Englands Parliamentary Chronicle, Chronicle · Letter 18
To the Right honourable Sir Thomas Fairfax, Commander in cheif of the Army, raiſed for the defence of the King and Parliament.
Right Honourable,
ACcording to your Command, I ſhall now give an account of the good ſucceſſe wherewith God hath graciouſly bleſſed this party hitherto. After a long and weary march, wherein wee loſt no time (and wherein was ſuch wiſe and Chriſtian-like Diſcipline,The brave Diſcipline of our Army in the Weſt. exerciſed all along as was admired by the Country people, Proclamation having been made, That it ſhould bee death for any man to plunder any thing from any perſon) wee thus at length came, upon the Lords day, May 11, before Taunton, and at our neer approach to it, wee ſhot off 3 or 4 peices of Ordnance, to give notice to the Town that wee were come to their releif,our releif come to Taunton. at the hearing and hope whereof, valiant and vigilant Colonell Blake, from a high place, by a proſpective-glaſſe diſcovered our Brigade, and thereby greatly encouraged his Souldiers, and the honeſt Towneſmen, who had had fierce aſſaults the Friday and Saturday before; And Hopton had ſent a ſharp Summons to the Town,Hopton … to Taunt… to ſurrender. Threatning them, if they would not ſurrender it, hee would take it by force, and put them all to the ſword, except 7 perſons onelyonly, that were in the Town. To which the Governour ſtoutly returned a negative anſwer, as brave as Hoptons was cruell,Colonel Blakes reply. ſaying, Hee would not deliver the Town, but would keep it to the laſt man; As for thoſe 7 m…n whom hee promiſed to ſpare, hee deſired that Hopton would ſend their names, and hee would ſend him their bodies preſently. But to come more fully to the work it ſelf.
Being now before the Town, I ſent out 10 of my men, who fell upon an 100 of theirs, and killed and took ſome of them who could not beleive or bee perſwaded, but that wee were the Lord Gorings forces, and wee were within 4 miles of the Town before they would beleive wee were come againſt them; and then about 4 of the clock in the afternoon, they being fully convinced who wee were, they raiſed the ſiege, and confuſedly ran away by night in great diſorder,The ſiege raiſed & the Enemies fled. ſome toward Bridgewater, and ſome toward Exeter, blocking up the way with trees and other comberſome matter, whereby our forces could not purſue them. And truely Gods goodneſſe and ſpeciall providence appeared migh…ly to this poore Town at this time, in that wee ſhould come to their releif in the very nick of time only,The ſeaſonableneſſe of Taunton …leif at this time. and pinch of their utmoſt ſtraights comming on them, all their Ammunition being now quite ſpent, very much of the Town being burnt, even at leaſt 200 houſes by the rage of the Enemy; and yet the Town extraordinarily defended all this while witly impregnable courage, yea, notwithſtanding that the Enemy many times entred by ſtorme, at breaches they had made, but were ſtill moſt magnanimouſly beaten out again, with the loſſe of at leaſt a 1000 ſlain before the Town in this ſiege,The Enemies loſſe before Taunton. and about a 1000 Armes left behinde them for haſte, and divers barrells of powder, with other Ammunition and proviſion, and the Enemy taking along with them 12 or 14 Cart loads of their dead men, beſides many wounded.
Wee found about 200 wounded men of ours in the Town, and not above an 100 ſlain in all this ſiege, praiſed bee the Lord for it. Since I came heer, in 6 weeks time, I ſaw a wonderfull change, ſcarce a man to bee ſeen in a whole Village, ſo barbarouſly had the Enemy unpeopled the Country. I ſhall in all humility acquaint you with what I hear. My Regiment is deſigned for the Weſt, I humbly intreat, if it bee poſſible, I may wait on your honour, in your Army, which if your Excellency ſhall pleaſe to grant, it will much oblige,
Your moſt humble Servant Ralph Welden. Palmiſter, May 11. 1645.
After the reading of this Letter in the Houſe of Commons, they began to conſider of this great mercy, and therefore Ordered in the firſt place, That there ſhould bee a publique Thankſgiving in all the Churches and Chappels in London, and Lines of Communication on the next Lords day for the relieving of this diſtreſſed Town, that ſo God may have the honour due unto him for it. In the next place the Houſe Ordered that a Letter ſhould bee writ to Sir Thomas Fairfax, giving him the Thanks of the Houſe for his great care and faithfull ſervice in omitting of no time for the releif of Taunton, and that Sir Thomas Fairfax ſhould bee deſired to take particular notice of this gallant ſervice of Colonell Welden.
