no power to make them good because his field was too large for that strength and the State made an inconsiderable number of men the only stay of the remote parts These could over-run the enemies Countrey but get no ground master no strong hold nor reduce a people naturally malignant that were dashed at present but did flourish again in the reverse of the Kings Army The next attempt was made upon Worcester whither all the horse and the greatest part of the blue Regiment were drawn They at Oxford were said to have yeelded that Town for lost and to give out that Sir William was gone to take possession of his purchase For at that time Treason was the pretended cause of every losse on both sides especially if weak and unworthy Both horse and foot came up before the City where they lay a day and a night effected nothing and were drawn off at the noise of the Lord Capels advance at which instant Sir William Waller was taken off these parts and ordered to march into the West with all speed to prevent the joyning of Sir Ralph Hoptons forces with the rest of the Kings Army Sir Robert Cooks Regiment was called off from Tewksbury for the Western expedition and that Town once more slighted Hitherto Lievtenant Colonell Massie governed the City of Glocester by deputation from the Earle of Stanford whose returne was not expected wherefore the thoughts of the Citizens began to enquire after a Governour They thought well of a man neare home and cast their eye upon a knowne Patriot Neverthelesse more intelligent men upon the serious review of the Cities continuall hazard found that the necessity of this place did require a tried Souldier and that such a one might possibly be found faithfull but a timorous or unskilfull man must needs ruine all Wherfore they reflected on Massie whose good services gave them also a competent assurance of his fidelity that by the happy choice of the Citizens and the Lord Generals Commission he was appointed Governour To enable the City to defend it selfe a foot Regiment was raised by Commission from Sir William Waller out of the Townsmen for the major part both Officers and Souldiers under the Command of Colonell Henry Stephens The first intention of this Regiment was to defend the City only within the walls according to the infancy of warre but the hard service of this place did suddenly require and exact the full duty of Souldiers At this instant the City was well becalmed only there hapned one passage of inferiour nature but full of the fortune of warre The Governour with a party of an hundred and twenty Horse and Dragoons advanced towards Stow in the wold to beat up the enemies quarters By break of day he fell into Slaughter took a Lievtenant twelve Troopers horse and armes and thence marched to Odington a mile beyond Stow where he surprised a Captaine of a Troop with forty men and horse and so made homewards neglecting the residue of the enemy who drew out of their quarters with all speed The remainder of their Regiment fell upon the reere of our men neare unto Slaughter with some slight execution but were beaten back The Governour being confident he was able to fight with them upon any ground made no haste to march off till the enemy had received a supply of Horse from Sudely Castle and again charged him at Andovers foord whom our men received gallantly and repulsed without any losse The Captaine that led the Van was slain by the Governours hand and the rest wheeled about whereupon the Governour dismounted the Dragoons and divided his men into three bodies the horse to the right and left wing in this posture resolving to march up to the enemy who would gladly rid their hands of the businesse but having advanced a little distance and looking back to bring on his men saw the greater part in a strange hurry occasioned by the faceing about of some cowardly spirits and himselfe with those dismounted men desperately engaged for a while he shuffled amongst the enemies Troopes till observing himself eyed by some he sprang forth fired in their faces and came last off the field upon the maine roade He offended here by affecting too much gallantry and was deceived in his new raised men who were not hardned by the sight of an enemy Besides no ordinary care was had of securing the prisoners who were all recovered back Four of ours were slaine many wounded Colonell Stephens a Lievtenant with five and twenty private souldiers taken prisoners The springing hopes of Colonell Stephens failed unfortunately when his eager minde engaged him in the action without order and against the will of the Commander in chiefe he had no command in the action but hasted after as greedy of the service he was led captive to Oxford and a while after breathed his last in that poysonous ayre where many Gentlemen were observed in those dayes to expire Amidst these things Sir Iohn Winter a zealous Papist began to declare