Gods Ark Overtopping the Worlds Waves, Parliamentary chronicle · Letter 14 – Floating text 22

Gods Ark Overtopping the Worlds Waves · Parliamentary chronicle · Letter 14 – Floating text 22

p. 148A true Copy of Mr. Murfords Letter, touching the diſcovery of a new Plot againſt the Town of Southampton, by the Kings Cormorants or Cavaliers.

SIR,

YOur Letter is come to my hands, which I take kindly from you: I ſhould deſire to exchange lines oftner with you; I thank you p. 149for your newes. I had Letters this day from my Lord Admirall, for the Maria-Pinace to ride before this Town. We are yet in ſafety (bleſſed be God) but daily braved by the Enemy, yet hitherto they have not dared to faſten upon this Town: And I have obſerved, that they have never come before this place, or neer it, but we have ſtill worſted them; we have alwayes taken priſoners, horſes, armes, wounded or ſlain ſome of them. On Thurſday laſt we took ſixe men and Horſe, wherof one was a Cornet. On Saturday wee tooke two men, Horſes and Armes, ſhot a Captaine, who lyes languiſhing at Rumſey, and wounded three men more. The Lord bee ſtill our defence and refuge, and give us thankfull hearts for his preſervation over us. This poor County of Hampſhire having had its ſhare of blood and miſery, in this ſad Tragedie of our Nation, that there is hardly left any thing for man or beaſt therein.

I perceive you have received knowledge of a treacherous practice for the delivery of this Town, but leſt you ſhould bee miſinformed therein, I will give you a briefe account thereof. Some few daies before Chriſt-tide laſt, the Lord Hopton marched with his Army from Wincheſter, towards Southampton, with a purpoſe to face it, (as we were informed) but he came not within two Miles thereof, to outface it, but marched to Redbridge, (the way into the New Forreſt) brake it downe to hinder us of Proviſion from thence; after ſo horrible an Act, he faced about, and marched to his old quarters again, without attempting any further atchievement.

The next day here arrived a Letter from one Mr. Iaſper Cornelius (ſometimes an Atturney of this Town, but run away before my comming hither, for Malignancy) directed to Mr. R. Maſon, a Merchant of this Towne, intimating that this Cornelius was the day before with the Lord Hopton before this Towne, and was the meanes of diverting the Lord Hoptons intent of attempting this place, and tells Mr. Maſon he had made choice of him to deliver an incloſed Letter to me, with all ſecreſie, which I received, (yet the ſaid Cornelius was an unknowne man to me) by his Letter he inſinuates, that then was a fit time for me to doe his Majeſty good ſervice, and that I was not the man I was formerly; meaning (as I conceived) that the government of this Towne was impoſed upon my honoured friend, Colonel Norton (which I long ſued to be eaſed thereof) and by it he thought I was a diſconted perſon, and ſo p. 150fit to be wrought upon; but he was deceived, I being never better pleaſed then to be eaſed of ſo great a burthen, which I had borne long enough, (though it pleaſed his Excellency to require my ſervice with a more ſutable command to my diſpoſition, made me Serjeant Major to Colonell Norton, which pleaſed me farre better) after the receit of this Letter, I inſtantly acquainted my Colonell and Maſter Mayor therewith, we all agreed I ſhould ſhew a ſeeming complying, the better to bottome their deſigne, and to find out what malignant party they had made in this Town. I forthwith gave him a copie of a Character to explaine his minde more fully. To which he replied, That by the command of his Superiours, he did in the name of His Majeſty, and his Countrey, and two Lords (which he named) offer me a thouſand pounds in money, a preſent imployment of more value and honour, than at preſent I had, His Majeſties pardon under the great Seale, and his favour, if I would be a meanes to reduce the Towne of Hampton to His Majeſtie; I returned a ſeeming complying Anſwere, and demanded the one thouſand pounds in hand, or the moity thereof, and aſſurance given me for the reſidue, the imployment named, & the Pardon ſent me; this performed, he ſhould ſoon ſee what I would ſay to it. In the interim my Colonell acquainted my Lord Generall, and Sir William Waller, with the offer made by Cornelius; wherein I continued the Treaty to regaine time, untill Sir William Waller had finiſhed his buſineſſe at Arundel, and drawne his Army this way, and then to have drawne the Enemy hither, in hope of gaining this place, whileſt Sir William might have fallen behind them in this place of advantage, and ſo to have deceivd ſuch treacherous corrupters. I continued the Treaty, untill I had his Majeſties Signe Manuall for a Pardon ſent me, and afterwards the Pardon it ſelfe; but I could get no money, but ſtrong engagements of honour to performe with me, when the worke deſired was effected. I whiled out a moneths time with them, to the exchange of eight Letters, Maſter Robert Maſon being ſtill the man they employed to bring theirs, and receive my Letters, whom they had bound to ſecrecie by an Oath, before I knew thereof, who brought me the copy thereof, hoping to have gained me to the like, ſaying he had no engagement all this time on me, neither by proteſtation nor promiſe, to performe with them; and which I ſtill delayed (which put the Projectors to a jealouſie that I was not reall p. 151all to them) yet to draw them ſtill on, I framed ſome offers, in the nature of Articles, for my ſelfe and this Towne (to which the Lord Hopton ſubſcribed that upon his honour he would performe them:) but I ſtill preſſed for the money, but could not obtaine it; they fearing I would Craford them as Poole did; yet Maſter Maſon offered me to become bound for it, which I accepted of: but before he could performe, on Friday laſt was ſevennight, he earneſtly preſſed me to declare my reality in the deſigne. I ſaw the man in a diſtracted extaſie, by his over-zealouſneſſe and raſhneſſe for them, having no aſſurance of me, my bowels pittied him, his wife, and many children, told him plainly, I never intended to be a villaine and traytor, to betray a truſt committed to me, and the lives and goods of ſo many innocent people to be made a prey to cruelty, and told him I have revealed it from the beginning to my Colonell.

Then he begged I would conceale his name; I told him, I could not, but in compaſſion of his condition, gave him leave to goe to his houſe (being but three Houſes from mine,) in which time I went foorthwith to acquaint my Colonell, with what had hapned betweene Maſter Maſon and my ſelfe; wee concluded inſtantly to ſeize his perſon, and cauſed all the gates to be ſecured: but yet hee eſcaped from us, and could not be found, although we ſearched carefully for him; ſince we heare he is at Wincheſter, and ſhall be preferred, and imployed in matter of truſt. In all the time of our Treaty, I could not diſcover that he had any confederates of any Townſmen with him, but had undertaken it, to carry it alone. But I was grieved, that I was conceived by the adverſe part, to be a fit Inſtrument for them. But now they have tryed me, I am confident, they will never doe the like, but to revenge themſelves on me: But I will to all the world declare, and maintaine my faithfulneſſe to my Countrey, and Cauſe I have undertaken, and cleare my unfeigned reputation.

Thus much I thought good to ſay unto you, that you may give a ſatisfactory teſtimony of that deſigne in my behalfe, if you heare it falſely reported. And I ſhall be ready to requite you, in vindicating of truth, and acknowledge my ſelfe,

Southampton, Feb. 5. 1643. Your reall friend, PET. MURFORD.

p. 152About the 6.The impious-Oxonians being brought to a deſperate condition, pretend propoſitions for Peace. of this inſtant, came to the publike knowledge of the City of London, and ſo to others in the Kingdome, a notable deſigne from Oxford, namely, That in the latter end of Ianuary laſt, the pretended Parliament, or rather miſchievous meeting of Popiſh, Atheiſticall, and Malignant fugitive Lords, and rotten Members of the moſt bleſſed Parliament at Weſtminſter, (being brought into a deſperate condition, by the happy and good ſucceſſe of our ſaid Parliament… Forces againſt them) aſſembled themſelves into a moſt illegall jugling Iunto, or accurſed Conventicle at Oxford, and would needs there,A Letter ſent to our Parliament, or rather to his Excelcelency the L. General, from Oxford. forſooth, make a poor ſhew of Propoſitions for Peace; And by their Lord Generall Ruthen, the Popiſh Earl of Forth, they contrived a Letter, which was ſigned by the Prince, the Duke of York, 44 of the foreſaid condition'd Lords, and about an 100 rotten Commons; and was ſent, as from Ruthen, to his Excellencie, the Parliaments moſt noble and renowned Lord Generall, the magnanimous and heroick Eul of Eſſex; and in that Letter manifeſted their ſcornfull eſteem of our moſt renowned Parliament at Weſtminſter, not allowing it ſo much as the name of a Parliament, which muſt needs argue a proper piece of intention really to advance a true Peace betwixt the King and his Parliament. Now hereupon the ſaid Letter being by his Excellencie communicated with the Parliament, they thought it not fit to take notice of the ſaid Meſſage;A Complemental Letter returned from his Excellency the L. Gen. with a Declaration, and the Covenant incloſed in it. only it was conſulted and reſolved on by both Houſes that my Lord Generall ſhould be intreated to ſend a Complement to the Earle of Forth, and to incloſe the Covenant and Declaration agreed upon by both Kingdomes, in this Letter, which accordingly his Excellencie performed, as followeth.

His Excellencies Letter to the Earl of Forth, in anſwer to a Letter from Oxford, ſubſcribed by the Prince, Duke of Yorke, and divers Lords and Gentlemen at Oxford.

My Lord:

I Received this day a Letter of the 29. of this inſtant, from your Lordſhip, and therein a Parchment ſubſcribed by the Prince, Duke of York, and divers Lords and Gentlemen: but it neither having addreſſe to the two houſes of Parliament, nor therein there being any acknowledgment of them, I could not communicate it unto them. My Lord, p. 153the maintenance of the Parliament of England, and of the priviledges thereof, is that for which we are all reſolved to ſpend our blood, as being the foundation whereon all our Lawes and Liberties are built. I ſend your Lordſhip herewith a Nationall Covenant ſolemnly entred into by both Kingdomes of England and Scotland, and a Declaration paſſed by them both together, with another Declaration of the Kingdome of Scotland.

I reſt, Your Lordſhips humble Servant, ESSEX. Eſſex-houſe, Ian. 30. 1643.

About the 9.Malignants eſtates and goods ſequeſtred and ſold away for the publike uſe. of this inſtant February, our moſt noble and renowned Patriots in Parliament reſolved on the ſequeſtring of the Eſtates of many grand Malignants and Incendiaries, and to order and diſpoſe of their Eſtates for the publike uſe. And they appointed a Committee accordingly to take order for the ſequeſtrating of the Lands and Eſtates of the Earle of Berk-ſhire, (priſoner in the Tower) and that the ſame ſhould be diſpoſed of for the uſe of the publike good.The Earle of Berks, The Earle of Carbery. Lord Aborthorum. Wa. Mountague Lo. Cottington. And the like for the eſtate of the Earle of Carbery, a great ſtickler for the adverſe party in Wales; The Lord Aborthorum; Mr. Walter Mountague, priſoner in the Tower; The Lord Cottington, that Spaniſh Don, and grand Incendiary of the Kingdome. And that all the goods and Chattels already ſequeſtred, and to be ſequeſtred, belonging to the aforeſaid Lords and Gentlemen, ſhould be forthwith ſold, and the monies made uſe of for the publike ſervice, and more eſpecially for ſupplies for the Noble Lord Fairfax in Yorkſhire. The like alſo for all the goods and chattels belonging to Sir John Banks Lord Chiefe Juſtice,Sir Io Banks. B. of Wincheſter B. of Armagh. at Oxford. The like for the Biſhop of Wincheſter; and the like for all the goods of all other Malignants, ſequeſtred and being in Cambden-houſe in London, or elſewhere. As alſo the goods and whole eſtate in and about London, belonging to that unhappy and unholy Neuter or Ambo-dexter, Dr. Vſher, Arch-Prelate of Armagh, reſident at Oxford, A brief & bad memoriall of the Archbiſh. of Armagh, D. Vſher.a man once, I confeſſe, of good, yea of great eſteem (like his apoſtate brother Dr. White, Biſhop of Ely) in City and Country, both in England and Ireland; but at length, whoſe laſt dayes (hitherto) have proved his worſt dayes; Of whom, one thing I may not here omit, to his eternall ſhame and ignominie; That upon debating of the buſineſſe in Parliament concerning him, there was evidence given in to the Parliament againſt him, That upon the firſt framing of that pernicious Oath at Oxford, to enjoyn all men to take up Armes againſt the Parliament; this ſlye Archbiſhop was a p. 154chiefe Agent, by his Epiſcopall rhetorick to perſwade all men to take the ſaid Oath; A moſt wicked imprecation of this Arch-Prelate of Armagh.yea, and that he wiſhed, they might all dye in priſon that refuſed to take it: & that divers who by his perſwaſions had taken it, were afterward much troubled in conſcience, and ſome of them dyed in that condition, much perplexed and unſatisfied. A moſt ſad and bad burthen to lie on the Conſcience of ſuch an unholy and unhappy Inſtigator thereunto, whoſe periſhing blood will (I feare) be one day ſeverely required at his hands, without repentance.

