regular fortification and might have proved great offence to us whereupon they contracted themselves retreating in great fear and confusion toward Newark and the other side of Trent where at a generall Rendevouz at or about Mansfield they met with all Newcastles horse who together with them made up about an 100 troopes who quartered on that side Trent to the almost undoing of that part of the Country Now his Lordship being much affected with the distresse of the Country and perceiving that the vagabond-like Enemie declined to fight with him and were onely inclined to plunder he advanced to Grantham and from thence to Lincoln resolving by the Almighties assistance to attempt and take that place whereby he might either really weaken those Enemies of God and this Kingdome or else necessitate them to fight with us We came to Lincoln on Fryday the third of this Moneth iâ— the afternoone on which day in the morning Colonell Sir Peregrin Bartie high sheriffe of this County the Earle of Lindseyes brother and sometime Governour of this City was brought prisoner unto us by a party of ours We drew up our whole army in the face of the City on the brow of the hill neer Lanwicke and perceiving the enemy had made the entrance into that part which is called the old Towne very strong my Lord sent a trumpet to them with a fair demand of the place for the King and Parliament whereunto a very uncivill answer was returned reproaching us with the defeat at Newarke hoping we should be served here as there The next day we sent out a party of our Horse towards Gainsbrough and tooke some Prisoners who told us of a great body of Horse to the number of 5 or 6000. that were comming against us under Colonell Gorings Command which made my Lord resolve to storme them that afternoone and to that intent the scaling Ladders were brought forth and the Foot made ready to set on but second and better thoughts stayed us till next morning we having intelligence that they were farre enough off from comming to their reliefe for that night My Lord in the meane time sent 2000 Horse under the Command of Lieutenant generall Cromwell to meet the Enemy and to stop them from comming to relieve the City and thereupon the Foot were by Order drawne off from about the Hill which the Enemy perceiving it caused them to insult hooping and hollowing against us thinking we were affraid to set upon them but the next morning they were forced to sing another note in another tune For that night Order was given for the Foot to lye on the severall quarters of the Hill round about their Workes and to bee all in a readinesse to fall on from every quarter when they heard the great Ordnance goe off which was betweene 2 and 3 in the morning there being accordingly 6 Pieces together let fly And my Lord had a little before commanded 2 Regiments of Foot viz. Colonell Russells and Colonell Montagues to draw down toward the Gate and Draw-bridge which they accordingly did with admirable alacrity and resolution being led on by those two most valiant and religious Colonels who through the might of God so undauntedly approached the Enemy that after a very short dispute even within lesse than a quarter of an houre terrour seized on the enemies spirits and our men seized on their workes and so with incredâ—ble courage possest themselves of the low Town the enemy flying to the upper Towne and castle Ours tooke divers of the enemy in this brave bickering without the losse of any on our side which we humbly acknowledge to Gods glory to be a great mercy Upon the enemies retreat they endeavoured to have fired the low Town but ours pursuing closely prevented their mischievous intention in a great part and helped most industriously to quench those houses which they had fired We pursued no farther at this present resolving by Gods helpe to have stoâ—med the other part of the Towne and castle the next morning by breake of day though the common souldiers seemed to be impatient even of that short and needfull delay but by reason of much rain which fell that night and all the next day and night we were necessitated to deferre this worke till Monday following in which interim the Lord gave us the Sabbath day wherein we might seeke him for his blessing in so great a businesse Now the Enemy having by their Horse whom Colonell Cromwell strongly waited on with our whole Body of Horse enforced us thereunto it was consulted on whether the former resolution of Storming the next morning should hold or not it was presently agreed againe that by the help of our God the Lieutenant Generâ—l should with our Horse attend the Enemies Horse as aforesaid our Foot storm the Towne which was done accordingly wherein we received merveilous mercie from God who gave much wisdome and valour to our men as was then manifested for that at most in one quarter of an houre as was fore-showne wee gained their Workes every Division beating backe the Enemy and entring the places allotted to them to the admiration of the wisest and ablest of our enemies who did confesse that though they knew our intentions to storme them that night and therefore had drawne out all their Forces being 21 Foot Companies and 2 Troops of Horse besides the helpe of many of the City to make good their Works against our assault yet they were not able to stand out against the fiercenesse of our men whom as they said they thought to bee starke mad to come on in so desperate a manner at which as then so now on this second on-set they were so amazed and terrified that they fled to hide themselves but their pursuers found them out though they were crept into their Cathedrall many of them For our men never left running and pursuing of them untill they came to the top of the hill which would have been enough to have tyred a very Horse where being under the Castle-workes ours set up the Scaling-ladders which they in the Castle seeing left their Firing and fell busily to throwing downe of great stones upon us from over their Works and Walls by which we received more hurt than by all their former shot yet all would not daunt our men but up to the top of the Ladders they got which proved 100 short many of them to reach to the top of their Wallâ—s and their Workes they being most of them as high as London walls but yet they made shift to get up which the Enemy perceiving they had no spirit now left in them but betooke themselves to their heeles from the walls and our men close following them having all got over the walls and works shouting and hollowing and following them as fast as they fled but they not knowing whither to runne cryed out for Quarter saying they were
loss by the absence of their Apprentices they will take care that reasonable satisfaction shall be made unto them out of the publick stock of the Kingdome according to justice and indifferency H. Elsynge Cler. P. D. Com. An Order of Parliament That all Trunks and Carriages that come out of the Citie be searched at the Courts of Guards c. Die Sabbathi Septemb. 23. 1643. IT is this day ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That all Trunks and other Carriages that come out of the Citie to pass the Courts of Guards shall not pass till they be searched by such men as the Committee for the Militia shall depute or by the Courts of Guards And that my Lord Major be desired to give order that no Flâ—x Brimstone or Saltpeter or other things that tend to the making of provisions for warre be permitted to pass these ten dayes either by water or by land unless it be by warrant under the hand of Mr Speaker and that such goods shall be good prizes as shall be so seized And it is left to the Committee for the Militia to reward those that shall so seiz the same out of the said goods and the persons that shall so send any of the said goods as aforesaid shall be secured and tryed by a Councell of warre And this Order is to be printed and published and to be sent to the severall Courts of Guards by the Committee for the Militia Hen. Elsynge Cler. P. D. Com. An Order of Parliament That a Collection be made in all Parish-Churches and Chappels throughout London Westminster for sick and maimed Souldiers c. Die Sabbathi Septemb. 23. 1643. IT is this day Ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That on Wednesday next being the day appointed for publick humiliation there shall be a Collection made in all the Parish-Churches in and about the Citie of London and Westminster that are mentioned in the bill of Mortalitie as also in the severall Chappels within the said limits by the Church-Wardens and other Officers of the said Parishes and Chappels for and toward the relief of sick and maimed Souldiers And the moneys by them so collected they are not to detain upon any pretence whatsoever but to make payment thereof at Tallow-Chandlers-Hall neer Dowgate on Fryday next being the 29th of this instant Septemb. 1643. unto Mr William Greenhill Mr John Pocock Mr John Randall and Mr Richard Hutchinson or any two of them Citizens of London appointed to be Treasurers for the receiving and paying of moneys to sick and maimed Souldiers And it is heerby likewise ordered That the Ministers of the said severall Parishes and Chappels shall earnestly perswade the people freely to give and contribute to this so pious charitable and honourable a work in this time of great extremity there being many maimed men heer already and more expected from the Armie for the recovery and cure of whom there is great reason to provide they having so freely and cheerfully hazzarded their lives for the preservation of all our lives and liberties and the true Protestant Religion Hen. Elsynge Cler. P. D. Com. Ordered by the Commons in Parliament That this Ordinance and Order be forthwith printed and published Hen. Elsynge Cler. P. D. Com. And heer also I may not omit justly to enumerate and commemorate the great blessing of the 29th day of this September 1643. as a singular Parliamentarie-mercie and speciall blessing of the Lord our good God both to the most famous and renowned Citie of London in speciall and indeed to the whole Kingdome of England in generall namely the happie continuance of the successfull godly and gracious government of the said most famous Citie by the comfortable and desired choice of that most worthy virtuous and pious patriot and Senator of the said Citie Sir John Wollaston to succeed for the ensuing year in the honourable Majoraltie thereof who was chosen thereunto with a most full fair and unanimous consent and suffrage of the heartie votes and voices of all the numerous company of grave and well-affected Citizens then assembled thereunto in the Guild-Hall of London A rare mercy indeed considering the times for I make no question nay I am most confidently assured out of that intimate and ancient experience which I my-self have most happily had of his singular piety and ingenuity of spirit and sweetness of naturall endowments and approved cordiall affection and constant adherence to the cause of God in the Parliaments proceedings that he will with no less deserved honour and reputation by Gods gracious assistance manage the â—elme of government and steer the Stern of the Ship of the Cities great Ocean and motion of serious and important affaires than his former famous Predecessour did And that also which sweetens this mercie and makes it so much the more remarkably eminent is that his honourable choice also as his pious Predecessours was a happie and holy fruit and return of prayer it being on the very next day after our monethly day of publick humilitation when the Lord had been in particular sought unto for this blessing And for the confirmation in part of what I have thus fairly and faithfully attested of him It pleased the Lord very shortly after his inauguration into his honourable Majoraltie ere he was as the Proverb is hardly warm in the seat of authoritie as aforesaid now to put him even already upon an honourable tryall of his love loyalty to the great cause in present question and agitation and as he was now an eminent Cedar of our Lebanon and but new-now planted on the top of the Cities mountain and so obnoxious to many and mightie blustering blasts of tryall and probation So I say it pleased the Lord to administer an occasion to shew and set forth his loyaltie and fidelitie and that God had enabled him and would so still like a strong well-grown well-grounded Oake to stand fast and most immovable to oppose withstand and break the force of the either violent blasts of malignitie or slie and insinuating breathings of treachery wherewith he now I say was already assaulted from Oxford thus About the first of November then succeeding a Messenger was sent from Oxford with no less than four Proclamations to be delivered to the Lord Major of London all of most pernicious and dangerous consequence and by him and his authoritie to be published and proclamed in the Kings name throughout the Citie of London The first to alter the generall Monethly Wednesday-fast contrary to an act established by King and Parliament and strange and uncouth reasons given for the cause of the alteration thereof one reason being in regard of the horrid and damnable Cessation of armes in Ireland O monsirum infandum informe ingens c. The second Proclamation was to make all money coined in Ireland currant in England The third to command all Counties in the Kingdome to accept such new high Sheriffs as
were prickt at Oxford and to remove the office of Green wax from London to Oxford The fourth to inhibite the administring and taking of the Nationall League and Covenant between England and Scotland of which Proclamation more heerafter in its more proper place But I say this our most worthie wise pious and loyall Lord Major to the glory of God his own just honour the joy of all Gods people and the vexation of all the base malignant spirits in London whose false faithless and graceless hopes in him were now at the first I say most worthily frustrated and blasted by him even in the very bud who no sooner received the said four Proclamations but the presently sent the Messenger and them with a strong guard to the Parliament who took it as a singular and acceptable service from the Lord Major kept the Proclamations and committed the Messenger to Newgate-prison as a Spie for coming from Oxford to London without either their warrant or his Excellencies the Lord Generalls contrary to their late Ordinance of Parliament About the latter end also of the said September 1643. the Parliament taking into serious consideration the great inconveniences which the Kingdome in generall and the Citie of London in speciall were like to feel and finde in the insuing Winter-season by reason of the want of Sea-coal fuell and firing which would fall most heavily upon the poorer sort of people and might cause a mutinie and molestation of the peace of the Citie if not timely prevented and they not therein competently provided for according to that old adagie That hunger and cold will break through stone-walls Therefore upon a Message from the House of Lords in Parliament a Committee also of the House of Commons was appointed to joyn with a Committee of Lords to consult about the prevention of this otherwise inevitable danger and to take order for the felling and cutting of wood for the better supply of the Citie and parts adjacent with firing for the winter season according to an Ordinance of Parliament which both Houses had passed immediately after viz October 2d 1643. and by virtue whereof the said Committee had power to appoint the felling and cutting of such quantitie of wood as they should think fit within sixtie miles of London in all Forests Chases and Parkes belonging to the Kings or Queenes Majesties or out of any other woods groves springs or other land where fellable wood was belonging to any Arch-bishops Bishops Deanes Chapters c. Papists Delinquents or other Malignants against the Parliament and the same to be disposed of for the better supply of the Citie as aforesaid and to be sold at such rates as the said Committee should think fit And now again good Reader be pleased a little heer to re-peruse and review the sweet Parliamentarie-Mercies of this Moneth also First In the timely preservation of Plimouth from a treacherous plot Secondly In the Siege and preservation of Hull from that dangerous casualtie by Gunpowder Thirdly In the three-fold Declaration of the Parliaments pietie and providence Fourthly In the happie election of Sir John Wollaston to be Lord Major of the Citie of London in such a time of so great need of godly and loyall Magistrates Fifthly The dashing that dangerous designe in pieces of the four pernicious Proclamations sent to the said most worthily honoured Lord Major and in the Parliaments so prudent and provident provision of fuell in this Winter-season And then tell mee good Reader whether God did not heerin also most smoothly carry-on his Ark with prosperous gales maugre all the swelling surges of the wicked intentions of its envious adversaries and on the sweet sight and serious consideration thereof to give the Lord onely all the praise and glorie and with holy David to break forth into a holy extasie of rejoycing gratitude and say Blessed be the Lord our God who thus daily loads us with benefits and blessings even the Lord the God of our salvation And now to goe on And heer now I shall begin this moneth of Octobers successfull voyage with a singular act and evidence of our most renowned Parliaments piety and charitie to that most famous Nursery of many succeeding thousands of poor helpless Orphans I mean Christs Hospitall in London The best and most beautifull Flower of my Garden Where and I most heartily bless my good God that I have this happie and fit and fair opportunitie to acknowledge and to let the whole Kingdome know as I am infinitely bound to Gods due glorie and mine own comfort I the unworthy Author of this Parliamentarie-Chronicle have from my tender infancie had my best beeing breeding and education And to which House of Charitie and so consequently to the renowned Citizens of London the pious and provident Patrons thereof next under God I owe my self and my poor All what ever it be both for all my former happie education and present sustentation there in my place and Calling But to leave this brief and gratefull digression which I hope was not altogether impertinent to this place I am sure not to my person and condition and to come to the present business It pleased God I say to put into the hearts of our plous Parliamentarie-Statists to set forth a singular act and order of Parliament for the good of the poor Children of Christs Hospitall in these hard and pinching times that they might have comfortable sustenance and maintenance notwithstanding the great straits and necessities of the Kingdome Which order of Parliament happily coming to my hands I have thought good heer to insert for the Readers betâ—er content and satisfaction which was as followeth Die Lunae Octobris 1643. IT is this day Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament That all the Rents and Revenues belonging to Christs Hospitall which are to be payd for the immediate use and advantage of the Children of the said Hospitall shall be free from the Ordinance of the Twentieth and Fifth part and from all other Taxes or Charges whatsoever And they doe require all Assessors heerby to take notice heerof Provided that the Tenants who injoy good and considerable bargaines in their Leases from the said Hospitall doe claime and enjoy no freedome exemption or advaâ—tage by this Order Joh. Brown Cler. Parliament October the 6th 1643. The House of Commons in Parliament adjourned themselves into severall Committees and one choice Committee of them assembled the same day at a Common Hall in London which was called on purpose to consult with the Citizens for the speedie raising of an 100000li. for the advance of the Scottish Armie unto us for repayment of which summe our Brethren of Scotland undertook as hath been formerly mentioned to bring 21000 men into this Kingdome which said 100000li. was also desired to be borrowed of the Citie upon loan and to be certainly repaid out of moneys procured from forein parts upon the publick Faith of
knowledge of the enemies coming they were very full of joy and resolution thinking it a great mercie that they should now fight with him Our men went on in severall bodies singing Psalmes Quarter-master Generall Vermeyden with five troopes had the forlorn-hope and Colonell Cromwell the Van assisted with other of my Lords troopes and seconded by Sir Thomas Fairfax Both armies met about Ixbie if I mistake not the Townes name both they and wee had drawn up our Dragooneers and gave the first charge and then the horse fell in Colonell Cromwell fell with brave resolution upon the enemie immediately after their Dragooneers had given him the first volley yet they were so nimble as that within half pistoll-shot they gave him another his horse was killed under him at the first charge and fell down upon him and as he rose up he was knockt down again by the Gentleman that charged him who 't was conceived was Sir Ingram Hopton but afterward he recovered a poor horse in a Souldiers hand and bravely mounted himself again Truly this first charge was so home-given and performed with so much admirable courage resolution by our troops that the enemie stood not another but were driven back upon their own body which was to have seconded them and at last put them into a plain disorder and thus in less than half an houres fight they were all quite routed and forced to run for their lives though they were two for one and as soon as our men perceived them to shrinke they fiercely charged within them all and then I say they ran for it leaving all their Dragooneers which were now on foot behind them Thus our men pursued them and did execution upon them about five or six miles all the way being strewed with broken armes dead men and horses And heer I may not omit to make mention of the rare courage and valour of that most noble Commander Sir Thomas Fairfax who when they first viewed the enemie and saw great odds in their number was so much the more inflamed with godly courage and resolution saying Come let us fall on I never prospered better than when I fought against the enemie three or four to one One hundred of their men to avoid the furie of our men were drowned many were wounded and in one gravell pit above an 100 were hid some there breathing their last breath others less wounded my Lord of Manchester most mercifully gave order that care should be taken of them all And heer it must not be forgotten that some with mortall wounds upon them cryed out The Commission of Aray the Commission of Aray brought us hither full sore against our wills wee were as true servants to the Parliament and our Religion and liberties as any in England and woe to those that were the cause that Lincoln and Yorkshire became a prey to the enemie wee die as true friends to the Parliament as any Two hundred horse were found left in the Castle their riders being all fled many hundreds fled into the waters up to the arme-holes they that lay slain in the high wayes were very many and divers of qualitie for there were brave bodies stript naked Sir George Bowles was slain and Sir Ingram Hopton Colonell Shelley was taken prisoner among those taken out of the water and Colonell Ayres the number of horse taken in all were about 2000 of prisoners about 1000 and as many slain of armes 1500 and not 100 of the enemies 't was verily believed to be found in a body of 94 Standards 35 were taken Wee lost very few of our men none of note wee hardly found above one officer hurt and that was Colonell Cromwells Captain-Lievtenant Our foot were not drawn up to the place where the fight was untill after the fight and chase was over Horse and foot though very weary marched on toward Horncastle where my Lord lay that night with all the foot his horse being sent to their old quarters in the Townes adjoyning And truly both Officers and Souldiers did their dutie that day singularly well and bravely my Lord himself also took wonderfull paines in bringing the business to this foresaid pass in drawing up all the foot to have relieved the horse in case they had been put to straits and had needed it But God himself did all taking away the enemies hearts and giving resolution and courage to our men to him therefore be all the honour and glory of this famous victorie Now whiles these things were thus in agitation the noble Lord Fairfax had a Letter brought unto him which was intercepted written by that ignoble Popish Lord Widrington the then present Governour of Lincoln in which Letter writing to his great Lord the Marquess of Newcastle he confirmes by his own confession the truth of this great victorie Another Letter was also intercepted written by Generall Hinderson also to the Governour of Newark The former Letter enforming Newcastle that the loss of all Lincolnshire and Yorkshire too was in a great hazard especially if he were forced to quit Hulls siege too and in his said Letter also certifying the loss of divers of their prime Commanders for certain slain in the foresaid battail Hindersons Letter also importing a pitifull complaint of his loss in the said fight and assuring the Governour of Newark that since the fight he was not able to rally or get together hardly 400 men of all his former great and numerous forces And that which addes extraordinarie lustre to the honour of our wonder-working God and which I may not heer by any meanes omit It pleased the Lord by his admirable providence so to order it that both this great victorie at Horncastle and that brave victorie also obtained by the most renowned Lord Fairfax at Hull under the command of that most worthy and expert Commander Sir John Meldrum were bestowed by the Lord our God upon his people and Parliament upon one and the same day namely Wednesday October 11 1643. And now to goe on About the 16th of October 1643. came Letters from Gloucester to London with most credible intelligence that the truly valiant and magnanimous Commander Colonell Massie that ever to be honoured and renowned Governour and by Gods wonderfull assistance maintainer of Gloucester having true intelligence that about a regiment of the Kings Welch forces were come to Tewksbery intending to fortifie and quarter themselves there and to make that Town winter-Garrison This noble and most vigilant Colonell being very desirous to be rid of such unfriendly and unruly neighbours speedily and privately drew forth a considerable partie of horse and foot from Gloucester and marched with them to Tewksbery where he sodainly and resolutely fell upon the enemie slew above 30 of them took many prisoners and forced the rest to flie for their lives some of whom were in that their hastie flight drowned in the river Severn He also took
before were a nominating fit persons to be presented to his Majestie to be entrusted with the places of strength within the Kingdome But for further observations upon this Commission and the probability of the truth thereof for works in tenebris must come to light by circumstances be pleased to read the Booke entituled The Mystery of Iniquitie where this Commission is at large set down and you will finde Endymion Porter had the great Seal of Scotland in his custody when the Commission to begin the Rebellion in Ireland was sealed as he had the great Seal of England in custody when the Commission to make a Cessation with those bloudy Rebells called by his Majestie Subjects was sealed But see now as was touched before how the most wise God graciously ordered the effects of all these most wicked plots to fall out exceeding contrary to the wicked hopes and aymes of the Jesuiticall incendiaries and Atheisticall projectors of them turning their counsell into folly and blasting these their high or rather hellish hopes even at the first springing and sprouting of them into execution witness I say that forementioned example thereof in the Irish Souldiers transported out of Ireland to Bristoll yea and that of one Arundell Master of Pendennis-Castle in the West who as it was credibly informed by Letters to London discharged two pieces of Ordnance against two ships fraughted with Irish-Rebells notwithstanding that they produced the Kings Warrant for their landing there and that he also sent a Poste to Oxford to know his Majesties pleasure signifying withall that if they landed the Gentrie of all those parts would forsake the King Witness also that remarkable piece of State-policie and providence whereunto our most prudent Parliamentary Worthies were now at last inevitably necessitated to have recourse by this most odious Cessation and divers other such like destructive designes of the Oxonian adversaries of the Kingdome I mean the establishment and setting on foot a New-broad Seal of England to be resident in the Parliament a piece of great and high concernment for the better advancing and forwarding of the future great and waightie affaires of the Kingdome A Copie of which Declaration and Ordinance of Parliament I have heer thought fit for the Readers better content and satisfaction to insert verbatim as it was printed and published by order of Parliament Novemb. 11. 1643. A Declaration and Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in PARLIAMENT Touching the Great Seal of England WHereas the Great Seal of England which by the Laws of this Realm ought to attend the Parliament being the Supreme Court of Justice and Judicature within this Realm for the dispatch of the great and weighty affaires of the Common-wealth which is especially interessed and concerned therein was above a yeer last past that is to say the two and twentieth day of May An. 1642. by the then Lord-Keeper thereof Edward Lord Littleton then a Member and Speaker of the House of Peers in Parliament contrary to the great trust in him reposed and duty of his place secretly and perfidiously conveyed away from the Parliament into the Kings Army raised against the Parliament the said Lord-Keeper departing therewith into the said Army without the leave or privity of the said House By means whereof great mischiefs and inconveniences have ensued to this Kingdom and the Kingdom of Ireland And whereas the said Great Seal ought constantly to remain in the hands and custody of one or more Officer or Officers sworn for that service and to be used and imployed for the weal and safety of His Majesties People which notwithstanding hath been divers times sithence the conveying away thereof as aforesaid put into the hands of other persons not sworn and Popishly and dangerously affected who have had the disposing and managing thereof at their own wills and pleasures and hath been trayterously and perniciously abused to the ruine and destruction of the Parliament and Kingdom by granting and issuing out divers illegall Commissions of Array and â—other unlawfull Commissions for raising of Forces against the Parliament by issuing out of most foul and scandalous Papers under the Name and Title of Proclamations against both Houses of Parliament and divers Members thereof and others adhering to them and proclaming them Traytors and Rebells Commissions of Oyer and Terminer to proceed against divers of them as Traytors and other Commissions to seize and confiscate their Estates for no other cause but for doing their duties and services to the Common-wealth as likewise by granting that horrid Commission for executing of that most bloudy and detestable designe of Waller Tomkins and others for the destruction of the Parliament and Citie of London and of the Army raised for their just defence and as if Massacres and Assasinations had been but light and veniall crimes another Commission hath been granted under the same Seale for a Cessation of Armes with the barbarous and bloudy Rebels in Ireland after the effusion of so much innocent bloud and slaughter of above one hundred thousand Protestants Men Women and Children by their mercilesse and bloudy hands whereupon a Cessation of Armes is accordingly concluded and those brutish Rebels thereby imboldned to prepare themselves not onely for a totall Extirpation of the Protestants remaining there but for a Conquest also of this Kingdome And further by granting of severall Commissions and Offices of Trust and Command to notorious Papists who by the Laws and Statutes of this Râ—alm are made uncapable thereof and by conferring of Honours and Dignities and granting of Lands and Estates to divers exorbitant Delinquents who stand legally impeached of high Treason and other high Crimes and misdemeanours in Parliament All which and many other unlawfull and enormous Acts have passed under the said Great Seale since the removall thereof from the Parliament as aforesaid Which the Lords and Commons taking into their consideration and finding all wayes and means obstructed for the procuring of any redresse from his Majestie in the Premisses notwithstanding their long hopes and uncessant Labours for the obtaining thereof are bound in duty and of necessitie to provide some speedy Remedy for these insupportable mischiefes BE it therefore Declared and Ordained by the said Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament that as well all and every the said acts formerly mentioned which have passed under the said Great Seal as also all Letters Patents and Grants of any Lands Goods or Estates of any person or persons whatsoever for adhering to the Parliament all Compositions or Grants of any Wardships or Leases of any Wards Lands Liveries Primer seizins Ouster le maines since the said 22. of May 1642. which have not according to the due course of Law passed through the Court of Wards and Liveries established by Law All grants since the said 22. of May 1642. of any Honours Dignities Mannors Lands Hereditaments or other thing whatsoever to any person or persons which have voluntarily contributed or shall voluntarily contribute
