Gods Ark Overtopping the Worlds Waves, Parliamentary chronicle · Letter 1
The Copie of a Letter written by Colonell Cromwell, to the Committee at Cambridge, July the 31, 1643.
Gentlemen;
IT hath pleaſed the Lord to give your Servant and Souldiers a notable victory,Col. Cromwels own relation of his brave victory over the enemie at Gainesborough Siege. now, at Gainesborough. I marched, after the taking of Burleigh-Houſe, upon the Wedneſday, to Grantham, where I met about 300 horſe and Dragooneers of Nottingham; with theſe by agreement with the Lincolners, wee met at North-Scarl, which is about ten miles from Gainesborough, upon the Thurſday in the evening, where wee …arried untill two of the clock in the morning, and then with our whole body advanced toward Gainesborough. About a mile and half from the Town, we met a forlorn hope of the Enemy, of neer an 100 horſe, our Dragoneers laboured to beat them back, but not aliting from their horſes, the Enemy charged them, and beat ſome four or five of them off their horſe; then our horſe came up and charged them, and made them retire into their main bodie. Wee advanced and came to the bottome of a ſteep hill,A hot skirmiſ… at a hill. upon which the enemy ſtood; wee could not well get up, but by ſome tracts, which our men aſſaying to doe, the body of the enemie endeavoured to hinder, but wherein wee prevailed, and got the top of the hill;The hill gained by the Lincolners. This was done by the Lincolners, who had the Vanguard. When wee all had recovered the top of the hill, wee ſaw a great bodie of the enemies horſe, facing us at about a Muskets ſhot or leſs diſtance, and a good reſerve of a full regiment of horſe behinde it; wee endeavoured to put our men into as good order as wee could, they enemy in the mean time advanced toward us, to take us at a diſadvantage; but in ſuch order as wee were, wee charged their great bodie.The fight moſt fiercely begun. I having the right wing, we came up horſe to horſe, where wee diſputed it with our ſwords and piſtolls a pretty time, all keeping cloſe order, ſo that one could not break the other; at laſt, they a little ſhrinking, and our men perceiving it, and preſſing in upon them,Ours rout the enemies horſe. immediately we routed this whole bodie, ſome flying on one ſide, others on the other ſide of the enemies reſerve, and our men purſuing them, had chaſe and execution about 5 or 6 miles.Ours have them in chaſe five or ſix miles. I perceiving this body which was the reſerve, ſtanding ſtill unbroken, kept back my Major Whaley from the chaſe, and with mine own troop, and the other of my regiment, in all three troops, wee got into a bodie. In this reſerve,Generall Cavendi…ſh charges the Lincolneers moſt fiercely. ſtood Generall Cavendiſh, who one while faced mee, another while faced foure of the Lincoln-Troopes, which was all of ours that (then) ſtood upon the place, the reſt being ingaged in the chaſe; at laſt, the Generall charged the Lincolners, and routed them; I immediately fell on his rear with my three Troopes, which did ſo aſtoniſh him,Colo. Cromwell charges him as bravely. that he gave over the charge, & would fain have delivered himſelf from me, but I preſſing on, forced them down a hill, having good execution of them, and below the hill drove the Generall with ſome of his Souldiers into a Quagmire,Generall Cavendſh ſlain. where my Captain Lievtenant ſlew him with a thruſt under his ſhort ribs, the reſt of the bodie being alſo wholly routed, and not one man ſtaying upon the place.
