Englands Parliamentary Chronicle, Chronicle · Letter 1

Englands Parliamentary Chronicle · Chronicle · Letter 1

p. 3To the Honourable William Lenthall Eſquire, Speaker to the Honourable Houſe of Commons.

SIR,

KNowing the affaires of the Parliament ſo many and ſo weighty that their time is precious,Colonell Maſſies Letter to the Speaker of the Houſe of Commons in Parliament. and therefore a tedious relation not ſo ſutable to them, having by this Poſt more fully related in my Letter unto the Lords and Gentlemen of the Committee of both Kingdomes; it being their command I at all times ſhould ſo doe. I ſhall intreat you to excuſe mee unto them at this time, who ſhall ſuddenly, God willing, enform and render unto them, a more perfect account of both the late following paſſages both of Gods diſpleaſure, yet afterward Mercy unto us. That upon Friday laſt, Colonell Generall Mynne being entred into our parts with a conſiderable ſtrength both of Horſe and Foot, I had appointed a Party both of Horſe and Foot, to March with mee to have met with the enemy, who was within three or foure miles of our Garriſon, plundring and ſpoyling the Country. Having therefore, given order to Major Hammond, my Major of Horſe, to draw out the Horſe, and Major Gray, my Lord Stamfords Major, to draw out the Foot, both having been with me for orders therein; & they meeting in my lodging neer the door,A branch of the Buſh, heer, on fire; but not burned. it ſo fell out, that through ſome exceptions of Major Gray, taken at Major Hammond, at a Councell of Warre, they entring into the ſtreet, upon departure from mee, upon a blow given by Major Gray to Major Hamm…id, they drew their ſwords upon each other, where and at which time p. 4Major Gray received his deaths wound, whereupon our Foot Souldiers fell into a high diſcontent and quarrell; which, notwithſtanding it pleaſed the Lord ſo to appeaſe that I preſumed to goe forward with my Deſigne and to march on. And the next day in the morning wee met with the enemy at Kidmarl…y, entred fight with them, when by Gods great hand of mercy to us, wee ſlew their Generall Mynne, Generall Mynne ſlain, & a brave Victory obtained.with ſome other Officers, and about an hundred Souldiers, and took priſoners of them, one Lieutenant Colonell Paſſey, Major John Buller, ſeven Captaines, three Lieutenants, five Enſignes, and twelve Sergeants with other Officers and men of note, and of common Souldiers about three hundred; the reſt of the enemy fled and eſcaped, ſome to Lidbury, whither our Horſe purſued them: But by reaſon of another body of ſtrength come from Worceſter, of about two hundred Horſe, and five hundred Foot, comming and advancing in our ſight, purpoſing to have joyned with Colonell Mynne, wee thought it more ſafe to gather up our ſtragling purſuers, and make our march back to Ridmarly with ſafety, and to make good our obtained Victory, and there to expect the advancing enemy; rather than preſumptuouſly to hazzard our ſelves and the reſt, in ſeeking the enemy with our tyred Horſe, and wearyed Foot, and ſo they retreated to Lidbury, and we to Gloceſter, where we have much cauſe to magnifie the Almighties goodneſſe to us, and to ſing inceſſant praiſes to him for the ſame. Our loſſe was, only, that Colonell Harley was ſhot in his left arme, but no danger to his life or health, praiſed bee God; and who like a moſt gallant and valiant Gentleman indeed, behaved himſelf in this fight; and the reſt alſo did like very brave men; Two or three of our Souldiers were ſlain, but, praiſed bee the Lord, not one Officer, and not paſſing foure or fire more wounded. Thus much at preſent, I thought it my duty to ſignifie from my ſelf, whoſe faithfulneſſe ſhall ever bee manifeſt in the Parliaments Service and Cauſe, being unto Your ſelf, Sir, a moſt thankfull acknowledger of your many favours, and

Your moſt humble Servant, Edward Maſſie.

ABout the eighth of this inſtant Auguſt alſo came credible information by Letters to London from We…, that that moſt valiant, loyall and active Commander, Colonell Mition, Governour p. 5of Oſweſtre, and valiant and faithfull Sir Thomas Middleton, (to leſſen our danger of Prince Roberts going Weſtward againſt the Lord Generall) joyning together with about three hundred Horſe and foure hundred Foot,A brave defeat given to the enemy at Welchpool, in Mountgomery ſhire. marched from thence, to Welch pool in Montgomery, in Wales, two long miles diſtant, at which place, that bold and bloody Prince of Plunderers, his own Regiment of Horſe were quartered, and where they ſuddenly falling on his ſleepy and ſecure Cavaliers, early in the morning, they killed Ruperts own Cornet, who refuſed quarter which was proffered him, took ſo many Horſe that they mounted moſt of their Foot home again,The prize and priſoners taken. even above three hundred; they alſo took about an hundred Priſoners, beſides three Captaines, three Cornets, three Quartermaſters, and divers other Officers, with much Armes and Baggage: But Sir Thomas Dalliſon, (brother to Popiſh Dalliſon the Lawyer) who commanded thoſe Horſe, had the unfortunate happineſſe to ſcape away,The ſhrewd ſtrait that Sir Thomas Dalliſon was put unto. and for haſte was faine to run away only in his ſhirt, and left his breeches behinde him (ſuch a ſtrait hee was put unto) wherein was found a Letter to Prince Robber, which hee intended that morning to have ſent to his impious Highneſſe.

Much alſo about the ſame time came certain information by Letters out of the Weſt to London, that Colonell Sydenham that valiant and loyall Commander in Armes, aſſiſted with that much honoured and worthy Gentleman,The Town of Wareham yeelded to Colonell Sydenham. Sir Anthony Aſhley-Cooper, Knight and Baronet, having ſome time lyen before Wareham, a ſtrong Garriſon Town of the Enemies, about foure miles from Pool; Now at length gave a fierce aſſault upon the Town, had gained the outworks, and that the Enemy ſent a Drum for a Parly, which being granted, a reſpit for an anſwer was deſired by the Town, till next morning, but this would not bee yeelded to, nor for any longer time than one houre: whereupon the Town of Wareham (upon Articles of faire agreement) was ſurrendred unto them, and the one thouſand two hundred Horſe and Foot which lay before it, was immediately deſigned to march further Weſtward to Colonell Middleton. A Letter from the Lord of Inchiquin out of Ireland occaſioned the ſpeedy yeelding of this Town.Now heer alſo I muſt farther inform the Reader, that this ſtrong Town was eſpecially ſo ſoon ſurrendred by reaſon of a Letter ſent from the Lord of Inchiquin out of Ireland to his brother, Lievtenant Colonell O Brian, then Governour of Wareham, in his ſaid brothers abſence, in which Letter the ſaid Lord of Inchiquin had declared. That his reſolution wa… to ſtand firm p. 6to the Parliament, and to live and die in the defence of their Cauſe, which …ee now moſt clearly ſaw was in the right, and that the Kings party bad meerly abuſed them all, and ſought the certain ſubverſion of (the true) Br… teſtant Religion, both in England and in Ireland, and therefore deſired him that hee would ſeriouſly conſider of the ſame, and ſpeedily ſurrender the Town of Wareham to the uſe of the Parliament. Which Letter being read to the Souldiers in the Town, they were all, for the moſt part, willing to have the Town ſurrendred, onelyonly ſome few Iriſh Rebells were averſe, upon whoſe obſtinate deniall, they were preſently diſpatcht out of the way, and cut off by the other Souldiers, in part of requitall of the Proteſtant blood, which they and their barbarous and bloody brethren had ſhed in Ireland; And the ſaid Lievtenant Colonell and the reſt of his Souldiers preſently declared themſelves for the Parliament; and hee alſo prevailed ſo far with his Souldiers that five hundred of them took the Covenant, and were willing to bee ſhipt away for Munſter in Ireland, to aſſiſt his brother, the foreſaid Lord of Inchiquin, and the other Parliament Forces in the ſaid Province, againſt the Iriſh Rebells.

And about the tenth of this inſtant, Letters out of Staffordſhire advertiſed, that Bagot, the Governour of Litchfield, had cauſed twelve of his braveſt Horſes to bee breathed and rid abroad ſome few miles,Twelve brave Horſes ſurpriſed by the Garriſon of Stafford. to take the freſh air, forſooth; which being ſo abroad, they were all ſuddenly ſurpriſed and ſnapt up, by a party of about twenty Horſe of the Garriſon of Stafford, who had been ſcou…ing abroad, upon ſome diſcovery, and were informed thereof, and got between them and home, and took them all, and ſafely carried them away with them; which ſaid twelve Horſes were of that value and eſtimation with the Governour, that bee offered a thouſand pound to have had them again, but could not.

About the ſixteenth of this inſtant Auguſt, wee alſo received a perfect and faithfully ſatisfying relation of the certainty of the thrice noble and renowned Earle of Mancheſters victorious proceedings,The Noble Earl of Mancheſters advance from York. and farther advance in thoſe Norther… parts from Dorcaſter (after that moſt famous Victory at Marſton-Moor, … York, which the Lord of Hoſts gave us) teſtified under the hand, and by the Letter of that Reverend and truely pious Gentleman, Mr. Goods, Chaplain to the ſaid Noble Earl, which … ſent to his reverend and religious brother-Miniſter and fellow … in to the ſaid Earl, Mr. Sim…on Aſh, then in London. … p. 7whereof I have been …tracted, which was, briefly, this: That the moſt Noble and Victorious Earl of Mancheſter being upon his advance (according to order and agreement between the three renowned Generals at … ) from Doncaſter and Blyth, they c…me to Worſ…p about eight miles from Blyth. At which time of his Lordſhips being there, Welbeck (the Earl of Newcaſtles own dwelling-houſe, wherein was a ſtrong Garriſon,Welbeck Houſe taken by the Earl of Mancheſter. and where moſt of the Gentry of thoſe parts of that County had laid up their Plate and … goods) having been ſummoned and beſieged ſome dayes before, by his Lordſhips forces, was now ſurrendred to them upon compoſition and Articles of Agreement; And whereas all the Souldiers in it …ad liberty to march away with their Armes and one price of Ordnance, whither they pleaſed, there were not aboue thirty men of two hundred, who took away any Armes, but rather deſired that they might depart peaceably to their own homes; only there was a broken Troop of Horſe which went from thence with the foreſaid thirty foot unto Bever-caſtle. This place was taken without any great noiſe, nothing appearing there but friendſhip and civility when the Houſe was ſurrendred. Heer wee took eight or nine great peices of Ordnance, ſome bigget, ſome leſſer, with good ſtore of M…ch, Bullet, and two hundred Muskets. The keeping of this Houſe was committed to the care of Colonell Tiber…ay, a Commander of Nottingham Garriſon, becauſe the Houſe is in Nottinghamſhire. There were left therein the Marqueſſe of Newcaſtles three Daughters, the Lord Widdringtons children, with others into very peaceable manner, without any great diſturbance to themſelves or their families there. After this, this noble and victorious Generall, the virtuous and valourous Earl of Mancheſter advanced farther, and ſent out a party of his Army (conſiſting of … thouſand two hundred Foot and a Regiment of Horſe, commanded by Major-Generall Grawford, and Colonell Pickering, with three of their biggeſt peices of Ordnance) to take …, a ſtrong hold in Yorkſhire, wherein were a Troop of Horſe and two hundred foot▪ ſtrongly fortifyed with abroad and deep Tre… of eighteen foot deep,Sheffeild-caſtle taken. and water in it, a ſtrong … work … will round of two yards thick, eight … of Iron Ordnance and two Morter-peices. Our forces being come nee… …his Caſtle, ſ…nt them three … which did … after which they ſent … to the Caſtle, who ſhot … at the …, two of which p. 8ſhots came very neer and hardly miſt him,The manner of aſſaulting the Caſtle. and they flouriſhing their Swords cryed out they would have no other parley: Where upon ours advanced into the Town, and there quartered that night, in which night and next day they raiſed two batteries within threeſcore yards of the Enemies out-works, whereon our Ordnance fell to play upon them, and did as much execution on the walls as peices of their bigneſſe could doe, the greateſt being but a Demiculverin, and after about foure and twenty houres playing and plying thus with their Ordnance, and finding it would protract too much time to lie thus battering with their pieces, they reſolved to ſend to my Lord Fairfax for the Queens pocket-piſtall and a whole Culverin, which accordingly were ſoon brought thither and preſently mounted, and the next morning betimes, after their comming, thoſe three began to play, which did very great execution upon one ſide of the Caſtle, and brought the ſtrong walls thereof down into the trenches and made a perfect breach; And the noble Major-Generall having prepared all things in a readineſſe for ſtorming the Caſtle, both Faggots, Ladders, and other accommodations thereunto digeſted the form of ſtorming by a Councell of Warre it was reſolved to ſend another Summons to the Caſtle which produced a preſent Treaty between three Gentlemen ſent out of the Caſtle, and three like men of our party, who ſpeedily concluded the ſurrender of the Caſtle upon fair Articles. Wee took in this Caſtle foure hundred Armes,The prize taken in the Caſtle. beſides the great Gunnes afore-mentioned, twelve barrels of Powder, much Match, twenty tuns of great Iron-ſhot, about foure hundred pounds worth of Corn, Beef, Bacon, Cheeſe, and other proviſions, all which and many other things (except an hundred Muske…s and a Morter-peice,The Country gave my Lords Souldiers 500. pound to drink for their good Service. which were brought away) were left in the Caſtle for ſupply thereof, the Country thereabout giving my Lords Souldiers five hundred pound among them for … good ſervice againſt this place.