A Letter was likewiſe Ordered to bee ſent from the Houſe to the Town of Taunton, and to the Governour and Souldiers therein, to give them the hearty Thanks of the Parliament for this extraordinary gallant ſervice in maintaining the Town againſt the Enemy ſo long; But the ſpeciall regard that the Parliament had of this Garriſon, reſted not there, for, An Order was made likewiſe by the Houſe, for the beſtowing of 2000 pound upon the Souldiers of that Garriſon, for their valour and courage in this ſervice. And as an earneſt of a further reward to the undaunted and ever honoured Governour Colonell Blake, It was likewiſe Ordered that 500 pound ſhould bee paid to him forthwith for his own uſe.
The Houſe likewiſe taking into conſideration that by reaſon of the late tedious and unwearyed marches of Sir Thomas Fairfaxes foot, they had worn out their ſhooes, and were in great need of ſupply, it was further Ordered, That it ſhould bee referred to the Committee for the Army to provide, and forthwith ſend down ſhooes for Sir Thomas Fairfaxes foot.
The Houſe of Commons further made an Order of reference to the Committee of Both Kingdomes, to take care that no advantage bee loſt by the releif of Taunton, but to uſe their endevour to improve it to the beſt advantage of the Weſt; and the whole Kingdome, and wee have great cauſe to hope that care will bee taken thereof accordingly.
About the 15 of this inſtant May, our moſt provident Parliamentary Statiſts, for the more prudent regulating of the Generall Sir Thomas Fairfaxes New-Modelled Army, Ordered certain very excellent Orders to bee obſerved by all Officers and Souldiers, from the Commiſſioners of the Army, to the meaneſt Souldier; both to take care of falſe Muſters,Excellent Orders appointed by the Parliament, for the well-regulating of Sir Thomas Fairfaxes new Army. of plundering, of buying Horſes for the State, taken by the Souldiers, that they ſhould bee marked by the Mark-Maſter of the Army, &c. To forbid any Officers to quarter in any houſe, but by Ticket from the Quarter-Maſter, and to pay ready money for mans meat and horſe meat, according to the rates ſet down, and in caſe any money ſhould bee wanting to any man, hee muſt receive a Ticket for it, &c. That Teames or any horſes in Plough or Cart, are not to bee taken, except in caſe of neceſſity, and then alſo by Warrant from the Commander in Cheif.
Divers other good Orders were then alſo ordained and appointed, which, are like, by Gods mercy, to produce good effects, and a happy concluſion of this preſent unhappy Warre, eſpecially ſince wee know it is Gods way,The hopefull effects of a well regulated army. when wee manage our affaires without violence and wrong; and wee ſee, the Country, us the Army paſſes along, is extraordinarily taken with love and affection toward them, at the ſight of their fair and honeſt demeanour.
And heer I cannot omit to make mention of another ſingular mercy of God unto us in our Armies, Viz. The moſt excellent love and good agreement of Major Generall Cromwell, and of Major Generall Brown (though both o… brave and high Spirits) all the time of their being together at and about Oxford; Major General Cromwell, and Major Generall Brown, compared to David & Jonathan.and elſewhere, in all Orders and Commands, even beyond compare; yea, even ſtriving who ſhould prefer the Service, and honour of other more than of himſelf, as if Davids and Jonathans 2 ſoules were tranſmigrated, and mutually united in one body. O, if ſuch ſweetneſſe and oneneſſe of hearts and affections had been found among our Commanders formerly, wee had, certainly, now been in a farre better condition, than as yet wee are like to bee in.
About the 20 of this inſtant, our moſt noble pious and gratefull Parliamentary Worthies took into their ſerious thoughts, the payment of the arrears of the moſt noble late Lord Generall,The Parliaments moſt ſingular gratitude for the good ſervices done to the kingdom by the Right honourable the Earl of Eſſex & others. the Earl of Eſſex, whoſe faithfull and noble ſervices for the State, will make his name moſt honourable to poſterity, and Ordered the payment thereof partly out of the Kings Revenues, and partly out of Haberdaſhers Hall in London; And as a farther pledge of the Kingdoms love and gratitude to the ſaid moſt noble Earl; and as a requitall of his great loſſes ſuſtained by the Enemy, for his conſtant and loyall adherence to the Parliament, and the Kingdomes juſt Cauſe, an Ordinance of Parliament was paſſed by the Houſe of Commons, for the ſettling of 10000 pound per annum upon the ſaid noble Earl, out of the ſale of Papiſts and Delinquents Eſtates.
