Gods Ark Overtopping the Worlds Waves, Parliamentary chronicle · Letter 7 – Letter 11
A diſcovery of the treacherous attempts of the Kings Cormorants or Cavaliers, to have procured the betraying of Nottingham-Caſtle into their hands; expreſt in a Letter ſent to one Mr Millington a worthy Member of the Houſe of Commons, and 4 more at the ſame time.
SIR;
I Have thrice been tempted upon the offers of great rewards and honours, to betray this Caſtle. The firſt was by Sir Rich: Byron, another by Mr Sutton, both which I … the Committee with all, … ſcornfull refuſed … being this third time … I thought it my duty to acquaint thoſe … …eer entruſted me, both for their ſatiſfaction & my own diſcharge, if any thing ſhould happen to my prejudice heer-after; for I expect that now they ſee their attempts in this kind fruitleſs, they will as baſely endeavour to blemiſh with falſe aſperſions that honeſty which with bribes they cannot corrupt; be pleaſed therefore to underſtand the whole proceeding of this laſt offer, and the occaſion, which was this.
Colonell Dacre, one that was formerly in the North, a familiar friend and acquaintance of my brothers, ſent to me to deſire that he might have the libertie to ſee him, to which, with the knowledge of the Committee, I gave conſent; & then being in his company, he deſired ſome words in private with my brother, pretending a deſire to be ſatisfied in ſome doubts of his concerning this warre; but ſome accidents then falling out, he was prevented of that private conference, and therefore deſired that my brother ſome two dayes after would come to his quarters; but he, to prevent all ſuſpitions, would not goe but writ him a deniall: after which Colonell Dacre writ very earneſtly to him to come againe, and invited Captain Poulton to come with him; but my brother would not, only with the leave of the Committee he ſent Cap. Poulton to excuſe it, of whoſe going we intended to make ſuch uſe, as if we could, to diſcover how the enemy lay, and what their intentions were: ſo ſoon as he came thither, he was moſt kindly entertained, and Colonell Dacre taking him aſide, told him, that now the Governour of Nottingham and his brother had an occaſion offerd to gain themſelves great honour, to do the King very good ſervice, and to receive a great recompence for ſo doing; which he demanding how that was, the Colonell told him, that if I would deliver up the Caſtle, the command of it ſhould be confirmed to me and my he…, I ſhould receive ten thouſand pound, and be well aſſured of it before ever I delivered the Caſtle, and that I ſhould be made the beſt Lord in Nottinghamſhire, that my brother ſhould have three thouſand pound to deliver the Bridges, & that Cap. Poulton ſhould have two thouſand pound to get this effected; to which Cap. Poulton anſwered, that he thought it was an impoſſible thing, for the Governour had formerly been tempted with ſuch like offers, and had refuſed them, that we all ſcorned ſo baſe an act, and for his own part, he would ſtarve and rot before he would betray his truſt: the Colonell was further importunate with him, to move it to me, and that you may, ſaith he, be better aſſured I doe not this without Commiſſion, he then pul'd out of his pocket a paper written with theſe words, or to this effect; Theſe are to authorize Col. Dacre to treat with Col. Hutchinſon and Lievtenant Colonell Hutchinſon, for the ſurrendring up of the Caſtle and Bridges of Nottingham for the ſervice of his Majeſty, and to make them large promiſes which ſhall be performed: and this paper ſigned with W. Newcaſtle at the bottome: and he further deſired, that he might but come to the Caſtle to ſpeak with me; when Captain Poulton told him, there was no hope of obtaining that, he entreated him that he would but deliver the meſſage to me, which he told him he would doe; and the Colonell told him, that if I would not deliver the Caſtle, yet if he himſelf would but leave us, and come away, he ſhould immediately have a Regiment of horſe delivered into his command; and earneſtly preſſed that I would ſend him an anſwer: which preſently after both my brother and I did, the Copies whereof I have heer ſent you. There were alſo two Officers of Cap. Whites Troop, whom we ſent along with Captain Poulton, whom Colonell Dacre alſo took aſide, and made large*The offers to Captain White was 10000li. and 100 to his Officers to procure it. offers, both to Capt. White, and them, if they would procure him to turn to their ſide; But Capt. White hath ſo often ſcorned and refuſed ſuch unworthy offers, that this did but increaſe his contempt of them, whoſe faith and honeſtly hath been apparently great in this cauſe. I confeſſe, had it not been for drawing a ſcandall or jealouſie on my ſelf, I would have gone ſo far as to have gotten the Propoſitions under Col. Dacre his hand, if not under the Marqueſs his hand; but this I durſt not doe, leſt my own honeſt intentions ſhould in the mean time have bin miſtaken: I therfore thought it ſufficient to make it preſently known to the Committee, & ſo to acquaint you with it, and withall to aſſure you, that were I certain we ſhould utterly bedeſerted and left (as, for any reliefe I yet heare of, we are like to be, our Souldiers being 30 weeks behinde with pay, and the whole Country now poſſeſſed by the enemie) yet I would maintaine my faithfulneſſe to the Parliament, ſo long as I have one drop of bloud left in me; and when I am forced to the laſt extremity …am confident God will give me ſtrength to maintain this Chriſtian reſolution, that I have by Covenant both with God and man bound my ſelfe unto; which is, that I will rather chooſe to die ten thouſand deaths with a clear conſcience to God, and an honeſt heart to my Country, than to ſell my ſoule for the purchaſe of my life, and all the wealth and honours this world can beſtow upon me. Your ſonnes are both well here in the Caſtle, and I heare your wife is ſo in the Country; onelyonly I heare your goods and corne are wholly plundred. What ſervice I am able to doe for you here, if you pleaſe, you may command,
Your friend and ſervant, John Hutchinſon. Nottingham Caſtle, Decem. 18. 1643.
Poſtſcript
Sir, juſt as my Letters were going to Colonell Dacre, there came one from him to Captain Poulton; the copie of which, with Captain Poultons anſwer, I have here alſo 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 Ile weare no title but what my faith and vertue purchaſeth, and Ile 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 miſ…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: 'Tis 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, 'twas 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 …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, December the 16. 1643.