faithfull religious and honourable Pillars of the Truth and maintainers of their rights and priviledges and Patrons of the true Religion appeare with so united a concurrence of hearts and spirits The same morning there was set up in Cheapside in the place where the Crosse formerly stood a standing frame of slight Firre-poles on which were hung up divers Pictures and Trinkets as Crosses Crucifixes Images and Saints Agnus Dei's Beads Whippes and other superstitious Reliques and frivolous inventions of Papists all which with a chest of Popish Books were set on fire at the coming by of the said honourable Persons as a testification of their detestation and hatred of all such Romish and Babylonish superstitions and to declare their intentions to reforme take away those things which may justly incense the wrath of God against us one thing is also very remarkable that after they had been honourably entertained at Merchant-Taylors-Hall and dinner ended in stead of idle Maskings and other such uncomely actions heertofore used at such publike meetings to declare their union of spirit as in the presence of God all both Lords Commons at the godly motion of the reverend Assembly of Divines publikely and unanimously heavenly harmony indeed sung together the 67 Psalme to testifie their thankfulnesse to God A religious president worthy to be imitated by all godly Christians in their both publike and private feastings and meetings And which addes much to the admirable radiant lustre of this so precious a day of rejoycing in the Lord and to make this our joy yet more complete on this very same day of this so rare and fair an Assembly namely the 18th of this instant January our loyall and loving Brethren of Scotland came with their whole armie into England to help the Lord and us his greatly abused servants against our mightie and most malicious enemies All which I mean both this most memorable and unparalleld Love-feast and the seasonable entrance of our brethrens brave armie and all in one day how much they must needs vex the impious Oxonians and all the rest of our motley-Malignants and how great and unexpressible cause they gave of cordiall comfort and enlarged thankes to the Lord to all his Saints and servants I leave to every rationall and honest Reader religiously to judge and consider And for the yet greater and most just glory of God within a day or two after namely about the 20th of this instant both Houses of Parliament to shew their deeply obliged thankfulness to the Lord for that late foresaid great deliverance agreed most piously upon an Order for a publick day of thankesgiving in all Churches in and about London for Gods great mercy in preserving the Parliament and Citie of London from the secret practises and most malicious designes of their foresaid enemies Sir Basill Brook Read Violet and Riley which was immediately printed and published and accordingly performed on the appointed day Much about this foresaid time also came certain intelligence by letters from about the parts of Staffordshire and Namptwich to London of an unhappie defeat given to the Parliaments forces of Lancashire part whereof were enforced to flie to a Church for their farther hoped safety but were there also environed and at last broken in upon and by that base and bloudy pretended Lord Sir John Byron most barbarously put all to the sword at his accursed Turkish command and which was worse to triumph in this his inhumane barbarity he immediately upon this villanous victory of his wrote a Letter to his as base and treacherous brother the mischievous Marquess of Newcastle which was by Gods providence intercepted by noble Sir William Brereton and by him sent to the Honourable House of Commons in Parliament a true Copie whereof in aeternam rei infamiam being afterward printed and published I have thought fit heer to insert for the Readers fuller content and satisfaction A Copie of Sir John Byrons I had almost said Sir John Butchers Letter to the Marquess of Newcastle dated December 26. 1643. My Lord I Have already dispatched two Messengers to your Excellency to give you an account of my proceedings in these parts I am now at Sambich and have thought fit to acquaint your Excellency that Brereton for the relief of Namptwich had so prevailed with the Lancashire-men as to draw thence 1500 foot which I having notice of immediately marched toward him but as soon as I came within sight of him he instantly according to his custome ran away a most intolerable egregious Popish lyer as all men know that know that noble and renowned Commander in great confusion so that now those 〈◊〉 are so dispersed that they are not like to meet together again And I doubt not but by Gods assistance in a short time to clear this Country if your Excellencies forces advance toward Stopford to be able to set footing in Lancashire The rebells had possessed themselves of a Church at Bartumley but wee presently beat them forth of it and I put them all to the Sword Which I finde to be the best way to proceed with these kinde of people for mercy to them is crueltie so indeed sayes Salomon of such wicked ones as Byron I am my Lord your Excellencies most humble servant J. B. But now to come to my intended purpose this forementioned relation being onely an introduction to what followes that this inhumane monster bloudy Byron and all his accursed malicious adherents might clearly see and take notice of a divine providence notwithstanding this his insulting blasphemous Letter which over-powers the greatest potency of the proudest Bragadochiâ—es yea mightiest Monarches in the world which oppose his all-sacred soveraign power and authoritie There came therefore most certain intelligence by Letters out of Cheshire to London of divers brave repulses given to buteherly Byrons forces at the siege of Namptwich by the most valiant besieged Souldiers and Inhabitants of the said Town And shortly after by a Letter under Col. Mittons own hand which was brought to London about Jan. 20th 1643. By which it was for certain advertised That Sir Nic. Byron Governour of Westchester uncle to this foresaid bloudy Byron having heard of the sore repulses and defeats given to their forces at Namptwich which redounded to the great loss of his proud insulting kinsman bloudy Byron as aforesaid at his said kinsmans intreatie Sir Nicholas advanced with a partie of horse and foot from Westchester to fetch in armes and ammunition both to supply his kinsmans wants therein and his own too their Ship being carried to Lerpool as was forementioned which should have supplied those their wants and coming unto a Town called Elsmere neer Colonell Mittons quarters this most valiant and loyall Commander Colonell Mittan drew forth his regiment fell upon the enemies forces aforesaid who were then in the Town he killed above 60 of them in the place took the said Sir Nicholas Byron Commander in
body was not then together forced ours to a disorderly retreat at which time the day was doubtfull if not desperate our Foot all the while was engaged on the left wing to drive the Enemy from the hedges where our men played their parts gallantly and drove them from hedge to hedge by degrees till they had forced them to the top of the hill our Horse doing little for the space of an houre after their retreat onely some Parties incountring with each other at which time our Noble Major Generall Browne who was ever known to be a valiant man and must be lookt upon as a speciall instrument in the worke drew off 100 men from the hedges and in his own persons led them on to charge the Horse which they did most gladly couragiously and forced the enemies horse to wheele about whereupon our body of horse came on againe and that very manfully at which time they charged quite through the enemies body and put them to a rout so that they were forced to retreat to the top of the hill where they first appeared this was about two of the clock in the afternoon at which time they began to retreat and sent their carriages away their body of foot followed after the horse and some few foot onely being left to face and to fight with us at the last it pleased God to raise up the spirits of some few not above 300 and to put such courage into them as to adventure out of the closings to charge the maine body upon the plain which they did so resolutely that they put them al to flight our horse pursued them 2 miles at the least til the enemies horse overtook their own foot who cried out as the countrey people said Face them face theÌ„ once more face them which they did but to small purpose for our horse came up at the first charge they were all routed again fled our horse pursuing them til they overtook the foot routed them likewise and dispersed them severall waies som fled to Basing some to Alton and some to Winchester by the way they cryed out the Kingdoms lost the Kingdoms lost c. and when they left Alsford where they had long quartered they set the towne on fire at both ends which doubtlesse had burt to the ground but that our men came in and put it out there was only fouâ—eor five houses burnt Thus it pleased God who alone is the giver of all Victory to vouchsafe us not onely a deliverance which we should have owned as a mercy but a glorious conquest As for the instruments I dare not challenge any of neglect in this dayes service to speak the truth both Horse and foot quit themselves bravely We tooke prisoners in the fight Sir Edward or Sir John Stowell Major Gener of a Brigade a man of great estate Col. Beard Colonell of a Regiment of Horse and of a Regiment of Foot who was employed in Ireland Lieut. Col. Kingston Captain Price Capt. Chidleigh Captain Iackeson Cap. Seamer Ensigne Cowper Lieut. Kite Ensigne Mellis Ensigne Marsh Ensigne Midley Cornet Constable Cornet Ducket Iohn Morsey Phisitian Together with many other Captaines and Commanders besides common souldiers the certaine number I know not whereas we have not lost 40 men that we know of one of our men that was taken prisoner but left behind by reason of his wounds told me himselfe they had not taken 20 prisoners in all and I know not of 20 slain the most considerable losse on our part is the Col. Tompson a brave man is shot with a Drake and his Leg is cut off we are in great hopes of his recovery Major Boswell is desperately wounded Cap. Melton is taken prisoner some few are wounded but I hope not mortally the certaine number of the slaine I cannot report those that speake most sparing say 500. they told us in Alsford that they fetch'd off cart-loads of dead men and some they buried and some they carryed with them the Lord Iohn the Duke of Richmonds brother is slaine and Generall Ruthen as some informed though the Malignants are loath to part with such a souldier or to heare of his death but it is certaine he escaped safe to Reading On Saturday morning I spake with the Messenger who came from Sir Will Waller to our Major Generall with Orders for wee stayed at Alsford 14 miles behind Sir William Waller who affirmed that the Horse and Foot were totally routed not a body of 200 Foot to be found of the great army consisting in all of 12000. that we had taken seven pieces of Ordnance many carriages and that Sir William would set upon Winchester immediately being within a mile and a halfe of it then I trust in God he is by this time possest of it Many passages I am forced to omit for brevities sake both in and after the fight wee had both the same word God with us but see what it is to dissemble with a God of truth Our next word was Iesus helpe us so he did and then the last word was Glory be to God Give me leave to end here and let this day be ever in our thoughts and the word be ever in our mouthes a day wherein God was seene in the high places of the field a wise mighty wonder-working God there is not an Atheist that can owne thee and not acknowledge it to be digitus Dei 'T is God alone that hath done the worke to him alone be all the praise The rest is this March 30. 1644. Gentlemen I am your humble servant E. A. The Queens Regiment being there and Prince Maurices forces most of the Irish neither giving nor taking quarter And thus hast thou seene good Reader to Gods eternall glory and thine and all Englands unexpressible joy and comfort how the Lord hath by his almighty power and unsearchable rich grace and wisedome done that for us which he promised by the Prophet take notice of this Scripture and the conclusion of that verse Thus saith the Lord of hostes The fast of the fourth Moneth and the fast of the fifth Moneth c. shal be to the house of Iudah joy and gladnesse and chearefull feasts Therefore marke this love the Truth and Peace Even so truely the Lord hath most directly dealt with us For this very Moneths Fast-day being a day of most just and great sorrow and humiliation for our sad losse at Newarke Siege it pleased the Lord our good God that the very next and immediately ensuing Lords-day proved a jubile and joyfull-joyfull-day that our then last Wednesdayes fast and Prayers were turned into a feast of most joyfull and gladsome praises of the Lord in our so admirable and so immediate repairation of that former losse by this so great and glorious a victory which was on the Fryday immediately following Wednesday before As if the Lord had seemed be it spoken with holy reverence to be sorry for
poore Array-men and forced thither to fight We slew above 50 of them at this onset about 20 of whom were slaine in the Castle-yard where they made the most resistance In all we killed and tooke Prisoners of the Common Souldiers about 800 Officers and Gentlemen of quallity and worth about 200 in all neere about a 1000 men Wee tooke all their Horse and Armes 8 Pieces of Ordnance good stores of all sorts of provisions in the Magazine sufficient for a long siege Considering the greatnesse of this successe our losse was not considerable for albeit the Colonels and other superiour Officers were in the face of all the dangers performing equall service with the meanest Souldier who undoubtedly received much life and courage from the undaunted resolution and fearlesse forwardnesse or their Commanders yet I say we lost not any Field Officer onely two Majors wounded one Captaine viz. Captaine Oglesby and Lieutenant Saunders slaine and about 10 Common Souldiers at the most slain most of which were slaine with stones throwne downe upon them from the Castle-walles For this great victory and mighty preservation though wee would not rob men of their due praise Yet we desire as most fit to make our boast of God all the day long who hath beene our helpe and our strong God and hath greatly appeared herein And blessed bee the Lord that put into the heart of our most noble Generall as to seeke God earnestly for his helpe before wee undertooke the Worke so far denying himselfe as to give himselfe no rest or refreshing till calling together most of the chiefe Commanders he had returned solemne praise and glory unto God for the great helpe which he vouchsafed us Now for the greater declaration and manifestation of the praise and glory of our Wonder-working God I have thought fit to give the Reader a Summary List of the Commanders and Officers taken Prisoners in this famous Victory Viz. Sir Francis Fanâ— Governour of Lincâ—lne Colonell Sir Charles Dalison Colonell Midlemore Colonell Bandis 2 Lieutenant Colonels 2 Serjeant Majors 21 Captaines 18 Lieutenants 14 Ensignes 18 Serjeants 6 Gentlemen 4 Drums one Trumpet one Over-seer of the Workes one Master Gunner two Gunners Mates All these wee saw taken at the present and are with the least there being more found afterward in corners whose names and number were not inserted into this List of Prisoners And take this note also by the way for a Conclusion that all the Common Souldiers after they were taken did cheerefully desire to serve the Parliament making many Protestations and serious Vowes of their readinesse and fidelity to venture their lives for our Cause And now to proceede About the 9th of this instant May it pleased the Lord to put into the hearts of our ever to bee most highly honoured praised and prised Parliamentary Worthies for the honour of God and better advancing of the worke of Reformation in the Lords most pure and unblended Worship of God to cause an Ordinance of Parliament to be Printed and published for the speedy demolishing and taking down of all Organs Images and all manner of Superstitious Monuments in all Cathedrall and Parish Churches and Chappels throughout the Kingdome and Dominion of Wales which for the excellency thereof I have thought fit here to insert verbatim as t was published for the godly Readers better content and pious delight which was as followeth Die Iovis 9 Maij. 1644. An Ordinance for the further demolishing of Monuments of Idolatry and Superstition THe Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament the better to accomplish the blessed Reformation so happily begun and to remove all offences and things illegall in the Worship of God doe Ordaine That all representations of any of the persons of the Trinitie or of any Angel or Saint in or about any Cathedrall Collegiate or Parish Church or Chappell or in any open place within this Kingdome shall be taken away defaced and utterly demolished And that no such shall hereafter be set up And that the Chancell ground of every such Church or Chappel raised for any Altar or Communion Table to stand upon shall be laid down and levelled And that no Copes Surplisses superstitious Vestments Hoods Roodlofts or Holy-water Fonts shall be or be any more used in any Church or Chappell within this Realme And that no Crosse Crucifixe Picture or Representation of any of the persons of the Trinity or of any Angel or Saint shall be or continue upon any place or other thing used or to be used in or about the worship of God And that all Organs and the frames or cases wherein they stand in all Churches and Chappels aforesaid shall be taken away and utterly defaced and none other hereafter set up in their places And that all Copes Surplisses Superstious Vestments Roods and Fonts aforesaid be likewise utterly defaced whereunto all persons within this Kingdome whom it may concerne are hereby required at their perill to yeeld due obedience Provided that this Ordinance or any thing therein contained shall not extend to any Image Picture or Coat of Armes in Glasse Stone or otherwise in any Church Chappell Church-yard or place of publike Prayer as aforesaid set up or graven onely for a Monument of any King Prince or Nobleman or other dead person which hath not been commonly reputed or taken for a Saint but that all such Images Pictures and Coats of Armes may stand and continue in like manner and forme as if this Ordinance had never been made And the severall Church Wardens or Overseers of the Poore of the said severall Churches and Chappels respectively and the next adjoyning Iustice of the Peace or deputy Lieutenant are hereby required to see the due performance hereof And that the repayring of the Walles Windowes Grounds and other places which shall be broken or impaired by any the meanes aforesaid shall be done and performed by such person and persons as are for the same end and purpose nominated and appointed by a former Ordinance of Parliament of the eight and twentieth of August 1643. For the utter demolishing of Monuments of Superstition or Idolatry Ordered by the Lords in Parliament Assembled that this Ordinance shall be forthwith Printed and Published Iohn Brown Cler. Parliamentorum Much about which foresaid time came certaine intelligence out of Wales to London that God had still exceedingly blessed and prospeâ—ed that most industrious and valiant Gentleman Captaine Swanley in all the parts of South-Wales and that he had lately taken the Towne and Castle of Carnarvan together with great store of Prisoners many Armes and Ammunition as also that he had taken divers more Irish which were landed in those parts whom because they were good Swimmers he caused to use their naturall Art and try whether they could tread the Seas as lightly as their Irish-boggs and quagmires and binding them backe to back cast them overboard to swimme or drown and to wash them to death from
the blood of the Protestants that was upon them And about the same time we were certainly enformed that the most gallant and active Governour of Gloucester Colonell Massey loosing no time to annoy the Enemie nor omitting any opportunity to advance and advantage the Kingdomes Cause intercepted a Letter going from Wales to Oxford the contents whereof signifying that if assistance came not all Wales would be utterly lost And he also having intelligence of some preparations for that designe on the Enemies side to be put in action by Colonell Mynne he instantly and resolutely fell upon Mynnes quarters took divers Prisoners and Horse and brake the necke of that designe And about the same time it pleased the Lord very graciously to defeat our Adversaries devillish designs in the discovering of a most treacherous plot for the betraying of Gloucester into the enemies hands which was acted and agitated by one Edward Stanford Esquire a knowne Papist who plotted with an honest and loyall-hearted Gentleman Captaine Backhouse a Captaine of Horse under Colonell Massey In whom this Papist conceived he had a deep interest by reason of former ancient and intimate acquaintance To whom this Stanford assured a reward of 5000 l. for effecting the Treason But Captaine Backhouse most loyally and politickly deceived the said Popish Traitor and by speciall assent and good liking of Colonell Massey exchanged divers Letters about the firme contriving and carrying on of the businesse and so brought the Popish Agent into such a Fooles or Knaves Paradise as that he received 200 l. in hand of the said moneyes from Stanford and held out the acting of the businesse at least 3 moneths in treaties about it and things so fell out in that interim that partly Captaine Backehouse seemed to be necessitated to put it off but principally themselves were not fitted for action therein So that in the upshot they found themselves wound into a dangerous noose had it gone on and so voluntarily themselves left it off All this being at large related in print by Captain Backhouse himselfe with the interchangeable letters that past betweene them wherein was a cleare and full discovery of the whole plot to the just shame of those blood-thirsty traitors and the most deserved honour of that most loyall and faithfull commander Captain Backhouse May the 10. the most renowned and ever to be highly honoured Citizens of London observing a long and tedious obstruction in the Parliament about the re-establishing of the State-Committee of both Kingdomes which in its former setlement had produced much good to the affaires of the Kingdome and finding that the City Malignants began in their common discourse to seem to have great hopes of an utter dissolution thereof and most justly much fearing the ill consequences that were likely to follow thereon and considering that the main rub and remora thereof was in the House of Peeres The religious resolute prudent and provident Citizens therefore petitioned First their owne City Common-Council and the Common-Councill in the name of the whole City lamenting the not farther continuing of this Committee for both Kingdomes petitioned the whole House of Peeres for a most happy and speedy concurrence with the House of Commons especially now when an unanimous correspondency betweene them even in this conjuncture of time might redound much to their honours and the singular good of the Kingdome it having in 3 moneths time almost ruined our adversaries in their deepest designes against us as affaires then stood To which petition the Lords returned a very respective answer with great thankes for their love and care for the publike good And upon the 15. of May following the two Sheriffs of London with severall of the Aldermen and Common-Councill being the representative body of the City of London presented to the House of Commons in Parliament an humble petition expressing to that honourable House their thankefullnesse for the great and undefatigable paines which the House had now for some yeares past taken in the service of the publike Telling them withall that they were very sensible of the great discouragements they had received by some late obstructions yet did humbly desire them to loose no time in setling the Committee of both kingdomes assuring them that the City was resolved to obey the orders and directions of the House of Commons and that with the House of Commons they would live and dye as by the petition it selfe it was more at large expressed The House of Commons hereupon by their Speaker instantly returned many thanks to the City for their continued affection to the publique and to that House in particular and because a Petition so full of affection and resolution for the good of the publique might appeare to posterity They ordered it to be entred in the Journall-Book of the Parliament and the answer thereunto which was framed in expressions so suitable to the Petition as that it was exceedingly for the honour of the City and for the terrour of the enemies of this great Cause who eagerly sought and were in great hope at this time to have divided the one from the other The substance of this answer was delivered by Master Speaker as aforesaid on the very day of the delivery of the said City Petition and upon the Saturday following their Petition having been delivered but the Thursday before being May the 18th it was by expresse Order of the House delivered in writing by divers members of the House at a Common Councill in Guild-Hall sitting there of purpose to recieve the same Yea and upon the 20th or 21 of May next ensuing the Lords sent to the House of Commons this so long desired Ordinance for setling the Committee of both kingdomes with the alteration only of one word in it and the addition of two words more than were in it before and thus this weighty matter so long in disputation and expectation was now comfortably composed and yeelded unto to the great content of the well-affected and to the adversaries of the Causes great vexation and discouragement But yet within a day or two after the House of Commons moved the House of Lords againe by way of a reply to former Propositions therein with solid reasons why they could not concur with the Lords to have an additionall number of 15. to mannage the State-affaires with secrecy which is the key of certainty this having been the great blocke and obstruction in this weighty businesse and matters of high concernment being best carryed on when the number is the least So that at last the Lord was pleased to direct the heart of the Peeres to a full and clear setlement of this great businesse according to the desire of the House of Commons and long longed expectation of all the Well-affected Party and to the heart vexation of Malignants who hoped for an unhappy intestine division hereby among our selves Much also about
that most famous defeat and glorious Victory given by the good hand of God to the Parliaments three most renowned and victorious Generalls the most religious and renowned Earl of Manchester his Excellency Generall Lesley and the ever to be honoured valiant and victorious Lord Fairfax against that barbarous and bloody hair-braind ignoble Rupert the disgrace of his progenitors and indelible stain of his Posterity In the notable and unexpected discovery of the Lord of Râ—chfords disloyalty to the Parliament in speciall and Kingdome in generall The taking of Greenland-house by Major Generall Browne And Taunton-castle by the most Noble Lord Generalls Forces In the taking of Cholmley-house by the most noble Earl of Denbigh Colonell Rossiter Governour of Lincoln his valour and activity against the Common-Enemy Captain Sydenhamâ— and Captaine Carrs most brave exploit against the Lord Inchiquin and the religious resolution of the Parliament to establish a learned and godly Ministry In the taking of Wilne-Ferry and Fort by the noble Lord Grey and valiant and faithfull Sir John Gell the said Lord Greys valour and vigilancy for the good of his Country and the most solemn and memorable Celebration of the Day of Thankesgiving at London for the most famous victory which God gave us at the great and bloody fight nere the City of Yorke In the most happy surrendering up of the City of York it self unto the three most noble Lord Generalls forementioned and the pious and prudent Message and motion which the said noble Generalls made and sent to the Parliament in point of farther thankfullnesse to God and satisfaction even to the worst of men In the most noble renowned and truely religious Earl of Manchesters successefull and victorious advance and progresse with his brave Army in taking Tickhill-castle and farther prosperous proceedings since the last great victory at Yorke And lastly In the brave defeates given to the Roysterly-regall Enemies both by Col. Laughorn and Capt. Moulton in Pembrookeshire by the noble Earl of Denbighs and Warwick Forces at Evesham the famous and ever to be renowned Garrison of Lyme at Colliton and Chard and finally in the most noble and renowned Lord Generalls brave and victorious and famous progresse into Devonshire and Cornwall and all those Western parts wherein hitherto by Gods power and providence he might worthily say as conquering Caesar said Veni vidi vici even all for the most part either voluntarily comming in unto him or violently enforced thereunto by his valiant and victorious forces All which most seriously and religiously considered have we not good Reader great cause justly and ingenuously to confesse and acknowledge to see and say with holy Samuel EBEN-EZER and to make this the glorious and gracious Motto of our Parliamentary Barke the Ark of our God most deeply ingraving it with indelible characters of golden-gratefull Remembrance HITHERTO HATH THE LORD HELPED VS And therefore zelously and constantly to conclude and hold maugre all malicious contradiction whatsoever that our title is most truely and infallibly ratified from heaven by all those manifold and even miraculous premises and patternes thereof that GODS Arke hath most triumphantly over-topped and been born above all the Worlds boysterous Billows swelling surges And hitherto the Lords most faithfull and glorious Cause blessedly embarked in our most pious Parliament hath in all its just undertakings most impregnably prevailed and been preserved against all the Malignant Atheisticall and Papisticall Machinations Plots and Practizes that men or devills were ever able to invent and foment against Gods Truth and a glorious and pure Gospel-Reformation In so much that now upon all these serious considerations of the Enemies combinations and injurious conjurations on the one side and our Gods most omnipotent and omniprudent frustrations of them all thus from time to time wee may most worthily say as the holy Prophet once said especially on the gracious and most gratefull recordation of that most memorable and admirable victory at Marston-Heath neere Yorke and also all those late forementioned Westerne victories even of this last Moneth of July wee may say and that most worthily as the LORD God himselfe said by the holy Prophet Now also many nations are gathered together against thee O English ISRAEL that say let her be defiled and let our eyes looke on Zions defilement But they know not the thoughts of the Lord neither understand they his Counsell For hee hath gathered them together as sheaves into the barn-floor And hath said to all our renowned Generalls and to their Armies Arise and thresh O daughter of Zion for I have made thy horne as iron and thy horses hoofes as brasse and thou shalt beat and bruise in pieces as with a strong flale many people and I will consecrate their gain to my selfe saith the Lord and their substance to the Lord of the whole Earth And hast not thou ô England as then Zion was promised seen all this come to passe for thy sake upon thine Enemies Even many nations brought together English Irish Dutch French Walloons who not that could be was not gathered against thee to defile and spoil thee yea to glut their accursed eyes and hearts with wicked joy at thy ruine and defilements But ah wicked fooles how ignorant and unacquainted were they with the Lords Counsels and how farre his thoughts were above and against their thoughts who brought them but together at York and else where like so many Sheaves on the barn-floar of Marston-Heath and there and then most graciously and gloriously said to our renouned Generalls Commanders and Souldiers Arise arise and thresh those Sheaves of shame and dishonour for I have made your Swords and instruments of war as Iron flales and your horses hoofs as brasse to trample on them and tear them in peices And then did the Lord also most triumphantly consecrate unto himselfe and we as we were able most worthily gave their gain and substance even all the honour and glory of these great and most famous victories to the Lord our God alone whose strong arme alone got us and gave us these glorious victories over all those our fierce and furious Enemies Yea he alone I say According to their deeds accordingly hath repayed fury to his Churches and Childrens adversaries recompense to his Enemies and to the Irish I stand he hath repayed and will yet still repay recompence And thus indeed it must needs be for Their strength and defence was departed from them and our God had made them as bread for us to eat and devour Yea our God hath for us wounded and broken in pieces the heads of these Leviathans and given them as meat to us his poore despised people And hath wounded the hairy scalps of all these that thâ—s went on in their insatiable wickednesse That thus therefore the great name of the Lord might be feared from the North to the West and his glorious splendour from the rising of the Sun