Wee,Gainesborough relieved. after this defeat which was ſo totall, relieved the Town with ſuch powder and proviſion as wee brought; which done, wee had notice that there were 6 troopes of horſe and 300 foot, on the other ſide of the Town about a mile off us; whereupon wee deſired ſome foot of my Lord Willoughbies, about 400, and with our horſe and their foot marched toward them;Another skirmiſh with the Newcaſtelians on the other …ide of Gaineſborough. when we came toward the place where their horſe ſtood, we beat back, with my troopes, about two or three troops of the enemies, who retired into a ſmall village, at the bottome of the hill. When wee had recovered the hill, we ſaw in the bottome, about a quarter of a mile from us, a regiment of foot, and after that another, and then alſo Newcaſtles own regiment, conſiſting in all of about fifty foot colours, and a great bodie of horſe, which indeed was Newcaſtles whole armie,Newcaſtles whole Armie appeares. which coming ſo unexpectedly, put us to new conſultations. My Lord Willoughbie and I being in the Town agreed to call off our foot, and ſo I went to bring them off; but before I returned to them, divers of our foot were ingaged, the enemy advancing with his whole bodie, our foot retreating in ſome diſorder, and with ſome loſs,Ours retreat and ſafely recover the Town. yet got the Town, where now they are, our horſe alſo came off with ſome trouble, being wearied with their former long fight, and their horſes tyred, yet bravely faced the enemies freſh horſe, and by ſeverall removes got off without the loſs of one man, the enemy following the rear with a great bodie. The honour of this retreat, as alſo of all the reſt, is due to God alone. My Major Whaley did in this buſineſs carry himſelf with ſingular courage and gallantrie, becoming a Gentleman and a Chriſtian. Thus have you this true relation, as ſhort as I could contract it; what you are to doe upon it, is next to be conſidered. The Lord direct you therein.
Gentlemen I am, Your faithfull Servant, O. C. Huntington, July 31. 1643.
A liſt of the ſlain and priſoners taken at the raiſing of the Siege of Gainesborough.
GEnerall Cavendiſh ſlain; Colonell Beton ſlain; a Lievtenant Colonell ſlain; a Sergeant Major ſlain; Captain Huſſes ſlain; a 100 dead in the place; an 150 priſoners taken; and 200 ſlain in the purſuite of them; a totall defeat, not ten men in a bodie.
Much about the aforeſaid time alſo,The riſing of the Kentiſh Malignants. namely, in the ſaid July, 1643. came certain information to London, that the Kentiſh Malignants perceiving the firm reſolution of the Parliament and Citie of London, not to deſert but cloſely to adhere to the cauſe of Religion and liberties of the Kingdome, and being extremely vexed with a ſpirit of malignity and rage to hear of the conſtant preparations of the pious and well-affected Parliamentarians (eſpecially I ſay, in the Citie of London) to raiſe a conſiderable ſtrength of horſe to make a flying Armie (a deſign, at that time, very hotly on foot) to purſue the Kings Cormorants or devouring Cavaliers, and thus to force them from their wicked trade of plundering and pillaging the Country.The new oath or Covenant is pretended to be the cauſe of this inſurrection. They therefore, in Kent, upon a pretence of riſing againſt a new Oath or Covenant, begun at this time to be taken by the Parliament, and Cities of London and Weſtminſter, and intended to be ordered to be taken over the whole Kingdome, which they declared they had no minde to take; and yet this Oath or Covenant was not as yet impoſed upon them,The main end of impoſing this Oath. nor any penaltie on the refuſers thereof, onelyonly the names of ſuch as refuſed it were to be taken and returned, thus, to diſtinguiſh the well-affected from the ill-affected, and to diſarm them, and to keep a more vigilant eye over their perſons,The main plot of the Ke…tiſh Malignants. as juſt cauſes were adminiſtred. Whereas their main plot was to make a generall inſurrection and ſeditious diſturbance of the whole Countie, and thus to make way for Sir John Culpepper, Sir Edward Deering, and a ſtrong partie of the Kings Oxonian Cormorants to joyn with them, and thereby to diſturb the Parliaments and Cities foreſaid preparations, and for the farther endangering of this royall Metropolis or chief Citie of the whole Kingdome, and therein to work the ruthfull ruine of Church and State. Therefore, I ſay, theſe Kentiſh Jack-Cades, under colour (forſooth) of reſiſting and rejecting of that Oath and Covenant, ſeditiouſly aſſembled themſelves firſt at Seven-Oakes in Kent, Seven-Oakes is their Rendevouz.which they intended to be their chief Rendevouz, and where they quickly increaſed (for as our Proverb is, Ill weeds grow apace) into a body of about 2 or 3000 deſperately minded Malignants, or Atheiſts, which you pleaſe; their chief Ring-leaders being Sir Edward Bathurſt, Their chief Ringleaders.Captain Stanley, and one Mr. Leigh, with ſome others of thoſe parts. They being thus audaciouſly aſſembled together, about 200 of them attempted to have ſeized on the Magazine at Dartford, but a troop of horſe appearing there prevented them therein; yet ſome of them meeting with Sir Thomas Walſingham, a moſt worthy patriot of his Country and member of the Parliament, as he was riding with two ſervants onelyonly to Dartford, boldly laid hands on him and carried him priſoner to their Rende…ouz; Sir The. …lſingham, and Captain Rolf taken priſoners by theſe Rebells. And in great danger of their lives.and about the ſame time alſo, they forced Captain Rolf (a very worthy and religious young Gentleman of Arpington in Kent) out of his bed about 100▪ 11 of the clock at night, who never ſuſpected any ſuch riſing, or ſodain ſurpriſall, and with no little danger of his life carried him alſo priſoner with them to Sir Thomas W…ſingham, and there kept them together in priſon, and a little before theſe Rebells were ſubdued, they were both in great danger to have been ſlain or put to death in priſon, had not God graciouſly prevented it.
