in question which had beene given them by the House and used all cunning Artifices and underhand devices not to have it passe yet it was carried in the end the Lords concurring also in it and nominating a Committee of their House to the same intent Which hath begot such true fears jealousies raised such a distrust of one another that it is thought the Houses will be too hot for some potent Members who heretofore did governe the affaires of both and were as uncontroulable amongst them there as ever were the Tribunes in the State of Rome Last of all for the Armies it was thus advertised that the Earle of Essex finding himselfe abused in Pictures censured in Pulpits dishonoured in the table-talke of the common people and a designe on foot of raising a new Army under the conduct of Sir William Waller which would soone put an end unto his authority made complaint of it to the Lords by them to be communicated to the other House requiring that his Army be forthwith paid and furnished with cloathes and all other necessaries his broken and diseased Forces presently recruited reparation to be given him in point of honour for all the calumnies and scandals which falsely as he saith have been laid upon him that Waller be called to an accompt for the losse of his Forces in the West and finally that no Commission may be issued out to any one to have the charge and conduct of any Forces but by his authority Which bold demands though very unwelcome to the Citie-faction in the Lower House who had resolved otherwise amongst themselves yet the Lords ordered for their parts referring the payment and clothing of the Souldiers to the care of the Commons that his Army should be first recruited before any other Forces raised that he and his Army should have reparation by a Declaration of both Houses for all the scandals vented against them that the miscarriage of the businesse in the West should be examined and the blame laid on those whom it did belong to and finally that whosoever was appointed to any charge or command should take his Commission from his Excellencie onely and depend on him and that he should have power to call backe such Commissions as hee saw occasion And it is further certified that though these Votes may give content unto the Generall which was the matter most intended yet doe they yet much displease the faction in the House of Commons and infinitely distast the Citizens who are resolved to raise neither men nor money if Waller may not have ordering and disposing of them and this they sticking not to say openly as they walke the Streetes And on the other side Waller and those who have before served under him are so inraged by these Votes that an implacable and deadly feud is very like to grow amongst them so as there is some hope when these plundering theeves once fall out true men will come the sooner to their goods MONDAY Aug. 7. We have beene long in the intelligence of the former day but shall be breifer in the next the most of which comes from London also For it was certified from thence that they were more disanimated at the losse of Bristol when first the newes was suffered to be knowne amongst them then at all their former losses in the North and West and that assoone as the newes came unto the Houses the prevalent faction there gave Exeter for as good as lost especially since the Earle of Warwicke was come thence with his fleete and had done nothing towards the releife of it but added much unto their desperate condition by being so shamefully repulsed And it was also certified that they had other feares which did more afflict them upon the sight of certaine letters from the Major of Plimmouth to the Earle of Warwicke in which was signified that Sir Alexander Carew and Master Thomas Arundell their Governours of the Fort Island of Plimmouth were suspected to incline unto the King which did so startle them that presently they caused letters to be sent unto them commanding them as Members of the House of Commons to returne to Westminster to doe their service to the House But it was thought the Gentlemen had heard too much of Hotham to put themselves into their hands who shew so little favour unto those that deserved best of them in their present Rebellion It was also certified from Bristol that for a speedier ending of the siege of Exeter and the totall reducing of the West under His Majesties command that so his Armies might unite for some other service Prince Maurice with the Cornish forces and some troopes of horse with many gallant Gentlemen who would needes attend him in the Action was gone towards Devonshire whose going thither as it was generally conceived would quickely put an end to that businesse As also that for the setling of the affaires of Bristol His Majesty had made that noble and deserving Gentleman Sir Ralph Hopton Governour of the towne and Castle and under him that valiant Colon VVashington Lieutenant Governour of the Castle to the generall content of all men It was also signified from London that this last weeke hath beene a terrible weeke of newes to that falling faction For besides the deadly newes from Bristol the losse whereof doth more astonish them then all the rest of