Englands Parliamentary Chronicle, Chronicle · Letter 46 – Letter 48
SIR,
IN my laſt I gave you an account of the beginning to disband the Lord Hoptons Army, I can now ſatisfie you of the concluſion of that great worke, this day having put a period thereunto, except two troops of the Princes Regiment, under the Command of Sir Francis Mackworth, which by reaſon of the darkneſſe of the night could not be conveniently diſpatched, and ſo put off till to morrow at ſeven of the clock,All the enemie to depart from Truro. by nine it will be done; and preſently after, Proclamation is to be made for the Enemy, or any belonging unto them, immediatly to depart from Truro, and all thoſe Ports, to be with the convoy to morrow night, or elſe to be taken as Spies, and proceeded againſt accordingly. I have bin preſent at the disbanding of theſe Forces, from the firſt to the laſt [except as aforeſaid] and never did ſee a thing done with ſo much civility on both ſides,The extraordinary faire carriage of the Souldiers. and not the leaſt appearance of inſulting of ours, as if we had never bin at variance each with other, not a reproachfull word uſed nor the value of two pence taken from any man by the Souldiers of this Armie, though the country people are apt enough, (if they have opportunity and the enemies Souldiers ſtraggle) to revenge former injuries, but the convoy (ſo long as the Souldiers keepe with them) ſuffer not the leaſt prejudice to befall them, the number of Brigades in all that have bin disbanded are nine, viz. the French Brigade conſiſting of three Regiments;The 9. Brigades that were disbanded. the Lord Wentworths Brigade conſiſting of three Regiments; Sir James Smiths Brigade conſiſting of three Regiments; the Lord Clevelands Brigade conſiſting of foure Regiments; Major Generall Webbs of three Regiments, the Lord Hoptons Brigade commanded by Colonell Rovil; the Lord Gorings Brigade of five Regiments; the Princes Lifeguard conſiſting of nine troops, and 700. men armed; Sir Richard Greenvils Reformadoes, the men that are diſmounted are proper and luſty men:Our Armie to march Eaſtward. Orders are given out for the Army to face about, and march Eaſtward, part of it moves to morrow, the reſidue on Saturday, except two or three Regiments that are to ſtay behinde for the blocking up of Pendennis and the mount; the Caſtle of Pendennis was ſummoned yeſterday, but thoſe within gave a peremptory anſwer of refuſall; and Maſter Arundel beares the name of Governour, but Sir John Digby, ſir Henry Kilegrew, Colonell Slaughter, Colonell Sir Abraham Chipman, and ſome others of deſperate Fortunes over-rule the Gentleman, and make him governe and command to ſerve their owne ends, though it be to ruine himſelfe. On Wedneſday the Generall ſent this Bearer in haſte with a Letter to Saint Maws, who imbarqued himſelfe there and went three or foure Leagues to Sea, to the Parliament ſhips and acquainted them with a Frigot of Dunkirk that lay in the Harbour at Falmouth and much annoyed our men at Penny-com-quick, A Dunkerk Frigot taken by our ſhips.a place of good ſhelter for our men that lye againſt the Caſtle. So this morning betweene one and two of the clocke, a Frigot of ours put into the Harbour, being Moonlight, had the honour to be ſaluted with twenty peeces of Cannon from the Caſtle, but got in without any prejudice, and hauled the Dunkirk, who inſtead of yeelding gave two broad ſides, but our Veſſel preſently made up, and after a little diſpute Boarded Her, put the Iriſh to the ſword, preſerved the reſt, and have them Priſoners a broad. It is a fine Veſſell belonging to Browne Buſhel, commanded by Captaine Lewis and will be of ſingular uſe to cleare the Harbour, if any Veſſel of the Kings happen to come in, having the benefit of Saint Mawes on the one ſide, and at the mouth of the Harbour,Hilford Caſtle taken. the aſſiſtance of Hilford Fort, which was this day ſurrendred to us, wherein were twenty and ſix peeces of Ordnance; ſo their ſtrong Caſtle of Pendennis is of little uſe at Sea, and by Land of no great prejudice, conſidering the narrow necke of Land it ſtands upon, and the Line that may be drawne from Sea to Sea, and may be defended with as many men as are in the Caſtle.