Shortly after this the noble Major-Generall, having left Colonell Bright, a Commander of my Lord Fairfaxes, and a party of Foot in the Caſtle, by order from the moſt noble Earl of Mancheſtor, advanced toward B…wzar, alias, …, about eight miles from Sheffeild, Boulſover-caſtle alſo yeelded to the Earl of Mancheſter.it being another ſtrong Houſe of Marqueſſe Newcaſtles in Darby ſhire, which was well man…d with Souldiers, and ſtrengthened with great Guns, one whereof carryed eighteen pound bullet, others nine pound, and it had ſtrong works about p. 9it, yet this Caſtle alſo upon ſummons, was ſoon ſurrendred up to my Lords Forces, upon faire and moderate Articles granted to them.The prize taken in this Caſtle. It pleaſed God to give us in this Caſtle of Boulſover, an hundred and twenty Muskets, beſides Pikes, Halberts, &c. Alſo one Iron Drake, ſome leaden bullets, two Morter-peices, ſome other Drakes, nine barrels of powder, with a proportion of Match, ſome Victuals for our Souldiers, and ſome plunder. Immediately alſo after this,Staley-Houſe alſo taken. they all marched to Staley-Houſe, which was ſtrongly fortified, but upon our Armies advance to it, it was ſoon ſurrendred alſo, upon Articles of agreement, and in it wee had twelve peices of Ordnance, two hundred and thirty Muskets, an hundred and fifty Pikes; And Mr. John Fretchwell (who had long held the Houſe fortified with ſtrong Works, for the ſervice of the King) being then convinced of the goodneſſe of our cauſe, did very freely and voluntarily render to the Major-Generall all the Armes aforeſaid,Wingfleld-Mannour beſteged by Darby forces with much other Ammunition. From hence, ſhortly after, they alſo advanced to Wingfeild-Mannour, about eight miles diſtant, which Houſe had been long beſieged by Darby Forces, but was not, at this time, taken, nor likely to bee, without more aſſiſtance, which alſo upon the advance of our Forces, God delivered into our hands, as in its due and proper place, wee ſhall make more particular mention thereof; and thereby moſt of the Northern parts were cleared, as far as Newark, ſave only Pomfret-caſtle, and ſome few other ſtrong Houſes or Holds beyond York. In all which the Lord our God made this moſt Noble and renowned Earl of Mancheſter, a moſt victorious and glorious inſtrument.

About the eighteenth of this inſtant, came certain intelligence out of the Weſt, that in the time of the Lord Generals unhappy encloſure in heatheniſh (I had almoſt ſaid helliſh) Cornwall, by the Kings Forces, who alſo at that time were in no little ſtraits for want of proviſion for his Army alſo, and was therefore forced to ſend into Sommerſetſhire for ſupplies therein; wherof Leivtenant Generall Middleton watchfully having gotten intelligence,A brave defeat given to the Enemy by Colonell Middleten. and that there were divers Carriages and Waggons laden with neceſſaries for the King gotten together: Hee very ſeaſonably marched thither and met with them, valiantly encountred their convoy, ſlew and took about an hundred and forty Horſe, and many or moſt of the Carriages. After which he marched farther toward Sherbor…, and ſending our parties for intelligence, was certainly p. 10informed that Sir Francis Dorrington, Sir William Courtney, and others; in all about a thouſand Horſe and Dragoones were at Lamport: Whereupon hee advanced with a party of five hundred Horſe and Dragoones to Pederton, where the enemy was in readineſſe to receive him, at his comming. And being now in ſight of each other, Major Ennis and Major Car charged them moſt gallantly,Another gallant Victory obtained by Colonell Middleton. being ſeconded by Colonell Middleton, who at the very firſt encounter Routed the Enemies Horſe and Dragoones (though their Dragoones had lined the Hedges) and purſued them within half a mile of Bridgewater. In which conflict hee took priſoners, one Major, three Captaines, one Leivtenant, two Cornets, two Quarter-maſters, forty common Souldiers, and foureſcore Horſes, and killed fifty upon the place; on our ſide Major Car was taken priſoner, and only ſcure common Souldiers more; and heer alſo ours took the Enemies Carriages.

And about the twentieth of this inſtant Auguſt, wee received farther intelligence out of the Weſt, of ſome more good ſervice done by this foreſaid Leivtenant Generall Middleton ſince his ſo routing of Sir Francis Dorrington, as aforeſaid, namely, that hee fell upon the Enemies with a party of three hundred Horſe and a hundred Dragoones at Farringdon, neer Briſtol, where hee alſo moſt bravely diſperſed the Enemy and took theſe priſoners following,A third brave de…eat given to the Enemy, by Col. Middleton. viz. Colonell Edward Biſſe, foure Captaines, five Leivtenants, one Cornet, one Quarter-maſter, a Chaplain of their Army, and a Chirurgeon, eight and thirty Troopers, two Gentlemen Troopers, twelve Foot Souldiers, three barrels of powder, with a good quantity of Match and Ball, together with an hundred Horſe.

Much alſo about the ſame time wee were for certain advertiſed out of Lancaſhire, that a party of Prince Robbers forces, being about three hundred of them, whom hee left in that County, and were going to fortifie Wiggen, Sir John Meldrum defeats the Enemy in Lancaſhire.whereof Sir John Meldrum (Commander in cheif in that County) having certain intelligence, hee ſent a conſiderable party to them, who ſurpriſed them all, with all their Armes and Ammunition, and ſo alſo utterly fruſtrated their intended deſigne.

Auguſt the two and twentieth, … credible information by Letters out of Lancaſ. to London, that the Lord Ogleby, a Scotch incendiary fell upon Colonell Doddington, neer Preſton in Loncaſhire, as hee was marching out of Yorkeſhire to Sir John Meldrum p. 11then in Lancaſhire: Colonell Doddington, at the firſt, had the worſt, but young Colonell Shuttleworth, who indeed deſerved to bee an elder brother for his activity and very gallant performances in this Service,Colonell Doddington takes the Lord Ogleby priſoner. came in timely to the releif of that valiant Gentleman Colonell Doddington, and put the Enemy, conſiſting of foure hundred Horſe, to a totall Route, ſlew many on the place, and took many priſoners, among whom were the Lord Ogleby himſelf: Colonell Mynne, and Leivtenant Colonell Huddleſtone, a man of power and much repute in Cumberland; and divers other perſons of quality, Scottiſh Commanders and Gentlemen, were taken priſoners; they alſo took threeſcore Horſe with their Riders: and a party of theſe alſo endevouring to get to Latham-Houſe, as a place of retreat, was ſurpriſed by our Forces which lay before Latham-Houſe, and every man of them taken priſoners.

Much alſo about the ſame time came certain and unqueſtionable intelligence that the Cavaliers were ſoundly cudgelled in Cheſhire; for, Colonell Marrow, a ſecond Nimrod of thoſe parts, and indeed a ſtout Souldier and brave Commander, iſſuing out of the City of Cheſter, A brave defeat given to the Enemy by Sir Williā Brereton.with about foureſcors or an hundred Horſe, was received by a party of that moſt renowned and Religious Commander, and loyall Patriot, Sir William Breretons, (neer Crowton-Houſe, where wee kept a Garriſon) who moſt bravely routed the Colonell,Colonell Marrow ſlain. and in the conflict wounded him mortally, of which wounds hee dyed the very next day in Cheſter; at which time Sir William took many priſoners. And Prince Robber, to revenge the death of Colonell Marrow, advanced next day with two of his beſt Regiments of Horſe to beat back Sir William Breretons Forces, but,Prince Robber with two Regiments of horſe defeated. the Robber was routed and about foure hundred of his men ſlain on the place, and taken priſoners; In which conflict, valiant and undaunted Captain Zanchie, who commanded Sir Williams own Troop, moſt gallantly purſued the enemy, within piſtoll-ſhot of the walls of Cheſter, and valiant Lievtenant Colonell Jones performed his part in this conflict with no leſſe valour and gallantry; and a Corporall of Sir William Breretons Troop, by name John Cooper, ſeeing a moſt brave Horſe, which the Enemy could not get into the Church in Tarvin Town (where the fight was very hot and furious) but was fain to bee held by the bridle,The valiant performances of Sir William Breretons forces in the fight at Tarvin. by one of the Enemies under the Church wall, this brave ſpirited Corporall adventured to fetch the Horſe away, but they fired ſo faſt out of the Church upon him, that hee was forced twice p. 12to retreat, but hee adventured the third time, piſtolled the enemy and ſo brought away the Horſe, which was valued to bee worth, at leaſt, foureſcore pound.

And about the ſame time,Another moſt brave defeat given to the Enemy by Sir John Meld…um, at Ormskirk. the renowned Major Generall of Lancaſ. Sir John Meldrum having notice of the Enemies marching toward Ormskirk, made haſte after them, overtook them on Tueſday the twentieth of Auguſt, in the Evening, upon a Moore neer unto Ormskirk, where they ſtood in Battalia, and upon the firſt charge of our Musketteers, which were under the command of Colonell Booth, they all fled, whereupon our Horſe bravely fell upon them and totally routed them, in the purſuite of whom, they took about eight hundred Horſe (ſome Letters report a thouſand) and three hundred priſoners;800 Horſe, and 300 priſoners taken. but by reaſon of the night comming ſo faſt upon them they could not improve the Victory, as otherwiſe they might have done; but the Lord Byron, and the Lord Mollenaux were forced to leave their Horſes in the flight, and to hide themſelves in a Corn-field, ſome of the ſpeciall priſoners then taken, were Colonell Sir James Preſtwich, Leivtenant Colonell Cottingham, Captain James Anderton, with five or ſix Captaines more, ſix or ſeven Leivtenants, four Cornets, one Quarter-maſter, eight or ten Gentlemen of worth and quality, two Prieſts or malignant Miniſters, and as I ſaid before, above two hundred and fifty common Souldiers.

And heer now, give mee leave, good Reader, to give thee this neceſſary note or obſervation upon ſome of the forepaſt premiſes, eſpecially touching Gods very gracious dealing with his much menaced and moleſted Servants in Lanoaſhire and Cheſhire, A breif note, how the Lord proſpe…ed our proceedings againſt bloody Prince Robber, in and about Lancaſhire.and thoſe parts, and his moſt juſt and revenging hand of diſpleaſure upon that bold and bloody Prince Robber, and his great ſtrength of Horſe, wherein hee much boaſted and …oulſtred up his proud hopes of ſubduing or ruinating thoſe Counties: For, in a very ſhort ſpace it was ſorely and ſuddenly abated and decreaſed by the great hand of God towards us. As firſt, a… Welſh-pool (as I have forementioned) there were taken by Sir Thomas Middleton, and Colonell Mitton, with the aſſiſtance of the Forces of Cheſhire, three hundred forty ſix Horſes of Ruperts own Regiment; and within a ſevennight after that, there were taken by Colonell Aſhton at Holland in Lancaſhire two hundred Horſe; At Preſton alſo in Lancaſhire, preſently after, at leaſt threeſcore Horſe, and at this laſt mentioned brave skirmiſh by the Lancaſhire Forces, at Ormskirk p. 13in Lancaſhire, about nine hundred Horſe, and by Sir William Brereton, at Tarvin, Almoſt 2000. of Ruperts Horſe taken by ours beſides priſoners.(as was fore-ſpecified) at leaſt three hundred Horſe; which, in all, make up, about one thouſand eight hundred Horſe, beſides the priſoners, then, taken with them.

And about the foure and twentieth of this inſtant Auguſt, I received a ſummary Relation of the valiant actions of that loyall and active brave Commander Colonell Fox, A breif relation of ſome active and victorious performances of Colonell Fox.(ſo much inveighed againſt by that baſe Pamphleter Aulicus, the Kings Lyer in cheif, as witty Britanicus rightly titles him) which I thought not ſit to let ſlip, or to ſleep in oblivion, which were as followeth. Upon this vigilant Commanders diſcovering of the quartering of Worceſter forces in Ʋpon-Warren, ſome twelve miles from his Garriſon, hee went forth with a party of Horſe and took, in their quarters, Leivtenant Colonell Dudley, (as appeared by a Commiſsion found in his pocket) Captain Milward, A prize taken at Ʋpton-Warren.Leivtenant Newberry, Quarter-maſter Dod, two Corporals, ten other Souldiers, and twenty Horſe; and with theſe hee alſo brought away a drove of Cattle from the Earl of Shrewsbury, and a little after hee took Captain Knight in his Quarter, at Stoke, neer Bromſgrave. And not long after upon intelligence that the Commiſſion of Array ſate in execution thereof at Omberſley, foure miles from Worceſter, and ſeventeen miles from Egherſon Garriſon, hee deſired my Lord of Denbighs forces to joyn with him for their apprehenſion, which was accordingly attempted, where they took forty priſoners, divers of them being men of note,Another brave prize taken by Colonell Fox. an hundred and thirty brave Horſes, an hundred and fifty Beaſts, but moſt of the Commiſſioners very hardly eſcaped, by reaſon of ſome delayes of the Earles forces, who ſtayed a little too long upon ſome other deſign neer Worceſter, contrary to the Colonells direction and deſire; yet notwithſtanding by reaſon of the Colonells and his cubs purſuite after them over the River Severn, where they were enforced to ſwim, hee recovered divers excellent Horſe and Armes, and ſo returned with this prize, in ſafety.

And upon the twentyeth of this inſtant,A third prize alſo taken by Colonell Foxes Forces. What a terrour Colonell Fox was to all his enemies about him. the ſaid valiant and vigilant Colonell having intelligence of ſome Cavaliers to lie in Bromſgrove, hee ſent forth a party of Horſe under the command of Captain Tadman, and Captain Johnſon, who ſurprized, in the place, Captain Barnſley and all his Souldiers, hee being a Gentleman of note and quality and a W…ſter Captain. And thus, this noble Colonell did ſo hunt and fright the Cavaliers in all thoſe p. 14parts, that ſcarcely one of them were heard of in the Country thereabout, but hee preſently pulled them into his den, nor durſt any enemy come out of Worceſter to oppoſe his proceedings, inſomuch as that the greateſt Malignants and Papiſts about him were forced to flie or make their peace with him.

About the foure and twentieth alſo of this inſtant Auguſt, wee were certainly informed by Letters out of Darbyſhire, that whereas that moſt active and valiant Commander and loyall Patriot of his Country,Winck field Mannour taken by Sir Joh. Gell Sir John Gell, had long time lyen before Winck field-mannour, the Sanctuary of all the Papiſts and Delinquents of that County, hee was now (by the brave aſſiſtance of the moſt noble Earl of Mancheſters forces) become Maſter of it, it being now at laſt ſurrendred up into his poſſeſſion, on fair termes and Articles of agreement, with all the Armes and Ammunition therein, except only what the Cavaleirian Commanders carryed away with them for their own particular uſes, which were only, each Commander his Sword and Piſtoll. There were in the Houſe above there hundred Souldiers, and fourteen peices of Ordnance, and it was a Houſe very ſtrongly fortified and of no ſmall concernment to us in the taking of it. And now Sir John Gell was, by Gods mercy, as good as his word, who had vowed hee would never leave the ſaid ſiege till (if God ſo pleaſed) hee had the place; and brave Colonell Crawford, with part of the Earl of Mancheſters forces, came (as I toucht before) ſeaſonably to his aſſiſtance, and was a great help unto him in the ſaid buſineſſe.

