Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
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A89418
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Nevves from Southampton, or The copie of a letter to Captain Thomas Harrison in London from Mr. Peter Murford, Serjeant Major to Colonell Norton, discovering a late plot of the cavaleering hoptonians against the said towne of Southampton: but by the mercy of God (and the fidelity of the said major) prevented. Also herein is related the distressed condition of that county as it now stands. Published according to order.
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Murford, Peter.
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1644
(1644)
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Wing M3101; Thomason E33_1; ESTC R1997
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2,855
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6
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NEWES FROM SOVTHAMPTON OR The copie of a letter to Captain Thomas Harrison in London from Mr. Peter Murford Serjeant Major to Colonell Norton DISCOVERING A late Plot of the Cavaleering Hoptonians against the said towne of Southampton But by the mercy of God and the fidelity of the said Major prevented Also herein is related the distressed condition of that County as it now stands Published according to Order LONDON Printed for Henry Overton in Popes-head Alley 1644. The Discovery of a new plot against the Town of Southampton by the 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 neere it but we have still worsted them wee have alwayes taken prisoners Horses Armes wounded or slain some of them On Thursday last we took six men and horse whereof one was a Cornet On Saturday we took two men Horses and Armes shot a Captain who lies languishing at Ramsey and wounded three men more The Lord be 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 practize for the delivery of this Town but least you should be mis-informed therein I will give you a briefe account thereof Some few daies before Christide last the Lord Hopton marched with his Army from Winchester towards Southampton with a purpose to face it as wee were informed but he came not within two Miles thereof to out face it but marched to Redbridge the way into the new forrest breake it down to hinder us of provision from thence after so horible an Act he faced about and marched to his old quarters againe without attempting any further atchievement The next day here arived a letter from one Mr. Iasper Cornelius som times an Aâ—turney of this Towne but run away before my coming hither for Malignancy directed to Mr R. Mason a merchant of this town intimating that this Cornelius was the day before with the Lord Hopton before this Town and was the means of divertinâ— the Lord Hoptons intent of attempting this place and â—ells Mr. Mason hee had made choyce of him to deliver an inclosed letter to me with all secresie which I received yet the said Cornelius was an unknown man to me by his Letter he insinuates that then was a fit time for mee 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 Colo ell Norton which I long sued to be eased thereof and by it he thought I was a discontented person and so fit to be wrought upon but he was deceived I being never better pleased then to bee eased of so great a burthen which I had born long enough though it pleased his Excellencie to requite my service with a more sutable command to my disposition made me Serjeant Major to Colonell Norton which pleases me farre better after the receit of this letter I instantly acquainted my Colonell and Master Major 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 explain his minde more fully To which he replied That by the command of his superiours hee did in the name of his Majesty and his countrey and two Lords which hee named offer mee a thousand pounds in money a present imployment of more value and honour then at present I had his Majesties pardon under the great Seal and his favour if I would be a means to reduce the town of Hampton to his Majesty I returned a seeming complying answer and demanded the 1000 l. in hand or the moity thereof and assurance given me for the residue the imployment named and the pardon sent me this performed hee should soon see what I would say to it In the interim my Colonell acquainted my L. Generall and Sir Will. Waller with the offer made by Cornelius wherein I continued the treaty to gain time until Sir W. Waller had finished his businesse at Arundel and drawn his Army this way and then to have drawne the enemy hither in hope of gaining this place whilst Sir William might have falen behind them in this place of advantage and so to have deceived 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 mee when the work desired was effected I whiled out a moneths time with them to the exchange of eight letters Mr. Robert Mason being still the man they imployed to bring their and receive my letters whom they had bound to secresie by an oath before I knew thereof who brought me the copie 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 perform with them and which I still delayed which put the projectors to a jealousie that I was not reall 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 hee would performe them but I still pressed for the money but could not obtain it they fearing I would Craford them as Poole did yet Mr. Mason offered me to become bound for it which I accepted of but before hee would perform on Friday last was sennight 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 mee 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 mee and the lives and goods of so many innocent people to bee 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 tould him I could not but in campassion of his condition gave him leave to goe to his house being but three houses from mine in which time I went forthwith to acquaint my Colonell with what had happened between Mr. Mason and my selfe wee concluded instantly to sieze his person and causcd all the gates to be secured but yet he escaped from us and could not be found although wee searched carefully for him since wee heer he is at Winchester and shall be preferred and imployed in matter of trust In all the time of our treatie 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 greived 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 neuer doe the like but to revenge themselves on me But I will to all the world declare and maintaine my faithfullnesse to my Country and cause I have undertaken and clear my unfained 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 heer it falsly reported And I shall be readie to requite you in vindicating of truth and acknowledge my selfe Southampton Feb. 5. 1643. Your reall friend Pet. Murford FINIS