Leiutenant Colonell Jngoldſby going to view the Caſtle,Livetenant Colonell Ingoldſby ſlain by Musket ſhot. received a ſhot from ſome Muskettiers of the Enemies that were behind the Mud-wals▪ of which he died within three houres, being a valiant and ſtout man, Major Cobbet alſo was ſhot in the Arme, but not dangorouſly.
This is all the accompt time would give me leave to preſent you with concerning the Army, of theſe parts, which I thought fit to ſend this Bearer purpoſely withall, that you may be certainly informed of our condition, adding this, that about an hundred with their Armes came this day▪ from the Mount to Truro, the head quarters, many took up Armes with us, the reſt went to their homes.
I am Sir your Servant, J. R. Truro, March 19. 1645.
The Meſſenger ſtaying till this morning, I can now ſatisfie you, that the two Troops that remained of the laſt night, are this morning disbanded: I have no other newes to write, but to morrow the Generals Army marches towards Exeter.
Truro, March 20 1645. at 4 in the afternoon.
And March 27 the Houſe of Parliament in way of bounden gratitude to almighty God, for this great mercy of the thus reducing of well-nigh all Cornwall to their obedience, and that alſo of ſubduing and overthrowing of Sir Jacob Aſhleyes Army, and thereby obtaining a moſt happy and hopefull end of our troubles,A day of ſolemn Thankſgiving for the forementioned great mercies to the King. they having firſt invited the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Councell of the moſt famous City of London, to heare two Sermons that were to be preached before them at Chriſts Church in London: In anſwer thereof, the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common-Councell aforeſaid, invited both Houſes of Parliament to a Dinner on the ſame day of Thankſgiving: At which invitation Alderman Foukes delivered himſelf, as from the whole City, to the Houſe, making a Speech unto them; and Maſter Speaker anſwered the ſame by command of the Houſe in a congratulatory way, much affection and amity being expreſſed mutually on both ſides.
About the 28 inſtant we alſo received certaine information by Letters out of the Weſt,Our noble Generals advance to Exeter. of our moſt noble Generals advance toward the City of Exeter, and concerning the taking of Pouldram-Fort neer Exeter, and of Inch-Houſe alſo by Colonell Welden, the Governour of Plymouth, the particulars whereof were in ſubſtance as followeth;
That about March 21. 1645. the ſaid Colonell Welden having ſummoned Inch-Houſe, where the Enemy kept a ſtrong Garriſon; they returned a ſcornfull Anſwer: Whereupon the Colonell ſent 60 Muketeers to keep them from coming out, and appointed 60 more to follow with a Demy-Culverin:Inch-Houſe ſurrendred. But upon the landing of the firſt, they within begged Quarter for their lives, and ſo ſurrendred all unto the Colonell. There was taken in that Garriſon 90 Muskets, 4 Minions, and 6 Barrels of Powder. And by the ſame Letter we were likewiſe certified of the ſurrender of Pouldram ſtrong Fort,Pouldram Fort taken. with 18 Peeces of Ordnance in it, and much Ammunition, with other Proviſions good ſtore▪ which was thus yeelded up to valiant Sir Hard…eſſe Waller, thoſe in the Garriſon having had (in both of them) fair Conditions to depart to their owne homes, upon engagement not to take up Armes any more againſt the Parliament.
And about the 30 of this inſtant March we received intelligence by Letters from that brave and active Committee of Shrewſbury, High-Archall ſurrendred to the Parliament.of their great and good ſucceſſe in the taking of that very ſtrong and conſiderable Garriſon of High-Archall, after a ſhort ſiege; and having by Granadoes and other great ſhot battered them for the ſpace of nine houres together, without intermiſſion, it being, I ſay, a place of great ſtrength, and well fortified, and having a large deep moat about it, and in regard of the ſcituation of it, not thought feazable to be carried by ſtorm; but by the bleſſing of God and our continuall plying of our great ſhot and Granadoes, which had done great execution among them, in ſhort ſpace we cauſed them to come to a Parley, whereat it was concluded, that the Horſe, all but 40 ſhould march away without Arms, that the Foot ſhould all leave their Arms behind them, and that they ſhould leave all their Ammunition and Proviſion, (of which there was great plenty) behind them, and they were to have a Convoy to Worceſter, the place they had made choice of to go unto. There marched out 212 Souldiers and Officers, out of this Garriſon. And thus Shropſhire, by Gods great mercy, and the indefatigable induſtrie, care and valour, of their Committee is now well cleared from all their open Enemies.