And about the ſix and twentieth of Auguſt, our moſt pious, prudent and vigilant Parliament, publiſhed an Ordinance of Parliament, wherein it was Ordered that the Counties of Wilts, An Ordinance of Parliament for the Aſſociation of the Weſtern Counties.Sommerſet, Devon, Dorſet, and Cornwall, with the Cities of Briſtoll and Exceſter, as alſo the Town and County of Pool, bee Aſſociated for their mutuall Defence againſt the Cavalierian Adverſary, and that the Committees nominated in the Ordinance of Parliament, of the firſt of July, ſhall put in execution the ſaid Ordinance, in the Counties afore-mentioned, and that all the Colonells, Leivtenant Colonells, Captaines and other Officers, are alſo to Aſſociate themſelves, and with the well-affected of the ſaid Counties to ayd and ſuccour one another; and giving thereby full power and Authority to the ſaid Committees to put in execution the Ordinance for Voluntary Loanes and Contributions to the Parliament, for raiſing of Monies and Forces, for the ſuppreſſion of all Malignant forces p. 15againſt the Parliament. It was thereby alſo Ordered that the Earl of Northumberland, the Earl of Pembrook, and the Earl of Saliſbury, the Lord Roberts, and the Lord Bruce, with the Knights, Citizens, and Burgeſſes of the ſaid Counties, in the Houſe of Parliament, have power to nominate and appoint all Colonells, Leivtenant Colonells, Serjeant Majors both of Horſe and Foot, to Command the Forces ſo raiſed in the Aſſociation, and the Lord Generall, or ſuch as ſhall from time to time command in Cheif, ſhall grant Commiſſions to them accordingly.

Much alſo about this time, viz. the ſix and twentieth of this inſtant Auguſt wee received Letters from the Weſtern parts of the kingdome, that his Majeſties, and his Excellencies head-quarters were very neer to one another, and that foure hundred of his Majeſties Horſe had caſt themſelves into three diviſions, and advancing neer my Lord Generalls Quarters, and with diſdainfull words reproaching them and challenging them to fight; the brave young Gentleman Major Archibald Stranghan quickly apprehending the ſame and not able to indure,A brave & moſt Heroick exploit of Serjeant Major Stranghan againſt the Enemy in the Weſt. deſired that hee might receive ſo much honour from his Excellency as but to have Commiſſion to charge them with an hundred Horſe, with which force (though farre leſſe in number, than the Enemies) hee doubted not (hee ſaid) but, by Gods aſſiſtance, to return victorious. This gallant motion of the young Gentleman being much applauded and well entertained, hee received the firſt impreſſion of the Enemy without moving from the place at all, untill the Enemy being come neerer and almoſt breſt to breſt, hee fired upon them, at once, with ſo much fury and ſo good ſucceſſe that about twenty of them were obſerved to fall together, on which the reſt began to flye; whereupon finding his opportunity and purſuing it, hee was charged on by the ſecond diviſion, and received them with ſuch undaunted Spirits and magnanimity with his piſtols, that they alſo, following the example of the former, preſently began to flie away confuſedly, not being able to endure the heat of this hot charge and fierce tempeſt. After this alſo his piſtols being diſcharged, hee moſt unweariedly fell in pell-mell upon the Enemies laſt Diviſion with the Sword, and ſoon alſo enforced them to an ignominious flight unto the body of their Army, which ſeeing the diſorder of the Horſe, began to disband and flye themſelves. His Majeſty was then not farre off in the Field, and was a ſad ſpectator of the Tragedy of his men: And it was verily beleeved, that had this valiant Scot p. 16been ſuddenly ſeconded to purſue home his Victory, hee had taken his Majeſty in the Field and totally routed his Army, ſo great and generall was the diſtraction, that at that preſent they were in. For this brave ſervice his Excellency rewarded the victorious Major with many thanks and appellations of honour, and with a Horſe eſteemed to bee worth an hundred pound.

And about the ſeven and twentieth of this inſtant Auguſt, it was for certain informed by Letters from Sir William Brereton to the Parliament, that there being a great ſtrength of the Enemy at Malpaſſe, with intention to march into Wales after that bold and bloody Prince Robber; A moſt brave defeat given to the Enemy at Malpaſſe, by Sir William Breretons Forces.Sir William Brereton ſent out a party of Horſe and Foot, conſiſting of about eight hundred, under the command of Leivtenant Colonell Jones. The Enemy having notice of the ſaid Party drew out all their Horſe and Dragoones in Battalia, conſiſting of about two thouſand, and placed their Musketteers in hedges and places of advantage:The Enemy was about 2000 ſtrong, we but 800. Notwithſtanding Leivtenant Colonel Jones with his Troop did moſt gallantly charge through two Diviſions of the Enemy, did great execution on them, and returned without the loſſe of a man, himſelfe onelyonly ſhot into the thigh, the reſt of the Troopes (there being but four Troopes in all) came up, and ſome of the Foot after them, and plaid their parts moſt bravely,The Enemy is routed. The prize and priſoners taken and with Leivtenant Colonell Jones gave another fie…ce charge upon the Enemy, quite routed them, ſome of them flying into Wales, others into Cheſter, & ours took about an hundred and forty Horſe and many priſoners, the chief wherof were theſe; Major Maxie, (or, Murrey) Major to Sir Charles Lucas; Major Cromwell, Major to the Duke of Yorkes Regiment; Majo… Crathorn a Papiſt; Captain Clavering or other to the late Colonell Clavering: And the Commanders ſlain in this brave conflict,Commanders ſlain. were, Colonell Baines, Colonell Conyers, Major Heskith; another Major buryed at Chester, and another Major buried at Malpaſſe; One Leivtenant Colonell ſlain, but not (then) known who hee was; Captain Harris, and Sir Marmaduke Langdale, the Commander in chief deſperately wounded and carryed to Cheſter for cure.Common ſouldiers ſlain. There were alſo ſlain upon the place, and in the flight about an hundred; and thoſe that fled to Cheſter were, with much affront, kept out of the gates, and not ſuffered of a long time, to get in; as ſome that came out of Cheſter, ſhortly after, enformed us.

About the eight and twentieth of this inſtant Auguſt wee were credibly informed by Letters out of the Weſt, and in ſpecially by the p. 17moſt noble Lord Generall his Excellencies own Letter to the Parliament, from Leſtithiell, A moſt per…idious plot, and dangerous Deſign to have blown up our Magazine, and deſtroyed our Army at Leſtithiell in Cornwall.that the perfidions Enemy (who dare not compaſſe their baſe aymes and deſignes, in an open, fair, and honourable way, by battail, though double in number) had about this time ſo managed their baſe and trecherous plot, that into two cloſe Waggons, wherein was a Magazine of at leaſt 60 barrells of Gunpowder, they had privily conveyed two notable Engines of Warre, which ſhould have blown up all the powder; and at the time, when the enemy thought to have effected the deſign, they had drawn up their whole body of their Army toward that part of his Excellencies Army,Two wilde-fire Engines conveyed into our cloſe waggons, where were 60 barrels of powder. expecting the blow, upon which they intended to fall moſt fiercely on the Lord Generals Forces; but it moſt graciouſly pleaſed the Lord, that one of the ſaid Engines, to the end whereof a lighted match was faſtned, was burnt to the very neck of the Engine (whereat it was to give fire to the wild-fire in the Engine) but,The manner of the preſervation deſcribed. then, the coal went out of it ſelf; the other match alſo in the other Engine, was burnt within an inch of the wilde-fire of that Engine, juſt at the time when by a Cooper it was ſeaſonably and happily diſcovered before the dangerous blow was given, whereupon the Engines being taken out by the ſaid Cooper and brought to my Lord Generall, The two Engines ſent up to the Parliamen…, wher they were publikely ſhewn & ſeen.which his Excellency, together with his Letter preſently ſent up to the Parliament, and was publikely ſhewed to the Houſes of Parliament, and as ſome that were there preſent ſaid, it was juſt after that faſhioned Engine, which his Majeſty delivered with his own hands (being covered with red leather, as that was) to the party that made his Majeſty beleeve that hee would blow up the Magazine at Ailesbury, but as that, ſo this moſt baſe and treacherous Deſigne of theirs was, by Gods great mercy and good providence, happily prevented, and their wicked hopes thereby fruſtrated, and all they got thereby was ſhame and infamy.

And thus, now, I hope (good Reader) thou haſt fully and clearly ſeen (in the whole progreſſe of this Moneths contemplation of Gods wonderfull protection and preſervation of his Church and Children) the great and amazing wonder of the World, in theſe our Moſean dayes,The Burning-Buſh no… conſumed. even, The Burning-Buſh (the Church or Cauſe of God) not conſumed, though incloſed with flames of wrath and rage, of the wicked and outragious inteſtine enemies thereof, on every ſide, both by Sea and by Land, blowing the coales, and adding combuſtible fuell to the fire of their fury, and endevouring to heat p. 18the furnace of their frantick rage and madneſſe, yet ſeven times hotter and hotter;Dan. 3.Dan 3 And yet Gods Three (yea 30 times three) moſt faithfull and zealous Shadrachs, Meſhachs, and Abednego's, ſtill preſerved and kept ſafe in the midſt of the fierceſt and moſt furious conflagrations; and all this made moſt clear and manifeſt both in all the fore-mentioned famous Victories obtained, and perfidious plots, and dangerous deſignes detected and prevented: And have wee not then great cauſe, with holy Moſes, both to put off the ſhooes of ſin and tranſgreſsion, and alſo to approach unto, and fix the feet of our affections on the …oly ground of moſt gratefull contemplation of this great wonder, and in ſacred admiration thereof to break out into holy adoration of our great and good God, and with holy Moſes to ſing and ſay:Exod. 15. 11.Exod 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like unto thee, glorious in holineſſe, fearfull in praiſes, and doing wonders?

BUT,September 1644. now to goe on in our next Moneths ſacred and ſerious obſervation, of this foreſaid wonder, ſtill continuing all this next enſuing September. And herein I ſhall deſire, in the firſt place br…ifly to ſhew, or rather, to remember the Reader, how that about the beginning of this monethmonth of September, it pleaſed the Lord, again, to ſet his bleſſed Buſh in the midſt of a moſt dangerous devouring flame (to ſee to) and yet the Buſh not Conſumed; Even to ſuffer our prime Parliamentary-Army of the whole Kingdome, then under the Command of that moſt noble,Our formidable Parliamentary Army coopt up in Cornwall in the Weſt, and in great danger, but moſt mightily preſerved and delivered. renowned, loyall, and moſt courageous Lord Generall, the Earle of Eſſex, to bee brought into a ſtrange ſtrait, and moſt unhappy nooſe in a corner of Cornwall, in the Weſt, one of the remoteſt parts of the Kingdome, (but by what miſcheivous meanes or improvidence, I know not) rendring that (at firſt) moſt formidable Army, moſt obnoxious to much danger and diſtreſſe, of the numerouſly augmented forces of the moſt malicious and outrageous enemies thereof, who by the daily additionall and increaſing powers of the perfidious and atheiſticall Corniſh and Devonſhire men, had ſtrangely and ſtrongly coopt and hedged in that our moſt famous Army for divers weeks together in a nook or angle of that County of Cornwall, and no Reſerve or conſiderable Releif, in ſo long time, comming to their aide and aſſiſtance; inſomuch that the extraordinarily increaſing wants in the Army, and the extraordinary and inevitably p. 19neceſſitated duty of his Excellencies Souldiers being ſo inceſſantly continued, and (as I toucht before) the powers of the Enemy ſo daily increaſing and growing bigge with rage and pride againſt them; they could not poſſibly any longer ſubſiſt without releif: Whereupon a Councell of Warre being called, it was reſolved (an abſolute neceſſity lying on it) that the Horſe of the Army ſhould break through the enemy, and the Foot (alas, alas) ſhould ſtand upon their own guard and Defence,Heer was, indeed, the B… ning Buſh not Conſumed. till more ayd (if by any means it could bee procured) ſhould bee ſent unto them; and thereupon 3000 Horſe, under the command of that renowned Souldier and brave Commander Sir William Belfore, (the reſt of the Horſe remaining ſtill with the foot) violently brake through the Enemy and moſt fiercely made good their retreat, notwithſtanding all the power of the Enemie, and brought off with them ſeverall of the Enemies Colours and ſlew many: And, (Probdolor, under correction of better judgement) why might not our whole Army together, both Horſe and Foot, as ſafely and certainly, have come off fully, had that Councell of Warre played Fair play above board?) So got to Sal…aſh and Plimouth, with very little or no conſiderable loſſe in ſo deſperate a Service.

Now, thus, our Foot forces being left behinde under the Command in ch…if of that moſt noble and ever to bee renowned, virtuous and valourous Souldier and brave Commander Major Generall Skippon, (his Excellency the Lord Generall, and the Lord Roberts being alſo gone to Plimouth by Sea) and the Enemy chooſing rather to bend their greateſt power againſt the Foot, than in purſuit of the Horſe, and having alſo reſolved at a bloody Councell of Warre (thinking the day their own,The Kings cruell Councell of Warre reſolved to give no quarter, but to put all to the Sword. and the birds to bee all caugh… in the net) in a moſt cruell and mercileſſe manner, to put them all to the Sword, and not to give Quarter to any, and likewiſe in purſuance hereof, they having taken about 30 of our Foot Souldiers, and put them all to the Sword, ſave only two that by Gods good providence …ſcaping, ran from them and acquainted the reſt of the Foot forces with the ſ…quell thereof: Hereupon brave Majo… Generall Ski…pon, Major Generall Skippons …, but brave ſpeech & …eſolution to live … die with his Souldiers.like a true Souldiers, indeed, made a gallant and couragious ſpeech to his ſaid Foot forces to this effect. That it would bee more …onour for th… to die valiantly in the field, than to … themſelves b…fely or, …owardly to the tyranny of ſo bloody and … an …, profeſſing himſelf, moſt cheerfully, there ready to live or di… with them; …, firſt; to ſell their lives (by Gods help) at … a p. 20rate … ever Souldiers did. Whereupon they all, moſt unanimouſly and cheerfully reſolving the ſame, fell upon the Enemy with ſuch undaunted courage and reſolution, being led up in perſon by ſo brave and Lyon-like a Commander, who (to uſe his Excellencies own expreſſion, in his Letter to the Parliament of him) fought like a Lyon; and diſdained that their brave Ordnance and Artillery ſhould bee gained from them,The fight begun. at a leſſer value than the hearts blood of many hundreds of their Enemies; which was ſo indeed, ere they parted, for they diſcharged their great peices, divers times upon the Enemy, which did great execution and ſlew very many of them, whom they might ſee fall faſt before them (and the King himſelf, being in fight thereof in the field) and ſtill received the reſt ſo gallantly, that the Enemy (inſtead of being abſolute Victors) was at laſt enforced (though much againſt their former intentions) not only to give them Quarter,Not only quarter, but alſo fair conditions granted to our Souldiers. but, farther alſo, to condeſcend to very honourable conditions and Articles on our Souldiers part; though, in the iſſue, the Enemy proved moſt perfidious (as their conſtant practice was) in violating of them all, and beſpoiling and ſtripping them (ere they left them) of all they had (ſave only their lives) even taking f…om them their very cloathes off their backs,The moſt perfidious diſloyalty of the Enemy in violating al the conditions agreed on. boots, ſtockings, and ſhooes from their legges and feet, and enforcing ſome of them to march ſtark naked, and bare footed, with only a baſe convoy of their perfidious Enemies Horſe,Heer again the Burning-Buſh not Conſumed. whom (being quite diſarmed) they durſt not reſiſt. And though renowned Major Generall Skippon rode back, and boldly and bravely complained to the King himſelf thereof, yet hee could finde no redreſſe therein. But, howſoever let the judicious Reader here judge and ſay whether heer was not a wonder, indeed, even no leſſe than Gods Burning-buſh not conſumed, conſidering what a furious & devouring flame was round about it, and whereinto it had been ſo ſtrangely (yea and treacherouſly too as many feared) entrapped and cooped up, but, thus, as you have heard moſt admirably delivered and preſerved from utter ruine and deſtruction, as was threatned and reſolved, which therefore, is with extraordinary thankfulneſſe to God to bee beheld and lookt upon,This deliverance of our Souldiers was a ſingular mer…y of the Lord. and moſt juſtly to bee enrolled in the number of our ſingular great mercies, and deliverances of the Lord wrought for us; as whereby (notwithſtanding the unhappy loſſe of ſo brave an Artillery and Armes of our Souldiers) yet, a wide doore was, thus, left open unto us, in good meaſure to r…crute our Army again, conſidering that there p. 21is no competition or compariſon to bee made between the raiſing of men and getting of Armes, the former being known by experience to bee very difficult, the other very eaſie to performe; And (which is alſo herein very conſiderable) the mercy was ſo much the greater, and the loſſe the leſſe, in regard that his Excellency had taken farre more Ordnances and Armes from the Enemy, but a little before in this his Weſtern Expedition, than were now loſt in this laſt diſaſter.