himselfe A subtile wit that pretended innocency till his houre was come and had almost perswaded the world that he durst deny himselfe and commit an unpardonable sinne against the Catholike Cause His house in the Forrest of Deane was at first neglected when it was in the power of this Garrison to ruine his designe But under hand he prepared for defence suddenly clapt in his owne Confidents and with a little labour made it inaccessible but with apparent great losse and maintained his den as the plague of the Forrest and a goad in the sides of this Garrison These things were acted about the time of that blow almost fatall to the Parliaments cause in the vanquishing of Sir William Wallers Army at the Devices which defeat cast these parts of the Kingdome into a miserable plight when the State had placed the whole game in the successe of this Army never providing a reserve The King became master of the field the Parliament left without an Army that could check the enemy who came up to our gates and by threats would seeme to shake the walls of the City Many began to prepare for flight whose presence no reall necessity but the peoples opinion did require They at Bristoll disclosed their feares and gave no good presages And when that City was yeelded Gloucester did stand alone without help and hope The Lord Generals Army pined away Sir William Waller at London for a recruit The Earle of Stamford shut up within the walls of Exeter The Kings Countrey reached from the utmost Cornwall to the borders of Scotland and he was able to divide his Army one part for Exeter and the other for Gloucester That sudden surrender of Bristoll which was almost beyond our feares brought forth a dark gloomy day to the City of Gloucester The mindes of people were filled with amazement and the failing of such a promising Government made most men infidels or at least to question all things But here was
their usuall fiercenesse did extract great Ransomes or unequall exchanges and disposed them to detaine their Captives in extreame misery and to neglect their owne friends in the like thralldome of which those that were taken at Cirencester gave a full testimony But the Parliament Garrisons knew not how to keepe a correspondence in this case but groaned under the burthen of miserable prisoners were prone to exchange or set free upon easie termes And by this meanes most of the common souldiers then taken within tenne daies were sent backe into their owne Country with an Oath never to serve against the Parliament others that tendred themselves were entertained in the service who for the most part proved Runnegadoes the Commanders and Gentlemen came off some with a Ransome and Oath which they quickly violated and the residue were wholly lost at the surrender of Bristoll The whole successe of the former action happily complyed with the maine Plot and extreamly dashed the Kings affaires in these parts The generall fame did increase and heighten the repute of Sir William Waller and the enemy possessed there with began to draw back on all sides Sir Matthew Carew forthwith quitted the Towne of Tewksbury which within twelve houres was repossest by our Forces Captaine John Fienes was commanded thither with a slender strength of Horse and Dragoones with whom the well-affected of the Town that abode in Gloucester began to returne The undertaking was hasty and confused without the observance of the Enemies motion or distance or any rationall assurance of defending the place Our Party had no sooner saluted the Towne but received an Alarme that the former Forces were returned with a greater power 'T was a gallant Brigade of Horse commanded by the Lord Grandeston which immediatly came from Cheltenham whereof our men had not the least intelligence it seemed by the event that the Enemy expected none from Gloucester however there was quicke dispatch on both sides yet Captaine Fienes with his whole Party had bin surprised had not those Horse been kept off at a miles distance by a ridiculous accident It so fell out that they met a man comming alone from the Towne whom they fell to question whether any Forces were there of what strength and by whom commanded the man intending nothing lesse then the escape of our Party but supposing them a part of the Parliament Forces and willing to curry favour begins to talke of a maine strength and vast numbers with so many Guns and all kind of preparations and withall defies the Cavalliers with much affected indignation which words so farre prevailed that they presently held a Counsell of War and once were about to fall back This delay gave an houres respit to those within to prepare for a flight who had no sooner recovered the end of the Towne but the Enemy had entred amazed to see themselves so miserably deluded When Sir William Waller had refreshed his men some few daies about the first of Aprill 1643. he advanced towards