The Houſe alſo took into conſideration the good ſervice of the party that lately releived Taunton, The Souldiers that releived Taunton gratefully remembred by the Parliament.under the Command of Colonell Welden, and Colonell Graves, and agreed upon a certain pay for them, during their ſervice in the Weſt, and Ordered that 3000 pound ſhould bee charged Monethly upon the Exciſe for 4 Moneths, for the payment of thoſe Forces. The Houſe likewiſe conſidered the moſt gallant ſervice and high deſerts of that noble and brave Commander Sir John Meldrum (ſlain not long afterward, to our great loſſe and ſorrow, at the ſiege of Scarborough-Caſtle) and in particular,Renowned Sir John Meld…u…s gallant ſervice required. his laſt brave Service in winning the Town, Haven, and ſhipping of Scarborough, as alſo the brave aſſault hee laſt made upon the ſaid Caſtle of Scarborough, when hee received his moſt unhappy deaths-wound; They Ordered that a Letter of Thanks ſhould bee wrote unto him, and that 500 li. ſhould bee added to the 1000 pound formerly given him by both Houſes of Parliament, to bee beſtowed upon him as an earneſt of their affections to him; and they then alſo took order for monies to pay his well-deſerving Souldiers as had been deſired. And they having formerly beſtowed 200 pound per annum, Mr. Owen Occo…elly taken into farther conſideration for his loyall diſcovery of the Iriſh plot.upon Owen Occonelly for his good Service, in diſcovering the plot in Ireland, who not receiving the ſame according to the ſaid Order, the Houſe of Commons therefore Ordered the due and conſtant payment of the ſaid 200 pound per annum, out of the old cuſtoms of the Kingdom; Thus, Honos alit artes; & virtus compenſata creſcit.
And about the 23 inſtant, wee had Letters out of Staffordſhire, which certified, that when the Kings forces advanced for the releif of Cheſter, (then moſt hopefully beſieged by ever to bee honoured Sir William Brereton) by Stafford and Shropſhire; The brave ſervices of valiant Captain Stone, Governour of Sta…d caſtle againſt the Enemy.Captain Stone, the valiant and active Governour of Stafford for the Parliament, gave the Enemy ſeverall ſucceſſefull viſits, in their Rear, at they paſt along, and did good execution upon them therein. And, firſt, how hee ſent out a party of his Horſe, who fell upon a party of the Enemies, quartered at W…lverhampton, killed 16 on the place, took 26 Horſe, and moſt of their Riders, and returned without any loſſe, the Kings own quarters being then not above 2 miles off it. That preſently after this, hee ſent out another party, even the next day, who fell upon the Enemy, quartered in the field neer Newport in Shr…pſhire, brought away 60 horſe, killed a Captain, and about 20 others in the place; And the next day following this, that hee ſent out another paity that fell upon their quarters, at Pancridge, killed 3. took 4 priſoners, and 7 horſes.
About the 28 of this inſtant May, being that Moneths day of a publike Faſt or humiliation, and Reverend Mr. Henderſon one of the Scottiſh Commiſſioners, and reverend Mr. Whitaker, Preaching before the Houſe of Peers, A bleſſed return of Prayer.that day, in the Abbey at Weſtminſter; and before the Houſe of Commons Reverend Mr. Caryll, and Mr. Ford: as wee were, that day, labouring in prayers and other acts of humiliation, to draw neer to our God, wee found the Lord in mercy, drawing neer to us; for, the Faſt day being ended, there came Letters from renowned Colonell Maſſie, which gave us the happy intelligence of the taking of the ſtrong Garriſon of Eveſham, Eveſham taken by renowned Colon. Maſſie.the manner wherof was, breifly, thus: Colonell Maſſie with about 800 horſe, and 600 foot, having lyen before Eveſham, a day or 2 ſtormed the Town, and took it in an houres ſtorming. In which ſervice wee received leſſe loſſe than could have been expected in ſuch a hot peice of ſervice, as, for the time, it proved; not above 4 or 5 of our Souldiers ſlain, and 2 Officers beſides, and about 30 common Souldiers wounded. Wee ſlue of the Enemies, 10 or 11. took divers Officers and common Souldiers,The priſoners & prizes taken to the number of about 548. and neer upon an 120 good horſes; a Liſt of the prime priſoners, was as followeth. Colonell Robert Legge, Governour of the Town, Colonell Foſter, Leivtenant Colonell Bellingham, Major Travillian, 13 Captaines, 16 Leivtenants, 3 Reformadoes, 20 inferiour Officers, together with 20 barrels of Gun-powder, 700 fire-armes, and 2 Tuns of Match. The taking of this brave Garriſon was a very conſiderable peice of ſervice in many reſpects, and this not the leaſt, namely, that by this means, almoſt all Worceſterſhire will bee freed, and mightily ſecured, from Cavalierian Contributions, which, before, were frequently gathered for the King.