And much about the foreſaid time we were certainly informed that this moſt gallant and active Committee of Shrewsbury, Bridge-North Towne taken by Shrewſbury forces.not yet reſting immediately after they had thus taken in High Archall, as aforeſaid, ſent out a party of Horſe and Foot upon a deſigne againſt Bridge-North, but the length of the march, and the wearineſſe of the Souldier hindred them, ſo as the Town took the alarm before they could refreſh themſelves a little, and go on in the deſigne, as was intended; yet notwithſtanding the next day they ſummoned it.Colonell Billingſley ſlaine in the Storme. Colonell Billingſley, who commanded in chief in the Town, would give no Anſwer to the Summons, and Colonell Howard, who commanded the Caſtle, gave a flat denyall; whereupon in the afternoon, having ſet out three Poſts, the brave Salopians reſolved to ſtorm: One Poſt was aſſigned to Colonell Goulden, another to Major Braine, and the third to Captain Hickſon, who, at the warning given, fell all three on with ſuch a courage, and undaunted reſolution, that they ſtormed the Towne, killed Colonell Billingſley in the heat of the ſtorm, together with ſome others, and took divers priſoners, the reſt of the Gentry fled into the Caſtle, the North Gate Fort alſo ſtood ſome hot diſpute, but was likewiſe gained, and ſo the Town taken wholly into their poſſeſſion; and in its proper place we ſhall certifie the taking in of the Caſtle alſo, which yet a while ſtood out very obſtinately againſt them.
Portland caſtle ſurrendred.And much about the foreſaid time we heard for certaine out of the Weſt, that Portland Caſtle was ſurrendred; the Enemy within it having had liberty granted them to go to their own homes, leaving all their Armes, and the Caſtles Ammunition behinde them.
And upon the 31 of this inſtant March we were certainly informed by a Letter out of the Weſt, of the taking of Exmouth Fort, the particulars whereof were as followeth in this enſuing Letter to Colonell Ceeley.
Noble Colonell;
Exmouth-Fort, neere Exeter. taken.I Beſeech you to excuſe my not giving you an account of the buſineſſe of Exmouth Fort till now,which hath been occaſioned by reaſon of the ſudden commands of Sir Hardreſſe Waller, laid upon me, to advance neer the City of Exeter. And although I know you are well acquainted with our proceedings, yet I conceive it my duty to advertiſe you of our condition. The 14 inſtant, I ſummoned the Fort, and took poſſeſſion of it the next day: I have ſent you incloſed what proviſion was left in it. The Governour thereof, Lieutenant Colonell Arundell deſires to ſerve you for Ireland. Sir, we are now within Musket ſhot of Mount-Hadford, and exchanging ſhot every minute, and God hath pleaſed to honour yours with the Frontier Quarters. As yet nothing hath happened that will not ſpeak us
Colonell Ceeleys.
The forementioned note of what was left in Exmouth Fort, was 13 great iron Peeces, 2 ſmall Drakes, 1 of braſſe, 3 Murtherers, unmounted, 72 Muskets, 29 Collers of Bandaleers, 10 Pikes, 10 Halberts and Partizans, 12 Barrels of Powder, 2 bundles of Match, 1 barrell of Peaſe, 5 Hogſheads of Bread, 1 Hogſhead of Beef, 5 Hogſheads of Salt, 1 Butt of Beer, &c.
Aprill. 1646.About the beginning of the MonethMonth of Aprill, 1646. we received certaine and moſt welcome intelligence of the ſurrender of Dennington Caſtle,Dennington Caſtle taken. about which valiant Colonell Dalbeir having continued playing with his Granadoes into the Caſtle, with much furie, it at laſt procured this good ſucceſſe, That Sir John Boys the Governour thereof, finding no hope of help or reliefe, and perceiving what great danger the Caſtle was in; at laſt he agreed to ſurrender it up to the ſaid noble Colonell, for the uſe of the King and Parliament. And ſo the Enemy immediately came forth of the Caſtle, having liberty (according to their Articles) to depart to Oxford, and our Forces took preſent poſſeſſion of it. And thus this pernicious neſt and den of Royall Robbers and abuſers of thoſe parts of the Country, was now at laſt happily emptied and cleared, and the Caſtle reſtored to its right owner againe, that moſt worthy and truly religious Gentleman, Maſter John Packer, whoſe formerly it had been.