their misfortunes in the North and West and that they have given Exeter for as good as lost they have beene miserably vexed with Letters from Gloucester Coventry and Warwicke complaining of their severall wants but specially of the backwardnesse of the people to make good those places or contribute to the worke as formerly since this change of things and plainly signifying that unlesse speedy supplies be sent of Men Armes and Money neither of which the pretended Houses can afford them at the present time they are not able to hold out against His Majesties Forces but of necessity must give up those Townes on the first assault TUESDAY August 8. It was advertised this day that the prevailing party in the House of Commons had refused to concurre to many of the Votes which had beene passed by the Lords in favour of the Earle of Essex which breedes ill bloud not onely betwixt them and the Lords but betwixt the Soldierie and them and that considering that no Commission must be granted but by and from the Earle of Essex the Independent Army which was so much talked of is come to nothing insomuch that Sir William Waller hath not yet listed above 600 of the 20000 which the City promised him And it is further certified that the towne is very much divided about the businesse of Bristol some imputing the losse of it to Fines and some to Waller according as they stand affected to either party and that the disputation grew to so great an height betweene Sir William and my Lord Say who you must thinke would not allow his sonne to be a
for him You heard before how the good women flocked to Westminster on Tuesday last to cry out for peace three of the which were killed directly in the place and thirteene or fourteene more most shrewdly wounded And the next day to shew the men were better studied in the point then so came downe some 5 or 6000 of the usuall hacksters which had beene alwayes ready for such purposes at a minutes warning and they cryed No peace And being told by some who were appointed to returne the Answer that they who were for the continuance of the Warre as every one of them seemed to be should goe to Haberdashers Hall and there list themselves under the conduct and command of Sir William Waller it wrought so much upon the courage of those gallant spirits Reader thou canst not choose but wonder at such monstrous forwardnesse that of 5000 men which would have no peace no fewer then fifteene sturdy fellowes in words at length and not in figures listed their names upon the Roll to pursue the Warre And some of those perhaps may see Gloucester one day It was advertised this day also that 200 of the Rebels by the appointment of Sir William Brereton have laid siege to Eccleshall Castle in Staffordshire an house belonging to the Lord Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield the greatest part of those who are shut up in it being Ladies and Gentlewomen of that County who purposely came thither to secure themselves in these times of danger And that they are so gallantly resolved upon it that though their victuals doe begin to faile already they meane to stand upon their guard and defend the place in hope His Majestie will relieve them e're it come to that as long as they have horse flesh water and old leather left to preserve nature Which as it shewes the bravery and courage of those noble Ladies so is it an infallible argument of the incivility and rudenesse of those barbarous Rebels who regard neither sex nor quality of persons from whom the best that can be looked for is more unsufferable then the miseries of warre and famine This day there came to Towne from London the Earle of Lindsey Lord Great Chamberlaine of England and Sir George Radcliffe the first tooke Prisoner at Edge-hill the second made a Prisoner by appointment of the House of Commons at the beginning of this Parliament but by what meanes and accident they are at liberty is not yet made knowne to mee But because the Rebels are now so farre vanquished that they dispaire of their designes they resolve like bloudy cowards to make use of all base advantages for which end they are now beginning to ship away beyond sea such of His Majesties good Subjects as are in their custody and wee were this day informed that Mudford alias Murford that infamous Brownisticall Governour of Southampton hath this weeke taken a learned ingenuous Gentleman one Mr Jones of Lincolnes Inne and others out of Prison and sent them by sea to New-England or some such other place as the Devill and they think fittest for their punishment making the said Master Jones to passe through the streets by his owne doore but would not suffer him to take leave or speake with his Wife or any other friend or Kinsman to furnish him with linnen and other necessaries for this unexpected voyage and that yesterday their brother Rebels at London conveyed Colonell Goring Sir George Sands Sir John Goodrick and other gentlemen three or foure Coaches full to the water side on ship-board there to lye under hatches like slaves of Argiers exspecting every hower how this barbarous bloudy faction will dispose of them Nor is this strange if you consider their devotion for this aforesaid Mudford