Monmouthshire at the solicitation of divers Gentlemen of that Country with a promise of concurrence in reducing those parts to the obedience of King and Parliament When he came neere the Towne of Monmouth where the Lord Herbert had began to place a Garrison the Souldiers did not abide his comming but all shifted for themselves by flight Sir William entred the naked and open Towne where he stayed a while and sent many Parties abroad the Country for supplies of money thence marched to Vske where he set free some prisoners kept there but the reducing of the Country came to nothing for the Gentlemen did not perform and he found there what usually comes to passe in such cases that men desirous of alterations invite upon ample promises but never make good and feldome appearein the businesse till the Souldier hath done the worke to their hands or they have gotten some stronge Hold to secure their ingagements So that the well-affected would not declare themselves because a running Army could be no lasting support and they had no strong Hold nor the stream of the people which were at the devotion of the Earle of Worcester almost an universall Land-lord in that County Whilst these things are acted Prince Maurice enters Tewksbury with a power of Horse and Foot added to those former under the command of the Lord Grandeston resolving to make after Sir William Waller and to intercept his return out of Wales for he was gotten into such a nooke of the Land in the Enemies Country that the Prince might easily drive him to a Nonultra Wherefore a bridge of Boates was made over Seaverne at Tewksbury that they might passe to and fro nearer the retreat of our Army Here the Prince marched over with a body of two thousand Horse and Foot confident of this designe and therefore too remisse slow in his advance Sir William was nimble in the retreat caused his Foot and Artillery to passe over Seaverne at Chepstow and himselfe with his Horse and Dragoones passed through the lower part of the Forrest of Deane neare the River side and before the Enemy had notice of his march sent forth two Parties to fall upon two of their maine quarters which was performed whilst the maine body slipt between both and a Party was left to face them and make good the retreat which came off something disorderly and with the losse of a few private Souldiers 'T was an exquisite conveyance and unexpected felicity that brought them out of the snare through those intricate waies This Alarme quickly reached Gloucester and Lieutenant Colonell Massie drew out three hundred foot and two troops of horse to fetch off our men but if he found them dis-ingaged for a further designe This Party met them within two miles of the Towne where the Governour made knowne to Sir William Waller his purpose to set upon Tewksbury and taking the opportunity of the Princes absence and the Enemies jollity at our supposed totall defeate instantly advanced upon them and by break of day brought up his men before the Towne one part whereof fell in to the Ham seased upon the Guard left with the bridge of Boats and cut off that bridge the Horse with the rest of the Foot came up Gloucester way the Forlorne Hope surprised and slew the Sentinell climbed over the workes and cut down the draw-bridge whereupon both Horse and Foot-rushed in and the party on the other side of Avon ready to enter there were left in the Towne neere three hundred men commanded by Sir Matthew Carew whom the triumph of yesterdaies conceived Victory laid asleepe and the sudden Alarme roused up first into a shuffling fighting posture and after halfe an houre to a nimble escape Sir Matthew Carew fled and many escaped the hands of our men who wanted numbers to surround the Towne but most of the common Souldiers and some valuable Officers were taken Oxford was as miserably gulled in these passages and in a few
houres extreamely affected with contrary reports for the jocund newes of the vanquishing of Sir Wil. Waller arrived early in the morning but before noone an expresse came of the losse of Tewksbury which was cast upon the heat of the first report like cold water into a boyling pot The same day a Party of Prince Maurice his Horse appeared from the top of a Hill neere Tweksbury and intimated the approach of his whole Army whereupon Sir William VValler marched thither that Evening and resolved to breake downe or make good the bridge at Upton upon Seaverne besides which there was no passe nearer then VVorcester but the Scouts gave notice that the Prince had recovered the bridge and set a guard upon it The next morning Sir VVilliam advanced towards the Prince and found him in Ripple Field with his Army drawn up and divided into three bodies besides the hedges lined with Musketeers Here our Forces faced the Enemy in a large field and could hardly reach the third part of the Princes strength brought up their Gunnes having