Cats and Vermin failed for Food No hope of succour the Princes Fleet part fell from him the Wâ—lsh reduced the Earl of Hollands Insurrection suppressed Revolts Muâ—inies Allarms in several Counties quieted the Scots whole Army of Invasion totally defeated and the King himself lay'd aside for whose sake all these pretended And of all which the Besieged had continual intelligence then the Horror waxed high And therefore the chief Commanders within capitulate with the Camp without That they at the desire of the Inhabitants think fit to send to the General they are constrained to turn out the Towns-pâ—ople for bâ—tter accommodation of the Souldiery whereby their houses and gâ—ods would be left lyable to ruine for prevention they think fit to Treat with the General for surrender of the City to which purpose they would send out Officers to Parley To whose Letter they have this Answer That the General believes their extream pressure upon the Inhabitants and all the rest but he clears himself from the occasion of their sufferings he is compassionately willing to allow the proper Inhabitants only to come forth provided the Committee of Essex now prisoners within be first sent out and excepting the wives children of such as remain behinde in Arms. And concerning the Rendition of the Town hâ—â—ffers that all Souldiers under the degree of a Captain shall have free pass to their homes and all Captains and other Offcers superiour with Lords and Gentlemen to submit to mercy These Conditions would not go down with Goring therefore the next day five hundred women are forced out upon the powdercharged Cannon and Muskets to frighten them back but better so to dye then to return to Famine and thus they make a stand and crave rather sudden destruction They within make a Sally for a dead horse and one slain yet â—fter two dayes stink it is got in for food And to the Generals Letter they within Reply That they would not Render themselves to mercy to any but to God alone And therefore to spare blood they send out their utmost offer the lowest conditions they could yield unto 24. Aug. Which in truth were too high for the General to grant And therefore he is peremptory not to give Answer Then they 〈◊〉 send out a Drum with Mr. Barnardeston one of the Committee pâ—â—â—oners and Colonel Tuke desiring a Treaty upon what the General offered heretofore and concerning the explanation of the words to submit to mercy how far they would extend and in reference to the Officers and Souldiers and Townsmen And had Answer that in respect the Officers and Souldiers c. had neglected that former offer that now they should have only fair Quarter the rest to submit to mercy But however the Treaty should succeed the misery was much within and therefore the private Souldiers were resolved to deliver up their Commanders who caress the Souldiers with Wine and Victuals and fair words to joyn with them to break through the Besiegers over the North-bridge the way to escape but that Design shrunk for it was soon apprehended by the Souldiers that whilst they should fight the Commanders would fly And therefore in this high distemper they all submit to mercy the twenty seventh of August The Inhabitants of the Town were fined fourteen thousand pounds to be preserved from Plunder â—â—d two dayes after Sir Charls Lucas and Sir Geo. Lisle were shot to death they disputed this kinde of Justice to be in cold bloud without any Tryal without president of men at Arms and unsouldier-like but seeing no remedy Lucas was said to dye like a Christian justified his taking up Arms in defence of the King his Sovereign and bad them doe their worst he was prepared Lisle came to the stake kissed the others warm Corps wreaking in bloud and was shot to death also But why this unusual Execution was so acted I cannot be satisfied which the General in his Letter to the Parliament calls Military Execution and hopes that your Lordships will not think your honour or justice prejudiced had he put it to the question before their death the Lords would have resolved him but it was now too late and must be submitted to the worlds censure The rest of the Lords Officers Gentlemen and Souldiers are referred to the Parliaments mercy or justice Indeed the Commissioners that treated put the question what is meant by fair Quarter what by rendering to mercy It was resolved to the first That with Quarter for their lives they shall be free from wounding or beating shall enjoy warm clothes to cover them shall be maintained with Victuals fit for prisoners while they be prisoners For the second That they be rendered to mercy or render themselves to the General or to whom he shall appoint without certain assurance of Quarter so as the General may be free to put some immediately to the Sword Although the General intends chiefly and for the generality of those under that condition to surrender themselves to the mercy of the Parliament Neither 〈◊〉 â—he General given cause to doubt of his civility to such as render to mercy The chief Commanders deserve to be