Alſo about the 10. of this inſtant, certain intelligence came out of York-ſhire, by Letters to London from the moſt Noble Lord Fairfax, of the taking of Burlington in the ſaid County (the place where the Queene formerly landed,Burlington in Yorkeſhire taken by ſir Wil. conſtable. when ſhe unhappily returned out of Holland) by a party of Horſe and Foot commanded by that valiant and vertuous Colonel Sir William Conſtable, who entred the Town in a full Carriere, took 250 Common-ſouldiers, beſides Major New nam the Governour of the Town, and divers other Officers, with 2 Drakes, and 500 Arms, beſides other Ammunition. In this exploit, Major Briery, and Captain Bethel, the one in the Van, the other in the Reare, did ſingular good ſervice, and put the Enemy into a great diſorder. This place being within 6 miles of Scarborough, will make Sir Hugh Cholmley, that perfidious Apoſtate, to look about him. And very ſhortly after came farther intelligence of another notable Exploit performed by the ſaid brave and valiant Commander Sir William Conſtable, Another brave exploit performed by ſir Will. Conſtable at Driffle in Yorkeſhire.who ſurpriſed a party of the Enemy at a place called Driffle, between Malton and Scarborough, where he took 300 of Newcaſtles Horſe, Colonel Waſhington, one Serjeant-Major, three Captaines, divers Officers, and about an hundred and ſixty common Foot-ſouldiers, and routed another Regiment beſides.

Much about the ſame time came certain information by Letters from the Scotch Commiſſioners out of the North, That ſince our loyall and loving Brethren of Scotland's advance into this Kingdome, from Barwick toward Newcaſtle, The progreſſe and ſucceſſe of our Brethren of Scotland in the North.and their taking of Alnwick and Morpeth, the two only Towns of defence and ſtrength twixt Barwick and Newcaſtle. That they alſo took the ſtrong Iſland of Cocquet with about 200 men, and their Arms, 7 peeces of Ordnance, and other neceſſary martiall proviſions. Alſo that Colonel Gray (brother to the Lord Gray of Wark) with a Regiment of Horſe came in unto the Army of our ſaid brethren of Scotland, and moſt cheerfully took p. 155the Covenant; That they had reſcued a head of cattle, which were driven away by the enemy toward Newcaſtle and that they moſt honeſtly reſtored them to the perſons from whom they were taken; A notable act of juſtice; and that the Counties of Northumberland and Weſtmerland moſt cordially came in and adhered to them. About the tenth of this inſtant, certaine letters being intercepted were read in Parliament which came from the Lord Goring to the Lord Digby dated at Paris Feb. 7. 1643. The ſumme whereof in briefe was this. That he hoped this Letter would have better ſucceſſe to come to the hands of his moſt bleſſed ſacred Miſtreſſe, than his former Letters had; The Lord Gorings▪ Letter intercepted and read in Parliament.That he was in nothing more happy than to be accounted a Trator at London, conſidering his ſacred Miſtreſſe had the ſame badge of honour ſtamped upon her before him; in whoſe ſervice he profeſſed hee would be ever faithfull to the quicke; (and was not here think'ſt thou good Reader a pure and ſure ſlave to Sathan?) That the ſame morning he wrote this Letter, he was called to ſweare to be true to the two Crownes of England and France, and afterward was to dine with the King. And further ſpecifying what forreine forces, armes and ammunition were in preparation to be ſent into this Kingdome. And, ſaid he (in this very expreſſion) let my Mr. hang me, if I do not furniſh him with armes, ammunition, &c. And concludes thus, that what he writes, they may believe to bee as true as Gospell. This flaſhey letter of this old doting ſhameleſſe Traytor, full (as yee ſee) of blaſphemy and Treaſon, and ſo adjudged by the Parliament, they have ordered to be recorded, with an other former intercepted Letter of his, which will be ſufficient evidences to make good their impeachment of high Treaſon againſt him. See heere, then, good Reader, the good hand of Gods wiſe and juſt providence, thus to diſcover the ſecret and ſlaviſh enemies of his Church and people. But to goe on.

Beſides thoſe former brave exploits of that pious,Divers noteble exploits of the Parliaments Forces, briefely remembred. and prudent Commander, Colonell Sir William Conſtable aforeſaid. There came certaine intelligence to London much about the middſt of this inſtant February, of divers other moſt valiant performances, and victorious atchivements of the Parliaments Forces in ſeverall other places, worthy our moſt thankefull remembrance, both to Gods glory, and the Inſtruments deſerved praiſe.

The firſt was performed by the brave and active well-deſerving Garriſon of Pool in Dorſetſhire; Pools exploits.who ſallied out, and by an Ambuſcado p. 156(their enemies owne late Stratagem againſt Pool, with ſome little loſſe, not long before) they entrapped Colonell Windham, and about 7. or 8. ſcore of his Horſe, and ſlew his Lieutenant Colonel Barker, but the Colonell himſelfe, with the reſt of his men taken, as aforeſaid, they carried Priſoners into Pool.

A Partie alſo of Warwick Garriſon iſſuing out toward Stow on the Wold, Warwick-Caſtle.in Glouceſterſhire, tooke a Cavalier Colonell, Priſoner, and about 30 good Horſe with him.

And heere alſo I may moſt juſtly commemorate diverſe brave atchievements of Sir Thomas Fairfax, Sir Tho. Fairfax his brave exploits.that as famous as pious Commander in Cheſhire, ſince his laſt great Victory at Namptwich, who moſt proſperouſly purſued his late Victory in thoſe parts, took a ſtrong hould called Keel-Houſe; Another called Adlinton-Houſe. Duddington alſo, belonging to ſir Thomas Delves; And Crew-Houſe, where he tooke an 150. Royalists Priſoners, and great ſtore of Armes and Ammunition, together with Doriſon-Houſe, another ſtrong Garriſon of the Enemies, where he tooke 200. Priſoners, with good ſtore of armes and ammunition.

Darby Forces alſo having been two dayes before Kings-Mylus, Derby-Forces take Kings-Milus.a very ſtrong Houſe of the Earle of Huntingtons, neere Wildon-Ferrey, upon the River of Trent, whereinto Colonell Haſtings, alias Rob-Carryer, had put a Garriſon of Souldiers, who much annoyed that part of the Countrey, but the Houſe being very ſtrong, their Ordnance did no great execution upon it. Whereupon that brave and moſt couragious and faithfull Patriott, Sir Iohn Gell, choſe 5. men out of each of his Troopes to ſtorme it; who made ſuch a deſperate aſſault upon it, that they tooke this Houſe with the loſſe onelyonly of three of his men, whence they brought 46. Priſoners, with their armes to Darbey; but Captaine Daniel and his Lieutenant, they ſent Priſoners to Nottingham-Caſtle.

Laſtly,The Lo: Fairfax & Sir VVilliam Conſtable take VVhitby, a Haven-Town in Yorkſhire. that moſt noble and renouned ſucceſſefull Patriott of the Northern parts, the good Lord Fairfax, with his valiant Commander, ſir William Conſtable, marched toward Whitby, a Haven-Town, in the fartheſt part of Yorkeſhire, with a very conſiderable Army; intending, if the Enemy would not deliver up the Town, to Storm it: For this Whitby was a very ſtrong Gariſon of the Earle of New-Caſtles: But the Enemie conſidering in what a condition they were, ſurrendered up the Town to the Lord Fairfax, wherein were above 500. Captaines, Lieutenants, Commanders, Officers, p. 157and Common-ſouldiers; beſides, at leaſt 20. of the Commiſſion of Array,The prizes taken. and almoſt a 1000 Saylers, and Inhabitants of the Town; all which delivered up the Towne, and with it themſelves, to the ſaid moſt noble Lords Service, together with 40. Veſſels, greater and leſſer, in the Haven. So this moſt Honourable Lord, with valiant ſir William Conſtable, ſeized on all their Workes, Ships, Ammunition, 500. Armes, many Barrels of Powder, Match, and other traine of Artillery, and it was verily beleeved, about an hundred pieces of Ordnance in the ſhips, and on the Workes, for the uſe of the Parliament.

About the 16th.An Ordinance of Parliament for taking the Solemn Covenant over the whole Kingdome and Dominion of Wales. of this inſtant February, 1643. an Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, and inſtructions agreed upon by them, for the taking of the Solemne League and Covenant, throughout the whole Kingdome, (which we have formerly mentioned to have been ſolemnly taken by both Houſes of Parliament, and in and about the whole Cities of London and Weſtminſter) and the Dominion of Wales, was new Printed and publiſhed, together with a moſt emphaticall and patheticall …xhortation,An Emphaticall Exhortation Printed therewith. made by the Aſſembly of Divines (at the motion and deſire of our moſt pious and prudent Parliamentary Worthies) for the more willing and cheerfull taking thereof, and for the better and more full ſatisfaction of all ſuch ſcruples as might ariſe thereupon; which was ordered to be taken after this manner.The order or manner of taking the ſolemne League or Covenant, as was preſcribed by the Parliament. The miniſter was firſt to read the whole Covenant diſtinctly and audibly in the Pulpit, and during the reading thereof the whole congregation to be uncovered, and at the end of his reading thereof, all to take it ſtanding, lifting up their right hands bare, and then afterwards to ſubſcribe it ſeverally by writing their names (or their markes, to which their names were to be added) in a booke or parchment-role, where-into the Covenant was to be inſerted, purpoſely provided for that end, and to be kept as a record in the pariſh. After all which, there was alſo printed a Catalogue of the names of all ſuch members of the Houſe of Commons in Parliament, as had ſubſcribed to,A Catalogue of the names of the Members of the Houſe of Commons that took the Covenant at leaſt, 228. at one time. and taken the ſaid Covenant, being then, 228. beſides the Lords in the Houſe of Peeres and divers others of the Lord… and Commons, who being employed about the weighty affaires of the Commonwealth in remote parts of the Kingdome and ſo could not ſubſcribe with the reſt. A moſt faire and ſweet encouragement for all other perſons in the Kingdome, not onelyonly to ſubſcribe, but to keep their Covenant, having the Patterne and Preſident of ſo many worthy, p. 158and pious Patriotts, ſet before them in ſo glorious and religious an Action, which is not onelyonly lawfull, but (all things conſidered) exceeding expedient, and neceſſary for all that wiſh well to true Religion, the King and Kingdom to joyn in, and to be as a ſingular pledge of Gods merciemercy and goodneſſe to all the three Kingdomes.

About the aforeſaid time alſo came certaine Intelligence by Letters to the Parliament, The proceedings of our brethren of Scotland about Newcaſtle.of the proccedings of our loyall and loving brethren of Scotland, about Newcaſtle, who (as it was credibly and conſtantly informed) had then gained a Scence, and the maine Out-workes, with the loſſe of about 14. of their men; whereof a Captaine, a Lieutenant, and a Serjeant of Colonell Linſeyes Regiment, were ſlaine. That Generall Leſleys Sonne, a brave and valiant young Gentleman, had beaten 14. Troopes of the Popiſh Army into the Towne againe,A Summons ſent to Newcaſtle, and the anſwer thereunto. without the loſſe of a man, and tooke two of their men Priſoners; who proteſted that the Marqueſſe himſelf was (then) in the Town, and that the Lord Widdrington, Generall King, and Sir Tho. Glemham, were there alſo: The probability whereof will appeare by an Anſwer returned from the Town to a Summons which the Committee of both Kingdomes ſent to the Town of Newcaſtle, which was as followeth.

The copy of the Summons ſent by the Committee of both Kingdomes, to the Town of Newcaſtle.