Brown for the House of Commons The solemn and exact manner of delivering whereof to the honourable personages aforesaid I have also thought fit heer to insert for the Readers better conteâ—â— and delight heerin as I have received it from good hands which was thus The great Seal was carryed up by the Speaker of the House of Commons accompanied with that whole House to the House of Peers who delivered it to the Speaker of that House and made a short speech at the delivery of it desiring the said Seal might be delivered to the Commissioners and the Oath for the due execution of their places thereabout be tendered to them in a full Parliament before both Houses which was done accordingly The Speaker of the House of Peeres viz. The Lord Gray of Wark swearing the two Lords and the Clerk of that House John Brown Esquire swearing the other foure Commissioners which done the Seal was delivered to them and they presently carried it to Master Brownes office and put it into an iron-chest with three different locks as was formerly appointed and the said Commissioners shortly after appointed a Sealing-day to put the said Seal in execution according to the Ordinance of Parliament without any farther let or obstacle the happie and blessed effects whereof wee shall in their due time by Gods good providence and gracious assistance see and give the Reader occasion to understand of in their convenient and proper places Upon the 30th of November last our most honourable Commons in Parliament passed an Order which was printed published the second of this instant December That the Ministers of the severall parishes within the bills of Mortalitie should on that next ensuing Lords-day in the afternoon tender the Solemn-League and Covenant in the severall Churches and Chappell 's within the bills of Mortalitie to such as had not then taken it with other very materiall Clauses therein contained which for the Readers better satisfaction and content therein I have thought fit heer to insert as it was printed and published which was as followeth Die Iovis Novem. 30 th 1643. An Order of the Commons assembled in Parliament concerning the returning in writing to the House of Commons the names of such Ministers and other persons within the bills of Mortalitie as shall not take the Solemn-League and Covenant before Wednesday next IT is this day ordered by the Commons in Parliament assembled that the Ministers within the severall parishes within the bills of Mortalitie doe on the next Lords day in the afternoon tender the Solemn League and Covenant in the severall Churches and Chappell 's within the bills of Mortalitie to such as have not yet taken it And that the Minister and Church-wardens of every parish be required on wednesday next to return to the House of Commons the names of all such in their severall parishes as have not taken or shall then refuse to take the Covenant And the Ministers Lecturers Curates in the said severall parishes that have not yet taken the Covenant are required then to take it And if any of them refuse or further delay the taking of the same then the Church-wardens of those parishes are required to return to this House in writing the names of such Ministers Lecturers and Curates that so refuse And the severall Ministers in the said severall parishes are to give notice of this Order publikely on the next Lords-day in the afternoone And this Order is to be printed and published and sent to the Ministers of the severall parishes aforesaid H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. And now that wee are again fallen most fitly on this sacred subject of the holy-League and Covenant although I have spoken somewhat of it in the close of my Second Part of our Parliamentarie Chronicle touching the taking thereof first by the Commons in Parliament and are now in order of the progress thereof fallen again I say upon it as it was enjoyned to all sorts in the Citie of London yet give mee leave now good Reader heer also to acquaint thee briefly how it past and was taken in the House of Peeres in Parliament which comes now to be handled in the next place for the present On October the 15th being the Lords day the House of Peeres according to a former appointment in a very full appearance contrary to the calumnious and slanderous report of that Oxonian-Minter of untruths Aulicus the Kings lyer in chief as acute Britanicusâ—â—tly â—â—tly styles him took the Solemn-League and Covenant in Westminster-Abbey after the morning Sermon which was preached by Dr Temple a reverend and able Divine and a member of the Assembly his text being out of Nehemiah 10. 29. The Sermon being ended the Lords assembled themselves together and each of them with much alacritie and chearfulness subscribed unto the said Covenant in order as they are heer mentioned viz. The Earles 1. Pembrook 2. Essex 3. Warwick 4. Suffolk 5. Salisbury 6. Denbigh 7. Bullingbrook 8. Stamford The Lords 9. Say and Seal 10. Howard 11. Gray of Wark 12. Wharton 13. Rochford Besides severall other Lords who were not then present but had formerly declared themselves for the Covenant viz. The Earles of Northumberland Lincoln Nottingham Rutland Mulgrave and the Lord Dacres Also the Earle of Manchester the Lord Fairfax Lord Willoughby of Parrham Lord Roberts and Lord Gray of Groobey who were forth in the Parliaments service Certainly the entring of so many honourable Peeres of this Realme into so solemn a League and Covenant for reformation extirpation of Poperie and her sister Prelacie out of this Kingdome must needs much amaze and amuse not onely our London Malignants but also all the Court Parasites and Papisticall and Prelaticall Machivilians at Oxford who no question gnasht their teeth and did even gnaw their tongues with malice and envie when they heard of such a generall and unanimous taking of this Covenant both by the Nobility and by the Communaltie of the Kingdome In the same Moneth also of October 1643. on severall dayes appointed thereunto there were great confiâ—ences of Martiall Commanders Knights and Gentlemen of qualitie who most cheerfully and freely took this Covenant as others had done reverend and learned Mr Caryll of Lincolnes-Inne preaching one day at St Margaâ—ets-Church in Westminster unto them and likewise other grave and godly Divines to others of them on other dayes appointed thereunto And when the whole Citie of London all within the bills of Mortalitie took this holy Covenant according to the Ordinance of Parliament in October last as hath been forementioned in that moneth they were so forward and cheerfull therein that upon a motion thereunto made they sealed the Covenant with the loan of an 100000â—â— to the Parliament for the helping forward of our faithfull loyall and loving brethren of Scotlands advance to help the Lord and us against the mightie and mischievous enemies of this Kingdome and our most precious Religion Lawes and
and the holy Ghost being there found were zealously confounded and turned as they deserved into base rubbish And as the work went on the wife of one Dr Blessenden a Prebend of that Church came in very devoutly and cryed out Oh hold your hands I pray what hurt do these images spoyl not such a fair and beautifull Church and when shee saw a man strike at the image of Christ lying in a manger shee screekt out as was credibly enformed to her Popish husband who thereupon came into the Cathedrall and according to accursed custome no doubt began to plead for Baal those Popish images telling them that were there of the lawfulness of them from the Cherubims in the Temple But whiles he was must seriously and sottishly disputing thus with some godly Ministers then present to assist the Commissioners he grew very sick of this dispute and was fain to give way to the work which went on most fervently After his departure they fell upon 7 large images of the Virgin Mary pictured in the window over the steps going into the Quire all which were in severall as glorious shapes as paint and Art could make them with Angells lifting her up to heaven with these inscriptions Gaude Maria Sponsa Dei c. And under her feet were placed the Sun Moon Starres and in the bottome of that window this inscription In laudem honorem beatissimae Virginis c. And heer now there came in a Petty-Canon and shot off his pety-canon or his fools bolt told them they exceeded their Commission but they soon sent him away with a flea in his ear and a mote in his eye much vext and perplext to see his Demi-gods Semi-Saints so coursly handled After this they came to a most gorgeous and idolatrous image of Thomas Becket forsooth that arch-traytor to the King which they also instantly defaced and demolisht and so went on most zealously and religiously in ruinating and turning into rubbish all those monuments of idolatrie in that Cathedrall blessed be the Lord for it December also the 20th 1643. came certain intelligence by letters from Hull to London that those two right valiant and magnanimous Commanders Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir John Meldrum about noone time of the day assisted by some men by water sent unto them by the most noble Lord Fairfax from Hull sodainly and successfully stormed the Town of Gainesborough in Lincolnshire took therein 500 armes store of other ammunition together with 260 prisoners common-Souldiers besides the Lord Caworth Col. Saint-George the then Governour of the said Town also Lievtenant Colonell Royalston Major Hern and Major Chappell 16 Captains 2 Lievtenants 2 Ensignes and other inferiour Officers Another brave gale of winde indeed besides that of Alton lately mentioned to fill the sailes of our floating-Ark and make it sail on the more chearfully through the boysterous billowes of the Kingdoms intestine broyles praised for ever be the Lord of hosts for it And heer good Reader give mee leave to tell thee and to desire thee to take serious note and observation of it That ever since that accursed Cessation in Ireland with those most barbarous and inhumanely bloudy Rogues and Rebells and the Kings so tender respect unto them as to terme them his Catholick Subjects and contrariwise the Parliament but a pretended Parliament and them and all their loyall adherents traytors and rebells the righteous God of Heaven hath never prospered any design of moment which his Majestie or his accursed Cormorants have taken in hand but still they have been most unsuccessful and put to the worst every way and every where For besides the many marveilous forementioned victories which God hath most graciously given to the Parliaments partie ever since that so odious unreasonable cessation which have been in their proper places before related Now also about the 20th or 22th of this instant came certain information by Letters and other indubitable intelligence from Northampton to London that pious and valiant Serjeant Major Skippon with a partie of the most renowned Citizens of London who for their admirable valour fidelity and constancy to the Common-wealth and for the maintenance of the true Religion preservation of the known Lawes indeed and liberties of this Kingdome especially now in these modern times when the Kingdome has most need of them are no whit inferiour to the most famous ancient conquering Romanâ—s being and returning successfull and victorious where soever they be together with a partie of the valiant victorious Northampton forces also had most courageously stormed Grafton-House a place of great strength and consequence being also the Queenes own jâ—yuter and after much hard service and many most furious assaults made upon it they having also sent a partie at the same time to face Tociter that so they might prevent all relief from coming to Grafton at last most victoriously obtained the same and took prisoners therein Col. Sir John Digbie a rank noted and most active Papist and brother to that arch-traytor and incendiarie George Lord Digbie Col. Sir Edward Longervile and 5 Colonells more above 300 common-souldiers 600 armes 6 piece of Ordnance 80 brave horse besides many brave sadle-horse together with many other rich things of great worth and estimation which were all left for plunder to the valiant Souldiers and which they had and divided among themselves most merrily This brave victory together with that at Alton could not choose but be a singular encouragement to our other London trained-bands and auxiliaries who now about the 23th of this instant December were designed by an Ordinance of Parliament enabling the Militia of London thereunto to send forth such regiments of horse and foot as they should think fit for the farther relief and supply of Sir William Waller and about this time they did accordingly send forth the White and Yellow Regiments of the â—ained hands auxiliaries in the roome of those who had lately returned home as you heard before By which Ordinance of Parliament the City Militia had also power given them to recall the same forces at their pleasure and to proceed against such as refused to goe out according to their votes and the Ordinance of the Militia either by fine or imprisonment as seemed fit to them And that the brave and undaunted spirited Citizen and successfull Commander Colonell Richard Brown was by the said Ordinance appointed to be Serjeant Major Generall of the said Citie-forces And much about this time there fell out another remarkable passage much to his Majesties dishonour since his still persisting in his unnaturall disaffection to his loyall Subjects and iâ—religious affection to the Irish-Rogues and Rebells viz. That the Marquess of Newcastle plotted and contrived by one Colonell Dacre to have corrupted and undermined the valiant and most loyall governour of Nottingham-Castle Colonell Hutchinson to betray the said Castle and Town into the
sent you the originall I preserve by me as a testimony of their unworthy proffers To Colonell Dacre SIR Your propositions sent to me on Wednesday last by Captain Poulton for which you shewed him my Lord Newcastles Commission were so unworthy of a Gentleman so wicked and base that once I thought in contempt and scorne to have forgotten them yet lest my silence may receive too favourable an interpretation from you know and tell your Generall that set you on this brave imployment that I abhorre the thought of treason to my Country though I might thereby grow as great for wickednesse as he tell him I le weare no title but what my faith and vertue purchaseth and I le leave my children an honest though a small inheritance to whom my spotless name not tainted with the foule blot of treason shall be an ornament when the remembrance of all treacherous Apostates shall rot with infamie and I doubt not but my gracious Prince once cured of his mistake will reward my loyall constant faithfulnesse to his Regall Power and Parliament with a larger recompence than he propounds for my corruption if he doe not vertue is its own reward Tell your most Excellent Generall his threats and promises are both alike contemptible to me I feare not those and I hate these I fight not to repaire a broken fortune but to maintain a just quarrell in which may that man perish and fall low as the depth of hell that can be hired to prove unfaithfull tell him if you dare that it had been an imployment more beseeming you or any Gentleman had he sent you with ten thousand armed men to assault our well defended wals than with so many pieces of contemned gold to lay your siege against an honest heare I could honour an enemie for performing brave and gallant things but such attempts as these will render your persons as odious to all honest men as your rebellion and I am sorie you should undertake so base a service as to deserve the just neglect and scorne of John Hutchinson Nottingham Castle Decem. 16. 1643. Postscript Pray Sir send me word what you should have had for the procuring this that I may know at what rate the enemie valueth this Castle To Colonell Dacre SIR You have now convinced me of an errour I once thought it possible that some rash misâ—led young men might still among the Cavaliers have retained a sense of Gallantry and Honour though no Religion and have been enriched with those morall vertue which made the Heathen famous such a one I beleeved you to be but since you can attempt to buy mee to so great a villany as you did in your late propositions by Captain Poulton I must needs be perswaded you would never offer me what you your self would not have done 'T is I confesse strange to me you could imagine that a Christian a Gentleman or a Commonwealths-man would ever prove such a villain as for a little gaudie dirt to sell his soule his honour and his Countrey perish that most contemned gain with all that can accept or offer it Dacre 't was base in you to think so of me I am sure you cannot so mis-interpret any act of mine as to receive from it the least ground of encouragement to such an opinion and had you known my Brother you would have thought it easier for you your self alone to have conquered all the men now fighting in the Kingdome than to corrupt that guard of vertues which protect his constant soule from treacherous thoughts Did you think men of sense will part with reall honour for a Title you are not capable of a religious consideration or I could tell you that our â—ouls redeemed with an unvaluable price are by you most unequally valued at a poore inconsiderable summe of money but your thought cannot reach heaven look upon earth and give me an example where ever any Traytor preserved his foul name from an horrid blot of infamy on him and on his house for ever How can you think He that by you will be corrupted to betray anothers trust will not by another be again corrupted to betray yours Keep your despised coyn to tempt some fraile waiting-woman it may work with her to procure such honest things as you affect but desist these base attempts on men of noble spirits with whom they will but render you as contemptible as your offers Consider the unworthy message you sent and blush at the remembrance of your guilt in it and if yet you have so much worth left in you repent the injury you did to him that was your Friend Farewell that name for evermore between us George Hutchinson Trent Bridges Decemb 16. 1643. To his truly noble friend Captain Poulton Noble Sir I Was in hopes to have waited on you this day but indeed I received an Expresse last night from my Lord Generall wherein I am commanded to wait on his Excellency neer Chesterfield this day Sir I hope you remember the businesse I sole to you of when you were at my quarter I will engage my selfe upon my life that what I promised shall be really performed if you please but to consider and truly value the business I make no question but I may obtain my desires which I will assure you is not for any particular ends but in the first place to serve my gracious King and then my friends which I will assure you I shall ever esteeme your Lievtenant Colonell and your selfe to be desiring very much to heare from you by this bearer wishing us all to agree for upon my word it troubles me to think that all honest men should not be of one side Which the Lord grant that we may all be I remaining alwayes Sir Your most humble servant Richard Dacre Watnell Friday morning the 15. of December My humble service to my truly noble friend your Lievtenant Colonell and tell him I wish him as my owne soule To Colonell Dacre SIR Had the Cavaliers since found out away to performe their promises better than they did at Bristoll Gainsborough c. you might have had some hopes of a young man whose best fortune is his sword but so unworthy have their dealings ever been so little faith and honour doe you give testimony of in tempting me to act such things as gallant men would not accept if offered that I must tell you these unworthy wayes you take to advance your cause are but so many confirmations to me in this I do maintain against you He that fights for honour not for plunder to which the Dutch Prince hath well trained all your armies would scorne to receive his enemies Fort on any conditions but such as were purchased by his prevailing valour not undermining treachery to which Sir I am as unflexible as you to worth and goodnesse The Governour I beleeve and his brother have returned you their answers and you may in this receive the negative resolution of Thomas Poulton Nottingham Castle
Master Speaker told them farther that he was commanded in the name of the House to assure them that as the Cities resolution was to live and die with them So they resolved by the grace of God never to desert the City but to make it one of their greatest cares to watch all opportunities to advance the honour happiness of this City which under God hath been the principall meanes of the preservation of this Parliament Now on Thursday January the 18th 1643. according to this foresaid invitation the whole Parliament of Lords and Commons with the Assembly of reverend and learned Divines and the Scottish Commissioners met at Christ-Church in London between 9 and 10 of the clock in the morning in the first place to testifie and acknowledge their bounden gratitude unto almightie God for the gracious preservation both of the Parliament and City from the late desperate designe of those pernicious Conspirators aforesaid who had complotted with Oxford agents to have made a dissention and discord between them There preached before them that day that venerable pious and learned Divine Master Stephen Marshall who before the Sermon made an elegant and patheticall Preface wherein he did excellently set forth both the true occasion of their meeting and the admirable lustre and glory of that most honourable Assembly the like never seen since England was a Kingdome Which being singularly observable I have heer for the Readers better delight and most full satisfaction therein exactly set down and inserted which was to this effect Right Honourable and well beloved in our Lord THis day is a day purposely set apart for feasting and it is like one of the Lords Feasts where you have a Feast and an holy Convocation and you are first met heer to feast your soules with the fat things of Gods House with a Feast of fat things full of marrow and wine on the lees well refined and afterwards to feast your bodies with the fat things of the Land and Sea both plentie and daintie But if you please you may first feast your eyes Doe but behold the face of the Assembly I dare say it is one of the excellentest Feast that ever your eyes were feasted with Heer in this Assembly you may first see the two Houses of Parliament the Honourable Lords and Commons who after thus in my yeares wrestling with extreame difficulties in their indeavouring to preserve an undone Kingdome and to purge and reforme a back-sliding and a polluted Church you may behold them still not onely preserved from so many treacherous designes and open violences but as resolved as ever to goe on with this great work which God hath put into their hands Here you may also see his Excellency my most honoured Lord and neer him that other Noble Lord the Commander of our Forces by Sea as the other is by Land and with them abundance of Lords resolute Commanders all of them with their faces like Lyons who after so many terrible Battles and abundance of difficulties and charging in the faces of so many Deaths are yet all of them preserved and not a haire of their head falne to the ground Here also you may behold the representative Body of the Citie of London the Lord Major the Court of Aldermen the Common-Councell the Militia and in them the face and affection of this glorious Cities this Citie which under God hath had the honour of being the greatest meanes of the salvation of the whole Kingdome and after the expence of Millions of Treasure and thousands of their lives still as courageous and resolute to live and die in the Cause of God as ever heertofore Here you may likewise see a reverend Assembly of grave and learned Divines who daily wait upon the Angel in the Mount to receive from him the lively Oracles and the pattern of Gods House to present unto you All these of our own Nation and with them you may see the Honourable Reverend and Learned Commissioners of the Church of Scotland and in them behold the wisdome and the affection of their whole Nation willing to live and die with us all these may you behold in one view And not onely so but you may behold them all of one minde after so many plots and conspiracies to divide them one from another And which is yet more you may see them all met together this day on purpose both to praise God for this union to hold it out to the whole world and thereby to testifie that as one man they will live and die together in this Cause of God Oh Beloved how beautifull is the Face of this Assembly verily I may say of it as it was said of Salomons Throne that the like was never to be seen in any other Nation I question whether the like Assembly was ever to be seen this thousand yeares upon the face of the earth Me thinkes I may call this Assembly The Host of God I may call this place Mahanaim and I beleeve there are many in this Assembly that would say as old Jacob did when he had seen his son Josephs face Let me now die seeing my son Joseph is yet alive And for mine own part I am almost like the Queen of Sheba when shee had seen the Court of Salomon it is said that shee had no spirit in her and I could send you away and say that you had no cause to weep to day or to morrow but to eate the fat and drink the sweet and send portions one unto another and I should send you away presently but that I have first some banquetting-stuffe for your soules such as the hand of God hath set before you for your inward refreshing the ground whereof you shall finde in the 12 Chapter of the 1 Book of Chronicles and three last Verses Upon which Text the said Mr Marshall made an excellent Sermon sitting his discourse suitable to the persons and occasion After the conclusion of the Sermon the said Honourable Assembly went to Merchant-Taylors-Hall to dinner all the Regiments of the London Trained Bands standing in a compleat posture from Christ-Church to Merchant-Taylors-Hall as two wals between which they passed without presse or disturbance The first that went forth were the Common-Councell men and Militia of London in their gownes after them the Lord Major and Court of Aldermen in their scarlet gownes on horsebacke with their Officers and Attendants next came the Lord Generall and the Lord Admirall and the Earl of Manchester together with about 16 Earles and Lords of the Peers House of Parliament divers Colonels and Military Commanders all on foot and immediately after them came neer two hundred of the worthy Members of the House of Commons and the Speaker of that House with the Mace born before him and then the Commissioners of Scotland and after all these about 80 Divines of the Reverend Assembly All which did much content and delight the spectators to see these so noble