sent up his Levite into the pulpit at Southampton to move the people to take the New Covenant who like a Priest of their Religion fell on cursing praying they call it in these very words Blesse the King O Lord mollifie his hard heart which delighteth in bloud open his eyes that he may see that the bloud of thy Saints is deare in thy sight He is fallen from faith in thee and become an enemy to thy Church Is it not He that hath sinned and done evill indeed but as for these sheep what have they done Let thine hand we pray thee O Lord our God be on Him and on His Fathers house but not on thy people that they should be plagued And to let you see both Priest and people are of the same profession Saint-barbe himselfe after he had taken the Covenant said aloud before many witnesses that he had rather see the Kingdome in a flame then that the King should prevaile against this cause they have undertaken This is pure Protestant Religion such as their brother Judas scarce findes among the damned And it was also signified by Letters from Winchester that this aforesaid Murford in pursuance of his former threats to the Prentises of South-hampton whereof you heard last weeke for refusing to take the rebellious new Covenant sent one Thornborough Riggs and divers others to Portsmouth where they are lodged in such a dungeon as they are not able to stand upright but are forced to doe their necessary acts of nature in the same place where the poore men must make their lodging And yet the Newes-men at London have the impudence to tell us in print that no body hath beene punished for refusing their Covenant And in the same Letters it is advertised that the Maior of Southampton a very ancient man is so over awed by this Murford that being lately come from the two Houses whose prisoner he hath beene these eleven weekes for his loyalty to his Soveraigne hee must not now be suffered to goe out of the Towne gates but every common Souldier by Murfords command forceth him backe again in such contempt is the Kings Lieutenant amongst this faction and all this out of Whitehead of Portsmouth his malice to the Maior because he would not deliver the keyes of the Towne to him when hee demanded them for the two Houses the good old Maior being a Jerâ—y man answering him Me no hang for you Master Whitehead you hang for your selfe This day also we received a copy of Isaack Pennington's Petition against peace though moulded and penned by John Pym himselfe desiring the House of Commons or rather commanding them to persist in this warre though they perish in the worke and tendring a forme of an Ordinance to presse and force every man rich and poore excepting some few to take Armes for this cause or pay ten pounds a peece which accordingly was voted and the Petitioners had thankes returned them from the House This day wee saw a printed Ordinance from the two pretended Houses for the speedy raysing and levying of a weekly contribution towards the maintenance of their Army to be paid by the severall Counties and Cities of this Kingdome for two moneths together as for example the Citie of Chester is to pay weekly unto the two Houses 62l The County of Cornwall 625l The Citie of Yorke 62l The County of Salop 375l The Citie of Lichfield 5l Bristol 55l Worcester 16l The County of Worcester 500l Oxford 400l If the worthy Members will come to these places the money lyes ready for them The Earle of Northampton this weeke intercepted divers Letters from London wherein we see such pretty devices as the Brethren use to cheat one another One writes That 3000 Cavaleirs were slaine at the taking of Bristol Another That Waller will be 30000 Horse and 20000 Foot Another Thâ—â— Waller is 8000 strong already Another That 20000 Scotâ— are come as far as Barwicke Another That the Scots will not come because the Citizens have no money Another That all is lost except spirituall comfort Another That the Earle of Essex would have all their Souldiers leave their Garrisons and come away with their Armes lest they be all taken by the King Another That Gloucester cannot be relieved Another That the rotten Lords a pretty-pretty epithete would now have Peace Another That now they must no longer trust in the Parliament Another That the losse of Bristol hath discovered many false hearts who onely had creature-confidence Another That to vote for peace now was like the plot of the Trojan horse and like Saul to fly in distresse to the Witch of Endor with a world more of such excellent expressions as doe trouble me to want paper for them And the Printed Newes-men are this weeke turn'd Preachers urging Scripture in place of Newes against fainting in tribulation yet ever and anon sprinkling a lye as 1. That the Lord Digby hath one Troope of Spanish Papists My Lord thankes you for raising a new Troope for him but hee thinkes you meane the Walloones at Fulham allowed to have Masse by the Close Committee 2. That the Lord Willoughby of Parham's Souldiers marched out of Gainsborough with all their Armes You were cudgelled for this the last weeke and yet you are at it againe 3. That the King commands to kill men for fearing God for labouring to murther him in the feare of God feare God obey the Parliament 4. That Sir William Waller hath many thousands of men yes at Round-way Downe 5. That those men are most of them good lusty Butchers to knocke downe the Oxe at Kingston 6. That Sir William went in triumph to Butchers Hall neare Newgate he went himselfe now but next time he shall be brought to Newgate Lastly That the Close Committee had newes that Dorchester Weymouth and Lincolne were delivered up to the Kings Forces and yet were not disheartned at it I thinke it would please them to see one another hang'd which God for his mercies sake c. FINIS