Thus wee ſee what wayes theſe irreligious and perfidious Court-Cormorants take to devour and deſtroy all in their Harpeian-reach, and to compaſs this wicked deſigne by ſuch baſe & diſhonourable aymes and meanes;A Pack of Cavalerian plots. juſt as that ravenous Prince Ruperts, or rather Prince Robbers underhand dealings to betray Briſtoll: The Earl of Crafords baſe agreement with loyall Capt. Sydenham to betray Pool: C. R. to a writing to betray Aylesbery; George Lord Digbie, ſubſcribed in a Letter to Sir John Hotham to betray Hull, and this moſt unworthy endeavour to have baſely obtained this Town and Caſtle of Nottingham. In all which we may moſt apparently perceive and ſee, our good and gracious, great and glorious wonder-working God, our moſt mercifull Shepherd of his Iſrael, who never ſlumbers nor ſleeps, but is moſt wiſe and watchfull over us for good, even then when wee leaſt deſerve or deſire the ſame; but now to goe on.
About the 24th of this inſtant came certain intelligence by Letters from Leiceſter to London, A brave defeat given to the Belvoir Cormorants by Colo. Waight, Governour of Burleigh-houſe.that about an 140 of the Newark and Belvoir Cormorants went into Rutlandſhire to plunder and pillage the Country, where they took many kine, ſheep and horſes, from the Country people, which being timely made known to Colonell Waight, who moſt valiantly kept and commanded Burleigh-houſe, upon the edge of that Countie, with a competent garriſon, for the Parliament, he iſſued out of the ſaid Houſe with but about 60 valiant choice men, and marched toward them to Strozby-Heath, Colo. Waight ſends the enemie a challenge.where about he overtook them, and ſent a trumpet to ſound them a challenge, but they having more mind to be gone with their prey than to ſtay and fight, went on the… with. Whereupon this valiant Colonell, with his reſolute Comrades fell courageouſly on them, and ſo neceſſitated them either to fight or die, and at the very firſt encounter (which was very hot for the time) Allen his Capt. Lievtenant ſo bravely charged them, that he mortally wounded Capt.Capt. Plunket a moſt wicked and bloudie Iriſh-Rebell, ſlain. Plunket (the vileſt villain among all the Cormorants of Bever, or Belvoir-Caſtle, or Newark either (and one mentioned in the Kings Proclamation in the beginning of this Parliament for a notorious Iriſh Rebell, but now, it ſeem'd, come over to fight for the Proteſtant religion) and who was heer made their chief Commander in this robbing deſigne) who immediately dyed of the ſaid wound; Colonell Lucas alſo was ſorely cut over the face with a ſword, and had not his horſe been better than himſelf, he had been, at that time, taken priſoner. And upon a ſecond charge Colonell Waight ſo bravely beſtirr'd himſelf with his valiant aſſociates,Colo. Waights brave reſolution at a ſecond charge. The enemy is put to flight. The priſoners and prizes taken. that though he had his horſe ſhot under him, and his Lievtenant ſhot in the thigh; yet they carried it on ſo reſolutely, that his enemies betook themſelves to their heeles and ran away, in the purſuite of whom, even to Belvoir or Bever-Caſtle, they ſlew divers of them, took about 60 of their horſe; 46 priſoners, many armes, recovered the greateſt part of the prey from them, wounded many of thoſe that fled, and all this without the loſs of any one man of theirs, and but three wounded. About the 26th day following, 36 of thoſe priſoners were brought into the Town of Leiceſter, that they might be ſafelier there kept than at Burleigh-Houſe. A moſt worthy act in Colonell Waight after the fight.After this victory thus by Gods merciemercy obtained, the noble Colonell, ſo ordered the buſineſs with his Souldiers, that all the ſtoln cattell recovered from the robbing enemies, were reſtored to their proper owners again. A moſt juſt and laudable act in him, and moſt worthy to be imitated by all the Commanders that fight on the Parliaments ſide, in defence of our Religion, propertie and liberties.
About the 28th of this inſtant Decemb. The ſiege of Plymouth deſerted.came alſo certain newes from Plymouth, that the Kings Cormorants who had long beſieged that Town (but by Gods admirable providence and protection, had been prevented of their pernicious purpoſes againſt it) had now at laſt, a ſpeciall deſigne upon it, namely, to ſtorm it, about the 23th of this inſtant, at night,The enemie reſolves to ſtorme Plymouth. whereof their prudent and valiant Governour Colonell Wardlaw, having timely intelligence, he cauſed all ſuch perſons as were able to bear armes in the Town to ſtand upon their guard, and alſo drew forth the greateſt part of his forces that night, who moſt induſtriouſly and undauntedly caſt up a ſconce againſt the enemies trenches, and in the morning ſent out a partie upon the forlorn hope, who skirmiſhing a while with the enemies began to retreat, whereupon the enemy ſuppoſing they had none to ſecond them, followed them cloſe, till, at laſt, the reſt of the Governours forces appeared for their relief, and after a very fierce encounter between both parties,A very fierce encounter on both ſides. Plymouth-men being then off from their workes, and with remarkable courage enforced their enemies to a very haſtie retreat from the Town, ſlew at leaſt an 100 of them in this aſſault,At leaſt one hundred of the enemies ſlain, and not above 16 of ours. with the loſs of not above 16 of their own men, and made them, heerby, quite relinquiſh the Siege, leaving behinde them about 660 of their ſick and maimed Souldiers to our mercy (which was far greater than their malice and miſchief deſerved of us) who were not able to be conveyed away,The Siege quite deſerted and 660 of the ſick enemies left behind. Major Generall Baſſet his ingenuous cō feſſion touching this ſiege. nor ſo much as to crawle out of their trenches. And upon the day of their deſerting this ſiege, & departure out of their trenches, one Thomas Baſſet, the enemies Major Generall, called to one of Plymouth Officers in their workes, and bidding them farewell, told them, that he verily thought God fought againſt them; and ſaid, moreover, That if he could be convinced that he was not in the right, he would hang himſelf at his door ere he would take up armes in this quarrell on the Kings part. Heer, yet, yee may ſee was ſome ingenuity in a ſeduced Malignant. And this was avouched, for moſt true, in the Narration of Plymouths ſiege, publiſhed by authority of Parliament, pag. 13. Thus, I ſay, they left the ſiege and departed, ſome to Plympton, others to Modbery, and the reſt to Taveſtock. But in their retreat, they moſt wickedly & maliciouſly ſwept that part of the Country about the Town of all ſorts of proviſions that