mentioned Some amends for their sufferings they were Valiant men The Earl of Norwich the Lord Capel Lord Loughborough Sir Charles Lucas Sir William Compton Colonel Sir Geo. Lisle Sir Bernard Gascoigne Sir Abraham Shipman Sir Iohn Watts Sir Lodowick Dyer Sir Henry Appleton Sir Denart Strutt Sir Hugh Ovelly Sir Rich. Maliverer Colonels Garter Gilburn Farr Till Hamond Chester Heath Tuke Ayloff and Sawyer Eight Lieutenant Colonels nine Majors thirty Captains Commissary General Francis Lovelace Master of the Ordnance Major Gen. Graveston Gentlemen sixty five Lieutenants seventy two Ensigns and Corners sixty nine Serjeants a hundred eighty three private Souldiers three thousand sixty seven The Gen. Fairfax having done his Work Marches Northwards to Yarmouth and up and down these Counties to settle Peace caress his Garrisons receiving testimonies of thanks for his Victorious Successes and returns to St. â—lbans his Head Quarters in the beginning of October from which time we shall hear more of him and his hereafter The universal distractions of the Parliament and Kingdom by Insurrections Revolts Tumults and Disorders both on Land and also in the Fleet at Sea made the City of London sensible of the sufferings which fell heavily
Scotland iâ—â—â—terposeth The Kings Letter to the Council of Scotland The Scots answer Scots Council declare Parliament of England's Protestation Earl of Bristol's Speech for Accommodation Parliament Declaration observed 19. Propositions to the King Eik Bas. c. 11. upon the 19. Propositions sent to the King The Answer to the 19. Propositions The King caresses the County of York Preparations for War The King Provides Arms. The Kings Letters with his Commission of Array Parliaments Votes thereupon The Kings Protestation And the Lords The Kings General Declaration Proclamation against Levies as by the statutes in force Parliaments answers The faction distinguiâ—hed by Cavalâ—ers and Round-heads The Authorâ— advice Introduction to this Civil War The King caresses his people in the County of Nottingham Proclamation Earl of Essex made General of the Foot and the Earl of Bedford of the Horse Parâ—â—aments Petition Earl of Stamford Proclaimed Traytor Parliaments Declaration of defence Earl of Essex General Eaâ—l of Essex proclamed Traitour and all other his complices Eikon Basil. upon the listing and raising Arms against the King Proclamation for aid of his Subjects The Kings gâ—and Declaration Scots Army kept up Bishops voted down Parliament give advises to their Deputy Lieutenants in the Northern Counties The King proposeth the 〈◊〉 Treaty for Peace and is reâ—used Sir Iohn Lucas Proclaimmed Traytor by the Parliament and committed Scots Declaration in answer to the Parliament of England The Parliament joyn with the Scots Kirk to reform all Christendom Parliament assure payment on Publick Faith out of Delinquents Estates Lord Strange impeached of high Treason Mich. Term adjourned The Articles of Nâ—utralâ—â—y for Yorkshire inâ—ringed Mr. Fountain committed Essex his Ensigns Colours Persons excepted out of pardon by the Parliament The Netherland States are caressed on both sides Eikon Basil. c. 10. Military effects Sir Iohn Hotham begins the quarrel in the North. Portsmouth beset Parliaments directions to their General Essex Sir Iohn Byron for the King Marches to Oxford Marquess Herford seizeth Sherborn Earl of Essex sets out oâ— London The Kings Speâ—ch to his Army Parliament petition the King by their General Essex The Kings Speech to the Gentry of Denbigh and Flintshire 〈◊〉 of the Kings Army to come to London A pitifull Plot by a poor Scot. Worcester Fight Sept. 23. Col. Th. Essex garisoneth Bristol L Col. Massey Governour of Glocester Edg-hill Battel The victory disputed Exchange of prisoners The King Marches to Aino Takes Banbury and Broughton House The King Marches to Brainford The Kings Declaration after his victory at Edgehill October 25. The King Charged with favouring Papists upon their Petition Address to the King voted Parliaments Declaration to the Scots The Kings Message to the Lords of his Privy Council in Scotland Parliaments commendance of their General Effects of the address to the King Lord Brook's Speech at Guild-hall His second Speech there Petition of the Parliament The Kings Answer Brainford Fight Nov. 15 The Kings Message to the Parliament Parliaments Answer The King replies Parliament petition the King A Letter from the Hague intercepted The military affairs in the North. City of London petition the King The Kings Answer Parliaments desires presented to the King at Oxford by the Earls of Northumberland Pembroke Salisbury and Holland with eight of the Commons Answered The actions of the North. The Lord Fairfax and others proclamed Traitors A Treaty proposed by the King The Treaty ends The Queen returns from Holland The state of the County of Glocâ—ster Cirencester taken by storm of Prince Rupert Synod began to sit Affairs of Germany In Catalonia Cardinal Riâ—â—â—lieu dies His Character Lewis the just and the 13. dies His Character