Castle the ballance in my thoughts that caused me to yeeld to that Article which otherwise I would never have done supposing that we should quickly find Armes againe preserving the horses and men of my Regiment of horse and foot which had conditions been kept with me I had preserved I have given your Excellence a true account of the carriage of this unhappy businesse and of the causes of the surrendring of that Citie and Castle together with the conditions whereupon they were yeelded up All which being considered and proved as it shall by many witnesses against whom there can be no exception I hope I shall not only stand clear in your Lordships eyes and the eyes of all the world but that it shall be acknowledged that I have done most faithfull service to those by whom I have been entrusted and that in truth which every indifferent man sees the unhappy disaster which befell Sir William Wallers Army did necessarily involve the fate of Bristol both because I had unfurnished the Citie with men and Ammunition to supply that Army and it was necessary for me so to do because the City was never put into a condition to subsist of it selfe against a Royall Army although I was not wanting to represent the importance of the place and the means how it might be defended in certain propositions which I long since sent to your Lordship and which were by your Excellency earnestly recommended to the Committee but they were not brought to any effect What my care and pains hath been to preserve that Citie having the whole burthen thereof for the providing of Men Arms Ammunition and all sorts of provision cast upon me having armed 3000 foot and 300 horse and paid constantly 2000 foot and a Regiment of Horse for foure or five moneths together without ever having above 4000 pounds from the Parliament and 1700l of the custome moneyes What hath been my toil and labour to get moneyes for these uses without troubling the Parliament how little advantage I have made for my selfe how ready I have been to furnish Sir W. Waller with Men Arms Ammunition Money and all sorts of provision that I may say nothing of the hundreds of his maimed Souldiers that have been cast upon my care and charge I leave to my greatest enemies to speak the truth for I know there cannot be found in the world so great malice as to deny it and I appeal to him that knowes all things to judge between me and those that expect a greater tale of brick from me and will not affoord me straw wherewithall to make it and I shall appeal to your Lordship and all indifferent men whether more could have been done by me when as after the defeat of Sir W. Wallers Army I had left onely 700 men to defend that Citie against two such Armies as came aginst it nor so much as one peny of money to raise more men provide Armes or pay those men I had already yet God inabled me in five dayes to raise and Arm 1000 men more and with those 1700 men and that Ammunition I had left I made that defence that I have done of which I am sure I shall never have cause to be ashamed of nor do I beleeve that your Lordship will be ashamed to own me still as Your Excellencies most humble Servant NATH. FIENNES We whose names are under-written do know the narrative part of this letter to be true according as it is here set down John Horner John Fiennes John Clifton Gabriel Homes Tho. Raulins Henry Archbould John Birch Edward Tyson Robert Johnston Chr. Stokes Robert Bagnall FINIS MERCVRIVS AVLICVS Communicating the Intelligence and affaires of the Court to the rest of the KINGDOME The two and thirtieth VVeeke SUNDAY August 6. YOu heard last weeke of the affrights and terrours which the prevailing faction in the pretended Houses were fallen into by reason of the sad condition of their affaires in most parts abroad and shall now heare of the confusions and distractions they are in at home the Vpper House bandying against the Lower the Lower at a rupture amongst themselves and the Army in as great distemper as both the Houses For it was certified this day and had beene rumoured two or three dayes before that the Lords had ordered that the Earle of Portland and the Lord Conway should be bayled whom formerly they had committed upon a generall impeachment from the House of Commons And though it was much pressed by Master Strode that There would be no sitting for them if those Lords were released and restored to the freedome of their Votes againe yet the Order stood and the two Lords were bayled accordingly foure of the Peeres which heretofore had dearely cherished the proceedings of that House being bound for them which added much unto the heat and