poſſibly they could get within their reach and knowledge,The horrible malice & miſchiefe of the Kings Cormorants at their departure. not leaving a ſheep, ſwine, or cowe behind them; and to expreſs the depth of this their diabolicall rage and malice, they burnt all the hay and corn thereabout; thus utterly undoing many poor people who had nothing els to live upon. And heer, I may not omit one moſt memorable print of Gods admirable providence to Plymouth in the time of this their long and ſtrait ſiege, but muſt with all bounden praiſes to the Lord gladly make mention of it, to ſtirre up others alſo to help to magnifie and admire the name of our good and gracious Lord God therein, which was this; That after the Town had been a long time ſtrictly beſieged,A moſt admirable paſſage of Gods providēce to Plymouth by a great ſhole of Pilchards coming into their harbour in the time of this Siege. and no freſh victuall, either fleſh or fiſh could be had (it having pleaſed God alſo that the Ships which had long time been ſent from London for their relief, had been beaten back, with contrary winds) whereby the poor people were grievouſly pinched & put to it. But, behold, on a ſodain, there cam… in an infinite multitude of Pilchards into the harbour, within the Barbicon, which the people took up, with as great eaſe as cheerfulneſs in baskets and tubs, and that in ſuch a plentifull meaſure, as did not onelyonly refreſh them for the preſent, but a great deale more were taken, preſerved and ſalted, whereby the poor got much money in ſelling them. Such a paſſage not heard of, I beleeve, in our kingdome, ſince the ſiege of Rochel in France, by that innumerous ſhole of Cods, which then preſerved that Proteſtant Town, then beſieged by the French King with an 100000 Popiſh enemies; as the French Hiſtorie records. The truth heerof, I have alſo atteſted out of the foreſaid Narration of this Plymouth Siege, pag. 14. And now to goe on.
Much about the foreſaid time alſo came credible intelligence from Northampton to London, Captain Clark of Northampton apprehended diverſe Commanders playing at Cards.that that moſt valiant, vigilant, and well experienced Souldier, Capt. Clarke, one of the prime Commanders in the garriſon at Northampton, advancing from thence with a partie of horſe, and coming to a place called Brandon, within 2 or 3 miles of Taciter, in that Countie (according to the intelligence given him) ſprung up a covie of Prince-Robbers, Commanders and Officers, (being indeed the greateſt part, if not all the Commanders the enemie had in their garriſon at Tociter) one whereof was a Lievtenant Colonell, and another a Serjeant Major, with their horſes, and a malignant Parſon of that County, in their company, they ſurprized them all, as they were playing at cards (for, you muſt know, that it is the greateſt devotion that theſe prophane time-ſervers uſe, at the good time, forſooth of their merry Chriſtmas, which they account the moſt ſolemn time in the year for beaſtly Bacchanalian and atheiſticall playing, drinking & revelling) and thus ſpoyling their ſport, they were all carried priſoners to Northampton. And at the ſame time alſo, ſuch another prety prank or Chriſtmas-gamball was played them by a partie of Dragoones ſent out from Windſor-Caſtle, Windſor-Caſtles Dragoons brave exploits about Redding.who advancing as far as Redding, & having come within little leſs than half a mile of the Town, and faced the enemie there, they entred the Townes of Twyford, Hurſt, and Okingham, and took there divers of the enemies horſe, and four high Conſtables, who were gathering Contribution-money for Redding-Cormorants (they having then collected the ſum of 80li.)Foure high Conſtables and 80li. taken and carried to Windſor. which the ſaid Dragoons took from them, and brought it (together with their priſoners and horſes) into Windſor-Caſtle. And very ſhortly after, another partie was ſent out from thence, who coming into Stoke, about 4 miles from Windſor, they had intelligence of a great feaſt which was that day to be kept at the houſe of a notorious malignant in that Town,Good cheer provided for a partie ſent out of Windſor, at a grea…. Malignants houſe at Stoke. who had accordingly invited all his malignant neighbours unto it, who being all aſſembled, and preparing to ſit down, our ſaid forces came ſodainly in upon them, and having laden a Cart full of their proviſion, which they had made ready for dinner; with great ſtore of ſack & claret, and other ſorts of wine, they ſpeedily diſpatched it to Windſor; and brought away with them 3 prime men of about twenty then preſent, namely, the Maſter of the houſe, the Parſon of the Town, and another active malignant, who were all committed priſoners in the Caſtle, there to feed on priſon-ſhort Commons, whiles the garriſon-Souldiers merrily feaſted themſelves with their good chear, and drank off their wine heartily, it being all diſpoſed of among the ſaid garriſon-Souldiers.
December the 30th,The high-altar & Popiſh pictures in King Henry the ſevenths Chappell taken away and demoliſhed. 1643. The high altar and other ſuperſtitious pictures and Crucifixes in King Henry the ſevenths Chappell in Weſtminſter Abbey, were by order of Parliament, and in the preſence of the Committee for innovations, taken away and demoliſhed, even the very next day after the monethly faſt Sermon, preached that day before the Houſe of Commons in Parliament, by Mr Hinderſon, that reverend and renowned Scotiſh Miniſter, at Weſtminſter. This pious act being performed at the requeſt of the ſaid venerable Mr Hinderſon, as I was by credible teſtimony enformed.
And now, good Reader, having by Gods gracious aſſiſtance, thus finiſhed this Moneths voyage, and brought our Ark ſafely into the harbour of this Moneths concluſion,A briefe recapitulation and gratefull rumination on all this laſt Moneths remarkable mercies. I ſhall heer deſire, wee may a little repoſe our ſenſes, and reflect our ſerious thoughts, upon a moſt brief and gratefull recapitulation of all the precious traffique, & rich merchandize of mercies, brought in for the better improvement of Gods honour and precious praiſes therein; and to ſee and ſurvey with thankfull hearts, as in a ſhort Map, what God hath (this monethmonth) done for us, and how he hath graciouſly and gloriouſly carried on this bleſſed Ark, the Parliaments moſt upright and innocent cauſe, through all the boyſterous billowes and ſwelling ſurges of all its inveterate and malignant enemies rage, and moſt malicious, ſly and ſubtill machinations, not onelyonly to overtop, but overturn it too with utter ruine and deſtruction, if it had been poſſible for them; as namely,
Firſt, In ſetling the New great Seal of England.