And about the 30 of this inſtant, wee were credibly informed by Letters out of Hampſhire, that a party of horſe and foot belonging to Colonell Norton, marched forth upon a deſign on Lan…ford-Houſe. The horſe were commanded by Captain Betſworth, Captain Smibark, and Captain Gerſon; The foot were under the command of young Murford; A brave defeat given to the Enemy by Col. Norton at Langford houſe in Hampſhire.with part of theſe forces they placed an ambuſcado neer the foreſaid Houſe, undiſcovered to the Enemy, and Colonell Griffith, ſeeing ſome of our forces facing the Houſe, ſallyed forth to encounter them, whereupon ours retreated to their ambuſcado, the Enemy hotly purſued them, but were now as fiercely as unexpectedly aſſaulted and charged by ours on every ſide, who took them all priſoners, finding no way to eſcape. There were ſurprized, Colonell Griffith, the Governour of Langford Houſe, his Captain, Leivtenant, a Cornet, 8 other Officers, 64 priſoners beſides of common Souldiers, and all their Armes, and 10 of them ſlain upon the place.
And heer, good Reader, let mee again deſire thee to make another very ſhort ſtay for a moſt juſt and deſerved gratefull Comtemplation on all the fair and famous mercies of this MonethMonth alſo; and therein to ſee and admire the continued Miraculous wonder of our Parliamentary Burning-Buſh ſtill Ʋnconſumed, The Burning-Buſh not conſumed.notwithſtanding the many ſingeing, yea, ſcorching aſſaults and hot attempts, conſtantly and continually flaſhing againſt it, both, In the great danger and admirable deliverance of that ever to bee honoured Commander Colonell Maſſie, from Prince Ruperts plot or deſign to have ſuddenly ſurprized him. In the famous defeat given to the Enemy by Major Puref…yes forces in Warwick…ſhire. In the as ſingularly ſeaſonable, as comfortable releif of the good Town of Taunton, and the ſetting at liberty of ſo many precious Soules as that long ſiege had curbed and coopt in from neceſſary comforts. And the excellent Orders ſet out by the Parliament, for the well-regulating of Sir Thomas Fairfaxes New-Modelled Army. In the happy harmony of our prime Commanders in the Army; And the Parliaments moſt noble and renowned gratitude to thoſe that have well deſerved of the Kingdom, by their induſtrious and loyall ſervices. In the brave ſervices of Captain Stone, Governour of Stafford againſt the enemy; And the happy taking of Eveſhams ſtrong Garriſon by renowned Colonell Maſſie, and therein a moſt notable and evident return of Prayer. And laſtly, In that brave defeat given to our Cavalierian adverſaries, by valiant and loyall Colonell Norton.
All which premiſes of this MonethMonth of May, prudently, piouſly and gratefully conſidered; O ſay, good Reader, whether wee have not moſt juſt cauſe, continually to praiſe our ever-living, and all-good-giving God, Iſai. 25. 1.and with the holy Prophet, to break forth into Soul-exulting, and God-exalting raptures of joy and gratitude, and to confeſſe and ſay, O Lord, thou art our God, and wee will exalt thee, and will everlaſtingly praiſe thy name; for thou haſte done wonderfull things for us: and thy counſels of old (and of later times too) are nothing but faithfulneſſe and truth unto us. But now to proceed.
ANd heer now wee will begin the farther contemplation and juſt admiration of the rich and rare mercies (I had almoſt ſaid miracles) of this MonethMonth of June alſo,June. 1645. with the cordiall and comfortable mention of a moſt excellent Petition, exhibited about the beginning of this MonethMonth, on the 4 or 6 day thereof, to the Houſe of Commons in Parliament, by the right Honourable Lord Major of London, together with the Aldermen and Common-Councill of the ſaid moſt famous and ever to bee renowned City,The moſt famous City of Londons moſt excellent Petition to the Parliament, touching the then preſent ſad condition of the Kingdom. touching their deep apprehenſion of divers diſaſtrous ſad and ſorrowfull accidents, lately falne out in the Kingdome to the great greit of the beſt Members thereof; laying down alſo, in their prudent and provident thoughts, ſome moſt probable grounds and cauſes of all thoſe ſad and ſorrowfull loſſes which had (notwithſtanding all our undeniable precious mercies fore-mentioned) befalne the Parliamentary Cauſe; (a true repreſentation, therefore, ſtill, of the Burning-Buſh Ʋnconſumed) and humbly therfore tendring the conceived remedies thereof, and the likely prevention of more, by Gods gracious aſſiſtance, if ſeriouſly and ſeaſonably ſeen unto. Which Petition, for the excellency thereof, and for the Readers better content and ſatisfaction, together with the Parliaments moſt fair and favourable anſwer thereunto, I have thought fit, heer to inſert, which was as followeth.