garrison upon such unequall termes towards night the enemy marched away to their severall Garrisons Col. Cartwright had his horse kild under him with a Cannon bullet they say but I am not certain that he himself is shot That you may know their devillishnes give me leave to acquaint you with their design as it was related to us They were resolved to have surprised us this morning by two of the clocke but the bitterness of the snowie weather which fell hindred so speedy a march of their foot as they expected therefore failing of that their farther designe was to try if they could get the Town which if they could they then resolved to summon the Castle if they could neither winne nor have it delivered up they resolved to plunder and then fire the Town to this purpose and with these threats they had prepared a Letter to send me and when they could finde none that would venture to carry it they seiz'd on Mr Majores and would with many threats have compelled him to carry it to me one clause of it was that if I would not send them the Major Aldermen nor deliver the Castle they would proceed to plunder and fire Before Mr Majores was well out of doores with his Letter there was so quick unexpected an answer sent them by 400 Muskettiers which sallied out upon them that they were in too great hast to take with them the plunder of the Town so that in that respect the Town escaped well and lost nothing of value we must acknowledge it was a wonderfull mercy of God that it escaped firing for they cast a many coals of fire amongst a great deal of hay in Capt. Whites Quarters and laid fire to divers houses and had prepared divers Gorse Bushes to fire and shot muskets and pistols into the thatch of houses as they passed by and into barnes but God preserved us from all these dangers so that though the fire was found halfe an hour after they were gone quick in the hay yet there was not so much as a smoke in the Town The number of these forces were as neer as we could guesse or find out by the prisoners 1500 horse and foot being all the force that could be gathered together from Newark Siâ— Charles Lucas Col. Fretwell with other forces drawn from Bolsover and Welbeck and Shelford They faced the Bridge on the other side of the Trent with between 2 and 300 horse Dragoons which came from Hastings Belvoir Wiverton By this you may see how we are straitned and how over potent our enemies are and you may imagine how impossible it is for this poor Garrison to subsist without some reliefe of money to encourage our Souldiers and the truth is to make them able to live to do the publique service Therefore Sir I beseech you prosecute my desires in my last Letter to you as the greatest service you can doe your Country and Obligation you can lay on Your loving friend and servant J. H. Nottingham Castle Jan. 16. 1643. In all this dayes service we had not any assistance from the Townsmen besides those which have all this year been in the Castle with me though I had twice summoned them to receive armes for the defence of the Town but could not perswade them to do it but now I am in some hopes that they will by this be brought to concur more cheerfully with me for their own defence and that the Cavaliers though they have no cause to brag of this will more deerly buy their next entrance I heare since that most of the enemies foot are run away which were about five or six hundred all their foot flung their Armes away that they might run the lighter Sir Since I writ this Letter I am certainly informed that there are above a 100 Cavaliers lying dead in Thorâ—high and Sausom woods and Nottingham Coppice the weather being so sharp that their wounds bled to death and some of them starved with cold and wee have since found many of them dead in the Towne that were wounded and hid themselves in houses and there bled to death they have left many wounded all along the Townes as they dispersed themselves to their severall Garrisons from whence they came The greatness of their loss is more than yet we can discover and what I have related to you is less than what we know to be true we have some prisoners that were in the Parliaments service in Ireland are now taken with the enemy I desire to know the pleasure of the House concerning them whether they shall be tryed by a Councell of war as runawayes or exchaâ—â—ed because it may be our fortune to meet with more considerable men of the same kinde Your servant J. H. Nottingham-Castle Jan. 17. 1643. From all these plots then and most desperate and devillish designes of our restless rancourous adversaries wee may clearly see that of the Prophet Esay most eminently verified That it is the Lord alone who is able to create peace and salvation to his people that are a far off to those that are neer evermore to heal and to help them But the wicked as heer wee have seen in all these plots and desperate designes are still like the troubled Sea which cannot rest but is evermore casting up mire and dirt And therefore there is no peace saith my God to the wicked But now to proceed And heer now I have thought fit to acquaint the Reader though a little out of order in respect of the day of the Moneth onely with the most admirable and blessed providence of the Lord in stirring up the hearts of our loving and loyall Brethren of Scotland to such a pitch and highth of Christian sympathizing with us in our present pressing troubles and deep distractions as to leave their own native Country wives children kindred estates yea their all and to bring their lives in their hands to adventure their most precious heart-bloud for us and with us in the godly vindication of our Religion Lawes Liberties to help forward the happy reestablishment of Peace Truth among us which if rightly seriously considered is ought to be most justly esteemed and accounted one of the richest rarest temporall mercies that have from the first or can to the last befall us even a whole Kingdom or Nation unanimously to combine and conjoyne with us in this necessitated holy-war O what sufficient thanks praises is England ever able to retribute repay to Englands good God for it O England England let this so rich so rare a mercy be never forgotten of thee let those our loyall our loving Scottish-Brethren be ever most intimately entirely beloved of thee And now to the matter which I shall succinctly deliver to the Reader in a full relation of our said loving Scottish-Brethrens march from Barwick to Newcastle as it was printed and published by authoritie which was
Iohn Byron of whom we made mention before The generall report and relation whereof came unto us to London on the 3. of this instant Ianuary 643 being the Monthly Fast-day at night just about the time of the conclusion of the holy exercises of that day and which was by Letters confirmed more certainly particularly the next day being Thursday and Friday following The substance and manner whereof was this The English and Irish Forces which but a little before came out of Ireland under the command of sir Michael Earnly and severall other Commanders having laid siege to that brave and faithfull Town of Namptwich resolving it is probable to doe some brave piece of service at their first arrivall into England had therefore made three severall onsets and assaults upon it and were most bravely repulsed every time by Captaine Booth Governour of the Towne with great losse to the Enemie Lieutenant Colonell Boughton and foure Captaines more besides many common Souldiers being there slain before the towne At last they hearing the advance of Sir Tho and Sir William toward them to relieve the besieged they raised their siege from thence and drew out their Forces upon a plaine neere the Town to give them bâ—ttell Both Armies bâ—ing met there continued a fierce encounter betweene them which was very bravely performed on both sides for the space of two houres at least At last the enemy Gods providence so ordering it began to give ground which our as vigilant as valiant Commanders soone perceiving were greatly encouraged thereat to animate and draw on their souldiers with the braver resolution Sir Thomas Fairfax most magnanimiously charged their Horse whereof bloody Byron was Commander who not daring to stand to so fierce a shock began first to fly mangre all his former lying vaunts over brave Sir William Brereton our Horse valiantly pursuing the opportunity thereof gave not over till they had â—â—terly routed their enemies and dispersed and scattered all their Forces The names of the Prisoners of eminency taken all of them either Commanders of the English Forces in Ireland or native Irish-rebells were Major Generall Gibson Sir Richard Fleetwood Major Sir Michael Earnley Sir Francis Butler an Irish Rebell Colonell Monck Colonell Warren Lieutenant Colonell Gibs Sir Ralph Dames Major Hamon 14. Captaines 20. Lieutenants 27. Ensignes 3. Cornets 4. Quarter-masters 40. Drummes 4. Serjeants 63. Corporals 1700. Common-Souldiers and above an 100. wicked Women and Irish Queanes with long and sharpe Skeanes or Knives to play the barbarous Cut-throats of such as they should have taken Prisoners or were wounded had they got the Victory 6. Pieces of Ordnance 4. Canoneers 27. Wagons laden with very rich spoiles taken by the Irish-Forces from the Inhabitants of those parts Very many of them were slaine on the Ground and in the pursuit of them among which were Colonell Wane a Lieutenant Colonell 4. Captaines yea and Sir Wil Brereton in his own Letter to the Parliament testifies that there were about 2400. of the Enemies slaine and taken Prisoners in this Battaile and at the siege of Namptwich there were above 500. slaine before the Towne and yet that in all that siege the Towne lost but 2. men in all Boasting bloody Byron himselfe fled like a cowardly beaten and bitten Dog with his taile between his leggs to Oxford there to bragg how he had made noble Sir William Brereton flye as his custome was and to vapour of his happy victory and good success he hath had since his former late inhumane butcherie of Lancashire Forces Herein still the Lord most wisely and justly suiting his Divine dispensations to mens actions and worthyly repaying to the wicked a suitable and proportionable measure of Iustice and revenge Of this and all the rest of his rich and rare mercies and wonderfull Victories and Deliverances let our Wonder-working God alone have all the most meritorious praise and glory And accordingly on the Fryday following which was the 2. of February the pious and prudent House of Commons in Parliament passed an Order to this effect That on the next Lords day publike thanks should be rendred unto Almighty God both for the seasonable comming in of our faithfull and loving brethren of Scotland to our assistance against the mighty Enemies of the Lord for the good successe of the Garrison of Nottingham against Newcastles treacherous fraud and forces together with the happy discovery and defeat of the severall late plotts of the Enemy against us as was forementioned and especially for this last foresaid famous Victory of Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir William Brereton against the English-Irish Forces in Cheshire and it was Ordered therein also that the said Order should be read by the Ministers of the severall Congregations in and about the Cities of London and Westminster and that the names of all such Ministers as should refuse to publish the said Order should be returned to the Parliament And here now I shall desire to cast Anchor againe and make a little stay of Contemplation and gratefull rumination on the precious Traffick and rich Commodities of this Moneths Voyage wherein the godly Reader may see at a sight and seeing admire the great mercies of our good God thus still carrying on his Arke and causing it to over-top all the troublesome waves and windes of Malignity that have thus still bruisht and rusht against it and bringing it home in safety to the Haven of this Moneths end fairely fraught with all these mercies As first in raising up the spirits of the Swedes to interrupt the Auxiliary designe of Denmarke against England In the taking of those two Houses Holts-House and Bewley-House two pernicious Kennels or Cages for the Kings Cormorants those birds of Prey to roust and nestle in for the fitter falling upon the spoile and plunder of the people and places neer about them In the happy and timely discovery of that pernitious plot of dividing the Parliament and City under the modest mask forsooth of pretended Peace by Sir Basil Brook Riley and the rest and the happy deliverance of those three honest and loyall Patriots of their Countrey in Gernsey from the present Imprisonment and intended future danger which they were in In the happy taking into the Parliaments possession of Arundel-Castle by Sir William Waller and his valiant Forces besides a brave Ship full fraught with Armes Ammunition and other good Merchandizes The most happy Harmony and union of Spirits Love and Loyalty between the Parliament and City of London most sweetly manifested in that famous invitation at Marchant-Taylors-Hall In that most noble Defeat given to Sir Nicholas Byron by valiant Colonell Mitton Sir Iohn Gells valiant surprisall of Burton on Trent and the taking of Hilsden-House by the Parliaments Forces In the happy discovery and disappointment of the base Plots and trecherous designes of mischievous Major Ogle both in endeavouring to sow the seeds
of sedition in the City of London by Master Nye Master Goodwin and other Independents in the Plot against Windsor and that also at Aylesbury and the most happy preservation of Nottingham Towne and Castle by loyall and valiant Colonell Hutchinson The long desired and seasonable comming into this Kingdome of our loyall and loving Brethren of Scotland to our assistance with a potent Army to help to re-establish Peace and Truth among us In the harmonious pious and prudent consent of the Commissioners and Estates of both Kingdoms in a most excellent Declaration for the just terror and trouble of our Popish and Atheisticall Adversaries as a condigne punishment of their viperous insolencies And lastly in that most memorable and famous Victory which the Lord graciously vouchsafed to give unto his two faithfull and magnanimous Joshuahs Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir William Brereton at Namptwich All which admirable Parliamentary mercies being rightly reflected on and seriously considered of with a truly pious and gratefull heart who can choose but sâ—e and say Gods Ark was here also triumphantly over-topping the Worlds waves and winds fiercely raging and swelling And upon the right and religious review thereof who can but in all bounden gratitude with holy David break out into most thankfull expressions of soule and say Ascribe unto the Lord O happy England ascribe unto the Lord glory and strength ascribe unto the Lord the glory due unto his great name worship the Lord in the beauty of holinesse For the voice of the Lord is upon the great waters yea the Lord rideth upon many and mighty waters as King for ever And now to proceed About the beginning of this moneth of February came certain advertisement by Letters out of Gloucestershire to London that the ever to be renowned Commander Col. Massey had lately before issued forth with a party of his Souldiers and had fallen upon Sir Henry Talbots quarters at Shepstow where he surprized the said Colonel 3 Captains 3 Lieutenants 3 Irish Reformadoes Serjeant Major Moore besides 60 Common Souldiers with much arms and ammunition And that he had also the week before this sent out a Frigot man'd with his Garrison-souldiers which took a Vessel going with supplies to the Enemies forces at Worcester the Bark was laden with Tobacco and some ammunition which was all brought into Gloucester for his own Souldiers And it was likewise then confirmed that divers parties of his Horse had taken divers Carriers going with severall parcels of Gunpowder and other Military necessaries to the Enemy which he also disposed of to his own better uses Also about the beginning of this instant Febr. came certain intelligence from Sir Iohn Meldrum that brave pious and prudent Commander that whereas a little before some French-men had treacherously betrayed about 20 of Sir Iohn's Souldiers and a Captain of his together with divers well-affected Inhabitants of the Isle of Axholme into the hands of Newcastles Cavaliers Sir Iohn hereupon resolved to go into that Island with a convenient party to repay that affront and to give them their due desert for their said treachery and about the 4. of February Sir Iohn approaching the Isle most valiantly assaulted and took the Royall Fort or chiefe Defence of the said Island which commands all the passages from Newark upon Trent and that he purged the Island of all the Malignants therein and took there about an hundred prisoners most of them men of quality 8 peeces of Ordnance 300 Arms and a Troop of Horse of Newcastles Cormorants together with 5 Hoyes upon the River which were going forth with provision to Newcastles Army Much also about the same time our most pious and prudent Parliamentary Worthies having long and divers times had much debate in both Houses about a resolved Councel of State for the more sure secret transacting and managing of the principall and most weighty affaires in and about all the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland and having deliberated most seriously both of the persons and power of those that were to be chosen thereunto and after a most wise and discreet regulating thereof so as that they may never commence nor determine a Peace without the House of Commons consent and good liking They at last agreed that all those personages which were nominated by the Lords should be returned without any alteration and so resolved to transmit the businesse to the Lords The names of those that were to be of this Councell are these following The Earle of Northumberland the Earle of Essex the Earle of Warwick the Earle of Manchester the Lord Vicount Say and Seale the Lord Wharton and the Lord Roberts Of the house of Commons Sir Gilbert Gerard Sir William Waller Sir Arthur Haslerigge Sir William Armyne Sir Henry Vane senior Sir Henry Vane junior Sir Philip Stapleton Mr. Crew Mr. St. Iohn Sollicitor Mr. Brown Mr. Glyn Recorder of London Mr. Perpoint and Mr. Wallop And for the State and Kingdome of Scotland the Lord Lowden the Lord Maitland Sir Archibold Johnstone and Mr. Berkley But shortly after namely about the midst of this instant February the Ordinance for the absolute setling of this great Councel of State passed both Houses with a joint concurrence in all particulars both the time of their sitting for three moneths to advise consult order and direct concerning the Recruits regulating and government of the Armies and concerning Treaties and Answers and other the great affairs of the three Kingdoms The names of the persons ye have had their place of meeting was Derby-house in Chanel-row in Westminster This piece of State-policie may by Gods mercy and hath already as we have found by happy experience it hath and doth produce much good to the whole three Kingdomes and is no doubt a mighty terrour and startling to the Enemies God in his mercy go on still to direct them for the best advancement of his glory and the blessed peace and welfare of the three Kingdomes About thâ—5 of this instant came certain intelligence by Letters to London of another mischievous designe plotted against the Town of Southampton most happily discovered and prevented by the wisdom and loyalty next under God of Mr. Peter Murford Serjeant Major to Colonel Norton the most noble and active Governour of the said Town Which Letter containing the exact relation thereof and having in it divers very observable passages I have therefore thought fit for the Readers better and more full content and satisfaction therein here to insert verbatim as it was printed and published by Order and Authority A true Copy of Mr. Murfords Letter touching the discovery of a new Plot against the Town of Southampton by the Kings Cormorants or Cavaliers SIR YOur Letter is come to my hands which I take kindly from you I should desire to exchange lines oftner with you I thank you for your newes I had Letters this day from my Lord
Admirall for the Maria-Pinace to ride before this Town We are yet in safety blessed be God but daily braved by the Enemy yet hitherto they have not dared to fasten upon this Town And I have observed that they have never come before this place or neer it but we have still worsted them we have alwayes taken prisoners horses armes wounded or slain some of them On Thursday last we took sixe men and Horse wherof one was a Cornet On Saturday wee tooke two men Horses and Armes shot a Captaine who lyes languishing at Rumsey and wounded three men more The Lord bee still our defence and refuge and give us thankfull hearts for his preservation over us This poor County of Hampshire having had its share of blood and misery in this sad Tragedie of our Nation that there is hardly left any thing for man or beast therein I perceive you have received knowledge of a treacherous practice for the delivery of this Town but lest you should bee misinformed therein I will give you a briefe account thereof Some few daies before Christ-tide last the Lord Hopton marched with his Army from Winchester towards Southampton with a purpose to face it as we were informed but he came not within two Miles thereof to outface it but marched to Redbridge the way into the New Forrest brake it downe to hinder us of Provision from thence after so horrible an Act he faced about and marched to his old quarters again without attempting any further atchievement The next day here arrived a Letter from one Mr. Iasper Cornelius sometimes an Atturney of this Town but run away before my comming hither for Malignancy directed to Mr. R. Mason a Merchant of this Towne intimating that this Cornelius was the day before with the Lord Hopton before this Towne and was the meanes of diverting the Lord Hoptons intent of attempting this place and tells Mr. Mason he had made choice of him to deliver an inclosed Letter to me with all secresie which I received yet the said Cornelius was an unknowne man to me by his Letter he insinuates that then was a fit time for me to doe his Majesty good service and that I was not the man I was formerly meaning as I conceived that the government of this Towne was imposed upon my honoured friend Colonel Norton which I long sued to be eased thereof and by it he thought I was a disconted person and so fit to be wrought upon but he was deceived I being never better pleased then to be eased of so great a burthen which I had borne long enough though it pleased his Excellency to require my service with a more sutable command to my disposition made me Serjeant Major to Colonell Norton which pleased me farre better after the receit of this Letter I instantly acquainted my Colonell and Master Mayor therewith we all agreed I should shew a seeming complying the better to bottome their designe and to find out what malignant party they had made in this Town I forthwith gave him a copie of a Character to explaine his minde more fully To which he replied That by the command of his Superiours he did in the name of His Majesty and his Countrey and two Lords which he named offer me a thousand pounds in money a present imployment of more value and honour than at present I had His Majesties pardon under the great Seale and his favour if I would be a meanes to reduce the Towne of Hampton to His Majestie I returned a seeming complying Answere and demanded the one thousand pounds in hand or the moity thereof and assurance given me for the residue the imployment named the Pardon sent me this performed he should soon see what I would say to it In the interim my Colonell acquainted my Lord Generall and Sir William Waller with the offer made by Cornelius wherein I continued the Treaty to regaine time untill Sir William Waller had finished his businesse at Arundel and drawne his Army this way and then to have drawne the Enemy hither in hope of gaining this place whilest Sir William might have fallen behind them in this place of advantage and so to have deceivd such treacherous corrupters I continued the Treaty untill I had his Majesties Signe Manuall for a Pardon sent me and afterwards the Pardon it selfe but I could get no money but strong engagements of honour to performe with me when the worke desired was effected I whiled out a moneths time with them to the exchange of eight Letters Master Robert Mason being still the man they employed to bring theirs and receive my Letters whom they had bound to secrecie by an Oath before I knew thereof who brought me the copy thereof hoping to have gained me to the like saying he had no engagement all this time on me neither by protestation nor promise to performe with them and which I still delayed which put the Projectors to a jealousie that I was not reall all to them yet to draw them still on I framed some offers in the nature of Articles for my selfe and this Towne to which the Lord Hopton subscribed that upon his honour he would performe them but I still pressed for the money but could not obtaine it they fearing I would Craford them as Poole did yet Master Mason offered me to become bound for it which I accepted of but before he could performe on Friday last was sevennight he earnestly pressed me to declare my reality in the designe I saw the man in a distracted extasie by his over-zealousnesse and rashnesse for them having no assurance of me my bowels pittied him his wife and many children told him plainly I never intended to be a villaine and traytor to betray a trust committed to me and the lives and goods of so many innocent people to be made a prey to cruelty and told him I have revealed it from the beginning to my Colonell Then he begged I would conceale his name I told him I could not but in compassion of his condition gave him leave to goe to his house being but three Houses from mine in which time I went foorthwith to acquaint my Colonell with what had hapned betweene Master Mason and my selfe wee concluded instantly to seize his person and caused all the gates to be secured but yet hee escaped from us and could not be found although we searched carefully for him since we heare he is at Winchester and shall be preferred and imployed in matter of trust In all the time of our Treaty I could not discover that he had any confederates of any Townsmen with him but had undertaken it to carry it alone But I was grieved that I was conceived by the adverse part to be a fit Instrument for them But now they have tryed me I am confident they will never doe the like but to revenge themselves on me But I will to all the world declare and maintaine my faithfulnesse to my Countrey and Cause I have
undertaken and cleare my unfeigned reputation Thus much I thought good to say unto you that you may give a satisfactory testimony of that designe in my behalfe if you heare it falsely reported And I shall be ready to requite you in vindicating of truth and acknowledge my selfe Southampton Feb. 5. 1643. Your reall friend PET. MURFORD About the 6. of this instant came to the publike knowledge of the City of London and so to others in the Kingdome a notable designe from Oxford namely That in the latter end of Ianuary last the pretended Parliament or rather mischievous meeting of Popish Atheisticall and Malignant fugitive Lords and rotten Members of the most blessed Parliament at Westminster being brought into a desperate condition by the happy and good successe of our said Parliamentâ— Forces against them assembled themselves into a most illegall jugling Iunto or accursed Conventicle at Oxford and would needs there forsooth make a poor shew of Propositions for Peace And by their Lord Generall Ruthen the Popish Earl of Forth they contrived a Letter which was signed by the Prince the Duke of York 44 of the foresaid condition'd Lords and about an 100 rotten Commons and was sent as from Ruthen to his Excellencie the Parliaments most noble and renowned Lord Generall the magnanimous and heroick Eul of Essex and in that Letter manifested their scornfull esteem of our most renowned Parliament at Westminster not allowing it so much as the name of a Parliament which must needs argue a proper piece of intention really to advance a true Peace betwixt the King and his Parliament Now hereupon the said Letter being by his Excellencie communicated with the Parliament they thought it not fit to take notice of the said Message only it was consulted and resolved on by both Houses that my Lord Generall should be intreated to send a Complement to the Earle of Forth and to inclose the Covenant and Declaration agreed upon by both Kingdomes in this Letter which accordingly his Excellencie performed as followeth His Excellencies Letter to the Earl of Forth in answer to a Letter from Oxford subscribed by the Prince Duke of Yorke and divers Lords and Gentlemen at Oxford My Lord I Received this day a Letter of the 29. of this instant from your Lordship and therein a Parchment subscribed by the Prince Duke of York and divers Lords and Gentlemen but it neither having addresse to the two houses of Parliament nor therein there being any acknowledgment of them I could not communicate it unto them My Lord the maintenance of the Parliament of England and of the priviledges thereof is that for which we are all resolved to spend our blood as being the foundation whereon all our Lawes and Liberties are built I send your Lordship herewith a Nationall Covenant solemnly entred into by both Kingdomes of England and Scotland and a Declaration passed by them both together with another Declaration of the Kingdome of Scotland I rest Your Lordships humble Servant ESSEX Essex-house Ian. 30. 1643. About the 9. of this instant February our most noble and renowned Patriots in Parliament resolved on the sequestring of the Estates of many grand Malignants and Incendiaries and to order and dispose of their Estates for the publike use And they appointed a Committee accordingly to take order for the sequestrating of the Lands and Estates of the Earle of Berk-shire prisoner in the Tower and that the same should be disposed of for the use of the publike good And the like for the estate of the Earle of Carbery a great stickler for the adverse party in Wales The Lord Aborthorum Mr. Walter Mountague prisoner in the Tower The Lord Cottington that Spanish Don and grand Incendiary of the Kingdome And that all the goods and Chattels already sequestred and to be sequestred belonging to the aforesaid Lords and Gentlemen should be forthwith sold and the monies made use of for the publike service and more especially for supplies for the Noble Lord Fairfax in Yorkshire The like also for all the goods and chattels belonging to Sir John Banks Lord Chiefe Justice at Oxford The like for the Bishop of Winchester and the like for all the goods of all other Malignants sequestred and being in Cambden-house in London or elsewhere As also the goods and whole estate in and about London belonging to that unhappy and unholy Neuter or Ambo-dexter Dr. Vsher Arch-Prelate of Armagh resident at Oxford a man once I confesse of good yea of great esteem like his apostate brother Dr. White Bishop of Ely in City and Country both in England and Ireland but at length whose last dayes hitherto have proved his worst dayes Of whom one thing I may not here omit to his eternall shame and ignominie That upon debating of the businesse in Parliament concerning him there was evidence given in to the Parliament against him That upon the first framing of that pernicious Oath at Oxford to enjoyn all men to take up Armes against the Parliament this slye Archbishop was a chiefe Agent by his Episcopall rhetorick to perswade all men to take the said Oath yea and that he wished they might all dye in prison that refused to take it that divers who by his perswasions had taken it were afterward much troubled in conscience and some of them dyed in that condition much perplexed and unsatisfied A most sad and bad burthen to lie on the Conscience of such an unholy and unhappy Instigator thereunto whose perishing blood will I feare be one day severely required at his hands without repentance Also about the 10. of this instant certain intelligence came out of York-shire by Letters to London from the most Noble Lord Fairfax of the taking of Burlington in the said County the place where the Queene formerly landed when she unhappily returned out of Holland by a party of Horse and Foot commanded by that valiant and vertuous Colonel Sir William Constable who entred the Town in a full Carriere took 250 Common-souldiers besides Major New nam the Governour of the Town and divers other Officers with 2 Drakes and 500 Arms besides other Ammunition In this exploit Major Briery and Captain Bethel the one in the Van the other in the Reare did singular good service and put the Enemy into a great disorder This place being within 6 miles of Scarborough will make Sir Hugh Cholmley that perfidious Apostate to look about him And very shortly after came farther intelligence of another notable Exploit performed by the said brave and valiant Commander Sir William Constable who surprised a party of the Enemy at a place called Driffle between Malton and Scarborough where he took 300 of Newcastles Horse Colonel Washington one Serjeant-Major three Captaines divers Officers and about an hundred and sixty common Foot-souldiers and routed another Regiment besides Much about the same time came certain information by Letters from the Scotch Commissioners out of the North That since