neither shot prepared nor Cannoneers that understood the businesse nor the assistance of Foot save only a part of the Governours owne company besides the wind and Sun were against them and no retreat if need were but through a narrow Lane of two miles long and whereas they might stand upon the top of a rising ground to deceive the Enemy with the semblance of a greater power behind they descended a little on the side of the Hill and discovered their weaknesse to a full view In this posture some perswaded to fight and began to make some shot with the Ordnance which gave no shew of the least execution But some other Officers examined the Cannoneere and finding neither fit Bullet nor any convenient shot but all things at randome earnestly disswaded either to make the onset or expect the enemy in that place and advising likewise the tryall discovered their Ambuscadoes within the hedges Hereupon Sir VVilliam VValler fell back and entred the narrow Lane commanding a Party of Dragoones to face the Princes Army and the Musketeeres to stand at the corner of the lane within the hedges to make good the retreat The enemy fell on not a man of those Dragoons would stand to receive the charge but hurried away broke over the hedge fell among and disordered our owne Musketeers the Enemy clapt in after them cut down foure or five of the Foot and tooke as many Prisoners Lieutenant Colonell Massie kept close to his Foot and instantly dispatcht to Tewksbury for a supply and Sir Arthur Hazelrigg prevailed with his owne Troope to charge and in his owne person performed gallantly the Foot with those Horse put the Enemy to a stand and in part tooke off the foulenesse of the retreat through that straite passage When they came to the next open place our men had the advantage of a ditch to stay the persuit and in the heat of the chase one Foot Souldier at the command of the Governour turned upon the Enemy a gate then cast of the hinges which barred their entrance enabled our men to draw up for a charge here for a while they stood in a maze but on a suddain faced about ran flock-meale the Enemy upon their backs and the close of this action was like to be miserable but at the entrance a strait passage neere the Myth Hill a supply of Foot from the Town opportunely met them gauled the Enemy and put them to a stand once more whilst the Governour charged the leader of the forlorne hope hand to hand and was rescued by the gallantry of some Officers when of ours onely a small Party of Horse remained in the field the rest being got off in great confusion Yet the escape might equall a Victory and the saving of the Forces passe for cleare gaine Prince Maurice did not attempt the regaining of Tweksbury the Government whereof was intrusted to Sir Robert Cooke who had newly raised a Regiment of Foot by Commission from sir VVilliam VValler At that season the main strength of the Kings Army was drawn from these parts when Redding was beleaguerd by the Earle of Essex by which meanes the Parliament forces had a large and free game in this Countrey went on with a full stream of successe driven with a gentle gale of providence and a kinde of unimitable happinesse in unbloody victories The fortune of the former did over-rule the event of the succeeding action and the name and presence of Sir William Waller did include more then a thousand men Neither was he wanting to himselfe but made the best use of his present fame and kept it up by constant active endeavours lest a little intermission might permit the enemy to recollect himselfe or the reall weaknesse of this Army be discerned It was therefore suddenly resolved for Hereford whither he advanced with a thousand Horse and Dragoons assisted by the Governour with the greatest part of the Lord Stamfords Regiment there were also the beginnings of Colonell Thomas Stephens his Regiment The maine body of Horse and Foot were drawn up before Bisters gate on the North side of the Town stood aloof off and shot at random till the Lievtenant Colonell commanded Captain Grey with a party of musketiers over the River towards Wie Bridge whose march was secured by a rising bank under the walls These were ordered to make shew of an assault and if need were to fall back unto the water side where seconds were placed for their reliefe The enemies horse sallied out upon them whom that party having gallantly kept off and forced back into the City with-drew thence and gained a Church within Pistoll shot of St Owens gate whence our Musketiers plaied on the walls and exceedingly terrified those within But the main rest of the businesse was the name of a conquering army which Sir William Waller improved to the best advantage by all expedition and industry And to help forward Massie drew up two Sakers in a strait line against Wigmarsh gate not without extream hazard by shot from the walls himselfe gave fire and the first Canon shot