And Aprill 2. the Lords and Commons in Parliament Aſſembled, prudently taking notice of the great confluence and reſort of Papiſts, Malignant Officers and Souldiers of fortune, and ſuch as have borne Arms againſt the Parliament of England, from the Enemies Garriſons and Quarters unto the Cities of London and Weſtminſter, and other parts within the Lines of Communication: Do for the prevention of ſuch inconveniences as may therby ariſe, think fit to order, and it is hereby ordered by the ſaid Lords and Commons, That all Papiſts whatſoever, and all Officers and Souldiers of fortune, and other perſons that have borne Arms againſt the Parliament of England, not being under reſtraint, do before the ſixth day of April, 1646. depart out of the Cities of London and Weſtminſter, and Lines of Communication: And if any ſuch perſon ſhall continue within the ſaid Lines after that time, ſuch perſon is hereby declared a Spy, and ſhall be apprehended, impriſoned, and proceeded againſt as a Spy, according to the Rules of War. And the ſaid Lords and Commons do further orden, That all ſuch perſons do forbeare, upon the penalty aforeſaid, to come within the ſaid Lines, without Licence under the hands of the Committee appointed for Compoſitions at Goldſmiths-Hall. And the Committee of the Militia of London, and the Sub-Committees in their ſeverall limits reſpectively, are hereby required to keep ſtrict Guards and Watches, and cauſe frequently ſearches to be made, and to take care for the due execution of this Order. Provided that this Order, nor any thing therein contained ſhall extend to any perſon or perſons who ſhall obtain licenſe under the hands of the Committee of Goldſmiths-Hall, to continue within the limits aforeſaid.An Order of both Houſes of Parliament for reſtraint of Papiſts and other Delinquents from coming to the Cities of London and Weſtminſter. An Order alſo concerning the Kings private coming to London. Provided that this Ordinance, or any thing therein contained, ſhall not extend to any perſon or perſons who came in to the Parliament before the firſt of June laſt 1645. and are cleared by both Houſes of Parliament from their Delinquency. Provided alſo that no Peere of this Realm ſhall reſort unto the Committee for licenſe to continue within the limits aforeſaid, but ſhall repaire only to the Houſe of Peers for their ſaid Licenſe. This Order to continue for one MonethMonth after the ſixth of April, and no longer.
And it was alſo further ordered and reſolved on by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That in caſe the King ſhould (contrary to the advice of the Parliament, then, already given unto him) come, or attempt to come within the Lines of Communication, That then the Committee of the Militia of London ſhall have power, and are hereby enjoyned, upon advice had with the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Army, to raiſe ſuch forces as they ſhall think neceſſary, to prevent any tumults that may ariſe by his coming, and to ſuppreſſe any that ſhall happen, and to apprehend and ſecure all ſuch as ſhall come with him, and to prevent reſort unto him, and to ſecure his own Perſon from danger.
About the ſixth of April we received certaine good newes by a Letter written to renowned Major Generall Brown, A brave defeat given to the Kings Horſe neare Farringdon.of a brave defeat given to the Kings Horſe about Farringdon, not far from Oxford, which Letter was read in the Honourable Houſe of Commons, and a Copy whereof, for the Readers better content and ſatiſfaction therein, I have here inſerted, as it was printed and publiſhed, which was as followeth:
Honourable Sir;
THe laſt night I had intelligence the Enemy was drawn out of Oxford, and gave out, that they did intend to plunder Newnham, wherefore I ſent to Colonell Betſworth, to deſire him to draw his Horſe towards Abingdon, which he did; but early this morning we had intelligence, that ſix hundred Horſe marched out of Oxon through Conmer and Fiſield; whereupon I commanded forth our Horſe and Dragoons, and marched with Colonell Betſworth after the Enemy, and it pleaſed God to direct us, that we found them at Farringdon, and quartered at the Towns thereabouts; We had gallant hunting them from place to place over the hils, and purſued them into Farringdon Town, and afterwards we diſcovered a good party of about two hundred, between the two Coxwels, who ran down into a Meadow, and would have parlyed to …urrender their Horſe and Arms, but our …n fell on them, and took them all, ſave very few that eſcaped: Afterwards we gleaned up divers more in ſeverall places, ſo that I am confident, that party is ſo broken, that the King will ſcarce be able to get ſuch a body of Horſe againe in the Kingdome; We took above 300 Horſe, and almoſt as many Priſoners, there was brought in this evening about 250 unto Abingdon, the Major and moſt of the Officers of Sir William Comptons Regiment belonging to Banbury are priſoners, it was eſteemed the beſt Regiment the King had, and the newes of their ingagement being reported at Oxford this day, that they would come off with honour, or be loſt, they ſadly replyed, if that Regiment were loſt, they were all undone.