Now as touching the matter and cauſe of this great miſcarriage, though I doe not, I dare not take upon mee to diſcuſſe it, it having been,That this miſcarriage of our Army, was a plain plot of trechery. I hope, throughly examined by others, to whom it more properly appertained; yet give mee leave, good Reader, to ſuſpect ſtill, that it was a plain peice of treachery to the State & Parliament, & honeſt & honorable Major Gen: Skippon, perceived it at laſt, (as it was reported) though too late, moſt evidently, and therefore (as it was credibly enformed) ſmiting himſelf upon his breſt, hee ſaid:Renowned Major Generall Skippon perceived this plot, but too late. Wee are betraied! wee are betraied! But, who the perſons were, was not then ſo clear, yet ſome were known, and one of them ran to the King to ſecure himſelf; and Colonell Butler was ſent up to London by his Excellency, and committed to the Tower of London, till hee was examined about it. And it is the more eaſily to bee beleeved to have been a meer peice of trechery againſt the noble Lord Generall, as being a thing plotted and contrived before hee went into the Weſt, A notable and moſt pregnant proof or ground of the knowledge of this diſaſter in the Weſt to be a plot.and that upon this ground, namely; That divers of the moſt knowing and active Royaliſts then among us at London, were heard, with much confidence, to ſay (before his Excellency went forth in this Expedition) that the Lord Generall would receive a blow in the Weſt. In particular, a Gentleman, then, a priſoner in Warwick-caſtle, by name, Mr. E. Andrewes, the Son of Sir Euſebie Andrewes, who being among divers Gentlemen, at a Tavern in Warwick, ſaid before them all, with imperious ſpeeches, that hee would bee hanged if the Earl of Eſſex came ſafe back again out of the Weſt; And told them withall, that they ſhould ſee the Kings Army flouriſh; with other words to this effect, as I had it by credible information. And this was preſently after the Lord Generall was gone into the Weſt, when hee had a moſt gallant and ſtout Army, indeed, and ſuch an one, as the Kings Army durſt not look in the face, nor was it probable, durſt come ſo neer it, as to behold their back-parts. For, his Excellencies Army was then known to be a terrour to the Enemy; for ſome of the cheif p. 22of the Kings Army, at the end of Newberry-battail (when they were carrying the body of the Earl of Ca…narvan into the Town) ſaid, Damn mee, Eſſex will never bee beaten, and with fearfull oaths were heard to ſwear, All the devils in hell could not beat him. But now to proceed.

About the 4 of this inſtant September, Sir Thomas Middletons ammunition ſafely conveyed unto Oſweſt…y from Wem, for the Welſh Affaires.came certain information by Letters from Oſ…eſtry to London, that Sir Thomas Middletons Ammunition was ſafely arrived from Wem to Oſweſtry, to the great ſorrow of the Enemy, who ſome few dayes before (as was certified by Letters from Wem) iſſued out of Salop to Whittington, with at leaſt 1200 foot and 400 horſe to have intercepted it; But renowned Sir Thomas Middleton having intelligence thereof ſent out a party from Oſweſt…y to guard the Ammunition, which party diſcovering the Enemy, wheeled into the Rear, all the Horſe being with the Ammunition, in the Van, and ſo fell upon them, killed five upon the place, took five priſoners, wounded many, and made the Enemy fly, but being to guard the Ammunition, they durſt not leave their charge to follow them, ſo the Enemy wheeled back again from Franck ford-Hope neer Elſmore, and ſo to Salop, and out Ammunition, of exceeding great concernment for the ſucceeding Welch affaires, was (as I ſaid) ſafely, thus, conveyed into Oſweſtry, ready there for the following work in Wales, where of more in its due place.

About the 8 of this inſtant alſo came certain intelligence by Letters out of Staffordſhire, of a brave exploit performed by that moſt valiant and brave Commander Colonell Rudgely in a moſt notable defeat which hee gave unto the Enemy; the ſubſtance wherof wee received from Letters thence to this eff…ct.A brave defeat given to the Enemy by valiant Colonell Rudgeley. Wee marched out of Stafford to Lynſell, and thence took from under the Walls, at leaſt an 104 Oxen and Cowes, and about 300 Horſe; Then wee marched to Litchfield, whence wee brought away above an 160 Oxen and Cowes and 60 Horſe, and preſently after newes being brought us that the Enemy was plundering at Chartley, his Excellencies the Lord Generals own Lands, with an intent to drive away his Cattell; whereupon our valiant Colonell, Col… Rudgel…y drew forth all thoſe horſes hee had, and about an 180 foot, and marched thither, but they having broke open the ſtable door, and taken a choice Colt of my Lord Generals (which Colt was ſhot and killed by one of his Servants out of the houſe, as they led him away) they were gone thence before wee could get thither, p. 23and got into Pen…h-Park to drive that; whereupon wee marched to Ʋſſiter and at Lackſley wee heard that the Enemy was marched toward Bromble, ſo with thoſe few horſe which wee had, wee marched in haſte after them, if poſſible to ingage them, till our foot came up unto us, and neer unto Bagots-Brom…ey, after 10 miles hard march, wee fell upon their Reare, and upon the firſt charge took about 40 horſe, and as many men and Armes, and purſued them to their main-body, which conſiſted of at leaſt 500 good horſe, but our horſe not being above an 100. wee were forced to retreat a little way, but preſently rallyed again, which whilſt wee were doing, the Enemy planted an ambuſcado, which upon our ſecond charge, fired upon us, but wee bravely beat the ambuſcado up, and killed and took every man of thoſe ſo planted, and all their armes and Horſes, and kept the reſt in play till our foot came up, and then they fell off from us, and wee kept the field. On our part wee had only one man ſlain, and they took ſix priſoners; but from them wee took, a Serjeant Major, one Captain, one Leivtenant, two Quarter maſter…, three Corporals, and the reſt Common Souldiers, in all 18. and killed about 30. took many Armes, and 50 Horſe, and ſo returned ſafe with our ſaid prize.

Much alſo about the ſame time wee had certain intelligence of ſome ſingular good ſervice done immediately after the fore-mentioned furniſhment of Oſweſtry with Ammunition, by that moſt valiant and brave Commander,A brave defeat given to the Enemy, by Sir Tho. Middleton. Sir Tho. Middleton, at or neer about Mountgome…y-caſtle, the ſubſtance of which intelligence by a Letter, was this: That by Gods gracious aſſiſtance, that noble Commander was advanced and came into Mountgomery, where he found the people all very willing and ready to receive him, and that Sir Thomas had ſummoned the Caſtle, and that his own Regiment fell, in that interim, upon New-Town, and had there taken Sir Thomas Gardiner, and his whole Troop of Horſe, 28 priſoners, 36 barrels of powder, ſome ſtore of match, two Horſe Colours, one Quarter maſter; and ſince that, even immediately after came certain information unto us, that the ſaid moſt noble and renowned Commander Sir Thomas Middleton, Mountgomery Caſtle taken by Sir Thomas Middleton.having (as was fore-mentioned) ſummoned the Caſtle of …, where the black Lord Horbert was, hee, upon faire and honourable termes ſurrendred it without much conteſtation about it, although it bee a Caſtle as ſtrong as any Caſtle in the Kingdom whatſoever, or in the Principality of W…l…s, and of very great concernment for the happy reduction of all p. 24North-wales, to the Parliament, of which more in its proper place.

About the 10 of this inſtant September, wee had certain information by Letters from Wem, that the vigilant and active Committee there reſident, having intelligence of the drawing out of the forces in Shrewsbury, toward Ludlow, (as was then conceived) but afterward they underſtood thoſe forces marched toward Sir Thomas Middleton, they ſent out under the Command of Leivtenant Colonell Rinking (a very good Souldier) a party of foot and horſe to ſurpriſe Morton-Corbet-Caſtle, The manner of taking Morton-Corbet-Caſtle. by Wem Garriſon.and ſent unto the Lord Calven to meet them with a party from Stoke, and upon a Saturday night about one or two of the clock they came before the Caſtle, every man being aſſig…ed the place where hee ſhould fall on. Now they being come thither, it being but about four miles from Wem, and they finding the People in great ſecurity, ordered the buſineſſe thus: Firſt, the Commander gave the Word, which was Will and Tom, with order that if any asked who they were, to anſwer, Will, and if the other anſwered not, Tom, they ſhould give fire; this being done, hee ſent Drums at a fields diſtance from the houſe, with order to beat a march as ſoon as ever the aſſault began, which they did accordingly, and therby made the Enemy think that there had been a great ſtrength, when as, indeed, it was no ſuch matter; Then preſently the Leivtenant Colonell calling aloud to bring up ſuch a Regiment to ſuch a place, and ſuch a Regiment to another place, (this much daunted the hearts of the Enemy at the hearing thereof) and then hee ſent ſome to diſcover the Centery, with an order to tell the Centery that they were friends, and to hold him in diſcourſe untill they had notice; which ſervice was ſo well performed on all parts▪ that before the Centinell knew who wee were, our Ladders were mounted and wee in poſſeſſion of one of their works, and then the Enemy took the alarum, and our men plyed the work moſt ſtoutly: The Leivtenant Colonell endevoured with but ten men to have forced a little door, wherein not prevailing, hee marched along over the tops of the works with but four men, and with theſe, fell upon them that were in another work, and forced them with one volley to betake them to the Houſe, where, out of the windows and holes they within ſhot fiercely at us, till wee by throwing in among them ſome hand Granadoes, they quitted thoſe places, which gave way to our men to break a ſtone pillar of a window, where the Leivtenant Colonell entred, and his four men entred, and after them (immediately after) many p. 25more; but before theſe were come in, the Enemy being at leaſt 80 foot and 30 horſe, and fearfully ſuppoſing (by reaſon of the noiſe of the Drums, afore-mentioned, and the Leivtenant Colonels calling together of ſo many Regiments) ſuppoſing therefore,Morton-Corbet-Caſtle taken by five men only who firſt entered the Caſtle. I ſay, that a greater force of ours followed thoſe five then entred into the Caſtle, they all inſtantly cryed out for quarter, which theſe five granted them, and by that time the reſt of our Forces were come up and had entred the Caſtle and ſo poſſeſſed themſelves firmly of it, and in it Major Bridgeman, Captain Maurice, one Leivtenant, one Sergeant, one Quartermaſter, one Enſigne, two Horſe Colours, at leaſt 80 Souldiers and 30 good Horſes, 6 barrells of powder, with much other proviſions. The Houſe was ſo ſtrongly fortified, that my Lord Calven, and the Leivtenant Colonell, who behaved themſelves moſt bravely in this action, ſaid it might have been maintained againſt a great ſtrength; for, had it been day-work, they ſhould not have attempted it. In all this ſo reſolute and even deſperate ſervice, wee loſt but one man, and had only ſome few wounded.