Right Wor: and loving friends:

OVr appearance here in this poſture, through miſ-informations and miſunderſtandings, may occaſion ſtrange thoughts in you. If we had opportunity of ſpeech with you, (which we hereby deſire, and offer to you) it is not impoſſible, that as we hold out the ſame ends, viz. the preſervation of Religion, the Kings true honour and happineſſe, the publike peace and liberty of his dominions: ſo we might agree on the ſame way to promote them. If you yeild to this motion, you ſhall find us ready to do our parts therein: but if worſe counſell take place with you, and parley be rejected, although you will be unjuſt (therby) to your ſelves, yet we have reaſon to expect you ſhould be ſo juſt to us, as to acquit us of the guilt of thoſe manifold inconveniences and calamities p. 159which may be the fruits of thoſe forcible wayes, you will thereby conſtraine is to. We deſire your preſent Anſwer.

Subſcribed the 3^d. of Febr. 1643. By the Warrant and in the name of the Committees, and Commiſſioners of both Kingdomes, By us,

Your friends,

ARGILE,

WILLIAM ARMINE.

The Anſwer of the Town of Newcaſtle to the Summons of the Committee of both Kingdomes.

My Lord,

WEE have received a Letter of ſuch a nature from you, that wee cannot give you any anſwer to it more than this; That his Majeſties Generall being at this inſtant in the Town, We conceive all the power of Government to be in him: But were he not, you cannot ſure, conceive us ſo ill read in theſe proceedings of yours, as to Treat with you, for your ſatisfaction in theſe particulars you write of; nor by any Treaty to betray the Truſt repoſed in us; or forfeit our Allegeance to His Majeſtie: For whoſe Honour and preſervation, together with the Religion and Lawes of this Kingdome, we intend to hazard our lives and fortunes, and ſo we reſt,

Your Servants,

John Morley, Mayor.

Nic. Cole,

Tho. Liddle,

Lionell Madiſon,

Alexander Daviſon, &c.

Subſcribed by us, Febr. the 3^d. 1643. in the names of the Common-Councell, and the rest of the Inhabitants of the Towne of Newcaſtle.

Shortly after theſe things the valiant Scots having gained (as was forementioned) the Sc…nce and out works of the Town,The Scots proceedings after the foreſaid anſwer. they reſted not ſatisfied thus, but ſent out a ſtrong party and gained alſo the keeles or Lighters and ſmall boats betweene Stella and Newcaſtle and ſo made a bridge three miles above Newcaſtle toward Newboln over Tyne, and ſhortly after, their grand Brigade of the Scots army marched over to beſiege Newcaſtle on the South-ſide and alſo to cut p. 160off all ſupplies from his Majeſtie and the Iriſh-rebells and rogues, his beſt beloved ſubjects. And thus was the invincible Popiſh army of the North of England, beleagur'd in a ſmall compaſſe and cut off from all manner of reliefe, where for a ſeaſon, we will leave them, till a farther and fitter occaſion to make farther mention of their proceedings, for this our Parliamentary Chronicles intentions and purpoſes.

And thus we ſee, by Gods good providence that the North was in a very faire way of being totally regained to a right underſtanding of the ſtate of things; which will yet further appear more probable if we heer alſo conſider the wonderfull good ſucceſſe of the moſt noble and ever to be honoured and renouned Lord Fairfax, Sir VVilliam Conſtables moſt ſucceſſefull proceedings in the North.who had about this time enlarged his quarters from Hull 20. miles towards Durham, and by a party of horſe commanded by that valiant victorious and religious Commander Sir William Conſtable, drave that rotten apoſtate Sir Hugh Cholmley out of Scarbrough Towne into the Caſtle, which cauſed ſuch an operation in the hearts of the inhabitants of Whitby, as that they were ſoone and ſurely reduced and ſettled (as you already heard in part they were) to the Parliaments ſide, and preſently after ſeized on Sir Hughs great Houſe and Fort on the High-Clift, diſarmed his garriſon, and ſo kept it for the Lord Fairfax who afterwards ſent 200. horſe, the better to ſecure it. This moſt valourous and vertuous Gentleman Sr. William Conſtable ſtayed not here but advanced toward Yorke and beat up one of the enemies quarters, neere Malton within twelve miles of Yorke, who gave an alarme to their head quarters, where there were 400. foot and 16. troopes of horſe all put into order to charge; but Sr. William with twelve troopes of horſe moſt couragiouſly charged them,A brave victory obtained by Sir VVilliam Conſtable at Yorke. routed them, and tooke theſe priſoners following, viz. Lieut. Colonell Waſhington, Major Gray, Capt. Iohn Vavazer, Capt. Newſteed, Capt. Witnell, Capt. Corsfield, Lieutenant Tuffni, three Lieutenants of horſe, 5. Cornets, 3. quarter-maſters, 3. Corporalls, 2. Trumpets, one miniſter (or hedge-prieſt) 175. foot, and 300 horſe: and thus this noble Lord Fairfax, ſhortly after became Maſter of the whole Eaſt-riding of Yorkeſhire.

The Kings Oxonian Councellors or rather (Conventiclers and devouring Cormorants, having had a deepe deſigne by that late conquered and quelled bloody Byron, forementioned; namely, with his ſo great a ſtrength, which was alſo to be augmented in Cheſhire p. 161by very many Iriſh-rebells, to be then ſhortly landed at Milford Haven, and thus I ſay, with a very ſtrong army of thoſe Iriſh-Rebells, Welſh Papiſts, and viperons Malignants, to have put a ſtop to the Scots army in the North (but I ſay,A plot or deſigne againſt our brethren of Scotland moſt happily fruſtrated. Byron was conquered by that moſt brave defeat, as you have already heard, given him at the raiſing of the ſiege at Namptwich by thoſe two famous Commanders, Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir William Brereton) Prince Robber alſo with all the forces he could collect and make up, was to meete them at their randevouz in the ſaid County-Palatine of Cheſter. About twelve ſhips fraught with Iriſh Rebells were to have beene landed at Milford Haven, but moſt valiant and couragious Capt. Swanley, having by Gods good providence put into the ſaid haven,Milford-haven won by brave Capt. Swanley. was firſt poſſeſt thereof before they came thither, and when they came, moſt bravely beat them all off againe from landing there, only a part of 2. regiments landed afterward at Bewmorice, for whoſe ſafe conduct a regiment of horſe was ſent from Prince Plunderer (who went in perſon toward Cheſter with what forces could be ſpared to helpe to maintaine the foreſaid deſigne,Prince Robber helpes on the deſigne. and there he ſent out a moſt baſe and bloody warrant up and down that County, to ſummon all that were able to come in unto them, to joyne with him in that wicked deſign, and for thoſe that refuſed, this was to be their puniſhment, viz. To looke for no mercy, but ſpeedily to expect fire and ſword. Whereby he compelled many for feare to march with him into Shropſhire) but that brave, magnanimous, and active Commander Colonel Mitton, timely underſtanding thereof, fell upon ſome of their quarters, and after a ſhort skrimiſh without any conſiderable loſſe to himſelfe,Col. Mitton moſt bravely beates him routed a whole regiment of them, tooke about 60. horſe, two of Sr. Rich. Fleetwoods ſons, Commanders in that regiment, and other officers, 50. foot-ſouldiers priſoners, an 100. armes: And thus partly, and eſpecially, by thoſe two noble Commanders Sir Tho. Fairfax and Sir William Brereton; Priſoners taken.partly by Capt. Swanley and partly alſo by this defeat of brave Colonell Mitton, this their great and wicked deſigne was (by Gods great mercy) quite broken in pieces, and came to nought.The County Palatine of Cheſter much aim'd at by the King. And thus alſo was this poore County-Palatine of Cheſter (upon which the kings eye was more faſtned, to fixe and augment ſtrong forces there, for the greater advancement of this and his other great deſignes, than on any one County in the kingdome: Witneſſe his firſt ſending thither that Cow-ſtealer, the unſucceſſefull atheiſticall Lord Capell, who was ſoone beaten thence; Then p. 162Serjeant Major Willis, ſurprized by Colonell Mitton; Then the bloody Lord Byron, beaten as aforeſaid; And after all theſe pilfering▪ Prince Robber himſelfe, …, as you have heard by the ſaid moſt valiant Colonell Mitton. Thus was this County, at laſt, brought into a more quiet and ſtable condition, ever praiſed and bleſſed be the Lord our good God for it.

About the 16. of this inſtant Feb. 1643. there was a conference between both the Houſes of Parliament, which was managed by the noble and truely pious Earl of Mancheſter; the effect whereof was this.Care taken in Parliament for ſetling of Church government. That whereas there were divers inconveniences and great diſturbances, begun to be brewing and already raiſed, and likely to grow much greater (if not timely prevented) in the City of London by reaſon of many unhappy differences of opinions in matters of Religion, by Anabaptiſts, Antinomians, and ſuch like; the honourable Peeres did therefore deſire that both Houſes would joyn together in ſending to the Aſſembly of Divines, to expedite their care in ſetling of Church-Government, with as much ſpeed as conveniently might be▪ and in the mean time an Order was drawn up to be ſent to the Lord Major of London, Care taken about Preachers in London.which was alſo read in the Churches; Wherein, it was deſired that ſpeciall care might be taken that none did Preach in any Church, but ſuch as the Miniſter or the Paſtor thereof, …hall anſwer for their Doctrines delivered, if juſtly queſtioned; of which therefore all Miniſters eſpecially were to be very carefull. A courſe marvelous fit to be put in execution, leaſt if ſuch Tares take root it might coſt more care and toyle to pluck them up and root them out (and thereby alſo endanger the pulling up of the good corn) which by a timely prevention might be eaſily remedied and better Ordered.

About the 18. of this inſtant came certain Intelligence by Letters from Northampton to London, that a partee of Horſe was lately before ſent out from thence upon a deſign within three miles of Banbury, Northampton garriſons good ſucceſſe.where they had Intelligence that Captain Farmer (ſon to Sir Hutton Farmer, a great Royaliſt) was quartered with his Troopes; who comming ſuddenly into the ſame Town, they took the ſaid Captaine and above 40.Captaine Farmer taken priſoner. horſe, divers Commanders, Officers and common ſouldiers, with ſome Armes, and brought them all ſafely into Northampton. Thus our hopes of proſperous ſucceſſe (through Gods aſſiſtance) doe ſtill encreaſe, there having ſcarcely one day paſt (about this time of the yeare) for above a monethmonth together, wherein p. 163we have not had comfortable tydings and certaine relation of good ſervice done by the Parliaments forces at Northampton, A brief, but good and gratefull note.Warwicke-Caſtle, and other parts: Let God have all the glory even the Lord of hoſts, who onelyonly is the giver of all victories.

About the 20th of this inſtant came certaine intelligence by letters from Hull, The noble Lord Fairfax his brave victory about Hull.That the noble and ever to be honoured and loved Lord Fairfax, with a ſufficient party, iſſued out of Hull upon the enemies quarters routed 3. Regiments of their horſe, tooke 300. of them in the fight, above an 170 priſoners, ſlew 50 on the ground, and took divers Captaines and Commanders.

And that the moſt notorious Prince of Robbers (or as now the King hath made him,Pool Garriſon took 3000. l. of Prince Robbers going to Waymouth. the Duke of Cumberland or Plunderland, call him what you pleaſe) having got together (among all his great and rich pillage and plunder) and ſent about 3000. l. in gold and ſilver toward Waymouth, intending (as was conceived) to paſſe it away by Sea, into his own Country; but the brave Garriſon of Poole (I call it a Garriſon, but may indeed call and count it an Army, for its Valour and Vigilancy, it having equalled if not tranſcended ſome of our great bodies, this laſt winter, in Martiall exploits; having had private Intelligence thereof, watched them narrowly, and at a fit oportunity fell upon the convoy thereof neer unto Dorcheſter, ſurpriſed them and all their Horſe, Armes, and Ammunition, and bravely took from them the ſaid 3000. l. in gold and ſilver, and carryed all away with them to Pool: a brave and ſuddain unexpected accommodation to Valiant Captain Bingham, to be imployed for the uſe of his Forces in the ſaid Town.

About the 24.A moſt dangerous plot againſt Nottingham Town and Caſtle diſcovered. of this inſtant alſo came moſt certain information by Letters from Notingham to London, of a moſt admirable and marvellous deliverance of the ſaid Town and Caſtle, from a moſt bloody plot, intended againſt it, by the Kings baſe and bloody Cormorants; and alſo a very great Victory obtained by the Town and Caſtle upon the ſaid Enemies on the happy diſcovery thereof, which was thus related.