Anno 1643. Sir Rudyerd's Speech Treaty at Oxford L. Brook killed at Lichâ—ield Close Lichfield Close besieged by the Kings party Lichfield won by P. Rupert Reading besieged by the Parliament Cheapside Cross pulled down Hotham to betray Hull and Lincoln The Queenâ— Army The King and Queen meet at Edghill Ambassadour from France Solemn League and Coâ—enant with the Scots Eikon Bas. c. 14. Yeomans and Bourchier hanged at Bristol and why Tomkins and Chaloner hanged at London and why A new Seal voted and framed Mr. H. Martin seizeth the Regalia at Westminister P. Rupert's â—ight near Tame Mr. Io. Hâ—mbden slain His Character The Hothams of Hull seized Prisoners to the Parliament Lands-down fight against Sir W. Waller by the Cornish Iuly 5. Gen. Essex advises of peace Fight at Round-wayâ—down The Queen entereth Oxford E. of Lindsey returns from his Imprisonment by the Parliament The Earls of Bedford and Holland revolt to the King and back again to the Parliament Prisoners animated to treachery Ministers make Propositions The City must set out Sir W. Waller again General Essex musters at Hounslo-heath Exeter delivered up to P. Maurice The King caresses the County of Cornwall by Declaration Judg Berkley fined Siege of Glocester by the King A general Storm A Mine wrought Two spies return unto the Town Essex's Army in distress The Leaguer take leave to depart the fifth of September Sir Nicholas Crisp kils Sir Iames Enyon Solemn League and Covenant Dr. Featly imprisoned and why Proclamation against the Solemn League and Covenant Minister of the Savoy his Blasphemy Sir G. Chidleigh leaves the Cause The Earl of Holland returns to the Parliament Irish Forces come over to the King in England Cessation of Arms in Ireland for a year Vide the Kings Narrative of Uxbridg Treaty Eikon Bas. c. 12. Articles for the Brittish Army in Irâ—land Cirencester surprized Newbery first fight Noble men slain aâ—d hurt Several successes on either side Sir William Vavisor for the Kings retire Sir Iohn Winter for the King More Irish Forces for the King The Kings Garisons Parliaments Garisons Cavaliers seek â—or Forage with success Captain Backhouse was to betray Glocester Backhouse his Letter of design Lord Digby's Answer Glocestershire Actions Waller retreats to Monmouth Prince Maurice enters Teuxbury Teuxbury surprized P. Maurice defeats Waller Parliament Forces defeated Sir Winter's house in Dean Forrest Sir W. Waller defeated at the Devices Bristol surrendered to Prince Rupert Eccleshal Castle and Town taken Stafford taken by treachery Ordinance to seize upon the Kings Revenues Virginia not assâ—ssed with Excise Sir William Wallers Commission Parliaments Manifesto concerning Professours Organs in Paul's Church pull'd down Treason to assist the King French Ambassadour affronted The Kings Successes Arundel Castle surrendred to Waller Protestation and Oath of the Associates of Devon and Cornwall for the King University of Cambridg ordâ—red Parliament assembled at Oxford The Parliament at Oxford write to General Essex for a Peace Scots Army enters England Their Declaration Eikon Bas. p. 100. c. 13. Montrose his undertaking for the King Sir Thomas Glenham's answer to Argiles Letters Newark siege raised by Prince Rupert Military affairs under conduct of the Marquesse of Montrose Battel of Rocroy for the French Battel of Burling for the Emperour Duke of Lorain
hungry Souldier to fight for some Horse and Foot fell upon a Convoy of eighty Cows and two hundred Sheep and carried the Spoil without loss of a man to the extreme comfort of the hungry Souls within The next day thus fleshed another Sally of an hundred Foot and one Troop for Corn who met with fifteen hundred from several parts but the English retired without loss through a part of their Body killed nine and returned onely some twenty or thirty poor stragling people Men and Women were seized barbarously and basely butchered not affording any Quarter to the weakest The Rebells General O Neal was now returned from the North vvhither he marched vvith some Troops to fetch Artillery for Battery and fresh Supplies but failing of his Design he stole back in secret lodging unknovvn at Bewly tvvo Mâ—les off from vvhence he sent his Message to the Lord Moor. That he had taken all the Towns of the North but two which were at his pleasure That the whole Kingdom was in the like case and now wondered that Drogheda durst or should be so singular as to stand out to hope of deliverance from his hands Yet caressing his Lordship with unfeigned affection and offers of Honours with satisfaction of all his Losses If not to take warning before such a Day to prepare for his last for he would then take the Town and deny him Qâ—arter But before the Day intended even on Sunday morning Nevvs comes into the Church that tvvo Pinnaces six Gabbards three Frigots vvith a Shallop vvere safely arrived from Dublin vvithin the Bar laden vvith plentifull Relief for three Moneths and vvith a Prize also a Rebell Bark loaden vvith Herrings sailing to their Confederates Nay see