Englands Parliamentary Chronicle, Chronicle · Letter 29 – Letter 30
SIR,
I thanke God, I can give you a good account of Bazing. After our batteries placed, we ſetled the ſeverall poſts for the ſtorme; Colonell Dalberte was to be on the North-ſide of the houſe next the Grange, Colonell Pickering on his left hand, and Sir Hardreſſe Wallers and Colonell Mountagues Regiments next him; We ſtormed this morning after ſix of the clocke, the ſignall for falling on was the firing foure of our Canon, which being done, our men fell on with great reſolution and cheerfulneſſe, we tooke the two Houſes without any conſiderable loſſe to ourſelves; Colonell Pickering, ſtormed the new Houſe, paſſed through and got the Gate of the Old Houſe, whereupon they ſummoned a Parley, with our men would not heare, in the meane time Colonell Mountagues, and Sir Hardreſſe Wallers Regiments aſſaulted the ſtrongeſt Worke, where the Enemy kept his Court of guard, which with great reſolution they recovered, beating the Enemy from a whole Culverin and from this Worke,; which having done, they drew their Ladders after them, and got over another Worke, and the Houſe-Wall before they could … Sir Hardreſſe Waller performing his duty with … and diligence, was ſhot on the Armw, but not dangerous, we have had little loſſe, many of the Enemies our men put to the Sword, and ſome Officers of quality; moſt of the reſt we have priſoners, amongſt which the Marqueſſe, and Sir Robert Peake, with divers other Officers, whom I have Ordered to be ſent up to you: We have taken about ten peeces of Ordnance, with much Ammunition, and our Souldiers a good encouragement. I humbly offer to you, to have this place utterly ſlighted, for theſe following reaſons. It will aske about eight hundred men to manage it, it is no Frontier, the Country is poore about it, the place exceedingly ruined by our Batteries and Morter peeces, and a fire which fell upon the place ſince our taking it; If you pleaſe to take ſome out of the Gariſon at Farnham, ſome out of Chicheſter, and a good part of the Foot which were here under Dalbier, and make a ſtrong Quarter at Newbery with three or foure Troopes of Horſes, I dare be confident it would not only be a curb to Dennington, but a ſecurity and a Frontier to all theſe parts, in as much as Newbery lyes upon the River, and will prevent any incurtion from Dennington, Wallingford or Farringdon into theſe parts, and by lying there, will make the Trade moſt ſecure between Briſtoll and London for all Carriages. And I beleeve the Gentlemen of Suſſex and Hampſhire will with more cheerefulneſſe contribute, to maintaine a Garriſon on the Frontier, … in their … which will have leſſe ſafety in it. Sir I hope not to delay, but more towards the Weſt to morrow: and to be as diligent as I may in my expedition thither, I muſt ſpeake my judgement to you, that if you intend to have your worke carried on, Recruits of Foot muſt be had, and a courſe taken to pay your Army, alſo believe me Sir, it may not be able to anſwer the w…rk… you have for it to doe. I entreated Colonell Hammond to wait upon you, who was taken by a miſtake whileſt we lay before this garriſon, whom God ſafely delivered to us to our great joy, but to his loſſe of almoſt all he had, which the Enemy tooke from him, The Lord grant that theſe mercies may be acknowledged withall thankfulneſſe, God exceedingly abounds in his goodneſſe to us, and will not be weary untill Righteouſneſſe and Peace meet; and that he hath brought forth a glorious worke for the happineſſe of this poore Kingdome, wherein deſires to ſerve God and you with a faithfull hand.
Your moſt humble ſervant Oliver Cromwell. Baſingſtoke 14. October. 1645.
