PRINCE CHARLES HIS MESSAGE TO The Levellers in the West, and His Promise and Royal Grant, concerning their just Liberties and Freedoms; With their Letter to the Citizens of London, touching the same.
ALSO, His Highnesse putting forth to Sea, with thirty Sayl of French, Dutch, and Danes, 200. Gentlemen of note, 2000. Officers and souldiers, 5000 Arms, and a Declaration of their design.
LIKEWISE, A great Fight neer Plymouth, between the Par. forces, and 1500 Levellers, upon their attempt to seize upon the town, with the particulars thereof, and the number killed and taken prisoners.
London, printed for G. Laurenson, September 13. MDCXLIX.
PRINCE CHARLES HIS MESSAGE TO The Levellers in the West, and His Promise and Grant the Liberties of England, and the Freedom of the People.
THe great compliance and co-actings of those called Levellers with the Royalists, doth not alittle astonish the well affected in these parts, and the rather, because of their falling off from their first principles, and adhering to the common Enemy [Page 2]of the Nation, whose present actings and combinations tends to an utter extirpation and dissolution of the present Authority and Government; for many do affirm, That their Agents in severall parts, act st [...]ly for the Royall Interest, and declare to the peope, that their present engagement, is for no other end but to establish peace and truth, and to restore this languishing but late flouaishing Nation, to its ancient Government by King, Lords, and Commons. And it is further intimated,
That some of the Royall Grandees and chief Headpieces, have sent a Letter to the Prince, shewing the grounds and reasons of this their engagement, &c. To whom (we bear) a Message hath been returned in answer thereunto, from the Prince, for their better encouragement, and carrying on of the work in hand, wherein he promiseth all possible assistance, the restauration of their just liberties and freedoms, and engaging of his Royall Word, to satisfie all interests, which in reason and equity they shall demand or defire.
But since the reception hereof, many have deserted them, not approving of their addresses, or condescensions for a Kingly Government, and have again declared for the present Authority, resolving to adhere to them with their lives and fortunes.
At their first appearing visible in these parts, they seemed somewhat numerous, but within these few days are exceedingly dissipated, the manner thus; A party of Sir Hardresse Wallers Horse having notice of their conjunction and meeting neer Plymouth, and fearing a sudden surprizall thereof, immediatly hasted towards them with a considerable party, consisting of about [Page 3]three hundred resolved fighting men, and fell upon them undiscovered, killed 13 took divers prisoners and dispersed the rest, being in all about fifteen hundred, whose design were to surprize that impregnable Garrison of Plymouth: Thus may we see the vehement flames which were breaking forth throughout the whole Nation, and how happily the fire was quenched that threatned inevitable ruine throughout all the corners thereof, which (for the future) the omnipotent Jehovah prevent, and incline the hearts of all cordiall English men to peace and truth.
By Letters from Oxford thus: Divers of Col: Ingoldshies Regiment, and other discontented parties of the Garison, being much unsatisfied with the procedings of the Parl. and army, have revolted, and agreed on a Declaration to be published, shewing the grounds and reasons of their engagement, viz. 1 For a dissolution of this present Parl. and for electing a free Representative. 2 For signing of the Agreement of the people. 3 For a Councell of Agitators, according to the engagement at Triple Heath, &c. This being lookt upon as a busines of great concernment, it was thought fit to send down a considerable party against them; and on Sunday night a letter was sent to the Governors of all the Garrisons of England, to give them intimation of these distempers, and requite their care of their several charges, thereby to avoid the like. And withall, that a copy of the letter intercepted, should be inclosed therein, to shew the compliance and co-actings of those called Levellers and the Royalists. Since their revolt, divers horse and foot come in to them night and day in great numbers, their Councel consisted most of private soldier. [Page 4]at first, but some head-pieces lately come from London, are added to them, they keep their guards very strong, and are stricter then ever we knew any, declaring. That their friends in other Garrisons will joyn with them, and that they doubt not but (within one month) to have a potent Army in the field, being assured, that not four Regiments in the Army will prejudice ahem in this quarrell, for recovery of Englands lost freedoms, and for case of the people from all burthens and oppressions; for obtaining whereof, both they and all the honest Souldiery of England were resolved to hazard their lives and fortunes.
But they are now prevented from putting the same in execution; for on Munday last the Agitators were seiz'd on as they sate in Councell, and all the Souldiers reduc'd to their former obedience.
A Letter from Ireland.
VPon the advance of the Lord Governour Cromwell towards Droghedah, great was the preparation of the Marq. of Ormond, and the Lord Inchiquin to receive him, and upon his neer approach with the Van, a selected party were drawn forth to represent the Royall salutation (as they call'd it) and accordingly the Lord Inchiquin had the honour and conduct of these Marshalling Troops, who no sooner had marched four miles from the town, but a discovery were made of a great Body of the Parl. horse; whereupon he drew out a Forlorn consisting of two hundred horse, commanded by Lieutenant Colonell Gerrard, who advanced about Musket shot from the Body, the rest marching after.
The Parliaments forces seeing this, immediately eccho'd [Page 5]forth a great deal of alacrity to dispute an engagement, drawing out a Forlorn likewise, and advancing towards them; infomuch, that after an hours rallying, and wheeling for wind and ground, both bodies had embattail'd themselves in a well disciplin'd postute for the receiving of each others charge with the most advantage and safety.
And after some short time spent in consultation by the Officers, the Trumpets founded, and both parties joyned battail, a most violent and desperate charge being given to each other at the first onset, during which conflict, sharp and cruell was the action, each man striving for Conquest, and endeavouring to become master of the field; but the victory seemed dubious a long time, untill by main force; the enemies loft wing were disordered and put to a retreat, which the right wing, and the Center-body seeing (for they were divided into three bodies) began to decline further engagement, endeavouring an hononrable retreat, but the L. Governours horse falling in with them, upon their wheeling off, divers of them were killed and taken prisoners, the rest received sanctuary neer a spacious bog, where they rallyed, and by the comming in of a fresh Reserve of three Regiments of horse, commanded by Colonell Steward, Colonell Cotton, and Collonell Cunningham, the Lord Inchiquin attempted a second Onset against the Lord Governours forces, who finding themselves to be both overpowred and unfitting for a second engagement, made an honourable retreat with the losse of thirty men, the enemy not daring to embrace pursuit for a mile together, whose losse we hear was exceeding great in the first engagement, by estimation at least three hundred.
In this conflict the Lord Inchiquin deported himself with great gallantry in the very heat and midst of the bittell; but Collonell Fitz. Williams (who commanded the left wing) demean'd himself with as much treachery and cowardise.
Since which fight, we likewise further hear, that the Marquesse hath sent a letter to the Prince, intimating, that upon the advance of our forces towards Droghedah, he fell upon them, routed, killed and disperst many hundreds, &c. which seems as incredible as his former, and only pen'd in a false and contrary stile for the present support of his young Soveraigns drooping spirits. The Lord Governour is within a days march of Drohedah with his whole Army of horse and foot, where he intends to fight the enemy, if they stay, and to lay siege to the town; of which more by the next.
From the West some letters make mention, That the Prince is put to Sea with 30 Sayl of French, Dutch and Danes, accompanied by 200 Gentlemen of note, and about 2000 souldiers, there are said to be 5000. Arms, and other furniture for war: some declare, that his design is for Guernsey, others for Ireland, but most probable for Scotland.
There is said to be a letter sent from certain Levellers, to their friends in London, requiring their aid and assistance in this their Engagement, but the former obstructions, its believed, will retard and frustrate their future actions.
Imprimatur,