Letter to Lord General Concerning Bristol, Day 5 – Day 6
THURSDAY. Auguſt. 10.
It was advertiſed this day that the Lord Capell with his forces appeared before the Walls of Namptwich, in hope to finde them in a diſpoſition of returning to his Majeſties ſervice; conſidering how His Majeſties affaires had thrived and proſpered, not only in raiſing the ſiege of Cheſter, but in cleering of the North and Weſt from the power of the Rebells. But finding them continue in their wonted obſtinacy, he fell off againe, and retreated ſafely to his owne quarters, with the loſſe of ſixteene only of his men. And on the other ſide to make amends for the defailement of this hope (for it was no more) we had intelligence this day, that the Lord Willoughby of Parham being gone from Gainsburgh, on his redelivery of that towne, had recovered Lincolne. But ſeeing an impoſſibility that either Cromwell ſhould time enough recruit his beaten and diſtracted forces, or that hee could receive any ſeaſonable ſupplies from London; on the firſt newes that the Earle of Newcaſtle was comming towards him, he forſooke the place, and made what haſt he could to Boſton: leaving the City and Cloſe of Lincolne, which he had neſted in ſo long, to be the next example (as we have had very many lately) of Gods great mercy to His ſacred Majeſty.
It was alſo ſignified this day, that the heates in London (according to the ſeaſon) doe ſtill increaſe; and that the diſcontents which have late beene growing betweene the remaining partie in the two Houſes, are at the laſt improved to a ſedition, if not unto a Civill Warre amongſt themſelves. For howſoever the Lord Say had ſo farre altered the Propoſitions, intended by ſome peaceable Lords to be preſented to His Majeſty, as to make them of a better reliſh to the Lower Houſe: yet when they came into that Houſe, they were very eagerly oppoſed, and the Houſe continued ſitting untill nine at night; in hope ſuch men as durſt declare themſelves to be well-affected, would be wearied with their long debates; and they of the malignant faction, might there carry matters upon that advantage as they had done formerly. But finding that they ſate it out, and carried it for the Propoſitions by the major part; they had no other way to effect the buſineſſe, then to returne againe to their former practices, and bring downe their City Club-men to awe the Members of both Houſes, and repeale thoſe Votes. And ſo accordingly they did. For the next day, being Sunday laſt, they had ſo faſhioned and prepared their partie in the City of London, that printed Bills were ſet up on the Church dores, (and ſomewhat you muſt think was done in the Pulpits too) a copie whereof wee here offer you.
All ſuch as deſire there may be a generall raiſing of the people againſt thoſe Iriſh Rebels, and blood thirſty Papiſts now in Armes, (fully purpoſing to deſtroy us, our Religion. Lawes and Liberties) are deſired to meet at Weſtminſter Hall, to morrow morning by nine of the clocke, being the ſeventh day of this inſtant Auguſt▪ to move the Parliament that this may be put in ſpeedy execution.
Twenty thouſand Iriſh Rebels are appointed to come over againſt us.
According to which intimation, the Rabble came in ſuch multitudes, and with ſo great clamour, that ſuch of the Lords and Commons who had favoured the Propoſitions, were forced to take boate and make haſt towards Kingſton, where the Earle of Eſſex then lay with that part of his Forces, which Gods hand and the Kings ſword had left alive: conceiving that the declaring of themſelves in favour of him (of which you heard at full before) had beene ſufficient to oblige him faſt unto their partie. But contrary to their hopes and expectation they found him ſo reſolved for the other ſide, as they were faine to diſpoſe otherwiſe of themſelves. And it is ſaid, that, notwithſtanding thoſe indignities which have beene offered to him by the City faction, he is ſo much inclined that way, that upon notice ſent unto him, that the women had made an uproare in demand of peace, he ſent ſome Troops of Horſe amongſt them, and killed three of them: for which (and ſome other former courteſies) that ſex will ever honour him and his poſterity.