Now much about this time there having come conſtant and moſt true intelligence of the ſweet tranquillity, and peaceable, and free Trading of the people in all the Eaſtern and Southern Aſſociated Counties of this Kingdom, where the the Kings devouring Cormorants, the bold and bloody Cavaliers had no power to peſter them and pilfer from them, (which I may therefore, heer, moſt juſtly adde to the Catalogue of all the reſt of our moſt rare and ſingular Parliamentary-mercies,)Some Collyr…n… or eye-ſalve to heal (if it were poſſible) Malignants ſore eyes. as namely, in Cambridgeſhire, what a goodly and full Fair there was kept at Sturbridge, neer the Univerſity, with free Trade and comfortable commerce, as was formerly accuſtomed in our former moſt peaceable times; the like alſo at Berry in Suffolk, Faires & freetrading in all the Aſſociated Counties.at Lyn in Northfolk, at Braintree in Eſſex, at Maidſtone in Kent, at London both at Peters Fair in Weſtminſter, Jameſes and Bartholomew Fair, in Smi…field; and divers other parts and places under the power of the Parliament, and where, I ſay, the Cankerworms and Caterpillers of the kingdom, the moſt accurſed Cavaliers came not.The admirable mercy of God to London and Weſtminſter, in the pure and powerfull preaching of the Word. And again, if wee look no farther than the moſt renowned and famous Cities of London and Weſtminſter, (the intolerable terrours and tormentors, under God, of all the rotten Royaliſts) where the Word of God is moſt powerfully and purely, moſt freely and frequently Preached; where peace and plenty are, (even to the higheſt admiration of Gods infinite and p. 26unexpreſſible praiſe and glory) enjoyed, and where they know not, But by hear ſay (ever magnified and omnified bee the free grace and great mercy of our good God) the moſt wofull maſſacrings, plundrings, and pillagings, ſpoylings, and filthy deflouring of all ſorts and ſexes, which in very many, yea, too too many parts and places of the kingdom, are moſt ſadly ſeen and ſuffered, where the Atheiſticall Royaliſts, Romiſh and Malignant Atheiſts, rule and tyrannize, as in Worceſterſhire, where the Engliſh Papiſts; and Cavalierian Atheiſts have (all the time of theſe moſt unhappy warres) kept correſpondency with thoſe moſt barbarous and bloody Canibals,The ſad & bad condition of the Counties & places under the Royaliſts power and tyranny. the Rebels of Ireland. O the ſad tragedies perpetrated and acted there in thoſe parts, by the Ruſſels, Brunts, Canning…, and other inhumain Cavaliers of that County! by the Giffords in Stoffordſhire; the Tay…ors and Barnſes in War…ickſhire the filthy French, Walloones, and all other ſorts of blood-thirſ…y Villaines in all parts! I ſay, where the ravenous and all-ruining Royaliſts get and keep pernicious power and preheminence: witneſſe their horrid and hideous cruelti…s, and more than Turkiſh barbarities acted in Oxfordpriſ…ms, in Marlborough, Newbury, Redding, (when twas in their helli…h hold) Mar… field, Contraria juxta ſe poſita magis illuceſcunt.Gloc…ſ…e… ſhire, Bathe, the Vizes, Sommerſetſhir…, Devon, and Cornwall, in none of all which places, is permitted any free Trading, no powerfull Preaching, no comfortable or quiet living, but (as I ſaid) the clean contrary. And, now, ſ…riouſly and ſadly put both theſe two conditions together, as white to black, and light to darkneſſe, yea even as repreſentative heaven to hell, and then tell mee, O thou moſt obdurate-hearted, and Mole-eyed Malignant, if thou bee but Com…os mentis, if, I ſay, thou art not ſtark ma…, whether this one, and only conſideration (were there no more) bee not enough in meer common ſenſe and reaſon; to open thy blinde eyes, and cauſe thee to ſee thy groſſe errour, moſt peſti…ent prejudice and unreaſonable rage and rancour againſt the wayes of God and work of Reformation, the great Cauſe and buſineſſe of this preſent moſt pious Parliament, ſo injuriouſly and ſo unjuſtly maligned and abuſed by thee; God in mercy, at length, open thine eyes to ſee thy folly and madneſſe, and to bee truly humbled for it. But to proceed.

Now much about the 14 of this inſtant, came certain intelligence from that valiant and vigilant Commander Colonell Fox, how that a party of his being drawn out by Captain Tudman, mar…hed toward Hartlebury-Caſtle, and there ſalling upon a party of p. 27the enemies, took priſoners Sergeant Whitlework, and 4 others. That another Captain of his,Colonell Foxes conſtant activity and good Services. namely, Captain Johnſon marched with a party of Horſe to joyn with the Coventry forces for the ſecuring of Aſherton Fair (heer's another particular confirmation of the truth of what was forementioned) from the Lord Loughboroughs, or rather Rob-carryer, Haſtings, and Litchfield Forces: Which Fair (though with much adoe) was ſecured; wherein Colonell Foxes Souldiers, commanded by Captain Johnſon aforeſaid, unhorſed Colonell Lane, a Litchfield Commander, brought away his Horſe, Piſtols, Cloak, and Bever, the Colonell himſelf being ſorely wounded, if not ſlain, was, with no ſmall ſtrugling, at length reſcued by a ſtrong party, and ſo carryed off to Litchfield, but his chin was cut off in the fight, his arm ſhot and his head ſorely wounded, and hee therefore deemed unlikely to live.

Much alſo about the 16 of this inſtant, that ever to bee honored and approved Patriot of his Country Alderman Pennington, then, Leivtenant of the Towre of London, (having been brought into no ſmall perplexity and trouble by the ſudden and ſilent eſcape out of the ſaid Towre of thoſe two bloody Rebells,The worthy Leivtenant of the Towre of London, Alderman Pennington apprehended the two Iriſh-Rebels, Macquire & Macmahoon, who had made an eſcape. the Lord Macquire and Machmahoon) by the aſſiſtance of that moſt worthy Knight Sir John Cl…tworthy, a Gentleman alſo of a moſt publick Spirit and known integrity, and a member of the Houſe of Commons in Parliament, who having private intelligence of the ſaid Lord Macquire and Macmahoons place of reſidence, where they had been ſecurely h…boured ever ſince they got out of the Towre; both theſe worthy Gentlemen, and eminent Patriots, ſuddenly and ſecretly got together, the Trained Bands of Ludgate-Ward in London; and with them expeditiouſly beſet one Mr. Clouds houſe (a Painter or Picture drawer in Drurie-Lane) on all ſides, Clowde himſelf being out of Town, reported to bee beyond Sea, but beleeved to bee with the King, hee being a known Papiſt, and one of a great eſtate. Now the houſe being round beſet,The manner of taking the Rebels. as aforeſaid, Alderman Pennington, and Sir John Clotworthy, with ſome others went into the ſaid houſe, and inſtantly found the two bloody Rebels eating Oyſters, on whoſe perſons they inſtantly and joyfully ſeized, eſpecially the Leivtenant of the Towre, whom their apprehenſion moſt neerly concerned, and with the foreſaid Trained Band guarding them along the ſtreets to the Towre again, where, again, they ſafely lodged and lockt them up, till their farther triall for their lives, which ſhortly after followed. There were alſo found, at the ſame p. 28time, in the ſaid Clowds houſe, (that Popiſh cloud that had hidden thoſe two grand bloody Rebels in his houſe ſo long) the pictures of filthy Father Corbet, forſooth, and devilliſh Ducket, his copeſmate, two Iriſh-prieſts, that had been hanged, drawn and quartered at Tiburn, but the Seſſions before this apprehenſion of the ſaid Iriſh-Rebels, both thoſe Villaines pictures being very fairly ſet forth in Oyle-colours; ſo madly doe the Romiſh ſots and ſlaves of the Pope, dignifie, if not Deifie ſuch abominable, baſe and bloody Trentine-Traitors, Romes curſedly Canonized lying-martyrs; which Pictures I my ſelf ſaw, in my ever moſt honoured friends houſe, Sir John Wollaſtone, then, the moſt honourable Lord Major of London.

About the 18 of this inſtant September, divers of the reverend and truely religious Miniſters of the City of London, The City Miniſters petition to the Parliam. againſt novel & upſtart Schiſmes & for a ſettlement of Church Government.to a very conſiderable number, preſented a petition to the Houſe of Commons in Parliament, for a full and ſpeedy reformation and uniformity in Doctrine, Diſcipline, Worſhip, and Government of the Church of England, wherein, among many other things, they religiouſly remonſtrated, that by reaſon of many moſt dangerouſly erronious opinions, ruinating Schiſmes, and damnable hereſies (as Anabaptiſme, Browniſme, Antinonianiſme, Socinianiſme, Libertiniſme, and Independency) moſt unhappily revived and crept in among us, and much fomented both in City and Country, the Orthodox Miniſtery and truely pious and painfull Paſtours were much neglected and contemned, the people ſeduced, congregations torn aſunder, families diſtracted, rights and duties of Relations both nationall, civill and ſpirituall, very ſcandalouſly violated, the practicall power of godlineſſe greatly decayed, Parliamentary authority was much undermined, fearfull confuſion introduced, imminent deſtruction threatned, and in part inflicted on us (lately) in the Weſt, as a ſign of Heavens high diſpleaſure at us, for our moſt unthankfull and wanton quarrelling among our ſelves, and thereby retarding of ſo great and glorious a work, ſo much conducing to Gods high honour, and the Kingdomes beſt ſecurity. And therfore they deſired (as a ſoveraign remedy for the removall of theſe preſent diſtempers and growing evills, and the prevention of their farther progreſſe) the ſerious expediting of a Directory for publick-worſhip, and to accelerate the eſtabliſhment of a pure and Apoſtolicall Diſcipline and Government (according to the Word of God, and the beſt Reformed Churches) and to endevour to take away all obſtructions that might impede and retard the ſame. Which petition p. 29was read in the Houſe, and the Petitioners called in, and had thanks returned them, with aſſurance how earneſt the Parliament hath been to eſtabliſh Church-Government, Clear demonſtrations of the Parliaments pious integrity to expedite and compleat the work of Reformation.as was deſired, which was moſt notably evident, both in their calling of an Aſſembly of Divines to that purpoſe, by their endevours, ſince, to remove all obſtructions and miſunderſtandings among them that might hinder the work, by their farther late proceedings for the ſetling of a godly and painfull Miniſtery, in London, and many other parts of the Kingdome within their power; together with divers other wayes (as might bee inſtanced) which may bee as ſo many ſufficient teſtimonies of their fervent and faithfull zeal therein: And, laſtly, to teſtifie their moſt earneſt deſire to remove all impediments that might hinder a ſpeedy ſettlement in Religion, the Commons taking into conſideration the many ſtops and hinderances in the Aſſembly, by reaſon of ſome differences among themſelves, they ordered, that the Committee, Tender conſciences taken into conſideration by the Parliament.of Lords and Commons ſhould treat with the Commiſſioners of Scotland, and the Aſſembly about ſettling a union in point of Church-Government among thoſe Divines which were of a contrary opinion; and in caſe it could not bee, then to finde out away how tender conſciences might bee born withall, ſo far forth as might ſtand with the peace and ſafety of the Kingdome, and as was warranted by the Word of God, that ſo the Service of the Aſſembly might not bee retarded. And the Aſſembly of Divines having agreed on the names of ſuch Miniſters as they thought fit to bee entruſted with the matter of Ordination, Ordination of Miniſters taken alſo into conſideration & eſtabliſhed.pro tempore, within the City of London, there being 23 of them whereof 13 of the City Miniſters, and the other 10 of the Aſſembly, who preſented the ſame to the Commons, which they paſſed alſo with full approbation of them and the ſaid Ordinance was by a meſſage from the Commons ſent up to the Lords, deſiring their concurrence therein; to which alſo the Lords immediately aſſented, and the Ordinance came forth in Print with the full and joynt authority of both Houſes of Parliament, and the thing it ſelf divers times put into execution in divers Churches in London, in ſuch a holy, reverend, and religious manner, as did exceedingly joy the hearts of all Gods people to ſee, in the moſt pious and apoſtolicall performance of it.

About the 20 of this inſtant, wee were moſt credibly informed by Letters out of Leiceſterſhire, of an excellent exploit performed by a party of Leiceſter Horſe againſt that old and bold Rob-Carryer Hoſtrings forces, which was thus certified. viz. That a party of p. 30Horſe, about 80 in number, going from Leiceſter, as a convoy to certain Carriers of Nottingham, the paſſage, by reaſon of the Enemies Garriſons there about being full of danger,A brave exploit performed by Leiceſterſhire forces againſt Rob-Carryer Haſtings. ſo that no Carriers durſt adventure to paſſe without a convoy: Wherof Haſtings having had intelligence, and that there was a prize to bee preyed on, hee preſently ſent out a party of about an 120 Horſe at leaſt againſt them, but they comming too ſhort of the Carriers (who were, before his comming ſafely lodged in Nottingham, and the Convoy returning to Leiceſter; Haſtings Forces placed their ambuſcadoes and lined the hedges on both ſides of a Lane where Leiceſter Forces were to paſſe through, neer unto a Town called Caſt…ck within 5 miles on this ſide Nottingham, and accordingly gave the ſaid Convoy an unexpected ſalute in their ſaid return; but they very gallantly forced their paſſage through the Lane, which done they wheeled about again upon the Enemy, beat them from the hedges, miſerably routed and diſperſt their whole party, killed and took above 60 of them priſoners, the reſt that eſcaped, leaving all their armes behinde them for haſte, and they took 90 good horſes from them beſides. In which action Leiceſter forces loſt not one man; only Leivtenant Steevens, who deſerved much honour for his gallant undertaking in this Service was ſhot in the back, but not mortally wounded. After which exploit thus bravely performed by a party of but 86 againſt at leaſt an 120. the Convoy returned ſa…e unto Leiceſter with all their priſoners and prizes, and were entertained with much joy and triumph.