Some Horſes laden with ſacks went from Newcaſtle toward Notingham, Cavaliers in Womens apparrell.and about 30. Cavaliers or treache…ous Cormorants with them, ſome of them in the habits of plain Country men, others of them like unto homely country-women, in womens apparrell, (ſee here the devilliſh audacity and craft of the ſons of darkneſſe) who all with great confidence and undaunted audaciouſneſſe, paſſed p. 164thus along as if they had been going to Nottingham Market; but comming to the Court of Guard, they were examined, and made anſwer, That they had brought corn to ſell in the Market: But it pleaſed God that ſome of the Souldiers perceived ſomething to ſtick out in the ſuppoſed womens boſomes, which bred an occaſion of ſome miſtruſt; and the Captain of the Guard being there, and taking it into conſideration,Sacks of Corn turn'd into powder, piſtols and match. he cauſed the women to be layd hold on, and to be ſearched, and withall bad the ſeeming Country-men to ſhut out the corn, in a place which he had appointed them, and promiſed to pay for it, which they could no wayes avoyd, but go they muſt, though but with heavie hearts; in which mean time the women were ſearched, who, in the ſearch proved men, and every one of them provided of his weapon,The cavalerian treacherous Metamorphoſis diſcovered. under their coats (which, it ſeems, was that which ſtuck out ſo) and the pretended ſacks of corn being emptied, were found to be powder, Piſtols, and Match. Hereupon theſe couzening Cormorants were further examined, but were very unwilling to confeſſe the Plot for all this, onelyonly they ſaid they were ſent as Spies from Newark, but the prudent Governour (before whom they were now brought) ſeriouſly examining the buſineſſe, and being too old a bird to be caught or couzend with ſuch chaffe,The Governour of Nottingham threats the cavalerian cormorants the racke, to confeſſe the plot. took match and cauſed their fingers to be tyed therewith, and told them what they muſt truſt to, except they would ſpeedily diſcover the Plot. Hereupon they fearing preſently to be truſt up, proteſted, they would make the Plot fully, and faithfully, known unto them, that they were ſorry they were ſo unfortunate to go about ſo wicked a deſign, and confeſt as follows. That in the night theſe Cormorants, and ten more,The confeſſion & diſcovery of the plot by the enemies themſelves. being in all about 40. in number, ſhould with their piſtols and other weapons have fallen upon the Court of guard on a ſudden, and ſo put them all to the ſword, at which time a party of horſe and foot ſhould be ready to march into the Towne, and put all to the ſword that ſtirr'd to make any the leaſt reſiſtance, and thus to take all into their owne hands, and they aſſured them that the ſaid ſtrength of horſe and foot would certainely be there that night. Whereupon the moſt valiant and vigilant Governour being not a litle joyfull,Preparation to encounter the enemy by night. that it had thus graciouſly pleaſed the Lord to diſcover this plot, prepared that night for the enemies comming, and had provided a ſtrength to be ready at the time appointed, who (juſt accordingly as 't was made knowne) came that night, and being diſcovered by Nottingham forces, our men couragiouſly iſſued out and ſet p. 165upon them, ſpeedily put them to the rout and retreat, took priſoners between 2 and 300 of them,A brave victory obtained againſt the enemie, beſide the diſcovery and defeat of their plot. and had they not wheeled about ſo ſoon; there could ſcarce have a man of them eſcaped them; the reſt fled away in great diſorder, ſome ſwam over the river, to ſave their lives for haſte, others betook them to horſe back, ſome to hedges, to hide themſelves for the time, and there were afterward about an 100. found dead in the river, who it ſeemes were in their haſty flight drowned; and our men took above 300 Armes, and many Horſe; beſides the admirable and bleſſed deliverance from this baſe Plot, and their barbarous intended cruelty therein.

And here, good Reader, I may very fitly (there not having fallen out any other matter of great concernment, this monethmonth) caſt Anchor, and give our Arke a little reſt in the harbour of this Mount-Ararat, A ſummary recitall and gratefull review of al this Moneths Parliamentary mercies.a little while to re-collect our ſerious thoughts and moſt gratefull recogitations and ſummary reperuſalls of all the moſt excellent and eminent mercies and rich Parliamentary-merchandizes of this moneths proſperous Voyage through the boyſterous and billowing Ocean of our Kingdomes ſad inteſtine bloody diſtractions and diſturbances. As namely,

Firſt, in reciting renowned Col. Maſſyes brave ſurpriſall of 1Colonell Sir Henry Talbot in his Quarters, with the brave prizes and purchace obtained thereby.

In valiant and virtuous Sir Iohn Meldrums, taking of the Iſle of 2Axholme, in Yorkeſhire.

The happy, prudent, and politick eſtabliſhment of a Councill of 3State, for the more ſute and ſecret managing of the moſt important affaires of all the three Kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

The happy and timely diſcovery of the dangerous plot againſt Southampton.

The nullifying, and foolifying of the Oxonian Propoſitions for a 5falſely pretended Peace, thereby to have retarded, and prejudiced the Parliaments proceedings; together with the ſequeſtring and ſelling away of Malignants goods, for the publike uſe, immediately thereupon ſetled and reſolved on.

The many various and victorious defeates and performances of 6the Parliaments Forces, both by the noble and renowned Lord Fairfaix, Sir William Conſtable in the North; and the reſt of the Parliaments Forces in the Weſterne parts of the Kingdom; interception p. 166of dangerous Letters to the State, and other ſucceſſefull enterpriſes.

The happy and holy reſolution of our moſt famous Parliamentary Statiſts, in confirming and expatiating the progreſſe of the Solemn-League, 7or Covenant, throughout the whole Kingdome of England, and Dominions of Wales, to be taken by all, of all ſorts of people, in Cities, or Cou…tries within their power and juriſdiction.

In the ſingular good ſucceſſe yet further enlarged by the good 8hand of God unto us in the North, by Sir William Conſtable, at Sea, by Captaine Swanley at Milford-Haven; by Colonell Mitton, and the mighty preſervation of Cheſhire.

The pious and prudent care taken by our Religious Parliamentary 9Senators for the regulating of the Government of the Church, and about Preachers in London.

And laſtly, in the good ſucceſſe of our Parliamentary Forces in 10Northampton, Yorke, Pool, and the marveilous deliverance of Nottingham Town and Caſtle, from that moſt deſperate and deepe deſigne by the Royall Cormorants; together with the brave Victory which God gave unto ours there, immediatly upon the diſcovery of that peſtilent Plot.

All which religiouſly recollected, and wiſely reviewed, will amount to thus much, even a copious Cornucopia, of rare and faire Mercies of the Lord, ſtill continued, and enlarged to worthleſſe, and wretched England, a ſcelerous and very ſinfull Nation; yet, I ſay, all theſe precious particulars aboundantly declaring and cleering the truth of all herein intended;Gods Arke over-topping the worlds waves ſwelling. namely, How our God hath moſt graciouſly and gloriouſly cauſed this his deare Darling, his holy Arke, his precious Cauſe (thus maintained by our ever bleſſed Parliamentarie Worthies) to over-top, and ſafely riſe, and ride above all the worlds boyſterous and ſwelling Waves, ſtill ſtruggling and ſtriving to overturne it. And therefore plentifull enough to cauſe us all to confeſſe, with holy Moſes, Exod. 19. 4.Exod 19:4That we have all ſeene what the Lord hath done to our Egyptian Malignants; and how he hath born us up with Eagles wings, and brought us ſo neere unto himſelfe. And therefore, with the pious Prophet, moſt gratefully and graciouſly to acknowledge; That all theſe Mercies come forth from the Lord of Hoſt, Eſay 28. 29.Isa 28:29who is wonderfull in Counſell, and moſt excellent in working wonders. And now to proceed.

p. 167Thus having a little heere made a ſtay,March. 1643. and refreſhed our Weather beaten Barke, and in ſome meaſure fitted it for this next ſucceeding Moneths Voyage; I ſhall now cheerfully put forth againe, and lanch into the Maine. And firſt of all acquaint the Reader, that about the beginning of this inſtant March, A returne of Prayer.(as a happy return of Prayer, on the laſt MonethMonth day of Humiliation) came certaine intelligence,Biddle-houſe taken by Sir Tho. Fairfax and valiant Col. Ridgley. that Bidle-houſe upon the edge of Staffordſhire, and neere Cheſhire, was taken, or rather, with diſcretion ſurrendred, to that moſt famous and faithfull Commander, Sir Thomas Fairefax, and that moſt valiant and loyall Patriot, Col. Ridgeley; which houſe was of ſo great conſequence, that by this meanes, all the Moore-Landers are freed from the great annoyance of a vexatious Enemy,The Priſoners & prizes taken and in a condition to aſſiſt their neighbour Cheſhire. In which foreſaid Houſe, were alſo taken the Lord Brereton, (who was ſuppoſed to be taken before, but it was a meere miſtake) and with him 4 Colonels, 200 Common-Souldiers, 500 Armes, and great ſtore of riches, Plate, Gold, and Silver.

Alſo that the Forces of our moſt renowned Lord General (whomHis Excellencie the Lord Generals juſt praiſes. we may very fitly Paralel with that famous old Roman Commander, Fabius, Hanibals ſore Antagoniſt; Of whom for his prudence, and providence, it was ſaid by Cicero, that famous Romane Oratour, Vnus homo nobis cunctando reſtituit …om. Grave Maurice Prince of Orange this wiſe Martial Maxime.Or to that moſt renowned old Prince of Orange, Grave Maurice, who was never raſh in any attempt, or waighty enterpriſe he undertooke; yet ever for the greateſt part moſt victorious) but like a grave and diſcreet Generall, ſtill pondered how he might win, and not loſe, I meane, any of his Souldiers: For, he never accounted that Commander valourous, who had not more care of his Souldiers, than of his Towns, Forts, or Caſtles, which either he tooke, or kept; but would, as neere as might be, make both ſure: So, I ſay, this our moſt noble Lord Generall hath all along, moſt prudently carried on all his great deſignes with like wiſdome and Martiall moderation and diſcretion; and about this time, his Forces about Aleſbury and Newport-pannell performed a moſt excellent piece of Service, under the command of renowned and active Colonell Cromwell, and Colonell Craford, without the loſſe of any one man ſlaine on ou… ſide,Hilſey-houſe in Buckingham ſhire, taken. at Hilſey-houſe, when they tooke Sir Arthur Denton, Colonell Smith, and divers other Gentlemen of quallity, together with an 100 Horſe, and about p. 168300 Souldiers, whereof there were about 150 Walloones and Frenchmen, ſuch a pack of bloody Villaines, that the world hardly had the like, they having committed many great Robberies in thoſe parts; all which Walloones therefore and Frenchmen had no quarter given them, but were put to the Sword, as they moſt worthyly deſerved.

And ſince the taking of this Hilſey-houſe, The Princes Troope ſurpriſed about Banbury by Northampton Forces. Another return of Prayerwe were credibly informed, that the brave Garriſon of Northampton went out with a Party, and faced Banbury, and thereabout ſurpriſed all, or the greateſt part of the Princes Troope, and brought them ſafe to Northampton.

About the ſecond alſo of this inſtant (as another rich returne of Prayer, even within two dayes after the laſt Monethly Faſt-day) came certaine Intelligence by Letters out of Yorkeſhire to London, of a brave Victory obtained (through the mercy of our good God) by that valiant Commander, Colonel Lambert, under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, Colonel Lamberts brave victory obtained at Bradford.in the Weſt-Riding of Yorkeſhire, not farre from Bradford; where the Bradford Garriſon underſtanding, that Colonell Lambert advanced that way, to reduce that Towne to the Service of the Parliament, they preſently ſent intelligence of this his reſolution to Yorke, as alſo of the weakeneſſe of this Colonels condition: wherupon a commanded power of Horſe and Foot (led by Colonell Iohn Bellaſis, Governour of York) farre exceeding Colonell Lamberts Forces (at leaſt three to one) in number,The unequality of their Forces. was forthwith diſpatched to releeve them. In briefe, both parties faced each other, not farre from Bradford, and Colonell Lamberts Forces though leſſe in number, did exceede in valour (for, indeed, as reverend Maſter Ienkins, Paſtour of Chriſt-Church in London, ſweetly ſaid,Mr. Ienkins, Paſtor of Chriſt-Church in London, his excellent ſaying. Wee have oftentimes known that God hath had too many to fight his battailes, but never too few) and the encounter grew exceeding hot; and for 7 howres ſpace, the thundring diſputation was fiercely continued; at length (by Gods great mercy) Colonel Lambert perceived he had the better of his enemies; but yet, his neceſſity was ſuch, that for want of Powder, he knew not what to doe; for, none of his Souldiers had, at the moſt, above two charges left. Hereupon,The great ſtraights Colonell Lamberts Forces were put unto a Councill of Warre was ſodainly called, and as ſuddenly it was agreed, that before they would offer any pa…ley to the enemy, the Horſe ſhould charge once more; which, in that deſperat exigence, was performed with ſuch undaunted courage, and reſolution p. 169of ſpirit that the Enemies Horſe not able to withſtand the ſhock,A very furious fight. began a little to give ground, which our Cavalry ſoone obſerving, they followed the advantage, with ſo much impregnable courage, that they forced them to a very diſorderly retreat, and our Foot taking notice of the brave action and advantage their Horſe had gotten,The admirable courage of our horſe and foot as valiantly charged the body of the enemies Infantry, who perceiving their owne Horſe to abandon them, began to leave the Field, and ſwiftly to retire toward Yorke, even with what confuſed ſpeed they poſſibly could.The enemies flie. The brave ſucceſſefull Colonell Lambert could not follow them in purſu…, by reaſon of the great want of Powder, in which at that preſent he was.The priſoners taken and the ſlaine.