became Master of the whole East-riding of Yorkeshire The Kings Oxonian Councellors or rather Conventiclers and devouring Cormorants having had a deepe designe by that late conquered and quelled bloody Byron forementioned namely with his so great a strength which was also to be augmented in Cheshire by very many Irish-rebells to be then shortly landed at Milford Haven and thus I say with a very strong army of those Irish-Rebells Welsh Papists and viperons Malignants to have put a stop to the Scots army in the North but I say Byron was conquered by that most brave defeat as you have already heard given him at the raising of the siege at Namptwich by those two famous Commanders Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir William Brereton Prince Robber also with all the forces he could collect and make up was to meete them at their randevouz in the said County-Palatine of Chester About twelve ships fraught with Irish Rebells were to have beene landed at Milford Haven but most valiant and couragious Capt. Swanley having by Gods good providence put into the said haven was first possest thereof before they came thither and when they came most bravely beat them all off againe from landing there only a part of 2. regiments landed afterward at Bewmorice for whose safe conduct a regiment of horse was sent from Prince Plunderer who went in person toward Chester with what forces could be spared to helpe to maintaine the foresaid designe and there he sent out a most base and bloody warrant up and down that County to summon all that were able to come in unto them to joyne with him in that wicked design and for those that refused this was to be their punishment viz. To looke for no mercy but speedily to expect fire and sword Whereby he compelled many for feare to march with him into Shropshire but that brave magnanimous and active Commander Colonel Mitton timely understanding thereof fell upon some of their quarters and after a short skrimish without any considerable losse to himselfe routed a whole regiment of them tooke about 60. horse two of Sr. Rich. Fleetwoods sons Commanders in that regiment and other officers 50. foot-souldiers prisoners an 100. armes And thus partly and especially by those two noble Commanders Sir Tho. Fairfax and Sir William Brereton partly by Capt. Swanley and partly also by this defeat of brave Colonell Mitton this their great and wicked designe was by Gods great mercy quite broken in pieces and came to nought And thus also was this poore County-Palatine of Chester upon which the kings eye was more fastned to fixe and augment strong forces there for the greater advancement of this and his other great designes than on any one County in the kingdome Witnesse his first sending thither that Cow-stealer the unsuccessefull atheisticall Lord Capell who was soone beaten thence Then Serjeant Major Willis surprized by Colonell Mitton Then the bloody Lord Byron beaten as aforesaid And after all these pilfering Prince Robber himselfe 〈◊〉 as you have heard by the said most valiant Colonell Mitton Thus was this County at last brought into a more quiet and stable condition ever praised and blessed be the Lord our good God for it About the 16. of this instant Feb. 1643. there was a conference between both the Houses of Parliament which was managed by the noble and truely pious Earl of Manchester the effect whereof was this That whereas there were divers inconveniences and great disturbances begun to be brewing and already raised and likely to grow much greater if not timely prevented in the City of London by reason of many unhappy differences of opinions in matters of Religion by Anabaptists Antinomians and such like the honourable Peeres did therefore desire that both Houses would joyn together in sending to the Assembly of Divines to expedite their care in setling of Church-Government with as much speed as conveniently might be and in the mean time an Order was drawn up to be sent to the Lord Major of London which was also read in the Churches Wherein it was desired that speciall care might be taken that none did Preach in any Church but such as the Minister or the Pastor thereof â—hall answer for their Doctrines delivered if justly questioned of which therefore all Ministers especially were to be very carefull A course marvelous fit to be put in execution least if such Tares take root it might cost more care and toyle to pluck them up and root them out and thereby also endanger the pulling up of the good corn which by a timely prevention might be easily remedied and better Ordered About the 18. of this instant came certain Intelligence by Letters from Northampton to London that a partee of Horse was lately before sent out from thence upon a design within three miles of Banbury where they had Intelligence that Captain Farmer son to Sir Hutton Farmer a great Royalist was quartered with his Troopes who comming suddenly into the same Town they took the said Captaine and above 40. horse divers Commanders Officers and common souldiers with some Armes and brought them all safely into Northampton Thus our hopes of prosperous successe through Gods assistance doe still encrease there having scarcely one day past about this time of the yeare for above a moneth together wherein we have not had comfortable tydings and certaine relation of good service done by the Parliaments forces at Northampton Warwicke-Castle and other parts Let God have all the glory even the Lord of hosts who onely is the giver of all victories About the 20th of this instant came certaine intelligence by letters from Hull That the noble and ever to be honoured and loved Lord Fairfax with a sufficient party issued out of Hull upon the enemies quarters routed 3. Regiments of their horse tooke 300. of them in the fight above an 170 prisoners slew 50 on the ground and took divers Captaines and Commanders And that the most notorious Prince of Robbers or as now the King hath made him the Duke of Cumberland or Plunderland call him what you please having got together among all his great and rich pillage and plunder and sent about 3000. l. in gold and silver toward Waymouth intending as was conceived to passe it away by Sea into his own Country but the brave Garrison of Poole I call it a Garrison but may indeed call and count it an Army for its Valour and Vigilancy it having equalled if not transcended some of our great bodies this last winter in Martiall exploits having had private Intelligence thereof watched them narrowly and at a fit oportunity fell upon the convoy thereof neer unto Dorchester surprised them and all their Horse Armes and Ammunition and bravely took from them the said 3000. l. in gold and silver and carryed all away with them to Pool a brave and suddain unexpected accommodation to Valiant Captain Bingham to be imployed for the
forces against them who came forth and faced them also whiles other some of his forces had placed themselves in some advantagious ambuscadoes and upon the ingagement of the rest in fight came upon the reere of Hoptons forces beat them soundly tooke about at least 80. of them prisoners among whom were 2. Cornets and other officers whom they safely carryed into Southampton And that most loyall and magnanimous commander Sir William Belfore had performed much good service against the enemy neere Basing-house in Hampshire where he defeated a party of Basing forces which sallyed out of the said House and fell upon his infantrie in their marching that way But Sir Williams horse wheeling about and comming in the rear of them killed 20. on the place routed 200. horse and tooke many prisoners whereof some were men of quality After which he advanced to Newbery and tooke possession of the Towne which the enemies garrison understanding of his comming toward them had quite quitted upon his approach thither at which time he was about 5000. strong in horse and foot And about the same time came certaine intelligence from forraine parts which I here mention as having reference to our present affaires in England that on the last Monethly fast day of Febr. last 1643. which was also kept at Delph in Holland the same day that ours was in England by the English Inhabitants and Merchants there residing and that the Prince Elector Palatine CHARLES subscribed the Solemine-League or Covenant entred into by the Kingdomes of England and Scotland and which had beene sent over and ordered by the Parliament to be taken by all the English in all those Provinces and that many also of the Court in Holland have done the like Also that the Swedes had about that time taken the King of Denmarkes castle of Elsenburge which guards the Sound on Norway side and that they had then also taken two Danish ships with 1200. of the king of Denmarkes souldiers And which is of greatest concernment and most remarkable that the Swedes were then expediting an Embassie to the Parliament of England wherein they desired the first motion wherof we touched before that they might associate themselves with the kingdomes of England and Scotland for the mutuall defence of one another in point of the Protestant religion against the Popish party in any part of the world Thus good Reader we see still dayly how the kingdome of Antichrist like Sauls house decayes and decreases more and more and therefore how justly and joyfully we may and must expect the House of David to encrease flourish and prevaile in all parts of the earth and thereby our glorious hopes more sweetly and firmely to be lifted up in expectation of the most happy holy Halcyon dayes of the Church of Christ in this last age of the world Amen and Amen About the 12. of this instant came farther intelligence also out of Yorkeshire That the most noble Lord Fairfax did still enlarge his quarters in those parts and that his two most valiant Champions Colonell Sir William Constable and Colonell Lambert grew more and more prosperous and victorious And in particular that Colonell Constable marching to Yorke quartered at a place called Pocklington and from thence to the enemies quarters and faced their Garrison at Tadcaster-Bridge within ten miles of Yorke on the East side fell valiantly on the Enemies and in short time took it In which Gaâ—rison he took 10 Captaines Lieutenants and Commissioners of Array besides other Officers about 200 Souldiers 300 Armes 3 peices of Ordnance 14 Barrells of powder besides match and other good prizes Much about this time the Declaration of both Kingdomes for the comming in of the Oxford partee by the first of March 1643. had a great influence upon many of the more ingenuous moderate and discreet delinquents among them so as divers of note and quality came in before and some â—ince the time assigned and very willingly took the Solemn League and Covenant Some of the most considerable of whom I have here thought fit to expresse by name viz. The Earl of Westmerland the Earl of Monmouth the Earl of Thanet Sir Francis Lâ—e one of the Gentlemen of the Kings Bed-chamber the Lord Paget who went to Warwick-Castle the Earle of Carlile Sir Anthony Ashley-Cooper Baronet high Sheriffe of Dorsetshire and Governour of Weymouth Sir Edward Deering Sir Iohn Evelin of Hampshire Sir Iohn Evelin of Surrey Sir William Acton an Alderman of London Mr. Roger Pits Mr. Mason Mr. Carpenter and many other most of them men of eminency and great Estates who came to London and took the Covenant besides many who had submitted themselves to the Parliaments Garrisons at Northampton Warwick and other places too numerous to be here particularized and many more would fain have come away thence had they not taken such a strict course in all the Kings Quarters to retain and restrain them by setting up Gibbets at Oxford and threatning them most terribly with no lesse than hanging if they were taken in any such defection Here also I conceive it not unfit but in much pertinent measure consonant to these our Parliamentary mercies to make mention of that most vile and base Athesticall defection of that most ignoble and perjured Knight Sir Richard Geenvile which I say may justly come in as no small mercy to us in regard of the great designe of the Parliament about that time against the enemies thereof a mercy I say that he went then away since he was so rotten at the core and had so false a heart to the State and Parliament so soon when as he did us so little hurt where as had he stayed till our Forces had gone into the Field and had been to joyn in Battail with the Enemy as not long after they did he might especially being then also in such an eminent place of power and trust in the Army like his brother in iniquity Sir Faithlesse Fortescue at Edgehill Battell he might I say have done us a far greater mischiefe in the fight than he did by this his base flight But for this his so wicked and unworthy tergiversation he was followed with a most just reward for upon the 15. of this instant March being Fryday according to an Order of the Councill of War there were two Gibbets erected the one over against the Royall Exchange in Cornhill in London and the other in the Pallace yard at Westminster whereat Proclamation was made by the Provost Marshall and trumpeters of his Excellencies Armie declaring Sir Richard Grinvile that grand Apostate and Renâ—gado of England a Traiter unto the Kingdome which Proclamation was fixed upon both the foresaid Gibbets in writing in the words following Whereas Richard Greenvile hath of late presented his Service unto the Parliament and hath been entertained by the Parliament as a Colonell of a Regiment of Horse And whereas the said
Sunderland about which time the Enemies shewed themselves upon a hill within two miles of the Towne but soone retreated without giving one stroake and then the Enemies Forces of Durham and Newcastle joyning and by the accession of new forces from Yorkeshire supposed to be about 14000 Horse and Foot they shewed themselves againe in a body within 3 miles of Sunderland whereupon the Scots drew out put themselves in Battalia both Armies standing so all day long and lay in the field all night within halfe a mile at most of each other the like they did the next day and the next night after but the Enemy having the advantage of ground the Scots could not engage their Army without great disadvantage and through the unpassablenes of the hedges and ditches betwixt them Within 3 or 4 dayes after in the morning the Enemy retreated apace toward Durham and the Scots sent out a Partie after them who skirmished upon their Reare and tooke some of them Prisoners by whom they received information that Newcastles Forces lying in the Field in the clod Snowey weather and in the skirmish had lost at least 800. Horse and men kill'd and runne away And within 3 or 4 dayes after the whole body of the Scots Army advanced against the Enemy toward Durham leaving about two Regiments at Sunderland for the security of that place About the 24th of this instant came certaine information by Letters from Lyme to London that Colonell Wear going from Lyme with a party of neere upon 7 or 8 score foot and Dragoons into Devon at least 14 miles from his Garrison to joyne with some well-affected persons that had invited him to come thither and were then in Armes but unhappily set upon by the Enemy who kill'd and surpriz'd most of them before the Colonel could get to them Whereupon the Colonell retreated to Lyme and the Prisoners which the Enemy tooke they carryed to Colliton a Towne within 4 miles of Lyme and to expresse their joy for this Victory they presently fell a drinking and carousing in exessive manner But the vigilant and valiant Captaine Pyne of whom we have made mention before having got good intelligence thereof lost no time but that very night went out of Lyme with a party of Horse to Colliton being come thither they first killd the Sentinels then entred the Towne and sodainly fell upon them in the night and height of their secure jollitie where he tooke a Collonell 2 or 3 Captaines and other Officers released all their owne Prisoners tooke above 60 common Souldiers with divers Horse and Armes and brought them all safe into Lyme By which excellent exploit all things rightly reckoned and accounted one would thinke they had little cause to boast of that dayes good successe much lesse of a Victory And about the 26 of this instant March my intelligence put me in minde heere to make mention of Gods admirable and most wise ordering and disposing of things to the glory of his Name joy of his children and vexation of the base Brats of Rome and malignant Enemies of Reformation in the most rare and strange alteration of the face of things in the Cathedrall Church at Westminster Namely that whereas there was wont to be heard nothing almost but Roaring-Boyes tooting and squeaking Organ-Pipes and the Cathedrall Catches of Morley and I know not what trash now the Popish-Altar is quite taken away the bellowing Organs are demolisht and pull'd downe the treble or rather trouble and base Singers Chanters or inchanters driven out and instead thereof there is now set up a most blessed Oxthodox Preaching Ministery even every morning throughout the Weeke and every weeke through the whole yeare a Sermon Preached by most learned grave and godly Ministers of purpose appointed thereunto and for the gaudy guilded Crucifixes and rotten table of dumbe Idols Popish Saints and Pictures set up and placed and painted thereabout where that sinfull Singing was used now a most sweet assembly and thicke throng of Gods pious people and well-affected living teachable Saints is there constantly and most comfortably every morning to be seen at the Sermons O our God! what a rich and rare alteration what a strange change is this indeed And about the end of this instant March wee were credibly informed that Hopton and his Mercenary and compulsatory Confederates had swept the Westerne parts pretty cleane to make up a mighty supposed formidable Army as if therewith he intended to pursue Gods people like furious Pharaoh himselfe to the red Sea of ruine and destruction or rather to make the Seas and Rivers red with the blood of Gods Saints and servants which the land was loath to drinke in Inchiquine with his Hell-bred Irish Generall Forth foaming and fuming with his witlesse Welsh and the rest of the rabble of Outlandish godlesse gracelesse French Walioones c. Gebal Ammon and Amaleck with the Philistims were all gathered together that they might all perish together at once like Sisera and Iabin at the brooke of Kison The Cause is one and the effect shall be the same for the same God lives now and for ever and hath onely appointed them a time wherein to whip his Children for a while for a day to be scourged and disturbed but not destroyed by them For sayes the Lord Asshur is my Rod. But this being once done this rod shall be cast into the fire and then neither their Idols Images Crosses Crucifixes Ave-Maries Pater-nosters or any or all their Masse-Sacrifices shall be able to save them but they shall perish and be packing to Rome whence they most unhappily came among us For as I say Hopton was thus preparing his powers against God So on the other side Sir William Waller Sir William Belfore and renowned Major Gen. Brown a rare Pair-royall of most famous faithfull and magnanimous Commanders were also with a very considerable Army within a little distance of the multitude of their impious Adversaries and as ready to receive them as they to give the Charge The head Quarter of the Enemy was at Winchester and upon the Downes foure miles from Winchester where Hopton had raised some Workes and a great part of his Army lay about in the Field Sir William Waller also Sir William Belfore and Serjeant Major Browne lay about Petersfield and Trafford and some parts of the Armies on both sides faced each other as they lay at distance and some slight Skimishes had first beene with some of Hoptons Horse who were beaten by brave sir William Belfores horse but Hoptons were experienced hoppers and runners too and so saved themselves the better But now to come to the maine matter intended And yet before we come to speake exactly of the fight it self I shall desire the Reader to give me leave with his patience to premise these pertinent antecedents thereof very worthy pre-observation namely That about this time it was
Plate and money yet what plate goods or Jewels did properly belong to her and her attendants was permitted the next day to be friendly conveyed to Oxford with her she being used with all respect and civility by Sir William VValler and Sir VVilliam Belfore so was not the Honourable Lady Fairfax used at Bradford in Yorkeshire though afterwards she was onely and barely sent home Fiftly the taking of the said Lady Hopton so neer Redding put the garrison at Redding into such an affright and terrour that on the 3. of March the said enemy quitted that great garrison Town and the like in other garrisons also about Oxford and those parts Sixtly that Sir VVilliam VValler pursued the enemy to Salisbury entred that Towne and tooke there neere upon 500 Armes and made all the Cathedrall men run for feare of after-claps Seventhly and lastly that Sir William Waller rested not there neither but sent out a Partee of about 1000. Horse and Dragoones into Dorsetshire and at a Towne called White-Church tooke sir Iohn Mills and 100. Gentlemen more who were met there together to raise men for Hopton Which partie went presently after to VVeymouth for farther designes And now false and foul mouth'd malignants judge even ye your selves whether Hopton was not soundly beaten to suffer all this without least resistance all this while and so long away One thing more of moment I may not here pretermit for the honour of the inhabitants of the Isle of Wight neer Portsmouth viz. That since this routing of Hoptons forces as aforesaid they not only supplyed Sir William Wallers army in a very large manner with victualls which was then very welcome refusing to take one penny of pay for the same but farther of their owne voluntary accord as hath beene since credibly enformed raised 300 stout able men and sent them to Sir William together with large expressions of their chearfulnesse and forwardnesse farther to assist him with their lives and fortunes as their should be an occasion offered Now the Honourable House of Commons in Parliament taking into their serious consideration this so happy successe of their Forces under the Command of Sir Wil. Waller and Sir William Belfore as aforesaid against the Forces of the King under the Command of Sir Ralph Hopton In acknowledgement of Gods singular great mercy herein Ordered that on Aprill the 14th being the Lords day Publike Thanksgiving should be in all Churches and Chappels on the Southside of Trent within the power of the Parliament and that the like thanksgiving should be on the Northside of Trent 14 dayes after which was to be the 28th of April then next ensuing which Order of Parliament for the Readers better content and satisfaction I have thought fit here to insert as it was Printed and published by their Authority Die Lunae 1 April 1644. An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled appointing a Solemne day of Thanksgiving c. THe Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled having certaine information of the great mercy of our good God in the happy successe of the Forces of the Parlioment under the Command of Sir William Waller and Sir William Belfore on Friday March 29. 1644. Doe in their acknowledgement of Gods mercie herein Order That upon the Lords Day which will be on the 14 of this instan April Publike Thanksgiving be given in all Churches and Chappels on the Southside of Trent within the power of the Parliament unto the Lord of Hosts that giveth all Victory for the seasonable and extraordinary blessing whereby the Army under the Command of Sir Ralph Hopton was totally routed with the losse of very few of the Parliaments Forces And all Ministers in their respective Churches and Chappels are hereby directed and Commanded to give notice thereof and to Exhort and excite their people to acknowledge and improve this great blessing in a Spirituall way that as this mercie was bestowed in returne of our Prayers and Humiliation upon the late and solemne Fast the Wednesday before this Victory So God may have the sole honour and glory of it in our praises and thanksgivings and that the like thanksgiving shall be made on the Northside of Trent 14 dayes after which will be on the 28 of this instant April Ordered that this Ordinance of publike Thankesgiving be forthwith Printed and Published And that the Printer of the House doe bring in a convenient number to the Members of the House to be sent into the severall Counties Hen. Elsynge Cl. Parl. D. Com. And heer now good Reader let me desire thy godly and Christian patience and permission a little to make a pause and cast Anchour againe at the end of this Moneths happy voyage briefely to revise and survey the precious Merchandizes and happy Incoms of Gods goodnesse to our English Nation in protection of his Holy-Arke the Parliaments Cause So constantly and cruelly molested tost and turmoyled by the swelling waves and insolent surges of wicked and ungodly Adversaries which will be most conspicuously evident to all In the taking of Biddle-House in Staffordshire by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Colonell Ridgeley Hilsey-house in Buckinghamshire and the surprising of the Princes Troop by Northampton Forces In Colonell Lamberts brave victory at Bradford in Yorkeshire The notable defeat given to Hastings at Hinchley in Leicestershire where and when the Solemne Covenant was setling and taking in those parts together with another most brave defeat given by the foresaid valiant Colonell Lambert to Newcastles Forces as also Sir William Constables good successe and Colonell Waights also at Burleigh-house In the notable Sea-storme wherein about 1500 Irish Rebels were cast away and the Land Storm also which God raised against those bloody Irish-Rascals at Pool and VVareham in Dorsetshire together with the singular good successe of Colonell Norton against the enemies at Southampton Sir VVilliam Belfores good successe against the enemy neere Basing-house in Hampshire The Prince Palatines taking of our Covenant in Holland and the whole Kingdome of Sweathlands voluntary Message and desire to enter into Amity and Confederacy with our Parliament against the Adversaries of the true Protestant Religion Sir VVilliam Constables victorious taking of Tadcaster in Yorkshire The singular good successe of the Parliaments Declaration for calling in Delinquents from Oxford and how God turned that wicked Apostacy of Greenvile into a mercy unto us Together with the pious care of the Parliament for the godly institution of the Kings Children at S. Iameses and the singular good successe of the Parliaments Forces at Bredport and Burley-house neere Lyme The most victorious proceedings and magnanimous atchivements of the Parliaments Forces in South-VVales by renowned Captaine Swanley who most happily prevented much-intended evill there and reduted the whole County of Pembrooke to the obedience of the Parliament The yet farther good successe of the Parliaments side by Sea in valiant Captaine Jordanes chasing the Earle of Marlebrough the Kings Admirall from his intended
Designes and winning divers Ships and valuable Prizes from them Together with Gloucesters good posture and condition And Colonell Beares and Colonell Masseyes victorious achivements over the Enemies In our loyall Brethren of Scotlands safe passage over the River Tyne without resistance and the feare and terror of the Lord put into the Enemies hearts that they durst not set upon our brethren but being enforced to wait on the Scottish Forces day and night in the Fields lost many hundreds of their Army to the great weakning thereof and enforcing of them to a hasty retreat to Durham In the brave defeat given to the Enemy at Collyton neere Lyme by valiant Captaine Pyne and the excellent reformation of the Cathedrall at VVestminster And lastly in this last fore-mentioned most famous defeat and glorious Victory which God in his great mercy gave Sir VVilliam VValler and Sir VVilliam Belfore at Alsford in Hampshire against Hopton and his formidable Forces who had even already swallowed us up in their deepe hopes and greedy expectations but wherein God admirably frustrated their high-built-hopes and dasht in pieces their deepest designes In just and serious Contemplation and Consideration then of all those precious premises who can deny but that he hath most evidently and undenyably seene in this Monethes most prosperous and successefull Voyage Gods Arke Over-topping the worlds waves swelling and although the outragious waves of wicked men Atheists Papists and perverse Malignants gave the Arke especially in this Alsfords bickering many sore brushes against its sacred sides to overturne it So that we might say with holy David The floods were lifted up O Lord the floods did lift up their voice as in those Oxoniensia Sesquipedalia verba the floods did lift up ther waves But the Lord was mightier than the noise of their many waters yea than all the mighty waves of the Sea And therefore let us all with most cheerfull hearts and voyces with that sacred sugered Singer of Israel aforesaid in holy exultation and gracious gratification Say and Sing Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered and let all those that hate him flee before him As smoake is driven away so drive thou them away O God as wax melteth before the fire so let the wicked perish at the presence of the Lord. But let thy righteous ones still be glad and rejoyce yea let them exceedingly râ—jâ—yce in thy Salvation And now to proceed ANd here now to hoyse up our sailes again and begin the next Moneths Voyage see what singular and soveraign good fruit we are all ready fraught with in the very first setting forth to the farther praise and glory of God a work most pleasing to heaven and all true holv and heavenly minded Saints namely how it pleased the Lord to put into the hearts of our most pious Patriots and precious Parliamentary Worthies the care of the more holy strict sanctification of the Lords Day about the beginning of this moneth of April to passe and publish a most excellent Ordinance of Parliament wherein were many sweet holy and holesome Orders and Penalties agreed on and confirmed to be put in exact excution and inflicted upon all manner of Offenders against the same And among them this one clause was also added That the Ordinance formerly made for the burning of all books of giving Liberty for prophane pastimes and Lawful recreations forsooth as our impious Pontificians wickedly termed their wickedly termed their Bacchanalian sports set out by the Arch-Prelate of Canterburies license and allowance should all be put in execution throughout the whole Kingdome under the Parliaments power and Authority And was not here a blessed blast and faire gaile of wind breathed out from heaven it selfe upon this Arke of God to carry it on successefully in this Moneths troublesome Voyage through the swelling Seas of this so sorely distracted and distressed Kingdome And about the 2 of this instant April came certain Intelligence by Letters out of Derbyshire to London That that brave active and faithfull Commander in Armes Sir Iohn Gell after the raising of the Siege at Newarke had such a Vigilant eye upon the Enemie that he sent forth a partee which fell upon one of their quarters at a place called Munk-bridge upon Dove-river not many miles from Derby where they killed 22 on the place routed the rest and drave divers men and horse into the said River where they were drowned took an 140 horse and 80 prisoners Much also about the same time came credible information by Letters out of Yorkeshire to London that Colonell Bellasis Governour of Yorke marched out thence toward Bradford where his Victorious Antagonist brave Colonell Lambert lay with his Regiment which Bellasis intended and hoped to have an oportunity to set upon and surprise But the Vigilant Colonell having timely intelligence of his comming sallyed out of the Town to meet the Enemy after a little facing one another Colonell Lambert warily perceiving that the Enemy were too numerous a partee for him to encounter with thought it not safe to advance beyond his Works whereunto he discreetly retreated and there maintained the fight very valiantly and beat off the assailants with their losse having kil'd and wounded so many that the Enemy was forced to a hasty retreat which the Valiant Colonel soon perceiving pursued them therein at least 6 miles in which Action Colonell Lambert took 200 horse and furniture and a 100 Foot and took Colonell Bagshaw a notorious Lancashire Papist 8 Captains and other Officers and Commanders About the 8th of this instant we had certain Information by Letters from Gloucester to London that the supply of powder and other Military Ammunition and Provision which had long lyen about Warwick expecting an oportunity to be conveyed to Gloucester to Colonell Massey was now at last come safely thither and it is worthy the observation in what manner it was effected which in briefe was thus It was sent by parcells at 3 severall times the first time severall barrels of Powder Match Flax Brimstone and some quantity of Money were sent by honest Carriers with their pack-horses about 14 in number which were conveyed with a guard of 60 Horse In the night time the Forlorn Hope as they past along espied a fire in severall places in a small compasse as they conceited which out of sodaine fear they took to be the Enemy The Enemy also espied the same fire and conceived that the Parliaments Forces were there The Parliaments Forces upon their fear wheeled about quite out of the way the Enemy by reason of their fear hastily retreated from them but the honest Carriers not knowing or once dreaming but that the convoy of the Parliaments Forces was before them drove on their Horses till they came to one of Colonell Masseys outmost Garrisons where the Ammnition was joyfully received and presently convoyed into Gloucester but the convoy turned to VVarwick with onely hopes which