entred the gate took an Officers head from his shoulders and slew some few besides More shots were made each of which scoured the streets and so daunted the enemy that they presently sounded a parley which was entertained by Sir William Waller and hostages given on both sides the Parley lasted almost the whole day whilst most of the common souldiers ranne over Wie bridge into Wales only the Commanders and Gentlemen remained and were reported to be held in by the Townsmen to sweeten the surrender and obtaine better quarter Next morning they rendred the chiefe prisoners here taken were the Lord Scudamore Colonell Coningsby Sir William Crofts c. few horse and private souldiers but store of Armes and Ammunition The Town compounded was secured from plunder and after fourteen dayes deserted Sir William Waller obtained many faire victories but had
a leaguer proceeded from the desire of saving their foot with this presumption that there was no power to raise the siege which confidence deceived them till too late for their foot after those many knocks and the first fury spent were not so capable of the service without the help of many tedious preparations Wherefore besides their mine and battery they framed great store of those unperfect and troublesome engines to assault the lower parts of the City Those engines ran upon wheels with planks musket proof placed on the Axel-tree with holes for musketshot and a bridge before it the end whereof the wheels falling into the ditch was to rest upon our breast works Our reliefe seemed slow and the straitnesse of the siege debarred all intelligence Only two Spies which we sent out returned from Warwick and brought newes of the advance of the Lord Generall The report of his Excellency who then lay under a cloud did give no great assurance The truth is the sense of the depth of our distresse did not reach us Sir William Waller upon whom the Citizens of London cast their favour had not the reliques of an Army The Generals Army crumbled away the malignants of London fomented tumults in the City and insurrections in Kent distracted the businesse The house of Lords voted a treaty with the King the house of Commons debated the matter The resolution of Gloucester turned the stream whose succour was resolved upon as the Kingdoms safety The recruit of the Army was too slow for the service The London trained Bands or none must relieve us but could not agree who should undertake the businesse Essex was not favoured but the more prudent saw that he must be the man That none might decline the service upon whom the lot fell the shop windows were commanded to be shut up and trading for a time suspended The expedition was hasted in every pulpit carried on with continuall fasting and prayer an Army was framed in an instant and marched with incredible swiftnesse Prince Rupert with the greatest part of the Kings horse drew from Gloucester to retard their march but still appearing in the Van did no more then drill them along The enemy stayed before us till the last houre judging every particle of time a great advantage not knowing what a moment might bring forth They within not satisfied with the former intelligence sent out two other Spies with a double signall first one fire on the side of a hill to signifie their escapes and two fires on the same place if they heard good newes which latter was accordingly performed and beheld by us The fifth of September was appointed for a publike Fast to be kept by such as might be spared from labour This day we discovered their carriages marching from the leaguer and their horse and foot marching after yet we were not confident of the raising of the siege till the men were drawn out of the trenches and the reer-guard fired their huts We then perceived that God had sent a deliverance and that in the close of a solemn Fast as a gracious returne of prayer This evening the Lord Generall came to the brow of the hills seven miles from the Town and fired a warning piece but by reason of the contrary winds the report was not heard neither did the newes reach us that night Wherefore we did not venture upon the Reere of the enemy with our slender and wearied forces but kept as strong and watchfull guards as any time before presuming that reliefe at hand had raised the enemy yet suspecting that in point of honour they would attempt something worthy of a Royall Army But abiding before us to the last extremity they were driven away with great confusion after so many vowes of victory and revenge when their mines batteries and engines were in readinesse This hurry preserved the Countrey from injury which by them was devoted to ruine His Majesty was forced to leave the Town behinde him and constrained to a tedious march in that tempestuous rainy night their carriages were not got up the hills till the next morning which distraction was not known to us and the Generals