In the religious reviving and farther preſſing the Solemn-League or Covenant, in places and by perſons, where it had not formerly been taken; and, this, notwithſtanding that ſhrew'd croſſe-winde it met with by the way, in the Oxonian accurſed Proclamation, publiſhed againſt it.
In the many and moſt brave exploits of that ever renowned and famous Commander Colonell Maſſie at Glouceſter, againſt his many and malicious garriſon-neighbours.
In that brave defeat given to trayterous Digbie before Plymouth; and that other defeat at Dunſcot neer Tociter, by Northampton forces.
In that famous defeat, or rather, indeed, glorious victory, obtained (through the good hand of God) by that ever to be honoured and renowned Commander Sir William Waller, at Alton, in Surrey; the diſcovery and prevention of the plot of conveying away the Duke of Glouceſter and the Princeſs Elizabeth from St Jameſes to Oxford: And the moſt triumphant return of the Train'd-Bands of London and Weſtminſter, with their priſoners taken at Alton.
In that excellent Ordinance of Parliament for the preſervation of the Citie of Londons good Government; The brave exploits of Cap. Sydenham at Pool; And the notable reformation of the Cathedrall Church at Canterbury.
In the ſucceſsfull Storming of Gainesborough, and the brave prize taken therein; The Kings unſucceſsfulneſs in all his moſt waightie enterprizes, ſince that moſt odious & ſcelerous Ceſſation of armes in Ireland; Together with the Storming of Grafton-Houſe, & the rich ſpoiles taken therin; And the great encouragement of the other London train'd Bands thereby, to goe forth in the publick ſervice; and the excellent Ordinance of Parliament, enabling the Militia of London, the ſooner and better to ſend them forth to noble Sir William Waller.
The notorious plot againſt Nottingham Town and Caſtle diſcovered and prevented; And the brave defeat given to the Belvoir Cormorants, by renowned Colonell Waight.
The moſt happie and admirable freeing the brave Town of Plymouth, from a long and dangerous Siege.
And laſtly, The pretty prankes and ſucceſsfull ſurpriſall of thoſe looſe and lewd Cavalerian Commanders and royall-Cormorants, in the midſt of ſupine and ſecure carding and dicing, by valiant and vigilant Cap. Clark, and his Northampton forces. Together with the WindſorGarriſons, apprehending of the 4 high-Conſtables and 80… in money, and divers Malignants alſo, at their Chriſtmas Bacchanalian feaſtings; As alſo that religious reformation of King Henry the ſevenths Chappell at Weſtminſter. All which ſo rich and rare mercies, powred upon us with ſo open and bountifull a hand, out of the Lords rich and unexhauſtible treaſury of free grace and meer merciemercy, ſo many defeats and victories againſt our adverſaries, their great loſs, and our great gain; ſuch plots diſcovered; ſuch Ordinances for the States & Church and Cities good confirmed, and that not onelyonly this monethmonth, but one monethmonth ſucceſſively after another; O who can chooſe but ſay, and apparently ſee Gods Ark ſtill triumphantly over-tapping the worlds waves thus inceſſantly raging and ſwelling againſt it! GODS Ark over-topping the worlds waves ſwelling.And who ſeeing & ſeriouſly conſidering and cordially taſting with the palate of true chriſtian godly gratitude, the ſoveraigne ſweetneſs of all theſe exuberant bleſſings, can chooſe but ſtand and admire and adore, our great and good and wonder-working God, and with that ſweet Pſalmograph of Iſrael, holy King David, can forbear to break forth into amazing exultation,Pſal. 31. 19. and ſing and ſay; O how great is thy goodneſs (O God) which thou haſt layd up for them that fear thee! which thou haſt wrought for thoſe that truſt in thee, before the ſonnes of men! But now to proceed.
And heer now again to launch out into the deep,Januarie 1643. & begin this next enſuing Moneths voyage for new diſcoveries & deſcriptions of Gods admirable dealings, in moſt undeſerved mercy, with this our ſinful Nation and Kingdome, in the remarkable preſervation of his ſo menaced and moleſted Ark, toſt up and down on the wretched waves of theſe our moſt unnaturall inteſtine bloudy broyles; I ſhall in the firſt place deſire to take libertie, a little, to touch upon one forein paſſage of Gods moſt wiſe and wonderfull diſpoſing of things, as well abroad as at home for our welfare (verifying that notable Scripture,2 Chron. 16. 9. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to ſhew himſelf ſtrong in behalf of them, whoſe heart is upright and perfect towards him.) So far forth, onelyonly, as it hath notable influence & reſultance on our Kingdomes preſent affaires, A moſt notable and deep deſigne and pernicious plot againſt the Proteſtant Religion, in all Chriſtendom.which is this; That about this time it pleaſed the Lord to give us intelligence from Denmark, that whereas the Jeſuiticall plot, now in ſad and ſanguine agitation, is, to deſtroy the Proteſtant Religion throughout all Chriſtendome; And becauſe Great-Britain and Ireland are the main fat morſells their treacherous teeth ſo water for, as their principall impediment in the way of their wicked work, for an epidemicall and univerſall tyranny over mens bodies and ſoules, two of theſe, at leaſt, being the ſpeciall upholders of the true Chriſtian Religion indeed; I mean, the refined and refining pure Proteſtant Religion, which is the goad in their ſides, and the offenſive pearl in their eye: To deſtroy which, they have, now, I ſay, engaged (or at leaſt endeavoured to engage) all theſe three Kingdomes, in the firſt & prime place, in a moſt degenerous & unnaturall warre, one againſt another, and each of the Kingdomes againſt it ſelf, as in part they have moſt devilliſhly done, the moſt miſerable effects whereof, wee all to our preſent ſorrow ſee and feel. And for the better corroborating and ſtrengthning of this their great and Catholicall deſigne, they have in a deluding way procured the neutrality of Denmark & Holland, The Danes & Hollanders cō tribute to the King againſt us.who have, more than underhand, contributed much againſt us therein, & much more was ſhortly expected from Denmark, had it not pleaſed the Lord in his admirable wiſdome and mercy towards us to ſtirre up the heart of the reſolved Queen of Sweden (in revenge of the bloud of that late precious & never enough honoured King of Sweden, An admirable and ſodain breaking-out