But he tooke Priſoners in the fight, Colonell Sir Iohn Girlington, and divers other Officers in Armes, and perſons of quality, and about an 100 common Souldiers; Colonell Bellaſies himſelfe being ſhrewdly put to the ſwitch and Spurre to eſcape; there were above an hundred ſlaine in the place. And thus this valiant Colonell Lambert after this defeat, and brave Victory ſo fortunately atchieved, preſently entred into Bradford, and re-garriſon'd it for the uſe of the Parliament.

About the 5 or 6 of this inſtant March, 1643. came certaine Intelligence, by Letters out of Leicestſhire, to London, that Colonel Haſtings (that noble, or rather, notable Thiefe) having intelligence, that according to the direction of the Parliament, The Covenant taken in Leiceſter.the Nationall Covenant was taking throughout that County, and to that purpoſe, that there were Summons of all the Clergy-men, Church-wardens, and other Officers, to come in to Leiceſter, to take the Covenant, whither accordingly they came, for two or three dayes together, with much freeneſſe and cheerefulneſſe;Col. Haſtings moleſts their proceedings therein. whereof, I ſay, Haſtings having notice, hee with 4 Troops, from Bever-Worton-houſe, courſed about the Countrey, as farre as Dunton, and Litherworth, and tooke neere upon an 100 of the Clerg…emen, and others, and carried them Priſoners to a Town called Hinckley, intending to have carryed them to Aſhby-de-la-Zouch, &c. uſing them very courſely, and threatning to hang all them that ſhould take the Parliaments Covenant; His outrages in the Country.nor were they content with this, but roaving up and downe the Countrey, they tooke away about 80, Kine, Oxen, and Horſe from the poore Countrey people, and one Maſter Warner, a godly Miniſter whom they much abuſed, threatning to hang him. But the intelligence of theſe things comming to Leiceſtor, and they p. 170(moſt juſtly) very ill reſenting theſe outrages,Leiceſter Town heares therof and ſets out againſt Haſtings. and cruelties, loſt no time, but though all their horſe were gone to Newark, yet they reſolved, every private man, to ſpare his owne horſe, and ſo ſent away preſently, an 120 of the Foot Souldiers, and ſome 30 Troopers that lay at Bagworth-houſe, to keep it from the enemy, under the command of Colonell Gray, whom the Lord Gray had made Governour of Leiceſter.

Theſe their Forces being upon their March toward Hinkley, They marched that night ſuddenly to Hinkley againſt the enemy.ſo well ordered the matter, that about eight of the clock that night, they fell moſt valiantly on them in their quarters, undiſcovered, tooke the Enemies Scouts, and without much reſiſtance tooke the outworks, and a piece of Ordnance, and there performed their worke alſo with ſo good ſucceſſe, that they preſently; entred the Towne,God gives ours a brave victory and booty at the Towne of Hinkley. killed one of the Enemies Captains, named Man-waring, and foure or five more of their Souldiers, wounded 9 or 10 of them very ſorely, preſently routed them all, tooke two of their Lieutenants, one Quarter-maſter, one Enſigne, 45 Priſoners, and 140 Horſe, with their Armes, releaſed all the Country men, reſcued all the Cattle, and reſtored them to the right owners, and ſo returned home ſafe with this victory and booty, the next day being Shro…e-Teuſday (as then they called it.) None of Leiceſter men were ſlaine in this defeat, onelyonly 4 wounded, whereof one was caſually hurt by Colonell Gray, becauſe he forgot their Word in the fight,Our word and the Enemies word. which was, God prosper us; the Enemies Word being, For the King. But that which makes this exploit…the more remarkable was, that the Enemy was between 4 and 500 ſtrong, as was credibly informed) and ours not above 200 at the moſt. Our men went on moſt couragiouſly in all the Service, and had they not been too greedy of the prey, we had meere taken them all. And therefore deſire to aſcribe all the honour to God alone.

And about the ſame time alſo came certain intelligence to London, Sir Iohn Stowell ſlain neer Southampton.that valiant and vigilant Colonell Norton had takes ſeverall priſoners in his parts about Southampton, and ſlaine divers of the ſeulking enemies, among whom Sir Iohn Stowell was ſlaine in the place.

About the 18th of this inſtant came yet farther intelligence by letters out of Yorkeſhire to London, Another brave prize taken by Col. Lambert.that, that brave and valiant commander Col: Lambert (ſince his late famous victory at Bradford) hearing that a party were gathering againſt him to oppoſe him, in p. 171the Weſt-riding of Yorkeſhire, be drew out his forces to meet them, and diſcovering the enemy neere Kirkeleſſe conſiſting of about 11. troopes of horſe of the Earle of Newcaſtles, as good as they could make up for the deſigne: Col. Lambert preſently drew out a ſmall partie, which he ſent upon the forlorne hope to draw the enemy into a nooſe,Colonel Lambert his politick ſtratagem to enſnare the Enemie. who diſcovering onelyonly a ſmall party of our men, they marched toward them. Hereupon our men began to retreat, the enemy followed; In which interim, brave Colonell Lambert having wiſely carryed the buſineſſe, had plac…d a party on each ſide of the enemy, ſo as they were ſurrounded ere they were aware. Whereupon, with very litle harme the valiant Colonell ſurprized and cooped them up on three ſides, and there being a river on the fourth ſide, they all became his priſoners irreſiſtibly, ſave only two or three who adventured to ſwim over the river, who whether they were drowned or not was uncertaine, for the river was deepe and dangerous; The noble Colonell tooke priſoners at this time, 4. Lieut. Colonels and Serjeant Maiors, 7. Captaines, 11. Cornets, 300. ſouldiers and other officers, with other purchaſe and prizes which the enemy had pillaged in the Country; a ſore pull from them, and a faire ſtrengthening of us, bleſſed be the Lord for it. And about the very ſame time we had certaine knowledge that Sir William Conſtable Sir Wil. Constable takes Cheſter bridge and Stamford bridge.that moſt pious and prudent commander, and one Captaine Carter had with a very ſmall and unconſiderable loſſe taken two bridges, in the Eaſt-Riding of Yorkeſhire, both of them very conſiderable places for their deſignes, the one called Cheſter-bridge and the other was Stamford-bridge; with them they tooke alſo divers priſoners and three pieces of ordnance there.

Much alſo about the ſame time came credible information to London, that a party of Colonell Waights horſe from Burley-Houſe inCol. Waight at Burley Houſe. Rutlandſhire, went out ſuddenly toward Beaver-caſtle, intelligence having beene given them of a troope of horſe quartered a mile off from the caſtle. Whereupon they with the beſt preparation they could make of ſadle-horſes and others for dragoones (the moſt part of their garriſon troupers, being then out in the ſervice at Newarke ſiege, with Sir Iohn Meldrum) they fell on them in their quarters,The prize taken. tooke divers of them priſoners, and then went neerer the caſtle tooke thence 20. fatt oxen and at leaſt 200. fat ſheep and brought them all away ſafely with them to Burley-Houſe.

And much about the foreſaid time, we were for certain enformed, p. 172at London, that divers ſhips at ſea, full fraught with Iriſh-bloody-rebells bound for Weſtcheſter, About a 1500. Iriſh rogues caſt away in a ſtorme at ſea.met with a great ſtorme (by Gods juſtice and good providence) which ſo violently toſt and ſhattered them, that at leaſt a full regiment conſiſting of 1500. were caſt away and drencht and drown'd in the ſalt ſtreames of the ſea, as they had deſtroy'd others in the gory ſtreames of their blood at land. And about the ſame time it was enformed moſt infallibly, that the noble garriſons of Pool and Warham beat upon the then ignoble Weathercocke, A land ſtorme alſo deſtroyed them from Pool and Wareham garriſons.the Lord Inchiquins regiment of Iriſh bloody Raſcalls in Dorſetſhire with a fierce land-ſtorme, where they tooke divers priſoners 2. pieces of ordnance, killed very many of them, fired their magazine, and returned victoriouſly and ſafely home againe.

About the 10^th of this Inſtant March, came information from Southampton, that a party of Sir Ralph Hoptons horſe came and faced that Town; Whereupon the brave and valiant Governor thereof, Colonell Norton ſent out ſome forces againſt them,Col. Norton at Southampton. who came forth and faced them alſo, whiles other ſome of his forces had placed themſelves in ſome advantagious ambuſcadoes, and upon the ingagement of the reſt in fight, came upon the reere of Hoptons forces, beat them ſoundly, tooke about at leaſt 80. of them priſoners, among whom were 2. Cornets and other officers, whom they ſafely carryed into Southampton.

And that moſt loyall and magnanimous commander,Sir Wil. Belfore in Hampſhire. Sir William Belfore had performed much good ſervice againſt the enemy, neere Baſing-houſe in Hampſhire, where he defeated a party of Baſing forces which ſallyed out of the ſaid Houſe and fell upon his infantrie in their marching that way; But Sir Williams horſe wheeling about and comming in the rear of them, killed 20. on the place, routed 200. horſe and tooke many priſoners, whereof ſome were men of quality. After which he advanced to Newbery and tooke poſſeſſion of the Towne, which the enemies garriſon (underſtanding of his comming toward them) had quite quitted upon his approach thither; at which time he was about 5000. ſtrong in horſe and foot.

And about the ſame time came certaine intelligence from forraine parts (which I here mention, as having reference to our preſent affaires in England) that on the laſt Monethly faſt day of Febr. CHARLES Prince Elector Palatine tooke the Covenant in Holland.laſt, 1643. which was alſo kept at Delph in Holland (the ſame day that ours was in England) by the Engliſh Inhabitants and Merchants there reſiding; and that the Prince Elector Palatine, CHARLES, p. 173ſubſcribed the Solemine-League or Covenant, entred into by the Kingdomes of England and Scotland, and which had beene ſent over and ordered by the Parliament to be taken by all the Engliſh in all thoſe Provinces; and that many alſo of the Court in Holland have done the like; Alſo that the Swedes had about that time taken the King of Denmarkes caſtle of Elſenburge, which guards the Sound on Norway ſide; and that they had then alſo taken two Daniſh ſhips with 1200. of the king of Denmarkes ſouldiers. And (which is of greateſt concernment and moſt remarkable) that the Swedes were then expediting an Embaſſie to the Parliament of England, The Swedes alſo deſire to aſſociate with England againſt Rome.wherein they deſired (the firſt motion wherof we touched before) that they might aſſociate themſelves with the kingdomes of England and Scotland for the mutuall defence of one another in point of the Proteſtant religion againſt the Popiſh party, in any part of the world. Thus good Reader, we ſee ſtill dayly, how the kingdome of Antichriſt, like Sauls houſe, decayes and decreaſes more and more; and therefore how juſtly and joyfully we may and muſt expect the Houſe of David to encreaſe,The Houſe of Saul decreaſes and the Houſe of David increaſes. flouriſh and prevaile in all parts of the earth, and thereby our glorious hopes more ſweetly and firmely to be lifted up in expectation of the moſt happy, holy Halcyon dayes of the Church of Chriſt in this laſt age of the world: Amen, and Amen.