Army was tired with long and continuall marches The admirable care of providence was beheld in the season of our reliefe when all things were prepared by the enemy for a generall storme our ammunition consumed but three single barrels of powder left in our magazine and not so much more elsewhere in the little harm done by their Cannon and Morter-pieces that sent amongst us so many terrible messengers Our lost men taken or slain did not amount to the number of fifty and of these but two Officers were slain Captain Harcus and the Governours Ensign yet we killed of the Enemy who never ventured an assault above a thousand men by the lowest confession The King expended much in Ammunition Engines and keeping together the discontented Souldiers besides the losse of his pretious time in that full tyde of Victory Here was a bound set to the swelling of those proud waves and the rock that split that Army when the Queen was sayd to be transported with passion because her counsell was not followed who advised the King to wave Gloucester and advance for London whilst the Parliament had no Army in the field the number of Malignants in the City did equall the rest began to rayse tumults and the actions of State were unresolved This City diverted the enemies thoughts from that rare opportunity which not so conscious of the Kingdoms weaknesse held up beyond reason and gave a breathing time to the State to effect its own reliefe Great was the failing of the Kings hopes in this defeat who by the gaining of this town would have held an undivided uninterrupted command and the granary of the Kingdome in the heart of his Country on the West bounded with the Sea cleare through the middle of the Land to the Northerne parts where also the Earl of Newcastles Army prevailed and in breadth reaching from the utmost Wales to the London Association and backed with Ireland with whom an Accommodation was then preparing Neverthelesse the raising of the siege was but an unperfect deliverance The successe of the Generals Army with the supply of our wants were to make it compleat For the enemy continually lay at our doores commerce was clean taken away and we farre distant from the fountaine of future supplies Wherefore during the stay of his Excellency parties of horse were continually sent abroad to fetch in provisions out of the Enemies quarters and Malignants estates The Granary was quickly filled The Generall left three Culverins forty single barrels of Gunpowder and set the Garrison in order The London Train-Bands and Auxiliaries supposing the work already done and the date of their Commission expired earnestly contended homewards yet must they break their way through the Kings Army and give him some further blow to secure and perfect the reliefe of this Garrison for
neglect in the State and were taken off the persuite of a just revenge upon those cursed Rebels to warre against their native Countrey and teare the bowels of the mother that bare them and therein act a part and cast in their lot with the Rebels themselves Some of these Irish Forces landed at Bristoll and thence fell down upon Gloucestershire Colonell Min and Sir William St. Leger with both their Regiments making up eight hundred or a thousand Foot and a hundred Horse all resolved men with eight Piece of Ordnance advanced to Thornbury Colonell Massey proclaimed entertainment to all such as would tender their service to the Parliament and many private souldiers resenting the difference of the cause came over daily About the twentieth of December a party of two hundred horse and Dragoones commanded by Captaine Backhouse were designed to beat up their quarters at Wotton where they were lately arrived from Thornbury Wherefore the party advancing thither suddenly fell in among them and found eight hundred men charged up to the maine Guard and for a while were masters of foure Piece of Ordinance but over-matched and borne down by their numbers were forced to retreat yet having first slaine wounded and taken many of them without the losse of a man At the same time some of Colonell Vavasours Forces undertook to settle at Upton upon Seaverne but at the first shew of an approach from Gloucester quitted those quarters Once more doe the clouds gather round about the storm threatned by the enemies fury and more violently driven by the malice of some Countrey Gentlemen begins to arise The Malignant Gentlemen of Cotswold provide Armes and garrison strong Houses Forces from Oxford were expected at Painsewick and Stroud the Irish were to lie on this side Berkely the Lord Herbert and Sir Iohn Winter in the Forrest the Lord Chandos at Cheltenham Sir William Vavasour and Sir Walter Pie at Tewkesbury so that by them our destruction is decreed and seemes as a thing done Every corner of the Country is pestered with the enemies Garrisons as Newneham Lidney Monmouth Hereford Worcester Dimmock