Now the Parliament underſtanding of this ſodain mutinie, preſently ſent a Declaration among theſe mutiners by Sir Henry Vane the younger,Sir Hen. V…e ſent into Kent by the Parliament with a Declaration of pardon to appeale them. who took great paines by all fair meanes to pacifie them, proffering them pardon if they would inſtantly lay down their armes and peaceably ſubmit to the Parliament; if not, the bloud that muſt be ſpilt would lie on their own heads. And withall to reduce them by force in caſe of diſobedience, Colonell Brown was preſently diſpatcht into Kent, Col. Brown ſent alſo into Kent with forces both horſe and foot from London.with a 1000 London-Red…oates, and about 800 more after them, together with two troops of horſe from London; divers Voluntieres alſo of the well-affected of Kent, roſe againſt thoſe ſeditious and joyned with Colonell Brownes forces. And that no opportunitie might be omitted for the taming of theſe inſolencies, the Parliament gave power to the Committee for the Militia in London to raiſe Dragooneers and to uſe what other meanes they thought fit to ſuppreſſe them.This Kentiſh inſurrection was a part of Tompkins and Challenors conſpiracie. The Cities great care and providence. And in regard the Parliament had had former information that this riſing was a part or branch of treacherous Tompkins and Challenors deſigne (who had appointed Blackheath to be the place of Rendevouz, if that plot againſt the Citie had then taken effect) they appointed ſtrict watches and guards to be kept in the Citie and Outworkes therof, and that a ſtrength of horſe ſhould be ſent into Surrey toward Rigate and other parts thereabout, to ſuppreſs inſurrections, if any ſhould happen to be there alſo. Now theſe Kentiſh Rebells being thus aſſembled at Senock, as aforeſaid, and hearing of the approach of Colonell Brownes forces toward them,The Rebells flie from Senock to Tunbridge. they deſerted this Town and fled thence to Tunbridge, and from thence ſent a Meſſenger with a ſubmiſſive Petition to the Commanders of the Parliaments forces to be preſented to the Parliament, that they were willing to lay down armes,The Rebells Petition the Parliament. if the Parliament would forgive their offences; but the Parliament moſt prudently, and like themſelves indeed, utterly rejected any Petition from them,Their Petition rejected, whiles they were armed. whiles armes were in their hands, but, if they would lay them down, firſt, and then Petition, they might finde grace and favour from them. Now Colonell Brown having thus purſued them to Tunb…idge, and ſummoned the Town, upon the ſummons they deſired a parley, which was preſently granted; but it produced nothing in effect but meer delays, they ſtill refuſing to lay down their armes,Colo. Brown charges the rebells. and ſubmit themſelves to the Parliament. Whereupon the brave Colonell gave order to charge them, which was done preſently by our active London-Red…oates, and the Rebells in a confuſed manner, anſwered their charge,A hot skirmiſh for at leaſt three houres ſpace. Col. Browns moſt valiant and reſolute courage. and ſo continued skirmiſhing with our men, for at leaſt three houres together, they having cloſely and ſorely lined their hedges and ſculking behinde the trees in the lane by which our men were to enter the Town. At length Colonell Brown, like a brave Commander indeed, moſt reſolutely was one of the firſt men that adventured through the thickeſt of danger to enter the Town, his brave London Ped…oates following cloſe and paying them home with their Musket-ſhot, which theſe Mutineers perceiving and feeling, they preſently betook themſelves to flight,The Rebells are put to f…ght. Priſoners taken. and ſtrugled every man to ſhift for himſelf; but our forces purſuing them, took about 200 priſoners of them, amongſt whom were Captain Ligh and Captain Stanley, and two malignant hedge-Prieſts, deſperate and atheiſticall fomenters and encouragers of this ſeditious inſurrection, and ſome others of no…e.The ſlain on both ſides. About twelve of their men were found dead in the place, beſides what they had ſecretly …nveyed away, and many of them ſorely hurt, and not above 6 or 8 of our men ſlain in this whole Service, though the advantage they had againſt us in our aſſaulting the Town was very great. They complained (being now put to it) pitifully,Their Prieſts were the principali fomenters