About the 12. of this inſtant came farther intelligence alſo out of Yorkeſhire, That the moſt noble Lord Fairfax did ſtill enlarge his quarters in thoſe parts;Sir William Constable ſtill victorious. and that his two moſt valiant Champions, Colonell Sir William Conſtable and Colonell Lambert grew more and more proſperous and victorious: And in particular, that Colonell Conſtable marching to Yorke, quartered at a place called Pocklington, and from thence to the enemies quarters, and faced their Garriſon at Tadcaſter-Bridge, within ten miles of Yorke, on the East ſide, Tadcaſter taken.fell valiantly on the Enemies, and in ſhort time took it; In which Ga…riſon he took 10 Captaines, Lieutenants, and Commiſſioners of Array, beſides other Officers about 200 Souldiers, 300 Armes, 3 peices of Ordnance, 14 Barrells of powder, beſides match and other good prizes.

Much about this time,The good effects of the Parliaments Declaration to ſummon in delinquents from Oxford. the Declaration of both Kingdomes, for the comming in of the Oxford partee by the firſt of March, 1643. had a great influence upon many of the more ingenuous, moderate, and diſcreet delinquents among them, ſo as divers of note and quality came in before, and ſome …ince the time aſſigned, and very willingly p. 174took the Solemn League and Covenant: Some of the moſt conſiderable of whom, I have here thought fit to expreſſe by name, viz. The Earl of Weſtmerland, the Earl of Monmouth, the Earl of Thanet, The names of reclaimed Delinquents.Sir Francis L…e, one of the Gentlemen of the Kings Bedchamber, the Lord Paget, who went to Warwick-Caſtle, the Earle of Carlile, Sir Anthony Aſhley-Cooper, Baronet, high Sheriffe of Dorſetſhire and Governour of Weymouth, Sir Edward Deering, Sir Iohn Evelin of Hampſhire, Sir Iohn Evelin of Surrey, Sir William Acton, an Alderman of London, Mr. Roger Pits, Mr. Maſon, Mr. Carpenter and many other, moſt of them men of eminency and great Eſtates, who came to London and took the Covenant; beſides many who had ſubmitted themſelves to the Parliaments Garriſons, at Northampton, Warwick and other places, too numerous to be here particularized; and many more would fain have come away thence, had they not taken ſuch a ſtrict courſe in all the Kings Quarters to retain and reſtrain them, by ſetting up Gibbets at Oxford and threatning them moſt terribly with no leſſe than hanging if theyGallow… ſet up at Oxford to deter men from falling off from the Kings partee. were taken in any ſuch defection. Here alſo I conceive it not unfit (but in much pertinent meaſure conſonant to theſe our Parliamentary mercies) to make mention of that moſt vile and baſe Atheſticall defection of that moſt ignoble and perjured Knight, Sir Richard Geenvile, which, I ſay, may juſtly come in as no ſmall mercy to us, in regard of the great deſigne of the Parliament, Sir Rich. Greenvile his baſe defection from us, a great mercy to us.(about that time) againſt the enemies thereof, a mercy, I ſay, that he went then away (ſince he was ſo rotten at the core, and had ſo falſe a heart to the State and Parliament) ſo ſoon, when as he did us ſo little hurt, where as had he ſtayed till our Forces had gone into the Field, and had been to joyn in Battail with the Enemy, (as not long after they did) he might (eſpecially being then alſo in ſuch an eminent place of power and truſt in the Army)Sir Faithleſſe Forteſcue fitly remembred here. like his brother in iniquity, Sir Faithleſſe Forteſcue at Edgehill Battell, he might, I ſay, have done us a far greater miſchiefe in the fight, than he did by this his baſe flight. But for this his ſo wicked and unworthy tergiverſation, he was followed with a moſt juſt reward; for upon the 15. of this inſtant March, being Fryday, according to an Order of the Councill of War,2 Gibbets erected to Sir R. Greenviles eternall infamie. there were two Gibbets erected, the one over againſt the Royall Exchange in Cornhill in London, and the other in the Pallace yard at Weſtminſter, whereat Proclamation was made by the Provoſt Marſhall, and trumpeters of his Excellencies Armie, declaring p. 175Sir Richard Grinvile (that grand Apoſtate and Ren…gado of England) a Traiter unto the Kingdome; which Proclamation was fixed upon both the foreſaid Gibbets, in writing, in the words following.

Whereas Richard Greenvile, A Coppy of the Proclamation fixed on the gibbets aforeſaid.hath of late preſented his Service unto the Parliament, and hath been entertained by the Parliament as a Colonell of a Regiment of Horſe. And whereas the ſaid Greenvile contrary to his promiſe, ingagement, and honour of a Souldier, hath baſely, unworthily, and faithleſly deſerted the ſaid ſervice, and felloniouſly carryed away the money, paid unto him in regard of the ſaid Service. Theſe are to proclaime the ſaid Richard Greenvile, Traitor, Rogue, Villaine and Schellum, not onelyonly uncapable of military imployment, but of all acquaintance and converſation with men of honeſty and honour: And this Proclamation in the mean time to be nailed on the gallows, whilſt it ſhall pleaſe God to deliver the ſaid Greenvile into the hands of juſtice, that he himſelf may ſupply the room of this Proclamation.

Done this 15. of March 1643.

Much alſo about the ſame time,The Parliaments moſt godly care taken for the pious inſtitution of the Kings children at Saint Iameſes. by an Ordinance of Parliament there was again, farther Order taken (beſides what I have already mentioned, herein, before) for the more holy and happy inſtitution and education of his Majeſties two children at St. Jameſes, where ſeverall new Officers and Attendants were appointed to waite on the Duke of Glouceſter and the Princeſſe Elizabeth, as namely, reverend, religious, and learned Mr. Torſhell to be Houſhold Chaplain; and that truely pious and gracious Gentleman Mr Humphries to be Mr. Comptroler, &c. and that thoſe which were Malignant, corrupt and Popiſhly affected, ſhould be quite diſplaced and removed thence, and the former Prelaticall Prieſts to be alſo utterly caſheired, and in their ſtead, reverend and truely pious and Orthodoxly learned Mr. Stephen Marſhall, Mr. Ieremiah Whitaker, Mr. Caryll, Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick, and Mr. William Spurſtow were aſſigned to preach conſtantly by turnes before them, thus by Gods gracious aſſiſtance and ſpeciall bleſſing to inſtill holy and holeſome principles into their Princely hearts.

About the 16. of this inſtant came certain Intelligence by LettersBredport and much good prize taken by brave Capt. Thomas Pyne. from Lime to London, that beſides that former gallant exploit of the Garriſon of Lime in Dorſetſhire, in taking of the Town of Bredport, and between an 120 and 140 horſe, and good ſtore of p. 176Armes, Ammunition, pillage, and many priſoners; which exploit was performed by that much to be renowned and moſt valiant and wiſe Commander Captain Thomas Pyne, Pynes of Lime in Dorſetſhire, Captain Tho. Pyne of Lime in Dorſetſhire his moſt worthy praiſe.whom fame hath not in any thing ſo much injured, as that his name and honour hath been till now, retarded and kept under a cloud of ſilence; both in his accompanying the ſeverall precedent atchieuments, of that brave and famous Garriſon, wherein he, under God, hath had a ſpeciall intereſt. This moſt Loyall and active Commander, I ſay ſince the taking of Bredport iſſued out of Lyme with a party of horſe and dragoones, againſt the enemy in their garriſon at Burley-Houſe, within ſeven miles of Lyme, Burleigh-houſe neere Lime in Dorſetſhire, taken.belonging to Count Arundell, a rand Papiſt, which Houſe is very ſtrongly ſcituated, with a fair moat about it, and 2. pieces of ordnance in it. Yet notwithſtanding, by aſſault, theſe valiant aſſailants entred the ſame, tooke above 50 …riſoners (whom they carryed to Lyme the reſt eſcaped) the ſaid two pieces of ordnance alſo, and preſently put a garriſon of their owne men into it, of about 200 men to defend and maintane the ſame by meanes whereof they compelled contribution from at leaſt 11 adjacent pariſhes which before payd the Kings Army, beſides Bredport within a mile thereof.

Much alſo about the ſame time, namely, the middeſt of this inſtant March, An extract out of the relation of the brave reducing and ſecuring Pembrookeſhire to the Parliament, by that renowned Sea Commander, Cap. Swanley, written more at large elſewhere by Cap. VVill: Smith, Vice-Admiral in the ſame Voyage.1643. came certaine information, by Letters out of Wales, and eſpecially, about the County of Pembroke, that, that moſt loyall, couragious, and ſucceſſefull Captaine, and Commander by Sea, pious Captaine Swanley, with certaine good Ships arrived, by Gods good providence, in Milford-haven, on the coaſts of Wales, where at their arrivall, they found at Anchor, in the Haven, the Globe of Bristol, and a ſmall Ship, which arrived there in Milford about 8 daies before they came in, and had brought from Briſtoll; Ammunition to fortifie the Harbour, both great Gunnes, Powder, Bullet, and other proviſions, and had landed them, where after ſome oppoſition by the Enemy againſt them, and many ſhot exchanged on both ſides, the Admirall with the joynt conſent of the reſt of the Commanders, built a Fort on the Southſide of the ſaid Harbour over againſt the Pyll (where the Enemy was fortified on the North ſide of the Harbour) and placed therein a Demy-Cannon, wherewith they played into the Enemies Workes, which proved a great encouragement un to many in the County (when they heard of it) to adhere unto the well-affected party, who at that time were p. 177very weake and inconſiderable.

This Fleet being thus ſafely ſetled in the Harbour, Colonell Laughorne, a pious and ſingularly well-affected Gentleman of that Countie, together with the Mayor of Pembrooke, Colonel Laughorne and the Mayor of Pembrook come aboard the Leopard.a very religious Gentleman alſo, came aboard the Leopard, and informed the Admirall with the feeble condition, the well-affected partie was in, in thoſe parts; as alſo of the ſtrength, power, and inſolency of the adverſe partie. For, after the enemy had Fortified the Northſide of the Harbour, they intended alſo to have fortified the Southſide within a day or two after, had not this their arrivall thus happily fruſtrated that deſigne of the Enemies; and then how difficult (if not impoſſible) the entrance into that Haven had been, any one may judge.

The Earle of Carbery had voted (they mightily preſuming on their ſtrength,The Earle of Carberies pride and menacing inſolencies. and feareleſſe of all oppoſition, the Haven being once ſo fortified) hee would plunder the Town of Pembrooke, and the houſes of the Gentlemen, who had in any meaſure adhered to the Parliaments Party, and that their perſons ſhould be put to death by cruell tortures; and the Mayor of Pembrooke (they gave out) ſhould be put into a barrell of nailes, and brought to Prikspill, and from the top of a hill ſhould bee rowled downe into the Sea. Which report ſo terrified the Gentlemen of the County, that they fled from their houſes, and hid themſelves in obſcure places in diſguiſes, and ſent their wives and children to Tynby, where this Atheiſticall Lord lay, humbly to ſupplicate his Mercy and protection; Among whom there was a reverend aged Gentlewoman, the wife of one Maſter Griffith White, A remarkable paſſage full of ſerious note and compaſſion.who had in her houſe 8 Sonnes, and 8 Daughters, who were Virgines, and foure ſmall Grand-children, in all twenty in number, with divers Servants both Male and Female. This Gentlewoman preſſing his Lordſhip to commiſerate her ſad eſtate, in caſe her houſe ſhould bee plundered, deſiring his protection; His Lordſhip replyed, hee would grant her none; The Gentlewoman with teares in her eyes deſired his Lordſhip to looke on her Children, who, in point of honour, he ſtood engaged to protect, as alſo the Chaſtity of Matrons, and Virgines; the which without his Lordſhips protection, ſhe ſaid, would undoubtedly be violated, and her Family periſh. To which his Atheiſticall Lordſhip replyed, with divers reproaches, and ſome jeſts among, That it were better her Children and Familie ſhould periſh, than that the the King ſhould want meanes to perfect his deſignes; To which ſhe p. 178ſaid, his Majeſty could not want, if he would be graciouſly pleaſed to be content with what God,The inhumane carriage of the Earle of Carbery toward a grave Gentlewoman. and the Laws have provided: At which his Lordſhip flung out of the roome, leaving the Gentlewoman with teares in her eyes, and ſo ſhee was faine to depart to her houſe, full of griefe and penſive thoughts. A paſſage of ſo barbarous a deportment of a Lord to a grave Gentlewoman, that I beleeve, Hiſtory can ſcarſe Parallel to have proceeded from any Heathen.