Newent Highleaden Tainton Tewkesbury Sudely Saperton Beverston and Berkely Opposite to these was the Governour constrained to erect petty Garrisons as many and as neare as possible for the Kings Forces were againe advanced out of Herefordshire with a greater strength and well prepared Sir William Vavasour Sir Walter Pie and Colonell Wroughton are arrived at Tewkesbury and began to fortifie having a great power with them till the Town was setled and made strong yet still disturbed by continuall Alarums from Gloucester though the Land-flouds hindred our design upon them The Irish Regiments rose from Wotton and thence made over the Hills for Tewkesbury And because their march was interrupted by our parties the Lord Chandos horse joyned with them to strengthen and secure their advance to Cheltenham whether they came with foure small Piece of Ordnance Our men still flirted upon them And a Party of Horse and Dragoones commanded by Major Gray fell that night into Charlton Kings and had surprized the Lord Chandos in his quarters had he not made a private escape where the search after him caused the losse of seven or eight private souldiers yet they slew some of the enemy took ten prisoners and some few horse The next day the Horse and Foot bended their course to Tewkesbury our men waited upon the march and kept them up close that those parts of the Countrey received but little dammage when these had joyned with the other Regiments they were supposed to make neare upon two thousand six hundred Horse and Foot After a little stay a part of these forces were drawn off towards Warwickshire to joyne with the enemy that there waited the intercepting or surprizall of our supplies from London then long and earnestly expected and noised abroad our powder being welnigh spent and necessity constrianing us to use a kind of match made of Bast. Sir Walter Pies Foot and Col. Wroughtons Horse remained at Tewksbury to block up the City on that side in and about which Town fifteen hundred Horse and Foot were constantly quartered Colonell Washingtons Regiment kept Garrison at Evesham and a Regiment of Horse lay at Parshore besides a considerable strength at Sudely These thought to swallow up our approaching succours or if they did not come speedily to compell us to yeeld up the City for it was reported with the enemy and believed by many that we suffered extream penury And though provisions were not much wanting being in a fat Countrey yet the reall exigences of the Garrison were great for lack of pay the discontents of the Souldiers were desperate and endlesse In most of the Officers a generall neglect of duty who for the least check would throw up their Commissions to the Governours great discontent and trouble Many inferiour Officers forsook us and common Souldiers ranne to other places that yielded a large and constant entertainment and required lesse service whilst honest and gallant men that did not desert their Colours were exposed to misery and want yet could we not want men who daily offered themselves to the service had wee moneys to pay them Neither had wee any power of men to raise moneys for the Garrisons maintenance Our out-guards as Presbury Wesbury Essington Frampton Froster set to preserve the Countrey and keep the Markets open did eat up the greater part of the Contribution and consume our men and ammunition besides the daily sending out of parties T was a kinde of shifting life and wonderfull that the Officers command should finde the least measure of obedience Some Offcers did expend their own meanes to keep their Companies entire the Governour was necessitated at his own charge to billet above threescore Souldiers besides the charge of a Troop The Countrey was impoverished the Commission of Excise was not setled and brought in no considerable summe The Citizens were restrained of Trade and the wayes of Commerce stopped up and therefore at present they were quite left to the Garrison Besides the slownesse and low reports of our succours did exceedingly dis-hearten the people Many Countrey Gentlemen that were not the Confidents of the contrary Faction were about to comply with this Government especially upon the Parliaments Declaration of pardon but the notice of those slender supplies and the thought of the States supposed neglect turned them off and made them more violent against us For this lasting suspense and bondage under two parties did vex them wherfore his Majesty was again importuned to destroy and fire the Countrey if he could not lodge his forces so neare as to block us up The Garrison neverthelesse did not only defend its own territories but made sundry adventures and inrodes upon the Enemies quarters staved off and kept them within their bounds The Governour had built a Friggot for service upon the River to secure the Countrey near Gloucester on that side Seavern because the Enemy commanded greatest