About September 23. wee received certain information, by Letters both from the right noble and renowned Patriots and magnanimous Commanders,A moſt famous and renowned Victory obtained by Sir William Breret…n, Sir Tho. Middleton, & Sir John Meldrum, at the raiſing of the ſ…ege before Mountgomery-Caſtle. Mountgomery-Caſtle beſieged by the Enemy, as ſoon as wee had taken it. Sir William Brereton, Sir Thomas Middleton, and as virtuous as valourous Sir John Meldrum, to the Parliament, bearing date the 18 & 19 of Septem. 1644. of a moſt famous and renowned victory, obtained (by Gods great mercy and goodneſſe) by their forces againſt the Enemy at the raiſing of the ſ…ege, before Mountgomery-Caſtle; the ſubſtance of all which three noble Commanders Letters to the Parliament, I have, heer, for the Readers better content and ſatisfaction, faithfully extracted and Compoſed together, in this relation following Immediately after renowned Sir Thomas Middleton, had been poſſeſſed of the ſtrong and advantageous Caſtle of Mountgomery, it was ſuddenly and cloſely beſieged again by a very ſtrong power of the Enemies Forces, before ours could bring in any competent proviſion for that Garriſon, p. 31and both the Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Colonell Price, and moſt of Sir Thomas Middletons brave Officers, and neer 500 Souldiers, were all, thereby, much diſtreſſed, and in great danger; which, brave Sir Thomas Middleton perceiving, and laying neer to heart, himſelf alſo being neceſſitated to a retreat, and hee having, in his retreat, ſafely recovered Oſweſtry, hee preſently haſted into Cheſhire unto renowned Sir William Brereton, his ever faſt friend, who, indeed; like a faithfull Achates▪ Sir Tho. Middleton ſpeedily invi…es Sir Wil. Brereton, & Sir John Meldrum, to his aſſiſtance A brave prize lately before taken from the Enemy.never failed him; and inſtantly alſo expedited meſſengers into L…ncaſhire to valiant Sir John M…ldrum, and brave Sir William Fairfax, in all whom, hee found a great deal of forwardneſſe and cheerfull readineſſe, both to help the ſaid diſtreſſed Caſtle, and to preſerve what they had but lately before gotten from the Enemy; viz. 37 barrels of powder, 12 barrels of brimſtone, ſtore of Match and other Ammunition, which the Enemy exceedingly wanted, all which, ours, I ſay, had a little before taken, as it was comming from Briſtol, and was intended for the releif of Shrewsbury, Cheſter and Leverpool. Now, all theſe foreſaid noble and renowned Commanders ſpeedily aſſembled and marched together toward Mountgomery-caſtle with 30…0 Horſe and Foot,Our Army conſiſting of 3000 horſe and foot, come neer the Enemy to the Caſtle. and came thither on Septem. 17. reſolving to contribute their beſt endevours in this expedition in regard of the great importance of the Service. They lay, that night, in a field moſt advantageous for them, which the Enemy had poſſeſt themſelves of before, but deſerted at our Forces comming thither, placing themſelves on the mountain above the Caſtle, a place of great advantage for them, our forces reſolved not to goe to them, but to endevour to victuall the Caſtle, and ſent out parties for the bringing in of proviſions to the Caſtle, even a third part of our Horſe being thus employed abroad for victualls, and forrage for the Caſtle; which the Enemy perceiving,The Enemies Army conſiſting of 5000 horſe and foot commanded by the Lord Byron. Sir Iohn Meldrum had the ordering and managing of this whole action. they took the opportunity, and thereupon marched down in a body toward us both Horſe and Foot, being in number, full 5000 Horſe and Foot, whom that bloody Lord Byron commanded in Cheif, and came up to our Forces to give them battail, with great courage and reſolution, thinking at the firſt to have broke through our Forces, and to have made themſelves Maſters of the Bridge, which ours had gained the night before, which indeed, would have cut off the paſſage of our retreat. But valiant Sir John Meldrum, who had the command and ordering of our Forces, performed the charge with admirable judgement dexterity and reſolution, and therefore (as noble Sir William Brereton teſtified p. 32of him) deſerved a large ſhare in the honour of that dayes ſucceſſe; but indeed, the whole honour and glory of it all was to be given and aſcribed to God only, the giver of all Victories. Ours, by the foreſaid fierce aſſault of Byrons Forces ſo deſperately on us, were ſo hardly tasked by their multitude, that the Commanders and Souldiers were conſtrained deeply, and moſt undauntedly to engage their utmoſt valour and courage,The fight was very deſperate & dubious on both ſides. and behaved themſelves (as indeed by Gods providence it was manifeſted) moſt extraordinary gallantly (for it was a while very dubious and uncertain, which way the Lord would incline the Victory) yea, and at laſt it came to puſh of Pike, wherein they were much too hard for ours; they having many more Pikes than wee, inſomuch that our Horſe was worſted, at the beginning of the battail, and forced a while to retreat; but it ſo pleaſed the Lord, at laſt, to put ſuch an unanimous Spirit and undaunted courage and reſolution both in our Horſe and Foot (animated on by the admirable examples of their ſo renowned Leaders and Commanders, Sir John Meldrum, Sir William Brereton, The admirable courage of our brave Commanders and Leaders. Sir Wil. Fairfax mortally wounded in this fightSir Thomas Middleton, Sir William Fairfax, who had the Command of the Horſe, who did moſt valiantly ſet upon the Enemies Horſe, and engaged himſelf ſo farre that hee was taken priſoner, but was preſently fetched off by the valour of his own men, but yet mortally wounded) but, as I ſaid before, God had put ſuch a ſpirit of undaunted reſolution and courage into the hearts both of Sir William Fairfax his men, and, indeed, of all the reſt, that they reſolved to fight it out to the laſt man; inſomuch that when the battail was now in a moſt anxious and uncertain condition,Our extremity was Gods opportunity. The Enemies whole Army routed and put to flight. our extremity was Gods opportunity to magnifie his power, and on a ſuddain with one freſh and valiant charge our Souldiers routed the Enemy, and put their whole Army to a moſt ſhamefull retreat, or rather, indeed, a plain flight, purſuing them divers miles together even in the Mountaines, and performed great execution on them; And, as I ſhould have told you, our men, when the battail was in the hotteſt, iſſued out of the Caſtle and fell upon the enemies that were in their trenches and took divers of their Officers and Souldiers, whom they had left to keep their workes. In which foreſaid fight and flight of the Enemies,The ſlain and priſoners taken in this notable fight. wee ſlew at leaſt 500 of their common Souldiers, beſides many Officers and men of quality, wounded many more, and took neer upon 1500 priſoners, among whom were theſe Officers and Commanders, viz. Colonell Sir Thomas Tilſley, their Major Generall; Colonell Broughton; p. 33Leivtenant Colonell Bladwell; Major Williams; 9 Captains; 17 Leivtenants; 1 Quartermaſter, 3 Cornets; 22 Enſignes; 52 Sergeants; 57 Corporalls; and 11 Drums. Our Souldiers alſo took at this time, neer 2000 armes, moſt for foot; all their Carriages, and neer 20 barrels of powder, wherewith they had been furniſhed the night before. Sir William Brereton, with his brave Cheſhire foot,Sir Will. Brereton & his Cheſhire forces did moſt remarkably in this fight and among them, Major Lowtham, eſpecially, who Commanded as Major Generall, did moſt admirably in this fight, and fought more like Lions than men, (as noble Sir John Meldrum himſelf teſtified of them) and did beat the beſt Foot in England, as the very Enemies themſelves confeſt, being all Prince Robbers foot, and indeed the choyceſt foot out of all their Garriſons. But noble and renowned Sir William Fairfax (as I toucht before) was mortally wounded, by at leaſt 15 wounds upon his body; as alſo Major Fitz-Simons a brave Souldier,Our loſſe and ſlain. who both behaved themſelves moſt admirably, and with invincible courage, in this terrible battail, and (with great and moſt juſt lamentation for their loſſe) dyed of their wounds, immediately after the fight, together with ſome few others of our Captaines and Officers of horſe; but it was verily beleeved wee loſt not 40 men, ſlain in this fight, nor had above 60 of our Souldiers wounded. Thus by Gods bleſſing the Caſtle was every way moſt valiantly releived,Our benefits by this famous Victory. brave Sir Thomas Middletons Souldiers, who before were as priſoners, were now ſet free from danger, together with the Lord Herbert of Cherbury, and all of them put into a comfortable poſture; and by this ſo terrible a blow, the beſt of the Enemies foot ruinated and taken from them, as alſo Shrewsbury, Cheſter, and Leverpool unfurniſhed of their hoped Ammunition, and our ſelves plentifully furniſhed, and, heerby, Northwales (which formerly had been the nurſery for the Kings Armies) moſt probable, in good time, to ſhake off that yoke of Servitude, which formerly lay ſo heavily upon their necks, by the example of Mountgomery-caſtles ſafety, which is, indeed, one of the goodlieſt and ſtrongeſt places that is in the Kingdom. And, now, ſay (good Reader) did not heer the Lord our God let us conſpicuouſly ſee that great wonder of the Buſh, The Burning-Buſh not conſumed, again.his Church or Children, in the midſt of a furious flame, indeed, and yet not conſumed therewith, but rather contrariwiſe flouriſhing in the flames and deſtroying the deſtroyers, and quenching the crackling thorns of the ungodly, under the boyling pot of their implacable wrath and fierceſt fury, Not unto us, therefore, Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name p. 34alone, Wee give all the honour and glory. But, heer, give me leave (good Reader) to acquaint thee (I holding it very pertinent to this preſent buſineſſe) with one more moſt noble and renowned action, which much honoured that brave Commander Sir John Meldrum; who immediately after this famous Victory, was yet ſo ſenſible of the loſſe of that noble Gentleman, and moſt brave Commander Sir William Fairfax, A moſt memorable & worthy act of renowned Sir Joh. Meldrum toward ſlain Sir Will. Fairfax his ſurviving ſorrowfull Lady.that apprehending (and that moſt rightly and religiouſly) the affliction would bee great to his deer ſurviving virtuous Lady (as indeed it was ſad to her and to the whole kingdom) hee procured from among the Souldiers, or Chirurgeons (not without ſome difficulty) the Diamond-Ring that was on Sir Williams finger, and the bracelet of gold that was about his arm, when hee was ſlain in the fight, and ſent them up to his Lady, together with a Letter ſo full of noble and moſt pious expreſſions, as it hath juſtly added much to his other actions of honour. And when theſe things were denyed him by ſome Chirurgeons, and by ſome others alſo claiming them to bee their due, hee drew up ſome of his horſe, and ſaid hee would deal with them, as with enemies, if they did not deliver the ſame to bee ſent to his Lady. Sir Thomas Middleton likewiſe, wrote a Letter of much reſpect and conſolation to the Lady Fairfax; The moſt pious and precious ſpeech of the virtuous Lady Fairfax.Who like a moſt heroick and pious Lady, told her friends about her, That ſhee greived not that hee d…ed in this Cauſe, but that hee dyed ſo ſoon to doe no more for it. A moſt noble ſpeech, indeed, and moſt worthy a virtuous and Chriſtian Lady. But now to proceed.

About the 26 of this inſtant September, came certain intelligence by Letters to London, out of Glouceſterſhire, of a very rare exploit performed by that moſt renowned and ever to bee honoured ſucceſſefull Commander Colonell Maſſie, A brave exploit of renowned Colonell Maſſies, in the taking of the Town & Caſtle of Monmouth.at Monmouth in South-Wales, which was this: Colonell Kerl, who had the Command of the ſaid Town and Caſtle for the King, went out in the night with a party of Horſe, and was met with by Colonell Maſſie, who having laid an ambuſcado, ſurpriſed the Colonell, and took all his men priſoners; After which (to requite ſome ill ſervice which hee had formerly done to the Parliament, in deſerting it (or whither that were done by compulſion or otherwiſe, I will not determine, but) the ſaid Colonell Kerl (upon an agreement and reſolution betwixt brave Colonell Maſſie and him) marched in the head of Colonell Maſſies men to the Town of Monmouth, and demanded entrance, whereupon the draw-bridge being let down, Colonell p. 35Maſſie ſoon became Maſter thereof,The Town and Caſtle of Monmouth, taken by Col. Maſſie, by a ſtratagem. and quickly got poſſeſſion both of the Town and Caſtle together, with the loſſe not of above 6 men on both ſides. This Colonell Kerles Father was then at Glouceſter, and for the Parliament, and having an eſtate in the County of Monmouth, the King gave it to his Son on his revolt to his ſide; but by this means the Father happily regained both his Son and his inheritance together. This Town being a place of great concernment, was on this obtaining of it, made a Garriſon for the Parliament; it being not only the inlet into South-Wales, from Briſtol, but was alſo a Magazine to furniſh that City and thoſe parts with Butter, Cheeſe, and all ſorts of Victualls.

And about the latter end of this inſtant September, wee had farther certain information by Letters from Glouc…ſter, that Prince Robber having had a deſign to ſecure a paſſage between Briſtol and Wales, A brave … given to the Enemy by Col. … Maſſie at Betſley Sconce in the Forreſt of Deanfor which purpoſe …ee had ſent 200 of his Forces to Betſley in the Forreſt of Dean, joyning upon the Severn, neer unto that grand Papiſts Sir John Winters, in the Pariſh of Tidenton, where they were a fortifying and making a mote, and had raiſed a Sconce to ſecure that Garriſon; But valiant Colonell Maſſie having timely intelligence thereof, drew out a conſiderable Party of his own and ſome of the Earl of Denbighs Horſe, and bravely fell upon them; ſlew divers of them, took their Governour and 10 Commanders more, about an 162 priſoners, 200 Armes, 2 peices of Ordnance, and all their Artillery, bagge and baggage; and thereby utterly fruſtrated that deſign; and thus the noble and renowned Colonell victoriouſly returned to Glouceſter, with all his priſoners and prize aforeſaid.

And now, good Reader, let mee heer deſire thee to make a little pauſe and ponder a while with holy admiration and Chriſtian contemplation on this moneths great wonder alſo; even to ſee this bleſſed Burning-Buſh, The Burning-Buſh ….the Cauſe of God, his innocent Church or Children, in the midſt of ſo many comberſome and combuſtuous, and furiouſly flaming Conflagrations; and yet this Buſh ſo farre from being conſumed, as that contrariwiſe it growes more and more ſtrong, vigorous and victorious, ſprouting and ſpreading forth with more and more extraordinary boughes and branches, and as it were in a fair and moſt flouriſhing condition; Witneſſe all this foreſaid moneths particular paſſages of Gods providence and protection over his forely ſmitten, aſſaulted, and menaced Members of his Church, both in their deep danger in Cornwall by an undoubted plot of trechery p. 36contrived by falſe friends, as well as open enemies; together I ſay, with all the reſt of the moſt memorable providentiall paſſages of this monethmonth, in all which it was moſt evidently ſeen, that the bleſſing and good will of him that dwelt in the Buſh was plentifully poured out on his Churches Cauſe; Deut. 33. 16.Deut 33:16and may therefore moſt juſtly cauſe and encourage us ſtill more and more to magnifie the mercy of our good God, and with immoveable conſtancy and confidence relying on his experienced love and faithfulneſſe to confeſſe with holy David (to the incomparable praiſe of our wonder-working God) O Lord God of Hoſts, Pſal. 89. 6. 8.Ps 89:6Ps 89:8who is a ſtrong Lord like unto thee, or to thy faithfulneſſe round about thee? for who in the heavens can bee compared to the Lord, and who among the ſons of the mighty can bee like unto our God? But now to goe on.