I ſhall firſt preſent you with the particulars of the ſucceſſe, at Baſing-houſe in the prizes and priſoners taken. There were taken as followeth, viz. The Marqueſſe of VVincheſter, Sir Robert Pe…ke Governour,A liſt of the prizes and priſoners taken at Bazing-Houſe. Sir Inigo Jones the grand Surveyor, foure Romane Catholique Prieſts (reſerved for the Gallowes) twenty Gentlewomen, 180. common priſoners, ten pieces of Ordnance, twenty barrels of Gunpowder, nine Colours, 3000. Armes, 200. Horſe, 8000. l. worth of Clothes, Beds and other goods, many Firkins of Butter, a great quantity of Cloth, much bullet, and match, many Crucifixes, Popiſh Pictures and Bookes, neere a thouſand Cheſts, Trunkes and Boxes, 400. quarters of Corne, 200. barrels of Beere, 300. flitches of Bacon, an hundred bags of Malt, 40000. weight of Cheeſe, the Marqueſſe of Wincheſters Plate, Cabinet and Jewels, worth above 5000. l. Sir Robert Peakes 500. l. beſides a Box of braſſe Plates, the Marqueſſes rich Bed and furniture which coſt 1300. l. one common ſouldier found 300. l. in gold hid in a hole, about 4000. l. ready money, a great quantity of Wine, and many Hogſheads of Beere, beſides the Ladies wardrope, which furniſhed many of our Souldiers wives with Gownes and Petticoats. Slain, Major C…ſt, ſix Prieſts, Robinſon the Players ſonne, onelyonly one woman,The ſlain and wounded. who fell a railing upon our ſouldiers at their entrance, calling them Roundheads, and Rebels to the King; whereupon one of our ſouldiers cut her on the head, and neere 300. common ſouldiers, Doctor Griffin ſometimes of Dunſtanes in the Weſt, late of old Fiſh-ſtreet, taken and ſore wounded, and three of his daughters, much Ammunition taken. The loſſe on the Parliaments ſide in this deſperate ſervice was (bleſſed be God) not much, Sir Hardres Waller, who behaved himſelfe gallantly, wounded, and not above ten others in all ſlaine outright, though about eighty, or an hundred wounded. The word which the religious Major Gen. choſe, when he came to ſit downe before that popiſh Garriſon was out of the 115. Pſalme, concerning the worſhippers of Images: Their gods are the workes of mens hands, wood and ſtone, eyes they have and ſee not, eares and heare not, and hands and handle not; And that word of God was made good in the enemy, who upon the Storme had not ſtrength to handle their weapons to defend themſelves, but were delivered to the mercy of our ſouldiers. A great part of the Pillage was ſold to the Country people, who likewiſe had a good part of the prey, and carried many Cartloades away. The Houſe burnt downe and demoliſhed.
After the reading the Letters of Bazing, the Houſe began to debate of ſome further timely ſervice of the gallant valiant and religious Souldiers which might be done in thoſe parts for the better cleering the paſſage into the Weſt, and the reſult of all was, that Letters ſhould be written to ſeverall Committees to joyne forces with thoſe that ſtormed Bazing for the taking of the Caſtle of Dennington, &c. The Houſe likewiſe ordered that the Miniſters in the ſeverall Churches and Chappells in London and Lines of Communication, ſhould on the next Lords day in their ſeverall Churches and Chappels give thankes to God for his great mercy in delivering up Wincheſter and Bazing Houſe into our hands.