fury of their discontent As also that two Bills being sent up to the Lords the one for levying the estates of all whom they stile Malignants according to the newly enlarged Ordinance for Sequestrations the other for the continuance of the weekely Assessements were both rejected by that House Which moved Master Martyn to propose as he had done before on the like occasions that they would passe them of themselves without the Lords whose suffrage and consent he conceived as unnecessary as the Kings in things pertaining to the Commons but wiser heads thought fitter to passe by the motion they being now in no condition for so great a breach As for the Lower House it was also signified that on the rising of the House on Saturday July 29. Master Pym moved that they would heare some Propositions from the Earle of Essex but the House having all that day attended the leisure of the Close Committee without doing any thing would not be perswaded but rose immediately to the great disgust of that Committee who formerly had beene looked upon with more observance But this was but the beginning of a greater storme For at the next meeting it was moved that the Close Committee should be dissolved many considerable men inveighing bitterly against it as the cause of all those miseries which afflict this Kingdome And when that could not be effected it was proposed and carried at the last by the major part that a Committee should be nominated to take an accompt of the Close Committee and of all others which were trusted with receipts or disbursements of money and that none of the Close Committee nor any which had fingered any of the publick moneys was to have a voyce in it it being affirmed in the House that great summes of money had beene drawne from the Citie and Country to the summe of three millions at the least as was before alleadged whereof although the Earle of Essex had not received 300000l Waller and Fairefax both not above 30000l yet the Armies were continually in want of pay And though Strode and others of the Close Committee did oppose it openly saying it called that power
Coward though he can cherish him in a murther that the lye passed betweene them As also that Sir William Waller begins to be discontented with his friends the Citizens who so much admired him being absent and promised him such mighty matters if he would honour them with his presence For whereas on the first of this present August he went into the new Artillery yard to list those multitudes of men which had long expected him the appearance was so thinne and small that he was very much ashamed of the disappointment And when the new Committee nominated in the Citie Petition told him that was no place to doe the feat in but they would goe presently to Haberdashers Hall and appoint Commanders to receive them and then hee should see with what alacrity the people would come in unto him that on the other side did as much offend him to see he should not have the nominating of his owne Commanders So that for ought we can perceive by the preparations the Conquerour is like to adde little to his Westerne victories by the Citie Army It was advertised also that some of the more peaceable Lords to say no worse taking advantage of the slow successe which Waller found in raising his Army and of their losses in the West proposed the renewing of the Treaty desiring that such Propositions might be sent His Majestie as they might reasonably hope would be hearkned to Which being agreed on by the rest and a Committee named for the Propositions they drew them to some certaine heads such as might give some little shew of satisfaction to His Majestie but more security unto themselves and a free pardon to all those who have beene either Instruments or Authors of this Rebellion And yet this pleased not my Lord Say who by chance was absent and therefore when he came next into the House he laboured very earnestly to have them altered and prevailed in it at the last Insomuch that whereas it was first agreed on that the Ships Forts Townes Magazines and Revenues should be delivered to the King without any condition and if the Parliament should be adjourned to some other place being the only points in which there was any shew of satisfaction to His sacred Majestie he obtained to have both of them altered and put into such generall termes as might best suite unto the humour of his friends in the other House But being the businesse stayed not here but brake out into greater and more publike heats you shall heare more of it after a day or two WEDNESDAY Aug. 9. It was advertised this day that the Castle and Isle of Portland wherof St Edw. Sydenham Knight Marshal was is Governor were reduced againe under his Majesties command which had beene taken by the Rebells about March last The manner how it was regained is reported thus A Gentleman well known unto the Rebells which had the guard of the Castle and used to be much there for his owne safety and preservation in these dangerous times came to the noble Earle of Carnarvon and gave him very good assurance that if he would trust him with 60 of his men he would forthwith make him Master of the Isle and Castle the Earle considering