of a combuſtion twixt Denmark and Sweden.her dear deceaſed husband, ſlain in the Germane warres, in defence of the Proteſtant Religion) to be a great block in their way, and a mightie obſtacle to this their deep deſigne, and ſtrangely to cut ſhort that armie which the King of Denmark had plotted with the Emperour (as twas cunningly contriv'd by the Romiſh Jeſuiticall Counſell) to raiſe up, firſt, for the deſtruction of the Swedes his neereſt neighbours,The King of Denmarkes plot againſt the Swedes, diſcovered by Letters intercepted. and ſo to ſweep them out of Germany, and afterward for farther deſignes againſt England. And to this end, the King of Denmark had ſecretly deſired aſſiſtance from his neighbour the King of Poland, next neighbour, on the other ſide, to the Swedes: but divine providence moſt bleſſedly diſcovered the plot, and by Letters from Denmark (which the Swedes happily intercepted) the whole plot was made known. The Swedes alſo (by the ſame good hand of providence) wiſely concealed it; yet diligently prepared to prevent the danger, and by ſpeedy adding ſome ſtrength to that they had made ready for another deſign, els-where; they fell ſodainly upon part of the King of Denmarks Country, before they thought of any ſurpriſall, and therefore were unready to make any conſiderable reſiſtance, & the Swedes heerby (O the admirable & unfathomed depth and profundity of the wiſdome and juſtice of our God!) have moſt valiantly and reſolutely run through (or over-run) the whole Country of Holſtein, The Swedes enter into Denmark.a brave and rich Province, being moſt Southward of all Denmark to Germanie, which is the Duke of Holts Country, ſecond Son to the King of Denmark; And they moſt victoriouſly have proceeded farther into the other parts of Denmark, by G…ſtavus Horn, a brave Swediſh Commander, and have taken ſome of their chief Magazines, & many thouſands of armes, ſome of which,The falling out of the Danes with the Swedes, much for our good. no doubt, intended to be ſent againſt us; for heerby the King of Denmark was conſtrained to make ſtay of 2 ſhips laden with armes to have been ſent to England, and muſt then be employed (and all little enough) in his own defence. Thus wee ſee, Man purpoſeth, but God diſpoſeth; Our God can take the wicked in his own craftines every way, and every where, and bring to nought the Counſels of Princes: But his own work ſhall ſtand and proſper in the thing for which he ſends it. This I thought good heer to premiſe, as a certain and ſeaſonable addition to the honour of our great and glorious wonder-working God, and the juſt ground of raiſing up our hearts & ſpirits to a yet higher pitch of praiſing his name for our wonderfull preſervation, both at home and abroad.
And about the beginning of this inſtant January, Sir Tho. Holts Houſe ſurprized by Coventrie forces.came credible intelligence from Warwickſhire to London; that Coventry forces marched out to Sir Thomas Holts-Houſe, about 14 miles from Coventry, and a little mile from Brumingham, and ſummoned them within the Houſe, but they refuſed to yeeld;A treacherous parley deſired from the houſe. The houſe batterd and taken. wherupon Coventry forces made ſome great ſhot againſt the Houſe, which cauſed a parley, & while the parley was, ſome ſhot was made from the Houſe, which hurt or killed two of Coventrymen: Whereupon they left parling, and inſtantly fell to battering the Houſe, whereby they kill'd divers of them within, and forcibly made their way into the Houſe, took about 80 priſoners, ſome horſe, and all the plunder of the Houſe, Bewly-Houſe alſo taken by the foreſaid Coventry forces.& ſo returned ſafely to Coventry. Shortly after they iſſued out again, under the command of Colonell Boſwell, and marched to Bewley-Houſe, which was one Mr Sheldens, being a very ſtrong hold on the edge of Warwickſhire, but in the County of Worceſter, which the enemy had ſtrongly fortified. But, in brief, Coventry forces, forced their paſſage and ſurprized it, and the whole garriſon, and much wealth and rich pillage therein, and all the Iriſh-Rogues whom they found there, they put to the ſword, and victoriouſly returned ſafely home again.
Much alſo about the ſame time, namely, the beginning of this inſtant Ianuarie, A moſt dangerous and pernicious plot againſt the Parliament diſcovered.1643. it pleaſed the Lord, the great and glorious ſearcher of hearts, and diſcoverer of the moſt ſecret and deepeſt deſignes of the moſt politick and pernicious enemies of his Church and children, to bleſs our Kingdome and Parliament, in the timely revelation of a very dangerous plot and conſpiracie, under a pretence of Propoſitions for peace, for…ooth; to which end, there was a new Croſs-Petition contrived, under a colour of accommodating the differences between the King and the Parliament; The ayme in this plot to divide the Citie & Parliament.but thereby, in very deed, to deſtroy the Parliament, by dividing the City of London from it, and by ſuch a combuſtion to prevent the coming in of the Scots to the ayd and aſſiſtance of the Kingdome and Parliament. Now the parties who were prime promoters and machinators of this plot,The cōtrivers of this plot. were, Colonell Read, a Jeſuiticall Papiſt, and a great Commander in the Rebellion in Ireland, and a priſoner to the Parliament, but releaſed and then reſiding at Oxford, Sir Baſill Brook, a notorious Papiſt alſo, and perſonally acting alſo in that Iriſh-rebellion, and a priſoner to the Parliament, and who to make his aboad at London the firmer, and more immoveable, contrived (as I was credibly enformed) to have an Execution for debt, layd upon him; that thus without ſuſpect or moleſtation, he might actuate at London in the plot; One Mr Violet (or rather, ſtinking Varlet) a moſt malignant Goldſmith, or rather, a Projector in that trade; And one Mr Riley, a Citizen of London, & Scout-Maſter Generall for the Citie of London, who had the name and reputation of an honeſt & religious man, but in the iſſue of this diſcourſe will be found to appear, either a very ſimple fool, or a notorious hypocrite, and down-right deep diſſembler. The place of meeting was at the three-Cranes in the Vintrie, The place of meeting and conſulting.and at The Man in the Moon. The way and manner of contrivance thereof, was, firſt that Mr Riley (being in much credit in the Citie) muſt be a means to get this