And about the 12. of this inſtant October; we had certaine intelligence by letters from Glouceſter that the valiant, Active and faithfull Governour therof, Colonell Morgan (the moſt worthy Succeſſour therein, of even to be honoured Major Generall M…ſſi… ) with about 300. horſe and 400. foot, part whereof was ſent unto him by the then deputie Governour of Briſtol, Colonell Fleet-wood, aſſiſted alſo by the Monmouthſhire men,Chepſtow Town and Caſtle in Monmouthſhire. beſieged and taken by valiant Colonell Morgan. having taken the towne of Chepſtow, beſieged and ſummoned the Caſtle, but the Governour thereof, Colonell Fitz-Morris returned a peremptorie negative anſwer; whereupon valiant Colonell Morgan planted 2 great peeces of Ordnance, and a morter-peece for batterie, and made a breach into the Caſtle; whereupon the Governour ſent preſently to deſire a parley, but Colonell Morgan as preſently returned anſwer, That now it was too late; whereupon all the Souldiers iſſuing forth fell downe upon their knees, crying, Quarter, quarter, for Gods ſake, and wholly referred themſelves to the Generalls mercy, and the Caſtle was inſtantly ſurrendred to him. There were in the Caſtle, Colonell Fitz-Morris the Governour, Major Bridgeman, and an 106. Common Souldiers, who were all carryed priſoners to Glouceſter. They took, beſides, in the caſtle, 30 horſe and their furniture, 18. peeces of Ordnance great and ſmall, 16. barrells of Gunpouder, 2 Harque buſhes, 6. tun of lead, great ſtore of fire-workes, 30. beefs in powder, 30. barrells of ſalt, 4000. waight of bisket, a butt of Sack, 3. Hogſheads of Methegline, 4. Hogſheads of beere and Ale, 70. buſhels of Oat-meale, 10. buſhells of Peaſe and Beanes, and 30. buſhels of Wheat, many firkins of butter, 400. waight of cheeſe, with ſtore of other proviſions and ammunition. And we were, about the ſame time, for certaine, informed, that Sir Trevor Williams and very many Gentlemen of Glamorganſhire and Monmouthſhire had freely and faithfully declared themſelves for the Parliament; and as a teſtimonie thereof had raiſed 1500. Souldiers out of both thoſe Counties for the Parliaments ſervice, and reſolved ſuddenly to beſiege Mon…th; the effects whereof you ſhall ſee fully related in its proper place. And thus we ſee how triumphantly the Lord, now rides on in glorie for the bleſſed advancement of his Great Cauſe: ever magnified and praiſed be his great and moſt glorious name therein.The Parliaments piety and gratitude. The Meſſenger that brought this welcome. Newes to the Parliament was rewarded by them, with the gift of 10 l. for his paines in the journey; And the Houſe alſo moſt piouſly and gratefully ordered that thankes ſhould be given to Almightie God, on the Lords-day then next enſuing, for the happy ſurrender of Chepſtow Towne and Caſtle, as alſo of Wincheſter and …; And they farther ordered that thankes and a reward ſhould be ſent to that faithfull and valiant Commander Colonell Morgan. A right way, indeed, to thrive and proceed victoriouſly and ſucceſsfully, where God is in his mercies exalted, and vertue and valour is not left without honour and reward.
About the 14. of this inſtant October, the Vote in Parliament for ſending forth writ… for the election of new Members of the Houſe of Commons for filling up the vacancie of thoſe that were Deceaſed or had perfidiouſly deſerted the Houſe, was put in execution; and a Letter being read in the Houſe of Commons, ſent from the Major of Sandwitch by a Member of the Houſe of Peeres, to procure the election of a Member to ſit and ſerve in Parliament (of his nominating) according to the writ ſent downe thither for that purpoſe;The Parliaments integrity, about the election of new Members for the Houſe of Commons. The writ for the right chuſing of Members of the Houſe of Commons. Whereupon the Commons on ſerious debate on this buſineſſe, referred the ſame to the Committee of Priviledges, the reſult wherof was; That it was ordered, that for the future, a Copie of the Order of the Houſe of Commons made in Anno 1641. ſhould be ſent downe with all writs for new elections; A Copie of which Order, for the Readers better ſatisfaction, and for the clearing of our moſt renowned Parliaments integrity, in this, as in all other their faithfull managing of the States-affaires, I have here inſerted, which was as followeth.
WHereas the Houſe of Commons hath received Information, that Letters from Peers are directed to Boroughs, that now are to … Elections of Members to ſerve in this Parliament: They conceived that all Letters of that nature from any Peeres of this … doe neceſſarily tend to the violation of the Priviledges of Parliament, and the freedome of Elections of the Members, that ought to ſerve in the Houſe of Commons; and doe declare, That notwithſtanding ſuch Letters, all Perſons, to whom Elections of Knights and Burgeſſes do belong, ought to proceed to their Elections, with that freedome, which by the Lawes of the Realme, and of Right they ought to doe, and do expect, that if any ſuch Letters from any Peeres of the Realme, ſhall hereafter be ſent unto them, That the parties receiving the ſame ſhall certifie the contents thereof, or bring the Letters themſelves to the Speaker of the Houſe of Commons.