prisoners he had taken 400 of them being by him sent to Hull and the rest sent after He also declared to the Parliament that by Gods great mercy in this brave Victory he was now become master of the Field in all Yorkeshire And upon the receipt of this letter and the happy intelligence of this so renowned victory it was presently Ordered by the Parliament that the next ensuing Tuesday which was in Easter-Weeke should be a solemne day of thankesgiving throughout London and Westminster unto almighty God for this great victory The Copy of which order comming to my hands I have here also inserted which was as followeth Die Mercuri 17. April 1644. IT is this Day Ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That the Ministers in the severall Churches and Chappels within the Line of Communication and Parishes within the Bills of Mortality do give notice to their Parishoners of the great Successe it hath pleased God to give the Parliaments Forces in Yorkeshire and Pembrookeshire And to acquaint them that the Houses have appointed and set apart Tuesday next for a publike Thankesgiving to be given to Amighty GOD for his great Blessings and Successes H Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. Very shortly after all this the Parliament Ordered that 8000 l. should be immediately sent away to the said most noble and renowned Lord Fairfax as an encouragement to the Souldiers to goe on the more cheerfully in their present designes Now the hopefull consequence of this great blow was by Gods good providence and assistance more undoubtedly than the victory it selfe For now this noble and renowned Lord Fairfax was not onely as himselfe worte Master of the Field in all Yorkeshire but hee was thereby also enabled to advance even to the Teez-side without interruption to assist our loving brethren of Scotland and now also Newcastle must either fight with the Scots before the Lord Fairfax come to them or else retreat as afterward ye shall heare he did and what a disadvantage to the Enemie this must needs be any may most easily judge For now no other way had he left or else if he stayed he must be intrapped in a pound Another great advantage was now got by this famous Victory namely That the passage was now layd open between the West Riding and Hull so as the trade of cloath might now again be continued to the great comfort and encouragement of all those parts And here let me give the Reader this one more note and observation worthy our most serious thoughts and commemoration that by this so renowned and famous a victory it pleased the Lord to give us two most speciall and choyce occasions of two most solemne and set dayes of Thankesgiving to the Lord in one and the same Moneth over the whole Kingdome for two such famous and memorable victories over our fierce and furious enemies as that of Alsford and this at Selby such a rare and sweet mercy as we have not till now enjoyed since these unhappy and unnaturall warres began among us our ever most gracious and glorious wonder-working God be ever praised and magnified for the same But now to go on About the 20. of this instant April came certaine intelligence by letters to the Parliament and Scotch-Commissioners from our loyall and loving brethren of Scotlands army in Yorkeshire That Newcastles army having been forced to retreat from Hilton toward Durham our brethrens army drew to Easington being the midway betwixt Hartlepoole and Durham where they found reasonable good quarter for their horse resolving to abide thereabout till they made the enemy either fight or fly Those quarters they kept till about the 10. or 12. of April when as after a fast kept the day before they marched to a place called Quarrendon-Hill but two miles from Durham The enemy seeing them draw so neere and observing also his souldiers to decrease upon the approach of danger hee drew as many forces as could be spared out of Newcastle and Lumley-castle to uphold his strength of foot but finding all would not doe and not a litle plunged perplexed at the news from Selby and that the noble Lord Fairfax had obtained such a full considerable and compleat victory which was on the 11. of April He upon the 13. of the same was now enforced to remove his whole force and strength and that in great hast too and left Durham to our Brethren of Scotland and leaving behind him his troublesome luggage and provision and great quantity of victuals and directed his march Westward The noble and vigilant Generall Lesley omitted no time in pursuite of him but upon the first notice without any respect to the ransacking their for saken quarters raised his Leaguer from Quarrendon-Hill and marched after him to Ferry-Hill and so to Darnton which is as far South as the enemy could reach by that time onely a litle Eastward of him and 14 miles on this side Durham and thus followed on their resolution being meerely guided by the enemies march following them which way soever they went whom they now intended to follow close or rather march along with either till they had advantage to fight with them or should meet the noble Lord Fairfax to enclose him And if there be any truth in reports Newcastle lost at this time and upon the last straits and distresses which he was put unto one halfe of his army without fighting and shortly after all this the fugitive Marquesse quitted also Lumley-castle and so betooke himselfe to the City of Yorke intending to make that his City of refuge or rather skulking den as long as he could Whither at last as intelligence came to London about the latter end of April 1644 he was most securely arived with the remainder of his forces both horse and foot and whither our valiant and vigilant brethren of Scotland followed him being about the same time at a place called Burrough-bridge some twelve miles from York Northerly being now by this time ready to joyne with the ever honoured and right noble Lord Fairfax And it was enformed to the Parliament about the 22 of this instant that Rupert that Prince of Plunderland was got to Beaver-castle and advanced toward the North to joyn as 't was strongly conjectur'd with Newcastle if not prevented Whereupon the most noble Earle of Manchester went presently to Stanford with about 4000 gallant horse and 5000 foot intending to follow him close and to sit upon his skirts as soone as any advantagious opportunity was offered And upon this information an expresse was forthwith sent from the Parliament and the Committee of both Kingdomes with an order unto him to advance with all his forces and to attend this Prince Robbers removes and by waiting for all advantages if it were possible to force him to fight which 't was conceived was not so easie a matter to do as to hasten him to filtch and therewith an order was
the same time came certaine intelligence by letters from Colonell Massey of more singular good successe which God had then given unto him against his neighbour enemies especially against that great Papist Sir John Winter the Queenes Secretary whom together with the most barbarous and bloody Irish-Rebells his so pious Mistresse imployed to settle the Protestant Religion I shall forbeare for brevities-sake to give an exact and particular relation how this most renowned Colonell by a brave martiall stratagem laid a train of powder and a granado at the end of it which did good execution to the purpose on the enemies the succinct number of the prisoners and the place where they were taken were as followeth Prisoners taken at Newnam which was Sir Iohn Winters head-quarter 3 Captaines 3 Lieutenants 4 Ensignes 12 Serjeants 4 Corporalls 4 Drums one Cannoneer one Engineer one provost Marshall 1 Chaplaine of the army 4 double barrells of powder 60 skaines of Match one Fawknet 3 Hambrough guns 4 Pieces of Ordnance 130 Common-souldiers besides good store of Armes Taken also at Westbury the same day which in the relation was about May the 7. the whole garrison with officers and souldiers one Capt. one Lieut. one Ensigne besides other officers 60 souldiers besides 9 slain 2 barrells of powder and 12 skaines of match At Litle-Deane also the day before slaine Lieut. Colonell Congrave the Governour thereof Captaine Wigmoore 70 others also slain there and at that time and 15 prisoners taken And thus have you briefely seene how that ever most worthily to be ever honoured and valiant Commander Col. Massey made notable advantages of that provision which was so lately before sent unto him And how to give this brave Commander his due praise or how to crown his browes with sufficiently flourishing green Laurells I confesse I am not able my expressions being indeed too low to set forth so high deserts and the present generation is so envious that if I could and should give him but so much right as I conceive him most worthy of and should not say as much of the rest they would I fear storme against me though I desire to exclude or extenuate no mans worth nor would disparage any in commending active Massey I will onely therefore say thus much in briefe and that most truely Many garrisons have done bravely but Massey at Gloucester hath exceeded them all And truly that brave Commander Colon Mitton of Wem garrison may challenge a second place in our highest and lowdest praises and expressions and why not renowned Lime garrison the third place which hath also done bravely to deep admiration as hath beene already and shall be yet more fully set forth in it's proper place All all the rest I say have done singularly well to Gods glory and their honour be it spoken As Captain Ludlow at Warder-castle Col. Norton Colon. Sydenham and the rest at Pool who have done as much as no man could expect more yea Warwicke garrison Alesbury and Northampton and the rest who have all done most heroickly and honourably and if they have come short of any others I hope they have meant as well as the best but peradventure had not the like opportunities thereto But to proceed About the 12. of this instant came credible information out of the Westerne parts from the garrison of Lyme that revived Prince Maurice not this ghost though he be ghost-like in reguard of his infirmity stormed the Town of Lyme a third time and was now also beaten off with great losse above 80 of his men being slain in one ditch and 60 in another and the rest of his army pursued even to their own workes and that Lyme garrison brought off 2 Pieces of the enemies ordnance within the command of their works though the enemy slew many of the poore Country-men to compell them to fight to have saved the 2 pieces of ordnance but all in vain And now upon Monday the 13. of this instant his Excellency the Parliaments Lord Generall of all their Forces advanced toward Oxford his Carriages went the day before and he in person followed the next day early in the morning which was Tuesday the 14th upon which day at Black-Fryers in London was a day of humiliation kept in the behalfe of the Western affaires at Saint Brides a Day of Thankesgiving for the Victory at Lincoln together with prayers and Solemn Supplications for the good successe of the Noble Earl of Manchesters Army and ere his Excellency left London he earnestly desired that a day might be set a part to seek the Lord for him and his brave Army which was accordingly performed in a most high and solemn manner by the Lord Mayor Aldermen Shriffes and Common-Councill of the City of London at Christs Church on Fryday the 17th of May A thing which had not been done before in all the time of these unhappy wars since they first began and therefore we have the greater ground of hope of a happy issue and good successe and that God will in mercy be found of those that seeke him first and which desire to go forth in his name and in his strength alone And about the 16th of this instant May we were certainly enformed at London that the Counties of Devon and Cornwall began to be sensible of and displeased at the concourse of the Irish comming into those parts declaring that rather than they would beare with it any longer they would with an unanimous consent as one man rise against them and expell them out of their Countries and thus we may hope that the kingdome will at length be beaten into a condition of having their eyes of understanding opened to see and believe those truths of their hastning danger which they before so long withstood to their late and long just misery and that now at length they will come back although it be by weeping-crosse which they might have avoyded had they not either through envy or ignorance fought against those who with the hazard of their lives have thus long preserved the Kingdome and untill this unhappy difference and inhumane discord and bloody war was plotted and managed by Romish-Iesuits and most ambitious and proud-Prelates no story can make report of so much basenesse of the English Nation especially after so much illumination as to take up armes against their owne Parliament chosen by themselves and which hath been in all ages the preservation of the subject But to proceed Whereas the Malignant-Spirits and most malicious adversaries of our Kingdome are continually working and contriving how to ruine themselves and the whole Church and State and had for this end by their active agents in Scotland the Marquesse Huntley the Lord Montrosse Craford Musgrave and others attempted an intestine insurrection in the Kingdome of Scotland about Aberdene the most malignant Towne in all that Kingdome hoping thereby by way of a divertive warre to bring off
it may remaine on record as a Monument of their Gratitude to the God of heaven to all Posterity A true Copy of a Warrant sent from the Committee of Kent to all the Ministers in that County for the Celebration of the 21th day of May a day of Thankesgiving for their deliverance from the late Rebellion and for other mercies to that County WHereas the goodnes of God hath been wonderfully manifested toward this County in the speedy suppression of the late rebellion and the severall defeats and disappointments of the Enemy approaching this County with great Armies all threatning the ruine and destruction of the whole County The Committee therefore hold themselves obliged to invite the County while there is opportunity to a general acknowledgement of these unexpected and undeserved mercies and have therefore Ordered and appointed Tuesday the 21th of May 1644 to be observed by all the Inhabitants of this County as a day of thankesgiving to Almighty God for so great deliverance and lengthning our tranquillity in the middest of a deluge of warre And all the Ministers in this County are heereby required in their respective Churches to observe the said day of thankesgiving and to exhort and excite the people to acknowlege and improove the said multiplied deliverances in a spirituall way that God may have the sole honour and glory of them all in all our praises To the Minister of c. You are to publish this Order in the Church on the next Lords day And heere I cannot omit one thing but must crave leave of the Reader to mention it namely the renowned worth and high valuation we all ought to have of that ever to be honoured and most honest hearted Patriot of his Countrey the Earle of Pembrooke who not long since most nobly and heroically engaged his person purse and credit in the raising of monies for the service of that famous Garrison Towne of Lyme and other parts in the West and how he offered most freely to morgage his whole Estate to raise monies for the preservation of those Townes in the West that stand so firme and faithfull to the Parliament And that on the 17. of this instant he did publikely declare himselfe to be so farre and so fully satisfied in the most couragious and wise proceedings of the House of Commons that he for his particular was faithfully resolved to live and dye with them and hath all along most clearely evidenced his constant loyalty to the Parliament and cause of God without the least ignoble thought of base desertion or tergiversation from it from the first to this very present A rare example and true trophie of Nobility in him About the 22th of this instant May we had certaine intelligence by Letters out of Yorkeshire that Cawood Castle in that County was surrendred up to that most valiant and virtuous Commander Sir Iohn Meldrum for the use of the King and Parliament about 4 of the clocke in the afternoone wherein were 25 Armes 4 Pieces of Ordnance 4 barrels of Powder all the bagge and baggage therein also was delivered up Lunsdale the Governour thereof and all the Commanders surrendred themselves into our hands upon onely Quarter for their lives The Common Souldiers to goe home taking the Covenant which was performed accordingly Sir George Duncombe who contributed much to the surrender of this place tooke the Covenant and came in to the most noble Lord Fairfax This was the same Duncombe that was the most active man in raising the King Forces in Yorkeshire to set on foot this not Brittish but brutish warre for which good act his Majestie knighted him and the reason why he now became out of love with the Kings service as himselfe said was because his Majesty contrary to his promise and faith imployed Papists in Command whom at the beginning to the delusion of the people he seemingly banisht from the Court at Yorke And by Letters of the 24th of this instant wee were certified that the foresaid most couragious and valiant Commander Sir Iohn Meldrum had the Isle and Fort of Ayremouth delivered up unto him with all the Armes Ordnance and Ammunition therein So that by this meanes a cleare and free passage was opened even from Hull to Owz-Bridge which till now the Fort at Ayremouth and Cawood-castle did interrupt It was also further certified in the same Letters that Shovels Pickaxes Spades and other materials were brought in aboundance to the Leaguer at Yorke and above 10000 Countrey-men came in some voluntarily others by compulsion to helpe to make their approaches neere the City to batter it Much also about the same time we were certainly enformed by Letters from Abington that the King with his two great Armies Commanded by Forth and Hopton durst not bid battell to the Parliaments most noble Lord Generall the Earle of Essex on Wantage Downes where his Excellencie drew in Battalia to salute them but that they fled backe not daring neither to goe Westward to Abington whereupon my Lord Generall sent out a Partie of 3000 Horse and Foot Commanded by that thrice noble and worthyly honoured Commander the Lord Roberts Field-Marshall and the Horse by Sir Philip Stapleton Lieutenant Generall of the Horse who came in with such courage and brave resolution that 5000 of the Enemies fled in disorder and left the Towne to the Lord Roberts who on the Lords Day May 26 entred Abington in the morning the most noble Lord Gen being to quarter there that night The Enemy tooke such a flight on this pursuit that they hastily marched from Abington with most of their Artillery and Magazine to Oxford but yet 80 Wagons and 5000 Foot and Horse passed by Oxford toward Islip the way to Worcester Commanded by Sir Ralph Hopton This Partie also was soone dis-heartned by 18 Troopes under Command of that valiant active and undaunted Gentleman Captaine Temple who was sent from Newport Pannell with those Horse to discover the Enemy but not to engage himselfe But this brave not spirited Gallant would be in action and fell upon 3 Troopes of the Enemies quartered at Islip whereof Astons owne Troop was one and tooke there 50 Horse Sir Fortescue not that faithlesse wretch which you may imagine 17 more Prisoners 8 packs of Kersey from Exeter and 150. l. in ready money and gave such an alarme to the enemy that those Horse fled from Islip to Oxford gave Hopton the alarme in his March to Islip that all of them cryed out Essex is come Essex is come whereupon the gates of Oxford were shut up and they would not suffer even Astons owne Troop for a while to enter Such a terrour and amazement strooke the hearts of these gracelesse guilty and Conscience-wounded Enemies of God and goodnesse About the same time also his Excellencie being in those parts about Oxford and finding the Countrey extreamly pillaged and impoverished by the Kings Cormorants he most wisely and mercifully
now having thus happily finished this Months Voyage I shall desire to cast Anchour and put to shore and make a little stay desiring the Christian Reader with me to make a briefe review and succinct recitall of all the rich Merchandize of this Moneths Voyage the better to raise up our soules to a just and gratfull valuation and admiration of them As First the brave defeat and repulse of the Enemies at Plymouth And Colonell Foxes valiant and active performances and taking of Budely-house in Worcestershire The most successefull progresse of the most renowned Earle of Manchesters Forces in Lincolnshire and taking of the Towne and Castle of Lincolne The Pious Ordinance of Parliament for the demolishing of all Organs and Superstitious Monuments of Popery in Churches and Chappels or else where together with valiant Captaine Swanleys yet farther brave exploits in Wales And Colonell Massies at or about Gloucester The brave Citizens of Londons Petition for the re-establishment of the State-Committee and the happy result thereof Together with more of renowned Colonell Massies brave performances about the adverse Garrisons neere Gloucester Lyme Stormed and its Enemies bravely repulsed The renowned Lord Generalls advance of his Army Westward and a day of Humiliation set a part in London to seeke the Lord for a blessing on it And Devon and Corwalls defection from the bloody and barbarous Irish A most devillish designe and pestilent plot to have undone Scotland and England too by a divertive Warre but most blessedly crost and prevented with the discomfiture and disgrace of those that plotted and acted it A brave and briefe description of the state of that famous Garrison at Lime Together with a brave prize taken at Sea by the most noble Earle of Warwicks Ships And Kents pious pattern of gratitude to God for its great deliverance The truely Noble Earle of Pembrookes love and loyalty to the Parliament attested Cawood-castle And Ayremouth Isle and Fort taken by valiant and virtuous Sir Iohn Meldrum in the Northerne parts of the Kingdome The most renowned Lord Generals prosperous progresse and advance with his Army into the West Valiant Captain Temples brave exploit at Islip The gratulatory Message sent by the Parliament in England to the Parliament in Scotland More of renowned Colonel Masseys admirable activity and the Parliaments most worthy gratifying of his good Service And lastly Englands great wonder to Gods great glory in the famous Muster of so many thousand Souldiers in and about the City of London all compleatly Armed notwithstanding so many Armies abroad in the Field before it The taking of Russell-house that notoriously theevish Garrison Together with the brave defeate given to Newarke by Nottingham Garrison And the brave condition of that famous Towne of Lime notwithstanding the long and tedious Siege against it All which being rightly regarded and seriously laid to heart have we not still great and just cause to see and say that God hath most triumphantly carried and borne up his holy Arke the Parliaments blessed Cause above all the raging and roaring billowes and swelling surges of the turbulent Ocean of this our greatly distracted and disturbed Nation carrying it on I say most smoothly with pleasant gales of good things bestowed and preserving it most happily from malice and mischiefe threatned And therefore how great cause hath England in almost infinitely bounden gratitude to confesse with holy David and sincerely to say Lord thou art good and thou doest good And therefore also to exult and rejoyce in the Lord our God yea and as good David saith To make our boast of God all the day long and to praise his name for ever and ever With a Selah Especially since as the holy Spirit of God himselfe declareth in Hannahs sweet Song There is none holy as the Lord for indeed there is none beside him neither is there any Rocke like our God Talke no more therefore so exceeding proudly ô yee Atheisticall Malignants and Popish Irish-Rebels let not such arrogancie come out of your mouth for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed Yea and as holy Iob saies He is most wise in heart and mighty in strength Who hath hardned himselfe against him and hath prospered ANd now I shall againe put out our blessed Barke to Sea hoise up our Sailes and launch forth into the Deepe and prosecute this our next ensuing Moneths Voyage wherein we shall see how the Lord still carries on his glorious Arke the Parliaments Cause above all the furious Floods and raging Waves of its outragious and impious Adversaries And in the first place I shall desire to remember the Reader how it most graciously pleased the Lord to bring off his blessed Arke from a very dangerous and death-threatning Shelfe of devouring Quick-sands and most safely and securely to set it afloat againe carrying it on with most pleasant and prosperous gales I meane the happy and honourable releiving and raising of the Seige of that long beseiged and greatly straightned famous Towne of Lime in Dorsetshire a most full exact and true relation wherof sent in a Letter to a friend at London and comming to my hands I have thought fit here to insert for the Readers better content and satisfaction which was as followeth An exact and true relation of the relieving of the most resolute Garrison of Lime in Dorsetshire Sir I Have written one Letter to you since I came into this Bay where also I have received yours I blesse God for present health onely much sadnesse of spirit is contracted from the sad spectacles which besieged Lime continually offers to our view a Towne which deserves aboundance of pitty and love they being so constantly under the violence of a cruell Enemy But God hath brought our most noble Lord Admirall to this Towne to a singular purpose it tending directly to the preserving of that distressed Towne it not having in it at his Lordships comming above a dayes bread and a small quantity of ammunition There were then in the Town 4000 Soules whereof a 1000 in garrison who though they wanted shoes stockings cloathes and pay and had not departed from Lyme since the beginning of the siege yet were all of them resolved to stand out to the last man and when they could doe no more to breake through the Enemy with their swords At my Lords first comming he sent on shoar neere 40 barrels of powder and some match which came along with his Lordship purposely for their reliefe The ships under his Lordships Command did before his comming spare what provisions they could none comming from any other parts and the passages by sea being neer blockt up his Lordship contracted for 350. l. worth of corn and other provisions being then bound for Plymouth to be sold there and tooke order to send it into the Towne himsefe undertaking the price The condition and courage of the besieged did so prevail with our seamen
in this as in other things see and be assured that good and faithfull Service shall not be unrewarded It was therefore Ordered by the Parliament that 10000. l. a year out of the Lord Paulets Estate should be conferred upon the Towne of Lime for their loyalty and courage in this famous Siege which hath been indeed to admiration for that besides the straights they have been driven too their impregnable courage in so stoutly defending themselfe from the malice of their blood-thirsty Enemies hath sometimes caused their very water to be noysome with the blood of those that sought their ruine and destruction O the admirable power wisdome and justice of the righteous Lord of Heaven and Judge of the whole World But to goe on At the same time and from the same hand and ships of the most noble Lord Admirall at Lime it was informed that their ships had taken upon the Seas since their setting forth from the Downes two Prizes one at Dartmouth a Vessell laden with Oyle and Salt for Holland and the other that was brought in unto them was a Dutch Galliot laden with good Commodities for the Enemy at Aptham and Exeter to the value of at least 8000 l. And the Master himselfe of the Galliot confessed that they had for her more safe Convoy the Company of two Statesmen of War who had aboard their Ships 5 Barrels of money amounting to a 1000 Dollars confined to some Malignants in Exeter The Factor under whose charge the money was committed being aboard the Men of War was loath to be discovered but at length was apprehended and brought before his Lordship and for some peremptory and unmannerly speeches to his Lordship was put into safe custody And all the goods proved good prize From aboard the James at anchor before Lyme June 1. 1644. This blessed businesse of Lyme and the most noble Lord Admirals singular and seasonable supply afforded to it did also produce immediately after these severall Orders from the Parliament First that a letter was drawn up as was toucht before and sent to the most noble Lord Admirall signifying how sensible the House was of his so great and good service and returning him the thankes of the whole House for the same And truely these Parliamentary acknowledgements and gratulations are very good for the publique either by land or by water and that Excellent Lord deserves thanks of no lesse demension than a Parliament Secondly that a Letter was drawn up as from the whole House also to the Town of Lyme to enforme them that the House took speciall notice of their faithfull and valiant service And indeed it is a gratefull and most worthy act of the House to let no desert escape their notice For it is not fit that such places as have borne the heate of the day should take cold under the shadow of State-neglect Thirdly that the Lord Mayor of the City of London was thereby desired to send notice to all Churches and Chappels in and about the said City and County of Midelsex to desire the Ministers in their prayers the next Lords-day to give thanks to Almighty God for the great deliverance of the said Towne of Lime from the rage and intended malice and mischiefe of their outragious enemies Much about the foresaid time the Parliaments ever to be honoured Lord Generall the most noble Earle of Essex had sent out as he was desired by the Parliament a Party of Horse to the reliefe of Lime under the Command of that most loyall valiant and most virtuous Gentleman Sir William Belfore but as yee have already heard the Morris was done and danced away before Whereupon their Horse wheeled about toward Weymouth and after they had faced the Towne and given them Summons they within presently yeelded and 400 Souldiers were content to leave their heavier weapons and to march away with sticks onely in their hands The noyse of Lime and Weymouth and the Lord Generals terrour flew to Taunton-Deane and they also soone quitted the Garrison and daunced after Maurices pipe Truely I cannot tell what to say to these things but must most justly admire Gods infinite mercy whose hand was most manifestly seene now in the West as well as in the North working all our workes there for us But of the winning of these Townes and the rest we shall speak shortly after more fully in their more proper place Much also about the foresaid time we had certaine Intelligence by Letters out of Leicestershire that the loyall and right noble Lord Grey of Grooby who hath so bravely and faithfully defended the Town of Leicester as having divers times engaged his person and done singular good service for the Kingdome with that very small strength which hee had there notwithstanding the great strength and oft incursions of the enemy in those parts yet that he marched out of Leicester and tooke divers of the Kings Cormorants or Cavaliers which were stragling up and downe to plunder and sent them prisoners to Leicester and that he fell upon their Quarters neere Vlstrup tooke some Prisoners there and made the rest retreat and in despight of the Enemy and all their power safely conducted Sir Iohn Gells Ordnance and Artillery designed for Darby or Leicester About the 18 th of this instant Iune we had certaine Information out of the West that the most noble Lord Admirall sent word to his Excellencie the Parliaments Lord Generall that as his Lordship moved by Land so he would saile by Sea and so be assistant to him in the clearing of those Westerne coasts And that for this purpose the noble Lord Admirall designed the Iames the Admirall of his Navy for that businesse a Ship of 875 tun Captaine Richard Blithe being Commander thereof and fitted with 50 Pieces of Ordnance and 260. men in her Also the Constant Reformation Captaine William Battin being Commander thereof a Ship of 740 tun fitted with 40 Pieces of Ordnance and 250. men in her The Expedition Captain Ioseph Iordan being the Commander thereof fitted with an 100 men and 18. pieces of Ordnance together with some other lesser ships which being designed to attend the Lord Generalls marches and removes and to move by Sea still as his Army did by Land and was thus most hopefull by Gods helpe in due time to reduce all the West to the obedience of the King and Parliament whereof more in its due and proper place Much also about the same time came farther intelligence out of the Western parts of the Kingdome that his Excellency had sent severall parties to summon Wareham Bridge-water Portland-castle and other Malignant Townes in those parts that at least 800 men were gathered together in Somersetshire to joyn with his Excellency and that unhappy Hopton having lately then prest about 2000 Souldiers there giving out they were to resist the French from landing but they soone finding it otherwise most of them deserted him and came in unto his Excellency