Iriſh-Rebell Read out of priſon, by whoſe meanes (for the better effecting of their plot,The contrivance of the plot. he being at liberty) an addreſs was eaſily made to my Lord Generall, that one Captain Read, a poor old man taken by the Earl of Mancheſters forces, tonight be exchanged for one that was a Quarter-Maſter for the Parliaments armie, and then in priſon at Oxford, and was a Scout of Mr Rileys. Now, my Lord Generall relyed ſo much on the ſuppoſed integrity of Mr Riley, that he forthwith granted his Exchange, and the Rebell-Read was thereby preſently releaſed. But before this Read departed out of the City; He, Mr Riley, and Sir Baſill Brook, had conference together about this deſigne, and it was agreed that Colonell Read ſhould direct his letters to Mr Riley, by the name of, The Man in the Moon; and that one Mr Wood ſhould be the Meſſenger between London and Oxford; This Wood being an apprentice of London, & living then in the Stocks. The plot diſcuſſed on at Oxford.Read being come to Oxford, propounds the deſigne to his Majeſtie, who inſtantly called to adviſe with him, the Queen, the Lord Digbie, a proclaimed traytor, and the Dutcheſs of Buckingham, the Arch-Prelate of Canterburies convert, forſooth, wife to the great Iriſh-Rebell, the Earl of Antrim, then at Oxford. His Majeſtie with theſe rebells and traytors, contrived what they ſhould propound to the City to beget Propoſitions for Peace (juſt ſuch an intended peace as Bynions ſhould have been) and thereupon, they concluded to write to the City, that his Majeſty was reſolved to maintain the Proteſtant Religion, The ſettlemēt of the Proteſtant Religion, by Papiſts, traytors, and atheiſts ſtill pretended.and that, in as ample manner, as the Iriſh-rebells and atheiſticall traytors (thus admitted to be of his Majeſties Cabinet Councell) would or could require his Majeſtie to ſettle it, for the good and content of the whole Kingdome, the clean contrary-way. Now at the firſt time of their generall meeting they concluded of the draught of a Letter, to the Lord Major and Court of Aldermen,The reſult of their firſt meeting, was to ſend a Letter to London. from his Majeſtie, full of expreſſions of love▪ (to encompaſſe the deſigne) to his loyall Subjects the Citizens of London (though traytors & rebells a little before) and this was diſpatched by Wood, with a Letter from Colonell Read to Mr Riley (by the name of the man in the Moon) to paſſe over his Majeſties Letter with Sir Baſill Brook, & to put it into ſuch words, as they ſhould think fit; but Read writ in his Letter to Riley, that what he did he ſhould do it quickly, for it muſt be done and concluded before the Scots come in, or not at all; and withall writ to have Violet ſet at liberty, to come to Oxford to ſeek an exchange, that he might paſſe to and fro, on this occaſion.
They met accordingly, and concluded of the Letter for his Majeſty to ſigne, & of ſome Propoſitions; Violet was the Clerk that writ them, Sir Baſill Brook, and Mr Riley (as was enformed) contrived them.
Mr Riley loſes no time,Ril…ys honeſty acts a peace for this peacefull work. but applies himſelf to Sir Arthur Haſ…erig, and propounds Mr Violet in exchange for a brother of his, Mr Haſterig, priſoner to the pretended Lord Loughborough, commonly called Maſter Haſtings, and to have leave to goe to Oxford: Sir Arthur thinking Mr Riley to be the man he was reputed to be, gave way, and his libertie was obtained to goe to Oxford to ſolicite this exchange.
Violet goes accordingly, carries with him the Letter for the King to ſubſcribe, and other Inſtructions, and (as by his Examination he confeſſeth) he imparted the ſame onelyonly to the King, Queen, Dutcheſs of Buckingham, Colonell Read, and the Lord Digby, who all met together, and that he ſtayed not ſeven houres in Oxford; but returned with the Letter directed to the Lord Major and Aldermen, ſigned by his Majeſtie, under his ſignet.
Violet returned,The plot advanced. and the Letters being imparted to Mr Riley, and Sir Baſill Brook, means was uſed how to engage others in the plot; whereupon, Violet attempted to ſound Sir David Watkins, and ſoon came to the bottom of honeſt Sir Davids judgement, who told him he did like well of Propoſitions of Peace: Provided, the Parliament was firſt made acquainted with it.
Some occaſions interpoſed, that deferred the delivery of this Letter, whereupon his Majeſtie was ſent unto to ſigne another Letter of the ſame, which accordingly he did on New-yeares-day; and on wedneſday after, Violet, with the adviſe of Sir Baſil Brook, was to deliver it to the Lord Major.
But private Intelligence being given of the deſigne,And by Gods providence ſo dainly diſcovered. Mr Riley was apprehended, and examined before the Committee at Goldſmiths Hall, who denied that he knew of any ſuch Letters or Propoſitions, or that he held any Correſpondence with Colonell Read, and could contribute nothing to the diſcovery of the matter: At laſt a Paper dropped out of his pocket, with this Direction upon it; To the Man in the Moon; which Maſter Sollicitor after ſome time of reſpite, took up, & retired, and read to himſelf, which Letter diſcovered the whole buſineſs: Maſter Riley being examined the ſecond time, confeſſed the Letter, and that by himſelfe was meant, The Man in the Moon, and that the Letter was of Colonell Reads own hand writing.
Sir Baſill Brook was ſent for,Sir Baſil Brook examined. and examined, and confeſſed the whole buſineſſe: Violet was not to be found that night, but next day he was apprehended, and the Kings Letter found about him: and upon his examination confeſſed the whole buſineſſe, and what private diſcourſe he had with his Majeſtie, and what private Meſſage was ſent from the King by him to Alderman Gibs to promote this buſineſſe.
His Majeſtie in his Letter to the Lord Major and Court of Aldermen,The Letter to the Lord Major. Courts them by the name of Subjects, and takes his riſe upon an aſſurance he had of the inclination of the Committee of the Militia to Peace; which he was induced to beleeve, by a ſpeech that was made from them; and profeſſes the maintaining the Proteſtant Religion, and the confirming the Rights and Priviledges of the Citie; (though by a Proclamation of the ſame date, his Majeſtie calls them his rebellious Citie of London: and as a token of his favour to them, adjourns the next Hillary Terme to Oxford.)