that the Castle and Isle were richly worth the adventuring of 60 muskets having taken so many armes at Dorchester condescended he should have them which being obtained the Gentleman furnished them with Parliament colours and making towards the Castle with so confused a speed as if he fled from an Enemy called upon the guards and told them he had brought some Parliament forces to make good the place but that they were pursued so closely by the Earle of Carnarvon that if they had not speedy entrance they should all be lost This was no sooner heard by the credulous Rebels but all the hast was made that could be to set open the Ports at which His Majesties Soldiers entred and seizing on the guards who looked not for such unwelcome visitants made themselves masters of it without further trouble A place of very great importance as having the command of the haven and Towne of Weymouth against which it lieth and as the case then stood of most infinite wealth all the rich houshold stuffe and Treasure which had beene taken by the Rebells out of Wardour Castle with a great deale more of goods plate and money being stored up there It was also certified from those parts that Poole Melcombe Weymouth which were in treaty with the Earle of Carnarvon as you heard the last weeke upon the yeelding up of Dorchester have since submitted to His Majestie so that all Dorsetshire is totally reduced againe to its old obedience which cannot but very much conduce to the dispatch of the worke at Exeter and consequently to the absolute and finall setling of all the West And it was also signified that a ship of His Majesties Navy called the Charles being the ship of the second ranke had left the Earle of Warwick and was come to Folmouth according to His Majesties Proclamation of the 7 of July Nor is it in my mind without some good Omen that the first ship of strength and burden which did obey that invitation should be the CHARLES THURSDAY August 10. It was advertised this day that the Lord Capell with his forces appeared before the Walls of Namptwich in hope to finde them in a disposition of returning to his Majesties service considering how His Majesties affaires had thrived and prospered not only in raising the siege of Chester but in cleering of the North and West from the power of the Rebells But finding them continue in their wonted obstinacy he fell off againe and retreated safely to his owne quarters with the losse of sixteene only of his men And on the other side to make amends for the defailement of this hope for it was no more we had intelligence this day that the Lord Willoughby of Parham being gone from Gainsburgh on his redelivery of that towne had recovered Lincolne But seeing an impossibility that either Cromwell should time enough recruit his beaten and distracted forces or that hee could receive any seasonable supplies from London on the first newes that the Earle of Newcastle was comming towards him he forsooke the place and made what hast he could to Boston leaving the City and Close of Lincolne which he had nested in so long to be the next example as we have had very many lately of Gods great mercy to His sacred Majesty It was also signified this day that the heates in London according to the season doe still increase and that the discontents which have late beene growing betweene the remaining partie in the two Houses are at the last improved to a sedition if not unto a Civill Warre amongst themselves For howsoever the Lord Say had so farre altered the Propositions intended by some peaceable Lords to be presented to His Majesty as to make them of a better relish to the Lower
House yet when they came into that House they were very eagerly opposed and the House continued sitting untill nine at night in hope such men as durst declare themselves to be well-affected would be wearied with their long debates and they of the malignant faction might there carry matters upon that advantage as they had done formerly But finding that they sate it out and carried it for the Propositions by the major part they had no other way to effect the businesse then to returne againe to their former practices and bring downe their City Club-men to awe the Members of both Houses and repeale those Votes And so accordingly they did For the next day being Sunday last they had so fashioned and prepared their partie in the City of London that printed Bills were set up on the Church dores and somewhat you must think was done in the Pulpits too a copie whereof wee here offer you All such as desire there may be a generall raising of the people against those Irish Rebels and blood thirsty Papists now in Armes fully purposing to destroy us our Religion Lawes and Liberties are desired to meet at Westminster Hall to morrow morning by nine of the clocke being the seventh day of this instant August to move the Parliament that this may be put in speedy execution Twenty thousand Irish Rebels are appointed to come over against us According to which intimation the Rabble came in such multitudes and with so great clamour that such of the Lords and Commons who had favoured the Propositions were forced to take boate and make hast towards Kingston where the