On Wedneſday laſt a partee of Horſe (about fifty) were ſent out from Banbury towards Towceter (commanded by Captaine James Chamberlaine) twenty of this number divided and went towards Northampton; the other thirty within leſſe then a mile of Towceter met with the Rebels Forces, in number about one hundred and twenty, commanded by Captaine Lawſon, which though they had ſo great advantage in number, yet Captaine Chamberlaine very valiantly charged through them with part of his men, (his Rere falling off from him) and with that ſmall ſtrength maintained a ſharpe fight with them above halfe an hower, wherein he received many wounds, and at laſt was ſhot dead through the head, and one of his men alſo. Of the Rebels there are at leaſt 20 ſore wounded, as by intelligence from Northampton (where they are) is certified, and five were carried away behind them dead from the place. one left on the ground, and Captain Lawſon himſelfe wounded. This gentleman was the youngeſt brother to Sir Thomas Chamberlaine now high Shriffe of this County, and was in moſt of the principall Fights, at Worceſter, Keynion, Brainſford, &c. where his valour was eminently manifeſted, and by this laſt action wherein he loſt his life, hath added further to the honour of that worthy and loyall Family.
FRIDAY. Auguſt▪ 11.
This day wee were certified by Letters from Yorke, that about foure hundred of the Rebels of Lancaſhire came ſtealing into Yorkshire, hoping to have ſurprized ſome of His Majeſties horſe quarters about Halifax; which being timely perceived by Sir Francis Mackworth, he fell upon them and routed them, killed above forty in the place, and tooke fifty, the reſt (as they were taught) ran away, and eſcaped by the advantage of the place.
At Coventry they pull downe many houſes of the Suburbs, and tell the people that the Kings Army is marching towards them with twenty pieces of Ordnance, and they had ſome reaſon▪ for this day we received an expreſſe that his Majeſty yeſterday ſate downe before Glouceſter, and ſent in a moſt Gracious Summons to the City, in theſe very words, Out of our tender Compaſſion to Our City of Gloceſter, and that it may not receive Prejudice by Our Army, which We cannot prevent, if We be compelled to aſſault it, We are perſonally come before it to require the ſame, and are graciouſly pleaſed to let all the Inhabitants of, and all other Perſons within that City, as well Souldiers as others, know, That if they ſhall immediatly ſubmit themſelves, and deliver this our City to Ʋs, we are contented freely and abſolutely to pardon every one of them without exception; And doe aſſure them in the word of a KING, that they nor any of them ſhall receive the leaſt Dammage or Prejudice by our Army in their Perſons, or Eſtates; But that we will appoint ſuch a Governour, and a moderate Garriſon to reſide there, as ſhall be both for the eaſe and ſecurity of that City and that whole County. But if they ſhall neglect this Profer of Grace and Favour, and compell Ʋs by the Power of Our Army to reduce that place (which by the helpe of God We doubt not We ſhall be eaſily and ſhortly able to do) they muſt thank themſelves for all the Calamities and Miſeries muſt befall them. To this Meſſage We expect a cleere and poſitive Anſwere within two houres after the publiſhing hereof▪ And by theſe preſents doe give leave to any Perſons ſafely to repaire to▪ and returne from Ʋs whom that City ſhall deſire to imploy unto Ʋs in that buſineſſe. And doe require all the Officers and Souldiers of Our Army▪ quietly to ſuffer them to paſſe accordingly. But this Rebellious City anſwered, that they would obey His Majeſties commands as they were ſignified by the two Houſes of Parliament. And now let the world judge if His Majeſtie could have ſent a more Gracious Meſſage to His moſt Loyall Subjects, and whether theſe deſperate Rebels deſerve any mercy, who after ſo many offers do ſtill refuſe a pardon. But ſince their returning this Rebellious Anſwer, they have ſet their owne Suburbs on fire, which ſurely is not to keepe the City either for the KING or Parliament. Yet His Majeſties Forces quenched the fire, and in ſpight of the Rebells, entred the Suburbs where ſtill they are, and have already raiſed Mounts, and digged trenches ſo neare the City wall, that I dare promiſe you (God willing) a very ſpeedy account of the ſiege of Glouceſter.