Kingdomes returne and re-advance with all my said Forces unto a place called Spurstow heath where that night we quartered and thence advanced upon Munday morning towards Whitchurch we quartered that night likewise in the open Fields at a place called the Fennes in Flintshire where yesterday we marched towards Elsmore and so to the said Towne of Oswestree where the Enemy endeavoured by battering and storming of the same violently to have carryed it about two of the clocke in the Afternoon we came in sight of the Towne and within three miles of it where the Enemy having got intelligence of our approach prepared to receive us the chiefe Forces of our Enemy consisting of the most valiant Commanders and Souldiers drawn out of the garrisons of Chester Cheshire Shrewsbury Shropshire Ludlow Denbyshire Flintshire and other places The Enemy had taken the passage of water neere to Whittington and very furiously assaulted and charged us but were repulsed and forced to retyre through the courage of our Horse who most courageously entertained the Enemy three severall times the skirmish was doubtfull either side being forced so often to retreat but in the end our Foot Forces comming up relieved the Horse beat back the Enemy and pursued them with such force that the Horse thereby encouraged which indeed was formerly weary joyning with the Foot they put the Enemy to an absolute flight in which we pursued them Five miles towards Shrewsbury to a place called Felton-heath and where likewise we remained after their flight again thence Masters of the Fieldâ— In the skirmish with the Enemy and in the pursuite wee lost severall of our Horse some of our Troopers but never a Foorman which I am yet informed of many of the Troopers are hurt but I hope they will recover I lost one Captain Williams and one Captain Lieutenant Fletcher a very couragious man being Captain Lieutenant to Colonell Barton in my Brigade was dangerously shot but I hope not mortally As for the Enemy they lost many stout men had many of them taken prisoners the number whereof the inclosed will manifest some of them being of great quality As the Lord Newports eldest Son And besides in their flight such was their haste that wee found in the way of our pursuite of them the high way as it were strewed with store of Bread Cheese Bacon and other good provisions clothes and such necessary appurtenance to an Army besides some whole Veales and Muttons new kill'd The Enemy before the reliefe came had taken the Church being the strongest hold about the Town upon the approach of the reliefe they suddenly deserted it and sent their two battering pieces unto Shrewsbury In the way also were taken by our Forces seven Carts and Waggons loaden with provisions as Beer Bread and other necessaries whereof one was loaden with Powder and other Ammunition the Towne of Oswestree I find to be a very strong Town and if once fortified of great concernment and the Key that lets us into Wales SIR I had to my ayd 3. Regiments of Foot viz. Colonell George Boothes Regiment a gallant Regiment led by himselfe on foot to the face of the Enemy Another by Colonell Manwaring and the third by Colonell Croxon all of them stout and gallant Commanders and the rest of the Officers and Souldiers full of courage and resolution Major Louthien Adjutant Generall that brave and faithfull Commander to whom I cannot ascribe too much honour brought up the Reare that day SIR I rest Yours THO MIDDLETON Prisoners taken at Oswestree at the raising of the siege thereof Francis Lord Newport Son and heir to the Earl of Newport Captain Swinerton Captain of a Troope of Horse twenty Welsh and Shropshire Gentlemen one Cornet of Horse which had no command Lievtenant Norrell one Quartermaster two Corporalls 32 Troopers two pieces of Artillery to come up to the walls to save the Musketteers seven Carryages whereof one of powder 200 common-souldiers most of them Welsh great store of Armes found as was toucht before in the wayes and ditches There was since also taken Major Manly and Major Whitney under the walls of Shrewsbury in the pursuite of them About the 5th of this instant July came certain intelligence out of the North to London of that most famous and glorious victory wherewith it graciously pleased the Lord to crown our three most noble and ever to be renowned Generalls viz. Cenerall Lesley Earl of Leven in Scotland The most noble Earle of Manchester and the most renowned Lord Fairfax Which was most happily obtained on the second of this instant July 1644. being Tuesday toward night and that within the space of lesse than three houres The full and true relation of which Fight and famous Battell although the three most noble Generalls aforesaid sent it to London under their owne hands and divers other relations thereof have been published in print to shew the clearnesse and truth of the thing they every one in substance agreeing one with another yet both in regard of the fulnesse and faithfulnesse as also the pious enlargements of that Copy which was written by that very reverend learned and pious Pastour and Heroicke-spirited Gentleman Master Simon Ash Chaplaine to the most noble valiant and victorious Earle of Manchester I have therefore made choice of his excellent relation and here inserted it verbatim as it was printed and published with onely some interlacing and addition of some few materiall passages cull'd out of other authentick copies for the Readers better satisfaction and much content therein which was as followeth A true Relation of the Fight and famous Victory at Marstone-Moore neere YORKE from Master Ash his owne hand-writing VPon the thirtieth of June being the Sabbath towards evening we had certaine Intelligence that Prince Rupert with his Army were quartered at Burrow-brigs within twelve miles of Yorke and that he intended to fight with us the next day Heereupon the 3 Generalls resolved that night and in the morning to raise the Siege that they might be able to encounter the great Forces now ready to assault them with hope to returne unto the Seige upon the repulsion of the potent enemy You will easily believe that there was much joy and many manifestations thereof in the Citie upon removing of the Forces which had so long begirt it on every side And truely many of our hearts were oppressed with heavinesse looking upon this providence as speaking Divine displeasure against us but our God hath mercifully made knowne the groundlesnesse of our doubts and discouragements for ever blessed bee his Name Upon Monday July 1 we marched with all our Forces unto 〈…〉 on the Sâ—uch-side of the River Owsed with hope there to meet with Prince Rupert in his way towards Yorke In the afternoon our Army was set in Battaliâ— and our Souldiers were full of joy expecting to have a Battaile with the Enemy becaâ—sâ— we were assured by our Scouts that the Prince with his whole
hid himselfe in Bean-Lands he had beene taken The Earl of Manchester with much labour did rally 500 of the Souldiers who were leaving the Field in great disorder and brought them backe againe to the Battell And the most noble and worthy Generall Lesly was much offended with his Souldiers who shrunk from the service of the day and having endeavoured both by words and blowes to keepe them in the Field with much wisedome and affection he pressed this argument Although you run from your Enemies yet leave not your Generall though you fly from them yet forsake not me Very many of the Scots both commanders and others did singular good service that day and stood stoutly to it unto the end of the fight and did therefore very well deserve to be sharers in the honour of the day and three Regiments of their Horse which with ours made the left wing of the Army being commanded by Major Generall Lesley did as brave and honourable service as any who served in the Field that day And although the right wing of our Army did not satisfyingly answer mens expectations yet the Earl of Eglington the Earl of Lindsey the Lord Cooper Sir James Lunsden and other Scottish Commanders with many of their Officers and Souldiers did as I said before give good proofe of their stoutnesse and magnanimity And as for any of them of each Nation who went away they were by their ministers and others so sharpely reproved and this their fault in such sort was aggravated to them that there was great hope they would regain their credit by good service upon the next occasion As for that famous and magnanimous Commander Lieut. Gen. Cromwell whose prowesse and prudence as they have rendred him most renowned for many former successefull deeds of Chevalry So in this great fight they have crowned him with the never withering Laurells of fame and honour who with so Lyon-like courage and impregnable animosity charged his proudest adversaries again and again like a Roman Marcellus indeed undauntedly out-daring and over-bearing his stoutest Popish and Atheisticall Antagonists even to the end of the fight and at last came off as with some wounds so with honour and triumph inferiour to none Colonell Sydney also Son to the Earl of Leicester charged with much gallantry in the head of my Lord of Manchesters Regiment of Horse and came off with much honour though with many wounds the true badges of his honour and was sent away afterward to London for cure of his wounds And as for that truly noble and renowned Commander Sir Tho. Fairfax that undanted never sufficiently praised Souldier whose former famous exploits have rendred him most magnanimous he also lost not a jot or title of honour this day for although many of his Souldiers did faint and fall backe yet his noble heart continued like the heart of a Lyon stout and undaunted for he stayed fighting in the Field untill being dismounted and wounded he was brought off by one of his Souldiers Yea and brave Colonell Lambert and some others of their officers went on most daringly through every difficult and dangerous adventure which they could meete with though I say much of their strength did unhappily shrinck from them Lieutenant Col. Needham did also very manfully in his place I nominate not here any other of my noble Lords Officers besides Liutenant Gen. Cromwell and Col. Sydney though I could have particularized Major Gen. Crawford and divers other Colonels with Lieut. Colonells Majors and Captaines who gained much honour by their very valiant carriages and exploits and therfore I hope my silence in regard of others who under the command of the two other Generalls did also most gallantly will not be offensive and the rather because I was not so well acquainted with them And it is exceedingly ill done of those who cast aspersions upon some in the Army in this fight who rather deserved commendations than uncomely calumniations Surely they neither Act christianly nor prudently who take courses to breed emulations and divisions in our Army and who cast reproach and discouragement upon such who are most ready to sacrifice their dearest heaâ—tblood in the present service of Christ in this Kingdome But to be briefe I found this generally among the Souldiers especially in my noble Lord of Manchesters Regiments to my hearts great content that they all gave the Lord of Hosts all the glory of this Victory wherein they were onely instruments Some also of the Enemies that were taken Prisoners have acknowledged the meere finger and hand of God in their rout and our victory And it pleased me wondrous well to heare and see our God honoured on both hands Yet I may not heere omit a strange speech as it was credibly reported to fall from Prince Rupert upon the disapointing of his hopes and the dis-joynting of his Forces to their ruine I am sure said he my men fought well and therefore know no reason of our Rout but this because the Devill did help his Servants These words surely intimate that he imagined the Devill gives the Victory in the day of Battell a most Atheisticall and heathenish opinion or else his Conscience told him which he would not confesse that God indeed did help his Servants Yea and a man of quality belonging to the Enemy whose name for some reasons I may not mention professed That his Conscience told him Our Cause was Gods Cause but yet his Honour would not suffer him to take part with us And the Lord Grandison who was sorâ—ly wounded in this fight and under the Chyrurgions hands for cure in Yorke told a friend that visited him That he had received 10. wounds on his body in this Battell One wound for the breach of every Commandement in the Decalogue See here then good Reader if heere be not a cleare assent to that of holy Moses Their Rocke is not as our Rocke even our Enemies being judges But to returne to to the finishing of this Fight The Runawayes with other poore people who attended the Army did grievously plunder our Wagons and other Carriages for the Wagoners Carters c. being affrighted with the flight of our owne Souldiers did leave their charge in the hands of such as love to rob and spoile It was a very sad sight to behold many thousands posting away being amazed with Panick feares Heere just occasion was given us to remember Keynton-battell at Edge-Hill Edge-Hill where the hearts of some were upheld with hopes when others gave up all as lost and that with much despondencie of spirit Upon our coole and recollected thoughts such of us as desired to acknowledg God in all his waies did firmely pitch upon these Conclusions The Lord saw that we are apt to rely upon the arme of flesh and therefore very much humane strength failed us And besides if the whole Army had continued couragious we should
singing of Psalmes A blessed badge and cognizance indeed to be thus distinguisht from their impious Enemies which makes mee to think on that in the Gospell That when the Souldiers who were sent to apprehend our blessed Saviour and hee asking them whom they sought And they answered Jesus of Nazareth And Christ replying I am hee They sayes the Text fell down backward at those words stricken with terrour and amazement And so I say ô the power of godlinesse what reverence and terrour too it strikes into the hearts of profaine and irreligious Wretches Tenthly That before the Battell began as I have it from credible information Prince Rupert that bloody Plunderer would forsooth to seem religious just like a jugling Machivilian have a Sermon preached before him and his army his Chaplain took his Text out of Josuah 22. 22. The words were these The Lord God of gods the Lord God of gods he knoweth and Israel he shall know if it â—e in rebellion 〈…〉 us not this day Now how evident a demonstration from 〈◊〉 was heregiven by the successe of that dayes 〈…〉 enough one would have thought to have 〈◊〉 the most perverse Malignant In so much that God did so 〈…〉 himselfe in deciding the controversie by denying victory and successe to those who being in a false and bloody way had yet implored the Almighty to prosper them according to the justnesse of their Cause Eleventhly and lastly That this so glorious famous and full victory was by our good and mercifull LORD God bestowed upon us as an undoubted return of Prayer wee having but the very Weeke before been pressing the Throne of Grace on ouâ— Monethly Fast-day and publike Humiliation and prayer to the Lord even for this mercy a victory of Yorke â—â—at Yorke and the Lord heard us and granted us the desire of our Soules therein together with the lives and welfare of all our three most noble and renowned Generalls Praised and for ever magnified be the Lord our God for it Upon the immediate next Lords-day succeeding this famous victory all the three renowned Generalls with their whole Armies according to their pious and 〈◊〉 appointment celebrated a Solemn-day of most deserved and obliged Thanksgiving to the Lord and by their messengers to the Parliament who brought the intimation of this great victory desired that a Solemn-day all over the whole Kindome might be also appointed by their Authority and that they might have convenient knowledge thereof that so they likewise might again keep it with the rest of the Kingdome which accordingly was forthwith aâ—â—eâ—ted to by the Parliament and an order presently after printed and published a Copy whereof I have hereunto annexed Die Lunae 8. Julii 1644. IT is this day ordered by the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament that Thursday come a seven-night being the eighteenth of this instant July shall be 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 far a day of publique Thankesgiving to be rendred vnto Almighty God for his great blessing and full victory 〈◊〉 Prince Ruperts Army in Yorkeshire to be kept in London and Westminster and all 〈◊〉 parts of the Kingdome Hen. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Coâ— And very shortly after a Committee of the House of Commons was appointed for providing necessary supplies for the Northern-Armies and it was also ordered by the Parliament that the Committee of both Kingdomes should forth with send a letter of thankes to the Earl of Manchester Generall Lesley and the Lord Fairfax for their great courage valour and fidelity expressed against Prince Rupert at the said great fight And yet for all these clear and reall demonstrations of this so absolute and 〈◊〉 a victory give me leave to tell the Reader that it may stand as another everlasting stain upon the Enemies of Truth and Honesty and as an indelible badge of their Atheisme and unheard of 〈◊〉 impiety thus even to mocke God with thanks for what they never received That just as they impudently also did at Keynton or Edgehill victory so now they made bonefires and caused the Bells to be rung in many places in their power and quarters yea and though that very night when they were so beaten out of the Field and so many of them ran into Yorke yet so intolerably impudent were they as so indeed are all Couzening Cormorants Malignants as to make Bonefires and cause ringing of Bells in the City of Yorke for their great victory obtained by Prince Robber that Prince of blood and lyes reporting openly in the streets that Generall Lesley was taken prisoner the Lord Fairfax slain and 14000 prisoners taken but that the Prince was so carefull of the welfare of the City that hee would not bring them thither for feare of oppressing that place with them yea and the next morning early when he fled thence betimes he told them he must abroad to catch more of the stragling Round-heads and would carry all his prisoners and ordnance taken to the King for else he said the Round-heads in the South would not believe he had got the victory O intolerable blasphemy thus to goe about grossely belying their owne consciences to abuse if possibly both God and Man Yea at Newcastle and at Newarke also and especially at Oxford they made great Bonefires with other triumphs by squibs and wilde-fire at Banbury also and Litchfield Exeter Bristol and all other places I say where the accursed Cormorants domineer'd Yea our sottish bewitched Moleâ—y'd Malignants of London also were â—o led along with a spirit of lying like their father the Devill that they mightily boasted of this Robbers vain victory over us the rouring of our whole three Armies the death and imprisonment of all our three most renowned and precious Generalls And thus I say have we seen the festivity of the Royalists 〈◊〉 Wit or the mad rage of the Malignant-Spirits notwithstanding that God gave such an eminent and notorious cheek to their impudence as Venerable Master Vineâ— said in his Sermon of Thankesgiving for this victory In that upon fictious confidence of successe they must needs as you have heard Antedate their Bells and Bonefires Whereas within a few houres there was nothing of the Enemies left in that field but Bag and Baggage Ammunition Ordnance Prisoners and Dead-Karkasses which had indeed 〈◊〉 more if that noble and most renowned Commander Sir Thomas Fairfax who is the honour of the fields he treads upon had not as he rode up and down taken up that sweet Word which Caesar once in such a case used Parcite civibus Spare the poore deluded Countrymâ—n O spare them I pray who are misled and know not what they 〈◊〉 A most excellent and pious Spirit and Speech and most beâ—itting such a valiant and virtuous Commander And thus I say blessed be our God that we see and know their vanity folly and madnesse having nothing to brag of but their own lying inventions For as we have aboundantly heard to
some intention to walk in his accustomed way of plundring robbing and spoyling the Country about him Whereupon the truely noble and valiant Lord Gray of 〈◊〉 hearing of this partee of the Enemy drew out of Leicester with all expedition thirsting to give his old Antagonist battell supposing this gallant partee which Hastings had gathered together would have put some valour into him But as soon as the Lord Grâ—y drew neer unto him he presently retreated to Asâ—â—by de la Zouch his old den and kennell of refuge to be there an onely spectator of the Lord Grey and Sir John Gells meeting who no sooner were joyned together but they fell upon Wilne-Ferry and Fort which had been Hastings chief trap to take the Carriers in their passage between Dâ—rby and Leicester with such resolution and courage that after 3 dayes siege giving the Enemy continuall Alarms with notable thunder-claps of Cannon both their Forces drew up close to the Ferry and Fort and immediately with admirable brave gallantry they stormed it kill'd 8 or 9 men took the Governour prisoner with 2 Captains 3 Lieutenants 3 Ensignes with their 〈◊〉 and Colours 2 Drakes 80 Souldiers neer an 100 Gentlemen and others which came in to their assistance with all their Armes and brought them all into Leicester In all which businesse the Lord Grey lost but one man and some few hurt but thanks be to God not mortally As soon as this businesse was thus successefully finished my Lord presently slighted the Works pull'd down the Fort and burn'd the House in its own rubbish 〈…〉 to Lâ—icester the Enemy never so much as attempting to 〈…〉 Charge Now during this time the prudent Lord Grey ever desirous to preserve his assoâ—iation hearing that a party of Newarke and Belvoir Horse was come up as farre as Melton Mowbray to plunder the Country in his absence he immediately sent Colonell Waâ—t with a party of Horse to drive the Enemy out of the Country or fight with them which was accordingly done and the Country thereby in the interim safely protected And here now I cannot I may not passe over without a great 〈…〉 of impious ingratitude the happy remembrance of that most sweet and Solemn-day of Thankesgiving to the Lord our all-good-giving and forgiving God which was rarely and religiously celebrated on Thursday the 18th of this instant July 1644. for that late and most admirable yea even miraculous Victory which the Lord our God gave unto our forces under the command of those three most renowned Generalls in the North neer the City of York And yet which happy day our impious and heaven-out-daring Adversaries the wretched Royalists had laboured as was before mentioned at the end of the description of that famous victory to cloud and to take off the Edge of our thankfulnes by spreading abroad false rumours and presuming I say most audaciously to mock God by outward appearances of their pretended and false joy whereas they had no salvation wrought for them in the thing wherein they seemed to rejoyce and one main argument which our Malignant-Enemies used to discourage and discountenance us and if it could have been to have infused into us to believe that there was some truth in their outward flourishes that so I say they might have cast ashes upon our heads in the day of our triumph was because the City of Yorke was not yeilded to us which said they would not nay could not hold out if Prince Ro. had beene routed But our most wise and mercifull God would not suffer them hereby to rob him of his honour and therefore it is most worthy our observation that the newes of Yorkes being certainly surrendred unto the Parliaments forces arived at London the very thankesgiving-Thankesgiving-day before the time set a part for the duties of our Solemn-Thankesgiving Which now I say comes here next to be spoken of namely That on Thursday July the 18th 1644. The Lords and Commons of Parliament joyned together at Westminster in the cheerful solemnization of this day and every parish in and about London Assembling together both forenoone and afternoone to hear Sermons preached in their Churches and prayers and praises proclaimed to our so great and good God the Wonder-working God of this our Israel and in a speciall manner this was performed by the Right Honourable prudent and pious Lord Mayor of the City of London Sir John Wolaston together with the most worthy Aldermen and Sheriffs his Brethren as also all the Companies of the City of London in their Gownes and Liveries at Pauls-Church where after the morning Sermon was ended a volley of small shot was triumphantly discharged and two Ensignes or Colours were flourished and displayed on the toppe of Pauls-steeple which gave notice to the severall Forts in the fields and thereupon the Ordnance went off round about the City and after the afternoones Sermon great outward joy and thankesgiving was expressed both first in liberall summes of money collected in the Churches to refresh the loynes of the poore and afterward in ringing of Bells and making Bonefires in the streets that night yea and the neighbours and parishoners of divers parishes in London both Husbands and Wives supped altogether in extraordinary solemn-manner especially in the parish of Christs-Church in London where I my selfe was an unworthy part and present eye-witnesse of the same All or the greatest part of the said whole parish both men and women especially of the best sort and quality Knights Ladies Gentlemen and Gentlewomen yea all well-affected persons of fashion and ability assembled together in the great Hall of Christs-Hospitall to the number of about 200 men and their wives who being all very gravely and cheerfully met together and supper made ready their reverend pious and painfull Pastor Mr. Jenkins who indeed was the first mover of this so solemn meeting an act worthy a godly Divine indeed he I say began A Psalme of David as sweet heavenly musicke which all the Company sang together whiles the dishes of meat were brought in and set on the tables Then a blessing on the creatures craved and supper ended the said reverend Pastor as hee piously began so hee religiously concluded with thankesgiving and another Psalme sung by them all at their tables ere they rose all done in a most grave and reverend manner And here also I desire the godly Reader to take notice of one remarkable passage of Gods providence about this worke which happily preâ—eded this solemn-meeting in the foresaid place viz That upon the Wednesday the very immediate day before this meeting it pleased the Lord so to order and dispose it That that most worthy and most deservedly ever to be honoured religious and zealous Nehemiah of our dayes Sir Robert Harlow Knight of the Bathe came himselfe to the said Hospitall and caused by the power and authority of Parliament most happily invested on him a mighty great and most