The lamentable condition of the well-affected,What ſtrength the wel-affected Party in Pem: were able to raiſe to defend themſelves. being by the Admirall and Commanders diſcuſſed and diſputed; It was demanded of Colonell Laughorne, and the Mayor of Pembrooke, what Force the well-affected party was able to raiſe to oppoſe his Lordſhip; It was by them replied, that they could not raiſe above 40 Horſe, and about 60 Foot: Then it was demanded, in caſe there ſhould bee 200. Seamen landed, well armed, whether they would joyne with them, and be active and reſolute in their owne defence againſt this inſolent Lord, otherwiſe, they muſt prepare to goe away with the Fleet.

The Colonell and Mayor with the well-affected Gentry,The brave reſolution of the wel-affected in Pembrookeſhire. like gallant men, who had rather dye, than out-live the honour and happineſſe of their Countrey, reſolved cheerefully and faithfully to put themſelves under the providence of the Almighty, and with the help of the Seamen, to affront the Enemy, which was without delay put in execution, and ſpeedily and undauntedly fell upon the Garriſon of the Enemies, in a ſtrong hold called Stockpoole, the Mannor-houſe of one Maſter Roger Lort, on which our great Guns having made a breach, after 8 houres aſſault they took, with the loſſe of two of their men, and many wounded on both ſides. Then they fell on another Garriſon of the Enemies, called Treffloyne, within a mile of Tynby, The victorious beginnings & progreſſe of the noble Captaine Swanley and his Company.out of which Towne the Earle of Carbery iſſued with about 200 Horſe and Foot, intending to have relieved the ſaid Garriſon, with whom he faced our Forces, but at whom they let fly a Piece of Ordnance, whereat his Lordſhip wheeled about with all his Forces, and ſwiftly ran into the Towne. Our Forces proſecuting their former aſſault upon the Garriſon, tooke it, and therein 45 Horſe, and 150 Armes, with the loſſe of two men more on our ſide, & ſix on the Enemies. God having given them this good ſucceſſe, they retired to Pembrooke, to refreſh their men, and enable themſelves for a more potent deſigne on the Enemy, intending to oppoſe the whole body of them, which conſiſted of about at leaſt p. 1791200. horſe and foot; but the Earle hearing of this deſigne, and though he had fortified Haverford-Weſt which was their rendevouz, and where moſt of his ſtrength was placed, his Lordſhip like a valiant Commander with 20 horſe,A brave trick of a Welſh commander in chiefe. ſome foot and 4 field pieces, ran away, telling the reſt of the commanders that he rode unto the adjacent Counties to raiſe more forces, and that he would ſuddenly returne.

Now when our men had refreſhed themſelves, they marched forth with ſix field pieces mounted on their carriages, with waggons to convey their ammunition and victuals,A ſtrong Fort at the Pyll taken. and now reſolved firſt to fall on the Fort at the Pyll, which they bravely aſſaulting both by land & by water, with their ordnance, they at laſt entred the Fort by force, which the enemy perceiving cryed quarter, which was granted though they litle deſerved it, as who had formerly vowed that if they proved conquerours, they would kill the doggs, and raviſh the bitches, and drowne the whelps, (meaning us, and the inhabitants their adverſaries,) moſt inhumane language, onelyonly fit for the barbarous and blaſphemous Imps of the Beaſt of Rome. In this Fort we tooke 200.The prize taken in the fort armes, 18. pieces of ordnance; 240. ſouldiers, 26. commanders, and two good ſhips, the Globe of Briſtol forementioned, wherein were twelve pieces of ordnance and another ſhip called the Providence. This brave victory was onelyonly the gift of God unto us, and the purchaſe of his owne ſtrong arme, to him alone therefore be all the praiſe and glory; for in this fight and victory wee loſt not a man of our ſide, either by ſword or ſhot. When the enemy was routed ſome of their ſouldiers fled to Haverford-Weſt, and enformed the commanders there of the loſſe of the Fort, and that al their commanders and ſouldiers therein were taken priſoners.Sir Henry Vaughan and the reſt of his r…ut, their brave deportment on the knowledge of our victory. At which news (it was credibly reported) Sir Henry Vaughan with the reſt of the commanders began to rage, rav…, and ſweare like mad men; and as bears robb'd of their whelps, ran up and downe the ſtreetes, crying out, beat up the drums, gather our horſe and foot together, for we will out this night and be revenged on theſe Round headed Parliament doggs; and having with this bravado drawne their forces into a body, being about 450.; Sir Iohn Stepney, Sir John Stepney an exquiſit welſh-Survey: our.the governour of the Towne, like a prudent Surveyer, and provident over-ſeer, went into the Churchyard, to ſee if he could diſcerne our forces to approach toward Haverford-Weſt, and inſtantly about halfe a mile from the Towne, he diſcovered a heerd of blacke bullockes comming toward p. 180him in the field: Thoſe horned beaſts all in a cluſter, ſo amazed this wiſe knight and brave ſouldier,A herde of blacke Bullocks, miſtaken for an army of men. that being affraid of his owne ſhaddow, his worſhip in his valour ran to the head of their forces, and ſwore by Gods-wounds, the Round-headed dogs were comming; at which report, they all marched out of the Towne, and calling to mind the late valiant example of their brave L. General Carberry, they wheeled about and ran away.The marvellous pretty effects of the Welſh-mens feares. The boyes of the Towne perceiving them to run, fell on the reare and took from them 60, muskets; this diſorder in the reare made thoſe in the front believe that the Round-heads indeed, were cloſe at their heeles, and the pittifull and pannick feare thereof metamorphoſed all our Cozen-Taffees into nimble Mercuries, with winged ſpeed enforcing every man to fly for his life: ſome threw away their armes for h…ſt, and thoſe that had the charge of the powder flung it into the river, that ſo the Round-heads might make no uſe of it againſt them; and in this manner and by this meanes was the Town of Haverford-Weſt ſurrendred unto us. That ſaying of wiſe King Solomon, Levit. 26. 17.Lev 26:17or rather of God himſelfe, Solomons teacher,Prov. 28. 1.Prov 28:1 being here moſt truely verified. The wicked flyeth when no man purſueth him; whereas the righteous is as bold as a Lyon. When the enemy fled out of this Towne they left behind them at leaſt an 100.Haverford-weſt ſtrangly taken without looking for (as yet) or fighting for. red coats which had never beene worne: a good quantity of victualls and ten pieces of ordnance all which argued they wanted nothing but a good conſcience, and a good cauſe to maintaine.

Thence our forces marched (being plentifully repleniſhed and furniſhed with all neceſſaries) toward Tynby, whither they being come they preſently ſummoned the Towne to be ſurrendred to them,Our forces marched toward Tynby & ſummon it. but the governour returned a negative anſwer; hereupon we adviſed and required them to ſend out of the Towne all the women and children, aſſuring them that unleſſe they did comply and that ſpeedily, they would in diſcharge of their dutie, uſe their utmoſt endeavour to force them thereunto; In all which wee receiving no ſatisfaction from the Governour or Mayor of the Towne, our men fell to playing on the Towne with their ordnance, both by ſea, and by land, both our ſeamen and landmen performing admirable good ſervice, and the Towne alſo maintaining the aſſaults with brave reſolution,Admirable reſolution in the aſſaulting of Tynby on both ſides. as ours more bravely aſſaulted them even to the face of death and danger. Commiſſary Guine the Governour of the Towne, ſhewed himſelfe indeed to be a man of an undanted ſpirit, iſſuing out of the Town, and bringing up his ſmall ſhot, and making good their owne p. 181ambuſcadoes;Commiſſary Guyne, a ſtout ſouldier, but a deſperate enemy to Gods Cauſe. but his hot valour expoſed the Towne to unavoydable miſery, by his furious vowing he would neither give nor take quarter; whereby he forced himſelfe into much danger, for leading on his men to face our ſmall ſhot, who plyed their muskets ſo thick and nimbly, that his men forſooke him, and himſelfe received a ſhot under his right pap, which enforced him to retreat, who was no ſooner entred the Towne,The enemies Mr Gunner ſlaine. but the maſter Gunner thereof was alſo ſlaine. In all which brave and reſolute fight, we muſt not omit to manifeſt the high praiſe of Gods providence toward us; for our ſmall ſhot having forced the enemy out of their ambuſcadoes,The rare providence of God over ou… men. purſued them cloſe to the Town-gate, their gunner having laden a piece of ordnance with caſe-ſhot, and watching for ſuch an opportunity, having alſo traviſed the gun ſaid to thoſe that ſtood by, Now you ſhal ſee me make a ſlaughter of theſe Roundheads, Harm watch, harme catch.at which word a ſmall ſhot from our forces hit him on the head, after which he never ſpake word more, but dyed inſtantly; which fall of his ſo daunted the enemy, both commanders and ſouldiers, that forthwith they cryed out for quarter, and ſo we by Gods mighty mercy and goodneſſe obtained the Towne of Tynby, Tynby taken though of almoſt impregnable ſtrengh. The prize taken.which was held by the judgement of the moſt judicious, almoſt impregnable, it being not to be entred but by ſingle file. In this Towne wee tooke 3 or 400 priſoners, as many armes, 7 pieces of ordnance, all which were taken on Saturday March the 9. 1643 and on the Lords day, March the 10. Carewcaſtle was alſo ſurrendred unto ours;Carew Caſtle taken. and therein alſo was happily conſummated the totall ſubduing of all the malignant and inſulting party in the whole County of Pembrooke. Wee tooke from the Earle of Carbery and his complices in this action,A ſum of the totall Victory over the Earl of Carbury. 4 caſtles, 53 pieces of ordnance, about 6 or 700 ſouldiers, as many armes, and the whole County, I ſay, of Pembrooke ſubdued, who thereupon moſt unanimouſly took the Covenant to ſtand to Gods cauſe for the King and Parliament. In all which the Lord of hoſtes gave his ſervants the victory over his and their enemies, and gives us all therein, juſt cauſe to put our confidence in him, and in that comfortable ejaculation of holy David to exult and ſay. By this we know that thou, Lord favoureſt us, in that thou haſt not ſuffered our enemies to triumph over us. And now to proceed.

About the foreſaid 16 or 17 of March alſo, came true information of more very good ſucceſſe with our ſhips at Sea, about the Iſle of Garnſey, performed and obtained by Captain Iordan, who p. 182went out with a ſquadron of ſhips well man'd (a part of braveCapt. Jordanes good ſucceſſe at ſea, chaſing the Earle of Marlbrough the kings admiral. Captain Swanlyes fleet, before famouſly mentioned) to beat the Earl of Malborough, the Admirall of the Kings fleet at Sea, who was gone to thoſe parts of Garnſey and Ierſie, to get ſouldiers for the Kings Service, which yet he could not effect, as he hoped; and at laſt, Captain Jordan underſtood that the Earl was got to St. Mallows, whither he thereupon ſet ſail, and came to Cape Tryhull, whence he chaſed two Veſſels, the bigger of them fleeting towards Saint Mallows, Two ſhips taken at ſea, with their prizes.he took by the way, which had been a ſhip belonging to Lyme, and was bound for Topſham, laden with Canvaſe cloth, wine, &c. of burthen an 110 tuns, and bearing 13 peeces of Ordnance: The other ſhip was chaſed by Captain Thomas, who forced her on ſhoare, and the next day got her off, being alſo laden with Canvas, and belonging unto and bound for Topſham, of 36 tuns, and ſhe being ſhot between wind and water, they unladed her goods into their own Ships.Two ſhips more & their prizes taken. The next day plying the Cape aforeſaid, they took two Barks more of Topſham, laden with Wollen cloath, Iron, Train Oyle, &c. bound for Saint Mallows, of 30 tun a peece, and of value able to defray the whole charg of the ſhips then in company. But the Earl having got into Saint Mallows they could not reach him, nor durſt he ſtir forth all the time of their waiting for him there, and ſo they miſſed of that hoped oportunity to have bickered with him.

About the 18th. of this inſtant came certain information by Letters from Gloucester, that although the ammunition, intended for Glouceſter could not wholely be conveyed thither with ſafty, by reaſon of the great partee of the Enemies thereabout, yet that Colonel Maſſey, Gloceſters good condition.that moſt famous Commander, having ſent an expreſſe to the Earle of Denby, Sir Thomas Fairfax, and Colonel Bear, That he was able by Gods aſſiſtance, to keep the Town 6. moneths longer; yea, though he were cloſely beſieged, and that therefore, if any deſigne or opportunity were offered them, he prayed they would purſue it. Since which time neither of thoſe brave Commanders had beene without action, and for confirmation thereof, beſides their former ſervices,Col. Beares brave defeat given to the Earle of Northampton at Cambden. it was particularly advertiſed by ſeverall Letters, That the valiant Commander, Colonell Beare having intelligence of a Regiment of the Earle of Northamptons, quartered at Cambden, in Glouceſterſhire, he drew forth a Party of his Horſe, who fell upon the Enemy there, routed the whole Regiment, tooke 80 p. 183Horſe, about 10 Officers, whereof one was a Major, and 2 Captaines, 2 Horſe Colours, and 5 Foot Enſignes, an 100 Priſoners, much Armes and Ammunition, and purſued them as farre as Burford in Oxfordſhire, and afterward brought the Priſoners, and Prize to Warwick-caſtle.