Octob. 10. There came a Letter from Abington to renowned Major Generall Brown, the moſt worthy Governour thereof, being then in London, of a gallant peece of Service performed by that brave Garriſon againſt the Enemy at Farringdon, the particular whereof, take in the ſaid Letter, ſent from valiant and active Colonell Paine, the ſaid Major Generals Deputy-Governour, which was as followeth;
SIR,
A brave defeat given to the Enemy at Farringdon, by Abington Forces,The laſt night, viz. Tueſday 14 inſtant, I marched forth with a party of Foot, and all our Horſe, to Farringdon, where we came ſo neere the taking of that Garriſon, that I my ſelf heard the Enemy earneſtly call to draw up the Bridge, our Foot being then within a ſtones caſt of them, before they could draw it up; yet we loſt not our labour; for, we bickering and skirmiſhing with them there, tooke about 100 Horſe of theirs foure Captaines, one Lieutenant, foure Quartermaſters one Serjeant, 17 Troopers, eight Foot Souldiers, and one Drum, in all about 37 Priſoners, and ſlew two upon their Workes: All this being done with the loſſe of one man onelyonly on our ſide, and we ſafely returned home the next day by 12 of the Clock, Praiſed be God for it.
Your Honours humble Servant, George Pain. Abington, Octob. 15. 1645.
About the 18 of this inſtant, came certaine intelligence by Letters to the Parliament, of a notable defeat given by renowned, active and faithfull Col. Roſſiter: to the Forces of Banbury, conducting thoſe two pernicious Princes, Rupert and Maurice to Newarke to the King their Uncle, being there, the manner whereof was to this effect: The two Princes aforeſaid perfidiouſly pretending (as afterward it moſt evidently appeared) reſolutions forſooth to depart the kingdome, and deſirous firſt to ſee and ſpeak with their Uncle the King, had a Convoy of Banbury Horſe to guard them thither,A brave defeat given by Col: Roſſiter to the Banbury Forces which conducted the two Princes to Newarke. in all about ſixe Troops, and thus they marched toward the King, to take their leave (forſooth) of him, before they would croſſe the Sea and be gone. And thus, I ſay, they marched on all that firſt night; but intelligence hereof came to valiant Colonell Roſſiter, being then at Grantham, whereupon all in that Garriſon, being 300. and 400 more which lay at Stamford, were drawn to Melton by the ſaid renowned Colonell, to meet with them by the way, but upon intelligence againe from Burleigh, that the report of the Princes coming was falſe, our Horſe were ordered to march back to Grantham, in which interim the Princes paſſed on, even almoſt to Eelvoyre, without any oppoſition all the way. But ſuddenly againe, Colonell Roſſiter now having moſt certaine information, that the Princes were come a little beyond Belvoyre, toward Newarke, the Princes, then, determining and deeming themſelves paſt danger, they were ſending back the Banbury Horſe, but as they paſſed by Burleigh Garriſon, they were ſet upon in their reare by valiant Captaine Allen, with his Troop of Horſe, who then tooke ſome of them priſoners, but himſelfe in perſon being too farre ingaged,Valiant Captain Allen, Governour of Burleigh Garriſon, unhappily ſlaine. was unfortunately ſhot, and ſince dyed of the wound, a great loſſe unto us, he having been a moſt faithfull, active, and couragious Commander. But Colonell Roſſiter being then at Melton; and now, I ſay, underſtanding for certaine, that the Princes were got to Belvoyre, being very unwilling their Forces ſhould paſſe ſo freely from him; without a martiall ſalutation, made haſte after them, and ordered his march with ſuch ſecrecy and celerity, that he was wholly undiſcovered, untill he fell upon them in their paſſage from Belvoyre to Newarke, where, I ſay, he overtooke them, and ſet upon them, who thereupon faced us twice or thrice, as though they would have charged us, but upon our ſo ſudden on-ſet, they ran for it, but ours following cloſe upon them, had ſoone routed them, where we paid them to purpoſe, tooke at leaſt 60 Gentlemen priſoners, one Major, three Captains, 140 Horſe, Prince Maurice his Trumpeter, with his Banner and Trumpet, in which bickering we wounded and killed divers of them, ſome of whom men of quality, the Princes themſelves were forced to ride a pace for it, and ſo eſcaped our hands with about 100 Horſe, and got to Newarke, but with what a pannick feare, we may eaſily gueſſe.
