Relation Made in the House of Commons, Letter 1 – Letter 2
The Copy of a Letter written to my Lord Say, by Colonell Nathaniel Fiennes, and the Gentlemen of Sommer set and Glocester-shire for the setling of a sufficient Garison in that City; they having written another to my Lord Generall to the same purpose.
May it please your Lordship,
TO Understand first the importance of this City of Bristoll, and next the condition in which we are left to defend it: The enemy hath lately cast his eye upon it, prompted by the witty malice of our Malignants, to espy his advantage, if he possesse this City, hee will reape these benefits by our losse. 1. he will get much money, Armes and Amunition in a more cheape and lesse hazardous way, then he can have them out of the Low-Countreyes, all which hee will pay for with monopolies and ingrossments of Trade, (things with which the great ones of this Towne have bin well acquainted, and are therfore malignant. 2. If he gaine this Town he will soone subdue Glocester, and become Master of all the Tract betweene Shrewsbury, and and the Lizards point in Cornwall, a quarter so plentifull as his plundering army yet never saw. 3. He will become master of all the Trafficke of that Inland Sea the Severne, and make all the Shipping both of the VVelch, and English Coasts his owne. 4. His Neighbourhood to Wales: will from time to time supply him with a body of Foot 5. We shall lose a Port Towne very important for the service of Ireland, and fit to give Landing to the Rebels of that place or any other Enemy.
The diseased state we stand in followeth.
The Enemy hath lately bin before our doores invited by a treacherous party in this Town: we had then 2 Regiments of foot, Colonell Essexes, and Col. Pophams, and almost a whole Regiment of horse, yet the extent of this scattering City, commanded by many Hils, and the conspiring multitude within it enforced all our men at once to doe duty: so that we had bin undone by watching over our safety, if the enemy had bin able to persist, since which time Sir William Waller hath beene with us, (and being desirous to take the field) hath taken from us Col. Eslex whole Regiment of foot, and the most part of our horse. And though we acknowledge a partie in the Field, to bee a good strength to us, yet wee conceive a City of this consequence ought to have an inward strength of his owne, and not to depend wholly upon the uncertaine issue of warre abroad; considering how apt the Town is to rise against us if the dye of war should turn against Sir William Waller, and the enemy pursue his victory to the Walls or if a joint party from Cornwall and VVales, should passe through the Country, and take up our malignant in their way, wee cannot promise to keep the town but to lose our selves, seeing our whole strength consists but of Col. Pophams Regiment of Foot not compleat, and of Col. Fiennes, and Col. Coles Troopes of Horse.
Wherefore we shall humbly propound the remedy, which is, that we may be enabled to raise, two other Regiments of foot, one under the command of Col. Fiennes, and the other under the command of And that we may have some supply of money from the Parliament; That these new raised Regiments together with Col. Pophams aforesaid Regiment, and Col. Fiennes Regiment of Horse be only destined for defence of this City and Country for twenty miles round about it, out of which territory of 20 miles compasse and this City, if they be left onelyonly to us we hope to pay the said forces when as they are raised, we have written to his Excellency for two or three experienced Commanders to make Sergeant Majors, as many able Gunners, and a skillfull Engineer we beseech your Honour forward our desires, One advertisement more we shall trouble your Lordship withall; which is that our rich Merchants have shipped most of their Treasure, and the Ships lie off at Sea out of our command which seemes to threaten a storme at Land: If the Parliament could spare 2. or 3. good pinnaces to guard this haven and the Seaverne; that no Ships passe without licence, it would much secure these parts, and annoy Wales, and we conceive the charge may be born by the toll upon all merchandize, which those malignants deserve to undergoe.
The two Pinnaces sent by the Parliament to Milford Haven, are vessels of no force and their commanders of no activity that we heare of. And if we be trusted to take some accompt of their endeavours it may perchance quicken them, we have writ to his Excellency, to enable us by his appointment to proceed with our Treacherous Conspirators, to the utmost extent of marshall Law; the wickednes of some of them deserving to be made an example of utmost severity, and without which, we shall incurre contempt and lie open to more practises, we beseech your Lordship bee the mediator of our humble desires, and make what use you please of them, to the close Committee we have revealed those weaknesses to your honour, which otherwise wee desire to conceale knowing that a bare reputation in matters of War doth many times win the game. We are
Your honours humble Servants.
Nathaniel Fiennes.
Alexander Popham.
Ch: Walker.
Joh. Seymoure.
Edw. Stephens.
Bristoll, 20 March 1643.
A Copie of a Letter written by my Lord Generall, to the Lord SAY, concerning the setling of a sufficient Garison at BRISTOLL, according to the Propositions made by Colonell Fiennes to that purpose.
My Lord,
I Understand there is a Committee of the House of Commons appointed to consider of the establishing a Garison in the City of Bristoll. I am very glad of their care of it, being a place of so great importance. I desire your Lordship to acquaint the Committee with my resolution concerning the strength of that Garison, and entreate them that course may be taken for a sufficient maintenance for it.
I Thinke it necessary that that Garison doe consist of those tvvo Regiments which Col. Fiennes hath already raised, and of that Regiment under Col. Popham, of tvvo Troopes of Horse, and Captaine Olands company of Dragoons. This I thinke little enough both in respect of the importance of that place as being the Key of the West of England, and likewise because by these forces the Governour will bee able at all times to suppresle any that shall rise against us in those parts to assist our friends, as novv is done by Colonell Pophams Regiment.
My Lord, I againe recommend this businesse to your care and desire you likevvise, that you vvill let my resolution herein be knowne to the Governour of Bristoll, and likewise to the Gentlemen of Sommerset-shire, Glocester-shire, and Wilt-shire, that they may endeavour to settle some constant course for the maintenance of this Garison. My Lord I am
Your Lordships faithfull Friend and Servant, ESSEX. Thame, Iune, 22. 1643.