About the 20 th.Col. Maſſey ſtil victorious. of this inſtant, alſo wee had certaine intelligence by more Letters from Glouceſter, that, that valiant, faithful and renowned Gentlemen Colonell Maſſey, whoſe actions render him truly Honourable (for Virtue is the badge of Honour, as Vice is of Shame) had taken from the Enemy, about 8 Miles from Glouceſter, 35 Horſe, and ſome priſoners, and returned back ſafely and ſeaſonably to Glouceſter, having intelligence, that ſir Iohn Winter his Popiſh neighbour, was at ſome places in the Forreſt of Deane, to raiſe, men by virtue of the Commiſſion of Array; whereupon he forthwith marched toward him, and moſt bravely defeated his deſigne, tooke about 60 Horſe of his priſoners, and victoriouſly returned home againe. Thus moſt gallantly and vigilantly awing his Enemies on every ſide.

And about the 22^d.Our Brethren of Scotland paſſe over the River Tyne without reſiſtance. of this inſtant March came Letters from the Army of our loyall Brethren of Scotland, which were read in the Parliament, certifying, that they had then paſſed over the River Tyne, at three ſeverall places without any oppoſition, and ſhortly after, were poſſeſſed of Sunderland, about which time the Enemies ſhewed themſelves upon a hill, within two miles of the Towne, but ſoone retreated without giving one ſtroake; and then the Enemies Forces of Durham and Newcaſtle joyning, and by the acceſſion of new forces from Yorkeſhire, ſuppoſed to be about 14000 Horſe and Foot, they ſhewed themſelves againe, in a body within 3 miles of Sunderland, whereupon the Scots drew out, put themſelves in Battalia, both Armies ſtanding ſo all day long, and lay in the field all night, within halfe a mile, at moſt, of each other; the like they did, the next day, and the next night after, but the Enemy having the advantage of ground,Newcaſtles great loſſe of Souldiers lying in the field. the Scots could not engage their Army without great diſadvantage, and through the unpaſſablenes of the hedges and ditches betwixt them. Within 3 or 4 dayes after, in the morning, the Enemy retreated apace toward Durham, and the Scots ſent out a Partie after them, who skirmiſhed upon their Reare, and tooke ſome of them Priſoners; by whom they received information, that Newcaſtles Forces lying in the Field, p. 184in the clod Snowey weather, and in the skirmiſh had loſt at leaſt, 800. Horſe and men, kill'd, and runne away. And within 3 or 4 dayes after, the whole body of the Scots Army advanced againſt the Enemy toward Durham, leaving about two Regiments at Sunderland, for the ſecurity of that place.

About the 24th. of this inſtant, came certaine information by Letters from Lyme to London, Captain Tho. Pynes moſt brave defeat given to the Cormorants at Colliton, neer unto Lyme.that Colonell Wear going from Lyme with a party of neere upon 7 or 8 ſcore foot and Dragoons into Devon, at leaſt, 14 miles from his Garriſon, to joyne with ſome well-affected perſons that had invited him to come thither, and were then in Armes, but unhappily ſet upon by the Enemy, who kill'd and ſurpriz'd moſt of them before the Colonel could get to them. Whereupon the Colonell retreated to Lyme, and the Priſoners which the Enemy tooke, they carryed to Colliton, a Towne within 4 miles of Lyme; and to expreſſe their joy for this Victory, they preſently fell a drinking and carouſing in exeſſive manner.

But the vigilant and valiant Captaine Pyne, Security is the bane of ſafety.of whom we have made mention before, having got good intelligence thereof, loſt no time, but that very night went out of Lyme, with a party of Horſe to Colliton, being come thither, they firſt killd the Sentinels, then entred the Towne, and ſodainly fell upon them in the night, and height of their ſecure jollitie;The priſoners and prize taken. where he tooke a Collonell, 2 or 3 Captaines, and other Officers, releaſed all their owne Priſoners, tooke above 60 common Souldiers, with divers Horſe and Armes, and brought them all ſafe into Lyme. By which excellent exploit (all things rightly reckoned and accounted) one would thinke they had little cauſe to boaſt of that dayes good ſucceſſe, much leſſe of a Victory.

And about the 26 of this inſtant March, my intelligence put me in minde heere to make mention of Gods admirable and moſt wiſe ordering and diſpoſing of things to the glory of his Name, joy of his children, and vexation of the baſe Brats of Rome, and malignant Enemies of Reformation; Excellent Reformation of the Cathedral at Westminster.in the moſt rare and ſtrange alteration of the face of things in the Cathedrall Church at Weſtminſter. Namely, that whereas there was wont to be heard, nothing almoſt but Roaring-Boyes, tooting and ſqueaking Organ-Pipes, and the Cathedrall Catches of Morley, and I know not what traſh; now the Popiſh-Altar is quite taken away, the bellowing Organs are demoliſht, and pull'd downe, the treble, or rather, trouble and baſe p. 185Singers, Chanters, or inchanters, driven out; and inſtead thereof, there is now ſet up a moſt bleſſed Oxthodox Preaching Miniſtery,Quantum mutatur ab illo. even every morning throughout the Weeke, and every weeke through the whole yeare a Sermon Preached, by moſt learned, grave, and godly Miniſters, of purpoſe appointed thereunto, and for the gaudy guilded Crucifixes, and rotten table of dumbe Idols, Popiſh Saints,Popiſh trumpery expelld; pious preaching eſtabliſht. and Pictures, ſet up, and placed, and painted thereabout, where that ſinfull Singing was uſed; now a moſt ſweet aſſembly, and thicke throng of Gods pious people, and well-affected, living teachable Saints is there conſtantly, and moſt comfortably, every morning to be ſeen at the Sermons. O our God! what a rich and rare alteration? what a ſtrange change is this indeed?

And about the end of this inſtant March, wee were credibly informed, that Hopton, and his Mercenary, and compulſatory Confederates had ſwept the Weſterne parts pretty cleane, to make up a mighty (ſuppoſed formidable) Army, as if therewith he intended to purſue Gods people, like furious Pharaoh himſelfe, to the red Sea of ruine and deſtruction; or rather to make the Seas and Rivers red with the blood of Gods Saints, and ſervants, which the land was loath to drinke in;An introduction to the ſubſequent famous victory at Alsford. Inchiquine with his Hell-bred Iriſh, Generall Forth, foaming and fuming with his witleſſe Welſh, and the reſt of the rabble of Outlandiſh, godleſſe, graceleſſe, French, Walioones, &c. Gebal, Ammon, and Amaleck, with the Philiſtims, were all gathered together, that they might all periſh together at once, like Siſera and Iabin, Asſhur is but Gods Rod to ſcourge his ſinning children.at the brooke of Kiſon; The Cauſe is one, and the effect ſhall be the ſame; for the ſame God lives now, and for ever, and hath onelyonly appointed them a time, wherein to whip his Children for a while, for a day, to be ſcourged and diſturbed (but not deſtroyed) by them: For, ſayes the Lord, Asſhur is my Rod. Pſal. 125. 3.Ps 125:3But this being once done, this rod ſhall be caſt into the fire, and then, neither their Idols, Images, Croſſes, Crucifixes, Ave-Maries, Pater-noſters, or any, or all their Maſſe-Sacrifices, ſhall be able to ſave them, but they ſhall periſh, and be packing to Rome, whence they moſt unhappily came among us.Hoptons preparation. Sir VVilliam VVallers preparation. For, as I ſay, Hopton was thus preparing his powers againſt God: So on the other ſide, Sir William Waller, Sir William Belfore, and renowned Major Gen. Brown, a rare Pair-royall of moſt famous, faithfull, and magnanimous Commanders, were alſo with a very conſiderable Army, within a little diſtance of the multitude of their impious Adverſaries, and as ready p. 186to receive them, as they to give the Charge.

The head Quarter of the Enemy was at Wincheſter, Hoptons head-quarter was at Wincheſter.and upon the Downes, foure miles from Wincheſter, where Hopton had raiſed ſome Workes, and a great part of his Army lay about in the Field. Sir William Waller alſo,Sir William Wallers head-quarter. Sir William Belfore, and Serjeant Major Browne, lay about Petersfield and Trafford; and ſome parts of the Armies on both ſides, faced each other, as they lay at diſtance, and ſome ſlight Skimiſhes had firſt beene with ſome of Hoptons Horſe, who were beaten by brave ſir William Belfores horſe, but Hoptons were experienced hoppers, and runners too, and ſo ſaved themſelves the better.

But now to come to the maine matter intended;A neceſſary preamble before the Fight. And yet before we come to ſpeake exactly of the fight it ſelf, I ſhall deſire the Reader to give me leave, with his patience, to premiſe theſe pertinent antecedents thereof, very worthy pre-obſervation; namely, That about this time, it was that, that ſad accident fell out (by Gods moſt wiſe ordering and diſpoſing of things) of the raiſing of the Siege at Newarke, a buſineſſe of mighty importance, and great expectation on both ſides,Oxfords bluſtring Bravadoes about the raiſing of the Siege at Newarke. eſpecially on ours, in great hope; and as great fear on theirs: But, I ſay, it pleaſing the Lord thus to croſſe our hope of comforts, and to free them of their feares, for the preſent, and therein to give them a ſeeming Victory therein, and thereby to raiſe up their inſtant and inſolent ſwelling thoughts to an extream pitch of Pride and Arrogancy, inſomuch, that their Mercurius Aulicus, the Kings Lyer in Chiefe, Mercurius Aulicus, the Kings Lyer in chiefe.at Oxford-Mint, muſt publiſh abroad to the World, a huge bluſtring Declaration, of the great and glorious Victory obtained by Prince Robber, at Newarke; not onelyonly in raiſing the Siege, but in an utter diſſipation and diſcomfiture of our whole Army, with many other Chymerian-additions.

The like credit alſo muſt be given to a farther fiction; namely, That the Scots were alſo totally defeated by the Earle of Newcaſtle; whereas, in very truth, the Lord had at that very time, given our loving Brethren of Scotland a brave Victorie againſt Newcaſtle, whereof more,… in its due time; And a Letter, or Declaration was accordingly poaſted from Oxford, in all haſt, to Sir Ralph Hopton, which was, according to command, openly read in the head of his Army; and for their better encouragement, it was ſeriouſly affirmed, that now they had no conſiderable Enemy to encounter, but onelyonly a ſmall deſpicable handfull of Round-heads, under the p. 187Command of Sir William Waller, Notorious boaſts & lyes to couſen the poore ſeduced Souldiers.which they ſaid, were ſo inconſiderable, that halfe Sir Ralph Hoptons Army would bee eaſily able to give them an utter defeat; which being done, there would remaine nothing of difficulty, for the making up of a compleat Conqueſt of the whole Kingdome, ſave onelyonly to march victoriouſly to London, obtaine their Forts, levell their workes, and take the whole Plunder of that rich and rebellious Citie, as a reward of their ſervice.

Thus,A meſſage ſent to Sir VVill. VValler not to engage himſelfe in fight. by this meanes, they having deluded the Common Souldiers throughout their Army, and animated them to fight, (it being alſo at that time, when Sir William Waller had received a meſſage; which, no doubt, was as ſoone made known to his Adverſaries, not to engage his Forces in a fight for the preſent, except he were aſſaulted by the Enemy, or found an apparent advantage;) and accordingly, Hopton ſpeedily prepared himſelfe to the onſet, with extraordinary celerity,A true & exact relation of the famous fight, & moſt memorable victory, obtained at Alsford, by renouned ſir VV. VValler againſt ſir R. Hopton. and reſolved violence, and vehemence.

Which Fight comming now to be handled, and mentioned in the next place, I ſhall herein give the beſt and fulleſt relation thereof, that I could poſſibly fix upon, which was penn'd by an actor, and eye-witneſſe thereof, as it was preſented to the moſt worthy, and right Honourable Lord Mayor of London, and the reſt of the right Worſhipfull Comittee for the City Militia; which was as followeth.