Peace may goe forward can argue nothing but a true and clear desiring of Peace and the happy setlement of the Kingdome in quiet the great thing so much at least pretended to be desired by the adverse party And this cannot but content I hope the great Vapours of Peace in our Malignants who desire any Peace be it ever so bad so it be Peace And now to proceed About the 20th of this instant we had certain information by the foresaid reverend and religious Gentleman Mr Ash his letters that the most noble Earl of Manchester advanced from YORKE more Southward to refresh his Souldiers and that night being Saturday night and all the next Lords-day his Foot quartered in â—adcaster and the other Townes thereabout and his Horse neere Pontefract a strong Garrison of the Enemies and from thence on the Munday following his Lordship remooved to Doncaster and quartered therein both his Horse and Foot in other Townes thereabout from whence he sent 200 Dragoones commanded by Lieutenant Col. Lilburne to quarter in Tickhill about five miles from Doncaster where the Enemy had a long time quartered where was a strong Castle called Tickhill-castle which was pallisadoed and invironed with a broad Mote and a Counter-scarfe in which was 80 Muskettiers and a Troop of Horse armed which did great oppression and injury to the Coâ—ntry thereabout both by laying heavy burthens and taxes upon them and which did much interrupt the trade and transportation of cloth from Leedes Hallifax and other parts of Bawtree their Horse also bringing in frequently 20 30 40 horses at a time loaden with cloath which oftentimes upon the payment of twenty shil a horse-load they again released Now upon the Dragoones comming into the Town they tooke prisoners a Captain a Cornet a Quartermaster and some other Souldiers and about thirty horses belonging to the said Castle The Governour of the Castle understanding hereby that my Lords Army was so neer and being now summoned the next day to surrender the same to the King and Parliament did admit parley with the said Lieutenant Col. Lilburne which conference produced this conclusion That three of the chiefe Gentlemen therein should come to my Lords quarters to Doncaster upon a safe convoy 〈◊〉 for their returne which being done and the Gentlemen comming accordingly on Thursday Iuly the 25th it was agreed that the said Castle should be yielded up the next day upon four or five fair and honourable Articles befitting Gentlemen and Souldiers which Articles were sealed by both parties accordingly and then his Lordship with Lieutenant Gen. Cromwell Major Gen. Crawford and many other chiefe Officers guarded by a brave Troop of Horse rode to Tickhill the Fryday following in the afternoon to take possession of it and to see the Articles on our side exactly performed whither being come the Draw-bridge let downe and a lane made by our Dragoones to whom his Lordship had given strict charge not to offer offence in the least measure by word or deed to the Souldiers of the Garrison who were to passe by them they all came out with passes in their hands to the severall places of their desired aboad who also were safely convoyed by our Troop of Horse and so his Lordship and his Officers with twenty Musketteers onely entred and possession being taken and some hurries appeased my Lord with his attendants gave solemn thankes to God there for giving in that place of so much concernment upon most easie termes and without the losse of one drop of blood There were in the Castle Major Mâ—nekton the Governour Colonell Redhead Major Redhead and divers Captaines with some of their Wives There was left in the Castle one Iron-piece mounted about in hundred Muskets sixty Horse and Armes some Powder and Match above an 100 quarters of grain many barrels of salt butter store of cheese powdred Beeâ—e and some beasts and sheepe with other necessary provisions About the 23. of this instant came certain information by letters out of Gloucestershire that the valiant Colonell Lâ—ughorâ—â— Governour of 〈…〉 and Captain Moulton with his valiant and courageous Sayleâ—s understanding of Gerrards 〈◊〉 approach to Peâ—brook with the Earl of Carbery and his Welsh and Irish-Papists our forces there joyned in a body to oppose them and the inhabitants of the County to shew theâ—â— willingnesse to assist them in this great 〈◊〉 the defence of their religion lawes and liberties First 〈…〉 books and Pâ—pish pictures apt to seduce to be brought forth and burnt and then afterward joyned themselves in a compleat boâ—y with their other friends already in armes against the common Enemy who marching into Pembrookeshire our Forces met them and notwithstanding all their power fell courageously upon them and in a short space did notable execution upon them made the Welsh fly apace to their own homes and holes in the Mountaines with great losse unto them even Gerrard himselfe hardly escaping by flight In this fight Colonell Laughorne and Captain Moulton flew and tooke prisoners at least 500 of the Enemies they also took divers Armes and many carryages with most of their baggage yea the Enemy was so routed as 't was verily believed they could never be able to get into a considerable body again against them Colonell Laughorne also resolving to follow the pursuite not leaving till he hath totally subdued them to the obedience of the King and Parliament In this fight also Captain Moulton and the brave Saylers deserved much praise and due respect for their undanted activity in this as in former performances And it was credibly assured that since this brave Sea-commander Captain Moulton cast the last Irish-rebells overboard into the Sea there have not any more been seen to passe out of Ireland About the 26th of this instant we had certain intelligence by letters out of Worcestershire that there went a party of Horse from Worâ—ester unto Evesham with an intent to have surprized some of the Earl of Denbighs Forces who were there a fortifying Evesham But the vigilant and valiant Earl of Denbighs and Warwickshire forces having private notice thereof in their march that way dispatched 600 Horse thither presently 300 whereof were to come in upon one side of the Town and the other to wheele about and to come in by the other way upon the Enemies Rear upon the comming in of the first party of the Enemies ours began to retreat and the Enemies thinking they fled began to follow them But instantly they were set upon by our other party which wheeled about upon the Enemies Rear and skirmished with them a while till at last 50 of them were slain in the place and 120 Horse and about 40 or 50 prisoners taken with the losse of onely two or three men of ours at the most the rest of the Enemy got back into Worcester About the 28th of this instant we were credibly informed by letters out of the Western
1. Haverford-west strangly taken without looking for as yet or fighting for Our forces marched toward Tynby summon it Admirable resolution in the assaulting of Tynby on both sides Commissary Guyne a stout souldier but a desperate enemy to Gods Cause The enemies Mr Gunner slaine The rare providence of God over ouâ— men Harm watch harme catch Tynby taken though of almost impregnable strengh The prize taken Carew Castle taken A sum of the totall Victory over the Earl of Carbury Capt. Jordanes good successe at sea chasing the Earle of Marlbrough the kings admiral Two ships taken at sea with their prizes Two ships more their prizes taken Glocesters good condition Col. Beares brave defeat given to the Earle of Northampton at Cambden Col. Massey stil victorious Our Brethren of Scotland passe over the River Tyne without resistance Newcastles great losse of Souldiers lying in the field Captain Tho. Pynes most brave defeat given to the Cormorants at Colliton neer unto Lyme Security is the bane of safety The prisoners and prize taken Excellent Reformation of the Cathedral at Westminster Quantum mutatur ab illo Popish trumpery expelld pious preaching establisht An introduction to the subsequent famous victory at Alsford Asshur is but Gods Rod to scourge his sinning children Psal 125. 3. Hoptons preparation Sir VVilliam VVallers preparation Hoptons head-quarter was at Winchester Sir William Wallers head-quarter A necessary preamble before the Fight Oxfords blustring Bravadoes about the raising of the Siege at Newarke Mercurius Aulicus the Kings Lyer in chiefe 〈…〉 Notorious boasts lyes to cousen the poore seduced Souldiers A message sent to Sir VVill. VValler not to engage himselfe in fight A true exact relation of the famous fight most memorable victory obtained at Alsford by renouned sir VV. VValler against sir R. Hopton The Enemies plot to surprise us at Church prevented A brave skirmish between us and the Enemy A Councill of War called on both sides The fight fiercely begun The day at this time very doubtfull Major Gen. Browne bravely charges the Enemies horse The Enemies put to the rout retreat The Enemy put totally to flight Prisoners taken The Lo. Iohn brother to the Duke of Lenox slaine in this â—ight Zach. 8 19. This moneths Fast day repayed within 2 or 3 dayes after with a blessed Feast day A returne of Prayers Exod. 15. 11. The pursuite of the Victory The Enemies flye to Basting-house and Andover c. How the Enemies Ordnance escaped from being all taken Sir William Waller is come to Winchester Gloucester fully relieved with necessaries The Kentish mens brave behaviour in this fight The admirable valour also of the City Regiment Observations upon the Victory Malignants lying mouthes stopt with the undeniable truths concerning this Victory The Lady Hopton and a traine of 200. taken by Sir Will. Belfore together with mony plate Whitchurch in Dâ—rsetshire taken with Sir John Mills a 100 Gentlemen more The Isle of Wights memorable and commendable Act of love to sir VVilliam VVallers army A day of publike thankesgiving ordered to be kept in all Churches for Gods great mercy in this so famous victory A most gratefull Summary recapitulation of all the Parliamentary Mercies of this Moneth Gods Arke over-topping the Worlds Waves swelling Psal 93. 3 4. Psal 68. 1 2 3 April 1644. A most excellent Ordinance of Parliament for the better sanctifying of the Lords day A fair gale of winde to carry on our floating Arke in the voyage Sir Iohn Gell that famous commander gives the enemy a brave defeat at Munkbridg Abrave defeat given again to Colonell Bellasâ—s by Victorious Colonell Lambert How the Ammunition for Gloucester was conveyed thither from VVarwick A strange mistake by night both by the Enemy and our Forces yet the Ammunition got safe to Gloucester Gloucester greatly enabled to oppose the adversaries by the safe coveyance of the Ammunition to it Waltham house taken by Col. Whitehead with the assistance of the London Brigade Propositions to surrender the House yeilded unto God honoured the London Brigade with Victory both going forth and comming home The Forces of Sir Tho. Fairfax and the Lord Fairfax his Father conjoyned together Cawood Castle and Axholm Island taken More of Captain Swanleys good Service in South VVales Want of pious preachers in Wales a great hindrance of their reducing to the Parliament Crowland regained by the Earle of Manchesters Forces under the command of Valiant Col. King Articles of agreement for delivering up the Town Hollands honourable attestation of famous Mr. William Prynne his learned Labours in the Parliaments Vindication This passage of Hollands honourable Attestation of Mr. Prynnes Book a Parliamentary mercy Fair correspondency between the Swedes and our Kingdome and Parliament The like also with the united Provinces The most famous and admirable victory obtained by the Right Honourable Lord Fairfax at Selby in Yorkeshire Gods Arke here mightily carryed up above all these swelling and blustring billows This brave victory thus obtaned the Lord Fairfax was now master of the Field A Day of Solemn Thanksgiving appointed 8000. pound ordered presently sent to the most Noble Lord Fairfax The most hopefull consequent advantages of this great Victory Two dayes of Solemn Thanksgiving in one the â—ame Moneth Newcastles Army sorely put to it Our brethren of Scotland draw up close to Durham The Marquess of Newcastle deserts and flyes from Durham General Lesly pursues him Newcastles great losse without any fighting Newcastle is got into the City of Yorke Prince Plunderer at Bever-castle The noble Earle of Manchester follows him close Sir Wil. Waller gives the enemy a brave defeat about Basing house The most noble Lord Fairfax our brethren of Scotland conjoyned into a body 30. Northampton souldiers surprized and taken prisoners by Banbury garrison All our Northampton souldiers imprisoned in a barne at Banbury Northampton forces are most bravely revenged on Banbury garrison The christian amity fidelity of our brethren of Scotland toward us of England The substance of a letter sent by the Iuncto at Oxford to the Lords of the Councell of Scotland Foul and false imputations laid on the Parliament at Westminster by the Oxford juncto O the wretched Rhetorick of the Oxfordians to argue themselves their posterity into perpetuall slavery Notorious and Devillish hypocrisie in this Oxford Juncto's jugling Our brethren of Scotlands wise and provident answer to the Oxonian Letter A Summary most gratefull recitall of all the excellent Parliamentary Mercies of this Moneth God Arke over-topping the worlds Waves swelling Psal 73. 1. Psal 46. 1 â— 3. May. 1644. A brave defeat repulse given to the Enemies at Plymouth A great providence at our Souldiers first adventure The Enemies beaten into the Church Ours obtain a brave victory The enemies horse face Plymouth againe Ours make a very fair and safe retreat A brave defeat given to the enemy by valiant active Colonell Fox Budely in Worcestershire surprized by valiant
Col. Fox Sir Tho. Littleton surprized by Col. Fox Mr. Goads relation of the most happy and prosperous progresse of the thrice noble and renowned Earl of Manchestâ—r in Lincolnshire The manner of the Earle of Manchesters march An 100 troops of Newcastles horse plunder the Country on the other side of Trent The Earle of Manchester advanâ—â—â— to Lincolne Sir Pâ—regâ—in Barty taken prisoner and brought to my Lord of Manchester Lincoln summoned by my Lord of Manchester Resolution to storme the Town Colonel Cromwell sent out with 2000. horse to oppose Col. Goring from relieving Lincoln Preparation to storm the City of Lincons Colonell Russels and Col. Moâ—ntague lead on most bravely to the on-set The lower town taken The Enemie in their retreat endeavoured to fire the Lower Town A second full resolution to storm the Town and Castle as was formerly intended The furious assaults on the Enemy in the upper town Castle The indefatigable paines and courage of our men about the Castle The scaling Ladders set up against the Castle wals The Town Castle obtained The slain the prisoners taken The losse on our side very inconsiderable Two Officers slain but 10 Common Souldiers The singular piety of the most noble renouned Generall A brief List of the Commanders Officers in Armes taken prisoners All the Common souldiers taken were willing to fight for the Parliament An Ordinance of Parliament for the demolishing of all Organs and superstitious monuments c. Capt. Swanley takes Carnarvan Town Castle other good prize Col. Massyes constant activity Col. Mynne beaten in his Quarters A Plot to betray Gloucester discovered 5000. l. profered for a reward to betray Gloucester 200. l. paid in hand of the 5000. to Capt. Backhouse The â—â—â—successe of their plot from themselves The Citizens of London petition the House of Peeres for the re-establishment of the State-Committee The result issue of the Cities petitioning the House of Peeres The Citizens of London also petition the House of Commons The result issue of the Cities â—â—â—tion to the House of Commons Singular sympathy 'twixt the House of Commons and the City of London The happy event of the City Petition in the principall expectation from both Houses of Parliament Secrecy is the Key of certainty The State-Committee for both Kingdomes established Col. Masseyes brave defeats given to the Enemies at Newnam Westbury and Little Dean Newnam defeat The prisoners and prizes taken Wesbury defeat The prisoners and prizes taken The defeat at Little Dean the prisoners and prizes taken Col. Massyes just Encomium The just commendation of divers other garrisons Lyme stormed the enemy bravely repulsed A day of Humiliation set a part to seeke the Lord upon the advance of the L. Gen. Army Devonshire Cornwall disaffected to the Irish Amost just objurgation of England from Devon Cornwalls great folly in deserting the Parliament A most wicked devillish plot to undoe Scotland also with England by the Popish Royallists there by way of diversion to recall our brethren of Scotand from assisting us The Noble Earl of Argyle stirs against the Popish insurrection begun in Scotland The Earl of Argyle breaks the neck of this Plot and puts the Marquesse Huntly to flight The Earl of Calender also riseth with about 8000. horse and foot to suppresse this intestine insurrection Montrosse forced to flye into the Castle of Carlile The present state of Lyme related to the Parliament by Cap. Iones Cap. Player The brave most resolute carriage of the Governour of Lyme to Pr. Maurice A brave prize taken at Sea by the noble Earle of Warwicks Ships An excellent patterne of gratitude in the County of Kent A just most deserved testimony of the right noble Earle of Pembrookes love loyalty to the Parliament Cawood Castle and all in it surrendred to the Parliam The Isle and Fort of Ayremouth taken also by Sir Iohn Meldrum The Kings Forces durst not bid battell to the Parl. L. Generall at Wantage Abington taken by the noble Lord Roberts Valiant Cap. Temples brave exploit on the enemies at Islip The most noble L. Generals mercifull Proclamation A Parallel of that Proclamation with the Oxonian Edict lately published from Oxford A most prudent pertinent Message sent by our Parliament in England to the Parliament in Scotland Beverton Castle in Gloustersh taken by Col. Massey Malmesbury taken by Col. Massey Chippenham Garrison in Wilts taken by Col. Massey Col. Massey advanceth into wilts with 2000. men toward the Devizes A most Noble and Renowned act of the Parliament in rewarding the good Service of Col. Massey Englands great wonder to Gods great glory May 30. 1644. Above 6 brave Armies at one time in the Kingdome on the Parliaments side The true muster of the City forces of Westminster at this 〈◊〉 Hosea 14. 3. Psal 136. 23. Russel-hall in Staffordshire taken good prize therein by the Earle of Denbigh This garrison was a most notorious thievish place A brave prize taken by Plymouth garrison The Garrison of Notingham gave Newarke Garrison a brave defeat Limes undaunted Valout testified by its adversaries themselves The Enemy bravely beaat Lime A gratefull summary recitall of all the foresaid Parliamentary mercies of the moneth past Gods Arke borne up above the worlds swelling waves Psal 119. 68. Psal 44. 8. 1 Sam. 2. 2 3. Iob 9. 4. Iune 1644. Lime most notably releived and the Seige wholly happily raised The most noble Lord Admirall arived at Lime Lymes distressed condition at his Lordships comming The most virtuous Lord Admiralls piety charity to Lyme Yea of my Lords honest Seamen too An assault upon the Towne to the enemies great losse The Enemies pride high hopes The most noble Lord Admiralls Stratagem The Enemy was mistaken frustrated of his hopes A very furious Assault upon the Towne bravely received The number of the slain in this Assault The enemies be fooled in reckoning without their hoast The enemies stomacke now come downe The enemies rage in firing the Towne Gods power providence was Lymes wals bulwarks The admirable courage of the women of Lyme The most pious reply of a maide in Lyme whole hand was shot off The continuance of Limes troubles took away the sense of fear terrour of them Prince Maurice leaves Lime raises his Siege The Earle of Calender possessed of Morpeth-Castle in Northubmerland Sunderland delivered from a treacherous Plot. A reward of 200 l. bestowed on the honest Seamen for their loyalty good service Valiant Capt. Swanley made commander in chief in Wales A Chaine of Gold worth 200 l. bestowed on Captain Swanley by the Parliament The Kings most ungodly agreement with the Irish Rebels Expelled him from his former secure abode at Oxford Valiant active Sir Will. Waller follows the King Gods justice prosecutes the wicked with terrour disgrace Major Gen. Brown made Commander in chiefe of 3 Counties by the
other Workes and Fortifications belonging to the Towne The Enemy having the Worke yeelded to them those of the Enemies party in the Towne as it must be expected in all places are some began to get courage our own friends doubtfull and I believe the Neâ—tralists do desire that the Towne might be delivered up Whereupon for feare either of the treachery of the Townesmen or for want of experienced men I seized the Fort and Iland the Castle and Magazine that in case the Towne should be forced and over-powered with strength by the Enemy and knowing this place of such great concernment that through Gods assistance I would keepe them till supplies and reliefe come Whereupon I have put them into the hands of such as will keepe them for the King and Parliament with the last drop of bloud in their bodies Our friends began then to be incouraged our enemies both within and without us to be dismayed thinking that there was no hope of surrendring the Towne so ever since the Townsmen and all Inhabitants have been more forward to contribute their best assistance than formerly many have done And upon Thursday last after Prayer and our mornings best preparation for the same my selfe and Mr. Major took a Vow and Protestation which I have here sent inclosed and caused it to be presented to all Gentlemen the Committee of Parliament the Deputy Lievtenants all Townesmen all Officers and Souldiers and all Inhabitants whatsoever which I finde was generally taken with great joy and cheerefulnesse I hope the honourable Houses of Parliament are not unmindfull of us yet I never received any instructions from them since the fifth of September being the time that I departed from London although I have sent foure severall Packets concerning divers and speciall affaires I humbly crave that with all speed I may have Powder Lead and Match sent that I may with honour performe the trust imposed upon me Thus humbly kissing your hand I take leave and rest Plymouth 11 Novemb. 1643. Your most humble Servant to be commanded James Wardlace The Vow and Protestation I A. B. In the presence of Almighty God do vow and protest that I will to the utmost of my power by Gods assistance faithfully maintain and defend the Townes of Plimouth and Stonehouse the Fort and Iland with all the Out-works and Fortifications to the same belonging against all Forces now raised against the said Townes of Plimouth and Stone-house the Fort and Iland or any part thereof or that shall be raised by any Power or Authoritie whatsoever without the consent and authoritie of both Houses of Parliament Neither will I by any way or meanes whatsoever contrive or consent to the giving up of the Townes and Fortifications aforesaid or any parcell of them into the hands of any person or persons whatsoever without the consent of both Houses of Parliament or of such as are Authorized thereunto by them Neither will I by Gods grace raise nor consent to the raising of any Force or Tumult nor will I by any way or meanes give or yeeld to the giving of any advice counsell or intelligence to the prejudice of the said Townes and Fortifications either in whole or in part But will with all possible speed faithfully discover to the Major of Plimouth and to the Commander in chiefe there whatsoever designe I shall know or heare of hurtfull thereunto Neither have I accepted any pardon or protection nor will I accept any protection from the Enemy And this Vow and Protestation I make without any Equivocation and Mentall reservation whatsoever Beleeving that I cannot be absolved from this my Vow and Protestation and wishing no blessing from God on my selfe or my posterity if I doe not truly and sincerely performe the same So help me GOD. Ordered by the Commons in Parliament assembled that this Letter and Protestation be forthwith printed and published Hen. Elsynge Cler. Par. D. Com. Much also about the foresaid time viz. the 20th of Novemb. 1643. came certain intelligence from Lancashire to London by a Letter to the House of Commons from Colonell Rigby a most worthy Member of the same House of a most rare and admirable yea even miraculous Defeat given by him the said brave Colonell to the Earl of Newcastles forces neer Thurland-Castle upon the edge of Lancashire The exact Narration whereof being fully set forth by himself in his said Letter I have heer thought good for the Readers better content and clearer satisfaction therein to give thee it verbatim as it was printed and published by authoritie of Parliament which was as followeth A true Relation of the great Victory obtained by Gods mercie and providence by the Parliaments forces in Lancashire under the Command of Colonell Rigby sent in his own Letter to the honourable William Lenthall Esquire Speaker of the House of Commons in Parliament Honoured Sir THat I may give you an account of our proceedings at Thurland you may understand that Sir John Girlington having drawn Forces into his Castle of Thurland he began to plunder the Countrey and to commit robberies and murthers and thereupon for the suppression of him and his adherents I repaired thither and after seven weeks strait siege of the Castle it was delivered unto me to be demolished upon agreement to suffer him and all his in the Castle to passe away with their lives and goods During most part of the siege the greatest part of the Forces of Westmerland lay within our view and daily threatned us but God confined them to their own Countie and every day more and more inclined the hearts of the Commons of Westmerland to decline any attempt upon us though wee then lay in an Out-Angle of our County far from supplies and whilest these things were in suspence a designe was set on foot by all the malignant Gentry of Westmerland and Cumberland and by Roger Kirby and Alexander Rigby of the Burghe two Lancashire men to raise all the Forces of Cartmell and Fournes part of Lancashire to joyn with Cumberland and Westmerland to surprize Lancaster and Hornby Castles and to assault us on all sides and to raise our Siege and then to proceed further into Lancashire and as upon credible information I beleeve to joyn with Latham-house and all the ill-affected in our Countie to our generall devastation And for this end they drew together part of Cumberland forces into Fournes and with them the strength of that place to about the number of sixteen hundred intending the next day to March into Cartmell towards us and there to adde to their forces and in their way they took and imprisoned divers of the best affected and caused the rest of them to flie out of the Country who posting to us I forthwith took five hundred foot two Drakes and three small Troops of horse parcell of my Forces at Thurland and with them in one day I marched almost thirty miles over mountaines and through Sea-sands and waters within two miles of the
Enemie and the next morning being the Lords day wee found the Enemy in the field standing with a body of horse and another of foot in a posture to receive us upon a ground chosen for their own advantage and when we were within half a mile of them wee committed our selves to Gods protection and began our work with publike prayers for his blessing upon us And those done wee speeded unto the Enemy with such resolution and courage in all the Captains and common Souldiers as by their deportment I might have rather deemed that they had made hast to have saluted their friends than to have encountred their enemies the enemies word was In with Queen Mary ours was God with us and at our first appearance God so struck the hearts of these our enemies with terrour that before a blow given their Horse began to retreat our foot gave a great shout our Horse pursued theirs fled their foot dispersed and fled they all trusted more to their feet than their hands they threw away their Armes and Colours deserted their magazine drawn with eight Oxen and were totally routed in one quarter of an houres time our horse slew some few of them in the pursuit and drave many of them into the Sea wee took their Colonell Hudleston of Millam two Captains and an Ensign and about foure hundred Prisoners six foot Colours and one horse Colour and their Magazin and some horses and more armes than men and all this without the losse of any one man of ours wee had onely one man hurt by the Enemy and onely another hurt by himselfe with his own Pistoll but neither mortally upon the close of the business all our men with a great shout cryed out Glory be to God and wee all except one Troop of horse and one foot Company which I left to quiet the Countrey returned forthwith towards our siege at Thurland most of our horse-men without alighting from our horses and most of us all without eating or drinking so that early the next day wee came again to Thurland where wee found our siege continued within view of more than treble forces from Westmerland this worke in Fournes had that influence upon all the Castles and all the Gentry of Westmerland and Cumberland who then lay within our sight at Kirby-Loynsdale that within two dayes after the Castle was by the Negotiation of Sir Philip Musgrave then commanding in chief in Westmerland and Cumberland agreed to be rendred unto me to be demolished which is accordingly done And though I endeavoured to have preserved all the combustible materials therein from fire yet I could not therein prevaile with the common Souldiers without great displeasure My humble suit now is to have the order of the House of Commons for my indempnity for demolishing of the Castle And because Colonell Hudleston who yet hath a Regiment in Yorkshire in or neer Hallifax is as I heare Serjeant Major Generall of Cumberland and the most considerable man in Cumberland and our next neighbour to Lancashire and one whom without further danger to the peace of our Countie I cannot conceive can be kept prisoner here I have therefore presumed to send him unto you under the care and custody of Mr. Robert Fog of whose industry and fidelity both you and we heer have had much experience Sir that God may blesse and prosper all your designes and proceedings for his glory and the peace of this Kingdome is the daily prayer of Your most humble Servant Alex Rigby Preston in Lancashire this 17. of Octo 1643. Ordered by the Commons in Parliament that this Relation be forthwith printed and published Hen Elsynge Cler. Parl. D Com. About the 25th also of this instant November came certain information from famous Pool in Dorsetshire of the brave atchievements and famous performances of those renowned active spirits in their most valourous taking of the Town of Warham in that Countie which was also ratified by a letter to a worthy Member of the House of Commons in Parliament to this effect The most loyall and resolute Commanders and Officers in this garrison of Pool in prosecution of some former fortunate adventures and most valourous resolutions wherein God had extraordinarily prospered and preserved them sent out a partie of about 200 Musketteers under the Command of Captain Lay a man of whose fidelity and valour the Parliament had had much experience who disposing his men into such boates lighters as belonged to the Town went by water to Wâ—rham a Town about seven miles distant from Pool westward drawing neer the Main-land but navigable home to the very Town in such vessells as they made use of The first opposition they met with was by certain Musketteers of the enemies who played on them from a brest work made on the passage a mile before they came to the Town where the said valiant Captain immediately commanded a partie ashore which being perceived by the enemie they instantly threw down their armes ran away crying our heeles heeles for the Town So that the Town having by this means an alarm were all in a readinesse to receive the Poolianâ— before they could possibly approach them and had drawn severall ambuscadoes into the hedges to annoy them which way soever they came and withall making good the bridge-foot as they conceived which was the main hiding place to come into the body of the Town But this courageous and resolute Captain being too wise for such untuter'd fresh-water Souldiers before he came neer the Town had landed an indifferent strong partie which being divided into two parts were at one and the same time to enter the Town in two places at once and the residue were to follow presently at the main landing place all which was exactly observed according to command and direction but by the way the enemies ambuscadoes still at adventures playd upon our men retreating amain into the Town but did little hurt for the night not being very light and our men having command to keep their matches closs and not to discharge till they came to the Townes end where they might have some inducement to bestow a volley of shot to purpose this was a notable meanes that the enemie knew not well how to shoot to annoy them Our men thus courageously coming on the enemie left all their defensive brest-works and rallyed themselves into a body in the midst of the Town and all with one voice crying out Now come on yee Roundheads if yee dare and our men came timely up together into the severall quarters of the Town the enemie having no way to escape but by a gate behind them which could not possibly be blockt up by our men but ours being come up most bravely together gave them a handsome volley of shot at which the enemie unanimously without farther dispute betook them to their heeles and throwing down their armes fled away and it being in the night season many escaped out of