AND now,October. 1644. I ſay, to goe on in a farther and more ſerious ſearch (for contemplation and admiration) of theſe continued wonders, of our great and glorious wonder-working God, which were moſt obviouſly and conſpicuouſly preſented to our eyes and eares in the whole progreſſe of this next enſuing MonethMonth of October, 1644. And heer wee will begin with the then preſent ſtate and condition of the Parliaments main and ſtanding-Army, under the ſpeciall Command of his Excellency the Lord Generall, Robert Earl of Eſſex; which Army, what a moſt dangerous combuſtion and deep gulf of deſtruction it had lately eſcaped in the Weſt (by the unfaithfulneſſe (as was ſtrongly conceived, and groundedly beleeved alſo, as I have already expreſſed in the laſt fore-going moneths paſſages) of ſome of the prime Officers and Commanders of that Army? In ſerious conſideration whereof our moſt renowned and vigilant Parliamentary Statiſts did (the very beginning of this MonethMonth) Vote a Committee to goe down to the Army,A Committee of both Houſes of Parliament appointed to be joyned with the Army, for joynt conſultation in the actions & motions thereof. viz. the Lord Wareſton, and Mr. Crew, whoſe advice was to bee taken by the Commander and Commanders in Cheif for the prevention of future diſloyall attempts and treacherous deſignes, and for the more ſerious and ſolid acts and motions of the Army, for the good of the Kingdome, by Gods bleſſing thereon; the like courſe being ſaid to bee taken in Holland, namely, that there are ſome of the States of thoſe Ʋnited-Provinces that accompany the Prince of Orange, whoſe concurrent advice hee takes upon the enterpriſing of any deſigne; and yet the ſaid Prince takes not this as p. 37any diminution of his Command: And how needfull this courſe hath been in our main Army, the Kingdom hath been or might have been moſt feelingly ſenſible; eſpecially conſidering the ill-inſtruments which about this time, and formerly were and have been in the Army in the Weſt (which, although I have already, in ſome meaſure touched before,A more clear demonſtration of the plot againſt our Army in the Weſt. yet becauſe more clear demonſtrations thereof are ſince come to light, and to my hands, I ſhall deſire, with the Readers patience and to his farther and fuller ſatisfaction therin, a little heer to inſiſt on) Witneſſe therefore thoſe inſtructions diſperſed by Colonell Butler (as was moſt credibly informed) which the King ſent to tempt our ſaid Army, then in Cornwall, which were the moſt deſperate and dangerous things that ever were yet penned,Dangerous Inſtructions to tempt our Army to revolt from the Parl. to the King. One of the Inſtructions. and may in time come to publick view; One of which was this; You ſhall alſo inform that wee have aſſurance of a Party in both the Houſes of Parliament at Weſtminſter, that doe only wait the conjunction of theſe two Armies (meaning the Kings Army, and the Lord Generalls, then, in Cornwall) and then they will put things to the queſtion, being backed with ſuch a ſtrength which now they dare not propound; Alſo you ſhall inforce the conjunction of theſe two Armies, the ſooner, with this argument, that, otherwiſe, the Scots will prevail and conquer the Kingdom, and ſo the Engliſh muſt become ſubject to that Nation. There were 20 or 30 more particulars (as was credibly enformed) and thoſe very remarkable ones. Theſe inſtructions were ſent by Mr. Harding Son to the Marqueſſe of Hartford, to bee communicated to his Excellency, if upon the receipt of a Letter ſent from the King to our Lord Generall, The Lord Generals noble … delity to the State.hee would entertain a Treaty; Which, his Excellency, moſt loyally and prudently had formerly refuſed, highly ſcorning to bee faſtned on (though by a Royall temptation) to betray his truſt; yet, how ever, thoſe private Inſtructions were afterward diſperſed▪ amongſt ſome of the Commanders, as wee then found by unhappy experience. And yet, in all the plot and deſigne (praiſed and for ever bleſſed bee the Lord our God) the iſſue proved more to bee a crackling-Squib, than a conſiderable loſſe, (as hath been before more particularly and clearly manifeſted) eſpecially conſidering the danger, and yet the Buſh un-burnt, The falſe, …al… cious and malicious p…ottings of the Royaliſts to couzen the Kingdom.in the midſt of that great flame round about it. In which premiſed Regall inſtructions, wee may primarily take notice how falſly and fallaciouſly the Royaliſts fancy to themſelves (and that with no ſmall malice too) both a party in the Parliament for them, and would alſo fain blinde the kingdom with ſuch a p. 38belief: But, that which ſticks moſt to their ſides (as there you may ſee and obſerve) is our honeſt and loyall Brethren of Scotland, againſt whom they would fain poſſeſſe the people with an opinion, that their intention is to conquer the kingdom; whereas never did a Nation ſo faithfully,The cheif reaſon why our Brethren of Scotland, are ſo ſ…andered and maligned by Cavaliers and Malignants. and (in a manner) ſo unanimouſly appear, with more loyalty and cordiall integrity, in the Cauſe of Religion, than they have done; and the crafty Cavaliers knew they will not depart from their principles, nor leave aſſiſting the Parliamentary proceedings, till Religion and Liberty bee ſecured, in both kingdomes; and therefore I cannot much blame them (conſidering their caſe and condition) that they ſo ſcandalize the Nation of Scotland, that in the concluſion is like (by Gods gracious aſſiſtance and appointment) to bee a main means of their ruine and deſtruction from among us. And to all theſe premiſes, adde that moſt memorable mercy of the Lord in thoſe our ſtraits in Cornwall, forementioned, namely, what admirable courage and undaunted reſolution the Lord put at that time, into the hearts of thoſe moſt valiant Commanders and Souldiers that were of the Plymouth Horſe,The admirable courage of the Commanders & Souldiers of the Plimouth horſe. who in Cornwall, by their impregnable courage and valiant actions, deſerved as much honour as could bee poſſibly conferred upon men of merit and valour. For, all thoſe of the Kings Army that were of the three Regiments of the Kings Horſe, were utterly routed by Major Straghen a Scottiſh Commander with only 100 Plimouth Horſe, whom hee Commanded, who all manifeſted ſo much unparallelled valour and magnanimity of ſpirit, as occaſioned ſuch extreme terrour to the Enemy, that the King himſelf was put into as great a fright at that time,The Plimouth horſe, put the King himſelf into a terrible and frigh…ing fear. as when hee rode hard from Northall…rton to York, when hee heard the Scots had beaten his Army at Newborn, at their firſt comming in among us; So ſtoutly they reſolved and ſo faithfully performed and acted their reſolution, to live and die with our Foot forces (at that time left in ſuch a ſtrait) and to ſtand or fall with them, though moſt barbarouſly and baſely they were p…ged and plundered contrary to Conditions, yea, the King himſelf being in the field, and to his ſhame and eternall infamy it will certainly remain to poſterity,A moſt ignoble & diſloyall act of King Charles in Cornwall. that hee moſt unjuſtly permitted ſuch a moſt ignoble, diſloyall, and unſouldierly ſhamefull action to bee committed, notwithſtanding that noble and ever to bee honoured Major Generall Skippon went to his Majeſty, and complained of that per…idious breach of Articles, but could finde no redreſſe therein. And now, p. 39good Reader, put all theſe together, viz. the Enemies abominable trechery to have utterly ruinated our ſo brave an Army (forementioned in ſome paſſages of the MonethMonth before) together with the devilliſh deſign to have wrought our Army perfidiouſly to have conjoyned and combined into one body againſt the Parliament; And the admirable courage and magnanimity of ſpirit which God put into the hearts of our Foot forces, and ſome few Horſe, eſpecially thoſe of renowned Plimouth, to ſtand to it ſo invincibly, and to come off ſo totally with their lives, out of ſo deep and dangerous a ſnare and pitfall, into which they were very neer entrapped. And then ſay whether the Lord Jehovah appeared not mightily and moſt manifeſtly for their preſervation,The bleſſing of him that dwelt in the Buſh was on our Army in the Weſt. and whither the bleſſing of him that dwelt in the Buſh, was not on them to ſave them from the devouring flames of that prepared and intended combuſtion and confuſion.

Much alſo about the 4 of this inſtant October, came Letters out of Scotland, which certified for an undoubted truth, that the Popiſh party and faction of the Royaliſts in Scotland, had laid down their armes,Moſt ſucceſsful proceedings of affaires in Scotland, and in the Northern parts of our kingdom▪ and were come in and had ſubmitted themſelves. That the moſt noble Marqueſſe of Argile, moſt renowned in Scotland for his known conſtant piety, loyalty to his King and Country, and his magnanimity of ſpirit, in the then preſent diſtracted condition of Scotland; that hee, I ſay, was in preſent purſuit of the Iriſh Rebels that had got in among them there, and kept them cloſely in among the mountaines, where hee often lit upon many of them, and ſtraitned them extremely; Inſomuch that the troubles of that honeſt neighbour kingdom being thus farre ſo happily appeaſed, the noble Earl of Callender returned again to the Leaguer at Newcaſtle. It was alſo then for certain enformed by Letters out of the North, that the Array-men and other diſaffected perſons of quality in the Counties of Cumberland, Many Array-men in the Northern parts ſurpriſed by the Country people.and Weſtmerland, were met together to feaſt together, and therein alſo to conſult about raiſing more Forces in thoſe parts againſt the Parliaments proceedings there; which the Country-people having knowledge of, and being very ſenſible of the miſeries which thoſe men had already been meanes to bring upon thoſe Counties and places adjacent, they all roſe as one man, and apprehended many of them, to the number of about 40. whom they brought to Generall Leſley, to the Leaguer, but Muſgrave and Fletcher narrowly eſcaped to Carlile.

About the 6 of this inſtant, Letters from Welchpool, were brought p. 40to London, which certified that renowned Sir Thomas Middleton had taken Red…aſtle a place of very great conſequence and one of the ſtrongeſt of the Enemies holds in Northwales. The manner of the taking of it was ſaid to bee thus. The Enemy, in this Caſtle (whereof the Lord Powis, a grand Papiſt, and moſt deſperate and devilliſh blaſphemer of Gods name,The taking of Rad-caſtle in North-wales by Sir Thomas Middleton. was Governour and the Owner alſo) did often oppoſe and interrupt the bringing in of proviſions unto our forces at Mountgomery caſtle; whereupon Sir Thomas Middleton ſummoned the whole County thereabout to come in unto him, and preſently upon it advanced from Mountgomery to Pool with 300 foot and a 100 Horſe, where they quartered on the Munday and Tueſday night following, and on the Wedneſday morning next, at 2 of the clock, even by Moon-light, Mr. John A…undell, the Maſter-Gunner to Sir Thomas Middleton, placed a Petarre againſt the outer-gate, which burſt the gate quite in peices, and (notwithſtanding the many ſhewers of ſtones thrown from the Caſtle, by the enemies) Sir Thomas Middletons foot commanded by Captain Hugh Maſſey, and Major Henry Kett, ruſhed with undaunted reſolution, into the Enemies works, got into the porch of the Caſtle, and, ſo ſtormed the Caſtle-gate, entred it, and poſſeſt themſelves both of the old and new-caſtle, and of all the plate, proviſions and goods therein, which was great ſtore, which had been brought from all parts thereabout;The priſoners & prizes taken in the Caſtle. they alſo took priſoners therein, the Lord Powis and his brother, with his two Sons, together with a Seminary-Prieſt, 3 Captaines, one Leivtenant, and 80 Officers and Common Souldiers, 40 horſe, and 200 armes. The place is of great concernment, for, before the taking of it, it did much miſcheif to the Country, and almoſt had blockt up the paſſages from Oſweſtry to Mountgomery-caſtle, ſo that, now, the ſtrongeſt forts in all Northwal…s, are in the poſſeſſion of the Parliament, this Caſtle being conceived to bee of ſtrength ſufficient to hold out a years ſiege, and to bee able to keep out at leaſt 10000 men for a whole 12 monethmonth, it having at that preſent, ſufficient proviſion in it of all ſorts for ſuch a continuance of time. Beſides, by this means noble Sir Thomas Middleton hath now the command of all North-wales, and can raiſe men, there, at his own pleaſure.

About the 10 of this inſtant October, the Ordinance for Ordination of pious and painfull Miniſters, pro tempore, (whereof I breifly made former mention that it was in preparation in the Parliament) now, fully had paſſed both the Houſes, and was Printed p. 41and publiſhed. By which it was Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliaments (upon advice had with the Learned and Reverend Aſſembly of Divines, The Ordinance for Ordination of Miniſters, in & about Londonconvened at Weſtminſter) that during the preſent exigencies of the Armies, and of the Navy, as alſo of many Congregations deſtitute of able and faithfull Miniſters, and untill a farther and fuller Church-government were compleated, and the whole and conſtant courſe of Ordination of Miniſters, in an ordinary way were ſet up and ſetled for the three Kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland; That theſe perſons in the City of London, being Presbyters, viz. Dr. Cornelius Burge…, one of the Aſſeſſors of the Aſſembly, Dr. William Gouge, Mr. John Ley, Mr. George Walker, The names of the Presbyters appointed for Ordination of Miniſters.Mr. Edmund Calamy, Mr. Daniel Coudrey, Mr. Stanley Gower, Mr. John Conant, and Mr. Humphrey Chambers, all members of the Aſſembly; Mr. Henry Roxborough, Mr. John Downham, Mr. Charles Offspring, Mr. Richard Lee, Mr. Timothie Dod, Mr. James Cranford, Mr. Thomas Horton, Mr. Thomas Glendon, Mr. Arthur Jackson, Mr. Samuel Clark, Mr. Emanuel Brown, Mr. Fulk Bellers, Mr. Francis Roberts, Mr. Leonard Cook; or any 7 of them, the major part being preſent, ſhall examine all thoſe which are to bee admitted into the Miniſtery, upon theſe particulars following, viz. Touching his skill in the Originall tongues, and that tryall bee made by reading the Hebrew and Greek Teſtaments; The manner of examining thoſe that are to bee Ordained Miniſters.and rendring ſome portion of them into Latine; Whether hee hath skill in Logick and Philoſophy; What Authours hee hath read, and what knowledge hee hath to defend the Orthodox Religion, contained in them; That hee ſhall frame a diſcourſe in Latine, upon ſome Common place or controverſie in Divinity, as ſhall bee aſſigned him, and maintain a diſpute thereon, and ſhall preach before the people or Miniſters appointed to Ordain, or ſome of them. Being thus approved, hee is alſo to Preach three ſeverall dayes in the Church where hee is to ſerve, that they alſo may have tryall of his gifts, and may know and bee ſatisfied concerning his life and converſation. Which being thus completed and concluded, the next thing in reference to that, and the very firſt thing, indeed,Care taken for an augmentation of Miniſters ſmall Livings, and for future competent maintainance for them, the pious and prudent Houſe of Commons took into conſideration, was, how ſuch godly and able Miniſters might bee ſupported and comfortably ſubſiſt, who formerly had very ſmall and inconſiderable livings; and yet that the Pariſhioners might not bee over-charged therein: Whereupon a remedy was propounded to bee out of the revenues of Deanes and Chapters of Cathedralls, which alſo was generally approved of, and referred to the Committee p. 42of plundered Miniſters to bring in an Ordinance to that purpoſe. And a preſident thereof was made for a farther allowance to bee given to the Miniſter of To…ham-High-…roſ…, out of the revenues of the Dean and Chapter of Pauls in Lond…n, hee having at that time, not above 30 pound a year in that Pariſh. But of this, more in its due place.