About the 20 inſtant, we had alſo certaine information by a Letter out of the Weſt, from renowned Lieutenant Generall Cromwell, in the Parliament, Langford Houſe neare Salisbury taken.of the ſurrendring of Langford-Houſe, a ſtrong Garriſon of the Enemies neere Salisbury, unto him, for the King and Parliament, which was no ſooner ſummoned, than the Summons condeſcended to by Sir Bartholomew Pell, then Governour thereof, and upon Articles of Agreement between Colonell Hewſon, and Major Kelſey, in the name of Lieutenant Generall Cromwell, and the ſaid Sir Bartholomew Pell and Major Edmond Wedale, Commanders in Chiefe in the ſaid Houſe, it was ſurrendred.
This Garriſon was the 21 Garriſon or ſtrong Hold that had been taken from the Enemy this Summer and Autumn-ſeaſon (a ſore fall of the leaf to the Royaliſts, enough to make them ſtarve and die the enſuing Winter) and all this done by the ſo contemned New-Modell-Armie, under the Command of the moſt Noble and Renowned Generall, A note moſt worthy to be taken notice of.precious Sir Thomas Fairfax, beſides thoſe taken in other parts, by other Commanders, as P…efract, Sc… rough, and others in the North.
Now let any, yea all the old Souldiers in England, nay (I may dare to ſay, in Chriſtendome) ſhew us the like done; ſo many ſtrong Caſtles, Forts, and Garriſons taken in any part of Europe, in ſixe yeares, as have been thus taken in this Kingdome, by our young deſpiſed Souldiers, in leſſe than five or ſixe moneths. O that we could and would therefore have evermore in our tongue… and hearts, holy Davids Quid retribu…mus? What ſhall we repay to the Lord for them? O that we would, eſpecially, faithfully pay our Vowe our moſt Solemne Covenant, in reforming our lives, and building the Houſe of this our ſo glorious Wonder-working God, the God and onelyonly giver of all theſe ſo many, ſo mighty, yea ſo marvellous, if not miraculous mercies.
Much alſo about the aforeſaid time, we were certified by Letters from Coventry, Sir William Vaughan… Regiment bravely beaten.that Sir William Vaughans Regiment coming from Newark to Litchfield, and thence intending for Bridge-North, was opportunely met with by a party from Tamworth, who falling bravely upon them, ſoone routed them, ſlew divers of them on the place, and tooke from them at leaſt 100 Horſe and Armes, the reſt eſcaped by flight.
And about the 22 of this inſtant October, came certaine intelligence by Letters out of the Northern parts of the Kingdome, of a moſt memorable and famous defeat given to the Enemy at S…erburne in the North, by the Parliaments forces in thoſe parts, which for the Readers better content and ſatisfaction, and for the more full and faithfull Narration of the thing it ſelfe, I have thought fit to give you that valiant and active Commander Colonell Copleyes owne Letter,The famous defeat given to the Enemy at Sherburne in Yorkſhire. ſent to the Honourable Commiſſioners for the Warre in Yorkſhire, this brave Colonell himſelfe being (under God) a principall and moſt valiant actor and inſtrument of the Victory: which was as followeth;