Sir Baſill Brook, The conſpirators impriſoned.Mr Riley, and Mr Violet, are committed cloſe priſoners to the Tower, and Violet is voted by the Parliament to be firſt tryed by a Councell of Warre, for coming and going as a Spie between Oxford and London.
The Parliament have voted this to be a Jeſuiticall and ſeditious deſigne, to divide the Parliament and City, &c.
And on Monday Jan. The whole buſineſs communicated to the Citie of London.8. the whole ſtate of the buſineſſe, & the Letters and Proclamations, and Examinations, and the Lord Digbies Letter to Sir Baſil Brook concerning this deſigne, were all communicated to the Citie at a Common Hall, there being eight Lords, and ſixteen Commons ſent as a Committee to make knowne the whole proceedings, that all the world may ſee, that the Iriſh Rebels and Papiſts are the onelyonly Counſellors his Majeſty hearkens unto, to drive on, and uphold the deſigne to deſtroy the Parliament, and by conſequence the Proteſtants Religion.
And that all the world may know it is the Root and Branch of the Proteſtant Religion they ſtrike at, one of Sir John Gells Commanders fell upon two Troopes of the Cavaliers in Darbiſhire, commanded by two Papiſts, took them, their men and horſes, and two Colours: In the one of them, was an Effigies of a Tree, ſignifying the Proteſtant Religion, and a Cavalier ſtanding at the Root, cutting it down with an Axe, with this Motto, Root and Branch: This was ſhewn and held in the hands of ſeverall of the Members of Parliament, in the Houſe of Commons, and may therefore be aſſured for an indubitable truth. Thus God our mighty preſerver, makes good unto us ſtill his moſt precious and unperiſhing word of Truth, (to be with his Church to the end of the world) and wherein he will never fail us nor forſake us, if we by faith and obedience can wait upon him and walke with him. But now to proceed.
About the 4th of this inſtant, came credible information, by Letters from Garnſ…y to London: That whereas formerly it had been certified from thence, that Mounſieur l… Grange, Mounſieur Carey, and Mounſieur Haverly, three faithfull & faſt friends to the Parliament, in that Iſland, had been treacherouſly betrayed aboard a ſhip which came into that harbour, by pretence of great friendſhip to them and the reſt of the Iſlanders, Gods providence in delivering three worthy Gentlemen of Garnſey, faithfull friends to the Parliament from priſon in Caſtle-Cornet in Garnſey.but they having gotten theſe three worthy Gentlemen into the Ship, they carried them priſoners into Caſtle-Cornet, there, in the cuſtodie & command of that perfidious viper of his Native-Country, Sir Peter Osborn; Since which time, they having been kept priſoners there about a monethmonth ſpace (with a purpoſe, as it was credibly reported, to have conveyed them ſhortly after to Oxford) they had, at laſt, a fair opportunity offered them for an eſcape, which they accordingly took advantage of, in this manner. The tyde being low about the Caſtle, they made them cords of Match, whereof they found great ſtore, in a roome, whither providence (unwittingly to themſelves) brought them; and then co…ing to the battlements of the Caſtle-wall, where ſtood great pieces of Ordnance, they faſtned one end of their Match to a piece of Ordnance, and ſo ventured down into the river; But before they could wade quite-over, they were miſſed and diſcovered afar off in the river, by one Medcalf the Porter of the Caſtle gate, who at the fight of them inſtantly acquainting Sir Peter Osborn (that atheiſticall Royaliſt) therewith, he preſently commanded 3 or 4 pieces of Ordnance to be diſcharged and ſhot off at them, but neither of them touched either of the Gentlemen; but they all three came, thus, moſt ſafely into the Town to their friends, on a Lords-day, when the people were all at Church,Acts 12. 11. and (like Peter releaſed admirably out of priſon, by the Angel, and let in to the other Diſciples when they were at prayers together for him) were moſt joyfully received, and entertained by them; They being three of the moſt prudent and pious protectors of the welfare of that Iſland; which mercifull providence and preſervation of almightie God in this their deliverance, both from impriſonment, and ſuch farther intended imminent danger, I conceived moſt worthy a moſt thankfull commemoration, in this our Parliamentarie-Chronicle.
And much about the ſame time came certain intelligence out of Suſſex from Arundell to London, that the moſt valiant and renowned Commander Sir William Waller, Arundell-Caſtle beſieged & taken by Sir Wil. Waller.ſince his fiege of that Caſtle having received ſix great pieces of battery from Portſmouth, began to play againſt the ſaid Caſtle, being reſolved to make a ſhort work of it, and that they within the Caſtle perceiving he intended to make a battery, conſulted with their Lord Biſhop, and Dr Chillingworth, that moſt egregious Popiſh and Socinian apoſtate; and after the ſaid conſultation, they deſired a parley, and that after ſome diſputes between them touching the articles, and they now ſeeing moſt plainly there was no poſſible expectation to be relieved by Sir Ralph Hopton; The Caſtle delivered up to Sir William Waller. The priſoners taken.the Caſtle was at laſt delivered up to Sir William Waller, and all within the Caſtle left to his m…rcie, wherein he took priſoners, Sir William Ford, high Sheriff of Suſſex, who formerly brake out of Windſor-Caſtle, and had ſent a Letter to his Majeſtie, offering to bring him a thouſand men, and to undertake the conqueſt of the whole County of Suſſex, although it be ſixty miles in length, but before he had gone twelve miles thereof, he was caught again for want of a running horſe; There was alſo then taken Sir Edward Biſhop, Colo. Bamfield, Lievtenrnt Colonell Roles▪ Major Maſſey, Major Moulines, and divers other Gentlemen of qualitie of Suſſex; Fifty Reformadoes taken, & 1200 Common Souldiers, 4000li in money taken and other rich pillage.There were alſo taken above fifty Reformadoes, that had all Commiſſions to raiſe Companies; 1200 priſoners, and their armes, divers Engineers, about 4000li. in money, & great ſtore of other rich prize and pillage. And heer, now, if wee reckon up theſe our late victories together, and the number of priſoners taken, wee ſhall eaſily ſee they will amount to at leſt a little armie; As namely, firſt at Alton, 900; at Gainesborough, 700; at Grafton, 300; at Sir Tho. Holts-Houſe, neer an 100;A little armie taken priſoners in a little time about the taking Arundell-Caſtle. almoſt as many at Bewly-Houſe; by Sir William Conſtable and Sir John Meldrum, in a Houſe in Yorkſhire, from which Sir Hugh Cholmley ran away, at leaſt an 100; and heer, now, at Arundell-Caſtle above a 1000; beſides what had then lately been taken by Pool & Southamptons garriſons,At leaſt 3300 enemies taken priſoners. which in all may ariſe to at leaſt 3300, horſe and foot, beſides all the ammunition, and armes; In moſt juſt and ſerious conſideration whereof, have wee not great cauſe to magnifie the mercies of our good God unto us, in thus ſtill weakning the armies of our adverſaries, and ſtrengthning our hands againſt them? And yet again to adde to the luſtre of this foreſaid famous victory, very ſhortly after the taking of the foreſaid Caſtle, it pleaſed the Lord ſo to order and diſpoſe of things, that Sir Will. Waller ſeized on a very rich prize by Sea, namely,A brave Ship alſo richly laden, taken at Arundell-Caſtle. a Dunkirk-Ship of a great burthen, which had been chaſed by the Hollanders (as was then credibly enformed) and was forced into the harbour at Arundell, and that, not till wee had taken the Caſtle; which Sir William himſelf went aboard of, and found in her about 20 excellent braſs pieces of Ordnance, an 100 barrells of powder, 2000 armes, great ſtore of other ammunition, divers Commanders, and other perſons of qualitie, together with a great quantitie of linnen cloth, as conſiderable, in value, as the other prizes, which could not but be a ſingular advantage to Sir William for the preſent better ſecuring and defence of Arundell-Caſtle.