About the 14 of this inſtant, wee had certain information by Letters out of Glo…eſterſhire, and from Colonell Maſſie himſelf, who thereby confirmed the truth thereof to the Parliament, of a very rare and famous exploit performed by this moſt renowned, ſucceſſefull, and unconquerable Commander, Colonell Maſſie, the ſubſtance of which Letters was to this effect. That God had in his rich mercy and goodneſſe given him ſingular good ſucceſſe againſt the Kings Forces commanded by Sir John Winter, A moſt brave & famous exploit performed by that moſt renowned Cō mander Col…n. Maſſie upon the Kings Forces at Beechley.that active arch Papiſt, at the paſſage at Beechley, where hee had formerly well cudgelled him, as I have before ſpecified; And now again Sir John Winter, perceiving himſelf, and thoſe of his Popiſh and malignant humour that inhabited in thoſe parts to bee in a deſperate condition, unleſſe that paſſage at Beechley or Beſtley, could bee fortified by them againſt Colonell Maſſies conſtant excurſions upon him; whereupon hee, I ſay, adventured again to fortifie the ſame, and which hee did with much admirable dexterity and expedition, as was almoſt incredible to bee beleeved, that in ſo few dayes, ſuch ſtrong works could bee made, but having palliſadoes ready made at Briſtol, and ſpeedily conveyed to him, of three ſeverall ſorts, each higher than other, and all of them well ſtrengthened with ironwork, they were therefore ſuddainly faſtned into the ground, and good deep ditches made; But notwithſtanding, undaunted Colonell Maſſie hearing heerof, preſently marched out of Monmouth, with a 100 Foot, all commanded men, and 8 troopes of Horſe, and therewith marched againſt the Enemy; who having intelligence of his approach, preſently drew out a party of Musketteirs, and lined the hedges in his way; but about 4 of the clock in the morning, the noble Colonell fell upon them, beat them from the hedges, and drave them to their holds, and following them cloſe, fell valiantly upon their works, and forced the Enemy into the palliſadoes, and got over the firſt and ſecond palliſadoes, notwithſtanding the great and ſmall ſhot, both from the works and the ſhips and pinnace in both the rivers of Wye and Severn, and being himſelf thrown down to the ground by a leap which his horſe p. 43made over the ditch (hee himſelf firſt entring) a Musketteir of the enemies gave fire at him,The extraordinary danger of death that noble Col. Maſſie was in at this …. but, by Gods good providence miſſed his mark, and being ſomewhat neer him, as ſoon as hee had diſcharched, hee turned the Butt…end of his musket and ſtrook at the Colonell, and with the force of the blow ſtrook off his head-peice, all which was ſo ſuddainly done, that the brave Colonell had no time to conſider the danger hee was in; but being of an undaunted ſpirit, hee now had recovered himſelf, and inſtantly charged the Musketteir and kild him on the place; and by this time was valiant Colonell Harley alſo entred into the ſecond palliſado with his horſe, and ſo fully releived and remounted Colonell Maſſie, and preſently after him came alſo Colonell Kerle, and ſo they all together made a moſt furious onſet upon the Enemy, and fell to it pell-mell with their Swords, Muskets, and Piſtols; now the Enemy ſeeing himſelf ſo hard beſet, and that there were little or no hope to doe any good, they began to run away apace, and Sir John Winter himſelf (that grand Papiſt, who had alwayes ſhewed himſelf exceeding active in the Papiſt cauſe) being now amongſt them, and who (to give him his due, ſtood ſtoutly upon his guard, with a fire-pike, a while, till Colonell Kerle diſcovering who hee was, cryed out,Sir John Winter that grand Papiſt being in a great danger of death, tumbled himſelf down a hill to ſave his life. thats Winter, thats Winter, piſtoll him, piſtoll him, whereupon hee flung down his pike, and tumbled himſelf down the ſteep banck or hill where the palliſado ſtood, where his neck, contrary to all likelihood, incurred not the act of breaking, and ſo hee eſcaped, but his horſe was taken, but yet 230 men that might have eſcaped the ſame way, durſt not follow his example therein, and ſo were all taken priſoners, among whom was Leivtenant Colonell Powell, The priſoners & prizes taken.Sir Ralph Hoptons own Major, together with divers other Commanders and Officers, and neer 10 ſlain upon the place: wee took there alſo, 8 barrels of powder, 4 Drakes, and 4 Iron-peices, 200 Armes, with many horſe and furniture; And that which was further obſervable was this, that Prince Robber was to have been there the next night after it was thus taken by us, and his bed was ſet up and fairly furniſhed for him, and hee was to have joyned with Colonell Gerard, but now was by Gods great mercy and good providence prevented therein. All which ſervice was thus moſt bravely performed by this victorious Colonell,The loſs which wee ſuſtained in this exploit. through Gods gracious aſſiſtance, with the loſſe of only 10 of his own men, and ſome few wounded. This exploit was of great concernment to us, in regard that it hinders all manner of proviſions p. 44from the Enemy at Briſtoll, and ſtops the paſſage from Wales, ſo that they can have no ſupply of men from thence; which conſideration, indeed, made the enemy ſo eager to have poſſeſſed themſelves of that advantageous paſſage.A breif Encomium to renowned Col. Maſſie. Many Colonells, I juſtly and ingenuouſly acknowledge have done bravely; but brave and ever to bee renowned Maſſie hath excelled them all, and that which challengeth eternall fame and dateleſſe ſplendour to his illuſtrious name, and indelible honour, is his conſtant perſevering in all his moſt noble actions, free from ſelf-aymes and ends, not ambitious, nor proud of his many incomparable Victories, not covetous, but truely gallant and noble. Hold on, then, renowned Maſſie, and certainly the illuſtrious name and fame of Maſſie, more precious than Maſſie-gold, ſhall never dye, but ever fairly flouriſh, whiles England ſtands. But to goe on.

About the 16 of this inſtant, wee had alſo indubitable information out of the North, that the baſe and bloody Iriſh-Rebels, having ſent a ſhip with 8 great peices of Ordnance,An Iriſh ſhip taken, at White-Haven in Cumberland. 20 double-barrels of powder, and good ſtore of other Ammunition into White-Haven in Cumberland, intended for the releif of Carlile, being then diſtreſſed for want of powder and ſuch other Ammunition; Sir Wilfrid Lawſon, who had raiſed a Regiment in Cumberland for the ſervice of the Parliament, happily ſurprized her in the ſaid Haven, by manning out ſome men in boats, and ſo ſeized upon the ſaid Ship, Ordnance, and Ammunition.

Much alſo about the ſame time came certain news from Pool, of the taking of an 100 brave horſe of the Queens own Regiment, 2 Colours, a Maſſe-book, and other Popiſh trumpery, 40 priſoners, then,A brave prize taken by the Governour of Pool. And taken, and 16 killed on the place, by the brave Governour of Pool, who victoriouſly returned thither again, with all the ſaid Horſe and priſoners, with the loſſe of but one man of his; This brave exploit was performed between Pool and Blanford.

And about the ſame time wee had certain intelligence out of the North, Another by Colonell Lambert.that valiant Colonell Lambert (ſince his and Colonell Sandys taking a Troop of Horſe in Craven) hath taken a 120 horſe more from the Enemy at Plumpton in Yorkeſhire, together with an Iriſh-Rebell their Commander, whom they took priſoner, with the reſt.

And much about this time alſo a petition was preſented to the Parliament, by that virtuous and religious Gentlewoman, Miſtris Baſtwick (wife to that heroick-hearted Gentleman, and famouſly p. 45ſuffering ſervant of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Dr. John Baſtwick) for ſome allowance for herſelf and children, and toward the preſent maintainance of her ſaid Husband, then a priſoner in the Caſtle of Knarsborough in Yorkeſhire, for the Parliaments Cauſe, as hee had formerly lyen priſoner a long time in the Iſland of Silly in Cornw. Much to bee honoured Dr. John Baſtwick re…ived in priſon, and releaſed out of priſon, by the Parliament.for pieties and religions Cauſe; which her petition was very freely and favourably entertained by the Houſe of Lords, and by them ſent to the Houſe of Commons, to deſire their concurrence therein, who accordingly moſt willingly agreed thereunto, and the ſum of an 100 pound was preſently ordered to bee paid unto her out of Haberdaſhers-Hall in London, and which ſhee immediately received thence as was ordered. And ſhortly after this, it pleaſed the good hand of Gods providence ſo to order it, that by the indefatigable pains and care of Miſtris Baſtwick, and of Colonell Hudleſtones wife (hee being then a priſoner in the Towre of London) the ſaid noble Dr.Dr. Baſtwick exchanged for Col. Hudleſtone, returned from Knaresbor…ugh Caſtle to Londō. was upon exchange for the ſaid Hudleſtone, releaſed out of priſon from Knaresborough Caſtle, as aforeſaid; where, and alſo in the Caſtle in York, hee had indured much wrong and great affliction, but now was, I ſay, returned home to London, with abundance of honour and moſt welcome entertainment to the City of London, and to all the honeſt-hearted-Chriſtians therein; yea, moſt welcome, I ſay, to his dear Wife and Children. And, O thrice happy Gentleman indeed (ſay I) heerin, eſpecially, namely, that having moſt magnanimouſly, and with invincible Chriſtian courage and wiſdome, paſſed (as the Poet ſang) Per varios caſus, per tot diſcrimina rerum, and now at laſt arrived ſafely in his deſired Haven, hee found moſt happy,Dr. Baſtwick, like an impregnable Rock, … turned true to his pious principles. and heart-cheering welcome in his own conſcience, having (like an impregnable Rock) held faſt his pious principles, and withſtood and out-ſtood all the aſſaults and ſnares of Papiſts, diſloyall Royaliſts, Separatiſts, Anabaptiſts, Antinomians, and novell Independents, who all ſtrugled and ſtrove to have ſeduced and enſnared him into their unhappy and unholy L…byrinths of hereſie, errour, and ſchiſme, to his Soules ruine; but, whom, I ſay, God did moſt graciouſly ſupport and preſerve from the danger of them all, and returned unto us a moſt loyall and faithfull friend to Gods glorious Cauſe, and a moſt conſtant and courageous profeſſour and propugnatour of untainted Truth, which two, indeed, deck and adorn the flouriſhing garland of his afflictions, and make the Crown of his ſufferings moſt illuſtrious and glorious; But to proceed.

p. 46About the 18 of this inſtant, came certain intelligence, by …eters out of North-wales, that ſince the taking of Radcaſtle, by … nowned Sir Thomas Middleton, (whereof wee made mention a little before) hee hath alſo performed much gallant ſervice in thoſe parts; and in particular that …ee ſent forth a party of horſe and foot into Leigh, More excellent performances by noble & renowned Sir Too. Middleton, in North Wale….about a mile from Biſhops-caſtle, where the Enemy had left a Garriſon, which fled away thence before his forces came neer them; after this a party of about 20 horſe was ſent from Mountag…m…ry into R…dnorſhire, where they took priſoner the Lord Leigh, Baron of Du…ſmore, who was then carryed priſoner to Radcaſtle. Sin…e that alſo, the Enemy forſook another Garriſon, called Leigh…ll, the houſe of Sir Pelham Corbet, in Shropſhire. And Sir John Price (a Gentleman alwayes well-affected to the Parliament, though, over-powred by his Enemies round about him, was forced to conceal it) was made Governour of Mountgomery-caſtle. The Country came in very cheerfully to Sir Thomas Middleton, upon his ſummons, but were very unwilling to fight, ſo little valou… is there in tho…e who pretend to deſcend from the ancient Brittaines.

Upon the 23 of this inſtant October, came the full and certain relation, and moſt joyfull newes to London, eſpecially, of the taking of Newcaſtle by ou… honeſt, active, loving and loyall brethren of Scotland, who, as they have all along, ever …ince their firſt appearing in this great Cauſe, in a war-like man…er and poſture ſhewed themſelves moſt zealous to God and true Religion, and therein alſo moſt brotherly to us, and free from baſe ſelf-ſeekings and ignoble by-ends (though our moſt degenerous and rotten-hearted Malignants, The relation of the taking of Newcaſtle by ſtorming it, by our brethren of Scotland.in City, Court, and Country, have moſt ignominiouſly ſlandered them, and moſt baſely and abuſively ſtrugled (but in vain, bleſſed bee the Lord for it) to blemiſh their untainted honour and honeſty heerin:) ſo, now alſo, in a moſt eminent manner, they have again made it appear to the whole world (if men would not bee wilfully or maliciouſly blinde) that they ſought not their own ends, or to enrich themſelves, but mainly and only Gods glory, and therein, ours with their own beſt good; as i… this relation of this glorious and victorious conqueſt of the Town of Newcaſtle, now (by Gods mighty and mercifull aſſiſtance▪ and their impregnable valour and fidelity) happily ſubdued to the juſt obedience of the King and Parliament, as now I ſhall make manifeſt in this breif and faithfull Narration of the taking of this p. 47ſtrong Town by ſtorm, which is with all convenient b…evity extracted out of our brethren the Scots own Relation thereof ſent to the Parliament, and the Scotch Commiſſioners then reſident at or about Weſtminſter, which was as followeth. Our valiant and moſt unwearied brethren the Scots, having in the time of their lying before this Town of Newcaſtle, The Scots pious & prudent carriage before the ſtorming of Newcaſtle.out of their Chriſtian and tender pious pity toward the inhabitants therof in generall, and great and gracious unwillingneſſe to ſhed blood, if poſſibly it might, by any fit and fair means, bee avoyded; ſent divers Letters and mercifull meſſages to the Town in generall, and to and from ſome ſpeciall cordiall perſons, in particular, before their ſummons, which afterwards was alſo ſent unto them, but found all their Chriſtian love and pitty; partly, with ſtubbornneſſe rejected, and partly with ſcoffes and jeeres derided, but eſpecially by the Atheiſticall and moſt deſperately Malignant Major of Newcaſtle, Sir John Marley; all which their interchangeable Letters and Meſſages, containing Marleys and the Newcaſtelians anſwers, and our Scotch brethrens patient and pious replies, having been fully ſet forth in that particular and exact relation of all thoſe proceedings, by our loyall brethren of Scotland, I heer therefore purpoſely (for brevities ſake) pretermit, and ſhall only acquaint the Reader heer, with thus much in particular: That after many interchangeable meſſages and motions on both ſides,Marley the Major of Newcaſtle his proud & diſſembling carriage toward the Sc…ts. and ſome ſeeming agr…ements (ſeeming, only, I ſay, on Marleys ſide) and hoſtages mutually given, Articles of accord were demanded to bee ſent to the Town by noble Generall Leſley, which was accordingly done; and which ſaid Articles together with the reſt of the ſucceeding paſſages, or Letters ſent to each other (for the further clearing of our Brethrens integrity and fairneſſe therein,) after the tendring of the Articles of agreement, I have thought fit heer to inſert, which were as followeth.