Earle of Essex then lay with that part of his Forces which Gods hand and the Kings sword had left alive conceiving that the declaring of themselves in favour of him of which you heard at full before had beene sufficient to oblige him fast unto their partie But contrary to their hopes and expectation they found him so resolved for the other side as they were faine to dispose otherwise of themselves And it is said that notwithstanding those indignities which have beene offered to him by the City faction he is so much inclined that way that upon notice sent unto him that the women had made an uproare in demand of peace he sent some Troops of Horse amongst them and killed three of them for which and some other former courtesies that sex will ever honour him and his posterity On Wednesday last a partee of Horse about fifty were sent out from Banbury towards Towceter commanded by Captaine James Chamberlaine twenty of this number divided and went towards Northampton the other thirty within lesse then a mile of Towceter met with the Rebels Forces in number about one hundred and twenty commanded by Captaine Lawson which though they had so great advantage in number yet Captaine Chamberlaine very valiantly charged through them with part of his men his Rere falling off from him and with that small strength maintained a sharpe fight with them above halfe an hower wherein he received many wounds and at last was shot dead through the head and one of his men also Of the Rebels there are at least 20 sore wounded as by intelligence from Northampton where they are is certified and five were carried away behind them dead from the place one left on the ground and Captain Lawson himselfe wounded This gentleman was the youngest brother to Sir Thomas Chamberlaine now high Shriffe of this County and was in most of the principall Fights at Worcester Keynion Brainsford c. where his valour was eminently manifested and by this last action wherein he lost his life hath added further to the honour of that worthy and loyall Family FRIDAY August 11. This day wee were certified by Letters from Yorke that about foure hundred of the Rebels of Lancashire came stealing into Yorkshire hoping to have surprized some of His Majesties horse quarters about Halifax which being timely perceived by Sir Francis Mackworth he fell upon them and routed them killed above forty in the place and tooke fifty the rest as they were taught ran away and escaped by the advantage of the place At Coventry they pull downe many houses of the Suburbs and tell the people that the Kings Army is marching towards them with twenty pieces of Ordnance and they had some reason for this day we received an expresse that his Majesty yesterday sate downe before Gloucester and sent in a most Gracious Summons to the City in these very words Out of our tender Compassion to Our City of Glocester and that it may not receive Prejudice by Our Army which We cannot prevent if We be compelled to assault it We are personally come before it to require the same and are graciously pleased to let all the Inhabitants of and all other Persons within that City as well Souldiers as others know That if they shall immediatly submit themselves and deliver this our City to Vs we are contented freely and absolutely to pardon every one of them without exception And doe assure them in the word of a KING that they nor any of them shall receive the least Dammage or Prejudice by our Army in their Persons or Estates But that we will appoint such a Governour and a moderate Garrison to reside there as shall be both for the ease and security of that City and that whole County But if they shall neglect this Profer of Grace and Favour and compell Vs by the Power of Our Army to reduce that place which by the helpe of God We doubt not We shall be easily and shortly able to do they must thank themselves for all the Calamities and Miseries must befall them To this Message We expect a cleere and positive Answere within two houres after the publishing hereof And by these presents doe give leave to any Persons safely to repaire to and returne from Vs whom that City shall desire to imploy unto Vs in that businesse And doe require all the Officers and Souldiers of Our Army quietly to suffer them to passe accordingly But this Rebellious City answered that they would obey His Majesties commands as they were signified by the two Houses of Parliament And now let the world judge if His Majestie could have sent a more Gracious Message to His most Loyall Subjects and whether these desperate Rebels deserve any mercy who after so many offers do still refuse a pardon But since their returning this Rebellious Answer they have set their owne Suburbs on fire which surely is not to keepe the City either for the KING or Parliament Yet His Majesties Forces quenched the fire and in spight of the Rebells entred the Suburbs where still they are and have already raised Mounts and digged trenches so neare the City wall that I dare promise you God willing a very speedy account of the siege of Gloucester SATURDAY August 12. This day newes was brought to Town of Sir William Waller's extraordinary progresse in raising the great Army intended