to this rebellion. that they had been … and drawn into this inſurrection, principally by their wicked Clergie-men, as they called them, who aſſured them they ſhould have had a 1000 horſe from Oxford to joyn with them …t their firſt riſing, and that the Parliaments forces were ſo far engaged els-where in other ſervices, that they were not able to ſend any conſiderable partie againſt them. Upon the Saturday before there were (as was credibly informed) about 5000 that had joyned together in this Sedition;About 5000 of them were aſſembled at Tunbridge. but being come to Tunbridge (and perceiving how things went from the Citie of London, clean contrary to their hopes and expectation) they ſl…ly and ſecretly ſlipt away, except about 5 or 600, and theſe alſo had laid down their armes, when they came into Tunbridge, had they not been animated to the contrary by the inhabitants thereof,The Inhabitants of Tunbridge deſperate Malignants. who were moſt of them moſt deſperate Malignants againſt the Parliament; but they were now ſoundly paid their juſt demerits by our Souldiers; who after the victory pillaged and ſpoyled them to purpoſe ere they left the Town. Sir Michael Leveſey alſo a moſt worthy patriot and diſcreet Knight of this Countie,Sir Michael Leveſey, alſo at Yawlding, his good ſervice againſt thoſe rebells. who had the care and overſight of the Wilde of Kent committed moſt worthily unto him, underſtanding that a great body of Kentiſh rebells was gathered together at a Town called Yawlding in thoſe parts, preſently drew forth ſuch forces of horſe and foot as he had thereabout in readineſs, and marched thither; whither being come, he planted his Ordnance for battery againſt the Town,Sir Michael plants his Ordnance againſt the Town, yet endeavours by treatie to appeaſe them. which were indeed ſo planted as that he might have beaten it down upon the enemies heads if he would; but he being very tender of the effuſion of bloud, reſolved rather, if it might be, by treatie to overcome them, and to win them to obedience, and therefore ſummoned the Town peaceably to yeeld, promiſing them that they ſhould enjoy the benefit of the Parliaments Declaration, if they would ſubmit and lay down armes.The Town very much ſleights Sir Michael. But they were at the firſt very avers, ſlighting the Parliaments Declaration exceedingly: So that then Sir Michael began to play upon the Town with his Ordnance, which ſo affrighted them that ſome of them would have fled out of the Town, but it had pleaſed God ſo to order it,A remarkable paſſage of Gods providence againſt the rebells in Yawlding. that by reaſon of a great floud of water upon one ſide of them (occaſioned by much rain fallen at that time) and Sir Michaels Souldiers on the other ſide, there was no paſſage out of the Town but by ſwimming, drowning, & dying; And Sir Michael giving them ſuch fierce and reſtleſs alarms, ſo diſtracted them, that Sir Michael moſt diſcreetly obſerving their frighted condition, ſent to two of the heads of their rout very fair conditions by one Mr Godfrey, Maſter Godfrey in Sir Michael his name fairly appeaſeth the rebells.who read the Parliaments Declaration to them again, and uſed therein ſuch patheticall and compaſſionate expreſſions to them in Sir Michaels name, that they being on a ſodain much affected therewith, preſently laid down their armes, diſmounted one piece of their Ordnance in his preſence; and Sir Michael on this their reall ſubmiſſion,The prize found in the Town. entred the Town with all his forces of horſe and foot, where he found a great quantitie of Muskets, guilt ſwords, piſtolls, pikes and Calivers, enough to arm 5 or 600 men, beſides about 30 pieces of Ordnance, ſome of them mounted, the reſt diſmounted, many barrells of gunpowder and foot Colours; he took there alſo an 150 good horſe, the priſoners, both Gentlemen, Commanders, and others, were for the preſent ſent to the Church,Yawlding ſet in good order and quiet. and in the interim the Town was ſet in good order, which was ſo ſodainly and throughly done, as was admired and much wondred at. The priſoners alſo all crying for merciemercy, had it preſently granted to them, but on condition never more to attempt the like diſturbance and inſurrection. Colonell Springeſts Regiment and Captain Weſtrow did very good ſervice in this buſineſs: and thus was this mutinie moſt happily appeaſed in thoſe parts.