And about the 8th or 10th of this inſtant came certain information from Leverpool, A Briſtoll ſhip alſo taken at Leverpool, in Lancaſhire.in Lancaſhire, to London, that a Ship of the Kings, which he had ſent from Briſtoll to Cheſter, with good ſtore of armes and ammunition, moſt unexpectedly, but very happily & opportunely, came into Leverpool, to ſerve the Parliament, the Sailers therein, having compelled their Maſter to put in there, which armes and ammunition came very ſeaſonably to help to arme & recrute Colonell Aſhtons regiment, which a little before had received ſome loſs, in their valiant performances againſt the enemies of their Country.
And about the 12th of this inſtant monethmonth of January, 1643. the famous and ever to be renowned Citie of London, The Citie of London takes into ſerious conſideration the great care, love & paines of the Parliament for the welfare of the Kingdome.being very ſenſible of the great care and indefatigable pains of the Parliament, in and for the defence and preſervation, of Religion, the whole Kingdome, and liberties thereof, from that ſlavery and miſery which the Prelaticall and Popiſh faction would bring upon them, and alſo of their ſingular vigilancy and great providence and circumſpection to diſcover all plots and ſecret deſignes againſt the Citie and Parliament, to divide the one from the other, and ſo to deſtroy both together; and to ſhew that they are the more inſeparably conjoyned and firmly united the one to the other, notwithſtanding all the joynt endeavours, and ſly inſinuations of the adverſaries, and in ſpeciall of that late miſchievous Machination by Colonell Read, that baſe Iriſh-Rebell, Sir Baſil Brook, and the reſt of that accurſed rable,The Citizens of London invite the Parliament, &c. to a dinner in the Citie. as was forementioned. The City, I ſay, was therefore pleaſed, in the name of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common-Councell, their repreſentative-Body, by both the Sheriffs & ſome ſelected Common-Councell-men, to make an humble requeſt to the Parliament, by way of teſtimony of their gratitude, for the great endeavours (as aforeſaid) of the Parliament, for the good of the whole Kingdome; to invite them all therefore, even of both the Houſes to a dinner at Merchant-Taylors-Hall in London, A moſt excellent Meſſage and Motion of the Citie to the Parliament, at the invitation.on Tueſday or Thurſday, then next enſuing, whether day might beſt ſtand moſt convenient with the great affaires of the Kingdome; Expreſſing farther to both Houſes, that they deſired that that late deſigne to have divided the Parliament & Citie, might appeare by this loving action of theirs more firmly to have united them to one another. Which motion of theirs was moſt acceptable to the Parliament, as appeared by the anſwer given them by the Speaker in the name of the Houſe of Commons, which in ſubſtance was this;
That the Houſe of Commons had conſidered the loving expreſſions delivered by them at the barre in the name of the whole Citie of London,The Parliaments anſwer to the Cities invitation. manifeſting their great eſteem of the endeavours of the Parliament, and their ſenſe of the late deſigne of the enemie againſt both the Parliament and the Citie, by ſuch a diviſion to involve both of them into one univerſall calamity, declaring their reſolution to continue in a faithfull compliance with the Parliaments good endeavours, and to live and die with them in the maintenance of the publick Cauſe; having now alſo deſired them (as a teſtimony of this, and to deceive the expectation of their enemies) that they would honour them with their preſence at a dinner in the City: The Speaker, therefore, told them, he was commanded by the Houſe to take notice of the good affection of this great City therein, and that the Houſe looked on the invitation, as a ſeaſonable demonſtration of their love to them, and their reſolved loyaltie to the Cauſe, and that therefore they were reſolved on Thurſday then next enſuing to give them a meeting according to the Cities deſire: And (ſaid he) that both they and you may lay hold on this opportunity joyntly to acknowledg the continued bleſſing of God in proſpering this Parliament and the City from the ſecret practiſes and malicious open deſignes of their enemies,The Parliaments moſt pious deſire to have a Sermon to be preached at this meeting. and particularly in this lewd and laſt diſcovery; they deſired that on the foreſaid Thurſday morning at their intended meeting about eight of the clock, there might be (in ſuch a place as the City ſhould think fit to make choice of) an able godly Miniſter intreated to preach a Sermon for the commemoration (among the reſt of Gods manifold mercies) of this late, and not the leaſt, deliverance both of the Parliament and City, and indeed, therein, of the whole Kingdome. And Maſter Speaker told them farther,The admirable expreſſions of loving acceptance of the Parliament of the Cities love to them. 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 gueſts invited meet at Chriſt-Church in London. 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, Venerable M… Marſhall preached before them.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.