the goodness of God to prevent Relief the Rebells had sunk another Bark in the Channel vvhich the Winde and Tide drove into the Sea and having alâ—o strongly chained together many Ship-masts with Timber bound up with a great Cable and supported by seven or eight great Boats cross the Channel the very day before the Relief burst in sunder of themselves with many the remarkable passages of Gods great mercy at that time A Bag of Pouder fired in one Gabbard scorched the faces of a few without more hurt and though the Enemy plaid their Shot on both sides the River not a man killed and with this small Fleet the Town was strengthened also with four Companies of fresh men making up the Lord Moor's Regiment complete And the whole Force of the Town was novv sixteen hundred Foot and an hundred and fifty Horse vvell furnished to look the Enemy in the face And their General O Neal that Sunday night making all the Force he could about evening applied his Scaling Ladders to the Wall and in special at one place near Saint Laurence Gate at a low private corner many Ladders were â—rought two of them presently fixed and mounted the Centinel missing Fire they advanced to the top where the Centinel knockt them down with the But end of his Musket and called to the Gunner who came conveniently to kill many and to make them fly and leave thirteen Ladders behinde the number of their Dead they dragged away and so not to be accounted but of the English not one With the Relief came a Proclamation from the State against those Rebells and was published wherein the Prizes for their Heads was assured for Neal's a thousand pounds Rely and others at eight hundred the rest at four hundred pounds which set the Souldiers in a heat to be at work for a Prize Then came several Messages and Letters from sundry Rebells of the North one Packet to the Lord Moor transcribed under his Sisters hand the Lady Blany their Prisoner with their Children and Sisters but no doubt of their inditing or correcting the same was an offer either of all their Prisoners in Ulster for the Lord Macquire now Prisoner at Dublin or else the Lady Blany with her Children and Sisters and other Gentlemen in or near the Castle of Moughan for two other of their Prisoners at Dublin for the soliciting of which was inclosed the Lady Blanies Petition to the Lords Justices with other private Letters from her to sundry of her Friends the Lord Moor and her Kinsmen All which after the reading of the Lord Moor were to be returned from whence they came We may not omit the memories of some treacherous base cruelties to their Prisoners the butchery of the Lord Calfield at Neal's own house to which as in favour he was removed and no sooner entered but was shot through the Back by a base Fellow The sudden hanging of Master Richard Blany for not going to Mass. Another of note enforced by torture to hear Mass and to receive their Sacrament being now they said well prepared for God bid him chuse his Engine an Halter or a Wieth by which they hanged him and so of many more Their drowning of five hundred English at Porta Down-bridg which for the stinck of the bodies is now câ—lled Down-sink Drowning others by hundreds poor miserable Women and Children At Newry they shipped two hundred packt into a rotten Vessel pretending to send them to Drogheda and being on ship-board took away Sails and Rudder and sent them to Sea to be cast away when the poor English had sweat in their Drudgery even to Death and done their Labour in hope of Mercy for their Reward had all their throats cut nay before their Death the Villains would wager which of their Companions could hack the deepest in their flesh and so killed them with wondrous wounds for sport and recreation It would weary the Reader to have Relations of thousands of such that no Heathen or Turkish stories can parallel But the Pinnaces unloaden of their welcome Burthens are sent back again for more supply when the Town issued out with two hundred and twenty Foot and an hundred and twenty Horse South-wards to Beanbeck burnt that and marched on to Smiths-Town and met with five Companies who instantly fled and in pursuit were slain three hundred two Colours taken by Major Fortescue and Captain Briar and hundred and sixty Cows The sight of thirty English Men and Women murdered in Ditches enraged these to revenge In this Encounter Sir Patrick Weyms commanded the Earl of Ormond's Troop and put Preston hard to it who left his Baggage good Booty and fled Amongst his Cloaths in a Portmantue were three Letters whereby appeared that the Lords Germanston and Trimelston and divers others were now discovered to be Traitours The Lord Moor and the Governour went out secured in much Corn by four Companies of Sir Iohn Burlace met with two Companies of Rebells against whom Captain Billingsley with eight Musketiers routed a Lieutenant with thirteen slain a Captain of Neal's taken Prisoner the rest escaped into Stanime the Castle of Calpe was taken and four and twenty therein put to the Sword Much Corn brought in daily some fresh