At which time alſo, namely about Fryday the 28th of July, 1643, the Malignants about Canterbury and Feverſham having notice of the foreſaid riſing at Senock and Tunbridge, Canterbury & Feverſh…m malignants began then to riſe alſo.were growing and encreaſing to a great head, and began alſo to lay about them, and were gathered into a body at Feverſham and Sittingborn, and began to fortifie themſelves with foure pieces of Ordnance, but by Gods mercy the honeſt partie of Canterburie foreſeeing this danger which the whole Countie was thus likely to fall into,The well-affected partie of Canterburie appeaſe this inſurrection. with the aſſiſtance of their Major and Aldermen, preſently raiſed 3 or 400 of Dragooneers, and inſtantly marched to Feverſham with two Drakes, and by Gods providence without ſtriking of one blow, they appeaſed that tumult, and cauſed them all to lay down their armes, and yeeld themſelves priſoners, ſecured the chief actours,The Major of Feverſhams carriage in the buſineſs. Sir Geo. Sands taken priſoner. among whom was the Major of Feverſham, who at his firſt apprehenſion (as was credibly reported) cryed out in a pittifull manner, that he was abuſed and deluded by Sir George Sands to riſe thus in rebellion againſt the Parliament, whom alſo they happily then alſo laid hold on at Feverſham, and ſecured in ſafe cuſtody. Having thus appeaſed and ſtilled all at Feverſham, the ſaid worthy Major of Canterburie and his valiant aſſociates, haſted forthwith away to Sittingborn, The Major of Canterburie marcheth on to Sittingborn.but before they could reach thither, the mutineers there were all run away and diſſolved into nothing, like ſmoake in the ayre, having left alſo foure pieces of Ordnance behinde them, which Canterburie men ſeized on, and went to Sir Edward Hales houſe, within half a mile of Sittingborn, who notwithſtanding that he was a Parliament-man, and one of the Deputie Lievtenants of this Countie, and ſo neer them, yet uſed no meanes to appeaſe any of theſe tumults, but rather adminiſtred ſecret helps and encouragements to them, and his Grand-childe and heire being choſen Captain of theſe rebells,Sir Ed. Hales & his Grandſon a Captain of theſe rebells taken priſoner. whom therefore with his Grand-father Sir Edward Hales, they took into their cuſtodie, together with Mr Farnabie, a School-Maſter, a great ſtickler alſo in this inſurrection, and a man of a very inſolent and malignant ſpirit; and ſhortly after, they were all, namely, Sir Edward Hales, The heads of the Rebells brought to London and impriſoned.Sir George Sands, the Major of Feverſham, Mr Farnabie, and the reſt of note were brought to London to the Parliament, and after examination there were all committed to priſon, Sir Edward and Sir George, to the Tower of London, Mr Farnabie to Newgate, and the reſt to the Fleet. And thus by Gods great mercy and good providence, this ſo dangerous an inſurrection was moſt happily and timely appeaſed, and this Countie afterward reduced into a moſt quiet and peaceable condition; As by an Ordinance of Parliament, which not long after came forth, whereby authoritie was given to the Deputie Lievtenants and well-affected prime patriots of that Countie, for the better ſecuring of the peace thereof, may more fully appeare, and which ſaid Declaration, for the Readers fuller ſatisfaction I have thought fit heer to inſert and ſet down verbatim, as it was publiſhed by authoritie of Parliament.