There was but one man ſlain on our part, and not many of the Enemies.
Sir, your moſt humble and faithfull ſervant, Geo. Payne. Abington, April 3. 1646.
About the 10 of this inſtant Aprill, Letters came from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Quarters, from ſeverall Gentlemen of credit to the Committee of both Kingdomes, and by other informations from thence, that the Articles for the ſurrender of the City and Garriſon of Exeter, were now fully agreed on, and foure Hoſtages given for performance of the ſame, to be ſurrendred into the hands of the Parliament, on Munday Aprill 13. 1646. and as a farther firm pledge and aſſurance hereof, they immediately, upon the mutuall giving of Hoſtages, ſurrendred three of their ſtrong Forts into the renowned Generals hands, viz. Saint Downes Fort, on the North ſide; Mount-Rat-Ford, on the South ſide, and a very ſtrong Houſe in Saint Tho. P…riſh, on the Weſt ſide;Treaty about the ſurrender of the City of Exeter to the Parliament. Three ſtrong Forts already delivered up to the Generall. all theſe were ſurrendred on▪ Thurſday, April the 9. the maine ſubſtance of the Articles was, That all within the Garriſon (that would) were to march away on April 13. being Munday, both Horſe and Foot, with Arms, and to have a Convoy either to Pendennis, or Saint▪ Michaels-Mount, or to Oxford, and to nominate which of theſe three places they would go unto when they marched out. And thoſe that would, to have Paſſes to go beyond Sea, or laying down their Arms, to go to their own homes, upon an ingagement not to take up Arms againe againſt the Parliament. All the nobility, (as ſome of theſe were there) Gentry and Clergy, in the City, to have liberty to march out with the Garriſon Souldiers, with their Horſes, Arms, and their own proper goods:Juſtification of the large Articles of conditions agreed unto, upon the ſurrender of Exeter. One Article was mainly inſiſted on, concerning the Cathedrall in Exeter, that, forfooth, it might not be defaced, which was alſo ſo farre agreede on. Now, if any ſhould imagine theſe (and the other) conditions to be too large for ſuch enemies; Let them but waigh the conſiderableneſſe of the place, and how long it might have held out, withall its advantages, and it may eaſily balance all the reſt; Beſides that, now it is gained with the loſſe of ſo little bloodſhed, and in ſo ſhort a time, ſince the Armie returned out of Cornwall; That now alſo upon the matter, all the Weſt is cleared and ſetled in a peaceable poſture; and how conſiderable this is, that now the army may immediately advance and take the oportunity to cleare up theſe Eaſtern-parts, which in all probability, will (by Gods bleſſing) be effected ſuddainly, and (we hope) an end put to theſe miſerable and moſt unhappie warres, The noble Generall, preſently upon this, with part of his Armie, advanced now to Barnſtable, which place, was of no ſmall Concernment for the full ſetling, of the p…ace of thoſe parts, whereof more in its due place.
Ruthin-Caſtle ſurrendred to the Parliament.About the 14. of this inſtant Aprill we received certaine intelligence by a Letter from that moſt faithfull, valiant and Victorious Commander, Colonell Mitton to the honourable Speaker of the Houſe of Commons, concerning the ſurrender of Ruthin caſtle to him, for the uſe of the King and Parliament; A Copie of which Letter, for the Readers better content and fuller ſatisfaction, I have here thought fit to inſert, as it was printed and publiſhed by authority of Parliament, which was as followeth: