Mercurius Rusticus, or, The countries complaint of the barbarous outrages committed by the sectaries of this late flourishing kingdom together with a brief chronology of the battels, sieges, conflicts, and other most remarkable passages, from the beginning of this unnatural war, to the 25th of March, 1646.

Mercurius Rusticus, or, The countries complaint of the barbarous outrages committed by the sectaries of this late flourishing kingdom together with a brief chronology of the battels, sieges, conflicts, and other most remarkable passages, from the beginning of this unnatural war, to the 25th of March, 1646.

Table of contents

[1]

Title page

THE PREFACE.

MERCURIUS RUSTICUS: OR, THE Countries Complaint, &c. I.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. II.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. III.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. IV.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. V.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. VI.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. VII.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. VIII.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. IX.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. X.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XI.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XII.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XIII.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XIV.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XV.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XVI.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XVII.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. XVIII.

[2]

Title page

The Preface.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. I.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. II.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. III.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. IV.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c. V.

[3]

Title page

AN ADVERTISEMENT To every indifferent Reader.

The Preface.

Querela Cantabrigiensis: OR, The Universities Complaint.

[4]

Title page

The Preface.

Memorable OCCURRENCES since the beginning of this REBELLION.

Anno Dom. 1641.

Anno Dom. 1642.

Anno Dom. 1643.

Anno Dom. 1644.

Post-monita.

Mercurius Belgicus: OR, Memorable Occurrences, in Anno 1645.

THE TABLE OF Mercurius Rusticus.

THE TABLE OF Querela Cantabrigiensis.

§

§

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MERCURIUS RUSTICUS THE COUNTRYS COMPLAINT Recovnting the sad Events of the late unparalleld REBELLION

Christ Church Coll: Ox:

Canterbury Minster

Trinn: Colledge Comb:

Countess of Rivers plundered pag: 11

Sr John Lucas house plundered pag: [...].

[...] [...] hous plundered pag: 31.

A Bonfire for the voting downe Episcopacy pag. [...]6:

[...] pag: 81.

Warder Castle defended by a Lady. pag: 41.

§

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Mercurius Rusticus: OR, The COUNTRIES Complaint of the barbarous Outrages committed by the SECTARIES of this late flourishing KINGDOM. Together with A brief CHRONOLOGY of the Battels, Sieges, Conflicts, and other most remarkable Passages, from the beginning of this unnatural War, to the 25th of March, 1646. Together with A brief CHRONOLOGY of the Battels, Sieges, Conflicts, and other most remarkable Passages, from the beginning of this unnatural War, to the 25th of March, 1646.

Jer. 15.13.

Thy substance and thy treasure will I give to the spoil without price, and that for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.

LONDON: Printed for R. Royston, Book-seller to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, and are to be sold by R. Green, Book-seller in Cambridge. 1685.

THE PREFACE.

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VVHen the sins of this Kingdom were ripe for punishment, the Divine Justice permitted a great part of it to be besotted with Discontents either wholly causeless, or such as His Majesty was pleased to remedy with Grants so unmeasurably gracious, as could not otherwise be justified than by their importunity that demanded them, and His Majesties Royall tenderness of his Subjects peace and safety.

These Grants were so far from satisfying those, whose broken fortunes and boundless desires would not permit them to live without a Civil War, that they make of them no other use than thereby to strengthen themselves to demand more: till at last they broke out into a most unnatural Rebellion.

The people alwaies apt to cherish murmurs and invectives against their Princes, [Page] and now grown wanton with the fruits of a long peace, incline to Abners mind, and think the war (which yet they knew not) but a sport. Therefore with a great facility they imbrace the design: and the baits to cover the Hooks with, are the preservation of Religion, and the vindication of Liberty. And howsoever they cannot reconcile their practise with Gods command, which under pain of damnation forbids all Subjects to resist their King: yet they are so wedded to that interest which they challenge in Religion, and Liberty, that for Gods command, if they cannot untie the Knot, they resolve to cut it. Do but assure them that the forbidden fruit will make them as Gods, and they will eat it though it be forbidden: do but perswade them that to take up arms against their Sovereign is the way to secure their Religion and Liberty, and they make bold with God for once to choose their own way for so good an end.

From so desperate Resolution, had they had but Morall justice, they might have been kept back by the improbability of those calumnies [Page] whereby His Majesty was traduced, as intending to alter Religion and infringe their Liberties.

Or had Religion (to which they do so Zealously pretend) had that potent influence upon them, it might have taught them, that Religion cannot be defended by transgressing Gods commands, which are the Rule of it.

But if nothing else, yet even regard to their own pretensions, the defence of Religion and Liberty, should have wrought in them a detestation of Rebellion, which is so contrary to both.

For as an eye had to Gods dominion over us should exact obedience to his commands, though never so much to our prejudice: So the meditation of his infinite goodness ought to win it from us, because his commands enjoyn us onely what is for our good, if we could see it.

He would not have forbidden Subjects to defend Religion against their King by force of Arms, but that he knew as Rebels can be no friends to Religion, so it gaines love and admiration by the innocent patience of [Page] those that profess it; whereas Bloodshed, Force, and Rapine, (the fruits of Rebellion) procure Hatred or Hypocrisie.

And for Liberty, it is for the good of mankind, to forbid the assertion of it by Subjects Arms taken up against their Prince: both because that pretence would otherwise be used by those that have a design to make the abused people their own slaves, and because Rebellion doth more violate the Subjects liberty, than is morally possible for the worst Prince in times of peace to do.

This truth was known before by speculation to a few, whose endeavours to infuse it into the distempered peoples minds, had the fate of Cassandraes predictions, to hit the truth and want belief, till these sad times have at last verified it by a costly experience.

That this may be more universally beneficial; you have too plentifull a harvest of Instances collected in the insuing Relations: wherein may evidently be seen, that this War which the multitude was so fond of, as the only means to preserve Religion [Page] and Liberty, hath been almost the utter ruin of them both.

Here you shall find these great pretenders to Religion, suppressing that which themselves confess to be Divine Truth, Debarring poor prisoners the comfort of joyning their prayers together, enforcing men to take Oaths of blind Obedience to whatsoever they should afterwards command them; turning out Clergy-men above all exception, and placing most scandalous and insufficient wretches in their rooms, darting from their invenomed mouths most horrid Blasphemies against our blessed Lord and Saviour, abusing the service of God, and profaning not only the Form of it, the Book of Common Prayer, (against which they have a professed quarrel) but even Gods own Word, the holy Bible, which they pretend to reverence.

Here shall you behold them not only (like those Canes Sepulchrales) violating the bones and ashes of the dead, to make the world know that they believe what some of their fellows openly profess, that of those sometime living Temples of the holy Ghost, there [Page] shall be no resurrection, but exercising their fury on the Churches of God; which they have defaced with Barbarous rudeness, defiled with more than beastly nastiness, and (as if contrary to their wont they had studied the Book of Maccabees to find out and out-do the most Heathenish wickednesses therein related, they have polluted the very Altar with their whoredoms.

The Independents (at whose door the most part of these profanations of the Houses of God must lye) will hardly make the world believe they are in earnest when they plead for Liberty of Conscience in Religion, while they thus deface the places where it should be taught and practiced.

And as ill can the Presbyterians make good their pretended zeal to Religion, and the Nurse of it, Learning, having almost extirpated one of the most flourishing Universities of Christendom.

Then for the other point, the Subjects Liberty, the following Narrations will plainly shew that it hath not been spared by those that [Page] would be accounted the Champions of it, when the violation of it might satisfie either their Lust, their Covetousness, or their Cruelty.

Their Lust hath prompted them not only to threaten Rape, but with violence to attempt it, and to wound and murther those upon whom they could not effect their beastly purpose.

To satisfy their Covetousness, they have unmercifully robbed of their fortunes, and exposed to the extremest want, not only those that were their opposites and able to hurt them, but those whose sex, age and condition might have melted stones into pitty, women, children, the sick, the aged, women in labour, and even those of their own party.

Their Cruelty hath not contented it self with the murther of those they hated, but as if they had been the professed Schollars of that inhumane monster, whose Maxim was, Perimat Tyrannus lenis, in regno meo mors impetratur, they have insulted over the persons and lives of their fellow Subjects with [Page] most exquisite Tortures, whipt some to Death, and starved others: they have made it a Crime in some that they were neighbours to those whom they persecuted for their Loyalty, and punished others for shewing them mercy: nay to shew that their ambition was to choose out the sharpest executioners of their Tyranny (though with the hazard of rendring the names of Christians odious for their sakes to the professed enemies of Christendom) they had once designed divers of prime worth and quality both of the Clergy and the Gentry to be sold for slaves to their brethren the Turks at Argiers. And so full of contagious venome is their malice, that it hath made Parents unnatural to their own children, suffering them to perish by Famine because they refused to Rebell against their Sovereign.

To conclude, their malice hath so far transcended all bounds, that they have done mischief where they were not invited by any benefit to themselves or any other, only for the delight they took in doing it, burning houses, spoyling goods, destroying Books, Evidences, [Page] and Publick Records, to the prejudice of Posterity, the disturbance of Possessions, the obstruction of Justice, and the impairing of Learning, only to make themselves Sport: they have by breaking Articles of surrender, by offering savage force to the persons of messengers for Treaty, and to the goods and houses of foreign Ambassadors, broken the Sacred Laws and disturbed the Commerce of Nations: and that nothing might be wanting to the height of their villanies, by the rude defacing of the Pictures and resemblances of His Majesty their Sovereign, they have declared their wicked intentions against his Sacred Person.

Now if any shall indeavour to acquit the Grandees of the Faction by laying all the fault on private men or inferiour Officers; and shall averr that if complaint had been made to the Parliament, redress would have been given: let them know that by reading this Book it will appear that the bad success which wronged persons found, is a sufficient evidence that others should have lost their labour in complaining. For even their Justice was so obstructed [Page] by that Faction that the best remedy of the foulest injuries was but Eli his correction of his sons, a cold admonition: and sometimes a direct denial of Justice, yea and the goods of the sufferers, given as a reward to those that did the wrong.

Wherefore since our imagined Sickness hath led us into a needless course of Physick, wherein we have almost purged and bled to death; if we love our own safety better than the gain of those that live upon our ruins, let us at last be wise, and give over the Physitian.

In a word, we shall promise in the sight of God, and remembring that Lyers are in the number of those against whom the gates of the new Jerusalem shall be shut, to deal in the ensuing stories with all candor and ingenuity, not out of a desire to render the actors of these impieties odious, or abuse the Reader either with falsehoods or uncertainties, but to report nothing but what hath been examined and attested by men of known truth and integrity: And that the world may see what violent affections these Sectaries brought to these hostile Acts, we [Page] shall begin with the times of peace, when the King had no formidable Army to inflame their Jealousies, nor these men provoked to cruelty by any foregoing injuries; The Scene is Essex, and the first man that shall be tendered to your view is Sir John Lucas.

MERCURIUS RUSTICUS: OR, THE Countries Complaint, &c.
I.

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Sir John Lucas and Mr. Newcomin a Minister, barbarously used by the Brownists and Anabaptists of Colchester: Sir John's House plundered, his Mother, Lady, and Sister abused, and committed to the common Goal. The unhumane usage of Sir William Boteler in Kent, his House plundered, and his Servants tortured, &c.

ON Monday, Aug. 22. 1642. Sir John Lucas intended with some Horse and Arms, to begin his Journey towards the North, to wait upon the King; which purpose of his being on Saturday by a treacherous Servant discovered to John Langley of Colchester, Grocer, and Captain of the Trained Bands; He, with Henry Barrington, Brewer, and Alderman of the Town, spent the next day, being Sunday, in riding to Coggeshall, Bocking, Bayntree, Halsteed, and other Towns of their own Faction, to communicate to them the knowledg of it, and invite them with strong guards of Muskets, to beset the ways and intercept him in [Page] his Journey, and did also (by the assistance of the Mayor) set a guard of Colchester Trainband, on Sunday night about his house. Sir John Lucas intended to begin his journey early by one or two a clock on Monday morning, supposing he might so pass mith most privacy and no opposition, but the back gate at which he thought to issue out was no sooner opened, but a strong guard from under a hedge present themselves, and one of them discharged his Musket as a Warning-piece to the Town, where the Alarm is presently taken, the Drum strook up, and the whole Town raised, the Voluntiers (of which there were 400 or 500 then in Town gathered to serve under the Earl of Essex and Lord Say) brought up the Beacon, by direction of Dan. Cole Alderman, fired, and Horsemen into all parts sent forth to call in the Country against the Cavaliers in Sir John Lucas's house.

The house is presently beset with at least 2000 people, and two pieces of Ordnance are brought to make a Battery; at last they rushed into the house, and the first man they seize upon is Mr. Newcomin, Parson of S. Trinity Parish in Colchester; they tear his cloaths off his back, beat him with their Cudgels and Halberts, and with infinite exclamations, carry him in triumph through the chief streets of the Town; by the way entring into a wild but very serious consideration, not whether he should dye (for that they had resolved at first) but to what death to put him; one votes drowning, another stoning, another bids beat out his braines. At length having consulted with Alderman Cole, they carry him to the common Goal, commanding the Jaylor to put him in the strong hold, (a place provided for the most desperate Malefactors) affirming they would soon [Page] return to take further order with him. There he remained till one a clock, being then removed to another Chamber. They now return to their fellows who were searching Sir John Lucas's house, some twenty of them rush'd into the Ladies Chamber, laid hands upon her, set a sword to her breast, requiring her to tell where the Arms and Cavaliers were. The Horse and Arms are soon found and seized on by the Mayor, who sends the Arms to the Town-Hall, the Horse to an Inn to be there kept on Sir John Lucas's cost, till they could be sent to the Parliament. The People lay hands on Sir John Lucas his Lady and Sister, and carry them attended with swords, guns, and halberts to the common Goal. Last of all they bring forth his Mother with the like or greater insolency, who being faint and breathless, hardly obtained leave to rest herself in a Shop by the way; yet this leave was no sooner obtained, but the rest of that rude rabble threatned to pull down the house, unless they thrust her out, being by this means forced to depart from thence. A Countryman (whom the Alarm had summoned to this work) espies her, and pressing with his Horse through the crowd, struck at her head with his sword so heartily, that if an Halbert had not crossed the blow, both her sorrows and her journey had there found an end. Two Gentlewomen (one of which had long been sick) by flight escaped their fury, but their most well-wishing neighbours dared not to be known to receive them into their house, the people threatning to burn that house that gave them entertainment. Having secured the Master, they now begin to plunder the house, all is prize that comes to hand, money, plate, jewels, linnen, woollen, brass, pewter, &c. A few hours disrobe [Page] the house of that rich furniture that had adorned it many years. The Mayor and Aldermen standing by all this while, but either not able, or not willing to conjure down the Devil which themselves had raised up. All the servants they could meet with they bring to prison, they lay hands on John Brown, (one who had been a servant to the family from the time of Sir John Lucas's Grandfather) they bind him to a tree, set a Musquet to his breast, and a sword to his throat, and tie lighted matches between his fingers, and John Furley (a young pragmatical boy) examines him concerning his Masters intentions, Horses, Money, &c. but especially concerning Mr. Newcomin, whether he had not given an Oath of secrecy? Whether he were not to ride a great Horse? whether he were not habited in a Buff Jerkin and Velvet Coat, &c. Fear easily prompts the old man to answer what he thought would give content. Out of his Examination the Mayor frames an Information against Sir John and Mr. Newcomin, not forgetting to relate the good service he had done, the Horse and Arms he had taken, but withal implying how miserably the house was plundered by the zealous people, adding in his Letters (and that very truly) that he could do no more than a Child among them, with these Letters he presently dispatcheth a Post to the House of Commons.

About one a clock a new Alarm is raised, that 200 armed Horsemen are discovered in a Vault at Sir John Lucas's; That they had killed nine men already, and were issuing forth to destroy the Town. The shops are shut up in an instant, and the multitUde throng down thither to take or kill these Cavaliers. And because they find none there, they now spend their rage upon the house, they batter down [Page] the doors and walls, beat down the windows, tear his Evidences, deface his Walks, and Gardens, do any thing that may do mischief. From thence they go to his Park, pull down his Pales, kill his Deer, drive away his Cattel. And to shew that their rage will know no bounds, and that nothing is so sacred or venerable which they dare not to violate, they break into S. Giles his Church, open the Vault where his Ancestours were buried, and with Pistols, Swords, and Halberts, transfix the Coffins of the dead.

And now the Mayors care begins to shew it self, he sets a guard upon the house that no hurt should be done unto it, yet that Guard suffered 100 l. worth of corn (which at first was neglected as contemptible luggage) to be carried out, and the most of it to their own houses. Another Guard he sets upon the Prison, lest the Prisoners should be assaulted by the people who were so much incensed against them, though it had been fit to set some honest men to guard them from those Guardians, who were as forward as the people to drink their blood.

On Thursday comes down Sir Thomas Barrington and Mr. Grimston as a Committee from the House, who comming into the market place before the prison-door (the Town Hall not able to receive the least part of the multitude) there published two Orders from the House, one wherein Sir John Lucas and his adherents were praclaimed guilty of high Treason for intending to assist the King. Another wherein thanks were given the People for the good service they had done, yet they were told withal, that their Act of Plundering was against the sense of the House. Some of the agents in that work, produced a printed Order of Parliament (not heard of before among honest men) by which they justified [Page] what they had done; Sir Thomas Barrington replyed that it was a false and feigned Order, contrived by the malignant party to render the House odious, and very lovingly besought the people to do so no more. And indeed the next weeks Diurnal tells us, that upon occasion of the outragious plundering in Essex, It was Ordered that thenceforward none should Plunder but those that were authorized by the House to do it.

Friday was designed for the carrying up of the Traytors (Sir John Lucas and Newcomin) for whom there was one Messenger come from the Black Rod, and another from the Serjeant at Arms, (for the Ladieswere declared no Prisoners after they had layn in the common Goal four days.) When the time of their departure was come, many thousands of people were gathered together (both of Town and Country) a Drum being struck up to give them warning. The Coaches are come, and the Prisoners called forth; only Mr. Newcomin they dared not carry forth as yet, because the people threatned to tear him in pieces; as assuredly they had done, had not Mr. Grimston's care been very great, who placeing a Court of Guard on each side of Sir Thomas Barrington's Coach from the Prison door, brought him forth unexpectedly, and put him into the Coach, the people then not daring to strike or stone him, lest the mischief intended on him should light on Sir Thomas Barrington.

The Coach being guarded thus a mile out of Town, they passed on, suffering no other strokes but those of the tongue (bitter Curses and Revilings) and those they met withal abundantly, at Chelmsford, Romford, and in all the Towns whither the news of their Treason had gone before them, [Page] Sir John Lucas's captive Horses being carried in triumph with the Coach all the way; at London Sir Thomas Barrington sent the Horses to the Red Lion, the Prisoners to the Serjeant at Arms, where they remained all Sunday, not permitted to go to Church with their Keeper: on Monday they were sent for to the house, and committed Sir John Lucas to the Gate-house, Mr. Newcomin to the Fleet. Immediately issued out a Declaration of both Houses to the whole Kingdom, but especially to the County of Essex, ordered to be read in all Churches and Chappels; wherein for the better encouragement of good people (so run the words) it is told them that Sir John Lucas's Horse and Arms are imployed for the service of his Excellency, that Sir John, and Mr. Newcomin are committed to several Prisons, and shall speedily be brought to their Trial, to receive condign punishment according to their demerits.

Sir John Lucas was afterward enlarged, giving 40000 l. bail to appear upon summons, and not to depart London and the Suburbs without leave. Mr. Newcomin remained in the Fleet from Aug. 29. to Sept. 24. being never called for, and at length discharged.

Sir William Boteler of Kent, returning about the beginning of April 1642. from his attendance, (being then Gentleman Pentioner) on the King at Yorke, then celebrating Saint Georges feast, was by the earnest solicitation of the Gentry of Kent, ingaged to joyn with them in presenting the most honest and famous Petition of theirs to the House of Commons, delivered by Captain Richard Lovelace, for which service, the Captain was committed Prisoner to the Gate-House, and Sir William Boteler to [Page] the Fleet, from whence after seven Weeks close Imprisonment, no Impeachment in all that time brought in against him, many Petitions being delivered and read in the House for his inlargement, he was at last upon bail of 20000 l. remitted to his house in London, to attend de Die in Diem, the pleasure of the House. And having thus danced attendance Six weeks more, at last he obtained leave for his health sake to go to his own house in Kent, called Barrhams Place in Teston, and from thence, for recovery of his health much impaired by long Imprisonment, he visited the Wells near Tunbridg [...], leaving with his Servants both in London and in the Country a strict charge as of his house, so to give him speedy information, if Serjeant Hunt should summon him to make his appearance: while Sir William Boteler remained thus a Prisoner to the House, resolving to yield obedience according to the condition of his Bond, 500 Horse and Dragoons under the command of Colonel Edwine Sandes, Sir John Seaton, and Dowglas, accompanied by several Gentlemen his Neighbours, as Sir William Brookes, Sir Michael Lucy, Mr. Richard Lea Burgess for Rochester, Mr. Blunt, and others, on the 24. of August, between Eight and Nine of the clock at night, beset his house: The Servants were within and the doors shut, only William Nelson, Sir William's Groom comming from the Stables, pressed through the midst of them to the Hall door, where Sandes and Seaton stood: They demand of him whether he belonged to Sir William, who answering that he did, Thou Rogue, saies Sandes, open the door; the poor Groom tried, but could not, but assured them that there should be no resistance made: and withal told them that his Master [Page] was at the Wells, but had left order to give them the best welcome the house could afford, and upon notice given would be ready (if they had such Order) to render himself up to the House of Commons, whose Prisoner he acknowledged himself to be: and withal offered that if they would have patience but while he went to the back door, the house should open unto them. This so reasonable an answer could not satisfie unreasonable men, who it seems were resolved to force the door, rather than have it opened, to give a peaceable admittance: Therefore they revile the Groom, call him Rogue, and threaten to kill him, not because he would not, but because he could not give them entrance. And to make good their threats, Sandes and Seaton commanded some of their Rout to hold him up against his Masters Hall door, and bad some twelve or more Dragooners to give fire on him, which was done accordingly: on the word given, they that held him withdrew, not trusting to the undistinguishing bullet, and presently the Groom fell down, by which means he escaped the fury of the shot, which took effect only on the door, and beat it down. The entrance that was offered, thus forced, the house is instantly filled by the Commanders, the Gentlemen their abettors and the Soldiers. The first man they meet with is Benj. Wiand, Sir William's Steward, who being demanded by Sandes where his Master was, returned answer, the same in effect which before they received from the Groom: Sandes was as courteous to the Steward as to the Groom, calls him Rogue, and tells him that he would have his Master alive or dead, commands him to bring him to the Chamber where Sir William did lodge, their drawn Swords and Musquets bent [Page] upon him extort obedience. Being brought into the Bed-chamber, Sandes demands whether there were no private Outlet or Closet? to lay all naked before him, the Steward folds back the Hangings, by which means the Colonel discovers a Close-stool, which at worst could not be so loathsom, as he was before he died: This sight inraged him, not only to revile the Steward, calling him Rogue, but cruelly to beat him with his Pole-ax; and having thus prepared him, he commands him upon no less pain than the loss of his life, to reveal his Masters Plate and Mony; and to inforce the discovery from him, with drawn Swords they prick him, and force him from one Room to another. At last being come to the Dining Chamber, Colonel Sandes causes a dozen of Candles to be lighted, and so to be held to and under the Stewards hands, and lighted Match to be applied between his fingers, for the space of a quarter of an hour, Sandes himself all the while looking on, commanded both Candles and Match to be renewed, as often as either went out, or burnt dull. In this Torment they continued the poor soul, until both his hands were shamefully burnt, not being able to relieve himself by that discovery for which they tortured him. Nor was that barbarous cruelty thus practised on the Steward only, from him they descend to the rest of the Servants, whom they prick with their Swords, beat with their Pole-axes to the indangering their lives, and all this to extort a Confession where their Masters Mony and Plate were: but when this inhumanity produced not the effect they looked for, they broke up every door, plundered every Trunk and Chest, and examined every dark place, from the Closet and Cabinet, to the Powdering-Tub and Oven. Nay the [Page] Cellar escaped not their fury; What they could not drink, either Wine or Beer, they let out and poured upon the ground. In this search they found and carried away five hundred pounds in money, and some store of Arms. And because the great adventures of Valiant Knights must not be forgotten, To the Eternal fame of Sir William Brookes we are to tell you, that when the Ladies Closet was broken open, besides the Charitable Provisions of Medicinal Syrupes and Salves for the poor and the needy Neighbours, all which were trampled under foot and spoiled, There were some hospitable Provisions for entertainments, as divers sorts of Preserves and other Sweet-meats, and in these this doughty Knight had his finger as deep as any, except a common Soldier, who seeing him feed greedily on a Gally-pot, and presuming his judgment to be good in the choice, (for the Proverb is true which end soever you put formost, A liquorish tail hath a liquorish tooth,) rudely thrust his whole fist all begrimed and besmeared in blood and powder, into the pot with him: which as it turned his worships stomach for the time, so it may serve as a sure Prognostick, That if these Distractions go on, where the Gentleman hath his finger, the Clown will be sure to have his fist. But to leave him to his Sweet-meats, which perchance may have sour sawce, and return to the Colonel and his plundering Regiment. Being Masters of the House, they plundered and pillaged not only Sir William Boteler, but all his Servants, men and maids, not only their Chests, but their very pockets. News of this being brought to Sir William Boteler the next morning early by three of the Clock, and finding by their threats, that his life was in danger, he resolved [Page] to fly for protection to the King at Nottingham: In his way thither at Pinkeny Mowlton in Northamptonshire, he was seized on by the Country people, and by about 150 Horse conveyed first to Northampton, and from thence to London. About the beginning of September he was brought before the House of Commons, and there in a full House was examined twice; to whom he gave a full and clear satisfaction in every particular. And being unimpeached, the whole House being utterly unable to accuse him of any the least kind of offence or Delinquency, Sir William Boteler did then and there in the publick House make his Complaint of this intolerable oppression and injustice, charging by name before the House, Colonel Edwine Sandes, Sir John Seaton, Sir Michael Livesey, Mr. Richard Lea, who then was present sitting in the House, and Sir William Brookes with Felony and Burglary, for breaking up his house in the night, and stealing and carrying away his Mony and Goods: and implored the Justice of the House against them. And now behold their great zeal of Justice, their care of the Subjects Property, and the freedom of their persons from illegal Imprisonment, instead of harkening to his just complaint, and relieving him in his losses, to keep Magna Charta inviolable, they Remand Sir William Boteler again Prisoner to the Gate-house, where he remained for six months longer: at last being certainly informed, that it was really intended if not ordered by the House to send him to Ipswitch, he indeavoured and effected an escape from the Gate-house, and got safe to Oxford, where he attested all these particulars.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
II.

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Sir Hen. Audley's house Plundered: Variety of Insolencies committed by the Rabble of Essex, upon M. Laud, M. Honifold, M. Stevens, and M. Symmons, Ministers. The Countess of Rivers Plundered to the value of 100000. Pounds, &c.

THe last weeks Mercurius told you of the Plundring of Sir John Lucas his House in Essex and the barbarous Insolencies practised on him and his. The Tumult was raised and made confident by Success, they go on in Triumph, and like a violent Torrent swelling above its Channel, carry all before them, and fearing no opposition, they divided themselves into several Companies, every place where they come tasts of their Fury and Madness: Some go to Sir Henry Audly's at Beerechurch, whose house they plundred of its Furniture, and his Grounds and Pastures of his Cattle.

Others go to M. Erasmus Laud, a poor Minister of Little Try, whose very name with these men was a Crime and reason enough to expose him to their Rage: Guilty he was of nothing but a good and honest Name, yet they spoil him of his Goods, drive away his Cattle, rob of 20 l. in Monies, his own and his Wives Cloaths, all except those upon their backs: M. Laud knowing divers of them, and knowing them to be Colchester Men, repaired thither to the Mayor for Justice, and by chance found him well circumstanced for an action [Page] an action of that nature, both in respect of Place and Company, for he found him at the Moote-Hall, and the Aldermen his Brethren with him: Being come thither, he was so far from finding what he sought for, Justice, that he was not permitted to make his complaint, M. Cole, one of the Aldermen telling him openly, that they knew him and his Cause, he was the Minister of Try that was Plundred the day before, but they had other Business in hand and he must be gone, for they could not hear him.

Others of them went to M. Honifold, a Batchelor in Divinity, and near 70 years of age, dwelling in Colchester, there they rifle his House of all its Furniture, take away his Bonds, Bills, and Evidences, leave not a Shelf behind them, nor a Pin to hang a Hat on. The good old Man, thinking that Spoil and Robbery had been as punishable now as when he was a young Man, and not knowing that the pretending defenders of the Law had banished all Law out of the Kingdom, went to crave the Mayors assistance, to restore his Goods and punish the Offenders. Alderman Cole, the Fulk of Colchester being present, told him, that he wondred he would offer to come abroad being a Man so much hated, and so rated him away. In his return, a multitude of Boys and rude People throng about him, and prosecute him through the streets with Exclamations and Outcries: Nor do they stay here, their hands second their tongues, throwing stones and dirt at him. So little did either the hoary Head and venerable old Age, or the priviledg of his sacred Function afford him protection from the inraged multitude: Many see him, some pity him, but none dare own him or take him into [Page] protection, lest they should divert this swelling tide of popular fury from the good old Man, and draw it on themselves; at last bowels of compassion yearn on him, a Kinsman of his emboldened, what by the urgency of Nature, and the constraint of Charity, opens his doors to afford him shelter from this storm, but all in vain; like so many Bears robbed of their Whelps they double their rage, the multitude threaten to pull down the house unless the prey be delivered up unto them: The good old Man seeing the inexorableness of his persecutors, to make a full return of the kindness which he found, resolves rather to expose his own Person as the subject of their fury, than his Kinsmans house: and so he did, for out he goes unto them, and now having retrieved the Game, they pursue him with a high advanced din and confused clamour: At last when all other means to escape their fury failed, he made a voluntary captivity his safety, and took the Common Gaol for his Sanctuary.

Having thus thrown Master Honifold into Prison, not so much the Ignominy of the place where they had lodged him, or saciety of contempt of Gods Minister which they had cast upon him, as the want of more day-light, sets an end to this days Frenzie. They part for the present, but resolve to meet next morning; and so they do, a day or two are too scanty to act their boundless malice. Being met, their next plundering expedition is to the Countess of Rivers house at S. Osyth, a rich prize: There they enter the House, and being entred, they pull down, cut in pieces, and carry away her costly Hangings, Beds, Couches, Chairs, and the whole Furniture of her House, rob her of her [Page] Plate and Monies: They tear down her Wainscot, Leads, and Windows, they leave not a Door, nor so much as a Bar of a Window behind them. The Countess with her Family, forewarned of their intentions to come thither, made an escape, and retired to her House at Melford in Suffolk: Thither within a day or two they pursue her, Essex is too narrow to bound the madness of the Essex Schismaticks; in Suffolk they meet with some that are as mad as themselves: Few Counties (the more is the pity) but can yield Companions in such Outrages. From thence she hardly escapes with her life: she abandons her House, and leaves it to the mercy of these new ministers of new Justice, who not only rifle the House, but make strict search for her Person. And that you may guess what spiritual men they were, and likewise in what danger this Honourable Person was in, they express themselves in this rude unchristian language, That if they found her, they would try what flesh she had. From whence she fled to St. Edmunds-Bury, where the Gates were shut against her an hour at least; at length she was suffered to lodge there that night, and next day with a strong Guard she was conveyed out of Town, and so keeping her self as private as she could, made an escape to London. Her losses at both her Houses, were valued at an Hundred thousand pounds at least, though some that knew the rich Furniture that adorned both, affirm it to be no less than an Hundred and fifty thousand pounds, besides her Parks in both places were utterly spoiled. One of these Plunderers, whose name was Bowyer, was apprehended in London selling some of these Goods in the very act, and for this committed to Newgate as a Felon, two of the [Page] Countes's Servants entring into Recognizance to give in Evidence against him for the King, but upon his Petition to the House of Commons, it was ordered he should be discharged without paying any Fees, which was done accordingly. And 'twas but an oversight that his prosecutors had not been laid in his place, and publick thanks decreed him for his zeal to the Cause.

Mr. Stevens, Parson of South-Hamfield in Essex, hearing that the Plunderers of that County were coming on him, took Horse and fled, and so saved both himself and his Horse, for he knew that both were sought after. The Father being fled, the Children left to their own providence, bethink how to secure those little pieces of Plate which each had received from the bounty of their Godfathers and Godmothers; neither time nor acquaintance could give them latitude of much choice where to hide it, and thinking any place safer than their own House, they run to a poor Woman their Neighbour, and there with her they deposite their whole Treasure. When the Plunderers came and found that the Birds were flown, having intelligence, or as some say, but suspecting that the poor Womans house might hide Mr. Stevens his Goods, they go to her House and demand them: The Woman denies that she hath any of Mr. Stevens his Goods: hereupon one of the Plunderers strikes her on the head with a Club with such violence, that her Brains came out at her Nostrils. The poor Woman being thus murthered, the bloody Murtherers insult over her, and say, that the just hand of God was upon her, for lying against her knowledg, and denying those parcels of Mr. Stevens his Goods that were in her possession: so usual a [Page] thing it is with these men to blaspheme God, and intitle him to all those wickednesses which they commit on others.

Mr. Edward Symmons, Parson of Rayne in Essex, in the Months of June and July, 1642, Preached against the sin of Rebellion and Disobedience, and against traducing the King, slandering the footsteps of Gods Anointed, and refused to promote the Civil-War (then begun) by stirring up the People to contribute Money, Plate, and Horses to the maintenance of so unnatural, so destructive a Division, as most of the Ministers of those parts did. This as it was more remarkable in him, so it was more heinously taken from him, in regard of his former intimate acquaintance with Mr. Stephen Marshal, Parson of Finchingfield in Essex, the great Incendiary of this unhappy War, and had given him the right hand of Fellowship: Hereupon he was sent for to the House of Commons by a Pursevant, and was told, That he being an Honest Man (but of a different judgment from the Sence and Vote of the House) did more prejudice to the good Cause in hand, than a hundred Knaves, and therefore would suffer accordingly: Which saying since that time, hath been plentifully made good, and verified in many particular Oppressions and Sufferings, unjustly inflicted on him and his whole Family.

First, He was Imprisoned and most illegally deprived of his Liberty, for no other cause, but because he would not, contrary to the dictate of Religion, and his own Conscience, countenance and promote an accursed Rebellion against his gracious Sovereign.

Secondly, He was referr'd after to the Committee for Scandalous Ministers, thereby to blast his [Page] Credit and Reputation in his Ministery: a most diabolical and divelish Course, and a work of him who is the accuser of the Brethren, to defame honest Orthodox Ministers with the odious name of Scandalous and Malignants, though made so neither by error in Doctrin, Wickedness of life, or Debauchness of conversation, but by the malignity of a Vote, knowing, that by this means, such Ministers doctrines and Testimonies will be of little or no credit afterward with the vulgar: for had it been Scandal in a true and proper sense, which they indeavoured to take away out of the Church, they would never have brought over his head, so scandalous, so infamous a man to be Lecturer in his Cure as they did: for to the wounding of Mr. Simmons his Soul, and the indangering the Souls of his Parishoners, one Lemuel Tuke is appointed Lecturer in Master Simmons his Church, a man by education a Weaver, and that had not so much as saluted either University, yet while men slept he intruded into a Cure of Souls in Nottinghamshire, from which ever since [...] the Parliament began he hath been a Nonresident: for not long after the sitting of this Parliament, his Parishoners framed a Bill against him to the Lower House, Articling against him, not only as negligent, but insufficient in his calling: Nay they accuse him of no less than Barretry and Battery, Drunkenness and Whordom, and some such other sins, which in the judgment of all honest men, make a man truly and properly scandalous: yet this man thus Articled against to the House of Commons as Scandalous, is thought worthy to be substituted as a Coadjutor in Mr. Simmons his Cure, who only was voted Scandalous, because not Rebellious: so that all the World may judge what it is to be scandalous [Page] in this new sense, To honour the King, and to live in obedience to the established orders of the Church.

Thirdly, having preached that it was unlawful to take up Arms against the King, and contrary to the Doctrine of the Scriptures to contribute to a War against him, in opposition to Lemuel Tuke, who laboured to poison his People with Sedition and Rebellion, affirming openly, that in some Cases it was lawful not only to Resist, but (which I tremble to relate) to kill the King; instancing in the example of Athaliah, 2 King. 11. yet the said Tuke is countenanced and encouraged, whereas Master Simmons for asserting the Truth, was summoned before the Committee, there to answer as a Delinquent: who was so far from a Retractation, that he justified the Doctrine: which he did so fully, that one of the Committee was convicted of it, yet as he himself did, so he would have Master Simmons to withold that Truth in unrighteousness: for Sir Thomas Barrington (who was the man) confessed that it was a Truth and a Divine Truth, yet not fit to be preached at all times, no not by those that were intrusted with it by God himself, no though it might be in some danger of Impeachment. At last being charged to preach no more such Doctrine, and putting in bail, by the Committee he is permitted to return to his charge. But behold what it is to be voted a Delinquent, or a scandalous Minister by the Committee; it is to be put out of the protection of the Law, and exposed to the fury of the people: for on his return Oath is made before a Justice of Peace, that at Halstead in Essex it was concluded that an hundred men from Cogshall and Colchester side (some of that Crew that [Page] plundered Sir John Lucas his house) should suddenly surprize Mr. Simmons in his house, Plunder his goods, and cut off his person as one not fit to live, because he was (as they said) against the Parliament: But by the good providence of God this Conspiracy was discovered and prevented.

Fourthly, they oppressed him in his State, for after his return home, seeing the necessity of opposing that inundation of wickedness which was overflowing his Charge, and pressed earnestly in conscience according to his duty and place, to labour to undermine that throne of Satan which by the Luxation of the nerves and sinews of Government was like to be set up both there and in all parts of the Kingdom, he bent himself in his Sermon chiefly against the prevailing sins of the time, as Lying and Slandering, Rebellion and Treason, Pride and Oppression, Malice and Cruelty: yet these Sermons by his malicious enemies were interpreted little better than Libells against the Parliament: and upon Information given he was sent for up, three or four times, to the Lower House, to his very great charge and trouble, tho when he came to London he was never called to answer to the Accusation. And because he refused to contribute voluntarily to the maintenance of the Rebellion, his malicious Neighbours resolved to extort it from him in a seeming legal way: for in the rates made for the Royal Subsidy, they raised him far beyond his just proportion, and therefore in the first rate, they seized him twice as much, and in the second almost thrice as much as themselves; and contrived their business so cunningly, that they caused him to be sent for up to the Parliament while these things [Page] were in doing, and returned rates in to the Exchequer in his absence, that so he might not have the opportunity, by complaint of a just grievance, to relieve himself.

Lastly, having by most unjust vexations exhausted his Estate, and drained his purse: without hearing his defence indeed without further summoning him to appear, they sequester his Parsonage and Glebe, and Tyth, and put one Robert Atkins a stranger into Cure; and as they put his Livelyhood into a strangers hands, so they put his life into the power of his Enemies, who are authorized to apprehend him, and carry him Prisoner to Cambridg: but upon Intimation given, he withdrew himself, and leaving all to the mercy of his Enemies, was forced by flight to secure his Person.

And here by the way give me leave to observe one thing to the Courteous Reader, and it is the Reason which was alledged in the sequestration of Mr. Simmons his Parsonage, and indeed is generally used in all these sequestrations, and it is, For the better supply of an able and godly man in the said Church: I would they could tell us where we should find these two Epithites Able and Godly to meet in any one of those which they have substituted in the Revenues and imployments of those Orthodox Divines, which they have banished from their Cures and families: do but survey the new Plantations which they have made, and you will think that Jereboams Priests were risen again from the dead, the lowest and basest of the People: for while honest, learned, and conscientious men could not suffer themselves to be made the base instruments to corrupt and seduce the Ignorant [Page] multitudes to comply with the reasonable practices of the heads of this Rebellion, it was necessary to seek out and invite such of the Clergy into their Party, whom either want of Merit, or want of Honesty, had left destitute of Means; and when Orthodox Men are displaced or driven away, and such Trencher Chaplains put in their places, we may easily guess what work is in hand, even the alteration of the Government: For while they are so earnest both to Preach and Print that other Forms of Government are God's Ordinance as well as Monarchy, they will in time go on to undervalue Monarchy in comparison of the rest: But to leave my Diversion, and to return to Mr. Simmons.

His Living Sequestrated, and his Person exposed to the licence of his veriest Enemies, but he withdrawing himself from this Storm, and being out of their reach, they reek their malice on his poor Wife and Children, and his aged Father: They threaten to beat down the House about their Ears, unless they would yield possession to Mr. Atkins, His Father, for cutting down three Trees on the Glebe for necessary uses, and an honest Parishoner for loving Mr. Simmons, and plowing his Land, were most maliciously handled, and sent for up before the Committee in the Exchequer Chamber: And when after all these Threats and Oppressions they still keep possession of the Parsonage House, having no place else wherein to put their Heads, at last, May the 15, Watt Tyler, I mean Watt Long, whom some call Colonel Long, came with some Troops of Horse, and cast his whole Family out of Doors, his aged Father, his Wife and three Children, the eldest but seven years old, and his [Page] Servants; and so gave possession of the House to Mr. Atkins.

He that desires to be better satisfied concerning this faithful Minister of God, and what raised this Persecution against him, let him have recourse to that Learned and Orthodox Book of his lately Published, called, A Loyal Subjects Belief, worthy every Mans reading, wherein he shall see a solid and satisfactory Answer to all those Arguments divulged by way of a Letter by Stephen Marshal, the great Patriarch of Rebellion, whereby he indeavours to maintain the Lawfulness of this present War against the King: In which Letter you may see the true Character of a Cauterized Schismatick, for as if he were afraid the World should not think him sealed up to a Reprobate sense, and past all grace of Repentance; he tells us that as soon as he hath recovered his Health (much impaired by a hot eager prosecution of this Rebellion) he intends to return (with the Dog to his Vomit) to sacrifice his strength to the service of the Cause and his Excellency, in all which, while he labours to free himself from the imputation of Madness, and apologizeth against a prevailing Report, that the horror of his guilt had distracted him, he proves himself to be madder than ever the World took him.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
III.

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The great increase of Brownists and Anabaptists at Chelmsford of late years. Their abuse of the Church, and Doctor Michelson Parson there. Their Tenets in matters of Religion. Master Cornelius a Minister Plundered, &c.

ESSEX is a deep Country, and though we have Travelled almost two Weeks in it, yet we cannot get out: We are now at Chelmsford, which is the Shire-twon, and hath in it two thousand Communicants; all these are Parishioners of one and the same Church, for there is but one Church in this great Town, whereof at this time Doctor Michelson is Parson, an able and godly Man. Before this Parliament was called, of this numerous Congregation there was not one to be named, Man or Woman, that boggled at the Common-Prayers, or refused to receive the Sacramant kneeling, the posture which the Church of England (walking in the foot-steps of venerable Antiquity) hath by Act of Parliament injoyned all those which account it their happiness to be called her Children. But since this magnified Reformation was set on foot, this Town (as indeed most Corporations, as we find by experience, are Nur [...]eries of Faction and Rebellion) is so filled with Sectaries, especially Brownists and Anabaptists, that a third part of the People refuse to communicate in the Church-Lyturgie, and half refuse to receive [Page] the blessed Sacrament, unless they may receive it in what posture they please to take it. They have amongst them two sorts of Anabaptists; the one they call the Old Men, or Aspersi, because they were but Sprinkled: The other they call the New Men, or the Immersi, because they were overwhelmed in their Rebaptization.

In August, 1641. there was an Order published by the House of Commons, (indeed by some leaders in a Committee) for the taking away all Scandalous Pictures out of Churches, in which there was more intended by the Authors than at first their Instruments understood, until instructed by private information how far the People were to inlarge the meaning. When this Order came forth, there was standing in the Chancel a goodly fair Window at the East end, untouched from the first foundation of the Church, in which was painted the History of Christ, from his Conception to his Ascension: And to perpetuate the memory of the Benefactors, in the vacant places there were the Eschochions and Arms of the ancient Nobility and Gentry, who had contributed to the building and beautifying that fair structure. In obedience to the Order, the Church-wardens took down the Pictures of the blessed Virgin, and of Christ on the Cross, and supplied the places with white Glass. But the Sectaries who understood the sense of that Order better than the Church-Wardens, did rest very ill satisfied with this partial imperfect Reformation: That therefore they might, according to the phrase of the Times, make a through Reformation, on the Fifth of November in the Evening, all the Sectaries assemble together, and in a Riotous manner with long Poles and Stones, beat down and deface the whole Window.

[Page]This exercise of an usurped power in the People without the lawful Magistrate, like that which Andreas Corolostadius put in practice in the Reformation under Luther, and was sharply condemned by him; and indeed gave the unhappy occasion to that Schism, which is hardly made up at this day; stirred the spirit of the Doctor to inveigh, the next Lords Day, against popular tumultuous Reformations, though to the better: As being vitiated, First, By the defect of lawful Authority, which cannot reside in the People. Secondly, In the intemperancy of the prosecution, who commonly cast out one Devil by another; abolishing Superstition with Sedition. This so incensed the Sectaries thus to be opposed in their furious Zeal, that they threatned the Doctor to ruine him, if he preached any more on that subject: And to let him see how welcome such Doctrine was unto them, there was a Carbine discharged at a Window of that room where the Doctors usual abode was, the Bullet passed through the place, and in all probability had slain him, had not the good Providence of God (without which a Sparrow falls not to the ground) diverted him unexspectedly from a business before known to be appointed for that place and hour. This design frustrated, about a fornight after, one of these new Proselytes, a young Clothier, with others possessed with the same frenzy, came into the Church immediately after Divine Service was ended, laid violent hands upon the Doctor, took him by the Throat, and would have torn his Surpl [...] off his Back, and were so so inraged, that had not some of his honest peaceable Parishoners come to his rescue, they had in all probability endangered his Life: But whom they [Page] could not wound with their hands, they cut with their tongues, as with a sharp Razor: They revile him and call him Baals Priest, and Popish Priest, for wearing the Rags of Rome; nay, they cry out against him as a perjured Person, that had violated his faith engaged in the Protestation, to abolish Popery, of which (in their opinion) wearing the Surpless was a part. Many attempts they made upon the Doctor and his Curate, affronting them, both in officiating Divine Service, and administration of the Sacraments; but they being countenanced by a considerable part in the Town, the Sectaries could not effect what they desired, until at last in the Months of June, July, and August, 1642. they were animated by the coming of the Forces raised in Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk: For as they raised each Company it was sent to Chelmsford, the common Rendezvouz, and there staied until they were made up three hundred, or four hundred, and so sent to London. In all the time of their stay there, the Doctor lay at the mercy of the Soldiers, who egg'd on by the Brownists and Anabaptists of the Town, used his House as their Quarter, consumed his provisions for his Family, and commanded there as Lords. Amongst many Outrages committed by the Soldiers, Three are most remarkable.

First, Upon a Fast Day, they send a Command to the Doctor, that he should not pray for the Bishops, nor so much as make mention of them in his Lips, nor use the Book of Common-Prayer; if he did, they threaten to pull him out of the Pulpit, and tear him in pieces: The Doctor not intimidated by their Threat, gives order to his Curate to read the Prayers appointed; which accordingly he [Page] did. The Soldiers right bred, being Volunteers of Colchester and Ipswich, and rightly designed too, for my Lord Sayes's own Regiment, fit Soldiers for such a Leader, irreverently fit with their Hats on, make a noise to drown the Curates voice, nay, they call to him to come out of his Calves Coope, meaning the Reading-Desk, and make an end of his Pottage: The Curate remembring that advice of our Saviour, Not to cast Pearls before Swine, nor holy things to Dogs, gives over reading, unwilling to expose the holy Worship of God to so foul Contempt and Scorn. Having thus silenced the Curate, their Commanders looking on, they violently take the Sacred Bible to tear it, but being reproved for it by Sergeant Major Bamfeild then present, they exchange the Bible for the Book of Common-Prayer: Having it in their power, in solemn Triumph they carry it into the Streets, and that which holy Martyrs inspired by the Holy Ghost composed, and sealed the truth and sanctity of it with their dearest Blood, these Savage Miscreants rent in pieces: Some of the leaves they tread under feet, some they cast into the Kennel, some they pissed upon, and some they fixed on the end of their Clubs and Cudgels, and in a Triumphant manner marched with them up and down the Town.

Secondly, About a Week after when the Doctor was in the Chancel, there to Interr the Corps of a Gentleman lately deceased, these Soldiers rushed into the place with an intent to bury the quick with the dead, to put the Doctor into the same Grave, which they had done (for no other reason but because he used the Form prescribed by the [Page] Church at burial of the Dead) had he not been powerfully rescued by his Parishoners.

Lastly, When the glad Tydings were brought to Chelmsford, that Episcopacy was voted down by the House of Commons, all usual expressions of an exulting joy were used; amongst the rest, Bonfires were kindled in every street, but most of the Fuel was violently taken from the Doctor's Wood-yard. And now the pile raised and the fire kindled, they want nothing but a Sacrifice, this they resolve shall be the Doctor himself: To this purpose, the Separatists of the Town, assisted by two Companies of Soldiers, in the Evening assault him in his House, seise upon his Person, and are ready to carry him to the Fire, there to throw him headlong into the midst of it: But some of his Friends having information of the design, go and acquaint the Commanders with the bloody intentions of their Souldiers, who presently take a Guard and rescue the Doctor out of their power, as soon as ever they had seized on him.

Since that oppressed and worried every day by these ravenous Wolves, he was forced to forsake his Charge (as many other godly Ministers are) and to fly for his Life; leaving his Wife and eight Children to the mercy of the Rebels, who have deprived his Family of all their Livelihood, and exposed them to extream want: Nay, they have several times broken violently into his House under pretence to search for him, and have held Pistols cocked, and Swords drawn, at the Breasts of his Children and Servants, charging them upon their Lives, to reveal where the Doctor was.

It was lately certified from thence, by a chief Member of that Town, and no friend of the Doctors, [Page] that he finds the case there to be far worse than he expected; for while they hoped that the power being (Traiterously) wrested out of the King's hand, they should have shared it amongst themselves, they find that either the power is fallen into their hands that are far beneath them, or else hath raised these men up far above them, for as he writes, The Town is governed by a Tinker, two Coblers, two Taylors, two Pedlers, &c.

And that the World may see what a Systeme of Divinity these Coblers and Taylors are like in time to stitch together, and what Principles they intend to Rule by, I shall here set down certain preparatory prelusory Propositions which they usually Preach (for Preach they do) to their infatuated Disciples, and by them are received as the Divine Oracles of God: And you shall have them in their own Terms, viz.

First, That Kings are the Burdens and Plagues of those People or Nations over which they Govern.

Secondly, That the relation of Master and Servant hath no ground or warrant in the New Testament, but rather the contrary: For there we read, In Christ Jesus there is neither bond nor free, and, we are all one in Christ.

Thirdly, That the Honours and Titles of Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts, Lords, Knights and Gentlemen, are but Ethnical and Heathenish distinctions amongst Christians.

Fourthly, That one man should have a Thousand Pounds a Year, and another not one Pound, perhaps not so much, but must live by the sweat of his Brows, and must Labour before he eat, hath no ground, neither in Nature or in Scripture.

[Page]Fifthly, That the Common People heretofore kept under Blindness and Ignorance, have a long time yielded themselves Sorvants, nay, Slaves to the Nobility and Gentry: But God hath now opened their Eyes, and discovered unto them their Christian Liberty: And that therefore it is now fit that the Nobility and Gentry should serve their Servants, or at least Work for their own Maintenance; and if they will not Work, they ought not to Eat.

Sixthly, That Learning hath always been an enemy to the Gospel, and that it were a happy thing if there were no Universities, and all Books burnt, except the Bible.

Seventhly, That any man whom God hath (as they call it) Gifted, may be chosen by the Congregation for their Pastor: And that Imposition of Hands by the Bishop and Presbytery, are meer Popish Innovations.

What more additions to these monstrous Opinions, the wildness of such mens Brains, assisted by the cunning of the Devil, and incouraged by the usurped power of these Times may produce, we must leave to the discovery of Time. In the interim (good Reader) stand amazed, and wonder at this excellent pattern of the intended blessed Reformation. Had not God, to prepare us for destruction, deprived us of Knowledg, had he not closed our Eyes that we should not see, and hardned our Hearts that we should not understand, were we not a people as the Prophet speaks, forsaken and meted out for destruction, it could not be, but that Mankind would rise up against this Generation of Vipers, and their Protectors, and sweep them away, to use the Metaphor of the Holy Ghost, with the beesom of destruction, who if a while connived [Page] at, will prove Moths fretting to the destruction both of Church and State: For in this Model, you may see the Babel which is now in building, and the budding forth of those Brambles, out of which (if not timely quenched) will come forth a Fire (as it is in Jothams Parable) which will devour the Cedars of Lebanon.

The same godly Reformers, which plundred Master Laud, before mentioned, came afterwards to Master Cornelius, Parson of Peldon, in the same County of Essex, whom they rob of all his goods, within doors and without: They spared not his Library, nor his Wives Child-bed Linnen, though she was great with Child, and in danger by the fright she took at their coming, to have occasion to make use of them before her due time, they plunder him to the value of Four hundred pounds, a very great sum in a poor Clergy-mans purse, especially as these Times go. For relief of his Loss, he sends his Servant to the Mayor of Colchester (a famous Justiciary, as you may remember the last Week, in the relation of Mr. Laud, and Mr. Honifields Cases) having made his Complaint, and accused the plunderers by name, the Mayor knew that some body deserved Commitment, but had the ill luck to be mistaken in the person, and therefore instead of the plunderers, he Commits Master Cornelius his man to the Gaol, where he is lodged for a Malignant, until his Master (plundred of his Man too) came and put in Bail, that his Servant should be forth-coming, to answer to all Objections the next Sessions. Master Cornelius knowing that he should in vain expect Justice where he found Oppression, from the Mayor goes to Mr. Gardner, a Justice of Peace not far off, who [Page] grants his Warrant for apprehension of the parties: Who being apprehended (though for Felony) put in Bail to answer the next Sessions. When the time came, Mr. Cornelius indicts these plunderers, the Bill was found by the Grand-Jury upon the evidence of three or four Witnesses, who were Spectators, and saw them carry away the Goods: Nay, the prisoners at the Bar not only confessed the Fact in their Examination before the Justice, when they were first apprehended, but in the face of the Court, and presence of the Jurors: Yet the Petty-Jury, contrary to Reason and their own Consciences, found the Indictment against the King. The Court wondring at so wilful blindness, cause the Statute to be read, lay open the Evidence, and remand them back, not doubting but comparing the Fact with the Law, the Result would be a Verdict for the King: They persist in their Obstinacy, and return Ignoramus. Being asked by the Bench, how they could go against so clear Evidence? They answered in general, Because they did not think PLUNDERING (a new name for an old Theft) to be Felony by the Law: But being beaten out of this starting hole, though ten are Convicted, yet two stand out, and give this reason, that they were a Malignants Goods, and the Parliament had given power to plunder such: But when it was replied, That no such Order was produced, nor was it pleaded by the Prisoners at the Bar; they then professed openly, that these men arraigned at the Bar were honest men, that they had an Intent to do them favour, and they would do it. Hereupon the Bench justly incensed against so wilful perjury, binds over the Jurors to answer it the next Assizes: And withal, order [Page] Mr. Cornelius to Indict these plunderers again upon another Felony; he obeys their command, and the Grand-Jury find it to be Billa vera: But when the Under-Sheriff went out to Impanel a Jury to try the prisoners, he could find none but Separatists, who attended there that day purposely to be of the Jury, and professed openly, that they staied there to save the prisoners. Happy men these, that may commit Murthers, Robberies, and Thefts, and yet fear no Condemnation, neither at the Tribunal of God or Man. It is an usual doctrine of this Sect, That God sees no sin in his Children, (for that name they will ingross to themselves, though no men less deserve it) and it seems they are resolved to see no sin one in another. It was a wild saying of a great Patriarch of theirs, That the Children of God were Heteroclites, because God did often save them, even contrary to his own Rules. I know not how true they will find this assertion at the Great Day, when Murther shall be Murther, and Theft Theft, and God that Righteous Judg, who without respect of persons, shall render to every man according to his deeds, yet here on Earth, if these men may judg one another, they may commit what wickedness they list, and let the Rains loose to all kinds of Villany, and yet be saved contrary to all the Rules of Law and Justice.

Mr. Archer, Lecturer at the same place, in his Sermon encouraged the people to take up Arms against the King, but it may be objected, says he, that the Gentry gainsay this Doctrine, and the Learned utterly disclaim it as Erroneous and Damnable; but what though the Gentry and Learned (as you call them) dissent, yet let it not Stagger [Page] your belief of this undoubted Truth: For I tell you that in my Conscience you may do it, and in doing it you are so far from sinning, that you will do that which is acceptable to God. Be liberal therefore in contributing to this holy War, and sending forth men to fight this Battel of the Lord. This man in his Prayers and Sermons, constantly calls the Parliament, The Lords Anointed, but with what Oyl it is not yet determinated: I am sure by experience, we find that it is not Oyl of Gladness.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
IV.

Sir Rich. Minshul's House in Buckinghamshire, plundered by the Lord Brooks command. The Kings Picture abused. A House burnt near Hounslow by the Lord Wharton's Souldiers. Mr. Wiborow, and Mr. Thorn, the one a Minister in Essex, the other in Bedfordshire, the first ill-intreated on the Lords Day by the Lord S. John's Troopers, the other unjustly committed to Prison for a private revenge.

ON Monday, the 15 of August, 1642. Sir Richard Mynshul of Bourton, in the County of Buckingham Knight, furnished with ten Horse and Arms, began his journey into the North to wait upon the King, as in the duty of a Servant and Subject he was bound. This being discovered (for they have spies in every corner) to the Lord Brook, Sir Peter Temple, Sir Rich. Ingoldsby, Master Goodwine, and others then at Aylesbury, leaders of an Army raised against his Majesty. It fell under [Page] consideration to make Sir Richard Mynshul a precedent to deter others from serving the King, since it was not to be done but by exposing their persons to Imprisonment, and their Estates to Plundering, for the Result of that deliberation was, that since they could not secure his person, they would seise on his Estate. Nor do they stay long before they put the sentence in execution: For on Thursday the 18 of Aug. the Lord Brook commanding a great part of the Army, came to Sir Richard's House, and in case he should find Resistance, they bring divers pieces of Ordnance to batter the House: but being come they find no opposition. The first company that enters the House were under the command of one Captain Jones, who either detesting the Oppression, or yet not fleshed in the sin, which but then found footing in this Kingdom, (for this was the first of this kind committed in Buckinghamshire, and the second in England) moderated the eagerness of the Soldiers sharp set on the prey, so that they gleaned but a little here and there; this moderation renders Captain Jones suspected for a Papist, both to the Lord Brook, and the rest of the Commanders: Nay, he is not only voiced for a Papist, but a Rumour is raised that he was Bribed into this Moderation, and had taken a reward to spare Sir Richard's Goods: The Captain blasted with these reports, the jealousie of him grew so high that they threaten to kill him: To avoid the fury of the Soldiers he is fain to withdraw himself, nor durst he appear before a Servant of Sir Richards had made Oath, that he was Innocent of any such Contract. And now the Lord Brook and his Company being masters of the House, the first thing on which they express their rage is the Kings [Page] Picture, which with their Swords they most traiterously pierce through in divers places: And not content to wound him in that representation, (whose person God miraculously hath, and we hope will preserve from them) they whet their Tongues against their Sovereign, using Traiterous and scornful Language against him: By all which it is more than manifest to all the World, what they would do to the Substance, if they had him in their power, that express such malice on his shadow: Having at first entrance violated their Loyalty to their King (according to his Majesties frequent predictions) their fellow Subjects cannot expect Justice at their hands: Now all is lawful prize that comes to hand, Money, Plate, Jewels, many suits of rich Hangings, Linnen, Bedding, they plunder from the Cabinet to the Larder, and make clean work as they go, leaving no Booty for a second plunder. And though that House were but one, yet in that one they plundered three, Sir Richard having disrobed two Houses, one in Essex, the other in London, thinking to secure all in this third: While these things were in doing, the Lord Brook with other Commanders, commands the Wine-Seller to be broke up: But in a saucy imitation of greatness, they will not drink without a Taster, yet not being confident enough professedly to own Regal observances for prevention of danger, a pretence was made that the Wine was poisoned, and one of Sir Richard's Servants is compelled (a Pistol set to his Breast) to begin and lead the way, that if there were any danger, the experiment might be made in him; he having gained a cup of Wine by their dissembled State, they follow freely, and drink very liberally to the good success of their [Page] designs: without ever scrupling whether drinking so, did not come within the nature of a a Health. And indeed 'twas an oversight that Casuist Prin was not consulted in the Case, the Cup often gone round, at last some inspired with the Spirit of Wine, prophesied that Sir Richard's Treasure was buried in the Cellar, presently they fall to digging, and instead of Treasure, find a Mine of Bottles; they drink up the Wine, and in indignation break the Bottles: From hence to cool the Wine, they go to the Beer-Seller, and in both what they could not drink, they break the Vessels, and let run on the ground: After this they break open the Library, and the place where he kept his Evidences: They seise on all the Bills, Bonds, Deeds, Evidences, Writings, and Books, which they find whether Sir Richard's, or his Friends; some of these they take away with them, some they tear in pieces, some they bind in bundles, and make them serve instead of Fuel, both to heat Ovens, and to roast Meat for their Supper; and would by no means suffer any of them to be redeemed, though large sums of Money were offered for them: The House it self escapes not their fury, wanting Ladders to come at the Lead, they supply this defect with the Racks broken down from the Stables; they rip up the Lead and carry it away, they tear down the walls of the Houses with Spades and Mattocks, they dig up the lower Rooms, hoping there to find more Treasure: They break the Windows, Doors, Wainscot, Seelings, Glass, they take away all Iron Bars, Casements, Locks, Keys and Hinges: They break open his Wool-house and Barns, and empty all: They enter the Dove-house, and like Vermine destroy the Pidgeons; onely one of these Vermine [Page] falling from the Holes, brake his Back and died thereof: and because they could not carry away his House covertly they indeavour to fire it, to this purpose they leave Matches burning in the Mats, but were discovered. From his House they issue out into his Grounds; there they lay all common, they break up his Rales and Fences: Of his Sheep what they did not eat, they sold, Sheep worth 20 s. for 12 d. Lambs worth 10 s. for 6 d. and the reasons why the rates of their market were so low, were, first, they were a Malignant and a Traitors Goods (so they stiled Sir Richard.) Secondly, They were sold to their Brethren, and therefore must afford good Penniworths. The rest of the Stock they run their Swords or Pikes into most of them and spoiled them. Nor was Plunder the only thing they looked after, Blood is in their thoughts. First, They send a Troop of Horse to pursue Sir Richard, and threaten to cut him as small as Herbs to the Pot: They clap a strong Guard on Sir Richard's Lady, deny her a Bed to lie on, though the Neighbours earnestly intreated to kill them if they can find them: Who (poor Souls) affrighted with these barbarous Insolencies, fled into the Field, and hid themselves in growing Hemp, and there lay on the Ground almost 20 Hours, without Meat or any sustenance, so that what with fright and dampness of the Earth, some of them contracted dangerous Sicknesses, and hardly escaped with Life. The Terrour which fell upon the Country thereabout was so great, that the neighbouring Justice of Peace durst not grant his Warrant to search after any of Sir Richard's Goods, though earnestly intreated to it: And the Neighbours were so ill used and threatned, to extort confession [Page] from them where Sir Richard was, or where any of his Goods were conveyed, that some swooned for fear, some fell mad, and some died. Certain it is their carriage was so barbarous, that it inforced Mr. Jo. Crew, one of the Company, to profess his dislike, and to tell the Lord Brooks and the rest, That they being Law-makers should not be Law-breakers, nor make such precedents as would discover their intentions, and render them odious unto the Country: Since that, knowing Sir Richard to have put himself for preservation of his Life under his Majesties Protection, they have caused his Pond-heads to be digged down, and have destroyed all his Fish, they have cut down his Woods, and seised on all his Lands, or made them utterly unprofitable unto him, for they will not suffer any Bayliff or Servant of his to take any care of his Estate, but have often sent parties of Horse to seise on them, or kill them.

At a place called Kings-harbour near Hounslow-heath, three Soldiers, under the Command of the Lord Wharton, came into a House to drink, going away, they of the House demand Money for their Drink: So unexpected an affront did so incense the Soldiers, that one of them told his Companions he would shew them how they set Houses on fire in Ireland, and so put his Carbine into the Thatch and discharged it, set the House on fire and departed. The General ESSEX returning from London, came by as the House was on fire, complaint is made unto him, that the owner of the House was undone, but all in vain, his Excellency was not at leisure to do Justice.

The Countess of Rivers (who as you heard in the second Weeks Relation, was Plundered to the [Page] value of an Hundred thousand, or an Hundred and fifty thousand pounds) finding her abode here unsafe, having lost her Goods, and her Person in danger; to secure her self, resolved for a time to abandon her Country, and rather expose her self to the hazard of Travel, than commit her self to that protection which the contemned Laws now afford. To this purpose she obtained a Pass to go beyond Seas: While she was in preparing for her Voyage, Mr. Martin, Plunder-master General, he that so familiarly speaks Treason, and steals the King's Horses, or doth any thing, plunders the Countess of her Coach Horses, notwithstanding a Warrant from the Lords House to secure them: And when this Warrant was produced to stave off this Parliament Horse-taker, he replied, That if the Warrant had been from both Houses he would obey it, as coming from the highest authority in England, (sure this man was born with Treason in his Mouth) but since it came But from the Lords he did not value it. When this Warrant could not prevail, the Countess obtains a Warrant from the Earl of Essex, to have the Horses restored unto her again, but Mr. Martin to overbear all, procures an Order from the House of Commons to keep them. This Honourable Ladies Goods were seised on, though Licensed to pass by the Lords, and searched and allowed by the Custome-House.

At Pebmarsh, in the same County of Essex, on the Lords Day, divers of the Parliament Voluntiers came into the Church, while the Parson, Mr. Wiborow was in his Prayer before Sermon, and placed themselves near the Pulpit, and when he was in his Prayer, one of them struck divers times with his Staff against the Pulpit to interrupt him, and [Page] while he was in his Sermon, in contempt of the place where they were, and the sacred action in doing, they were almost as loud as the Preacher, to the great disturbance of the Congregation. No sooner was the Sermon ended, and the Parson come out of the Pulpit as far as the Reading-desk, but they lay violent hands upon him, rent his Clothes, threaten to pull him in pieces in the Church. With much intreaty they spare him there, and permit him to go into the Church-yard; he is no sooner come thither, but they assault him more violently than before: Mr. Wiborow seeing the Constable (who all this while stood a spectator of his hard usage) calls unto him, and charges him in the King's Name to keep the Kings Peace: At his request they did a little forbear him: But before he could get half ways Home, they assault him again, and demand the Book of Common-Prayer which he used in the Church, (That which was found by the Parish, being torn in pieces before) which he refusing to deliver up unto them, they reek their fury on him: They tug and hale him, and vow to kill him, unless he deliver up the Book of Common-Prayer to their pleasure; he stoutly refuseth: Hereupon they fall upon him, strike up his Heels, and take it from him by force, and so carry it away in triumph.

Mr. Blakerby (a silenced Minister heretofore) preaching at Halstead in the same County, told them, That to bow at the Name of Jesus, was to thrust a Spear into Christ's side; and such Ministers as signed Children with the sign of the Cross, did as much as in them lay to send such Children unto the Devil.

[Page]When the Earl of Essex and the rest went from Reading to London, after the unhappy (to say no more) surrender of that town, they left there a Committee, consisting of none but City Captains and Tradesmen, these according to the authority committed unto them, summon all the able men of the Parishes thereabout, to appear before them at Reading, and Assessed them at their pleasure. In Marlow they Assessed one Mr. Drue at 1000 l. they fell to 500 l. he refusing to pay was Imprisoned; but the Prison being most nasty and loathsom, denied the accommodation of Bedding, was forced to pay 300 l. Mr. Horcepoole, they assessed at 200 l. Mr. Chase (a man plundered before) at 40 l. 20 pound was offered, but nothing will be abated of 30. Eliot a Butcher, at an 100 l. and Imprisoned. Cocke a Baker, at 20 l. Mr. Fornace, the Vicar (not suffered to speak for himself because a Malignant) at 10 l. and paid seven. John Langley 10 l. Thomas Langley 20 l. William Langley 5 l. and Wilmot his Servant 5 l. John More 80 l. Hoskins a Shoomaker 5 l. Cane an Innkeeper 7 l. Rates so Illegal, or had they been Legal, so unequally proportioned to these mens Estates, that had Ship-money been still on foot, it would not have drawn so much Money out of their Purses in forty or fifty years, as this Blew-Apron Committee at Reading, removed some seven or eight Degrees from the Close Committee at Westminster, extorted from them at one clap. O that we were but so wise as to compare our Conditions! certainly then we could not but acknowledg the just wrath of God upon us for our Ingratitude, murmuring so much when we had so little cause, and bless God for the [Page] return of our former Peace, though with all its Grievances, and those maliciously aggravated.

Mr. Giles Thorne, Batchellor in Divinity, and Parson of S. Cutberts in Bedford, was upon Sunday in the beginning of August last, 1642. apprehended in his Parish Church immediately after he came out of the Pulpit (having preached three Sermons in the Town that day) by the Lord Saint-Johns Troops, who lay then in Bedford, and in a very boysterous manner carried away to an Inn in the Town, not permitted to go home to his House to visit his Family, nor any of his Friends suffered to come to him: The next day he was carried away to London, where when he had lain more than three Weeks under the Messengers hands, he was brought to his Trial at the Bar in the Lords House: Accusations are framed against him out of Sermons preached nine years before. Witnesses are produced to prove the Articles, who so well remembred what they were to say, that they were fain to read their Depositions out of Papers which they brought in their hands. Mr. Thorne gives so full an Answer to all the Objections, that the Lords pronounce themselves satisfied, and him Innocent, only the Lord Say disputes with him, and the Earl of Bullingbrooke grumbles at him. At length it is pretended that there is another Witness in the Country that can say somewhat, (especially if it be written down in a Paper, as it was to his fellow Deponents): Hereupon he is committed to the Fleet, there to remain till that Witness can be prevailed with to find leisure to come up. About three Weeks after the Witness appears, and is Sworn, and contrary to the Rules of that Court, is sent to be examined by a Clerk. Mr. Thorne, with much [Page] ado obtains a Copy of his Depositions; which upon view contain no new Matter, but what he had before answered unto and cleared: Hereupon he Petitions again for a Sentence; he is ordered to attend the House: After a chargeable attendance of many days with his Keeper, he is called, the Cause reviewed, upon the review, the Earls of Pembroke, Holland, Clare, and divers others, affirm, that in their consciences they had Acquitted him at the first hearing, and now upon the review, found nothing to alter their opinion, and therefore thought it fit he should be Discharged. But well fare a good Neighbour at a dead life: The Earl of Bullingbrook objects, That he is a man of a Malignant spirit, that he hath great Interest in the Affections of the People amongst whom he lives, and therefore if Inlarged and remitted Home, may do much prejudice to the good Cause in hand; upon these just and weighty Considerations, Mr. Thorne is remanded to the Fleet: Since that time he hath used the assistance of many Friends, drawn many Petitions, humbly desiring that he might be heard: Or if the great Affairs of State would not afford their Lordships so much leisure, that he might have leave upon Bail to go down to attend his Cure, until their Lordships should please to call for him: But was so far from obtaining his desire, that he could never get so far towards it, as to have his Petition read. His Parishoners sensible of his Oppression and their own Injury, being bereaved of the comfort and labours of their own Pastor, sent up a Petition subscribed with three hundred hands to the same effect, that Justice might have a free uninterrupted course, either to Condemn or Absolve him, but all in vain: So that for ought we yet understand [Page] he is still a Prisoner, and for any thing we are informed to the contrary, he is without hopes for Enlargement, though his Judges have pronounced him Innocent. And now would you know the true cause of all this Oppression? Know then that it is possible for the High Court of England [...]o be made the Instrument of private Revenge: For Sir Sam. Luke divers years since suing Mr. Thorne in the Star Chamber, it was Mr. Thornes unhappiness to get the day of him, an injury which Sir Samuel could never forget, and did now revenge it by the help of the Earl of Bullingbrook, the Lord Saint Johns Son, and his own interest in the House. This story hath been attested by some that were both Ear and Eye-witnesses of these particulars, and let me be substituted Prisoner in Mr. Thornes place if he (for ought I know) know any thing that I know this, or intended to make it known to the World.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
V.

Warder Castle gallantly defended by the Lady Arundel, against Sir Edward Hungerford and his power: His persidiousness in breaking the Articles of Surrender: His barbarous usage of the Lady, her Children, and Goods. Mr. John Bykar, a Vicars Son, murthered at Coventry. Mr. Abraham Haynes Robbed, Abused, and unjustly Committed, &c.

ON Tuesday the second of May, 1643. Sir Edward Hungerford, a chief Commander of [Page] the Rebel in Wiltshire, came with his Forces before Warder Castle in the same County, being the Mansion-House of the Lord Arundel of Warder: But finding the Castle strong, and those that were in it resolute, not to yield it up unless by force, called Colonel Strode to his help: Both these joyned in one, made a Body of 1300. or thereabout. Being come before it, by a Trumpeter they summon the Castle to surrender: The reason pretended was, because the Castle being a Receptacle of Cavaliers and Malignants, both Houses of Parliament had ordered it to be searched for Men and Arms, and withal by the same Trumpeter declared, that if they found either Money or Plate, they would seise on it for the use of the Parliament. The Lady Arundel (her Husband being then at Oxford, and since that dead there) refused to deliver up the Castle, and bravely replied, That she had a command from her Lord to keep it, and she would obey his command. Being denied entrance, the next day being Wednesday, the third of May, they bring up the Cannon within Musket shot and begin the Battery, and continue it from the Wednesday to the Monday following, never giving any intermission to the besieged, who were but 25 fighting men, to make good the place against an Army of 1300. In this time they spring two Mines; the first in a Vault, through which Beer and Wood, and other necessaries, were brought into the Castle: This did not much hurt, it being without the foundation of the Castle. The second was conveyed into the small Vaults, which by reason of the intercourse between the several Passages to every Office, and almost every Room in the Castle, did much shake and indanger the whole [Page] Fabrick. The Rebels had often tendered some unreasonable conditions to the Besieged to surrender, as to give the Ladies, both the Mother and the Daughter in Law, and the Women and Children Quarter, but not the Men; the Ladies both infinitely scorning to Sacrifice the Lives of their Friends and Servants, to redeem their own from the cruelty of the Rebels, who had no other crime of which they could count them guilty, but their fidelity and earnest endeavours to preserve them from Violence and Robbery, chose bravely (according to the Nobleness of those Honourable Families from which they are both extracted) rather to die together, than Live on so dishonourable terms. But now the Castle brought to this distress, the Defendants few, oppressed with number, tired out with continual watching and labour from Tuesday to Monday, so distracted between Hunger and want of rest, that when the hand endeavoured to administer Food, surprized with sleep, it forgat its imployment, the morsels falling from their hands while they were about to eat, deluding their Appetites now when it might have been a doubt which they would first have laded their Musquets withal, either Powder before Bullet, or Bullet before Powder, had not the Maid-servants (valiant beyond their Sex) assisted them, and done that service for them. Lastly, Now when the Rebels had brought Petarrs, and applied them to the Garden Door (which if forced, opened a free passage into the Castle) and Balls of wildfire to throw in at their VVindows, and all hope of keeping the Castle was taken away, now, and not till now, did the Besieged found a Parley. And though in their Diurnals at London, they have told the VVorld [Page] that they offered Threescore thousand pounds to redeem themselves and the Castle, and that it was refused, yet few men take themselves to be bound any thing the more to believe it, because they report it. I would Mr. Case would leave preaching treason, and instruct his Disciples to put away Lying, and speak every man truth with his Neighbour: Certainly the World would not be so abused with untruths, as now they are: Amongst which number this report was one, for if they in the Castle offered so liberally, how came the Rebels to agree upon Articles of Surrender, so far beneath that Overture? For the Articles of Surrender were these:

First, That the Ladies and all others in the Castle, should have Quarter.

Secondly, That the Ladies and Servants should carry away all their Wearing Apparel, and that six of the Serving Men, whom the Ladies should nominate, stould attend upon their Persons, wheresoever the Rebels should dispose of them.

Thirdly, That all the Furniture and Goods in the House should be safe from Plunder, and to this purpose, one of the six, nominated to attend the Ladies, was to stay in the Castle, and take an Inventory of all in the House, of which the Commanders were to have one Copy, and the Ladies another.

But being on these terms Masters of the Castle, and all within it, 'tis true, they observe the first Article, and spare the lives of all the Besieged, though they had slain in the defence at least 60 of the Rebels: But for the other two, they observe them not in any part: As soon as they enter the Castle, they first seise upon the several Trunks [Page] and Packs, which they of the Castle [...] making up, and left neither the Ladies or Servants any other wearing clothes but what was on their backs. There was in the Castle amongst many rich ones, one extraordinary Chimney-piece, valued at two thousand pounds, this they utterly def [...]ce, and beat down all the carved works thereof with their Pole-Axes. There were likewise rare Pictures, the work of the most curious Pencils that were known to these latter times of the VVorld, and such that if Apelles himself (had he been now alive) needed not to blush to own for his. These in a wild fury they break and tear in pieces, a loss that neither cost nor Art can repair. Having thus given them a taste what performance of Articles they were to expect from them, they barbarously lead the Ladies, and the young Ladies children, two Sons and a Daughter, Prisoners to Shaftsbury, some four or five miles from Warder. VVhile they are there Prisoners, to mitigate their Sorrows, in triumph they bring five Cart-loads of their richest Hangings and other Furniture through Shaftsbury towards Dorchester, and since that, contrary to their promise and faith given, both by Sir Edward Hungerford and Strode, they have Plundered the whole Castle: So little use was there of the Inventory we told you of, unless to let the VVorld know, what my Lord Arundel lost, and what these Rebels gained. This havock they made within the Castle. Without they burn all the Out-houses, they pull up the Pales of two Parks, one of Red Deer, the other of Fallow: what they did not kill, they let loose to the world for the next taker. In the Parks they burn three Tenements and two Lodges, they cut down all the Trees about the House and [Page] Grounds, Oaks and Elms, such as few places could boast of the like, whose goodly bushy advanced heads drew the eyes of Travellers on the Plains to gaze on them, these they sold for Four-pence, Six-pence, or Twelve-pence a piece, that were worth three, four, or five Pound a Tree: The Fruit-trees they pluck up by the Roots, extending their malice to commit spoil on that that God by a special Law protected from destruction, even in the Land of his Curse, the Land of Canaan: For so we read, When thou shalt besiege a City, thou shalt not destroy the Trees thereof, by forcing an Ax against them, for thou mayst eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down to employ them in the Siege: only the Trees which thou knowest that they be not Trees for Meat, thou shalt destroy, Deut. 20.19, 20. Nay, that which escaped destruction in the Deluge, cannot escape the hands of these children of the Apollyon the destroyer. They dig up the heads of twelve great Ponds, some of five or six Acres apiece, and destroy all the Fish: They sell Carps of two foot long for two-pence and three-pence apiece: They send out the Fish by Cart loads, so that the Country could not spend them: Nay, as if the present Generation were too narrow an Object for their rage, they plunder Posterity, and destroy the Nurseries to the greater Ponds: They drive away and sell their Horses, Kine, and other Cattle: And having left nothing either in the Air or Water, they dig under the Earth, the Castle was served with Water brought two Miles, by a Conduit of Lead: And intending rather mischief to the Kings Friends than profit to themselves, they cut up the Pipe and fold it (as these mens Wives in North-Wiltshire do Bone-lace) at Six-pence a Yard; making that [Page] waste for a poor inconsiderable Sum, which two thousand pounds will not make good. They that have the unhappy occasion to sum up these losses, value them at no less than an hundred thousand pounds. And though this loss were very great, not to be parallel'd by any, except that of the Countess of Rivers, yet there was something in these Sufferings, which did aggravate them beyond all example of Barbarity, which this unnatural War now did produce, and that was Rachels Tears: Lamentation and Weeping, and great Mourning, a Mother weeping for her Children, and would not be comforted because they were taken from her; for the Rebels as you hear, having carried the two Ladies Prisoners to Shaftsbury, thinking them not safe enough there, intend to remove them to Bath, a place then much infected both with the Plague and the Small Pox: The old Lady was sick, under a double confinement, that of the Rebels and her own Indisposition, all were unwilling to be exposed to the danger of the Infection, especially the young Lady, having three Children with her, they were too dear, too rich a treasure to be snatched away to such probable loss without reluctancy: Therefore they resolve not to yield themselves Prisoners for that place, unless they will take the old Lady out of her Bed, and the rest by violence, and so carry them away. But the Rebels fearing lest so great Inhumanity might incense the People against them, and render them odious to the Country, decline this, and since they dare not carry all to Bath, they resolve to carry some to Dorchester, a place no less dangerous for the Infection of Schism and Rebellion, than Bath for the Plague and the Pox. To this purpose they take [Page] the young Ladies two Sons (the eldest but nine, the younger but seven years of age) and carry them Captives to Dorchester.

In vain doth the Mother, with tears intreat that these pretty pledges of her Lords affections, may not be snatched from her: In vain do the Children imbrace and hang about the Neck of their Mother, and implore help from her that neither knows how to keep them, nor yet how to part with them; but the Rebels having lost all bowels of Compassion, remain inexorable. The complaints of the Mother, pitiful cry of the Children prevail not with them, like ravenous Wolves they seise on the Prey: And though they do not crop, yet they transplant those Olive Branches that stood about their Parent's Table: A barbarous fact, and such as must look out of Christendom for a precedent, and hardly find it though among the Heathen, except among the unwashed Turks, who take Christian Children from their Mothers Breasts either to make a Seminary for their Guards of Janizaries, or by desolation to make them Eunuchs unsuspected Guardians of their Concubines, or if in Christendom amongst none but the Jesuits their Brethren, a Generation whom they would be thought most to hate, yet are known most to imitate, Exod. 21. To steal a Man was death by the Law of Moses, nay, the Romans that saw by no other Light, but that dim Spark of Nature discerned the equity of this Law, as is apparent in their Lex Fabia de Flagiariis: And though these men blanch the Inhumanity, pretending that they rob the Mother to inrich the Church, to bring them up in the true Religion, it were worth the while to ask (if they would vouchsafe an answer) [Page] what they mean by the true Religion, if they mean the Protestant, or to speak more properly, the Religion of the Church of England, it is apparent they persecute that, but suppose (which we do not grant) that they did bereave Parents of their Children to that purpose to bring them up in the true Religion, yet cannot a good Intention warrant an unlawful Act, nor ought they to do evil that good may come of it: Nor do we find ether that the Church was ever pleased with such Accessions, or that God did give a blessing to such unwarrantable Zeal. When Sesibutus, King of Aragon, in the Year 600. prevailed against the Saracens, and in a better Zeal than this, but not according to knowledg, compelled his Captives to be Baptized, he quickly found his error by the want of Gods blessing upon his endeavours, nay, Gods dislike was so visible in the success, that the Church of God observing it, determined, That the Children of Infidels not having the use and exercise of right Reason, should not be Baptized Invitis Parentibus, contrary to the consent of the Parents. And the fourth Council of Toledo, Cap. 56. disallowing the inconsiderate zeal of Sesibutus, forbad to compel any man to the Faith under the censure of Anathema, and determined withal, that to baptize Children without the consent of the Parents, is all one as to compel men of full age to be Baptized. The same determination is cited and approved by the Canonist, Dist. 45. Cap. De Judaeis, and were it but consistent with the nature of this work, it were easie to decry this Jesuitical Turkish practice by most impregnable Arguments, both in the Schoolmen and Casuists: But I must leave this to Men of the sacred Function, and only beg leave to infer, that if it be no [...] ful [Page] to baptize the Children of Jews, Infidels, or Hereticks, without consent of their Parents: Though without Baptism when it may be had, there is no entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, certainly it must be far more unlawful being baptized to take them from their Parents, to season their tender years with dangerous principles leading to Prophaneness, Brownism, Anabaptism, and Rebellion. A just indignation against so barbarous practice hath transported me in this argument farther than I intended, though not so far as the heinousness of the fact deserves, therefore if any man desires to be more fully satisfied of the power and interest which Parents have over and in their Children, being an Inheritance given them of the Lord, as the Prophet David, and the possession of their Parents, as Aristotle in his Politicks, and the great violation of Justice in relation of the Laws of God, Nature and Men, in despoiling their Parents of them, let him have recourse to that Learned and Elegant discourse of Petrus Aerodius, Chief Justice or President of Aniou, in his Book de Patria Potestate, who being robbed of his Son, stoln from him by the Jesuits, to plant him as a hopeful Imp in their Society, and not able to rescue him out of their power, though he implored, and had the King of Spain's assistance (for thither he was carried) pursues his Son with Arguments and Labours to recal him to his Obedience, by laying before him his duty artificially Collected, and strongly applied from the Laws, Divine, Natural, and Moral, and therefore to him I remit him, and turn my discourse into its proper channel.

On Friday, the 12 of May, 1643. Mr. John Bykar (Son to the Vicar of Dunchurch) was with [Page] his Father in Law, one of the High-Constables of Warwickshire, at the Market at Coventry. Being in a House in the City, he received some rude affronts from a Soldier of that Garison: He being a very civil man, of good Moderation, and it seems well instructed not to answer a Fool in his Folly, or being reviled to answer again, withdrew himself from the place to decline the insolent madness of the Soldiers, and free himself from his provocations: Being come into the streets, secure, as he thought, from all violence, he was suddenly run through the Body, and falling down, died instantly. His offence was (for as yet we can hear of no others) that he was a Parsons Son; so inveterate malice to that Function and all depending on it, do these Rebels bear. And therefore if in this Relation you meet with frequent mention of Affronts, Oppressions, Plundering, and Murthers of the Ministers of the Gospel, do not attribute it to any partiality, as if the Relator were more querulous for them than others, but to a serious desire to proportion his Labours in a just measure to the merit of each mans case.

Master Abraham Haynes of London, in September last, travelling into Shropshire, to visit his Daughter and some other Friends, being benighted, was forced to take up his Lodging in a little Village some eight miles short of his Daughters House: After Supper, his Host in a seeming way of Courtesie comes to visit his Guest, and brings with him two or three of his Neighbours, whereof the Constable was one, to bear him company. After a little discourse, they will needs persuade him that he is a Malignant, a hard word in those parts before this Parliament began, but however it served [Page] the Constables turn well enough to lay hold on him: Having seised on him, they search him, under pretence that he carried Letters of dangerous consequence, but searching, they find what they sought for, his Money, 14 l. he had about him▪ this as good Booty they take from him, and for fear he should run away from his Money, that night they set a strong Watch upon him. Next morning very early they carry him before a Parliament Man, residing about two miles distant from that place, who most Committee-man like out of the abundance of his Justice, though no crime were objected, nor any thing found about him to render him liable to restraint, but only the sin of having 14 l. or because he was guilty of the Constables affirming him to be a Malignant, he commits him to his former guardians, by them to be conveyed to London. Mr. Haynes unwilling to come so near his Journeys end, and yet not arrive there, tenders Bail, Gentlemen of the best rank and quality in the Country; but it will not be accepted: He desires to have leave to send a Messenger to his Daughter where he was that day expected, but it will not be granted: Away they carry him, they mount him and his man upon two poor Jades, while my Host and Mr. Constable ride on their Geldings. The first night they will allow him no Supper, unless he will pay for it, though they knew he had no Money, having themselves seised on all he had. Afterward, upon much opportunity and earnest intreaty, they are pleased out of his own Moneys, to allow him a poor thin allowance of Food by the way. Being arrived at London, they bring their Prisoner before the Committee, who upon an implicite faith send him unheard, unaccused, [Page] unexamined Prisoner to the Fleet, where after he had lain six Weeks, having made use of many Friends, and presented many humble Petitions, and ('tis thought, some Monies too) he is restored to his Liberty upon this ground, that there were no Articles, nor any Accusation found in the Committee against him: But for his Money that (in the great Justice and Equity of the Committee) was bestowed upon his Accusers, as a just reward of their zeal to the Parliament.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
VI.

Willingborow in Northamptonshire, miserably Plundered. Mr. Flint a Curate, Murthered by a Rebel there. The Rebels breach of Faith at the surrender of Sudely Castle, and their abuse of the Church and Monuments there. Colonel Purefoy's defacing S. Marys Church, and the Chappel, with other Monuments in Warwick, &c.

THat the Kingdom might not be undone but at their own charges, sundry Ways and Arts, both by force and intreaty, have been used to extort Monies from the Kings good Subjects, to maintain the present Rebellion. Amongst others, Mr. Graey of Wellingborow, Clark of the Peace for the County of Northampton, was assaulted by persuasion, and very earnestly solicited by Sir Rowland S. John, to contribute liberally to this unnatural War: But his refusal to partake in so crying a sin, did produce a [Page] double effect, indignation in the Rebels, that hate all men that run not into the same excess of Treason and Rebellion with them, because others backwardness doth upbraid their forwardness that rush into Rebellion like the Horse into the Battel: But brought forth imitation in others, not only in Wellingborow, but in some Villages bordering on that Town: Who seeing so good a president of Loyalty, refuse with him to hearken to so Traiterous proposals: And now thinking themselves indangered by their refusal, and exposed to the mercy of Rebel Plunderers, they enter into a consultation how to secure themselves from violence, and resolve to come to each others assistance, if the Dragooners from Northampton or any else should assault them, upon notice given by jangling their Bells: And that the World might not think their fears to be groundless, on the 26 of December, 1642. at 12 of the Clock at Night, Captain Francis Sawyer (and as is supposed a Brother of Sir Gilber Pickerings) attended by a 100 Dragoons, beset Mr. Grayes House; and the signal of jangling the Bells being discovered by some of the Town that were of their faction, to prevent the Alarm to the Country, they tie up the Bell-ropes, and place a Guard of twelve Musqueteers in the Church-yard, to secure the passage to the Belfrey: Having thus beset the House, and as they thought frustrated the device of calling the Confederate Villages to their help, Captain Sawyer demands entrance, Mr. Gray out of his Window, tells him that he and his Family were in Bed, and withal desired to know what their intentions were, thus in the dead of the night to disturb their rest, and what Warrant they had to command entrance? They return him answer [Page] that they had a Warrant to apprehend his Person, and seise on his Plate and Arms for the use of the Parliament: Half an hour was spent in this Parley, Mr. Gray protracting the time, that perhaps his Neighbours hearing of his danger, might come to his rescue: Which accordingly fell out, for some of the Town hearing that the Rebels had beset Mr. Grayes House, hasten towards the Church that by the sound of the Bells (the Signal agreed on) they might summon the Country: When they come thither, they find the way intercepted, a Guard of Musqueteers denying them entrance: but inraged to find opposition where they did not expect it, they fell foul on the Guard, beat them off, took five of their Musquets, forced their entrance, and so rang the Bells. Hereupon the Rebels, fearing that their entrance was delayed, thereby to gain time till the Town and Country might come in to his Rescue, brake open a Window, and put in one or two of their company, who presently open the Doors to them and give them free entrance: Having thus possessed themselves of the House, their first work is to seise upon Mr. Graey's Person, to this purpose they make directly to his Chamber, whom they found in his Shirt, and would hardly give him leave to put on his Clothes; and that their seising of his Person might not be without all shew of Authority, they produce a Warrant signed by the Earl of Essex, in which Mr. Gray's name was, this they shew only, but will not permit them to read it. All the Monies and Plate which they found in the House they take away, and as for Mr. Gray himself having taken him Prisoner, they compel him to go on foot from Wellingborow to Welby: While they are on [Page] their way towards Welby, some 40 or 50 men from Wellingborow, armed only with Swords and Staves, come to Rescue Mr. Gray from the Rebels: After a short Skirmish (wherein one or two of the Pursuers were hurt only, not slain) finding that they were unequal for the Rebels both in Number and Arms, leaving the Prey in the hands of the Oppressors, they retreat to Wellingborow: Being returned thither, they find Five hundred of the Country come in to their assistance: The common People (who seldom love or hate moderately) inraged that Mr. Gray should thus be taken from them, especially some of his poor Neighbours, who in him were robbed of the relief which they received from his Charity, resolve to make some of the Rebels Faction in that Town sensible of their displeasure; and therefore since they cannot reek their anger on the Rebels that did the fact, they fall foul on those that did approve it, if they were not Abettors and underhand Contrivers of it: They break their Windows, break into some of their Houses, and spoil their Goods. Amongst the number of those that suffered under the fury of the People, a Chandler and a Cooper underwent the greatest Loss, yet it could not be much, since upon a strict survey, the whole spoil done in the Town did not amount to 30 l.

Many of this assembly, utterly disliking such disorders, did not only reprove the chief Actors in this Outrage, but to discountenance their proceeding withdrew themselves: They of the Town to their Houses, they of the Country to their several Habitations; so that by the break of day the Tumult was appeased, and the Town cleared. While these things were in doing, the Cooper and one or [Page] two with him post away to Mr. Perne, the Parson of Welby, a Turbulent and Seditious man, and make their complaint to him, and to inflame him that was too apt to kindle without their help, they do not only aggravate their own losses at Wellingborow, but tell him that they threatned to come and do the like at Welby: Mr. Perne (changing his black Coat for a gray) instantly goes to Northampton, and there represents the injury done to their Faction at Wellingborow, and the pretended danger of Welby so effectually, that by Noon that Tuesday, Colonel Norwich commanding in chief, Sergeant-Major Mole, Captain John Sawyer, Captain Francis Sawyer, Captain Pertlow, Captain Redman, Captain Farmar, Captain Harrold, with 500, but others say 1000 Horses and Dragooners, came to Wellingborow: Being come thither, they divide themselves into several Troops, to make good several passages into the Town, thereby to keep out the Country that were coming to their aid, Captain John Sawyer, with 80 or a 100 Dragooners enters the Town at that side which leads to Welby; and riding in the Front of his men marched directly towards Mr. Neile of Woollaston, and some few with him who stood to oppose him: Sawyer discharges at Mr. Neile, and whom he missed with his Bullet he would be sure to hit with his Tongue, shooting out Arrows, even bitter words, calling him Popish Rascal: But what reward shall be given unto thee, O thou false Tongue? He staied not long without it, for the words were no sooner spoken, and (to second his words) a charge given to his Soldiers to give fire, but he received what he would have given, his deaths wound by a shot in the Head and Neck by Goose-shot, which made him fall on his [Page] Horse-neck, which shot was seconded by a Country-man, who with a Club beat him off his Horse into the Dirt; being thus beaten down, the Women to revenge their Husbands Quarrel fasten on him, but Mr. Oliver Gray (Nephew to Mr. Gray before mentioned) and Mr. Woolaston rescued out of their hands, who otherwise had immediately died the death of Sisera, by the hands of Women: Reprieved thus for some few hours, they carry him to one Gray's House an Alehouse-keeper, whose Wife was Captain Sawyers Aunt, where they administred what they could, but in vain, for after two and twenty hours Languishment he died: As soon as Captain Sawyer was fallen, his Soldiers instantly ran away, only his Son, unwilling to leave his Father, followed him to the hazard of his life, by many Wounds which he received. In other P [...]rts of the Town, the Townsmen quit themselves like valiant Soldiers and loyal Subjects, and with very little help of the Country, kept the Rebels out: Mr. Gray's man and another, with each man his Musquet, kept out above a 100 at the lower end of the Town, and repelled them twice or thrice; and had not Captain Sawyer coming to himself a little before his death, persuaded them that it was in vain to stand out, there being three Pieces on the way from Northampton, to Batter the Town (which proved true) and withal persuading them to write a Letter to the Commanders, promising that upon their submission the Town should be secured, they had held it out to the last man: But the dying Captain prevailed with them, they write a Letter according to his advice, which as they say was signed by his own hand, the apprehension of his desperate condition having put new [Page] thoughts in him. But this Resolution not being so fully made known to the Town, as a business of that concernment ought to have been, some of the Town, being ignorant of any Treaty, made some shot, and the Rebels willing to take advantage, rush into the Town, put both those of the Town and Country to flight. Captain Francis Sawyer much inraged for his Brother, and coming near the place where his Brother was Wounded, seeing Mr. Flint the Curate of Harrowden stand there, not any way ingaged in the Resistance, having not given any provocation, he barbarously struck him with his Pole-Ax, and cleft his Head down to the Eyes, of which Wound he died instantly: The Earth drinking up that innocent Blood, shed by the hand of an accursed Doeg, which like the Blood of Abel, calls loud in the Ears of God for Vengeance upon them, who authorize and countenance such horrid Murthers; Cursed be his anger for it was fierce, and his wrath for it was cruel.

Being masters of the Town, at three of the Clock in the Afternoon they begin to Plunder, and continue the Spoil until the next Day-light failed them, until Wednesday night. In this time they carry away the Wealth of the Town to Northampton and other places, sparing none but those whose Tongues are framed to Shiboleth, men of their own Faction, whether they were active against them, or stood Neuters: By which Essay, those Luke-warm men (who stand Pendulous equally poised between Rebellion and Loyalty, and know not which side to lean unto) may guess what measure they are like to receive from the Rebels hands, if ever they come to have them in their power.

[Page]In the Town, two men especially suffer under these Free-booters, Mr. Gray and Mr. Fisher; from the first being Clerk of the Peace, they take away the Commissions of Peace, the Sessions Rolls, together with his own Evidences and Leases, all his Houshold-stuff, even to his very Bed-cords, leaving but one Sheet for his Wife and five Children: His Wheat and other Corn they give to their Horses; what they did not eat, they threw into the Streets, and trampled it in the dirt. From the other they took Goods, and other things, amounting to a very great Sum: And to compleat their wickedness, to their Oppression they add Scorn; for having taken away all that they could, in derision they affix Protections in writing under Colonel Norwich his hand, at his and some others doors, forbidding any man to Plunder. Generally what they could not carry away, they spoil, so that the Loss sustained by the Town, is valued at Six thousand pounds.

They took Mr. Neile Prisoner, and some Forty more, amongst them they took the Vicar, Master Jones, a grave and learned man, but lame and very sickly, and having Plundered him of all he had, they mount him on a poor Jade, with a Halter instead of a Bridle; the rest they tie two and two together, and drive them before them to Northampton. Mr. Gray, as I told you, was the day before led Prisoner to Welby, from thence to Northampton, where his Prison cannot afford him protection from the fury and rage of the Soldiers; to make way to his death, they threaten to pull down the House where he was confined: And the Commissioners finding that he could not remain there with any safety, were constrained to send [Page] him away Prisoner to London. Being come thither, Articles are framed and exhibited against him, which being examined at a Committee, and no proof at all made, he was Voted to be discharged his Imprisonment: yet to delude Justice, and the Petition of Right, the Chair-man could never find a time to make his Report to the House, so that he remained a Prisoner for a long time.

On the 28. of January, 1642. the Castle of Sudely, upon Composition, was delivered up to the Rebels; there were Articles agreed on and sworn to, but as he spake truly, Children were deceived with Apples, and Men with Oaths; the Rebels as they swear to Articles for their advantage, so they break them as easily for their advantage, and make Perjury an easie uninterrupted passage to Theft and Robbery, for these Rebels brake as many Articles as they swore unto: they plunder not only the Castle, the Seat and House of the Lord Chandois, and Winchcombe a neighbouring Village, to the utter undoing the poor Inhabitants, but in defence of the Protestant Religion, and vindication of the Honor of God, they profane his House. There is in the Castle a goodly fair Church, here they dig up the Graves, and disturb the ashes of the dead: they break down the ancient Monuments of the Chandoses, and instead thereof, leave a prodigious Monument of their Sacrilegious profaneness: for each part of the Church they find a peculiar way to profane it: the lower part of it they make their Stable, the Chancel their Slaughter-house. Unto the Pulpit (which of all other places in probability might have escaped their Impiety) they fasten pegs to hang the Carcasses of the slaughtered Sheep: the Communion-Table, according to their own Language, [Page] they make their Dresser or Chopping-board to cut out their meat; into the Vault, wherein lay the Bodies of the Chandoses, an ancient and honorable Family, they cast the guts and garbage: mingling the loathsom Intrals of Beasts, with those Bones and Ashes which did there rest in hope of a joyful Resurrection. The Nave or Body of the Church was all covered with the dung and blood of Beasts: and which was (if it be possible) a degree beyond these Profanations, in contempt of God and his holy Temple, they defile each part and corner both of Church and Chancel with their own Excrements; and going away, left nothing behind them in the Church (besides Walls and Seats) but a stinking Memory, that part of the Parliament Army raised for the defence of Religion, had been there. Let that railing Rabshekah, or jeering Sanballet, I mean the Author of the ridiculous Pamphlet, intituled, One Argument more against the Cavaliers, read this Story, and then tell me which are most guilty of prophanation of Churches, the Cavaliers or the Round-heads; which were most profaned, either St. Mary Maudlins in Oxford, or the Church at Sudly Castle: and yet this Dog sticks not with Shimei to bark at his Sovereign and blaspheme his Piety, as if the Rebels brought from Cyrencester had been Quartered in this Church by his approbation, who to expiate that guilt, gave an hundred an fifty pounds to adorn and beautifie that Church. The truth is, there was a fault in the Commanders for lodging them in Churches, who if they had had their due, had been hanged for Rebellion, their carcasses exposed to the Fowls of the air, and the Beasts of the field, that the Ravens of the valleys might have had their due portion, and never suffered them to [Page] come so near the Church, as to have the priviledge of Christian Burial in the Church-yard. So, even so, let all the Kings enemies perish, O Lord, and let all the people say. Amen.

In Saint Maries Church in Warwick, and the Chappel (commonly called the Earls Chappel) adjoyning to the Choire of that Church, are divers fair Monuments of the Beauchamps, anciently Earls of that place; which Family long flourishing there, had been great Benefactors and Beautifiers of that Church, whereof Thomas Beauchamp (Earl of Warwick, and Earl Marshal of England, and one of the Founders of the most noble Order of the Garter, in the Reign of King Edward the Third) built the Choire now standing, in the midst whereof is his Monument, and adorned the Windows, with the Pictures of Himself, his Wife, and Children which were many; upon the Surcoats of the Men were their Arms skilfully depicted, the Women having the like, and Mantles, over which were the Arms of their Matches, their Husbands being the prime Nobility of those times: The like Portraitures in Glass, but much more rich and costly, were in that stately Chappel before-mentioned: In this stood the Monument of Earl Richard, being Brass gilt; and in the Opinion of judicious observant Travellers, esteemed the rarest Piece erected for any Subject in the Christian World: but such is the barbarousness of the pretenders to Reformation, that upon Wednesday the 14. of this instant June, the Souldiers, by the appointment and encouragement of one whom (in these degenerous Times wherein the dregs of the People are made Commanders for the advancement of Rebellion) men call Colonel Purefey (a man of a mean desperate Fortune, [Page] but by the means of the late Lord Brooke, chosen Burgess of Parliament for Warwick, and who had the greatest Influence in seducing that unhappy Lord to this desperate Rebellion, in which he miserably perished:) did beat down and deface those Monuments of Antiquity; and not content with this, by the same Command they break down the Cross in the Market-place, not leaving one stone upon another, Purefey all the while standing by, animating and encouraging them, until they had finished their so barbarous Work. In which the World may observe, that these men are the sworn Enemies, not only of pretended Superstition, but of the Ensigns of Nobility and Gentry, that if their Diana, I mean their Parity, may take effect, Posterity may forget, and not read the distinction of Noble from ignoble, in these venerable Monuments of ancient Nobility: there being in these Windows something indeed to instruct a Herauld, nothing to offend the weakest Christian.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
VII.

Doctor Cox barbarously used by the Earl of Stamford at Exeter, contrary to the Law of Arms. The unheard-of Cruelties committed by the Lord Grey of Groby and his Souldiers, on the person, house, goods and servants of Master Nowell in Rutlandshire. Dr. Bargrave ill intreated by Col. Sands in Kent, &c.

AFter the great and happy Defeat given by the Victorious Sir Ralph Hopton to the Devonshire [Page] Forces at Starton, it pleased the Commanders of His Majesties Forces to entertain thoughts of Clemency towards the remainder of the Rebels. To testifie to the World therefore, that there was nothing more in their desires than a Thrift of Christian Blood, and withal, to heap coles of fire upon their heads, to conquer them by kindness whom they had often conquered by the sword: by their Letters they signifie their readiness to close up those wide rents between them, by a Treaty. And that a Message of Peace might be well suited with a Messenger, they sent the Letters by Dr. Cox, Doctor of Divinity, who, attended by a Trumpeter, came to Exeter that Sunday in the After-noon. The Trumpeter, as the manner is, gave the Town warning, as soon as he came within sight of the Guard, and presently an Officer came to receive him, who blind-folding him with a Handkerchief pinn'd over his Eyes, conducted him through the City unto the Earl of Stamfords House: having admittance there, the Doctor takes off his Handkerchief, but accidentally did not dispose of the pin that fastned it, but still kept it in his Hand: the Earl had no sooner set his eyes upon the Doctor, but presently he reviles him, and calls him all the reproachful Names he could imagine, and swore that he would hang him instantly: but first, to extort a confession from him, he offers a Knife or Dagger to his Breast, demanding an answer to some Interrogatories: the Doctor not affrighted with such rough usage, replies very discreetly, That he had received commands to deliver certain Letters from the Commanders of the Cornish, to those of the Devonshire Army, but that he had no Commission to satisfie any different and by-demands; this denial [Page] to answer, together with after dinner, inflamed the Earl, and put him into a new fit of Railing: and for variety sake he did intermix the opprobrious names, with many menaces and offers of stabbing him: In the end, seeing that this harsh welcome could effect nothing, nor awe the Doctor to make any discovery, he demands the Letters: the Doctor, that he might clear his hands, and so dive into his Pockets suddenly, put the Pin which he held in his hands between his lips: hereupon one Baxter, a Serjeant-Major of the City, observing the motion of his hand, but not perceiving what it conveyed to his mouth, cryed out, What doth the rogue eat there? he swallows Papers of Intelligence: With this the Earl, forgetting the Gravity and serious Deportment of a Peer of the Kingdom of England, began in an antick manner to leap, and skip, and frisk, crying out, Treason, Treason, he comes to betray the City, Courage my brave blades: and so turning to the Doctor, he set his Dagger again to his Breast, and demanded what it was that he had put into his mouth? The Doctor mildly and softly putting his hands to his lips, took the Pin thence, and shewing it to his Lordship, said, It is a Pin, my Lord. The Serjeant-Major thinking to intercept the supposed Intelligence going down the Doctors throat, instantly flies to him, took him by the throat, and griped him so hard, that he had almost strangled him. The Earl himself (most unworthily) crying out, Cut the Villains throat, cut it: nor did he command another, what he would not do himself, for with his own hands he offered his Knife thrice at the Doctors throat to cut it, but the Doctor still put it by, God, who is a present help in trouble, restrained the Earl, and delivered the Doctor out of his [Page] hands. Nor was it his hap to suffer from Honorable hands only, the standers by are not idle, but follow so leading an example: as if he had been sent for from Cornwall to Exeter on no other errand than to be made the City scorn, and the subject whereon their wanton insolency should vent it self: every one in the Room had a fling at him: some with their fists beat him about the head; others scratch his face; one with his fingers boars his ears, to his extream torment another with his fingers rakes in his mouth, hoping there to find some Papers of Intelligence: one tears his hair, another forces his hand down his throat, and the thing for which they make this strict search, is Intelligence, some scrole of Intelligence: Sure there is much want of Intelligence in their own heads, that made such strict inquisition for it in another mans. Well, this pursuit of Intelligence so long they continue, and so eagerly, that the Doctor fainting under so barbarous usage, was ready to give up the Ghost, and for fear he should dye under their hands, they leave him a sad emblem of that entertainment which the Messengers of Peace find from the men of this Generation. Let that rebellious City remember and tremble at that condolement of our Saviour over the like sin: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the Prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee. I am unwilling to go on and read her destiny, and therefore shall return to the story.

Having in this unchristian manner insulted long enough upon the Doctor, they divert their rage, and spend the rest of their Fury on the Trumpeter; and having either before, in part breathed out their madness, or not thinking the poor Trumpeter so Malignant as the Doctor, though they used him [Page] bad enough, yet they express not so keen a malice against him as against the Doctor. Having satiated themselves by cumulating Injury upon Injury upon them, they are both commanded to an outward Room; here they are assaulted by fresh Furies, for they had not staid long there, but two Aldermen renew the same Insolencies, and act the Injuries all over again, and the very dregs of the People animated by their example, bear them Company. After this, the Earl commits them to Prison, and being brought into the Room where they were to lodge, they were stript naked, and their Cloaths narrowly searched: and though after all this scrutiny nothing could be found, yet Intelligence is the thing the Earl looks after, and Intelligence he will have if it be to be had. And though the World never took his Lordship for a Physitian, yet he prescribes two Vomits, where his Honour had his Simples, I know not, but the Composition was of a green colour, divided into two Draughts, put into two Bowls, these the Earl commands to be administred to the Doctor and the Trumpeter, that so they may vomit up those supposed Papers of Intelligence, which Serjeant-Major Baxter thought they had swallowed: the Doctor, the chief Patient, begins first, whom instantly they ply with Posset-drink, having likewise some infusion in it to provoke and help on the Potion taken: all night long did they keep the Doctor at this Exercise, though they saw that what came from him, came with great difficulty and torment, yet they gave not off, till at last it drew Blood from him: all the return that was made into the Basin, was very exactly strained, to see if there were any rag of Intelligence: but there was none: but in case it should work both [Page] ways (though his Lordship had many about him wonderous fit for such Imployment) yet whom he placed Sentinel for the Postern, if any Intelligence should chance to escape that way, my intelligence fails me. This Inhumane usage brought the Doctor so low, that in three days he was not able to receive any Sustenance. In this his extremity and weakness, he had many visits from the people of the Town, who like Jobs comforters, revile him instead of pitying him: and the third night, as he lay very sick and weak in his Bed, there came into his Chamber a man very likely to prove the Messenger of death unto him; his name was Doune, Lieutenant to Captain White, who presently asking for the Jesuite, and calling him Rogue, and as many base names as himself deserved, offered to lay violent hands upon him: but one of the Soldiers abhorring so barbarous Cruelty, in meer mercy to a dying Man, as he had reason to judge him, interposing, restrained him from acting those Murderous thoughts which he brought with him. After the Doctor had remained Prisoner five or six days, and having recovered so much strength as to hold out another worrying, he was (with an ill intention in some) brought before the Council of War, where, upon the Doctors complaint of the hard usage he had undergon, some of the prime Gentry being ashamed of the Cruelties acted on him, being a Messenger, and in that regard by the Law of Arms ought to be priviledged from all Affronts, much more from such violent Outrages, Sir John Northcoote indeavoured to palliate the business, and to take off from the odiousness of it, by alledging the Contents of the Letters, which indeed being for some Preparatories and Overtures [Page] of Peace, might inrage these men that were Enemies unto it: To which the Doctor replyed, that under favour that could be no ground, nor yet excuse for their savage usage of him; because they had beaten him, and almost murdered him in the Earl of Stamfords presence, before they knew the Contents of the Letters, or read so much as one syllable of them, or indeed received them, the violent Serjeant-Major seizing on him before he could deliver them: This so unanswerable a return, put the Knight to his Italian shrug, and rejoyned no more, but I know not That. After a Week (and more) Imprisonment, the Earl commands the Doctor to be carryed aboard the Hope of Toptham, where the stench and noysom smell of the Ship had almost poyson'd him. The Doctors Wife hearing of her Husbands Imprisonment, came to Exeter to see him; but before she came her Husband being Shipt for London, on much intreaty she obtained leave to go on Ship-board to see him; but on her return, she was Imprisoned till her Husband being under Sail, she had liberty to go away. After ten days being at Sea, the Doctor arrived at London, where he was long detained Prisoner at the Lord Peters his House in Aldersgate-street.

The Lord Gray, with some other Rebels under his Conduct, came to Mr. Nowels House, Brother to the Lord Nowel that now is, demanding his Person prisoner, and his Arms for the use of the Parliament. Master Nowell modestly replyed, That he knew not wherein he had offended, that he should forfeit his Liberty or Goods to the Justice of the Parliament: his House was his Castle, his Arms were his Defence, and his Liberty was precious unto him; so that he could not satisfie their demands [Page] in any thing. Hereupon they plant a Cannon very near the House, so near, that the Fire of it took hold of an Out-house that was thatched; this House, though burnt down, was not of any great consequence. Therefore they discharge again, and beat down a beam of his Dwelling-house, but hurt no man within it: and making a third shot, they beat down a Chimney, and the fall of it bruised the foot of one of his Servants. At last, finding that Mr. Nowel was resolved to make good his house against them, notwithstanding their Cannon Battery, and would not deliver up his Person to Captivity, nor his House to their Plunder, they fire six of his Neighbors Houses; in one of which there was a Woman in Labor, by which means the Neighbors were compelled to expose her to a probable, by snatching her from a certain destruction; for in the midst of her Throws and Pangs of Child-birth, they were fain to carry her in a Chair out into the Streets: having a while sported and warmed themselves at those Flames, at which the poor Inhabitants wept and wrung their Hands, they threaten, that unless Mr. Nowel will yield himself Prisoner, and deliver up his House to their pleasure, they will not only fire his House, but will not leave a House unburnt in the whole Parish. This so affrighted the poor Inhabitants his Neighbors, that Men, Women and Children, come with tears, and earnestly beseech him to surrender himself, rather than suffer them to be ruined, and utterly spoiled before his face. Overcome at last, not by the Rebels Ordnance, but by that which spake louder in his Ears, the pitiful complaints and out-cries of his Neighbors, he founds a Parley, the result of which was:

[Page]First, That the Rebels should see the Fire quenched.

Secondly, That all in his house should have liberty to depart whither they pleased.

Thirdly, That none should enter the House but Commanders.

But this generation of Truce-breakers (that keep Faith neither with God nor man, and break Oaths faster then ever Sampson did his Cords, whom nothing can tye fast but a Halter, the strongest Obligation for a Traytor) were no sooner entred the House, but presently they seize on Master Nowell and Master Skipwith as their Prisoners: and whereas by the Article of agreement, none were to enter the House but Commanders; and since, if the Article had been kept unviolated, there were like to be as many Thieves within as without doors; Therefore Commanders and Common Souldiers, Common Souldiers and Commanders, all Thieves, enter the House and rifle it. They take away his Goods, cut the Ticks of his Beds, burn the Feathers, tear in pieces his Accounts, Writings, and Evidences, and That which we have not read in the black Catalogue of the outrages of the Rebellious Irish, was attempted by these; for in the Examinations upon Oath of those that report the miserable Sufferings of the poor Protestants in Ireland, and the barbarousness of the Irish, published by Order of Parliament, we do not find that God gave them up to so roprobate a sense, as to commit or attempt any Rapes; give the Devil his due, this sin we find not laid to their charge: But these blessed Reformers, whom they have not blushed blasphemously to call, The Host of God, and Christs Armies, and Champions of Religion, added this to the rest of [Page] their innumerable Wickednesses, That they attempted to ravish two of his Maid-servants; one was dumb, but fourteen years of age; another had her knee put out of joint, striving to resist a Villain in so Beastly an attempt. In a word, their practices were generally so Wicked, so Impious, that one that stood Spectator of all passages, and observed strictly what was done, affirms, That Mr. Griffith (whom some call Prince Griffith) was the only civilized Man amongst them. Having committed these Inhumane Acts among the Living, they go into the Church among the Dead, and there deface a goodly Monument, which this noble Gentleman, Mr. Nowell, had erected for his deceased Wife: deeply wounding the living Husband, by spoiling that Memorial which he had consecrated to the dear memory of his dead Wife. Having ransacked all from the living to the dead, they carry away Mr. Nowell and Mr. Skipwith Prisoners to London, and commit them to safe Custody in the Lord Peters his House (before mentioned) in Aldersgate street, where they remained Prisoners for a long time.

Colonel Sandyes, in his perambulation of Kent, bestowed a Visit upon Dr. Bargraves House, then Dean of Canterbury, the Dean himself then being from home. Sandyes came late in the Night, and the whole Family were in Bed: they soon raise the House, and where they did not find they make an entrance, forcing Mistris Bargrave, a virtuous good Gentlewoman (whom their hasty Summons had permitted to cast only her Night-gown about her) to wait upon them from room to room, not suffering her to turn aside (though she for Modesty sake requested that favour at their hands) to [Page] draw on her Stockings, unless they might stand by and see it done. They rudely rush into Mistris Boys her Chamber, the Widow of Dr. Boys Dean of Canterbury, a Gentlewoman about fourscore years old, there they seize upon a Cabinet of hers, and break it open, (though the good Old woman would very fain have had it spared, and offered them the Key to open it) they find in it forty five pounds in Old Gold, which she had laid by to bestow as Legacies upon her Friends: this they hug and call their own. She intreats them to forbear it, and directs them to her Will which was laid up with the Gold, and in that they might see how she had bequeathed it. Upon perusal of the Will, they find that she had made Dean Bargrave, her own Brother, her Executor; this they pronounce a Crime of so high a nature, that nothing could expiate the guilt, but the forfeiture of the Gold, and the Cancelling of the Will; but by the earnest mediation of Mr. King, one of their Company, at length they are perswaded to restore the Gold, and spare the Will. From hence they go to the Chamber where young Mr. Bargrave the Deans son did lodge; Sandys valiantly breaks his Sword (which hung at his Beds-head) before his face, and calling him out of his Bed, sends him Prisoner to Dover-Castle. Soon after, the Dean hastning home to comfort his distressed Family, Sandys hears where he was lodged at an Inne at Graves-end, and as he was undressed and ready to go into Bed, Sandys, and thirteen of his Souldiers, press into his Chamber with their Swords drawn, and command him to yield himself a Prisoner; which the Dean (having neither power nor will to resist) did accordingly; having (without any reason given) brought him a Captive to [Page] London, they commit him Prisoner to the Fleet where after he had lain three weeks, he was at last released, without ever being examined, or so much as called to the House. After this Sandys writes (I blush to mention so degenerous a Pamphlet) a Book, and was not ashamed to call it, His Travels into Kent, unworthy his Predecessors, to strain the name of Sandyes with such Travels: In this worthless Commentary, the Register of his perpetual Infamy; amongst other things he fastens the Note of a debauched drunken young Fellow, upon young Mr. Bargrave, a Gentleman of so ingenuous a Countenance, so modest and sweet a Temper, that he deserves a far better Character. The old Dean, a Grave and learned Gentleman, heart-broken with these Injuries, soon after dyes; the World in the mean time Condemning Sandyes, not so much for his Barbarity, as Ingratitude in dealing thus with him, who had not many years before, been a special means to save him from the Gallows, when he was Indicted for a Rape at the General Affizes at Maydstone. But you know the old Proverb, Save a Thief from the Gallows, and he will cut your Throat.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
VIII.

[Page]

Master Swift, Parson of Goodwich in Herefordshire, his Wife and ten Children most inhumanly dealt with by Captain Kirle, a stony-hearted Rebel. The Duke of Vendosme plundred at Uxbridge, with other frauds and abuses committed by the Rebels, &c.

WHen the Earl of Stamford was in Herefordshire, in October 1642. and pillaged all that kept Faith and Allegeance to the King, information was given to Mistris Swift, Wife of Mr. Thomas Swift Parson of Goodwich, that her House was designed to be plundered: To prevent so great a danger, she instantly repaired to Hereford where the Earl then was, some ten miles from her own home, to Petition him, that no violence might be offered by his Soldiers to her House or Goods: He most nobly, and according to the goodness of his Disposition, threw the Petition away, and swore no small Oaths, That she should be plundered to morrow. The good Gentlewoman, being out of hope to prevail, and seeing there was no good to be done by Petitioning him, speeds home as fast as she could, and that Night removed as much of her Goods, as the shortness of the time would permit: next Morning, to make good the Earl of Stamfords word, Captain Kirle's Troop, consisting of seventy Horse, and thirty Foot which were hangers [Page] on, (Birds of prey) came to Mr. Swifts house; there they took away all his provision of Victuals, Corn, Houshold-stuff, which was not conveyed away: they empty his Beds, and fill the Ticks with Malt; they rob him of his Cart and six Horses, and make this part of their Theft the means to convey away the rest: Mistris Swift much affrighted to see such a sight as this, thought it best to save her self though she lost her Goods; therefore taking up a young Child in her arms, began to secure her self by flight; which one of the Troopers perceiving, he commanded her to stay, or (holding his Pistol at her Breast) threatned to shoot her dead: she (good woman) fearing death whether she went on or returned; at last, shunning that death which was next unto her, she retires back to her House, where she saw her self undone, and yet durst not oppose or ask why they did so? having thus rifled the House, and gone, next morning early she goes again to Hereford, and there again Petitions the Earl to shew some compassion on her and her ten Children, and that he would be pleased to cause her Horses and some part of her Goods to be restored unto her: the good Earl was so far from granting her Petition, that he would not vouch-safe so much as to read it: when she could not prevail her self, she makes use of the mediation of Friends: these have the repulse too, his Lordship remaining inexorable without any inclination to mercy: at last, hoping that all mens hearts were not Adamant, relentless, she leaves the Earl, and makes her Address to Captain Kirle, who, upon her earnest intreaty, grants her a Protection for what was left, but for restitution, there was no hope of that; this Protection cost her no less than [Page] thirty shillings: It seems Paper and Ink are dear in those parts. And now thinking her self secured by this Protection, she returns home, in hope that what was left she might injoy in peace and quietness: She had not been long at home, but Captain Kirle sends her word, that if it pleased her, she might buy four of her own six horses again, assuring her by his Fathers Servant and Tenant, that she should not fear being Plundered of them any more by the Earl of Stamfords Forces while they were in those parts. Encouraged by these promises, she was content to buy her own, and deposited eight pound ten shillings for four of her Horses. And now conceiving the Storm to be blown over, and all danger past, and placing much confidence in her purchas'd protection, she causeth all her Goods, secured in her Neighbors Houses, to be brought home; and since it could not be better, rejoiced that she had not lost all. She had not injoyed these thoughts long, but Captain Kirle sent unto her for some Vessels of Cyder, whereof having tasted, but not liking it, since he could not have Drink for himself, he would have Provender for his Horse; and therefore instead of Cyder, he demands ten Bushels of Oats. Mistris Swift fearing that the denial might give some ground of a Quarrel, sent him word, that her Husband had not two Bushels of Oats in a year for Tythe, nor did they sow any on their Gleab: both which were most true: yet to shew how willing she was (to her power) to comply with him, that the Messenger might not return empty, she sent him forty shillings to buy Oats. Suddenly after, the Captain of Goodrige Castle, sends to Mr. Swifts house for Victual and Corn; Mistris Swift instantly repairs to him, and [Page] shews him her Protection: He, to answer shew with shew, shews her his Warrant, and so without any regard to her Protection, seizeth upon that Provision which was in the House, together with the Cyder which Captain Kirle refused. Hereupon Mistris Swift writes to Captain Kirle, complaining of this Injury, and the Affront done to him in slighting his Protection: But before the Messenger could return with an Answer to her Letter, some from the Castle come a second time to plunder the House, and they did what they came for: Presently after comes a Letter from Captain Kirle in Answer to Mistris Swifts, telling her, That the Earl of Stamford did by no means approve of the Injuries done unto her; and withal, by word of mouth, sends to her for more Oats: She perceiving, that as long as she gave, they would never leave asking, resolved to be drill'd no more: the Return not answering Expectation; on the third of December, two hours before day, Captain Kirles Lieutenant, attended by a considerable number of Horse and Dragoons, comes to M. Swifts House and demands entrance; but the doors being kept shut against them, and not able to force them, they broke down two Iron Bars in a Stone Window, and so with Swords drawn and Pistols cocked, they enter the House. Being entred, they take all Master Swift and his Wives Apparel, his Books and his Childrens cloaths, they being in Bed; and those poor Children that hung by their Cloaths, unwilling to part with them, they swung them about, until (their hold-fast failing) they dashed them against the Walls. They took away all his Servants cloaths, and made so clean work with one, that they left him not a Shirt to cover his Nakedness. [Page] There was one of the Children, an Infant lying in the Cradle, they rob'd that, and left not the little poor Soul a rag to defend it from the cold. They took away all the Iron, Pewter and Brass, and a very fair Cup-board of Glasses, which they could not carry away, they broke to pieces: and the four Horses lately redeemed, are with them lawful prize again, and left nothing of all the Goods but a few stools for his Wife, Children and Servants, to fit down and bemoan their distressed Condition. Having taken away all, and being gone, Mistris Swift, in compassion to her poor Infant in the Cradle, took it up almost starved with cold, and wrapped it in a Petty-coat which she took off from her self: and now hoped, that having nothing to lose would be a better protection for their Persons, than that which she purchased of Captain Kirle for thirty shillings. But as if Jobs Messenger would never make an end, her three Maid-servants, whom they of the Castle had compelled to carry the Poultry to the Castle, return and tell their Mistris, that they in the Castle said, That they had a Warrant to seize upon Mistris Swift, and bring her into the Castle; and that they would make her three Maid-servants wait on her there, threatning to plunder all under the Petty-coat; and other uncivil immodest words, not fit for them to speak, or me to write. Hereupon Mistris Swift fled to the place where her Husband, for fear of the Rebels, had withdrawn himself: She had not been gone two hours, but they come from the Castle, and bring with them three Teems, to carry away what was before designed for Plunder, but wanted means of conveyance. When they came, amongst other things, there was a Batch of Bread hot in the Oven, this [Page] they seize on, Ten Children on their knees intreat but for one Loaf, and at last with much importunity obtained it: but before the children had eaten it, they took even that one Loaf away, and left them destitute of a morsel of Bread amongst ten Children. Ransacking every corner of the house, that nothing might be left behind, they find a small Pewter dish, in which the dry Nurse had put Pap to feed the poor Infant, the Mother which gave it suck being fled to save her Life, this they seize on too. The Nurse intreats, for Gods sake, that they would spare that, pleading, that in the Mothers absence it was all the sustenance which was or could be provided to sustain the life of the Child, and on her knees intreated to shew mercy unto the Child, that knew not the right hand from the left, a motive which prevailed with God himself, though justly incensed against Nineveh. But to shew what Bowels of Compassion and Mercy are to be expected in Sectaries, and how far they are from being Disciples to him who says, Be ye merciful, as your Father which is in heaven is merciful. They transgress that precept of our Saviour in the Letter, and take away the Childrens meat and give it unto dogs; for throwing the Pap to the dogs, they put up the dish as lawful prize.

Master Swifts eldest son, a youth, seeing this barbarous cruelty, demanded of them a reason of this so hard usage: they replyed, That his Father was a Traitor to the King and Parliament, and added, that they would keep them so short, that they should eat the very Flesh from their Arms; and to make good their word, they threaten the Miller, that if he ground any Corn for these Children, they would grind him in his own Mill; and not contented [Page] with this, they go to Mr. Swifts next Neighbour (whose daughter was his Servant) and take him Prisoner, they examine him upon oath what goods of Mr. Swifts he had in his custody, he professing that he had none, they charge him to take his daughter away from Mr. Swifts service, or else they threaten to Plunder him, and to make sure work they make him give them security to obey all their commands: terrified with this, the Neighbours stand afar off, and pity the distressed Condition of these persecuted Children, but dare not come or send to their relief: by this means the Children and Servants had no sustenance, hardly any thing to cover them, from Friday six a clock at night, until Saturday twelve at night, until at last the Neighbours moved with the lamentable cryes and complaints of the Children and Servants, one of the Neighbours over-looking all difficulties, and shewing that he durst be charitable in despite of these Monsters, ventured in and brought them some provision. And if the World would know what it was that so exasperated these Rebels against this Gentleman, the Earl of Stamford, a man that is not bound to give an account of all his actions, gave two reasons for it, First, because he had bought arms and conveyed them into Monmouth-shire, which under his Lordships good favour was not so; and secondly, because not before, he preached a Sermon in Rosse upon that Text, Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars, in which his Lordship said, he had spoken Treason in endeavouring to give Caesar more than his due: these two Crimes cost Mr. Swift no less than 300 l.

About Feb. 1642. the Duke of Vendosme being to return home into France, but resolving first to take [Page] his leave of the King at Oxford, obtained a Pass from the close Committee, that he might be free from any let or molestation in his journey, but notwithstanding this Pass, in his return from Oxford he was searched and plundered at Uxbridge, by that worthy Knight Sir Samuel Luke, who was sent by his Excellency from Windsor, with a Troop of Horse for that purpose, That France by experience might know that Thieves rob as confidently in the Towns of England, as in the woods of Ardenna, or any Forrest in France.

About December 1642. the Collonels Waller, Brown, and others marching from Ailesbury to Windsor, and thence by Newbury to Winchester, their Soldiers in the March Plundered every Minister within five miles of the Road, without distinction whether of their own party, or of the other, whether they subscribed for Episcopacy, Presbytery, or Independency, whether they wore a Surpless, or refused it; only if they did not, they afforded them the less booty. Those that were Confiders, whose Irregularity, and Non-Conformity, armed them with confidence to appear, Petitioned the House of Commons for Relief and satisfaction: it being taken into Consideration that this was not according to their new Phrase to weaken the wicked, but the Righteous and such who stood well affected to the Parliament: hereupon slandering the Cavaliers, with the fact which their own Soldiers had done, and to make the foolish Citizens bleed free, there was an Order drawn up and published, That in regard the Petitioners were well-affected men, and Plundered by the Cavaliers, that there should be a general Collection made for them the next Fast-day, and that the Preachers should exhort the People, and pray [Page] to God to enlarge the Peoples hearts, bountifully to relieve the Petitioners.

But Winchester being surprized, and the Lord Grandison taken Prisoner, Collonel Brown in a Letter to famous Isaac Pennington, magnifies the Victory, and inlarged the glory of it very much by that Circumstance of taking that Noble Lord Prisoner; but which did much eclipse the honor obtained that day, in the Letter he adds, that by the Treachery of Colonel Urrey, he was escaped: little Isaac had hardly so much patience, as to read out the Letter, but he summons his Mirmidons, and gives an Alarm to his Red-coats, the Messengers of his Fury, and sends them instantly to plunder Mistris Urries Lodging: it was no sooner said than done, they being as swift to act mischief as Isaac was ready to command it; what they had in charge they perform faithfully, and Plunder her of no more but all. Mistris Urrey presently gives notice to her Husband what measure she found in the City, while he was in their Service in the Country: the Colonel, upon the Information hastens to London, to expostulate for this Injury, and for redress, complains to the House against the Ring-leader Brown, and Rout-master little Isaac: upon hearing both Parties, the House quits Colonel Urrey from any conspiracy with my Lord Grandison, or connivance at his escape: and for reparation of his Losses, they order him 400 l. to be paid him out of the Monies collected the last Fast-day for the Plundered Ministers, who by this means were Plundered twice: and so one Order begetting another, they Order, That a new Collection shall be made for the Petitioners the next Fast-day: nor was this the first Debt by many that have been paid by [Page] the abused Charity of London, the great Tax-bearing Mule, as one justly calls it.

There is one Beale dwelling at Hasely (as I take it) in Oxfordshire: a Man much devoted to the Proceedings of the two Houses of Parliament, yet it was his chance to fall into their hands who weaken the wicked: some of the Rebels under the command of the Earl of Essex, Plundered him of two Horses: upon complaint made unto the Earl, he gives Beale command to attend him at Tame, and there he should have them again: according to the directions given him by the Earl (accompanied by his Brother) he comes to Tame, hoping to have his Horses restored; being come thither, Beale is apprehended and committed to Prison; and his Horse, together with that which his Brother rode on, are both seized for the Earls use; nor can either Man or Horse be released, unless he will pay down twenty pound in ready mony: Having continued in Prison four days, at last his Mother (for fear if she had rode she might have been Prisoner for her Horses sake, as her Son was) comes to Tame on foot, and brings twenty pound with her to redeem her Son out of Prison; upon receipt of the Money, being a Debt so justly due and so truly paid, his Excellency released him out of his Imprisonment, and restored him the two worst Horses of the four, and wisely kept the two best for himself, which with a very little help, may serve to explain the mystery of his Motto, CAVE ADSUM, i.e. where I come, look well to your Money and Horses.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
IX.

[Page]

Master Jones Vicar of Wellingborow, starved to death in Prison at Northampton. A Barber and a Maid-servant Murdered by the Rebels at Wellingborow. Captain Ven his abuse of Windsor-Castle, and his barbarous usage of Prisoners there, &c.

WHen I first entred on this Work, it was a promise solemnly made, not to abuse the World with Falshoods or Uncertainties, but to use all Candour and Ingenuity: and if any thing should chance to pass, which upon better information should appear false, I should not blush to make a free and an ingenuous acknowledgment. In these several Relations what to retract or recal of the Rebels Cruelties, I yet know nothing, but what to add unto them I do.

The sixth Weeks Mercury told you of the Plundering of Wellingborow in Northampton-shire by the Rebels, and the taking of Mr. Jones Vicar of that Town, Prisoner; and in that account which I there gave of him, I left him in Captivity at Northampton: since that Mercury went abroad, some good Body finding that Relation to come far short of that barbarous usage which Mr. Jones found from the Rebels, moved either with detestation of such inhumane Cruelty, not to be buryed in Oblivion, or out of affection to his Person murdered by these savage [Page] Monsters, hath supplied the former defect, and enabled me to bring this Story to its sad conclusion-

Master Jones was a man very aged, being arrived at that Term which Moses made the usual boundary of mans life in his time, Threescore and ten; and had not these blood-thirsty men shortned his dayes by an untimely death, he might have been so strong as to come to fourscore years: And though age it self be a disease (which yet few men that have it are willing to be cured of) it pleased God to add a casual infirmity to his natural; for some two years since by a fall he unhappily broke his leg, of which he continued lame to his death. When the Rebels, those Locusts that devour all the good things of the Land, came to Wellingborow, having ransacked the Town, they took many Prisoners, and amongst the rest Master Jones: all that knew him must bear him record, that he was a man of a most unblamable life and conversation, an able Scholar, and extraordinarily gifted for Preaching, of which he gave ample proof by his Labours diligently bestowed among his Parishoners by the space of Forty years: having him in their power whom they knew to be a great means by his Orthodox Preaching to keep that Town, and some parts thereabouts in obedience, when the rest of the Country were in Rebellion against their Sovereign, they neither reverence his calling, nor honour his age, nor pity his infirmity, but abuse him by scoffs and jeers, and compel him to go on foot a great part of the way (lame and weak as he was) between Wellingborow and Northampton: and that he might keep pace with the rest, they compel him to make more speed than his infirmity could brook. At Wellingborow [Page] the Rebels murthered a Barber and stole away his Bear; and when they could not force this reverend old man to mend his pace, Lieutenant Grimes (a desperate Brownist, the Master of this misrule, and the chief agent in inflicting all this scorn and tyranny on Master Jones, but since a Prisoner in Banbury Castle) to see if fear would add to his strength, forceth the Bear upon him, which running between his legs, took him upon her back, and laying aside the untractableness of its Nature, grew patient of her burthen; and to the astonishment of the beholders carried him quietly, so that what was intended as a violence, became his ease. The Rebels overcome by so unusual an example of kindness, the savage Bear reproving the madness of their fury, they remove Master Jones from off the Bear to a Horse, but such a Horse as did but vary, not better the condition of his Transportation. One of the rout observed to be extreamly active in all these insolencies, and to have a hand in murthering the Barber, seing the tameness of the Bear, as quiet under Master Jones, as if she had been accustomed to the Saddle, presumes that it was no more but up and ride, and presently bestrides the Bear, who as if she had been of that race that did revenge the Prophet Elisha's quarrel, dismounts the bold Rider, and as if she had been robbed of her Whelps, did so mangle, rend, and tear him with her teeth and pawes, that the presumptuous Wretch died of these hurts suddenly after.

Stay, Reader, suspend thy opinion, be not too hasty, I profess ingenuously the relation seems at first blush to partake something of the Romanse, or at best to be but an imitation of some Popish [Page] Legend, as if we meant to implore the help of feigned miracles to gain credit to a party: but against all this prejudice I must oppose, first, the integrity and quality of the Relator, being beyond all exception, and affirms it on his credit. Secondly, why may not God stop and open the mouth of the Bear now as well as the Lions heretofore? or revenge the indignities offered to a Minister under the Gospel, by the same creature, as those offered to a Prophet under the Law? Or lastly, why may not the blood of him that owned this Beast, be required by this Beast of him that had his hand in shedding it? This was not the first time that God gave commission to the Brute to execute his vengeance. But I forget my self; my business is to relate things done, not to encounter Objections against their probability of doing. To go on therefore.

Having brought Mr. Jones to Northampton, his entertainment there was as bad as his usage in the way thither; though it were in the depth of Winter, when old age needed good fortifications of Lodging and Diet against the incursions of cold and wet, yet they afforded him nothing but a hard mat, with a little straw under him, and to cover him and to keep him warm nothing but one blanket, and his own wearing cloaths: As for his food, they give him the Bread of Affliction, denying his own friends leave to supply him with competent diet, to sustein nature, and his growing infirmities: yet to shew that Man lives not by bread only, but by every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God, it pleased his good providence to preserve him like the young Children in Daniel, fed only with Pulse, so that he was in good plight, and semed [Page] to want nothing, though he continued in this distressed condition from Christmas to almost Easter: about which time, not remorse of conscience for so much cruelty practised on a decrepid old man, (but an Orthodox Reverend Divine) but importunity of friends, prevailed with the Rebels to release him of his imprisonment in Northampton, and to remit him to a neighbour Minister of his, one Mr. Walters, Bachelor in Divinity, Vicar of Doddington near Wellingborow, a very learned and industrious Preacher, and permitted him to Officiate in his own Cure at Easter, there being but one Parish Church in the Town, but no less than two thousand Communicants. Having licence to visit his Charge, not awed by that tyrannous usage which he had undergone, Conscience of his duty doth press him to a punctual observance of the Orders and Canons of the Church: he celebrates Divine Service according to the Book of Common Prayer; preacheth Obedience as boldly as if there had been no Rebels in Northamptonshire, administreth the Sacraments with the same Reverence, Decency and Devotion, as if there had been no Puritans in Wellingborow. Nor doth the undaunted old man remit any thing enjoyned by Canon or Rubrick. This constancy of his so incensed the Schismatical Puritanical Party of the Town, that complaint is made at Northampton, that Mr. Jones is the same man he was, as much a true Son and Minister of the Church of England as ever. Upon this information, he is apprehended in Easter week, and carried Prisoner to Northampton a second time, where they use him with more inhumanity (if it be possible) than before; they will not permit his Wife to visit him and [Page] kept him so short in his diet, not suffering his Wife or friends to relieve him, that most barbarously they starved him to death, for about Whitsontide his spirits exhausted, and his body pined by famine, the good old Martyr resigned his Soul to God.

There is in Northampton one John Gifford, for his extraction the Hog-herds Son of Little-Hougton, for his education, a Knitter, afterwards a Hose-buyer, now Mayor of Northampton, and Colonel of the Town Regiment. This man to his power Civil and Martial assumes an Ecclesiastical Superintendency too, and orders what forms shall be used in Baptism, the Lords Supper, Burial of the Dead, and the like: When therefore they came to interr the skin and bones of this starved Martyr, for flesh he had none, the form enjoyned by this Gifford was the same which one Brooks, a London Lecturer, used at the burial of John Gough of S. James Dukes Place within Aldgate in London, viz.

Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust;

Here's the Pit, and in thou must.

The World may in this see what devout Liturgies we are like to have, when a Mayor of a Town shall suppress the Ancient pious forms, and introduce rime Doggerels, fitter for a painted Cloth in an Alehouse, than the Church of Christ.

Before I leave this particular Relation, I must not forget to tell you one act of these Religious Reformers: being at Willingborow at the Sign of the Swan, two maid Servants making a bed, some of these Rebels did sollicite them to incontinency, but the Maids refusing to hearken to their [Page] beastly sollicitations, they began to offer violence, and to enforce what they could not perswade, they still making resistance, they shot one of them dead in the place, and shot the other through the wrist: such Monuments of Religion and Purity do these blessed Reformers leave at all places where they come.

Mr. Frederick Gibb Parson of Hartist in Suffolke, in Morning Prayer before his Sermon, desired his Parishoners to give attention to one of His Majesties Declarations newly set forth, with an express Command to have it published in all Parish Churches, thereby to rectifie the People, and to wipe off those false Impressions which the Incendiaries of the Kingdom had made in them concerning the Kings Actions and Intentions: whereupon one Mr. Coleman a Parishioner being present, impudently replied unto him, openly in the Church, that he might be ashamed to abuse the People by Reading his Majesties Declarations unto them, and therefore he would fetch him some Parliament Declarations which were a great deal better to be published unto them; while this railing Rabshekeh reviled his Sovereign, Mr. Gibb as if he had received the Command in that case given, answer him not, made no reply at all, but as not heeding this snarler, calls on the Congregation a second time to give attention, Coleman interrupts him again, and in a scoffing manner saies, Well then Sir, you mean to be an obedient Servant to his Majesty, Mr. Gibb then thinking it not only seasonable but necessary to profess his Loyalty, replied, Yes, Sir, I am and hope to continue a faithful Servant unto Him as long as I live: and so proceeds to read the Declaration; the People notwithstanding all this Incouragement [Page] from Coleman to contradict with them, standing very attentive to hear it: The main drift of the Kings Declaration was to assure all His loving Subjects, That as He expected that they should make the Laws the rule of their obedience, so He would make the Laws the guide of His Government: Mr. Gibb having published the Declaration, Coleman stands up and most Traitorously replied to his Parson, Well, Sir, the King neither is nor shall be Judge of the Law, whatever such prating fellows as you would have him: after this being inraged (as the rest of that Faction are) that the Peoples eyes should be opened, or that they should, being truly informed, conceive of the King as he is, a most just and pious Prince, but still to look on him and all his actions through those false Perspectives of slander and falsehood which they hold before their eyes; Coleman speeds to London, and complains (to that Conventicle which call themselves a Parliament) against Mr. Gibb for so foul an Affront put upon them by Publishing the Kings Declaration: presently (being servilely Observant to every base informer) they dispatch several Pursevants to apprehend Mr. Gibb, he seeing the Storm coming (as wise men do) hides himself, after some time of retirement (advised unto it by his friend) he goes to London, where by the great mediation of friends, and paying fees to the sum of 30 l. he was dismissed, upon engagement to be forthcoming, whensoever they should call for him.

There is none so insolent and intolerable as a base mean man started up into command or authority, we cannot give you a greater instance, than in that beggarly Captain Ven, Citizen of London made Colonel and Commander in chief of Windsor-Castle, [Page] who doth not only assume to himself the propriety of his Sovereigns house, dating his Letters to Jezabel his Wife, From our Castle at Windsor, and building some additions to the Deans lodgings, as if he meant to set up his rest there, and make that his habitation: when no place in that Royal Castle is fit for such a Couple but the Cole-house, and even that too good for them; but as if there would never come a time to call him to an account, he doth use the Gentlemen and Soldiers taken by the Rebels, and sent Prisoners thither, with that cruelty and inhumanity, as if they were Turks, not Christians, for the Gentlemen that are Prisoners there are not only kept from Church, nor permitted to receive the Sacrament neither from their own Preachers, nor from any friend whom they could procure to do that office for them, nay they were not permitted to joyn together in devotions in their private lodgings, but each man a part, and if this petty Tyrant could have hindred that intercourse which every particular devout Soul injoys with his God, this Atheist would have hindered that too. And because the sedentary Solitary Lives which they led there were prejudicial to their healths, they earnestly entreated Ven that they might recreate themselves in the Tennis-Court near the Keep, and offered to be at the charges of a Guard, if those high walls, and the many guards about them were not thought sufficient to secure them, but yet were denied. Nay, when the Sheriff of Sussex was brought Prisoner from London to Windsor very lame, though his Chirurgion offered Colonel Ven to be deposed, that on the least neglect his Leg was like to gangreen, yet after he came to Windsor, he was forced to lie with the rest of the [Page] Knights and Gentlemen on the ground many nights; at last shewing his leg to Ven, he confessed that he never saw a more dangerous lameness, and promised to acquaint the Earl of Essex with it: and the Sheriff himself being acquainted with the Earl, presuming on some interest in him, wrote unto him to acquaint him with his condition, and earnestly entreating him that he might be sent to London, and disposed of, though in a Dungeon, for a week, that he might have the assistance of his own Physitian, and Chirurgion, offering to give any security, and be at any charges to assure him of his safe return, to render himself true Prisoner; but neither the sense of his misery, nor his earnest sollicitations could prevail with his Excellency. And if the Knights and Gentlemen who had money to bribe that compassion which they could not intreat, found no better measure at their hands, what then, think you, were those heavy pressures under which the poor common Soldiers groaned? there were in the Castle eight poor Soldiers to whom the Sheriff of Sussex allowed eight shillings a week: yet notwithstanding because they refused to take the wages of Iniquity, and serve under the Rebels Colours, and fight against their Sovereign, they starved them, insomuch that being released, (that they might not die in the Castle) coming into the air, three of them fell down dead in the streets: three more recovered as far as Eaton, where a good Woman for five shillings a week given for their relief by the Sheriff of Sussex, gave them entertainment, and when the Sheriff made his happy escape, he left them alive.

There was a poor man living near Moore Park, whom (when Prince Rupert was in those parts) [Page] commanded to shew him where the Pipes lay which conveyed water to the Castle, for this crime they apprehend him, and commit him Prisoner to the Castle, where they fed him with so slender diet, that they even starved him: and when upon his Wives tears and lamentable cries that she and her Children were like to starve at home, while her Husband starved at Windsor, they having no subsistence but what he got by the sweat of his browes, he was released, he was not able to stand on his legs, and whether dead since we have no information.

There was at the same time in the Castle, one Lieutenant Atkinson Prisoner, who suffering under the same want of necessary food, sent to his Father, humbly petitioning for relief; his Father though a man of good estate, returned answer, that unless he would take profered Entertainment from the Parliament, he should lie there, rot, and starve, and be damn'd for him: He finding no pity from his Father, where Nature and Religion bade him expect it, petitioned the Gentlemen in the Keep for bread, as many others daily did, and on his Petition had monies sent him, but died starved two daies after, and left this just ground to the World to make this Observation, That where Puritanism prevails, it cancels all Obligations both of Religion and Nature, and never fails to make men guilty of that sin which is in the number of those, which the Scripture tells us shall heap wrath on the end of the World, the want of natural affection.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
X.

[Page]

Master Chaldwel and his Wife barbarously used by the Rebels at Lincoln, and his Servant Murthered. Mr. Losse, Parson of Wedon Pinkney in Northampton-shire, himself and the Church infinitely abused on the Lords day by some Rebel-Troopers of Northampton, &c.

WIlliam Chaldwell of Thorgonby in the County of Lincoln Esquire, and Justice of Peace, being an aged Gentleman, yet his Loyalty and desire to serve the King in his just Wars, made him over-look his infirmities, so that he resolved in person to come to his assistance: To this purpose he provided four horses compleatly furnished, of which the Rebels having intelligence, they surprize him and seize on his horses. In February 1643. some Rebel-Troopers came to Mr. Chaldwells House and demanded entrance, which he denying unless they could shew some Commission from the King, they presently broke up his Hall windows, and forcing his entrance, apprehend his Person: yet his Person is not all they come for, they begin to plunder his Goods, and the first thing which they lay hold on, was some Linnen lying on the Hall Table. A Servant of Mr. Chaldwells standing by, unwilling to lose any thing, if it might be saved, takes hold on the Linnen too, and intreats the Troopers to spare it: Presently some [Page] cry out Shoot him, which was no sooner said than done, for one dscharging a Pistol at him, shot a Bullet into his heart, and the top of his scouring-stick into his Body near it. The poor man instantly fell down dead, hardly by any motion expressing the fare-well of life: While most stood amazed at so barbarous an act, some make towards him, thinking to help him, but were forbid by these bloody Villains to come near him, who were so far from remorse for what they had done, that tomurther they added Theft, diving into the Pockets of him whom they had thus murthered, and robbing him of his moneys: Nay his Wife whom they had murthered, hearing of this sad accident, being great with child, came to see her dead Husband, but was not permitted to come near him, being threatned by these Troopers, that if she came near him, they would do unto her as they had done unto her Husband, shoot her dead.

Having done their pleasure in Mr. Chaldwell's House, they carry him away Prisoner to Lincoln; Being come thither, they commit him to the Town Goal, and lodged him there in the common Keep amongst Murtherers and Felons: The day after the Lincoln-shire Rebels received the defeat before Newarke, by a verbal command from the Earl of Lincolne he was removed from the Town Prison to the Castle, in Lincolne, where he was put into a nasty stinking place called the Witch-hole, and without any regard to his Quality, being a Gentleman of prime note in his Country, or to his age being an old man, they permit him to stay there all night, having no other bed but the Ground, and no other pillow but the hard stones. The next day they vouchsafe him the favour to let him purchase [Page] a little and but a very little better accommodation by buying out some poor Prisoners out of their lodging: remaining there in this disconsolate condition, his Wife an aged Gentlewoman came to visit him, being very willing to share with him in his Misery, as before she had done in his Prosperity.

Having spent some time in mutual consolation, and exhorting one another patiently to bear this unjust oppression, hoping that they might enjoy one anothers society, in so mean a condition, without the envy of their oppressors: but even this contented misery did not last long, for the next day after the Rebels lost Grantham by the Kings recovering that Town, out of their possession, the Governour of Lincoln (Welden by name) inraged, and not knowing where to reek his malice safer than on this poor old Gentleman, comes up to the Castle, and most imperiously commands that Chaldwell should come before him: the Messenger that was sent to command his appearance, returned with this answer, That Mr. Chaldwell laboured under some indisposition, that he was in bed, and his Wife with him: the Governour not satisfied with so reasonable an answer, snatched a cudgel out of a Soldiers hand, and swears that he would make the old rascal rise: in this fury away he goes to Mr. Chaldwell's Chamber, and rushing in, in a menacing way shakes his cudgel at him, and holding it upon his head, threatned to bastinado him if he did not rise presently; the good old Gentlewoman his Wife, prognosticating by the rough message sent her Husband, that there was a storm coming, forsook her bed, and stood by it in her Night-gown, but bare-legged, there to interpose and plead for her Husband if occasion [Page] served: and now finding more inhumanity than her fear at first suggested, in an humble manner she beseeched the Governour to use her Husband like a Gentleman, not like a dog, to be awed by a cudgel. The Goververnour impatient of any mediation, though from a Wife, and though backed with never so much reason, commands his Soldiers to take her away, which they did in so rude and boisterous a manner, that they dragged her down the Stairs, pulled her dressing off her head, and at last thrust her out of the Castle. Being thus violently snatched from her dear Husband, and fearing he might suffer as much violence within, as she did in being thrust out of the Castle, she sits down on a stone at the Castlegate, where the winter blasts fann'd her gray hair, a sad spectacle to all that passed by, and knew who she was. Many there were that pitied her distress, and would willingly have received her into their houses, but durst not; 'tis a Crime to shew mercy where the Rebels intend cruelty. At last having sate there long, full of tears and sorrow, baffled with cold winds and weather, a sister of Mr. Stutts the Apothecary (and the God of mercy restore it an hundred fold into her bosome) sends her a Petticoat (for they thrust her out with no cloaths on but her Night-gown) to fence her against the extremity of the cold. But to let this charitable Gentlewoman know that the rewards of mercy are to be expected in another World, and that here to do good, and for that to suffer evil, is the recompence of this World, that very after-noon her Brothers house was plundered, and all their Goods seized on, so that they needed a return of that compassion in the evening which [Page] they shewed to others in the morning. Welden the Governour having compelled the good old Gentleman to rise out of his bed, notwithstanding his present infirmity, sends him from his poor lodging which he had lately purchased, to the common Dungeon, where he had neither light nor air but what the Grate afforded. The place was of such condition, that there being three Prisoners with him in the same room, but one of four must lie down at once, the rest must stand: and yet in this little ease (as was testified by a Letter under his own hand) he remained eleven or twelve nights without Bed, Chair, or Stool: and in that time, for four or five nights, he was not permitted to go forth to do the Offices of nature, a command being given, that if he offered to stir forth they should beat out his brains. Thus much and divers other particulars were signified to the Commissioners at Newarke, when the Ammunition came from thence: At which time Information was given, that Mr. Chaldwell was then in a condition not much better than what you have heard here related: and whether their barbarous cruelties and inhumanity have not set an end to his sufferings by Death, is uncertain.

On Sunday the second of July 1643. in the afternoon, ten or twelve Troopers under the command of Captain Samuel came from Northampton to Wedon Pinkney in the same County, and coming thither in Prayer-time, they came into the Church, one of them being Horse-keeper (as it was reported) to Sir Richard Samuel, Father to the Captain, came up to the reading Pew, where Mr. Losse Parson of that Parish was officiating Divine Service, and commanded him to leave off [Page] his Pottage and to follow him: Mr. Losse intreating him in that sacred work, but to have patience until he had finished what he had began: Patience me no patience (replied the Groom) my business is of greater importance than to admit of any delay, come away therefore, or I will pull you out by the ears: thereupon not knowing whose Soldiers they were, nor of what consequence their business might be, or if he had known both, yet not able to make resistance, he obeys his command, and followed him into the Church-yard. Being come thither, Mr. Losse demands what he would have with him? the Groom tells him, that he must go along with them to Northampton, Mr. Losse demands again, by what authority, and by vertue of what Commission? The Groom replies, that he should know that when he came to Northampton. Mr. Losse entreats that he may be excused, alledging that he had lost Twelve or Thirteen Horses, taken from him by the Parliament Soldiers, and that he had never a Horse able to carry him two miles out of the Town: one of the Troopers swears Wounds and Blood, that he would carry him behind him, and if that did not like him, he would drag him along with a halter at his horse tail. Mr. Losse abominating so great insolency from Grooms, boldly told them, That he would never be a Slave to slaves; and so rushing from them, took Sanctuary in the Church, and shut the door upon him, and perceiving the door on the other side of the Church open, the People having unbarred it for their speedier passage out, he hastens thither, and tho he made what speed he could, he was like to be prevented by one of the Troopers who was come about and was ready to enter the Church on horseback: [Page] which Mr. Losse observing, took up the bar of the door, and resolutely ran at the Trooper to unhorse him: This unexpected resistance so valiantly made, put the Trooper to a retreat, whereby Mr. Losse gained time to bar the door fast against him. Having shut both the Church doors upon himself, and the remainder of the Congregation, some being fled for fear; the Clerk at a hole gave him the Key of the Belfrey: Mr. Losse not thinking himself secure enough in the Church, gets up into the Belfrey, and locks the doors fast after him; being come to the place where the Bells hang, he discovers over head a little hole, only big enough for a man to creep through, and a ladder standing there which led up unto it, Mr. Losse goes up the ladder, and through the hole gets upon the Leads, and with great difficulty draws the Ladder after him, being massy and very heavy; by which means he did not only deprive his pursuers of the means to come at him, but with the Ladder laid over the hole, baracadoed the passage against them: and now being here, had he had any weapon to defend himself, he had been impregnable. While Mr. Losse was up in the Belfrey securing of himself, the Troopers are at the Church windows, endeavouring to wrench out the Iron bars, but without any success: at last with their Pole-axes and great Tombstones impiously taken from the Graves of the dead, they break open the Church doors; having thus forced their entrance they ride into the Church (not remembring they were in Gods House) from one end of it to another, spurring and switching their Horses purposely to endanger the People. These barbarous outrages did much affright the People, but especially Mrs. Losse [Page] and her poor Children, whom it most concerned, Mr. Losse being the only man aimed at; Mrs. Losse fell into a swoon in the Church, and had no shew of life in her for a long time; at which the People moved with compassion, interceded with the Troopers, and desired them to desist, putting them in mind of the place where they were, a place where God met with his People, and they with their God. It seems this Congregation had been better taught, than to subscribe to Doctor Twist the Proloquutor of the absurd Heterogenious Synod, his Interpretation of that Text of Scripture, Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my Sanctuary▪ in his Preface to Mr. Meads Book of the Apostacy of the latter times: as if this Text enjoyned no reverence to be used towards the places of Gods publick worship; they were much scandalized at this prophane Irreverence, and made it an argument to awe them to civil demeanour at least, because of the place: and withal they objected, that they did much abuse themselves, and dishonour their cause by such outragious carriages: all this would reflect on the cause they pretended to maintain. And lastly, they alledged, that if they had any shame in them, they might be ashamed, in the Lords House on the Lords day to abuse a Minister in his own Congregation, who besides the honour and reverence due to his calling, might challenge some respect from them being a Gentleman of good Birth and Descent. In reply to so good reason, (being indeed but Pearl cast before Swine) one breaks out with a great oath, swearing Wounds and Blood (so that all the Blasphemy is not on the Cavaliers side) and saying, What do you tell me of Birth and Descent, a Plague take him [Page]and his Gentility, I hope within this year to see never a Gentleman in England: you remember the Proverb, Children and Fools tell truth, having thus despised all wholsome admonition, they go to the Belfrey, they break open the door, and come to the place where the Bells did hang, and from the top of the Frames of the Bells endeavoured through the hole (but now mentioned) to get upon the Leads, where Mr. Losse was, but he having stopped that passage with the Ladder, and making the best use he could of his hands and feet (being all the weapons either offensive or defensive which he had) made good the place against them: yet notwithstanding in the Resistence he was in very great danger to lose his life, for they discharged their Pistols at him at least eight or nine times, but by the good providence of God they missed their mark, with their Swords they wounded him in three several parts of his body: yet God be blessed the wounds were not mortal; at last having received a hurt in his hand, having a vein pricked with one of their Swords, his blood flowed so fast upon the Troopers underneath him, that as they bragged there, and in other places after they were gone thence, they thought they had dispatched him, and therefore thinking him to be a dead man, they left him, yet to imbalm him to his funeral, they pour out a flood of reproachful names upon him, calling him Rogue, Rascal, Slave, Villain, Dog, Devil, making no stop till their Master the Devil, and their own memories could suggest no more names of the same stamp: At last, to seal up all, for fear they had not murthered him, they protest with many Execrations upon themselves, that if they had not now sped him (which yet they [Page] hoped they had) they would return another time, and have him either dead or alive.

At Bristow in Devonshire there dwells a Husbandman (and though I cannot tell his name, yet let it not weaken the credit of the Relation) who not satisfied with the Parliaments proceedings in taking up Arms against their lawful undoubted Sovereign, stood in a seeming Neutrality: at last conceiving it time to declare himself, he openly adhered to the Kings Party: hereupon he was very diligently sought after, and the Earl of Stamford sent a Troop of Horse to his House to apprehend him: when they came thither, they found not the good man at home, but a Son of his, about Ten or Eleven years old, they ask him where his Father was, the Child replied, that he was not at home, they threaten him, and use all arts to make him discover where his Father had hid himself; the Child being ignorant it seems where his Father was, still persisted in the same answer, that he knew not where he was: hereupon they threaten to hang him; neither doth that prevail: at last they take the poor innocent Child and hang him up, either because he would not betray his Father, had he been able to satisfie their doubt, or for not having the Spirit of Prophecy, not being able to receive what by an ordinary way of knowledg he did not know: having let him hang a while, they cut him down, not intending to hang him unto death, but being cut down they could perceive nothing discovering life in him, hereupon in a barbarous way of experiment, they prick him with their Swords in the back and thighs, using the means leading to death, to find out life: at last after some long stay, some small symptomes of life did appear: [Page] yet so weak that there they left him nearer the confines of death than life: and whether the Child did ever recover, is more than my Informer can assure me. Only, Courteous Reader, observe from this short Narration, that these Bloody Rebels spare neither the venerableness of the Sacred Function, the infirmities of old Age, or the tenderness of Youth.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
XI.

The particulars of the first Siege of Corfe-Castle, gallantly defended by the Lady Banks, and Captain Laurence, against the Powers, Plots, and Policies of Walter Earle and his Adherents, &c.

THere is in the Isle of Purbeck a strong Castle called Corffe Castle, seated on a very steep Hill, in the fracture of a Hill in the very midst of it, being eight miles in length, running from the East end of the Peninsula to the West: and though it stand between the two ends of this fracture, so that it may seem to lose much advantage of its natural and artificial strength as commanded from thence, being in height equal to, if not over-looking the tops of the highest Towers of the Castle, yet the structure of the Castle is so strong, the ascent so steep, the Walls so massie and thick, that it is one of the impregnablest Forts of the Kingdom, and of very great concernment, in respect [Page] of its command over the Island, and the places about it. This Castle is now the Possession and Inheritance of the Right Honorable Sir John Banks, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and one of his Majesties most Honorable Privy Council, who receiving Commands from the King to attend Him at York, in Easter Term, 1642. had leave from the two Houses to obey those Commands: After the unhappy Differences between the King and the two Houses, or rather between the King and the Faction in both Houses, grew high, it being generally feared that the Sword would decide the controversie; the Lady Bankes, a virtuous and prudent Lady, resolved with her Children and Family to retire to this Castle, there to shelter themselves from the storm which she saw coming, which accordingly she did; there she and her Family remained in peace all the Winter, and a great part of the Spring, until May, 1643. about which time the Rebels, under the command of Sir Walter Earl, Sir Thomas Trenchard, and others, had possessed themselves of Dorchaster, Lyme, Melcome, Weymouth, Wareham, and Pool, (Portland Castle being treacherously delivered to the Rebels) only Corfe Castle remaining in Obedience to the King: but the Rebels knowing how much it concerned them to add this Castle to their other Garrisons, to make all the Sea-coast wholly for them; and thinking it more feisible to gain it by Treachery than open Hostility, resolved to lay hold on an Opportunity coming on, to see if they could become Masters of it.

There is an ancient usage that the Major and Barons (as they call them) of Corfe Castle, accompanyed by the Gentry of the Island, have permission [Page] from the Lord of the Castle, on May-day, to course a Stag, which every year is performed with much Solemnity and great concourse of People: On this day some Troops of Horse from Dorchester, and other places, came into this Island, intending to find other Game then to hunt the Stag, their business being suddenly to surprize the Gentlemen in the Hunting, and to take the Castle; the News of their coming disperst the Hunters, and spoiled the sport for that day, and made the Lady Bankes to give order for the safe Custody of the Castle-gates, and to keep them shut against all comers. The Troopers having mist their Prey on the Hills, (the Gentlemen having withdrawn themselves) some of them came to the Castle under a pretence to see it, but entrance being denyed them, the common Soldiers used threatning Language, casting out words implying some intentions to take the Castle; but the Commanders (who better knew how to conceal their Resolutions) utterly disavowed any such thought, denying that they had any such Commission; however the Lady Banks very wisely, and like her self, hence took occasion to call in a Guard to assist her, not knowing how soon she might have occasion to make use of them, it being now more than probable, that the Rebels had a design upon the Castle. The taking in this Guard, as it secured her at home, so it rendred her suspected abroad; from thence-forward there was a watchful and vigilant eye to survey all her Actions, whatsoever she sends out, or sends for in, is suspected; her ordinary Provisions for her Family are by fame multiplyed, and reported to be more than double what indeed they were, as if she had now an intention to Victual and Man the Castle against the [Page] Forces of the two Houses of Parliament; presently Letters are sent from the Committees of Poole, to demand the four small Pieces in the Castle, and the pretence was, because the Islanders conceived strange Jealousies, that the Pieces were mounted and put on their Carriages: Hereupon the Lady Bankes dispatched Messengers to Dorchester and Poole, to entreat the Commissioners that the small Piece might remain in the Castle for her own defence; and to take away the ground of the Islanders Jealousies, she caused the Pieces to be taken off their Carriages again; hereupon a promise was made, that they should be left to her possession. But there passed not many days, before forty Sea-men (they in the Castle not suspecting any such thing) came very early in the Morning to demand the Pieces; the Lady in Person (early as it was) goes to the Gates, and desires to see their Warrant; they produced one, under the hands of some of the Commissioners; but instead of delivering them, though at that time there were but five Men in the Castle, yet these five, assisted by the Maid-servants at their Ladies Command, mount these Pieces on their Carriages again, and lading one of them, they gave fire; which small Thunder so affrighted the Sea-men, that they all quitted the place and ran away. They being gone, by beat of Drum she summons help into the Castle, and upon the Alarm given, a very considerable Guard of Tenants and Friends came in to her assistance, there being withal some fifty Arms brought into the Castle, from several parts of the Island: this Guard was kept in the Castle about a Week, during this time, many threatning Letters were sent unto the Lady, telling her, what great Forces should be sent to [Page] fetch them, if she would not by fair means be perswaded to deliver them, and to deprive her of her Auxiliaries, all or most of them being Neighbors thereabouts, they threaten, that if they oppose the delivery of them, they would fire their Houses: presently their Wives come to the Castle, there they weep and wring their hands, and with clamorous Oratory perswade their Husbands to come home, and not by saving others, to expose their own Houses to spoil and ruine, nay to reduce the Castle into a distressed condition, they did not only intercept two hundred weight of Powder provided against a Siege, but they interdict them the liberty of Common-Markets: Proclamation is made at Warham (a Market-Town hard by) that no Beer, Beef, or other provision should be sold to the Lady Banks, or for her use; strict Watches are kept, that no Messenger or Intelligence shall pass into or out of the Castle. Being thus distressed, all means of Victualling the Castle, being taken away, and being but slenderly furnished for a Siege, either with Ammunition or with Victual, at last they came to a Treaty of Composition, of which the result was, That the Lady Banks should deliver up those four small Pieces, the biggest carrying not above a three pound Bullet, and that the Rebels should permit her to enjoy the Castle, and Arms in it, in peace and quietness.

And though this wise Lady knew too well to rest satisfied or secured in these promises (their often breach of Faith having sufficiently instructed her what she might expect from them) yet she was glad of this opportunity to strengthen her self even by that means, by which many in the World thought she had done her self much prejudice; for [Page] the Rebels being now possessed of their Guns, presumed the Castle to be theirs, as sure as if they had actually possessed it. Now it was no more but ask and have: hereupon they grow remiss in their Watches, negligent in their Observations, not heeding what was brought in, nor taking care, as before, to intercept Supplies, which might enable them to hold out against a Siege: and the Lady, making good use of this remisness, laid hold on the present opportunity, and as much as the time would permit, furnish'd the Castle with Provisions of all sorts. In this Interval, there was brought in an hundred and half of Powder, and a quantity of Match proportionable. And understanding that the Kings Forces, under the Conduct of Prince Maurice, and the Marquess Hertford were advancing towards Blanford, she by her Messenger made her address to them, to signifie unto them the present Condition in which they were, the great Consequence of the place, desiring their assistance, and in particular, that they would be pleased to take into their serious consideration, to send some Commanders thither to take the Charge of the Castle; hereupon they send Captain Laurence, son of Sir Edward Laurence, a Gentleman of that Island, to Command in Chief; but he coming without a Commission, could not command moneys or provisions to be brought in until it was too late. There was likewise in the Castle one Captain Bond, an old Soldier, whom I should deprive of his due honor, not to mention him, having a share in the honor of this Resistance. The first time the Rebels faced the Castle, they brought a Body of between two and three hundred Horse and Foot, and two Pieces of Ordnance, and from the Hills played [Page] on the Castle, fired four houses in the Town, and then summoned the Castle; but receiving a denial for that time, they left it. But on the three and twentieth of June, the Sagacious Knight, Sir Walter Earle (that hath the gift of discerning Treasons, and might have made up his nine and thirty Treasons, forty, by reckoning in his own) accompanyed by Captain Sidenham, Captain Henry Jarvis, Captain Skuts, son of that Arch-Traytor Skut of Pool, with a Body of between five and six hundred, came and possessed themselves of the Town, taking the opportunity of a Misty morning, that they might find no resistance from the Castle. They brought with them to the Siege a Demy-Canon, a Culverin and two Sacres, with these and their small Shot, they played on the Castle on all Quarters of it, with good observation of Advantages, making their Battery strongest where they thought the Castle weakest. And to bind the Soldiers by tye of Conscience to an eager prosecution of the Siege, they administer them an Oath, and mutually binde themselves to most unchristian Resolutions, That if they found the Defendants obstinate not to yield, they would maintain the Siege to Victory, and then deny Quarter unto all, killing without mercy, Men, Women and Children. As to bring on their own Soldiers, they abused them with falshoods, telling them, That the Castle stood in a Level, yet with good advantages of approach; that there were but forty Men in the Castle, whereof twenty were for them; that there was rich Booty, and the like: So, during the Siege, they used all base unworthy means, to corrupt the Defendants, to betray the Castle into their hands; the better sort they endeavor to corrupt with Bribes; [Page] to the rest they offer double Pay, and the whole Plunder of the Castle; when all these Arts took no effect, then they fall to Stratagems and Engines. To make their approaches to the Wall with more safety, they make two Engines; one they call the Sow, the other the Boar, being made with boards lined with Wool to dead the shot. The first that moved forward was the Sow, but not being Musket proof, she cast nine of eleven of her Farrow; for the Musketiers from the Castle were so good marks-men at their Legs, the only part of all their Bodies left without defence, that nine ran away, as well as their broken and battered Legs would give them leave; and of the two which knew neither how to run away, nor well to stay, for fear, one was slain. The Boar, of the two (a man would think) the valianter Creature, seeing the ill success of the Sow, to cast her Litter before her time, durst not advance. The most advantageous part for their Batteries, was the Church, which they without fear of prophanation used, not only as their Rampart, but their Rendezvouz: of the Surpless they made two Shirts for two Soldiers, they broke down the Organs, and made the Pipes serve for Cases to hold their Powder and Shot; and not being furnished with Musket-Bullets, they cut off the Lead of the Church, and roll'd it up, and shoot it without ever casting it in a mould. Sir Walter and the Commanders were earnest to press forward the Soldiers, but as prodigal as they were of the blood of their common Soldiers, they were sparing enough of their own: It was a general Observation, that valiant Sir Walter never willingly exposed himself to any hazard, for being by chance endangered with a Bullet, shot through his Coat, [Page] afterwards he put on a Bears skin, and to the eternal honor of this Knights valour be it recorded, for fear of Musket-shot, (for other they had none) he was seen to creep on all four, on the sides of the Hill, to keep himself out of danger. This base Cowardise in the Assailants, added Courage and Resolution to the Defendants: therefore not compell'd by want, but rather to brave the Rebels, they sallyed out, and brought in eight Cows and a Bull into the Castle, without the loss of a Man, or a Man wounded. At another time, five Boys fetcht in four Cows. They that stood on the Hills, called to one in a House in the Valley, crying, Shoot Anthony; but Anthony thought it good to sleep in a whole skin, and durst not look out, so that afterward it grew into a Proverbial Jeer, from the Defendants to the Assailants, Shoot Anthony. The Rebels having spent much time and Ammunition, and some men, and yet being as far from hopes of taking the Castle, as the first day they came thither. At last, the Earl of Warwick sends them a supply of an hundred and fifty Mariners, with several Cart-loads of Petarrs, Granadoes, and other Warlike Provision, with Scaling-ladders to assault the Castle by Scaladoe: They make large offers to him that should first scale the Wall; 20 l. to the first, and so by descending sums a reward to the twentieth; but all this could not prevail with these silly Wretches, who were brought thither, as themselves confessed, like Sheep to the slaughter, some of them having but exchang'd the manner of their death, the Halter for the Bullet, having taken them out of Goals; one of them being taken Prisoner, had Letters Testimonial in his hands whence he came, the Letters I mean when he [Page] was burnt for a Felon, being very visible to the beholders, but when they found that perswasion could not prevail with such abject low spirited men, the Commanders resolve on another course, which was, to make them Drunk, knowing that Drunkenness makes some men fight like Lions, that being sober would run away like Hares. To this purpose they fill them with strong Waters, even to Madness, and ready they are now for any Design; and for fear Sir Walter should be valiant against his will, like Caesar, he was the only man almost that came sober to the assault: an imitation of the Turkish practice (for certainly there can be nothing of Christianity in it, to send poor Souls to Gods Judgment Seat, in the very act of two grievous Sins, Rebellion and Drunkenness) who to stupifie their Soldiers, and make them insensible of their dangers, give them Opium: being now armed with drink, they resolve to storm the Castle on all sides, and apply their Scaling-ladders, it being ordered by the Leaders (if I may without a Solecism call them so, that stood behind and did not so much as follow) that when 20 were entered, they should give a watch-word to the rest, and that was Old Wat: a word ill chosen by Sir Watt. Earle, and considering the business in hand little better than ominous, for if I be not deceived, the Hunters that beat Bushes for the fearful timerous Hare, call him Old Watt.

Being now Pot-valiant, and possessed with a borrowed Courage, which was to evaporate in sleep, they divide their Forces into two Parties, whereof one assaults the middle Ward, defended by valiant Captain Lawrence, and the greater part of the Soldiers; the other assault the upper Ward, which the Lady Bankes, (to her Eternal Honor be it spoken) [Page] with her Daughters, Women, and five Soldiers, undertook to make good against the Rebels, and did bravely perform what she undertook; for by heaving over Stones, and hot Embers, they repelled the Rebels, and kept them from climing their Ladders, thence to throw in that Wild-fire, which every Rebel had ready in his hand. Being repelled, and having in this Siege and this Assault lost and hurt an hundred men, Old Sir Watt, hearing that the Kings Forces were advanced, cryed, and ran away crying, leaving Sydenham to Command in Chief, to bring off the Ordnance, Ammunition, and the remainder of the Army, who afraid to appear abroad, kept Sanctuary in the Church till night, meaning to Sup, and run away by Star-light; but Supper being ready, and set on the Table, an Alarm was given that the Kings Forces were coming: this News took away Sydenhams Stomack; all this Provision was but messes of Meat set before the Sepulchres of the dead; he leaves his Artillery, Ammunition, and (which with these men is something) a good Supper, and ran away to take Boat for Poole, leaving likewise at the shore about an hundred Horse to the next Takers, which next day proved good prize to the Soldiers of the Castle. Thus after six Weeks strict Siege, this Castle, the desire of the Rebels, the Tears of Old Sir Watt, and the Key of those parts, by the Loyalty, and brave Resolution of this Honorable Lady, the valour of Captain Lawrence and some eighty Soldiers, (by the loss only of two men) was delivered from the Bloody Intentions of these Merciless Rebels, on the fourth of August, 1643.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
XII.

[Page]

Mr. Thomas Jones, Bachelour in Divinity, ill intreated by the Rebels in Devon. A Soldier hanged at Thame on the Sign-post of the Kings Head. Mr. Wright a Minister in Cheshire plundered, and two of his Maid-Servants murthered. Doctor Beale, Doctor Martin, and Doctor Sterne, brought Prisoners from Cambridg by Cromwel, and their barbarous usage, &c.

MAster Thomas Jones Bachelor in Divinity, and Rector of Offwel in the County of Devon, having discover'd that the right of Patronage of one of the cures of Tuifordton was in the Crown, and worth three hundred Pounds per annum, did in the pursuance of his Right, spend a Thousand Pounds to recover it from those, who account all lawful gain whatsoever they can purloin either from God or the King. The pretended Patrons who had invaded this Right, were much offended with Mr. Jones for being at so great expence to redeem the prey out of their hands, and did but watch an opportunity to make him know how sensible they were of this their loss. This Parliament being called, and these men made Members of the Lower House, they quickly perceived that this wished-for opportunity was now come, wherein they might pervert publick Justice to private revenge, quickly learning to exercise that Arbitrary unlimited power over [Page] their fellow Subjects, which the prevalence of a dangerous Faction had put in their hands. According to the general practice since this Parliament, they accuse Mr. Jones of some Anti-parliamentary passages in his Sermons, which his Judges understood as little as his Accusers: Nay perhaps it was with him (as with many of his Orthodox Brethren) the same men were both his Accusers and Judges. However any or no accusation we know have served these mens turns, to bring Godly and Learned Ministers to the Bear-baiting of a Committee, and to put them into the expensive custody of a Serjeant at Arms: so it was with Mr. Jones, they first pretended some Crimes, and on these pretences they commit him Prisoner to a Serjeant at Arms. Having deprived him of his Liberty, and put him into a consumption of his Estate by the unreasonable unlimited exactions of Parliament Goalers, they then think him reduced to such a condition as to be willing to hearken to a Composition, on any terms. At last vexed to an agreement, he is to enjoy his Liberty and Peace on this mutual stipulation: They are to pardon him the errour of his Doctrine, to deliver up his bail, being with two Sureties Parliament men bound in a Bond of two thousand pounds, and to give two hundred pounds towards his charges. Mr. Jones must resign his lately recovered Cure of Tuifordton to make way for a Clerk of their own: which to avoid farther molestation, to his very great prejudice, he was inforced to condescend unto. After, in September, 1642. Mr. Jones riding to Taunton in Somersetshire, accompanied by one of the Prince's Servants, who wore his Masters Colours, was for that reason, together with that Gentleman, immediately [Page] after his departure from thence, apprehended, and like a Felon brought back to the Castle, where he remained Prisoner three weeks, and could not be released without the earnest solicitation of his friends, and his Wives humble and often petitioning the Earle of Bedford. In November last suffering under continual molestations, and out of all hope to live peaceably at home, he resolved to put himself under the protection of Sir Ralph Hoptons Army then in Cornwal. To this purpose he furnished three Horses and Arms proportionable, and set forward to deliver them up to his Majesties service: but unhappily in the way thither he was intercepted by the Earl of Stamfords Forces, under the command of Captain Gould, taken Prisoner, robb'd to the value of 80 l. the Plunderers leaving him not so much as a boot to ride in. By these he is led Captive to Liskard in Cornwal, where they kept him three days, in which time he and another Minister with him, with his servant, had but one pint of Beer for their sustinence, being kept without either fire or light, and for one night had their hands bound behind them, and had been still kept in the like bondage, had not God in mercy rescued them by Sir Ralph Hopton, after the famous Battle of Liskard: During the time of their imprisonment, they offer them Conditions on which they may purchase their liberty; viz. to pay three hundred pound; to take an Oath never any more to assist the King with Horse, Arms, or Money: But being delivered on far better terms, he was not long after imprisoned for giving God publick thanks for his deliverance. Afterwards, seeing that Religion it self was but abused, being made the Cloak of these mens Hypocrisie and Treasons, and [Page] that they did fast but to strife and debate, he did not observe the Fast every last Wednesday in the Month, with that strict observation as was expected from him by that Faction; hereupon, some of them put him in mind of it: Good Friday coming on presently, upon the last Wednesday in April he desired his Neighbours and Parishoners to keep that ancient Fast injoyned by the Church in Commemoration of the bitter Death and Passion of Christ; and the better to invite them to that days solemn Humiliation, he preached to them twice that day. Though Sermons be all their Religion, yet two Sermons on Good Friday (received and practised by all Churches in all Ages, till of late a Jewish observation of one day hath shouldred out the religious observation of all other days) he was convented before the Sessions, where Edmund Prideaux a Parliament man, and a pretender to this Law, prest this his Obedience to the Church most violently against him; malitiously affirming that he did it to affront the Parliament, and to advance Popish Superstition, and Innovation, and that therefore He (see what it is to be a Parliament man) would make him an Example to the World, and as the times then were (God, as he threatned Israel, provoking us by foolish people) was like enough to have done it, had not Mr. Jones prevented him by withdrawing himself, and so declined the evil intended against him. Yet we may not omit one thing: though it were so heinous a Crime in Mr. Jones not to observe one of their Wednesdays Fasts, yet Mr. Darke Minister of Musbury in the same County, and a man of that Faction could command his men to follow the Plough that day, and yet was never thought fit of a Reprehension, nor so much as a [Page] Brotherly Admonition: and no wonder, for tho heretofore Actions did Qualifie persons, and denominate them, by the Sectaries new Divinity they make Persons to Qualifie Actions, those things which are sins in others lose their Nature and their Name in a Child of God, and they will take it very ill from you not to be so reputed, though living in the most notorious scandalous sins that defile the Soul, and lay wast the Conscience of man. But to return to our story.

From the beginning of this Parliament (till God, by the glorious and no less than miraculous Victories of Sir Ralph Hopton, restored some Peace to that miserably distracted Country) Mr. Jones was not permitted to live quietly at his own dwelling, they threaten to hang him, and burn his house, which they plundered no less than seven times: and not content with this, they threaten to carry away his aged Father Prisoner, being no less than 86 years of age; and had been as good as their word, (for in mischief they seldom fail of their promises) had not the Women of the Parish (in detestation of so great barbarism,) rescued him out of their hands: And after that memorable defeat of the Rebels at Stratton in the edge of Cornwal by the brave Sir Ralph Hopton, Mr. Jones returned to his own house, fearing no danger from the fitters of that broken Army: but four Troopers of the Rebels Horse came to his house, searched it very narrowly for him, insomuch that he heard them swear how cruelly they would use that Cavaliering Priest, if they could meet with him, when they were nearer him than they were aware of (had they known it) there being but an Inch board between him and them: at which time missing of the intended Prey, they wreck their [Page] malice on his houshold-stuff, what they could not carry away, they spoil; Beds, Bed-steads, Hangings, all are torn and spoiled: They plunder the Maid-servants, and that of their Smocks, and exchange in their very presence their lousie Shirts for their clean Linnen: Hereupon Mr. Jones finding by experience, that there was no safety out of one of the Kings Armies (the only Protection which the King is able for the present to afford his good Subjects) he put himself under the Protection of Sir Ralph Hoptons Army, where he now remains.

While the Rebels Army lay at Tame sending out parties, by chance they lighted on some of the Kings Souldiers, and amongst them there was one, who touched in Conscience for so grievous a Sin, as lifting up his hand against his lawful Sovereign, the Lords anointed, forsook the Rebels Army, and was entertained in his Majesties pay: and being in their power, they resolve instantly to hang him: but with such Circumstances as in the murther of the Subject they evidently manifest their malitious rebellious hearts towards their Sovereign. Nothing will serve to hang him on, but the sign-post of the Kings Head in Tame; the ppor man being ready to be thrown from the Ladder, prayed very fervently, and cried out Lord Jesus receive my Soul. The Rebels standing about him, instead of joyning with him in his Devotions, made a confused noise, and laughed at him. They that had so little mercy for his Soul, were not likely to draw out any bowels of Compassion towards his body. No, they will not only murther him, but murther him by a lingring Torment; they will not afford him the favour of a running [Page] knot quickly to obstruct the Throat, and totally deprive him of breath, but the halter is tyed so fast, that he hanged gasping for breath, not drawing so much as to maintain life, nor so little as suddenly to lose it: having in this torment hanged a while, a barbarous inhuman Villain stept to him, and fearing he should give up his vexed Ghost too soon, he puts his hands under his feet and lifted him up to give him some scope of Respiration, but even in this unchristian usage of a poor wretch, he did not forget to Blaspheme his Lord and King: for having lifted him up, he turned the dying mans face towards the sign it self of the Kings Head: and jeeringly said, Nay, Sir you must speak one word with the King before you go, you are blindfold, and he cannot see, and by and by you shall both come down together! Let the World if it can now give us a parallel of so undutiful, so high a contempt of Regal Authority, or tell us whether any of the several Spawns of Hell but only an Atheistical Puritan could possibly commit such devilish Cruelties against his fellow Subject, or belch out such venome against his Sovereign. Amongst those many Sins which call for our publick humiliation and our earnest zeal to purge the land from the guilt which hath polluted it, certainly Contempt and Scorn of so good, so gracious a King is none of the least.

On Monday the 29. of May 1643. a Boy of five or six years of age, attended by a youth, was comming to Oxford to his Father, an Officer in the Kings Army, passing through Buckinghamshire he fell into the hands of some Troopers of Colonel Goodwins Regiment, who not only pillaged him of the Cloaths which he brought with him, but took [Page] his doublet off his back, and would have taken away his hat and boots, if the Youth that attended on him had not very earnestly intercede for them to save them. For one of the Company more tender-hearted than the rest, moved with the Childs cries and affrightment, and with the Youths earnest entreaty, prevailed with the rest not to rob the Child of these necessary fences from the injury of wind and weather. Yet tho they spare him these things, they rob him of his Horse, and leave the poor Child to a tedious long Journey on foot: This barbarism to a poor Child far from his friends, almost distracted with fear, so prevailed with some, that they made Colonel Goodwin and Sir Robert Pye acquainted with it, hoping to find them sensible of so cruel practices on a poor Child: but these great Professors and Champions of Religion, only laughed at the relation, without giving any redress to the Childs injuries. This want of Justice in the Commanders, animated the Soldiers to prosecute their Villanies to a greater height: for that night they came to the place where the Child lay, and the poor Soul being in bed fast asleep, his innocent rest not disturbed with the injuries of the day: they dived into his, and his attendants pockets, robbed them of all their monies, and left them either to borrow more, or beg for sustenance in their Journey to Oxford.

Captain Duckenfield a Commander of the Rebels in Cheshire, came to Mr. Wright's House, Parson of Wemslow in that County, a man of four score years of age, of a very honest Life and Conversation, and eminent for his Hospitality amongst his Neighbors. The Captain and his followers enter the House by violence, killed two of his Maid-Servants, [Page] wounded others, and in all probability had murthered Mr. Wright himself, had not his Neighbors that loved him well rescued him out of their hands. The Crime objected against him was Loyalty, and that amongst Rebels is Crime enough: for this he is forced to live an exile from his own habitation, and hath absented himself from his house now twelve months. The same Rebels came to one Mr. John Leech his house, in the same County, as I take it, they enter his house by violence, they kill one of his Maid-Servants, for endeavouring to keep the door shut against them, and took away Mr. Leech Prisoner. There was a Gentlewoman in the house come thither but two days before, who seeing so barbarous Cruelty practised upon Innocents for no other fault but living in Peace and Obedience, was so affrighted, that for some time she remained almost distracted.

When the rebellious City of London first delivered up it self the servile instrument to execute the illegal Commands of the heads of the Faction in Parliament; a Troop of factious Citizens under the command of Colonel Cromwell came to the University of Cambridge, and there seized on the Persons of Doctor Beal, Doctor Martin, and Doctor Sterne men of known Integrity, Exemplary lives, profound learning, and heads of several Colledges in that famous University: having them in their Custody, they use them with all possible scorn and contempt, especially Cromwell behaving himself most insolently towards them, and when one of the Doctors made it a request to Cromwell, that he might stay a little to put up some linnen, Cromwell denied him the favour, and whether in a jeer, or simple malice told him, That it was not in his Commission: [Page] having now prepared a shew to entertain the People, in Triumph they lead them Captives towards London, where the People were beforehand informed, what Captives Colonel Cromwell was bringing. In the Villages as they passed from Cambridg to London, the People were called by some of their Agents to come and abuse, and revile them. When they came to London, being to bring their Prisoners to the Tower, no other way would serve their turn, but from Shoreditch through Bartholomew-Fair, when the Concourse was as thick as the Negotiation of Buyers and Sellers, and the warning of the Beadles of the Faction (that use to give notice to their Party) could make it; they lead these Captives leisurely through the midst of the Fair: as they pass along they are entertained with Exclamations, Reproaches, Scorns, and Curses, and considering the prejudice raised in the City of them, it was Gods great mercy that they found no worse usage from them: having brought them to the Tower, the People there use them with no less Incivility within the Walls, than the People did without, calling them Papists, Arminians, and I know not what. After some time Imprisonment there, they were removed to the Lord Peters House in Aldersgate-street; and though they often Petitioned to be heard and brought to judgment, yet they could obtain neither a Trial, nor enlargement, unless to free their Bodies, they should ensnare their Souls by loans of Monies to be imployed against the King, or taking impious Oaths or Covenants: at last after almost a years imprisonment, on Friday the 11. of August 1643. by order from the Faction, that call themselves a Parliament, they were removed from thence, and all put on Ship-board in a Ship called [Page] the Prosperous Sail, or the Prosperous Sailer, lying before Wapping. They went by Coach from Aldersgate-street to Billingsgate, in the way to the Common Stairs, there to take water; one was over-heard to say These look like honest men, and he was not a jot mistaken: however for bearing testimomy of the truth, he incurr'd the censure of a Malignant, and was in danger to be committed: but another looking these grave learned Divines in the face, reviled them, saying, That they did not look like Christians: and Prayed that they might break their Necks as they went down the Stairs to take water. This harsh usage they found by land, but yet they found far worse by water: being come on ship-board they were instantly put under Hatches, where the Decks were so low, that they could not stand upright, and yet were denied stools to sit on, or so much as a burden of straw to lie on. Into this Little Ease in a small Ship they crowd no less than four score Prisoners of Quality, and that they might stifle one another, having no more breath than what they sucked from one anothers mouths, most malitiously, and (certainly) to a murtherous intent, they stop up all the small Auger holes, and all other inlets which might relieve them with fresh air: an act of such horrid barbarism, that nor age, nor story, nor Rebellion can parallel; But, O Lord God to whom Vengeance belongeth, thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thy self, O let the vengeance of thy Servants blood, that hath been shed in this land, be openly shewed upon these worse than Heathen Salvages in our sight, O let the sorrowful sighing of thy Prisoners come before thee, according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
XIII.

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Mr. Anthony Tyringham a Minister, wounded, and most inhumanely used by the Rebels in Buckinghamshire. Mrs. Wiborow (the Parsons Wife of Pebmarsh in Essex) and her Children exposed to great extremity by the Sectaries of that County. A lively pattern of ingratitude acted by a schismatical Smith at Dalham in Suffolk, &c.

MAster Anthony Tyringham, Parson of Tyringham in Buckinghamshire, having business at Maidsmorton, at his return came to Buckingham, where he met with two of his Nephews. The Uncle and his Nephews glad of so happy a meeting, after some stay to congratulate the good chance, and to refresh themselves, set forward in their journey, and passed in peace without danger until they came near Stony-Stratford, where a party of Dragooners coming from Alesbury surprized them: and instantly (scarce asking them from whence they came) searched and disarmed them, which was no difficult atchievment, there being but one sword amongst all three. The Rebels take from them their Horses, their Coats and Mony: superfluous things as they conceived for men designed to captivity: for having spoiled them of their Horses, Mony, and Garments, they send them with a strong guard Prisoners to Ailesbury: while the rest of the Party lurking about Stony-Stratford, stayed [Page] there to expect some fresh Booty: And that in this we do not slander these great Champions of the Subjects Liberties and Properties, the issue will acquaint us, for presently after (to shew that all was Fish which came to net) they seized upon a poor Bone-lace man, and a Shoomaker, robbed them of what they had, and in the same manner sent them away Prisoners to Ailesbury. The Guard of Dragooners having brought their three Prisoners about a mile and a half on the way towards Ailesbury, commanded them again to alight: The first Plunder was for the Captain or Commanders, or else a share was set apart Anathema for the support of the publick Cause, these men to whose trust they were committed, now intend to plunder for themselves: And first, they command Mr. Tyringham to put off his Cassock: who being not sudden in obeying the command, nor over-hasty to untye his Girdle to disrobe himself of the distinctive Garment of his Profession: (though now a Cassock contracted into the Compendium of a Gippo, is become the Garb of the Reformers) one of the Dragoons to quicken him, cut him through the hat into the Head with the Sword taken from one of his Nephews, and with another blow cut him over the fingers: Mr. Tyringham wondring at so barbarous usage without any provocation, came toward him that had thus wounded him, and desired him to hold his hands, pleading that he was a Clergie-man, a Prisoner, and disarmed: the cowardly Villain either fearing the approach of a disarmed man, or willing to lay hold on any advantage to expose the Prisoners to the fury of his fellows, cried out, Shoot the Rogues, for they intend to resist: the word was no sooner given, but a Musquets was [Page] instantly discharged at one of Mr. Tyringhams Nephews; but the Musqueteer missing his mark, another of the Rebels with his Sword aimed righter, and ran him into the shoulder: a Musquet was presented to the other Nephew, but Gods providence restrained the murtherous intention of the Rebel, that he did not give fire. Thus exercising their pleasure upon disarmed wounded men, they rob Mr. Tyringham of his Cassock, rifle all their pockets, and take from them what they please; and to palliate their cruelty, they send two Dragooners back, to tell their Captains and their Companies, that the Prisoners committed to their Custody and Conduct made resistence: Upon this false Alarm given, presently the Captains and their Companies make up to them, to assist a strong Guard against three disarmed, and of them two wounded men; being come where they were, they encompass them about, and without any examination of the business, presuming the suggestion to be undoubted truth, one of the Rebels, Capt. Pollard by name, with a full blow strikes at Mr. Tyringham, and with his Sword cuts his Arme, and Cubit-bones cross the elbow almost asunder: Mr. Tyringham (almost threescore years of age within two) bore this barbarous usage with undaunted Courage, and hearing this bloody Villain called Captain Pollard, in a pleasant indignation expressed the sense of the injury but thus, That now he had made him a Pollard indeed: A Metophor easily understood by Wood-men, who usually call a Tree, whose limbs or branches are lopped off, a Pollard: Mr. Tyringhams Arm thus miserably wounded, and hanging dangling from his shoulder, without any government from the nerves or sinews, one of his Nephews having a mourning [Page] Ribband, tendred it to his Uncle to bind up his Arm, but the Rebels will not permit it: tho Mr. Tyringham intreat the favour to have his wounds bound up, and the very spectacle before their eyes, was argument enough to extort this mercy from them, yet they remain inexorable, nor would they be perswaded until a long time after: having now made sure work with their Prisoners, and rendred them so far unable to resist, that some were hardly able to sit the jades on which they were mounted, they again set forward for Ailesbury: The Dragooners horses on which they were set, being tired, made the way very tedious, especially to Mr. Tyringham, who lost much blood all the way as they went.

While these Gentlemen were in this miserable condition, Captain Pollard, not troubled at all for so bloody a fact, barbarously committed by himself on an aged Gentleman, and a Minister of that Gospel which they falsly pretend to maintain, but indeed deny and blaspheme in all their actions, turned aside to Whaddon Chase, and sported himself in killing some of His Majesties Deer, which he carried along with him to Ailesbury: after almost four hours riding, tired out with tired Jades, and fainting with loss of blood, the Prisoners were again commanded to alight at a Town called Whitchurch within two miles of Ailesbury. Here they fall on Mr. Tyringham afresh, and plunder him as eagerly as if he had been new come into their hands, and not touched by them before. They pluck off his Boots, and take from him his Jerkin, his Hat and Cap, all the fences provided for cold and weather, and the usual Fortifications against the injuries of wind and rain: and so made a pattern of the man wounded between Jerusalem and Jericho, they mount him on his Spittle [Page] again and drive on, and after an hours riding in cold and darkness, at last they arrived at Ailesbury, that night the Chirurgions (as soon as they could be found) viewed and dressed the wound, but concluded unanimously that they must cut off his Arm the next day, or else it would Gangreen and infallaby kill him, which next day was done accordingly: Mr. Tyringham bore the loss of his Arm with incredible resolution and courage, as knowing the Justice of that Cause for which he suffered, and as willing to lay down his Life in testimony of his Loyalty, as his Brother Mr. Edward Tyringham, one of the Gentlemen of the Kings Privy Chamber had done before him, who the last Winter being imployed in his Majesties service, and set on by a Party of Rebels fought valiantly, but oppressed with multitudes, received so many wounds, that he died of them. But it hath pleased God so to bless the means used for this Gentlemans recovery, that there are great hopes he will survive these maimes, and (as himself undauntedly told the Rebels to their faces) Live to see them hanged. Amen.

In the fourth Week of this Mercury, you heard of the cruel usage of Mr. Wiborow, Parson of Pebmarsh in the County of Essex, by the Rebels in those parts; how they abused him in the Church, beat him in the fields, and took from him the Book of Common Prayer, having before torn another of his in pieces. After this the Brownists and Anabaptists of that place (with which that Country swarms) threaten to kill him; Mr. Wiborow, not daring to trust himself amongst these cruel blood-thirsty men, to preserve his life, was compelled to leave his Cure, his Wife and Children, some seven Months since, and to put himself under the Kings [Page] protection: hoping that his absence might be a means to secure his Wife and Children, and prevail with these Monsters to permit them to enjoy that which he left behind him for their sustenance: but his absence was so far from working this good effect in them, that they made use of it, to eject him out of the possession of the Profits of his Parsonage, and his Wife and Children out of their house, exposing them harbourless to the wide World: for taking advantage of his absence, they accuse him to the pretended Parliament, and frame a Bill of Falshood and Lies against him, thereby to gain a Sequestration of his Living: A business not of any great difficulty, they being more ready to grant such illegal oppressive ejections, than the People to ask them: for upon the Accusation, John White that fornicating Brownist sitting in the Chair, Mr. Wiborows Living was sequestred, and the Profits of it given to one Burrows, though the Cure was never neglected, but supplied by Mr. Wiborows friends, to the content and satisfaction of all moderate peaceable men: yet though they had robb'd him of his livelyhood, and given his Wives and Childrens bread to strangers, by most unjust practices, yet his hopes were that his poor Wife and Children should enjoy the accommodation of their dwelling in the Parsonage house: but such is the implacable cruelty and malice of these Sectaries, that on the tenth of June 1643. a Troop of the Rebels came to the Parsonage house, and demanded entrance: Mrs. Wiborow and her Children being alone in the house, she barr'd up the doors against them, and for her better safety retired to an upper room, to which the passage was through a Trap-door, which likewise she made as fast as she [Page] could: all this fortification could not keep these Rebels out, they break open the doors, and make way to the room, where Mrs. Wiborow and her Children thought to secure themselves: when they came thither, three of these Rebels set their Pistols at her breast, threatning to shoot her, if she and her Children would not suddenly depart the house, and leave it to a new Master. Mrs. Wiborow replied, That she would rather be killed within doors, than perish without, but withal earnestly intreated that she might enjoy so much of her Husbands right, as his house to shelter her and her Children, who poor Souls stood about their Mother crying, and in their natural oratory craving compassion towards their Mother, whom at every word the Rebels threaten to Pistol; but neither the earnest intreaty of the Mother, nor the pitiful out-cries of the Children, could prevail with them, they remain as deaf men, void of all pitty or bowels of Compassion: nay they violently seize on her, drag her down the stairs, and out of the house into the yard: the poor Children being almost distracted and at their wits end for fear what would become of their Mother, being thus violently drawn out of the house into the yard, there she found Meriton Simpson and Cooke the Sequestrators, with other attending there to see this joyful spectacle, a poor oppressed Gentlewoman and her small Children cruelly cast out of their own habitation by Rebels and Traitors. As soon as Mrs. Wiborow saw them, she presented them with the Kings Proclamation against the Oppression of the Clergy, by the intrusion of factious and schismatical persons into the Cures and Revenues of Learned, Orthodox Divines, by Order of one, or [Page] both pretended Houses of Parliament, contrary to all Law and Justice: which she hoped would have found so much obedience and respect, as to restore her to her house: This was so far from mollifying these Rebels and Schismatiques, that it provoked them to great insolencies: at last when Mrs. Wiborow perceived that all her intreaties, and her Childrens tears prevailed nothing, to restore her to her house, she intreated the Sequestrators, that in case she could not be permitted to dwell in her own house, that yet she might have some other place of accommodation provided, to receive her and her Children: Meriton insolently replied, That he would provide his Tumbril, that is, his Dung-Cart, to carry her and her Children from Constable to Constable, till she came to her Husband: after many bitter scoffs and scorns in this her affliction, she desired that if she might not obtain so much favour to dwell in her house, yet they would not deny her access to her house, but that she might go in to fetch out provision for her Childrens supper that night: But these Monsters of men would not give her leave: and to compleat this unheardof Tyranny and Oppression, the Authorized Thieves, I mean the Commissioners appointed by the pretended House of Parliament to seize upon the Estates of all Delinquents, and to point out who shall be plundered next, Order, that whatsoever Mr. Wiborow had left, should be seized on for the use of that Thing which they call a Parliament: thereby to support Rebellion with Robbery and Theft. Instantly they seize on his Corn, and those few Cattle, the remainder of former Plunderings, though they knew it was the life of the Mother and her Children, and that in taking away these, [Page] they deprived them of all means of subsistence, and exposed them to extream want, having reduced them to this miserable condition, to beg or starve: Now for the comfortless trouble sake of the needy, and because of the deep sighing of the poor, I will up saith the Lord, and will help every one from him that swelleth against him, and will set him at rest: The good God perform his promise, Let God arise and let these Enemies of God and Man be scattered.

Mr. Thomas Dalton Bachelour of Divinity, and Parson of Dalham in the County of Suffolke, being plundered of his Horse by Colonel Russels Troop Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Cambridge, on more than probable grounds, fearing that they would seize upon his Person, and commit him to Prison, was compelled to leave his family and retire privately to some friends, where he continued some months. In the interim one Barnard a poor Smith, and one that formerly had lived on the Parish Alms, informed the Committee at Cambridge of Mr. Daltons absence, and making it his Crime, Petitioned for a Sequestration of his living, intending to make a gain of it himself; for whereas the living is worth 140 l. per annum, and had been so let for many years before, Vulcan, I mean Barnard the Smith, having got a Chaplain of his own, one Randall by name, intends with him to serve the Cure for 50 or 60 Pounds a year, intending to put up the Overplus into his own Purse: nor did he fail of his pious project, so apparently tending to the publick good, and reformation of the Church: For on the Smiths bare instance, though earnestly opposed by the Lord of the Town, and about forty of the chiefest [Page] of the Parish, who all laboured earnestly to withstand it, the committee for the advancement of the Reformation, hearken to Barnard and substitute Randall Vulcan, Priest in Mr. Daltons place, and revenue; This grant of the Committee was ratified by the Committee at Westminster, for 'tis not impossible but Barnard might have sharers with him in both Committees: For the Tyth of the Tyth was enough for an Alms-man: nay this Committee did not only ratifie the Order of the other Committee, but added to the injustice by ordering Mrs. Dalton instantly to resign possession of the Parsonage house to Randall: of which Ordinance when the Patron of the living had intelligence, he instantly posted to London, and knowing how unjust and trivial the accusation against Mr. Dalton were, absence being his main Crime, (being put to this hard Option either to stay and be committed Prisoner, or to fly and be robb'd of the profits of his Living, for this is the Dilemma to which all Orthodox Conformable Ministers are now put) resolved to intercede for him, hoping either quite to take him off, or at least to procure a mitigation of the Order; but contrary to his expectation he found the Smith Courted, applauded, and to enjoy freedom of access to the Committee, and himself (a Gentleman of very good rank and esteem in his Country) to be slighted; neglected, and made dance attendance, and after long waiting not regarded what he spake for his Minister: At last this good Gentleman having by experience observed, that the practices of the Faction in Parliament did engage them to slight and suppress the Gentry, and all that made Honour, or Conscience the rule of their Actions, and to [Page] court and observe the dregs and scum of the People, (as the fittest instruments for their designs) returned home, and sending for Mrs. Dalton, entreats her to make use of his house as her own, until God should enable the King to restore her, and all his loyal Subjects to their own: Mrs. Dalton accepts of his courteous offer, but leaves her man to keep possession of the Parsonage house: She had not stayed long here before her Hoast is threatned to be plundered for his hospitality: Barnard the Smith (as bad as Alexander the Coppersmith) being now so rich as to be able to travel to London, and trouble his Neighbours; that his Levite might have the Parsonage House to better his bargain, speeds to the Committee, and prefers a Complaint against Mrs. Dalton for giving up possession of her house according to their Order: upon complaint made, it is further ordered by the same Committee, that because she had presently quitted the House, she should be brought up to London before the Committee, there to answer the contempt: to avoid further vexation she obeyed the Order, and gave up possession, hoping that this resigning of her right, would set an end to her trouble: but according to the Rebels Method from the beginning of this Parliament, first invade the Clergie, and then the Laity, So here they vary not from the first Pattern, for having robbed Mr. Dalton of his Ecclesiastical Revenues, presently they seize upon his Temporal, his Rents and other Debts due unto him, they leave him nothing. But if you please to see the lively Character of a Malitious, Ingrateful, Cheating Schismatick, whose Religion is to return evil for good, and hatred for good will, look once more on this Barnard the Smith, [Page] and you will conclude it doubtful which is hardest, his Anvil or his heart. For this Wretch owing to Mr. Dalton twenty seven Pounds, when the time of payment was come, Barnard come to the Church Porch, the place appointed for payment of the Debt, attended with four Rebel Troopers, as witness of the tender of the moneys. Mrs. Dalton being there to receive it, he pours it out, she having told it, was putting it up into her Purse; But Barnard interrupted her, Saying, Stay this is for better use than so, it is for the service of the Parliament: and presently (as the Plot was laid) the Troopers bent their Pistols at her brest, and force the monies from her: nay, before it was lawful by Order and Ordinances to violate all the Obligations of Religion and Gratitude, this Barnard acknowledged himself much bound to Mr. Dalton for many favours having many ways endeared him, thought all things safe which were committed to Barnards trust; in this confidence Mr. Dalton laid up divers Cooms of Wheat in Barnards house, to be a help in time of need: when Mr. Dalton was gone, his Wife sent to Barnards house to demand some Wheat, this unthankful wretch denied it, affirming that Mr. Dalton being a Malignant had no rite or property in those Goods; and therefore forbad her man to come on his ground, threatning that he would run his Pitch-fork in him, if he came thither to make any such Demand: Ab uno disce omnes.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
XIV.

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The Rebels barbarous usage of Sir Ralph Canterills Man in Chancery-Lane, London: Of the Ministery of London. A Character of Mr. Ephraim Udall, Parson of Saint Austins, with the Cruelty used towards him and his Wife. Sir Thomas Hides covetousness and neutrality here rewarded by the Rebels. Mr. Bowlstrodes Prayer by the Spirit, &c.

IF in the Relation of these sad stories thou find (courteous Reader) some Complaints of London, mingled with those of the Countrey, know that the earnest request of Mercurius Civicus must plead my Apology. The heads of this Rebellion deal with that miserable City as unjust Stepmothers do with their poor Children, Whip them till they cry, and then whip them again for crying: for they have not so much losers Priviledg left them as to have Liberty to Complain: and then let the World judg to what a narrow Scantling the Liberty of the Subject is reduced, by these pretended Assertors of the Liberty, when it is lawful for them to Murther, and Plunder the Kings good Subjects, and yet it is not lawful for the oppressed to bemoan their own Condition. Being therefore denied the common natural mitigation of great pressures, to bewail their own Miseries, and breath out the sense of them in free expressions, for fear they further [Page] provoke their Oppressors while they implore the compassion of their friends, Mercurius Civicus in his Letter, dated Aug. 5. 1643. and directed to me, earnestly entreated (their own Presses not daring to publish the truth of their miserable condition) that their sufferings under the Insolency, Injustice, Tyranny and Rapine of this horrid Rebellion, might be made known to the World by a borrowed pen, and interwoven with those of the Countrey: that therefore we may not be wanting to so just requests, nor leave posterity ignorant what transcendent cruelties are practised as well within the Walls of that wretched City as without, as oft as they shall privately (by such secret ways of intelligence as the present condition of the times permit) impart their Calamities, I shall according to Mercurius Civicus desire, insert them with those of the Country, and so impart them to the World; and though the barbarous Murthers committed on Mr. Tompkins, and Mr. Chaloner, that second pair of State Martyrs, together with the butchery of a peaceable Citizen slain by Captain Harvey: and the Women slaughtered by Sir Willam Wallers Troopers (that ran away at Roundway Down, to kill Women and Virgins in London, for the unpardonable crime of petitioning for Peace) might justly challenge precedency, yet because the memories of those two worthies are reserved for a peculiar Martyrologue, and these are already imbalmed by the Piety of our Brother Aulicus, I shall set before you the misery, into which that Rebellious City hath Plunged it self and us, in some other instances.

On Tuesday the 15 of Aug. 1643. a Party of Colonel Harvies Regiment came to one Walkers house in Chancery-Lane, to Seize on Sir Ralph Canteril, [Page] whom they supposed then to have lodged there: on their coming, finding that the Knight was either gone out of Town, or had shifted his lodging, but on diligent inquiry discovering that there was a man in the house that now was, or lately had been Sir Ralphs Servant, they apprehend him, and demand where his Master was, and where he had hid his Money, Plate, and Jewels? The man replied that he had left his Masters service, and did know nothing, either where his Master was, or how he had disposed of his Goods: presently they lay violent hands on him, and carry him out into the back-side into the house of Office, there to examin him by Torment: there they rip up the Tiles, and one of the Rebels taking a Cord out of his pocket, fastened one end of it about the poor mans neck, and threw the other end over the rafters of the untiled house: Having him at this posture, they interrogate him again where this (Imaginary) Treasure was hid; he returns the same answer, that he could give no account what Sir Ralph had done with it: for being to leave his service, he was a stranger to his Masters Actions: Not satisfied with so reasonable an Answer, they hoise him up by the Neck, and let him hang a good distance from the ground, where having hanged a while, they let him down, and examin him again where Sir Ralph had bestowed his Money, Plate, and Jewels? The poor man not able to give any other answer to their Query, protests his ignorance, and that if the discovery might save his life, yet he could not redeem it so, for he knew nothing concerning what they asked him: inraged that the man could not Prophecy, (for without that gift he could not resolve them) they suddenly hoise him up to the top [Page] of the house, and letting go their hold, they let him as suddenly fall to the ground: Being fallen, there he lay for dead without any expression of life: but these barbarous Rebels hoping that there may yet remain some life in him whereon to practise further cruelty, stand by the man, and watch him, and at last perceiving that he was not dead, but that he began to stir and breath, presently they put burning matches between his fingers: hoping by this way of Torment to extort a discovery from him: but in vain, the extremity of this Torment indeed (though half dead as he was) made him cry out and roar in a very lamentable manner, which a Maid-servant of the house hearing, and affrighted at the noise, ran to her Master, and told him, that certainly the Rebels were murthering the man in the house of Office, hereupon Mr. Walker hastened out, and when he came to the place, found the conjecture of his Servant true, and amazed at so horrid, so inhumane a spectacle, interceded for the poor man, and earnestly desired them, not to defile his ground and habitation with innocent blood: instead of desisting they return the Aegyptians answer to Moses, Who made thee a Ruler and a Judg? bad him be silent, and withdraw, or else they threatned to use him in like manner: Mr. Walker fearing that those perjured persidious Villains, which keep their words in nothing else, might yet be punctual in performance of mischief, not daring to commit himself to their mercy, left them, and went imto his house, where the Quarter-Master to the Rebels lay sleeping while the Troopers were acting this cruelty, him he raiseth from sleep, and tells him what the Troopers were doing without, who something moved at the Relation, [Page] went out unto them, and took them off from farther prosecuting their barbarous intentions. But whether or no the man on whom all this cruelty was acted, survived this barbarous usage, is uncertain.

As amongst the many blessings wherewith it pleased God to advance the City of London far above all other Cities either of this, or other Nations of the Christian World, one was their Clergy: for a more pious, learned, and laborious Ministry, no people ever enjoyed, even their Enemies themselves being Judges: So amongst the many crying sins whereby that proud rebellious City hath provoked God to give them up to a Reprobate sense and hardness of heart to their own destruction, certainly, the contempt and oppression of their Clergy are none of the least: as before the lest Parliament began, a main part of their Religion was to strive with their Priests, and to rob them of their maintenance, by all possible arts of deceit, and fraud, so as soon as the Parliament was sate, and the basest of the People were set loose to worrey their Ministers (though never so blameless, never so Orthodox, if they did not conspire with them to innovate both Church and State:) the Citizens of London, shewed themselves most forward in Petitioning against their Ministers: yet at first pretended to molest such only, who had expressed greatest zeal to the Order, and decency of Gods worship, professing that for the rest there was no thought to trouble them: but at last having put to flight, or imprisoned those, they go and discover plainly, that whatsoever is a Friend to the Protestant Religion, as it is established in the Church of England, is their Enemy: how many have they silenced, imprisoned, or [Page] banished from their Cures whom heretofore they did magnifie for the undaunted Champions of the Protestant Religion? and stout opposers of those supposed pretended innovations, which they vainly imagined were the eager endeavours of some men to impose upon the Church: he that knows London, and hath frequented the most thronged Congregations there, cannot be ignorant, that Mr. Ephraim Udall Parson of S. Austins in the Old Change near S. Austines Gate, is a man of eminent Piety, exemplary Conversation, profound Learning, indefatigable Industry, Preaching constantly every Lords Day twice, and for the Winter half year, if not the whole year, preaching a Lecture at his own Parish every Tuesday in the Afternoon: and if I am not mistaken every Saturday before the first Sunday in the month a Preparatory Sermon to the blessed Sacrament of the Sords Supper: and besides all this, he is a man of an affable, courteous, peaceable Conversation amongst his Neighbours: in a word, he was a man of their own vote: and is (without prophanation be it spoken) a shining and burning light: and his people for a while much pleased themselves in their choice, and were content to walk by his light; but when he found himself mistaken in the ends and intentions of the heads of this Rebellion, when he saw that the zeal of some did degenerate into madness and frenzie, and that the endeavours of others (under the pretence of Reformation) was to bring in Anarchy and Sacriledg, to devour Gods Portion, and the poor remainder of the Patrimony of the Church, he did strongly and powerfully bend both his tongue and pen against them: against Sacriledg he published that learned Tract, called A Coal from the Altar: against Anarchy he declared himself for [Page] Episcopacy, and the established Lyturgy: and published another Book called Communion Comeliness, in which by many impregnable Arguments he proves a high Conveniency, if not a necessity, for that most laudable custom of having Rails about the Lords Table: These were in the Schismatiques opinion Crimes enough to unsaint a man, nay, had S. Paul himself been now in the flesh, and preached against Sacriledg and Anarchy, there is no doubt, but there would have been some found to petition against him, and John White sitting in the Chair, as undoubtedly he had been voted a scandalous Minister at a Committee: but because when these Books were published, Injustice and oppression did not march so furiously, nor were grown so frontless and impudent to seize on innocency it self, not slurr'd with slanders and calumnies, Mr. Udall sate something quiet, some murmurings there were, but his former Reputation in the City bore him up against the Obloquy of private discontent: the Faction found it no easie matter to brand Mr. Udall with Popery, or Popishly affected, or these slanders to make any impression in that estimation which the people had of him: but at last when they came openly to defie their Sovereign, the Lords Anointed, and it was almost Treason but to name the 13. Chapter to the Romans, it was a fit time to silence and remove Mr. Udall, for neither Doctor Gouge his Church at Black Fryers, or Mr. Goodwins in Coleman-street, were half so full before this Parliament began, as Mr. Udalls hath been since. First, therefore, they Plunder his house, they take away his Library and Houshold-stuff: Then they remove him from the Execution of his Ministery, and sequester the profit for a Levite of their own: Thirdly, they sought for him to commit him close [Page] Prisoner, being aged, of very weak and infirm body, his strength exhausted with continual labours in Preaching the word of God, visiting the sick, and in execution of their ministerial Functions, in performance of which in his own person few of his Brethren were more conscientious: And lastly, they cast him out of his dwelling house: But when they came to seize on his house, they found one impediment, which unless they could find some art to remove, they could not take full possession of it: Mrs. Udall (besides the infirmities of age) was lame, and it had been monstrous inhumanity to take her by violence and carry her out of her house, not knowing where to dispose of her, but in the open street: Therefore to gain her consent, and prevent clamour until the feat was done, they tell the good old Gentlewoman that the Parliament had a tender respect unto her years, and to her present infirmities: and therefore though they had ordered to dispossess her of that house, yet they did not mean to leave her harbourless, but had out of the abundance of their goodness provided another house to receive her: She good old Woman neither awed by fear, nor won by their perswasions and promises, was taken up by two men brought in by him that had broken open three locks, and entred the house by force, and carried out of her house into the street, there they set her down in a Chair, and so leave this weak infirm Matron, of a long time not accustomed to the open air, nor being able to go out of doors in three or four years before, unless unto the Church, exposed her (a sad spectacle of the Rebels cruelty) to the mercy of Wind and Weather.

The Rebels in their march towards Gloucester, seized on Sr. Tho. Hide a Bedfordshire Man, whose [Page] sordid Covetousness had made him so far forget all Duty and Loyalty to his Sovereign, as that he refused to assist him either in his Person or his purse: but because either his Estate lay nearer to the Power of the Rebels, than to the Kings Protection: a Consideration which in these Atheistical rebellious times is admitted as a just Apologie, either for Neutrality, or ready Compliance with the Rebels, so far as to submit to all Taxes and Impositions laid on them, a most traiterous and irreligious liberty and dispensation of Conscience, which if all men had made use of, the Kings Crown might long before this have been thrown down to the ground: Or else conceiving it a very unlikely, if not an impossible thing for the King to withstand their power, who had not only by Lies and Slanders stoln away the hearts of the People, but had seized on all his Castles, Towns, Forts, Magazines: did contribute to the Rebels aid, and wholly complied with them, not so much out of judgment, as fear: thinking that this compliance would be the security of his Estate, and turn to his great advantage: but his Wealth was so well known, that bare Compliance, and small Contributions must not serve his turn, he must bleed more freely: They seize him the Twentieth part, and that highly set: This demand struck his heart like pangs of death; and he that was so forward in petty assistances, now discovered the love of himself to be more than that of the holy Cause, and refused to part with more monies: wherefore in recompence of his former good deeds, they seize on his Person, and carry him captive in their Army, and suffered his Servant to walk along by him, leading a horse in his [Page] hand, while his Master the Knight was chained arm to arm with another Prisoner, and was compelled to beat it on the hoof: Thus did he march for three days on foot, coupled with another Prisoner, and that Prisoner, as we are informed, is Doctor Stubbing, Doctor in Divinity, whom likewise the Rebels gathered up in their march, and taking him from his Cure, added him to the number of their Captives: So soon can these Rebels forget former aids, if men do not comply with them, and answer their expectation in every thing, and indeed what measure their dearest friends are to expect from them, if they fail them in any particular, not running into the same excess of Madness and Treason as they do, and shall not shew themselves ready at a call (to their perpetual infamy, contrary to the Religion which they profess, the Oaths which they have taken, and the solemn Protestations which they have made) rush into the damnable sin of Rebellion, and give the right hand of fellowship to the Rebels here, to assist them in so unnatural a War against their own gracious native Sovereign, we may fully learn by a Prayer (for now they have turned their very Prayers into sin, being no better than very Libels and Pasquils) lately made by Mr. Bowlstrode, Son to Colonel Bowlstrode, a factious Rebel of Buckinghamshire, before his Sermon at Horton near Colebrooke, which that you may see what Spirit of Prayer and Supplication it is, of which they boast, and that the Nation whom it concerns may see what opinion the factious Preachers here have of them, unless they will serve their vile purposes and ingage themselves as deeply (which God forbid) in the present Rebellion as themselves, we have here inserted.

[Page] Thou hast, O Lord, of late, written bitter things against thy Children, and forsaken thine own Inheritance, and now Lord in our misery and distress we expected aid from our Brethren of the neighbouring Nation, (the Scots I mean) but good Lord, thou knowest that they are a false and perfidious Nation; and do all they do for their own ends, and not for our good: if therefore, good Lord, their coming into the Land at this time be for our good, bring them in speedily, if otherwise, keep them out, for they are a false and perfidious Nation.

There was present at Church at that time, one Mr. Kenada a Scotch man, who being drowsie was wakened by a friend that sate by him, to hear the devotion of the Preacher; who hearing his whole Nation thus publickly blasphemed by this contemptible Zelot, spake out in the Congregation saying, I think the man is mad: and certainly Mr. Kenada was not a jot mistaken, to think him mad that should thus rashly in the face of a solemn Congregation traduce a Nation, and if there be amongst the heads of the Rebellion (in whose power he is) any care of the honour of that Nation, we doubt not but we shall shorly hear of some exemplary Punishment inflicted on this incendiary between the two Nations: and heightned according to the nature of the Crime. If any man doubt of the truth of this Relation, whether it be a fiction or a thing really done, he may consult Mr. Kenada or any of Horton Parish, who are ready to bear Testimony to this truth.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
XV.

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Master Squire of Little Saint Bartholomews, London, plundered of four thousand pounds. Nath. Fiennes his Warrant for a Citizen of Bristol. A touch of Colonel Morley's tyranny in Sussex, with the hard usage of Mr. Hinson a Minister there. A Woman most unchristianly tortured to death by the Rebels at Chippingnorton, &c.

UPon Friday the 18. of Aug. 1643. Mr. Squire of Little S. Bartholomews, London, having this present Rebellion upon several Rates, Taxes and Loans, disbursed near a Thousand pounds, was sent unto for a new Sum towards the maintenance of the Holy Cause; but he foreseeing, that as long as their Purses were open to foment this unnatural War, there would be no end of it till their Estates were exhausted, and the wealthiest amongst them reduced to beggery, and a morsel of bread, returned a denyal, yet withal professed his readiness to have supplyed them if he had been provided: and his Wife to indear themselves, and to shew how well affected they were to the Cause, wished that all the Malignants in London were plundered, and then there would be less cause to call so often on the Well-affected for so great Supplies, not imagining (good Woman) that her Husband might be numbred shortly amongst the Malignants: or, that to be wealthy and not pour out all, as often as the heads [Page] of this Rebellion should call for it, was in their opinion, high Malignity: for next day, notwithstanding their former complyance with the Rebels in so great a measure, six men with Pistols were sent to Master Squires House, under pretence to search for Arms, but indeed to find out a hoard of monies, which either their own Jealousie, grounded on the general received opinion of his Wealth, or the treachery of some that knew the House had suggested unto them. After some small search (though Mr. Squire thought that his Treasure had been close enough hid) instead of Arms they find four thousand pounds, a rich booty, and very greedily seized upon. At last, Mistris Squire finding her self so unexpectedly in the number and condition of Malignants, robbed of so great a Sum, fell into a swoon, and for fear she should be recall'd to pursue the Injury with just Clamors and Expostulations, when Strong-waters were brought to relieve and comfort her surprised Spirits, the Rebels would not permit it to be administred unto her: but left Nature to the work of its own recovery, without the assistance of any borrowed help. Of this Four thousand pounds, Eight hundred was due to a Son in Law of Mr. Squires, a Creature of the Parliaments, and a great Friend to the Cause; and therefore to redeem the rest, Mr. Squire freely offered to give the Parliament (as those tame People call the Faction of both Houses) the Sum of Three hundred pounds, so the rest might be restored unto him: but all in vain, it was judged a very high Symptome of Malignity to hide Four thousand pounds, and suffer the Holy League to be endangered for want of Supplies, and therefore as a just punishment for his Coldness, and want of [Page] Zeal to the good Cause in hand, it was wholly taken from him without restitution (for ought we yet know) of a farthing: and indeed what measure the Rich either of London, or any other place, cursed with the Tyranny and Oppression of this Rebellion, are to expect from their Hands (when the Necessities of Supplies shall press upon them) the World may read in this Warrant, directed from Nathanael Fiennes, in the time of his reign in Bristol, to Mr. Gunning the younger of that City: which for the plain English that it speaks, and because it contains a perfect discovery of their Resolutions when occasion shall serve, we have here inserted.

BRISTOLL,

WHereas this City is at this time invironed, and in great and imminent danger to be swallowed up by many cruel and barbarous Enemies of Papists, Irish Rebels, and others: and most of the Inhabitants of this City have, and all ought to take an Oath and Protestation for Defence thereof with their Lives and Fortunes. These are to require you forthwith, to pay to my Servant Ralph Hooker, to be employed for the Defence of the City, the Sum of Two hundred pounds; which Sum, in respect of your Estate, is below the proportion required of other Persons of your Quality by an Ordinance of Parliament. And if you shall refuse in this time of so great necessity, you may expect whatsoever the desperate Resolution of Souldiers, reduced unto extream necessity, may put them to act against your [Page] Persons and Estates, unless by a speedy Contribution towards their supply you shall prevent the same.

NATH. FIENNES.

Given under my hand, July 25. 1643. To Mr. Gunning the younger.

On Sunday morning, being the ninth of July, 1643. in time of Divine Service, Colonel Morley, the Crooked Rebel of Sussex, came towards Hasting, one of the Cinque Ports; but in his March being discover'd, presently notice was given to Mr. Hinson, Curate of All Saints, who knowing that one end of the Colonel's Sabbath-days Journey, was to apprehend him, was compelled to break off Divine Service in the mid'st, and fly into a Wood near at hand, there to hide himself: The Colonel being entered the Town, scattered the Body of his Horse into several parts, to intercept all passages out of the Town: and having secured the Ports, he summons the Mayor and Jurats, and demands the Arms of the Town: to which he found ready obedience; for presently the Mayor and Jurats sent their Servants to command all the Inhabitants to deliver up their Arms, which was done accordingly; and one of the Jurats, Fray by name, furnished the Colonel with a Waggon, he sent them away to Battell, being a Town in Sussex, some five Miles from Hasting: that night some Soldiers lay in the Church, where Mr. Hinson officiated, where one Wicker, a common Soldier, getting up into the Pulpit, preached unto his Fellows: and to shew the Fruits of so good Doctrine, going out of the Church, either [Page] the Preacher, or one of his Auditory, stole away the Surpless; Ralph Mills, the honest Parish Clark, to recover it, complained to their Captain Richard Cockeram of Rye, but received no other answer, but this, Do not you think he loves a Smock as well as you? Morley being now Master of the Town, began to exercise his power given him for the good of the Kingdom, and the preservation of the Subjects property, and demanded a Sum of Monies from some of the Jurats, which they paid him, and because they came off so readily, he demanded more, which they refusing, he took them with him Prisoners to Battell: where having stayed but a night, they return with a Warrant next day signed by Morley, which they undertook to execute upon such Persons as themselves had designed for Plunder and Imprisonment: whereof Mr. Car, the Parson of St. Clements in Hasting, and Mr. Hinson, were the chiefest. Mr. Car that Sunday was not at home, being fled to prevent surprizal: but hearing that Colonel Morley was gone to Battell, and thinking the Storm to be now blown over, he resolved to return to Hasting, and being on the way thither, he met Fray the Jurat, who was one of the Combination to execute Morley's Warrant, and apprehend him: as Fray was drilling Mr. Car along, by chance one Mr. Breame met them, and seeing Mr. Car so familiarly conversing with a Judas that was resolved to betray him, called Mr. Car aside to speak with him; what he said is uncertain, but in all probability he discovered to Master Car the danger in which he was, for immediately he left Fray's company, and rode back again. Fray thus unexpectedly robb'd of his prey, instantly informed Colonel Morley, that Master [Page] Breame had frayed away the Bird, that was so near going into the snare: Morley presently sends some Troopers to apprehend Master Breame, and at what sum he did redeem this Crime, is uncertain. On the Tuesday after Morleys coming to Hasting, Mr. Hinson returned home: and that day, the Jurats, that Morley took with him, being come back, summoned the rest of their Brethren unto the Town-Hall, where they acquainted them with the Contents of their new Warrant: who with joynt consent, promise their best endeavors to put it in execution: to this purpose, having picked out of the Town a sufficient number to assist them, and execute their Commands; and having put their names in the Warrant with their own, they bind them by the Religion, and strict bond of an Oath, to do what they would have them, without ever specifying any Particulars, wherein they intended to exercise their Obedience, until they should give them in charge what they were to do: Nay, not only so, but having received their commands, they swear them not to reveal what commands were laid on them, to any body, no not to their own Wives, until they had executed the commands; and when some of these assistants startled at this Jesuitical implicite Obedience, to know to what in particular their Oath should bind them: Wenham, a Factious Jurat, replyed, That they must swear in general, and afterwards they should know the particulars. Thomas Staple, one of the Assistants, being pressed to take this Oath, rejoined, Then you may make us swear, and the business we swear to, may be to knock our Fathers in the head, or betray them: Wenham (most convincingly) replyed, That if they would not swear, they had authority for [Page]their refusal, to Imprison them for a year: The rest adding, That they need not be so scrupulous, though they did not know what they swore unto, it was no harm, for they had taken the same Oath themselves to do that which they were to assist them in: And so, partly by fear, and partly by the inducement of the Jurats example, they took an Oath upon the Holy Evangelists, to assist the Jurats in what they were to do, not knowing what, and to be secret, until it was done. Sure the Oath of Canonical Obedience, and the so much decryed & caetera, must now for ever rest in Peace, and never more be maliciously and ignorantly traduced after this most Papistical, Jesuitical, Puritanical practice.

Having thus engaged these men by an Oath, to do any thing which they shall command them, they then think them sufficiently prepared to receive the Mysteries of the Warrant which now they reveal unto them, and tell them, that they must apprehend Master Hinson, and some others nominated in the Warrant: in obedience therefore to the Command, they presently go to Mr. Hinson, and seize on him in his Lodging: and being brought before the Mayor and his Brethren the Jurats, he never questioned by what Authority he was apprehended, but only told them, That he had not done any thing that deserved this usage; Presently Wenham replyed, That he had highly deserved it, because he read the Kings Declarations. After this, all the Jurats went out, one by one, and left Mr. Hinson locked up with one Mr. Parker, whom they had a little before committed, because he would not pay for the carriage of some Ordnance to Rye, a most Factious Town, not far off: Mr. Parker was that night removed from the Town-Hall, but Master [Page] Hinson was left there all night, strongly guarded by eight Bill-men, having no other Bed but a Bench: next day Master Parker (who had the favor to be lodged that Night in a Serjeants House) desirous to see his Fellow-Prisoner, prevailed with his Landlord to go along with him to visit Master Hinson: of which when Wenham had notice, he told Biddenham (for so was the Serjeants name) that he deserved for this to be laid by the heels himself: which check so awed many of Mr. Hinson's Friends, that they durst not visit him for fear of Imprisonment: the Mayor and Wenham command the Maid-servant that attended him, not to carry any Letters from him, and being examined by them whether she had conveyed any from him already; upon her denyal, Barlow a factious Schismatick (who because heretofore his Neighbors of Hasting refused to concur with him in petitioning against Episcopacy, joyned and subscribed with those of Rye) told her, that she deserved to be put into the Ducking-house (a Prison for Women) for denying it: That night Biddenham the Serjeant was commanded to carry Mr. Hinson out of the Town-hall, and put him into the Common Goal; which the Serjeant refusing, that busie Fellow Wenham told him, That he deserved to be committed himself, for refusing to perform his office: hereupon, by vertue of this Oath, they command four of the Men whom they had sworn to apprehend Mr. Hinson, to tell him, That he must exchange his Prison, the Town-hall, for the common Goal, whither they presently led him; there they lock him fast up in a loathsom place, where there was but one short bench, and no company but a Tinker, and he none of the Jovialists neither, for the stubborn sullen Tinker pleading seniority in the place, took possession [Page] of the Bench, and most unsociably kept it all night, not interchanging with Mr. Hinson his repose for a walk for variety sake, but left him one while to walk, and another while to sleep on that floor, in which he was forced to do the necessary acts of Nature: while he lay in this loathsom condition, four of the Jurats; Jurats, I mean four that had taken the Oath, to do whatever was commanded them, came to the Goal, and professed to Mr. Hinson their hearty sorrow that they ever had a hand in his Attachment, intreated him, that he would not think evil of them, for they were compelled to do that for which they were now sorry: And Thomas Staple that (as before you heard) expostulated so freely, and pleaded against the taking the Oath before he was awed to take it, shewing the monstrous evil in which it might ingage them, openly exclaimed against the Mayor and his Brethren, wishing that the Plague from God might light upon them, for insnaring their Consciences with such an Oath; when not only Religion, but right Reason might have told him, and the rest, That their Sin was to take an unlawful Oath, it had been no sin to break it: while Master Hinton lay thus in the Goal, one Master Besanno, a Counsellor at Law interceded for him, and earnestly intreated, that he might be removed from the Common Goal, and committed to safe Custody in some Chamber in the Town, but could not prevail: at last, after three Weeks Imprisonment, upon Mr. Besanno's request, seconded by Mr. Brian (heretofore a Jurate of Hasting, but now removed to Battell, as too honest for such a Fraternity as he left behind him) Mr. Hinson was sent with a strong Guard to Colonel Morley: by whom he was transmitted [Page] to London to Learned Miles Corbet, who committed him to the Custody of a Messenger; and having no particular accusation, but a general charge, and finding no hopes to be brought to a hearing, but perceiving himself designed (as others before him had been) to long attendance and vexatious delays, he withdrew himself from his Tyranny and Oppression, and escaping to Oxford, put himself under the Kings Protection.

As the Rebels in their march towards Glocester passed through Chipping-Norton, in the County of Oxford: a Woman of that Town (whose zeal to the King, and the justice of his Cause, could not contain it self, though in the midst of his Mortal Enemies) said, in the hearing of some of the Rebels, God bless the Cavaliers: (so are all good and faithful Subjects called by the Rebels) this expression of the poor Womans affection to the King and his Loyal Subjects in so innocent a Prayer, so highly incensed the Rebels, that to punish so heinous a Crime, presently they tyed her to the tail of one of their Carts, and stripping her to the Middle, for two miles march whipped her in so cruel a manner with their Cart-whips, that her Body in many places was cut so deep, as if she had been lanced with Knives, the torment being so great (as much as her straight bounds would give leave) she cast her self on the ground, so to shelter her self from their stripes, but in a most barbarous manner they dragged her along, insomuch that her Legs and Feet were so torn by the Stony rough ways, that her Flesh was worn off in many places to the very Bones: at last, having far exceeded the number of stripes limited by God himself in the Law of Moses (though given by the hand of Justice) Forty [Page]stripes he may give him and not exceed, Deut. 25.3. they left her a lamentable spectacle of their Cruelty: in this miserable condition lay this poor Soul for some few days, and since died of those wounds which she received from them: The blood of this Innocent, mingled with the rest shed by their hands, crying loud with them under the Altar, Revel. 6.10. How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou nou judg and avenge our blood on them that dwell on earth.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
XVI.

Burton, Prinne, and Bastwick, three Arch-Schismaticks, unjustly freed from a just Censure. The commiting and removing of Mr. Chestlen from S. Matthews Fridaystreet, to make way for Burton, contrary to all Law and Equity, &c.

AFter that bold affront offered (and that without Check or Controul) to publick Justice, and the known Laws of the Land, in those Triumphant Reductions of that Triumvirat of seditious Schismaticks, Burton, Bastwick, and Prinne from their several confinements: It was no hard matter for the World to guess what measure the obedient Sons of the Church of England might expect, when that spurious, degenerous Brood, (which most undutifully cast dirt in their Mothers face, and in their Scurrilous, Libellous Pamphlets proclaimed her a Harlot) became the Darlings both [Page] of the heads of the Faction in Parliament and the People: And though it seemed good to the heads of the Faction, by restoring these turbulent men, to brave that Authority by which they were justly censured, yet, being restored, all were not thought to be of equal concernment: As for Bastwick, if any man labouring under any Indisposition (besides that to the present established Government) had a mind to be a Patient, and put himself into the hands of a Mad-man, he might do as he pleased at his own peril: every man was left to the liberty of his own choice: So for Prinne, if any man desired to retain him of his Counsel, it was lawful for the Client to give, and him to receive his Fee, but all this was but voluntary: no man was constrained to be a Patient to the one, nor a Client to the other: for the intended Rebellion might well go forward, though Bastwick never wrote an Apothecaries Bill, or Prinne pleaded at the Bar: But for Burton, (a main Engine to promote the design in hand) it concerned them to restore him, not only to a Liberty of the exercise of his calling at large, but likewise to invest him in his former Cure in particular; from which, by the just sentence of Law he was ejected: To this purpose no arts were left unattempted, by the under Agents, for the heads of this Rebellion, to restore Burton to his Parsonage of S. Matthews in Friday-street, London: by unjust molestations they endeavour to weary out Mr. Chestlen that succeeded him (but not immediately) in it, to relinquish his Cure, and make way for this Trumpet of Sedition; that so, what was not feizable in Law, might yet be effected by horrible injustice and oppression: First therefore some of Mr. Chestlens Parishoners, [Page] (but Burtons old Disciples, levened with his Schismatical Doctrin) deny to pay him his Tiths, or any other accustomed Duties: nor are they content with their own denial, but by earnest perswasions, and other means they labour to draw other men into the like obstinacy and perversness: nor did they stick openly to profess that they did this, that by unjust vexations they might weary out Mr. Chestlen, and make way for Burton: hereupon (the Ecclesiastical Court being suppressed, which otherwise have cognizance of the Causes of Tiths of London, nor can there any prohibition be justly granted as Coram non Judice, the Statute only enabling the Lord Mayor to be Judge, if the person grieved think fit to appeal unto him, but no way disabling the Ordinary, or abolishing his power) Mr. Chestlen petitioned (as the Statute in that case provides) the Lord Major that then was Sir Edmund Wright: To the hearing before the Lord Mayor came little Isaac Pennington, no ways interested in the cause, but only to give countenance to Mr. Chestlen's Parishoners: being there, he openly reviled Mr. Chestlen, calling him Saucy Jack, Brazen-fac'd Fellow, and the like; nay he threatned the Judge, thinking by this to stave him off from doing Justice, who bravely scorning the threats of so contemptible a Mushrome, in a just indignation replied, What, shall I be afraid to do Justice? and indeed the event shewed that he was not afraid, for upon a full hearing of the Cause, the Lord Mayor gave sentence for Mr. Chestlen, and ordered the Parishoners to pay their Tiths: Tillat a Linnen Draper, one of the Citizens that was sued, refused to obey the Lord Mayor's Decree: and therefore the time limited in the Decree being expired, the Lord Mayor according to the power given him by the Statute of the 37 of [Page] Hen. 8. committed Tillat to Prison without Bail, or mainprize, until he did submit to the sentence as the Statute gives him power: But see the Justice of the great pretenders to the maintenance of the Laws of the Land, Tillat had not stood committed many days, before two of the House of Commons (as the Keeper of Newgate sayes) in the name of the House of Commons, command him to be set at liberty, which accordingly was done, though he were in upon Execution, and the Debt not satisfied: every man wondring at, but no man daring to question so illegal an action. When this way took no effect, they joyned their Purses to vex him with an Action of Ejectment, threatning to spend five hundred pounds but they would out him of his Living: but presently deserted those intentions as not seizable. After this, they slaunder him for Preaching Popery and Arminianism: which unjust scandal so prevailed in the City, that he could not pass the streets without affronts and jeers put upon him: they disswade his Parishoners from hearing him, telling them, that they would be damn'd if they lived under his Ministery, they branded them with the name of Malignants, if they frequented their own Church, and procured them to be deeply Taxed in all Sessments. In a word, that nothing might be wanting to their own malice, and Mr. Chestlen's vexation, they threw menacing Libels into his House, laid wait in the Pewes of his Church, while others provoked him to express himself in the great differences of the times, hoping to intangle him in his words: and examined his Conversation in the very places where he lived, even from his Childhood, to that time, hoping to find something whence [Page] to frame an Accusation against him: When all these malicious Courses would not effect the thing they aimed at, they go from house to house for hands to a Petition against him, to the House of Commons, pretending that he had Preached false Doctrin, and made it the subject matter of their Petition: and if any man refused to subscribe (as many did, because they could not testifie the truth of the Petition) in their Spirit of meekness, they called them Malignants, Papists, and Enemies to Religion: however it is too well known, that two or three men (though the very dregs of the People) petitioning against Orthodox Ministers, have in the judgment and acceptance of the Faction of the House of Commons, out-poised the rest of the Parish, though infinitely beyond them as in Number so in Quality: their Testimony being rejected with much acrimony and sharpness, when the other Libels have gained credit and reputation with them: Therefore about March, 1641. The Schismaticks of Mr. Chestlens Parish presented a Petition against him to the House of Commons, in the name of the whole Parish, though three parts of four protested against it under their own hands: When it was presented, Pennington and Venne earnestly urged that it might be read, pleading in their drivelling, railing Oratory, that he was a very dangerous man, fit to be looked after: To satisfie their Importunity, the Witnesses (who as their manner is, were never sworn, and yet were both Witnesses and Accusers) were produced and examined at the Bar, and upon examination the Petition was thrown out as frivolous, but like eager bloud-hounds not giving off the pursuit, for being at one loss, upon Easter Eve, to shew the World [Page] that malice is part of a Puritans preparation to the Sacrament, when the House was very thin, the Protestants of the House being in their Closets, close at their devotions to prepare themselves for the great Feast at hand, and when all private businesses by order of both Houses were laid aside (for as yet all opinion of the sanctity of the ancient Festivals of the Primitive Church, those venerable anniversary memorials of Gods great blessings to mankind, was not lost amongst them) Pennington and Venne prevailed to have this foiled ejected Petition to be revived and read again in the House, and the Patrons of Justice and Integrity being then absent, the Petition was referred to the Committee for scandalous Ministers: so they are pleased to call all Orthodox, conscientious Ministers, who abhor their Rebellion, and refuse to comply with them in their seditious practices: and that no time might be lost, in Easter-week, the Committee sate purposely for this business: to which there was a full confluence of seditious Schismatical People from all quarters of the City; that so nothing might be wanting to this Triumph: while Mr. Chestlen was thus tied to a tedious chargeable attendance; God to whom appertain the Issues of death, smote Tillat the main promoter of Mr. Chestlens troubles with the Plague: of which he died: with whom also for the present died Mr. Chestlens trouble and vexation: and though some (that think that all acts of providence are aimed point-blank at them) having such an oportunity as this, would interpret this to their own Interest, as a sign of personal favour to them, yet not daring to press into the hidden will of God, nor making our selves of familiar acquaintance with his [Page] Counsels; I shall not make any inference from hence, but leave every man to abound in his own sense, only thus much we say, Tillat being dead, the hot prosecution of Mr. Chestlen, for a while lay dead too: when all these endeavours could not re-estate Burton in the Parsonage, some of the Factious of the Parish combine to make him their Lecturer, and perhaps better approved of him as their Lecturer, than their Parson: to this purpose cunningly, and on feigned pretences they get some subscriptions of the Parishoners, and annexing them to a Petition, for which they were never intended, preferred it in their own names, and the names of the rest, to the House of Commons, that Burton might be their Lecturer: which was no sooner proposed than granted, and an Order presently drawn up to give Burton power to Preach in Mr. Chestlen's Pulpit, which Mr. Chestlen resolutely opposing, kindled such Coals against him as afterwards fired him out of the City: for since Mr. Chestlen will not give way to Burton to be partner with him in his Pulpit, they resolve to give him possession of the whole, by removing Mr. Chestlen totally from his Cure: To this purpose Mr. Case sends to the Faction in Mr. Chestlen's Parish to frame some accusation against him; in obedience to so ghostly Counsel, Mr. Chestlen is presently accused to the House of Commons for Preaching a seditious Sermon on Sunday the 23. of October, that very day whereon the Battel was fought at Edge-Hill: The subject of the Sermon in truth, being nothing else, but an earnest exhortation to his Parishoners to perswade them to constancy in the Protestant Religion, perseverance in the fear of God and the King: presently a Warrant [Page] is granted for the apprehension of Mr. Chestlen; on the Thursday following, they rioutously assault him in his house, with great Tumults, armed with drawn Swords and Pistols: and seizing on him, in great triumph they carry him to the Court of Aldermen, who now (it seems) are succeeded in the place of the High Commission, and are to be Judges of true or false Doctrin: being brought before this Lay Sanadrim whereof Pennington the pretended Lord Mayor was President, and a Rabble of Schismaticks crowding in, to give countenance to the business, Captain Ven their Leader, stands forth and accuseth Mr. Chestlen for a most dangerous seditious Preacher (tho he confessed that he never heard him) and that he stood a Delinquent in Parliament: others objected against him that he Preached to discourage the Citizens from going to Windsor, though this Sermon were preached before that treasonable design was known, that the Kings Royal Castle should become Captain Ven's Royal Castle, or his Country house for the recreation of his Mopsa: and that the People might have full content, Mr. Chestlen was there baited on every hand, every Alderman had his fling at him: At last having made him a publick scorn of the multitude, Pennington commits him into the hands of his accusers to expose him to more abuse, and to commit him to the Compter: the Rabble being now made Serjeants, they threaten to carry him in a Cart through the open streets to the Prison: to deliver him from the fury, and rage of the People, his Father (a known able Citizen) tendered Bail of ten Thousand Pounds, but it was not accepted: away they carry him to the Compter, and the next day being [Page] Friday, he is brought to the Bar at the House of Commons; where the Speaker (who had been happy in the deceived worlds opinion both of his wisdom and honesty had he never known other Bar, but that of the Exchequer) interrogated him touching his Preaching against Brownists, and Anabaptists: and presently though no witness appeared, though no crime were objected, though no accuser appeared against him: he was voted by the House of Commons, to be sent Prisoner to Colchester Goal in Essex, there to remain during the pleasure of the House, and to pay the Charges of his conveyance thither: And that Posterity may read, and reading stand amazed to see how Tyrannical, how unlimited an Empire these Subjects have exercised upon their fellow Subjects, without any legal process, or any cause shewn, to doom them to Banishment and Captivity during their High and mighty pleasure, we have here inserted a true and perfect Copy of the Warrant and Subwarrant by which Mr. Chestlen was sent from hand to hand, till he came to his Goal, at Colchester.

By vertue of an Order this day made by the Commons House of Parliament, these are to will and require you to take into your Custody, the body of Mr. Robert Chestlen Clerk, and him by your self, your Deputy or Deputies, according to the said Order to carry in safe custody to the Prison of Colchester Castle in Essex, there to be delivered to the Goaler or Keeper of the said Prison, to be kept in safe custody as his Prisoner, until the pleasure of the House be made known to him to the contrary: It is also ordered, that the said Mr. Chestlen shall defray the [Page] Charges of his carriage to Colchester Castle aforesaid: And for so doing, this shall be a sufficient Warrant.

Dated this 28. of Octob. 1643.

Henry Elsyng, Cler. Parl. D.C.

To John Hunt the Serjeant at Arms attending on the House of Commons, his Deputy or Deputies.

I do appoint the Party or Parties whose name or names are subscribed to be my lawful Deputy or Deputies, for the Execution of this Warrant. Witness my hand this 26. day of Octob. 1643.

John Hunt Serjeant at Arms.

Mr. Dodson

Walter Story

John Hinde

Gentlemen.

Next Morning being Saturday was this (righteous) sentence put in execution: Thus to make way to reduce Burton, a Stigmatized infamous Scismatick to his former place, was Mr. Chestlen doomed to banishment and captivity: in a remote place from his Father, his Wife and Family, into a noisome Goal, where he was made a Companion to Theives and Felons; in a Town, where 'twas little less than death to be Loyal: or as themselves phrase it, to be Caesars Friend: A Town in which they that sent him thither, could not but know that they exposed his life to the fury of an inraged [Page] Fanatick People, and not long before had not only murthered Sir John Lucas, his Mother, and Sister, together with Mr. Newcomin, one of their own Ministers, and for this had received publick thanks from the House of Commons for their forwardness and zeal to the service of the Parliament; Lastly, in a Town arrived at that high degree of madness, that the Independent Church is openly practised in it, and the Mayor banished one of the Town for a Malignant and a Cavalier whose name was Parsons, and gave this learned reason for this exemplary peice of Justice, Because it was an ominous name: While Mr. Chestlen remained in this durance, if any man durst visit him, it was at his peril, he was in danger to be Plundered and branded with the dangerous name of a Malignant. They raised reports of great resort of Cavaliers to him, and of Arms brought unto him, insomuch that Alderman Barrington told the Committee, that their Town was not in safety because of Mr. Chestlen, who poor man, had no other endeavour than how to free himself from the loathsom nastiness of his Prison: To this end many Petitions were delivered to the House of Commons, that he might be delivered from the Goal to some private house, which boon after much and earnest prosecution by Mrs. Chestlen, and his friends, was obtained: Having an Order to exchange his Goal for a private house, Mr. Hammon an honest Gentleman dwelling in the Town, entertained Mr. Chestlen: but for his Charity incurred the hatred of the Common People, for whereas before he lived beloved, and in good estimation amongst his Neighbours, now for harbouring Mr. Chestlen, and for this and other actions being under the Jealousie [Page] of the Crime of Loyalty, they call him Cavalier, they threaten to call him up to the Parliament, and at last were as good as their word, for upon their Complaint, he was sent for up to the Parliament, and committed for receiving Mr. Chestlen into his house: though in reason he might safely conclude, that, that Order of the House which gave Mr. Chestlen liberty to remove to another house, did withal give that house liberty to entertain him: Thus continued Mr. Chestlen in this exile and Imprisonment from October 1642. until the February following, when the Kings express Warrant being sent for his release, having the opportunity now and then to go abroad and take the air, he left the Warrant for the Goaler to make use of for his best advantage, while he came away to Oxford and put himself under the Kings Protection: Since that, in London they have broken up his house, and Plundered his Goods: a common evil incident to all the Kings faithful Subjects, which are within the Verge of the Rebels usurped power.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
XVII.

[Page]

Mr. Fowler Parson of Minchin-Hampton in Gloucestershire, his Wife, and Children barbarously used, and his House plundered by the Rebels. Mr. Bartlets house at Castle-morton in Worcestershire, five times Plundered, but especially by Captain Scriven an impudent Rebel, &c.

ON New-years day, 1643. seventeen Soldiers sent by Captain Jeremy Buck, came to Mr. Henry Fowlers house, Parson of Minchin-Hampton, in the County of Gloucester; being entred the house, they find Mr. Fowler sitting (as the season of the year required) by the fire side, presently they seize on him, and tell him, that he is their Prisoner: and though he instantly submitted unto them without any the least resistence, yet to wreck their own malice, and the malice of him that sent them, upon him, one of the Rebels takes him by the throat, and holds the point of his Sword at his breast, two more (on each side one) present their Pistols at him, another shakes his Pole-axe over his head, others strike him with their Pole-axes; threatned he is on every side with varieties of death. All Smite him with the tongue, they rail at him, objecting against him as heinous crimes, First, that he read the Common-Prayers at length, and that he had published the Kings Proclamations with a loud voice; and then with [Page] renewed fury they assault him again: they beat him with their Pole-axes, and call him Mass-Priest, Rogue, Rascal, and tell him, Sirrah, you can furnish the King with a Musquet, a Corslet, and a Light-Horse, but thou old Knave, thou canst not find any thing at all for the Parliament: And then to work they fall again with their Pole-axes, and beat and bruise him in most parts of his body; so that being aged, (no less than Threescore and two years old) and being not yet perfectly recovered of a former lameness in one of his hips, though he were in a probable way towards it, by this barbarous usage, being so cruelly beaten, and tugged, and haled by them, he is made a very Cripple, irrecoverably lame, without all possibility of recovering of his Limbs: All this inhumanity was practised on Mr. Fowler in the presence of his Wife and Children, the Wife in the behalf of her Husband, the Children in the behalf of their Father, humbly entreating on their knees, that they would have compassion on him, and not murther a peaceable man in his own house. While some of these Rebels were executing this cruelty on his Person, others go up into his Study, and Chambers, and take away all that was of good value, and portable. And having crippled the Master of the Family, and rifled his house, like the true Servants of that Master whom they serve, the Devil, they leave him, but it was but for a season.

Now though the present sense of these sufferings, could not be but very great to an aged man, and one labouring under former infirmities, especially to have his sufferings imbittered by the reproachful railings of the Rebels, and the mocks [Page] and mowes of Captain Bucks friends and Kindred, who stood by jeering, and clapt their hands for joy, applauding the exact execution of Bucks commands, given his Soldiers concerning Mr. Fowler, yet the sad effects which followed were evidence enough how cruel his usage was: First, Mr. Fowler presently upon the Rebels departure, fell into an extream bleeding, which continued, and could not be stanched in six hours and more, by which great outlet of Spirits, his strength was so much exhausted, that the was not able to stand. Secondly, the next day after his bleeding, what with the loss of so much blood, and what with violence offered to his whole body, the Retentive Faculty, was so weakened, that his urine came from him insensibly, and in this wretched condition he continued very near a month. Lastly, by the many confusions and knocks which he received on his head with their Pole-axes he lost his hearing, which he hath not perfectly recovered unto this day. And now after all this barbarous usage, remains there yet any thing else to be added to his sufferings? was not their malice satisfied, and these outrages (designed to be committed on him) compleated yet? No, Captain Bucke knew that it would not be lawful always to commit murther, and rob those that are quiet in the Land, and therefore resolved to make use of the present opportunity: he was not ignorant that the wages of a faithful Servant to the Rebellion was full licence to do any thing that can satisfie Lust, private Revenge, or Avarice: And therefore in July last, Bucke himself, not like a Captain of Soldiers, but a Ring-leader to a Rout of Rogues, came to Mr. Fowlers house at Minching-Hampton, and most thievishly [Page] broke open the Window of his Sons Study, and so entered the house: In the Study they found Rich Treasure which they did not know, being indeed without a Metaphor Pearl before Swine, for young Mr. Fowler, a Practitioner it seems in Physick, had in his Study Extract of Pearl, Aurum Potabile, Confections of Amber, a great quantity of Compound Waters, a good proportion of Pearl in Boxes, a Box full of Bezoar Stone, with many other things of admirable use, for the preservation of the Life of Man, and of very great value, all which they took and brake in pieces, and trampling them under foot, made them utterly unuseful either for themselves or others. One of Mr. Fowlers Daughters in a just indignation at so great wast of things so precious, told Bucke that he might be ashamed to spoil things of that use and value; Bucke (a rude untutored man as he is) called her Whore, and with his Pole-ax gave her a blow on the Neck, and struck her down, and being risen again, again he strikes her down with his Pole-ax, nay, to pursue the glorious victory, he strikes her down a third time, and had she been able to rise from the floor, questionless, had struck her down a fourth time. The compassionate Mother Mrs. Fowler standing by, and seeing her Daughter thus barbarously used, to redeem her from this cruelty, resolved to expose her own person to the fury of this mad Beast, and therefore interposing, asked Bucke, whether he thought she could endure to see her Child murthered before her face: but as soon as Mrs. Fowler came within his reach, without regard either to her Age, or Sex, he caught her by the Throat, knocked her down, and being down, kicked her, and trampled on her with his [Page] feet. At last having acted what cruelty he pleased (according to the Latitude of that Tacite Commission given every Captain of the Rebellion) on Mrs. Fowler and her Daughter, he and his Rabble Plundered the House, and so departed.

If the monstrousness of these barbarous and inhuman cruelties committed on this Reverend Divine, his Wife and Daughter, and reported in this Relation, shall weaken the credit of the Relation, and render the truth of it suspected, let the World know, that here is nothing set down in this account given unto the World, but what was testified upon Oath before the Right Honourable Sir Robert Heath Knight, Lord Chief Justice of His Majesties Court of Kings Bench, on the 18. day of August 1643.

On the 21 of Septemb. 1643. being Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelists day, a hundred and fifty Soldiers, some from Gloucester sent from Captain Beard being of his Company, and some others from Teuxbury, (all conspiring together, and taking advantage of the Peoples absence from their homes, and being at a Fair that day at Ledbury two miles distant from Malverne Hills) under the conduct of Captain Scriven, son to Scriven the rich Ironmonger, and late Mayor of Gloucester, came to Castle-Morton in the County of Worcester, to Plunder Mr. Rowland Bartlets house: a man so well beloved in his Country, for his Hospitality, so dear to all sorts of People, especially to the poor, for his Charity, and those helps which he freely bestowed on them, for the recovery of the sick, the lame, and infirm, that had not these Rebels taken the opportunity of his Neighbours being at [Page] the Fair, this force had been too weak, to have made him the first instance of the Rebels insolency (in that County) by way of Plunder: when they came to Castle-Morton, for fear of surprizal, their Horse secure the streets, and Highways, while the Pikes and Musqueteers beset the house: having made good all passages, that none could go in, or come out, without their leave, Scriven advanced towards the house: Mr. Bartlet perceiving himself to be enclosed with armed men, their Musquets being bent upon his house, and his Pales serving them instead of Rests; coming out of his doors, met Scriven in the Porch, and after a friendly salute, demanded of him the reason of this Warlike approach to his house? Scriven answered, that he came in the name of the Parliament, and by their command to search for Arms: Alas! replied Mr. Bartlet, you are like to lose your labour, for Justice Salloway (meaning that traiterous beggerly Fellow, who in the time of the late universal madness, was made Knight of the Shire for the County of Worcester) hath prevented you: yet Mr. Bartlet bad him use his discretion, to see if he could find any gleaning, after the others full Vintage: and so brought him through his Hall into his Parlour; being there Mr. Bartlet according to the freeness of his disposition, and after the good old English way of bidding welcome, called for some Beer. While Scriven sate there, and with a curious eye surveyed the furniture of the Room, he espied Mr. Bartlet's Sword, hanging on the Wainscot, Scriven presently taking it down, said, is not this Arms? Yes, replied Mr. Bartlet, but no more than is necessary for every honest man, to prevent or repel injury on the [Page] High-way; young Mr. Bartlet's Sword hanging by his Fathers, Scriven takes down that too: and utterly to disarm them, that so they might rob them without resistance, the Rebels in the outward Rooms possess themselves of Mr. Bartlets mans Sword: young Mr. Bartlet coming into the Parlour, hoping to recover his Sword, Scriven perceiving a Ring (in which was set a Rubey) hanging in his bandstrings, rudely seized upon it, and after some strugling, some seconds with Pistols, and Carbines, coming to his assistance, Scriven either broke, or cut it off: having rob'd the young man of his Ring, animated by the presence of his fellow Thieves, he dives into his Fathers Pockets, and takes thence his monies, between three and four pounds: Mr. Bartlet perceiving his hand in the return, to be full of mony, put his own hand into his pocket, to see what was left, and finding but one poor three pence, to have escaped his thievish fingers, tendered him that too, desiring him that all might go together, which was no sooner offered, than taken by this poor conditioned unworthy Fellow, yet Heir to a Thousand pounds a year, unless the Hangman cut off the entail; Mr. Bartlet being clad in a fair scarlet Gippo (a shrewd temptation to a man not accustomed to wear good Cloaths, especially at his own charge) so dazled Scrivens eyes, that he offered to pull it from the others back: Mr. Bartlet entreated him not to strip him of his Cloaths since he had taken away his monies, with which he should buy more: O Sir, replied this doughty Captain, you have mony enough to buy more, and so the hopes of a greater prize making him forget the Gippo, he drew his Sword, and threatned to kill Mr. Bartlet, [Page] unless he would confess where he had hid his mony and Plate: but finding him resolute not to betray his own Treasure, Scriven seizeth upon a Woman that was Mr. Bartlets House-keeper, an old faithful Servant, in whom Mr. Bartlet and his Wife reposed much trust, and thinking to work upon the weakness of her Sex, and affright her into a confession, he causes some to present Pistols at her brest, and others the points of their Swords, threatening her with present death, if she would not discover where her Masters Treasure was: but finding this Woman not to be terrified with their threats, and fearing surprizal by some Forces which might come from Worcester, or the return of the Country people from the Fair at Ledbury, he resolved to make trial if he could find out that which he saw would not be disclosed unto him: Therefore without further delay to work they go, resolving to search the house from the top to the bottom. In Mr. Bartlets Chamber, Scriven seizeth upon Mrs. Bartlets Watch, he breaks open a Trunk, and took thence (by his own confession) six hundred Pounds in mony, he takes away all Mrs. Bartlets wearing Linnen, to the value of three-score Pounds, he breaks open her Cabinets, Trunks and Boxes, and in them seized or (to speak more properly) stole more Mony, Plate, Jewels and Bracelets, amounting to a great Sum: amongst other things valuable both for rarity and use, he took a Cock Eagles Stone, for which Thirty Pieces had been offered by a Physitian, but were refused: having thus scim'd the house, and rifled it of the principal things in it, a warning-piece is shot off, to signifie to the Rascality, that now they might have free leave to enter: upon the signal [Page] given, leaving (instant) their guards, and stations, in a confused Tumult they rush into the house, and as eager hounds at a loss offer here and there, and know not well where to fasten, so, these hunt from the Parlour to the Kitchin, from thence, by the Chambers, to the Garrets: every Room is full, every one fearing that his fellow Thief would prevent him, and seize upon the prey before himself: Besides Mr. Bartlets, his Wives, and Childrens wearing apparel, they rob their servants of their Cloaths: with the butt ends of their Musquets they break open their hanging Presses, Cupboards, and Chests; no place was free from this ragged Regiment: and if so barbarous an outrage, could possibly have admitted any time, but for a serious detestation of so foul injustice, it may have drawn a smile from the most concerned beholders, to see their thrusting and tumbling one another, the rude arts used to supplant one another, and how one Thief snatched and stole from another: After this storm was seen coming on, and to threaten this house in particular, the Servants fearing that tho the main brunt might light on their Master, yet some sprinkling might chance to fall on them, used all the art of cunning they could devise, to preserve those small sums of mony, of which their honest labour and frugality had made them Masters. But 'twas in vain to hide, where desperate beggery, and resolved Rapine were to be seekers: in one place the Rebels find Twenty Shillings, in another Forty, three Pounds here, more or less there: but were it more or less, all was fish that came to Net, they spare none: in this strict search, they meet with Mr. Bartlets Sweet-meats, these they scatter on the ground, not daring to tast of [Page] them for fear of Poison; a wary consideration, and such as staved not off the hardy Knight Sir William Brooke of Kent, to meet fists with a greazy Common Soldier in a Gally-pot, when the Rebels of that County did the like out-rage on the truly honoured Lady Butlers Closet, as you heard in the first weeks Relation of this Mercury: and as for Syrupes, and Salves those charitable provisions for the sick, and maimed, these they trample under foot, not providently foreseing that some of their Brethren in this Rebellion, might stand in need of them, the Friday next following at the Battel of Wickfield near Worcester, where God by the hand of the Kings Forces under the conduct of Prince Rupert, gave the Rebels their first overthrow. The happy Omen of Edge-Hill, and those many other succeeding Victories with which (no less to the wonder than confusion of the Rebels) it hath pleased God since to bless his Sacred Majesty: In a word, except Bedding, Pewter, and Lumber, they left nothing behind them, for besides two Horses laden with the best things (Scrivens own Plunder) there being one hundred and fifty Rebels, each Rebel returned with a Pack at his back. As for his Beer, and Perry, what they could not devour they spoil, the earth drinking what the Rebels could not, and then triumphing in their wickedness, and glorying in their Villany, they vaunted, That they had made Bartlet a Begger, and left him not worth a Groat: Yet all the Rebels were not of the same belief, for presently after, when the Earl of Essex, possessed himself of Worcester, some under his Command came from Worcester to Mr. Bartlets house, where what was undervalued and left by Scriven, and his Rout, [Page] was good booty to these: They take away good store of Bacon from his Roof, and Beef out of the Powdering Tubs; they steal his Pots, Panns, and Kettels, together with his Pewter to a great value, they seize on all his Provisions for hospitality and house-keeping, and then break his Spits, as unnecessary utensils, they expose his bedding to sale, and press Carts to carry away his Chairs, Stools, Couches, and Trunks, though emptied before by Scriven; and sharply threaten all such as should be known to harbour any of Mr. Bartlets Goods. And though these two Plunders, one upon the neck of the other, left Mr. Bartlet a desolate, naked house; yet when the Earl of Essex came lately down towards Glocester, and hid himself and his Army in hedges, ditches, and the inclosures about Teuxbury, on three several days, three severall Companies came to visit Mr. Bartlets house, presuming that in almost a Twelve months time, the house might be new furnished, nor were they altogether deceived in their expectation; without, they plunder him of eight Horses, and within, what ever they found, they made clean work, the fifth Plunder not sparing his Kitchin-stuff, which being reserved in a small Barrel, a Soldier putting it on his shoulder, carried it away; coming this last time to Mr. Bartlets house, and understanding that he, and his Sons were in the Kings Army, they abused his Wife in beastly, immodest scurrilous language, which I shall omit to relate, as offensive to Christian ears: I shall conclude this five-fold Plunder, with the relation of one of their Captains Hipocrisie, and a Common Soldiers impiety, glorying in his wickedness: The Captain being invited to eat of a Stubble-Goose, [Page] which a Soldier had Plundered and brought into his Quarters, refused to taste of it, and gave this reason for his refusal, because it was stoln, which bred in Mrs. Bartlet a great opinion that he was a conscientious man, but being to march away, he that would eat no stoln Goose, made no scruple to ride away upon a stoln Mare, for plundering Mrs. Bartlet of her own Mare, this Hypocritical Captain (and pity it is I cannot tell you his name) gave sufficient Testimony to the World, that the old Pharisee and the new Puritan, have Consciences of the self-same temper, To strain at a Gnat, and swallow a Camel, measuring all Actions, not by lawful, and unlawful, but as they are more, or less gainful. But while the Captain chose rather to be a Villain, than openly to appear so, the Common Soldiers would not only be so indeed, but desire so to be accounted; and therefore when his Companions were carrying out Mr. Bartlet's Goods, amongst other things, one seized on some live Partridges, and being entreated to forbear, and to spare them, because they were provided for a Great-bellied Gentlewoman, and now ready to lay down her burthen, the Common Soldiers hearing him plead thus, barbarously replied, if we had made Venison of her great Belly, she would not have longed for Partridges, for I have killed young and old, Men, Women, and Children: and boasting himself in his sin, and glorying in his shame, without regard had to the dangerous longing of a pregnant Woman, if not satisfied, took them away. So truly is that of the Prophet verified in these Miscreants, They declare their Sin as Sodom, they hide it not, Woe unto their Soul, for they have rewarded evil to themselves, Esay 3.9.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
XVIII.

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The Rebels persecution of Dr. Featly, a known Champion of the Protestant Religion: part of his Sermon against the Secretaries: his death: Together with their murthering of two of the Inhabitants of Lambeth on the Lords-day, &c.

IN Novemb. 1642. some of the Rebels Foot Soldiers being Billetted at Acton in the County of Middlesex, they presently enquire of their Hosts what their Doctor was, (meaning Doctor Featly, their then Rector) and what Divine Service they had; they answered according to the truth, that he was a man who precisely observed the Canons of the Church, and swerved not a title from the Rubrick of the Common Prayer, wearing the Surplice, and using all the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church established by Law. Some of the Red-coats replyed, Doth he so? We will teach him another Lesson, and make him leave those Popish Superstitions, or he shall rue it. Soon after, they repair to the Church at Acton, break open the Doors by force, in the Chancel they find this Subscription on the Wall, This Chancel was repaired and beautified, such a year, by Daniel Featly D.D. Rector, which they utterly defaced: Then laying hands on the Rails, they dealt with them (as Ducks do with a Frog) tear them limbless, and afterwards burnt them in the Street, saying, That if they had [Page]the Parson there, they would burn him with his Popish Trinkets.

Soon after, Colonel Urrey took up his Quarters at the Parsonage-house, some of whose Soldiers, (whether willingly or by carelesness, being in Drink, is not certified) lying in the Doctors Barn, set it on Fire, which burned the whole Barn full of Corn, and two Stables, down to the ground, the loss being estimated by the Inhabitants at Two hundred and eleven pounds.

But to leave Acton, and come to Lambeth, where the Secretaries wrecked their spleen, not upon Pales, or Rails, or the Fruits of the Earth, as at Acton, but upon the Bodies of Christs Servants, on his own Day, and in his own House and Court. For February 19. 1642. even in the midst of Divine Service, at the reading of the Te Deum laudamus, four or five Soldiers rushed into the Church with Pistols, and drawn Swords, affrighted the whole Congregation out, wounded one of the Inhabitants (whereof he soon after died) shot another dead, as he hung by the hands on the Church-yard wall, looking over to the Palace Court, who might truly have said in the words of the Poet, though in another sense, Ut vidi, ut perii.

It was gathered by many Circumstances, especially by Depositions taken before the Coroner, and by some Speeches that fell from their own mouths, that their principal aim at that time, was to have murdered the Doctor, which 'tis probable they had effected, had not some honest Inhabitants premonished the Doctor, who was at the same time on his way towards the Church, intending to have Preached.

[Page]About the same time, many of these Murderers were heard expressing their rancour against the Doctor, thus: Some said they would chop the Rogue as small as Herbs to the Pot, for suffering Pottage, (for by that name they usually stile the Book of Common Prayer) to be read in his Church: Others said, They would squeeze the Pope out of his Belly, with such like scurrilous and malicious Language.

The Sunday sennight after this Outrage, being the fifth of March, the Doctor perceiving some Separatists at Sermon at Lambeth, took occasion to speak as followeth:

IF ever Schismaticks and foul mouth'd Separatists were set forth in their native colours, the Schismaticks of this age are, Psal. 50.16, 17, 18, 19, 20. What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes, or that thou should'st take my Covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction (whatsoever thou pratest of Reformation) and castest my words behind thee, (namely, Prov. 14.21. Eccles. 10.20. Rom. 12.1, 2, 3, 4. Heb. 13.8, 9, 17. 1 Pet. 2.13.) When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst [Page] with him, and hast been partaker with Adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to lying, and thy Tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy Brother, and slanderest thine own Mothers son. For is not this their canting Language? The Prelates of England are all Antichristian; The Ministers Baals Priests; The publick Service, Idolatrous; The Ceremonies, Superstitious; and the Sacraments corrupted with mans Inventions. I take them at their word; If this be true, then is the Church of England no true Church of Christ; then they which have received all the Religion they have from her, are no better then Miscreants, Pagans, and Infidels, in apparent peril of drowning in everlasting perdition, because out of the Ark, without God in this World, because without his Church. For as the Blessed Martyr Saint Cyprian soundly argueth against their Fore-fathers the Catharists, [Page] Deum non potest habere Patrem, qui Ecclesiam not habet Matrem: And Church they have none for their Mother, for they disclaim the true Protestant Church of England, and the Popish disclaims them; so they are mere A per se A's, Independents, like the horti pensiles in Lactantius, and Mausolus his Sepulchre in Martial, hanging and hovering in the Air.

The Scripture sets forth the true visible Church of Christ upon Earth, under the Emblem of a great Field, a great Floor, a great House, a great Sheet, a great Draw-net, a great and large Foundation, &c. The Church shadowed. out under these Similitudes, cannot be their Congregation, or rather Conventicles: For as they brag and commend themselves, wanting good Neighbors; In their Field there are no Tares, in their Floor there is no Chaff, in their House no Vessels of Dishonor,[Page]in their Sheet no Unclean Beasts, in their Net no trash, on their Foundation nothing built, but Gold, Silver, and precious Stones. They have not sate with vain Persons, nor kept company with Dissemblers; they have hated the assembly of Malignants, and have not accompanied with the Ungodly; they have not, nor will not Christen in the same Font, nor sit at the Holy Table, (for to kneel at the Sacrament is Idolatry) nor drink Spiritually the Blood of our Redeemer in the same Chalice with the wicked. Get ye packing then out of our Churches with your bags and baggages, hoyse up Sail for New England, or the Isle of Providence, or rather Sir Thomas More's Eutopia, where Pluto's Commoner, and Osorius his Nobleman, and Castillio his Courtier, and Vigetius his Soldier, and Tully his Orator, and Aristocles Felix, and the Jews Bencohab, and the Manichees Paraclet, and the Gnosticks Illuminate ones, and [Page]the Montanists Spiritual ones, and the Pelagians perfect ones, and the Catharists pure ones, and their precise and holy ones are all met at Prince Arthurs round Table, where every Guest (like the Table) is totus teres atque rotundus.

There are three Heads of Catechism and Grounds of Christianity, The Apostles Creed, the Lords Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; these may be more truly than Gorran his Postills, termed aurea fundamenta, which they go about to overthrow and cast down; and when they have done it, no place remaineth for them to build their Synagogues, or Maria Rotunda's, but the Sand in the Saw-pit, where their Apostle Browne first taught most profoundly. The Lords Prayer they have excluded out of their Liturgy, the Apostles Creed out of their Confession, and the Ten Commandments, by the Antinomians their Disciples, out of their rule [Page]of life. They are too good to say the Lords Prayer, better taught than to rehearse the Apostles Creed, better liv'd than to hear the Decalogue read at their Service, for God can see no Sin in them, nor Man Honesty.

Tell me, ye Bastard brood of Martius, is it not sufficient for the conviction of your cauterized Consciences, that ye wreck your spleen upon the material Temples of God, by breaking down Organs, burning Rails, and defacing the Monuments of the Dead, but will ye go about to destroy the Spiritual Temple of the Holy Ghost? not fearing that dreadful Sentence of the Apostle, He that destroyeth the Temple of God, him shall God destroy. Could they not be content to tear the Book of Common Prayer in pieces, and scatter the leaves all about the Church, but will they also rend and dilacerate the living Members of Christs mystical Body? Will they charge the Cannon[Page]with murthering Shot to destroy and dissipate whole Assemblies of Gods Servants met together upon his own Day to Worship him in his own House? Do they think that their bare opposition to Popery will save them? If that alone would give a Man a good Title to Heaven, not only the Socinians, Libertines, Familists, Antinomians, and other damnable Hereticks, but even the Jews and Turks would snatch Heaven from them, and take it by force, for these are as vehement Opposers of Popery as they are: And howsoever the violent Opposition to Popish Superstition is all the Religion some of them have, yet are they not at so deadly fewd with Papists, as they would bear the World in hand, for they shake hands with them in many of their Tenets and Practices, both of them condemn our English Liturgy, and profess Recusancy: both of them Idolize their Teachers, &c. Who hath bewitched them, that they should believe Bedlam shall be so far [Page]enlarged, and the Spirit of Frenzy possess Old England, that they should have the like success here, as their cousin-germans the Anabaptists had at Munster? though we envy them not their high preferment in the end. After these fits of Convulsion are over, and Peace setled in the Body of the Kingdom, do they think the wisdom of the State will ever change our Holy Churches into their prophane Barns and Stables? our Pulpits into their Tubs? our linnen Ephods into their Aprons? our Liturgy into their extemporary Enthusiasms? our Learned Pastors into their ignorant Hirelings? and our Apostolical Hierarchy into their Apostolical Anarchy? But I will restrain my self, and confine my Discourse.

[Page]Soon after this Sermon, seven Articles were preferred against the Doctor to the Committee for Plundered Ministers, by three Mechanicks, who had formerly been Indicted for Brownists, at the Sessions for the County of Surrey; but after long attendance, the Doctor was acquitted of them. Yet at length these Sectaries wrought so powerfully, that the Doctor must be committed to Prison, how unjustly soever; 'twas enough that he was a Doctor, and maintained the Religion established in the Church of England: And accordingly, on the 30th. of September, 1643. he is committed to Peter-house; his own House, Library and Goods being first seized on, and his Estate sequestred. The Sunday after his commitment, and for divers other Lords-days, he Preached to his Fellow-Prisoners, but after a while he was prohibited by Isaac-Pennington the pretended Mayor of London. And though Sir George Sands, Sir John Butler, Master Nevile, and other Prisoners of Quality, Petitioned that he might continue his so doing, yet it would not be granted.

See how this unjust Imprisonment is relished by a Forein Divine, in these very words:

I Am sorry to hear of the close Imprisonment of that worthy Dr. Featly: What? He who is, and ever hath been so stout a Champion for Religion, to be so used by the Reformers thereof? But let not [Page] the Disciple think it strange, when his Master suffered so much cruelty from the great Rabbins of Israel.

Yours from my heart, J. S.

After the Doctor had been many Months stifled up in Prison, and having a Certificate from his Physitian that he could not live long, if he had not some fresh Air, he Petitioned these Soul-enthralling Tyrants, and at last obtained leave to go to Chelsey-Colledge for six Weeks, upon good Bail, to recover his Health: but it pleased God to take him out of this World, upon the 17. day of April, 1645. being the very last day of the six Weeks limited for his return.

During his Sickness, he gave himself wholly to Divine Meditations, often bewailing with Tears, the present state of the Church of England: he made a Confession of his Faith to Doctor Leo, and the Dutch Ambassadors Chaplain, saying, That the Doctrine which he had always Preached, and the Books which he had always Printed against Anabaptists and other Sectaries, were agreeable to Gods Word; and that he would Seal the Protestant Religion (as it was established and confirmed by the Acts of three Pious Princes) with his Blood. And being asked by some that came to visit him, What he thought of the Covenant? he said, [Page] It was a damnable and execrable Oath, made purposely to insnare poor Souls, and full of Malice and Treason against our Gracious Soveraign. And, said he, For Church-Government (a thing now much controverted) I dare boldly affirm, That the Hierarchy of Bishops is most agreeable to the Word of God, as being of Apostolical Institution, the taking away whereof is damnable; and that by consequence, both the Presbyterian and Independent Governments are absurd and erroneous, neither of them being ever heard of in the Church of God, till of late at Geneva; nor is there so much as any colour for them in Holy Writ. It is evident (said he) that as the Priests in the Old Testament were above the Levites, so in the New the Apostles were above the Disciples, and that the seven Angels of the seven Churches in the Apocalypse were seven Bishops, and that Polycarpus was Bishop of Smyrna, and Timotheus of Ephesus. And for the Laity, no pregnant proof can be produced, That they ever medled with the Priests Function,[Page]or had any Power to ordain Ministers. And these things (said he) I intended to have published to the World, if God had spared me longer life, which I might (through his goodness), have enjoyed, had I not been unjustly Imprisoned: which he several times reiterated to his Friends.

Anon after he Prayed thus: Lord, strike through the reins of them that rise against the Church and King, and let them be as chaff before the Wind, and as stubble before the Fire; let them be scattered as Patridges upon the Mountains, and let the breath of the Lord consume them; but upon our Gracious Soveraign and his Posterity, let the Crown flourish: This (said he) is the hearty and earnest Prayer of a poor sick Creature. With which, and other such spiritual Ejaculations, he expired.

FINIS.

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MERCURIUS RUSTICUS: OR, The Countries Complaint of the Sacrileges, Prophanations, and Plunderings, Committed by the SCHISMATIQUES, ON THE Cathedral Churches of this Kingdom.

MATTH. xxi. 13.

My House shall be called the House of Prayer, but ye have made it a Den of Thieves.

LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1685.

The Preface.

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THE Author of the French History relating that horrid Rebellion of the Holy League in France, the Prototype of the present Rebellion in England, gives this definition or Character of one of those Zealots: Essential form (saies he) of a Zealous Catholick in the Holy League, was to Rob and Prophane Churches, to Ravish Wives, and Virgins to murther Men against the Altars, to spoyl the Clergy, not to be the Kings Servants, which that Age held for a Crime, but to vomit out against him, all the indignities, and all the wickednesses which Irreligion, and Injustice could invent in mad Soldiers: do change Zealous Catholick into Zealous Puritan, and no Pencil ever limm'd a Rebell of this present Rebellion so exactly to the life as this: and though they have out-done all examples, presidents of wickedness, cruelty, disloyalty, sacrilege, and prophanation, as if in them the Devil meant to shew his Master-piece, raging in them horribly, because he knows that he hath but a short time, yet to their dishonouring of God, their vilifying his holy worship, prophaning his Temples, blaspheming the footsteps of his Anointed, affronting [Page] and contemning his Priests and Ministers, to their rending, rearing, and trampling underfoot, all Hallowed Ornaments, and Vtensils provided for the reverend, and decent worship of God, I know nothing that they have left undone, which remaines yet to be added to their accursed impieties. So that what the old Eustathians, Meslalians, Fratricelli, and the rest of those wild Hereticks (who placed their Religion in Contempt of Consecrated Churches, Temples, and Oratories, places Consecrated, and set apart for the publick worship of God) durst not do, these Schismatical Rebels, (having wilfully smothered not only their Consciences, but the dictate of common reason) putting no difference between Holy, and Prophane, have acted with greediness: whatsoever things they are, whereon the name of God is called, whether Persons, times or places, in the Judgment of venerable Antiquity, whether Councils, Fathers, or Historians, those things were ever held Sacred and Inviolable, always habenda cum Discrimine and that extra Usum Sacrum, to be regarded with a reverential, and discriminative usance, that is, with a select and different respect from other things of the same kind, but not imployed to Holy uses: nay the honouring Gods House, was ever held an Ingredient of that Petition of the Lords Prayer, Sanctificetur Nomen tuum, Hallowed be thy Name: what opinion the Ancient Fathers, both [Page] Greek and Latine, had of such places, may be collected from those Magnificent, and honourable Names, whereby they commended them to the due esteem of several Ages in which they lived: Some in regard of their use and imployment called them the Lords House, some the Patrimony of Christ, some the Dowry of the Spouse of Christ, some a Consecrated Possession of God, and a Holy Soil: others in respect of their Magnificence of Structure, and Costliness of Ornaments, called them Palaces, Royal or Kingly Houses: Nay would we but sharpen our Goads at a Philistines Forge, or weave the Woollen Yarn of the Gentiles, with Linnen webb of the Christians, I mean, call in the Testimony and practice of the Heathen, in what vener ation and esteem they had their Idol Temples (which was in them the dictate of Nature, mistaken only in the Object) and they would stand up, as so many witnesses, and certainly in the day of Judgment, shall condemn-this prophane Generation, who under an Hypocritical pretence of worshiping God in Spirit, in a true Anabaptistical fury, have laid wast the Sanctuaries of God, polluted his Temples, and broken down all their carved work with Axes and Hammers: And though these Rebellious Schismaticks have in all places (which have been plagued with their presence) Roared in the midst of our Congregations, set up their Banners for tokens, and left some infamous memorial of their frenzie, and hatred [Page] of the beauty and magnificence of Gods Houses; and therefore in every place made it their first business (as an introduction to the rest) to rob, and deface Churches, and violate the Sepulchres and Monuments of the dead, so they have exprest their greatest hatred against the Mother Churches, and Cathedrals of this Kingdom, because in them, the primitive Order, and decency, prescribed in the Rubrick of the Book of Common Prayer, and ratified by Act of Parliament, have been best preserved from those Omissions, Neglects, and Contempts, which had almost banished them out of private Parochial Congregations, and rendered them obnoxious to sinister interpretations, and suspected of no less than Popery, Superstition, and Innovation, in those places wherein they were retained, and practised: when therefore our Posterity shall see this Abomination of desolation, which the Rebels have brought into these Temples of God, and by Tradition hear of those costly Vtensils, and Ornaments, which most Sacrilegiously they have carried out, and shall with wonder, and astonishment inquire, what Lunacy? what Frenzy? what accursed madness possessed the hearts of the men of this present Age, to lay wast the places where Gods honour dwells? where God vouchsafes to meet with his People, and the People, with united devotion, to propitiate their God, and impiously (as much as in them is) to turne these Beauties [Page]of Holiness into desolate places, for Ziim, and Ochim, (as the Prophet speaks) and the Satyrs to dance in, Esay 13.12. Let them know, that the Puritans, Brownists, and Anabaptists, Rebels, marching under the Banners of a faction in the two pretended Houses of Parliament (which yet some have the impudence to call the Great and Highest Court, the Supreame Judicature, and the most zealous Protectors, and Assertors of the Established Protestant Religion) have brought this desolation upon us. And because this Tempest raged first the East, and so spread it self into all parts of the Kingdom, West, North, and South, I shall in the Relation keep the same Method (if so great confusion can be ranged into a method) whereby we shall give (as is due) Precedency to the famous Metropolitan Church of Canterbury, which as it is (in respect of her lesser Sisters) first in Order and Dignity, so was it then and now shall be, the first instance of the Rebels Sacrilege.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
I.

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The Cathedral Church of Canterbury horribly abused and defaced by the Rebels under the Conduct of Col. Sandys and Sir Michael Livesey: Together with the miserable end of the said Col. at Worcester, &c.

THe City of Canterbury, the Ancient seat of the Kings of Kent, while the Saxon Heptarchy flourished in this Island, was by King Ethelbert given, together which the Royalty thereof to Augustine the first consecrated Arch-Bishop of the English Nation, who there fixed his seat for himself and his Successors: for whose sake Gregory the great, then Bishop of Rome, translated the Motropolitan dignity, together with the Honour of the Pall, from London to Canterbury: this City (as the rest) had 'its share in that spoyl and devastation, which War and the sword, in the Innovations of Foreign Nations and domestick broyls, brought upon it: the greatest impressions of desolation made on it, were in the Danish Wars, but the Normans succeeding, through the Piety of Godly Religious men, residing there, and the bounty and liberality of the Bishops, it did suddenly start up, not only into its primitive beauty, and Lustre, but out-stripped all other places, as in the number and sumptuousness of Private Houses, so especially in the magnificence and splendor of Religious houses: amongst which, two were most famous, far exceeding all the rest, viz. Christ-Church, [Page]& bujus pertinacissimus aemulus (as learned Cambden speaks) the eager rival of Christ-Church, St. Augustines. This Church by the injury of Sacrilege, and time, (two greedy devourers) lies almost buried in its own Ruines, presenting nothing else to the eye of the beholders, but a sad spectacle, how spatious, and ample a structure it once was, when now, a piece of it hath the honour to be stiled (though seldom imploy'd as) the Kings House. But Christ-Church, placed as it were in the Navel of the City, raiseth it self to so great a Majesty, and Stateliness, that Erasmus, a man not too much taken with magnificence in this kind, I am sure not doting on it, saies, that this doth present it selfe with so Majestick state, ut procul etiam Intuentibus religionem incutiat, that it occasions that devotion, which should be used there, and strikes a sensible impression of Religion, in their hearts that behold it, though a far off, and at a distance. This Church built in old time (as Beda saies) by the faithful and believing Romans, and by King Ethelbert given to Augustine, in process of time needed the like Piety to support it, as at first built it, and works of that Nature in those days, did not long lye neglected, for want of benefactors: Lanfranke therefore, the thirty third Arch-Bishop of this Sea (whether more famous for repairing of decaied Churches, as this of Canterbury, Rochester, and S. Albans, or his indefatigable pains in correcting the corrupt translations of the Holy Bible, scattered every where through the Kingdom in his days, is uncertain.) William Corbet, or (as others will have it) Corbois, the thirty sixth Arch-Bishop of the same Sea, reedified the Quire, and the upper part of this Church, and the Piety of succeeding Bishops built and joyned the Nave or body to the Quire, and [Page] brought, it to this Magnificence, and splendor in whih we now see it. But what our Fore-fathers thought Religion to build up, we, their degenerous posterity, think Piety to pull down, so that while some leading Atheists (enemies to God and his Religion, and reprobate to every good work) are busy to Vote and cry down Episcopacy, with the Sacred Hierarchy, Root and Branch: their Emissaries incouraged and set on by them, first deface these Churches, and in the next place, will utterly ruin them, that so, the places where God is worshiped, being demolished, the revenue that maintains the worship, may become a prey to these Sacrilegious Cormorants: But my God shall make them like a wheel. Now, how the Rebels behaved themselves in their first attempt, in this kind, on the Cathedral Church of Canterbury, under the conduct of Colonel Sandys, I cannot better express than in the passionate elegancy of Reverend Doctor Paske, one of the Prebends, and at that time Subdean of that Church, to the Earl of Holland, the most ingrateful, and most unthankful of men.

My ever Honoured Lord,

DId it not conduce unto the Publick, I should not presume to interrupt your Lordships weighty affairs; but the long experience of your Lordships zeal for Religion, and vigilancy for your University of Cambridge, hath assured me of your Lordships Patronage of our whole Church in general, and (as the case now stands) of this Mother-Church in particular, we expected peace, but have found much trouble from the Troopes sent amongst us; with what barbarousness they have behaved themselves at Rochester, and in other parts of this County, I leave to the Relation of others, and beg your Lordships patience, only to be informed what hath happened here with us: and wherein I am more neerly concerned, by my Office in the absence of the Dean.

[Page]Colonel Sandys arriving here with his Troops, on Friday night, presently caused a strict watch and Sentinels to be set both upon the Church, and upon our several houses, to the great affright of all the Inhabitants: this done, Sergeant Major Cockaine came to me, and in the name of the Parliament, demanded to see the Arms of the Church, and the Store-powder of the County, which I presently shewed him; when he possessed himself of the Keys, and keep them in his own custody: the next morning we were excluded the Church, and might not be permitted to enter, for the preformance of our divine Exercises, but about eight of the Clock, Sir Michael Livesey attended with many Soldiers, came unto our Officers, and commaded them, to deliver up the keys of the Church, to one of their Company, which they did, and thereupon he departed, when the Soldiers entering the Church, and Quire, Giant-like, began a fight with God himself, overthrew the Communion-Table, tore the Velvet cloth from before it, defaced the goodly Screen, or Tabernacle-work, violated the Monuments of the Dead, spoyled the Organs, brake down the ancient Rails, and Seats, with the brazen Eagle which did support the Bible, forced open the Cupboords of the Singing-men, rent some of their Surplices, Gowns and Bibles, and carryed away others, mangled all our Service-books, and Books of Common-Prayer; bestrwing the whole Pavement with the leaves thereof: a miserable spectacle to all good eyes: but as if all this had been too little, to satisfie the fury of some indiscreet zealots among them (for many did abhor what was done already) they further exercised their malice upon the Arras hanging in the Quire, representing the whole story of our Saviour, wherein observing divers figures of Christ, (I tremble to express their blasphemies) one said that here is Christ, and swore that hee would stab him: another said here is [Page] Christ, and swore that he would rip up his Bowels: which they did accordingly, so far as the figures were capable thereof, besides many other Villanies: and not content therewith, finding another statue of Christ in the Frontispiece of the South-gate, they discharged against it forty shot at the least, triumphing much, when they did hit it in the head, or face, as if they were resolved to crucifie him again in his figure, whom they could not hurt in truth: nor had their fury been thus stopped, threatning the ruine of the whole Fabrick, had not the Colonel, with some others, come to the relief and rescue: the Tumults appeased, they presently departed for Dover, from whence we expect them this day; and are much afraid, that as they have already vilified our Persons, and offered extream indignity to one of our Brethren, so they will Plunder our Houses at their Return, unless the care of the Major, the Colonel, and some Members of the House of Commons (Sir Edward Masters, and Captain Nut, now with us, who have promised to present their knowledg to that honourable House) do prevent the same.

Your Lordship will be pleased to pardon my hasty expressions, which proceed from a grieved heart, and I am confident the honourable Houses of Parliament, being rightly informed herein, will provide against the like abuses, and impieties in other places, in the mean time we submit with patience to the providence of him, who can, and will bring good out of evil, which is the earnest Prayer of

Christ-Church, Cant. Aug. 30, 1642.

Your Lordships most Obliged Servant, Thomas Paske.

[Page]WHat effect this just complaint wrought, how it prevailed either with that Lord to whom it was addressed, or with the pretended Houses of Parliament, whose authority, and assistance was implored to prevent further outrages, either here or elsewhere, we have too clear testimony, not only in the like sacrileges, and prophanations every day acted, without any the least check, or restraint from the heads of this Rebellion, but more especially from their Votes and Ordinances, for the abolishing all remainders of Popery and Superstition, as they call it: in all which, Intelligi malunt quam Audiri, they would have their creatures understand, more than they speak, being certain politick Litotes, in which, minus dicitur, plus intelligitur, signifying more than the Grammatical construction will permit, an carry in them a hidden, secret sense, and meaning, which their own Emissaries know how to interpret, and inlarge, according to the full intention of the Authors. But before we pass from the relation of this horried Sacrilege, committed on the Church of Canterbury, I could not free my self from being guilty of that great sin of obscuring the great manifestation of Gods Justice, if I should in silence pass over that most examplary vengeance, which persued to death, that unfortunate Gentleman Col. Sandys, the ringleader to that Rebellious rout, which were Actors in that more than Barbarous outrage.

Whether the cunning perswasions of others, or his own ambitiom first imbarked him in this fatal undertaking, is uncertain, but as himself confessed on his death-bed, to a friend and Kinsman of his, who asked him, what he meant being a Gentleman of so fair an Estate, to ingage himself in this Treason? [Page] he answered, That he was so far drawn in before he was aware, that he knew not how to come off, without the danger of his head: So usual it is for one sin to ingage the sinner for a second: having therefore once lifted up his hand against his Sovereign, the Lords Anoynted, he thought the way to be secure from the punishment of Rebellion, was to presevere in his crime, and go on in Rebellion: in pursuance therefore of so black designs, being Colonel of a Regiment of Horse, in Sept. 1642. with the rest of the Rebels Army under the Conduct of the Earl of Essex, he advanced towards Worcester, and making some excursions with ten Troops of Horse from the body of their Army, at Wickefeild, near Worcester, accidentally were met by Prince Rupert, accompanied by Prince Maurice, and some others, Lords and Gentlemen of His Majesties Cavallry: being thus by chance met, The Prince glad of any opportunity, to express the braveness of his resolution, charged the Rebels with incomparable valour: In this short, but fierce conflict, Colonel Sandys was wounded, and being dismounted his Horse, became Prisoner to the Kings party. Being thus wounded and as then was conceived, mortally, he began to reflect upon himself, and finding so little warrant in his now unbiass'd conscience for his undertaking, which had brought him into this condition, his perplexed Soul brake out into many sad expressions of remorse: crying out, Woe, Woe, to evil Counsel, and happy are they that do not take it. And being put in mind by a Reverend Doctor in Divinity, and Chaplain to Prince Rupert, of the heinousness of the sin of Rebellion, he acknowledged himself to have faln into that sin, and that God was just in his Judgments for finding him out in his iniquity, professing [Page] withal his hearty sorrow, and repentance for it: whereupon the Doctor replyed, that if he recovered, perhaps the same perswasions from others, or inconsiderateness in himself, might again ingage him in his Rebellion, at which words a little lifting up his hand, he professed, He would rather have it cut off, then ever again lift it up against the King: He freely acknowledged the Justice of the Kings cause, and that he had observe the blessings of God to accompany it, and when the Doctor desired leave to testify his Repentance to the world, he freely gave him leave, asking God and the King forgivness, praying for a blessing upon him, and his proceedings. In this mind he continued while Prince Rupert, and the Kings forces with him staid in Worcester: and whether after the Earls possessing himself of Worcester, by the impetuous sollicitations of those Murtherers of Souls, those Factors for Hell, their Schismatical Lecturers, (who make men twofold more the Children of the Devil than themselves) he fell off, and turned Apostate from his newly resolved Loyalty, as repenting of his Repentance, is uncertain; Those that were about him and saw his weakness, ever declining from the first hour he received his wounds, must testify to the World that he had neither strength of hand to write, nor so much composedness of spirit, to be the Author of that Spurious, Supposititious Vindication, Published in his name Oct. 11. 1642. He being (whatsoever that forgery pretends) as unable to vindicate himself with his Pen, as his sword: but if he had his heart, as well as hand subscribing to that Atheistical resolution, where they thus bring him in foaming out his own shame, The Apprehension of death never hitherto so nearly touched me, but if God shall once restore me to [Page]my former strength, I shall by his help, with as much alacrity and I hope courage, endeavour, to defend, and maintain with my dearest blood, this so good a cause (meaning this present Rebellion) as ever I was at first engaged in it. If I say they had his heart, as well as his hand to that Resolution, I am afraid it was too evident a Symptom of a wretched man, given up to a Reprobate sense, which of all spiritual judgments questionless is the greatest; and might justly call for those Torments of body, which afterward, as a Gangreen devoured and eat up his flesh, and those pangs of Conscience, which I am afraid were but the earnest of a worse condition to insue: for as the Psalmist saies, As for such as turn back unto their own wickedness, the Lord shall lead them forth, with the workers of iniquity, Psal. 125.5. but I Remember that of S. Paul, Judg nothing before the time, until the Lord come: 1. Cor. 4.5. And therefore while on Supposition I writ my fears, positively I determine nothing, not knowing, whether God might not give him the grace of Repentance at the last, which if he did, he only (I dare say) that gave the Grace, knew of it: concerning his eternal condition therefore, I shall leave him to the Judgment of that Righteous God, that judgeth Righteous Judgment, and gives to every man according to his works: and only inform the World in what condition the Colonel lay, until the time of his dissolution, and putting off his earthly, but loathsom Tabernacle.

As the Col. was amongst the Rebels a very considerable man, both for his extraction, and quality, and likewise for his Estate (to say nothing of his valour, and resolution, had they been Loyally imployed) so it was among their chiefest cares to recover him of those wounds which he received in their unchristan quarrel: while therefore [Page] the Rebels Army lay in Worcester (which was about three weeks) though then upon more strict searching his wounds, in the opinion of the best Chirurgions, they were not mortal, yet, whatsoever the Art, and invention either of the Physician or Chirurgion, could contribute to his recovery, was not omitted: when the Rebels Army drew out, to meet the King, in their March from Shrewsbury, which they did to their cost at Edge-hill, the Colonel was committed to the care of his own Chirurgion, then in pay under him, John Anthony of London: to whom, as a witness and an assistant in the crue, was joyned a Chirurgion of the City of Worcester, Edward Marshall: who, though they both used all the Art, and Industry that possibly they could, to effect the cure, yet the difficulties every day multiplied against the means, and in despight of their Balsoms, his wounds did putrify and the flesh rot, to the wonder of the Artists, and the Scorn of their Art: In so much that the Chirurgions, after much variety of means used, and much strugling with these growing evils (the cure still going backward, as if their skill had been imploy'd to widen those wounds which they pretended to close up) were heard by many of the City of Worcester to confess, what Hippocrates saies every Physician should first look after, in every cure, that there was, [...], the hand of God in it, that it was a peculiar judgment upon him, and that the cause of this putrefaction was more than Natural: nor were they without good grounds for this conjecture, for besides the conclusions of their own Art, directly thwarted, experience on the several parts of the body of their Patient, was a clear demonstration: Those wounds in the upper parts of his body, near the Vitals, and therefore [Page] more dangerous, were cured long before his death, but those in his thigh, which were flesh wounds, as they call them, these were the Oppropria Chyrurgorum, here the flesh did daily rot, and putrifie, and was cut away by degrees, even to the leaving of the bones naked, and stunk in so loathsom a manner, that as he was a burthen to himself, so to his friends too, and those that were about him, being hardly able, for the noysomness of the smell, either to come near him to do the office of necessary attendance, or so much as to endure the room where he lay, so intolerable was the stench, and so offensive.

Nor were the wounds of his Body more insufferable to his friends, than the wounds of his Conscience to himself, the guilt of Rebellion wrought in him strong convulsions of Soul, high distempers of mind, yet that he might not sink under the burden of his wounded Spirit, a weight that requires more than man to support it, he sent for Master Cotterell, an Orthodox godly Minister, and Parson of S. Andrews in Worcester, to Administer a word of comfort unto him in this his afflicted condition.

When Master Cotterell came unto him, he found Obadiah Sedgwick that scandalous seditious Minister of Essex, in private conference with the Colonel: and Bread and Wine, ready prepared for the Lords Supper: Sedgwick having ended his discourse, went to Prayers, whereupon Master Cotterell offering to withdraw, he was intreated by one of the Colonels Servants to stay, which accordingly he did: Sedgwick having concluded his extemporary Prayer, took his leave and departed, refusing to stay either to administer the Sacrament to the Colonel, or to Communicate with him: of which refusal, when [Page] Master Cotterell afterward desired to know the Reason, all the satisfaction that was given him, was, that Sedgwick was not fully assured of the fitness, and due preparation of those that were to receive the Sacrament with him. Desperate Hypocrisie,! whatsoever he was perswaded of the preparation of the other Communicants, 'tis most certain, he could not be ignorant of the unfitness of the Colonel himself: whom he himself in all probability perswaded to return with the dog to his vomit, and to justify himself in that sin of which but very lately he seemed to repent: 'tis more probable, that, that poor remainder of Conscience in Sedgwick, not quite yet put away, though it suffered him to betray, in private, a dying man to impenitency, under feigned pretences of what he in his own Soul must needs confess to be a crying sin, and inrolled by S. Paul himself amongst those works of the flesh which do exclude from the Kingdom of Heaven: yet his heart might smite him, and his conscience withstand him as it were to the face, that he durst not seal that destructive Counsel, by delivery of the Sacrament: Sedgwick being gone, the Colonel willingly entertained conference with Master Cotterell; to whom he made a general confession of his sins, and the grievousness of them, professing his hearty repentance, and sorrow for them. But as the two pretended Houses of Parliament, in their Catalogue of sins, reckoned up in their Homily (if without offence I may so call it) and offered to this Nation as the subject matter of their solemn humiliation, quite forgot Lying and Rebellion, for some reasons best known to themselves: so this Champion of theirs in his general Confession, made no mention of the sin of Rebellion, which most nearly [Page] concerned him, and for which in all probability he was very suddenly to render an account to God: a Confession most necessary both for him to make, and the Minister to require, before he could be thought a fit receiver of those dreadful mysteries: but after this general Confession, having received the Sacrament, Master Cotterell commending him to the grace of God, for that time left him; and having by one or two visits, after that, as he thought gained some interest in the Colonel, coming again to him and finding him in a calm Temper, and judging it a fit oportunity to inquire into his Conscience, and to sound him what perswasion he now had of his taking up Arms against his Sovereign, he desired the Colonel to command his servants out of the room, that he might speak with him in private, which being done, and all witnesses removed, but God, and their own Consciences, Master Cotterell, prefacing his discourse, with a solemn Protestation, that in what he did, he proposed no other end, but the salvation of his Soul, demanded of him, whether he were not sorry for drawing his sword against the King? and whether he were not perswaded in his Conscience of the unlawfulness of it? To which the Colonel replyed, that he was perswaded, that it was lawful, having taken up Arms not against the King, but for the King, for his good, to bring him back to his Parliament, to make him more glorious than any of his Predecessors, and to redeem him from his evil Counsellors, and those Popish Malignants that were about him. To which old, thredbare pretences (invented to palliate Treason, and blanch their most gross Rebellion) when Master Cotterell opposed the Laws of God, the Laws of the Kingdom, and seconded both, by the Kings most [Page] clear and satisfactory Declarations, able to undeceive the abused World, and dispel that mist of errour and prejudice, which the heads of this Rebellion had cast before the eyes of the People of this deluded Nation: the Colonel not able to return any reasonable answer, or pre-instructed by Sedgwick, who foresaw what encounter he was like to meet withal, suddenly called aloud to his servants to come in, whose presence set an end to the Conference: after this, Master Cotterell (some say by Doctor Bruce his Physicians advice, though I do not absolutely affirm it) was wholly neglected, and Master Halsetor was sent for, Parson indeed of S. Nicolas in Worcester, but more acceptable to those that gave this Counsel, under another capacity, as he was the City Lecturer.

But before we acquaint you with what success Halsetor undertook, and discharged this imployment, it will not be amiss to let the World know, what reward this dying Colonel intended to bestow on Master Cotterell, for all his pains taken with him, when the Colonels Wife came to Worcester to visit her Husband, what pains he had taken in administring the Sacrament, and his great care in Praying and conferring with him: she very nobly pressed her Husband to gratifie Master Cotterell by some honorary gift, as an acknowledgment of his thankfulness, that he might reap some of his Temporalls, to whom he had so plentifully sowed Spiritual things: to so reasonable a motion made by the Wife of his bosome, the Colonel most unworthily, and most uncharitably replyed, Sweet-heart be content, we shall, find him a Delinquent: but he that shall reward a Cup of cold water, shall not forget so great a work of Charity: he that endeavours to turn a sinner to righteousness [Page] (though the success answer neither his labour, nor expectation) yet he shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever, nor shall his work be in vain in the Lord.

Master Cotterell being thus most unthankfully rejected, the Colonel is now committed wholly to the care of his new ghostly Fathers, Master Halsetor, a man of a Schysmatical Turbulent Spirit, fitter to make a Rebel than reclaim a relapsed Traitor: and since hath followed that counsel which he gave by deserting his Cure and joyning himself to the Rebels: the men of this Faction have an Art to torment perplext consciences, instead of comforting them, dispensing not so much the promises of the Gospel, as the terrours of the Law, as if the way to spiritual Consolation were through despair, and no way led to Heaven so sure, as what coasted by the confines of Hell; whether Master Halsetor dealt thus with the Colonel, I cannot say, perhaps he might go about as some others of his Faction have done to sow Pillows under their seduced Champions arm-holes, and to justifie the sinner in the sin, comparing circumstances, questionless this was his way, but the sad effects of his Rebellion which the Col. felt in his body, and those flashes of horrour affrighting his guilty Soul, would not permit this dying man to be lulled asleep in so vain presumption: though at first therefore when Master Cotterell was with him to assist him in that great work to prepare him to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, and the preparatories were confessions and sorrow for sins (though but in the general) deprecations of Judgment, and the wrath of God, and the like, some spiritual comfort, began to dawn in his benighted Soul, and that he might seal that obscure glimmering [Page] of hope opened unto him in this valley of Achor, and obtain more, he desired to Communicate in the Body and Blood of Christ, yet after Master Halsetor came unto him, (woe, woe to evil Counsel, to use his own exclamation) it was observed that the Col. fell into strong distempers of mind, which suddenly grew to so great a height that he was utterly distracted, even to raving, and madness: which amongst them that think of Gospel ineffectual, unless the spiritual man be mad, is taken for the undoubted evidence of a Powerful Ministery: certainly it was a sad spectacle, to see him lye in this condition, and a horrid thing to hear, that his last breath, which should have been breathed out in Prayers, and deprecations, and humble Confessions of sin; should be spent in venting the wild fancies of his distracted brain: sometimes crying out, that his Chirurgion and servants had broken up his Trunks, and robb'd him of of his Gold: and by and by starting up, and crying out, that the Enemy was at the Walls of the City, and calling for the keys to lock up the Gates: Thus he lay divers weeks: and in these distractions dyed; dreadful things are these, but 'tis written, The Lord shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart. His Wife and Son coming to visit him in this wretched condition (poysoned with the stench of his body) both fell sick of the small Pox, of which she dyed, and both of them lie Buried in the South Ile of the body of the Cathedral, in that Cathedral of Worcester where his Grandfather Doctor Edwin Sandys, afterwards Arch-Bishop of York, made his first step to the Arch-Episcopal honour, being first Consecated Bishop of that Diocess: and there laid the foundation of those fortunes, which descending to this man, made him forget his own extraction; [Page] and certainly it was no small aggravation of his sin, that being descended from an Arch-Bishop, and that Estate which made him considerable in the World, being raised out of the Revenues of the Church, and a Cathedral Church (a blessing which but few Churchmen have attained unto, though advanced to the same, or the like dignity to raise a family) He should yet so far degenerate, so far forget himself, and the Rock from whence he was hewn, to be a Ringleader to so Barbarous a Rout, which beginning at Canterbury went on to ruine and deface all Cathedral Churches where they came, ending with that of Worchester, were he had the undeserved Priviledg to be interr'd.

Thus as briefly as I could, I have given an account of the unhappy end of this miserable Gentleman. In which I call God to witness there is nothing feigned, nothing suborned, there being nothing here recorded, but was is attested, by men beyond all exception. And I must appeal again to the same God, that this account is not given to that end to make his name, or memory odious, either with the men of this present age, or with posterity; I must confess I would disgrace the Sin, but my intent is, by this example to teach those that seduced as this Man was, to know and foresee in him, what end attends those, who forgetting all Religion, and Loyalty, shall lift up their hands against their God in Sacrilege, and against their Sovereign in Rebellion.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
II.

[Page]

The Cathedral Church of Rochester violated: the Sacrilege and prophaneness of the Rebels under Command of Sir William Waller and Sir Arthur Haslerig, acted on the Cathedral Church of Chichester, &c.

AS when the Spirit brought the Prophet Ezekiel into the holy Temple, he led him from place to place, and each place entertained him with greater Abominations than the former, so that the farewel to the last Vision, and the invitation to the next is, Turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater Abominations than these: so having brought you in the Cathedrals of this Kingdom, Temples (in despite of Atheists, Rebels and Anabaptists) of God too: and having shewed you the Abomination of desolation in one of them, viz. in Canterbury, the first instance of their accursed rage, and having viewed that, I must now lead you on as the Spirit did the Prophet, from place to place, and the incitement may be the same, for though you have seen great prophanations in the former relation, yet you shall see greater Abominations than these.

The next instance of the Rebels profaneness, which I shall offer unto you, is in the Cathedral of Rochester, recompensed for the smalness of 'its revenue, with the honour of 'its antiquity, as boasting of Ethelbert King of Kent, a common Founder [Page] to this Church, with those of Canterbury and London. The unhappy loss of Earnulphus History, the thirty second Bishop of this See, deprives us of that light which discovered the various condition of this Church how long in the beginning it struggled with 'its own poverty, and in after ages with the injuries of time and War, remaining some Years in a kind of widowhood, without the government and superintendency of a Bishop; till at last Gundulfus the thirtieth Bishop of this See, reedified this Church from the ground, and brought it into that magnificence, in which we now see it: to which pious work, he brought so good, so vigorous affections, that as Maelmesbury records of him Praevenerat vivacitas Gundulfi omnium successorum diligentiam, Gundulphus alacrity in that work did so prevent the piety of his successors, that he hardly left them any place in this kind, wherein to exercise their bounty. Little did the overflowing zeal of our Ancestours to the house of God, like that of the old Israelites, pouring out their wealth and precious things to adorn the Tabernacle, in so great measure, that Moses was fain to publish a Proclamation, to restrain their liberality, for the stuff they had was sufficient for the work to make it, and too much, Exod. 36.6, 7. little (I say) did they thnik, when they did this, that what they thus bountifully gave unto God, should ever, while this Kingdom remained Christian, become a prey to those, which as Tertullian speaks, Gentes agunt Christi nomine, have not so much as a form, but the bare usurped name of Christianity, which they fully and pollute with those worse than heathenish crimes of Sacrilege and Prophaneness: had the Sacrilege lately commited at Canterbury been applauded by the People, (to gain whom, no arts though [Page] never so repugnant either to Religion or common honesty were left unattempted) certainly, this Church which next stood in their way, and immediately after Canterbury tasted of their fury, had been utterly demolished, and offered up a sacrifice to Popularity. But Plundering being then but a stranger in England, newly arrived here from desolate Germany, especially Plundering of Churches, which heretofore were held inviolable Sanctuaries for offenders, but much more for their own innocent ornaments; this made a general outcry, every man detested so foul impiety; nay, their own party (some of them) not yet so deeply leavened with their Anabaptistical Doctrines, nor given up to so reprobate a sense to believe monstrous lyes for truth, did not onely not approve, but sparingly condemn the Fact: and the general vote of the People, awakened by Doctor Paske his Letter, declared it barbarous and wicked; nay, the dislike of such proceedings grew to so great a height, that some wise men were deceived into an opinion, that the Houses would punish the offenders for the present, and publish an Order to restrain the like outrages for the future; and indeed, though some good men. Members of both Houses, did earnestly desire it, yet by experience they quickly found how unequal they were to effect any thing, in which they had not the concurrence of the heads of the Faction which ruled in both Houses, but much less when they rowed against the stream, and had them for their adversaries. The Rebels therefore coming to Rochester brought the same affections along with them which they express'd at Canterbury, but in wisdom thought it not safe, to give them the same scope, here as there; for the multitude though mad enough, yet were not so mad, nor stood yet [Page] so prepar'd to approve such heathenish practices: by this means the Monuments of the Dead; which elsewhere they brake up and violated, stood untouched; Escutcheons and Arms of the Nobility and Gentry (upbraiding eye-fores to broken, mean Citizens, and vulgar Rebels) remained undefaced, the Seats and Stalls of the Quire escaped breaking down, onely those things which were wont to stuff up Parliament Petitions, and were branded by the Leaders of the Faction, for Popery and Innovation, in these they took liberty to let loose their wild zeal: they brake down the rail about the Lords Table, or Altar, (call it which you please;) and not only so, but most basely reviled a now Reverend Prelate, who being lately Dean of that Church, had for the more uniform, and reverend receiving of the blessed Sacrament set it up, with the odious name of Rogue, often repeated: they seized upon the Velvet Covering of the holy Table, and in contempt of those holy Mysteries which were Celebrated on the Table, removed the Table it self into a lower place of the Church, in this, perfect Disciples of that profane Author of the Book called,, Altare Damascenum, who in the 718. p. devoutly resolves thus. De loco ubi consistat cur solliciti, cum quovis loco vel Angulo extra Tempus Administrationis collocari possit; Concerning the place where the Lords Table shall stand what need we to be sollicitous, when out of the time of administration of the Sacrament, it may be set aside, in any place, or obscure corner. And to shew what Members they are of the Church of England, they strewed the Pavement with the torn mangled leaves of the Book of Common-Prayer, which, with the Book of Homilies, and the 39 Articles, makes up the third Book, wherein the Doctrin of the Church [Page] of England is fully containad: understanding that the Dean that then was, was to Preach on Sunday morning, Colonel Sandys and Sir John Seaton, that false Traiterous Scot, sent unto him to command him to forbear the wearing of the Surpless, and Hood: to which Message the Dean stoutly, and like himself, returned this answer, that if they would expect any Sermon from him, they must permit him to appear in such Ornaments, as the Church, and his degree required: and accordingly did so: afterwards Sandys and Seaton, coming towards the Church and hearing the Organs, Seaton started back, and in the usual blessing of some of his Country, cryed, A Devil on those Bag-pipes: perhaps he never read so far in Davids Psalms, where it is written, Praise God upon the Srrings and Pipe, Psalm 150.4. or if he had, it is more than probable, that it had been all one to him: however, this served them both, as a pretence to cloke their Irreligion, and refusal to joyn with that true Protestant Congregation. While the Rebels were pulling down the Rails about the Communion-Table, one of the Prebends of the Church, Master Larken, interposed, and attempted to stay their madness by reason, and perswasion; but he quickly found, that he did not only prophane Reason, by urging it to S. Pauls, Absurd, unreasonable, wicked men, men made up of Incongruities, but that he did it to the hazard of his life; for one of the Rebels, instead of returning a reasonable answer, discharged a Pistol, or Carbine at him, to have murdered him at the very Altar, but by the good providence of God he miss'd his mark. Thus having done some spoil, that they might render themselves not altogether unprofitable to their party, and not daring [Page] for the present, to do any more, for fear of losing that party which they hoped to gain, for that reason, they left the Church: but into what further outragious Impieties, their Schismatical fury hath since transported them, or what else they have practised on this Church, to compleat their Monstrous Reformation, is not yet made known unto us.

The third instance, which I shall give of the Rebels Sacrilege and Profaneness, is in the Cathedral Church of Chichester; Successour in the honour of being the seat of the Bishops Residence to Sealesey: for Wilfrid Arch-Bishop of York, being driven into Exile by Egfrid King of Northumberland, retiring himself into Sussex, and finding the South Saxons wholly given up to Idolatry, his Spirit, like S. Pauls at Athens, was stirred within him, and knowing the unprofitable servants doom, that Buried his Talent, he Preached unto them the Gospel of Christ: and Edilwalch King of those parts (not long before converted to the faith, by the perswasion of Wolfhere King of the Mercians) willing that the same saving knowledg, which he himself had imbraced, should be imparted to his People, seconded the pious endeavours of Wilfrid, and therefore amongst other acts of bounty, he gave the Arch-Bishop, Sealesey for the palce of his residence. Not long after Cedwalla, Conquering Edilwalch, built here a Monastery to the honour (as Malmsbury saies) of S. Peter, and erected the Episcopal Chair: where it stood fixt the succession of 22. Bishops, or as others say (reckoning Wilfrid Arch-Bishop of York for the first) the succession of 23 Bishops; from the year 711. the Reign of William the Conquerour 1070. at which time Stiganeus translated his Chair from Sealesey to Chichester, and so became the last Bishop [Page] of Sealesey, and the first of Chichester, where the Episcopal power did flourish ever since, until now; in these last, and worst days, wherein while the heads of a Rebellious, Schismatical Faction, Vote down the sacred Function and Order of Bishops, their Emissaries are mad to deface, if not utterly to demolish their Churches. To this purpose, the Rebels under the Conduct of Sir William Waller, entering the City of Chichester on Innocents day, 1642. the next day, their first business was to Plunder the Cathedral Church; the Marshal therefore and some other Officers having entred the Church went unto the Vestery, there they seize upon the Vestments and ornaments of the Church, together with the Consecrated Plate, serving for the Altar, and administration of the Lords Supper: they left not so much as a Cushion for the Pulpit, nor a Chalice for the Blessed Sacrament: the Commanders having in person executed the covetous part of Sacrilege, they leave the destructive and spoyling part to be finished by the Common Soldiers: brake down the Organs, and dashing the Pipes with their Pole-axes, scoffingly said, hark how the Organs go. They break the Rail about the Communion-Table, which was done with that fury, that the Table it self escaped not their madness, but tasted of the same fare with the Rail, and was broken in pieces by them. At the East end of the Quire, did hang a very fair Table, wherein were written the Ten Commendments, with the Pictures of Moses and Aaron on each side of the Table; possessed with a zeal, but not like that of Moses, they pull down the Table, and break it into small Shivers. 'Twas no wonder that they should break the Commandments in their representation, that had before broken them all over [Page] in their Substance, and Sanction: they force open all the locks, either of doors or desks wherein the singing men laid up their Common-Prayer-Books, their singing Books, their Gowns and Surplesses: they rent the Books in pieces, and scatter the torn leaves all over the Church, even to the covering of the Pavement, but against the Gowns and Surplesses their anger was not so hot, these were not amongst the Anathemata, but might be reserved to secular uses: in the South cross Ile on the one side, the History of the Churches Foundation was very artificially pourtrayed, with the Pictures of the Kings of England; on the other side over against them are the Pictures of the Bishops as well of Sealsey as Chichester, began by Robert Sherborn, the 37 Bishop of that See, and the Series brought down by him to his own times at his own Charges, who as he made that of the Psalmist, Dilexi decorum domus tui domine, Lord I have loved the beauty of thy house, his imprease and Motto, so he made it his work, and endeavour. These Monuments they deface and mangle with their hands and swords, as high as they could reach: and to shew their love, and Zeal to the Protestant Religion established in the Church of England, one of those Miscreants picked out the eyes of King Edward the sixth's Picture, saying, That all this mischief came from him, when he established the Book of Common-Prayer. On the Tuesday following, they had a solemn Thanksgiving, for their success in gaining that City. Men of Cauterized Consciences, and given up to a Reprobate sense, thus, not only to take the name of God in vain, but damnably to Blaspheme it, as if he were the Patron of Rapine, Blood and Sacrilege. After the Sermon was ended, as men not inspired by the holy Spirit, of which they so much [Page] boast, but possessed and transported by a Bachanalian fury, they ran up and down the Church, with their swords drawn, defacing the Monuments of the dead, hacking and hewing the Seats, and Stalls, scratching and scraping the painted Walls: Sir William Waller, and the rest of the Commanders standing by as spectators, and approvers of these Barbarous Impieties: yet for fear lest in the Schismatical frenzy, the sword in mad mens hands might mistake, Sir William Waller, a wary man as he is, and well known not to be too apt to expose himself to danger, stood all the while with his sword drawn, and being asked by one of his Troopers what he meant to stand in that Posture? He answered, that it was to secure himself, you know, it is written, the wicked are afraid where no fear is, for though the People made him an Idol in London, yet being no Popish, but a Puritanical Idol, (for they have their Idols, and their Idolatry, as much as the Church of Rome) there was no danger to his person, to be mistaken for an object of their Reformation, at Chichester. The same Trooper added also, That if his Colonel in the Low-Countries were there, and Commanded in cheif, he would hang up half a dozen of the Soldiers for examples sake: it not being the custom of the Low-Countries, (though long time hath made their enmity inviterate, and added much to the animosity of the parties) to Plunder Churches, it being a mutual stipulation between the Spaniard and the Hollander, that what Town soever should by Conquest pass from the possession of one Nation to the other, though the Conquerour had the free Plunder of the Town, yet Churches with their ornaments, and what ever was conveyed into them, should be Inviolable, the Church being Sanctuary to whatsoever was under its Roofe, and, if[Page]they would have any thing thence, it was to be purchased at a valuable Price. These good intimations of moderation from a man of less Command, but more Religion than Sir William, prevailed nothing with him to restrain the outragious madness of his fellow Rebels. Having therefore made what spoyl they could in the Cathedral, they rush out thence and break upen a Parish-Church, standing on the North side of the Cathedral, called the Subdeanery: there they tear the Common-Prayer Books, both those belonging to the Church, and likewise those which were left there by devout persons which did usually frequent divine service; and because many things in the Holy Bible make strongly against them, one did contradict, and condemn their impious practices, they marked it in divers places with a black cole; 'tis more than probable that the 13. Chapter to the Romans did not escape their Index Expurgatorious, for certainly if that be the word of God (as undoubtedly it is) they cannot so far withhold the truth in unrighteousness as not to read their doom in that word, they shall judg them at the last day: here they stole the Ministers Surpless, and Hood, and all the linnen serving for the Communion: and finding no more Plate but the Chalice, they steal that too, which they brake in pieces, to make a just and equal divident amongst themselves; for an Engineer of theirs, Robert Prince a French man with a wooden leg, afterwards shewed the foot thereof broken off; and when complaint was made of these barbarous outrages, Capt. Keely replyed, that he knew not whether all this were not done by Order, or no. About 5. or 6. days after, Sir Arthur Haslerig, demanded the Keys of the Chapterhouse: being entered the place, and having Intelligence by a treacherous [Page] Officer of the Church where the remainder of the Church Plate was, he commanded his servants to break down the Wainscot, round about the room, which was quickly done, they having brought Crows of Iron for that purpose along with them; while they were knocking down the Wainscot, Sir Arthurs Tongue was not enough to express his joy, it was operative at his very heels, for dancing and skipping, (pray mark what Musick that is, to which, it is lawful for a Puritan to dance) he cryed out, there Boys, there Boys, heark, heark, it Rattles, it Rattles: and being much importuned by some members of that Church, to leave the Church but a Cup for administration of the blessed Sacrament, answer was returned by a Scotch man standing by, that they should take a wooden-dish: and now tell me which was farthest from a Christian, either this impure Scot, or that blasphemous Atheist, who seeing the massy Plate, and rich ornaments wherewith the Christian Altars were adorned in the Primitive Church, in indignation and scorn of Christ belched out En quam preciosis vasis Mariae ministratur; Behold with what costly vessels the Son of Mary is served: what further spoyl and Indignity they have since done to that House of God, and the habitation where his honour dwelt, is yet uncertain.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
III.

[Page]

The Rebels defying God in his own House: their Sacrilege, in stealing Church Plate and goods: their irreverence towards the King, by abusing his Statue: their heathenish barbarity in violating the bones and ashes of dead Monarchs, Bishops, Saints and Confessors in the Cathedral Church of Winchester, &c.

THE next instance which I shall give of the Rebels Sacrilege, and Profaneness, is in the Cathedral Church of Winchester: which City as it was the Royal Seat of the King of the West Saxons, in the time of the Heptarchy, so was it the Seat of the Bishops of that People, after Kenwalchus King of the West-Saxons (not brooking the Barbarous, broken expressions of Agilbertus his Bishop) divided this large Diocess, between Agilbertus, and Wina, and leaving Agilbertus to reside at Dorchester, caused Wina to be consecrated Bishop of Winchester. Before we tell you by whom, and in what manner, this Church was robbed and spoyled of its ornaments and beauty, it will not be impertient (while it may serve as an aggravation of their impiety) briefly to set down, by whom this Church was built, and so richly adorned, as lately we saw it. This magnificent Structure which now stands, was began by Walkelinus the thirty fifth Bishop of this Sea: which work left imperfect and but begun by him, was but coldly prosecuted by the succeeding [Page] Bishops, untill William Wickham (the magnificent Sole founder of two S. Mary Colledges, the one in Oxford commonly called New Colledge, the other a Nurcery to this, near Winchester) came to possess this See: He amongst many other works of Piety, built the whole Nave, or body of this Church, from the Quire, to the West-end, the Chappels on the East-end, beyond the Quire, had their several Founders: The hallowed Ornaments, and utensils of this Church, being many, rich, and costly, were the gifts of several benefactors, who tho their Names perhaps are not recorded in earth, have found their reward in Heaven. This Church was first differenced by the Name of S. Amphibalus; who received a Crown of Martyrdom under the Persecution of Dioclesian: Next it exchanged this name for that of S. Peter; and again, this, for that of S. Swithin, the eighteenth Bishop of this See: Last of all, it was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, whose blessed name is now called upon it: which Holy name though it could not but put the Rebels in mind whose possession and House it was, did not at all afford it patronage, and protection from their accursed rage, and madness.

The Rebels under the Conduct of Sir William Waller, sate down before the City of Winchester, on Tuesday the 12. of December, 1642. about twelve of the Clock, and entered the City that afternoon between two and three: being Masters of the City, they instantly fall upon the Close, under a pretence to search for Cavaliers. They seize upon the Prebends Horses, and demand their Persons with many threatning words: That night, they break into some of the Prebends Houses, such Houses as they were directed unto, by their Brethren the Seditious [Page] Schismaticks of the City; and Plundered their goods. But the Castle not yet surrendred into the Rebels hands something awed their insolency: which being the next day delivered up to their power, did not only take away the Restraint which was upon them, but incouraged them, without check, or controul to rob, and defi [...]e, both God and all good men. Wednesday therefore and Wednesday night being spent in Plundering the City, and Close, on Thursday Morning between nine, and ten of the Clock, (hours set apart for better imployments, and therefore purposely in probability, chosen by them, being resolved to prophane every thing that was Canonical) they violently break open the Cathedral Church, and being entred, to let in the Tyde, they presently open the great West doors, where the Barbarous Soldiers stood ready, nay greedy to rob God, and pollute his Temple. The doors being open, as if they meant to invade God himself, as well as his possession, they enter the Church with Colours flying, their Drums beating, their Matches fired, and that all might have their part in so horrid an attempt, some of their Troops of Horse also accompanied them in their march, and rode up through the body of the Church, and Quire, until they came to the Altar, there they begin their work, they rudely pluck down the Table and break the Rail: and afterwards carrying it to an Ale-house, they set it on fire, and in that fire burnt the Books of Common-Prayer, and all the Singing Books belonging to the Quire: they throw down the Organ, and break the Stories of the Old and New Testament, curiously cut out in carved work, beautified with Colours, and set round about the top of the Stalls [Page] of the Quire: from hence they turn to the Monument of the Dead, some they utterly demolish, others they deface. They begin with Bishop Fox, his Chappel, which they utterly deface, the break all the glass windows of this Chappel, not because they had any Pictures in them, either of Patriarch, Prophet, Apostle or Saint, but because they were of painted, Coloured Glass: they demolish, and overturn the Monuments of Cardinal Beaufort, Son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, by Katharine Swinfort founder of the Hospital of S. Cross near Winchester, who sate Bishop of this See forty three years. They deface the Monument of William of Wainflet, Bishop likewise of Winchester, Lord Chancellor of England, and the Magnificent Founder of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford, which Monument in a grateful Piety, being lately beautified, by some that have, or lately had Relation to that Foundation, made these Rebels more eager upon it, to deface it: but while that Colledge; the unparralleld example of his bounty, stands, in despight of the malice of these inhuman Rebels, William of Wainflet cannot want a more lasting Monument, to transmit his memory to Posterity: from hence they go into Queen Maries Chappel, so called because in it she was Married to King Philip of Spain: here they brake the Communion Table in pieces, and the Velvet Chair whereon she sate when she was Married. They attempted to deface the Monument of the late Lord Treasurer the Earl of Portland, but being in Brass, their violence made small impression on it, therefore they leave that, and turn to his Fathers Monument, which being of Stone was more obnoxious to their fury: here mistaking a Judg for a Bishop, led into the error by the resemblance [Page] or counterfeit of a Square cap on the head of the Statue, they strike off not only the Cap, but the head too of the Statue, and so leave it. Amongst other acts of Bounty, and Piety, done by Richard Fox the fifty seventh Bishop of this See, he covered the Quire, the Presbytery, and the Iles adjoyning, with a goodly vault, and new glased all the Windows of that part of the Church, and caused the bones of such Kings, Princes, and Prelates, as had been Buried in this Church, and lay dispersed and scattered in several parts of the Cathedral, to be collected and put into several Chests of lead, with inscriptions on each Chest, whose bones lodged in them: These Chests (to preserve them from rude, and prophane hands) he caused to be placed on the top of a Wall, of exquisite workmanship, built by him, to inclose the Presbytery: there, never to be removed (as a man might think) but by the last Trump, did rest the bones of many Kings and Queens, as of Alfredus, Edwardus Senior, Eadredus the Brother of Athelstane, Edwinus, Canutus, Hardecanutus, Emma the Mother, and Edward the Confessor her Son, Kiniglissus the first founder of the Cathedral of Winchester, Egbert who abolishing the Heptarchy of the Saxons, was the first English Monarch, William Rufus and divers others: with these, in the Chests, were deposited the bones of many Godly Bishops, and Confessors, as, of Birinus, Hedda, Swithinus, Frithestanus, S. Elphegus the Confessor, Stigandus, Wina, and others. Had not the barbarous, Inhuman impiety, of these Schismaticks, and Rebels, shewed the contrary, we could not have imagined, that any thing but the like Piety that here inshrined them, or a Resurrection should ever have disturbed the repose of these venerable, yet not Popish Reliques. But these monsters of men, [Page] to whom nothing is holy, nothing is Sacred, did not stick to prophane, and violate these Cabinets of the dead, and to scatter their bones all over the pavement of the Church: for on the North side of the Quire, they threw down the Chests, wherein were deposited the bones of the Bishops, the like they did to the bones of William Rufus, of Queen Emma, of Hardecanutus, and Edward the Confessor, and were going on, to practise the like impiety on the bones of all the rest of the West Saxon Kings. But the Outcry of the People, detesting so great inhumanity, caused some of their Commanders (more Compassionate to these Ancient Monuments of the dead then the Rest) to come in amongst them, and to restrain their madness. But that devilish malice which was not permitted to rage and overflow to the spurning and trampling on the bones of all, did satiate it self, even to a prodigious kind of wantonness, on those, which were already in their power: And therefore as if they meant (if it had been possible) to make these bones contract a Posthume guilt, by being now made passive Instruments, of more than heathenish Sacrilege, and prophaneness, those Windows which they could not reach with their Swords, Muskets, or Rests, they brake to pieces, by throwing at them, the bones of Kings, Queens, Bishops, Confessors and Saints: So that the spoil done on the Windows, will not be repaired for a Thousand Pounds: nor did the Living find better measure from them than the dead: for whereas our Dread Sovereign that now is (the best of King) was gratiously pleased, as a pledg of his princely favour to this Church, to honour it with the gift of his own Statue, together with the Statue of his dear Father King James of ever blessed [Page] memory; both of massy brass: both which Statues were erected at the front, of the entrance into the Quire: These Atheistical Rebels, as if they would not have so much of the Militia, to remain with the King, as the bare Image, and representation of of a Sword by his side; They break off the Swords from the sides of both the Statues: they break the Cross from off the Globe, in the hand of the Statue of our gratious Sovereign now living, and with their Swords hacked and hewed the Crown on the headof it, swearing they would bring him back to his Parliament. A most flagitious crime, and such, as that for the like, S. Chrysostome, Hom 2. ad populum Antioch. With many tears complains, he much feared, the City of Antioch, the Metropolis, and head (as he calls it) of the East, would have been destroyed, from the face of the earth: for when in a Tumult, the seditious Citizens of Antioch had done the like affront to Theodosius the Emperour, in overturning his Statutes How doth that holy Bishop bemoan? how doth he bewail that City? which, fearing the severe effects of the abused Emperours just Indignation, of a Populous City, a Mother boasting of a Numerous Issue, was on the sudden become a Widow, left desolate, and forsaken of her Inhabitants: some, out of the sense and horror of the guilt abandoning the City, and flying into the desolate Wilderness, others lurking in holes, and confining themselves to the dark corners of their own houses, thereby hoping to escape the vengeance due to so disloyal, so Traiterous a fact; because of this foul injury offered the Emperours Statue, He (as that Father speaks) was wronged, that was the sepreme head of all men, and had no equal on Earth. But what wonder is it, that these miscreants should offer such scornful indignities to the Representation of his Royal [Page]Person, and the Emblems of his Sacred power, when the heads of this damnable Rebellion (who set these their Agents on work) offer worse affronts to his Sacred person himself, and by their Rebellions Votes, and Illegal Ordinances daily strike at the Substance of that power, of which the Crown, the Sword, and Scepter are but Emblems and shadows, which yet notwithstanding, ought to have been venerable and aweful to these men, in respect of their Relation. After all this, as if what they had already done, were all too little, they goonin their horrible wickedness, they seize upon all the Communion Plate, the Bibles, and Service-books, rich Hangings, large Cushions of velvet, all the Pulpit-Clothes, some whereof were of Cloth of Silver, some of Cloth of Gold: They break up the Muniment House, and take away the common Seal of the Church, supposing it to be Silver, and a fair piece of gilt Plate, given by Bishop Cotton: they tear the Evidences of their Lands, and cancel their Charter; in a word, what ever they found in the Church of any value, and portable, they take it with them, what was neither, they either deface, or destroy it. And now having Ransacked the Church, having defied God in his own house, and the King in his own Statue, having violated the Urns of the dead, having abused the bones, and scattered the Ashes of deceased Monarchs, Bishops, Saints, and Confessors, they return in Triumph, bearing their spoils with them. The Troopers (because they were most: conspicuous) ride through the streets in Surplesses, with such Hoods, and Tippets as they found: and that they might boast to the World how glorious a victory they had atchieved, they hold out their Trophies to all spectators: for the Troopers thus clad in the Priests Vestments, [Page] rode carrying Common Prayer-Books in one hand, and some broken Organ pipes, together with the mangled pieces of Carved work but now mentioned, containing some Histories of both Testaments, in the other. In all this, giving too just occasion, to all good Christians to complain with the Psalmist, O God the Heathen are come into thine Inheritance. Thy holy Temples have they defiled, The dead Bodies of thy Servants have they abused, and scattered their bones as one heweth wood upon the Earth: Help us, O God of our Salvation, for the glory of thy Name, Psal. 79.

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
IV.

The Rebels prophanation and horrible abuse of the Abby Church of Westminster: Together with their several outrages and abominations committed on the Cathedral Church of Exeter, &c.

IF in the Catalogue of Plundered Cathedrals, we inroul the now Collegiat Church of Westminster, I hope I shall not be thought to make my discourse, no more of kin to my Title, than Mountain doth some of his Essaies: for if we look back on the various condition of this Church (no place set apart for Religious Persons, having so often shifted its owners) we shall find that amongst many changes, it had the honour of a Bishops Sec. On the dissolution [Page] of the Abbies, amongst the rest, Henry the Eighth suppressed this Monastery, and in the place thereof founded a Deanery, Anno, 1536. And two years after, added a Bishoprick to the Deanery. The Bishop sate here but nine Years, and again resigned his dilapidated Revenue, into the hands of a Dean; Middlesex, which was the Diocess of the Bishoprick, being devolved to London: yet though this Bishoprick of Westminster, as it relates to the Saxons, was but of modern Erection, yet in the time of the Ancient Britains, it was no less than the See of the Arch-Bishop of London: and therefore it is more than probable, that, that record which tells us, that the Arch-Bishop of Londons See, was planted in S. Peters in Cornhil, was either corrupted, or mistaken, for S: Peters in Thorney: for Sic olim à spinis, as learned Cambden, and other Antiquaries, affirm, from the great crop of thorns which heretofore grew there, that which we now call Westminster, was then called Thorney. This Church so famous for its Antiquity, so admired, for its Elegancy of Structure, especially by the addition of Henry the Seventh's Chappel, a Pile of that polished magnificence, ut omnem Elegantiam in illo acervatam dicas, as if art, and bounty, had conspired to raise it to a wonder of the World. Lastly, a Church so venerable, as being once the seat of an Arch-Bishop, and a Bishop, and now a long time the place where the Kings of England receive their sacred Unction, and Crowns at their Coronation, and where their bodies rest in honourable Sepulture, when they have exchanged their Temporal, for Eternal Crowns. This Church, under the eye, and immediate protection of the pretended Houses of Parliament, had its share in spoil, and prophanation, as much as those Cathedrals, which [Page] were more remote from them: for in July last, 1643. some Soldiers of Weshborne, and Catwoods Companies (perhaps because there were no Houses in Westminster) were quartered in the Abby Church, where (as the rest of our Modern Reformers) they brake down the Rail abut the Altar, and burnt it in the place where it stood: they brake down the Organ, and pawned the Pipes at several Ale-houses for Pots of Ale: They put on some of the singing mens Surplesses, and in contempt of that Canonical Habit, ran up and down the Church, he that wore the Surpless, was the Hare, the rest were the Hounds. To shew their Christian Liberty, in the use of things, and that all Consecration, or Hallowing of things, under de Gospel, is but a Jewish or Popish Superstition, and that they are no longer to be accounted holy, than that holy use, to which they serve, shall by the actual use only, impart a transient holiness to them, they set Forms about the Communion Table, there they eat, and there they drink Ale, and Tobacco: some of their own Levites (if my Intelligence deceive me not) bearing them company, and countenancing so beastly Prophanation. Nor was this done once, to vindicate their Christian Liberty, as they call Prophanation it self, but the whole time of their abode there, they made it their common Table on which they usually dined, and supp'd, though S. Paul calls it despising the Church of Christ, and asks his Corinthians if they had not houses to eat, and to drink in. 1 Cor. 11. They did the easements of nature, and laid their Excrements about the Altar, and in most places of the Church. An abomination which God did provide against by a peculiar prohibition in the Law of Moses; and that, in places not rendred so [Page] dreadful, by so peculiar a manner of the presence of God, as in the hallowed Temples of his publick worship: God would not permit the Jews to do these offices of nature in the Camp; they must have a place without the Camp, and a Paddle to dig and cover it; you have the Law, and the reason of the Law, both together, they must not do so; For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of the Camp, therefore shall thy Camp be holy, that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee. Deut. 23.12. If God, for these reasons would not endure it in the Camp, how much more doth his Soul abhor such beastly uncleanness in his House, and holy Temple? Nay, which is the height of all Impiety, they familiarly kept their whores in the Church, and which I tremble to write (Prodigious Monsters as they are) lay with them on the very Altar it self, and did in that place commit such things, as are unfit to be done by Christians.

These remain yet two Prophanations more of this Church, not to be passed over insilence. The first was committed by Sir Robert Harlow, who breaking into Henry the Seventh's Chappel, brake down the Altar-stone which stood before that goodly Monument of Henry the 7. the stone was Touch-stone all of one piece, a Rarity not to be matched that we know off, in any part of the World: there it stood for many years, not for use, but only for Ornament: yet it did not escape the frenzy of this mans ignorant [...], for he break it into shivers. The second was committed on the 13. of December, 1643. When the Carcass of John Pym (as much as the lice left of it) was brought into this Church, and after a Sermon Preached by Stephen Marshall Arch-Flamen of the Rebels, and the Church Service Officiated [Page] by Lambart Orbaston, one of the Prebends of that Church, is was interr'd under the Monumental stone of one Windsor, Buried about 200 years since in the voyd space, or passage as you go to Henry the Seventh's Chappel, between the Earl of Dovers place of Burial, and the Monument of Henry the Third, Founder of that Church: usurp'd Ensigns of honour displayed over him. 'Twas pitty, that he, that in his life had been the Author of so much bloodshed, and those many calamities, under which this Kingdom yet groans, and therefore deserved, not only to have his death with the transgressours, and wicked, but afterward to be Buried with the Burial of an Ass, drawn, and cast forth beyond the Gates of the City, Jer. 22.19. should after his death, make his Sepulchre amongst the Honourable, and mingle his Vulgar, Lowzy ashes, with those of Kings, Princes, and Nobles.

The sixth Instance, of the Rebels Sacrilege, and Prophaneness, which I shall present unto the World▪ is in the Cathedral Church of Exeter: which was once a Monastery, founded by Athelstane the Eighth King of England of the Saxon Race, and by him Consecrated to S. Peter. Edward the Confessor removing all the Monks from hence, and planting them at Westminster, which he had newly founded, and endowed, made it the Bishops See, for Devon and Cornwal: That Pile which we now see, owes its being to many founders. William Warlwast, the third Bishop of this See, after it was translated from Cridington, or as it is now usually called Kir [...]on, to Exeter, built the Quire which now is, but was intended, by the Founder for the Nave or Body of the Church: but Peter Quivil, the 13th. Bishop of this See, laid the Foundation of that which is now [Page] the body of the Church: but he prevented by death, left the work imperfect: John Grandesson therefore, the seventeenth Bishop of this See, thinking the Foundation laid by his Predecessor Quivil, to be faulty in Geometrical proportions, the length not being answerable to the height, added two Pillars more, to the length of the Nave of the Church; of a distance, proportionable to those laid before he closed up the end with a Wall of most Exquisite work, in which, he built a little Chappel, and in that Chappel, a Monument, wherein himself was intombed. He built likewise, the two side Iles, and covered the whole Fabrick with an Arch of Exquisite work, and brought it to such perfection, that in splendour, and magnificence, it gives precedency to few Cathedrals of the Kingdom: and which is very remarkable; though this Church was first began by King Athelstane, and made many steps before it came to arrive at its perfection, so that there are numbered almost five hundred years from the laying the first stone, to the covering of the Roof; yet the wisdom, and care of the several Benefactors was so great, that the most curious Surveyor, must confess, that the Symmetry of the parts, and the proportions of the whole, are so exact, as from the Foundation to the Roof, had been the work not of one age only, but of one, and the same hand: and that the Ornaments of the Church might be answerable to the beauty of the Structure itself, Bishop of Grandesson, bestowed upon it vessels of God, and vessels of Silver, Books, and all other kinds of rich furniture, Copiâ Immensâ, Immensi pretij: in exceeding great measure, of exceeding great price. All which, with many other things of necessary use, and publick Ornament, became a prey to the Schismatical [Page] Rebels; whose sin was so much the greater, because being neither inraged by Opposition, nor made insolent by conquest, (Apologies that may possibly be taken up for other Rebels, in other places, as Chichester and Winchester) but which was a main aggravation of their crime, Citizens within their own Wall, in coole Blood, not provoked, spoil, and lay wast their Mother Church: for after this City (now most unworthy of those Priviledges, and honorary rewards, once purchased by their Loyalty, now forfeited by ingratitude, and Rebellion,) had once shut up their Gates against their King: it was not long before they shut up the Gates likewise of Gods house, denying all access to devout Persons, there to make their Prayers and Supplications: so near bordering upon Rebellion against the King, is Atheism, and Contempt of God: for having demanded the Keys of the Cathedral, and taken them into their own Custody they presently, interdict divine service to be celebrated: so that for the space of three quarters of a year, the Holy Liturgy, lay totally silenced. Nor was the restraint upon the Reading Desk only, the Pulpit was made Inaccessible to all Orthodox, Loyal Ministers, and was open only to Factious, Schismatical Preachers, whose Doctrin was Rebellion, and their Exhortation Treason, that so the People might hear nothing but what might soment their disloyalty, and confirm them in their unnatural revolt, from their duty and Obedience. Having the Church in their possession in a most Puritanical, beastly manner, they make it a common Jakes for the Exonerations of Nature, sparing no place, neither the Altar, nor the Pulpit, though this last, finds a better place in their estimation, than the former: yet prophaned it was, nay so prophaned, that it remains [Page] a doubt yet undetermined, which prophaned it most in their Kinds, either the Common-Soldiers, or their Lecturers. Over the Communion Table, in fair letters of Cold, was written the Holy and blessed name of Jesus: this they expunge as Superstitious, and Execrable. On each side of the Commandmants, the Pictures of Moses and Aaron, were drawn in full proportion: these they deface, they tear the Books of Common-Prayers to pieces, and as if this had been too small a contempt, and despite done to that form of Gods holy worship, they use them, as if they had been a second sacrifice of Curious Arts, and burn them at the Altar, with exceeding great Exultation, and expressions of joy. They made the Church their Storehouse, where they kept their Ammunition, and powder, and planted a Court of Guard to attend it; who used the Church, with the same reverence, that they would an Alehouse, and defiled it with tipling and taking Tobacco: they brake and deface all the Glass windows of the Church which cannot be repaired for many hundred pounds: and left all those ancient Monuments, being painted glass and containing matter of story only, a miserable spectacle of Commiseration, to all well-affected hearts that behold them. They strook off the heads of all the Statues, on all Monuments in the Church, especially they deface the Bishops Tombs, leaving one without a Head, another without a Nose, one without a Hand, and another without an Arm. A sad Emblem of that Trunk of Episcopacy, which the accursed Atheists of these times have fancied to themselves, and endeavoured: a poor deformed, mangled, mutilated thing, having neither head of Prelation, nor face of Honour, nor arm, nor hand, nor finger of power [Page] and jurisdiction: they pluck down, and deface the Statue of an Ancient Queen, the Wife of Edward the Confessor, the first Founder of this Church, mistaking it for the Statue of the blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. So she was stiled by the holy Catholick Church many years before it was in danger to be voted Blasphemy in that Committee where learned Miles Corbet sate in the Chair. They brake down the Organs, and taking two or three hundred Pipes with them, in a most scornful, contemptuous manner, went up and down the street, Piping with them: and meeting with some of the Choristers of the Church, whose surplesses they had stoln before, and imployed them to base, servile Offices, scoffingly told them, Boys we have spoild your trade, you must go and sing hot Pudding Pyes. By the absoluteness of their power, they send forth their warrants to take away the Lead off a Conduit and a great Cistern that stood in the middest of the Close, giving plentiful supplies of water to many hundreds of Inhabitants; and by vertue of the same warrant they give their agents power to take a great quantity of Timber, which was laid up and designed for the repairing of the Church; such Timber as that it will be a very hard matter to procure the like, all Timber not being fit for that use: and with these a great stock of Lead out of the Common Storehouse, reserved there for the same purpose; which warrants were accordingly put in execution to the full. They did enter into a Consultation about taking down the Bells, and all the Lead that covered the Church, to convert them into Warlike Ammunition, the Bells might be cast into Cannon, the Lead into Bullets, both would serve towards the effecting their Traiterous designs. They took down [Page] the Gates of the Close, which the Dean, and Chapter, had set up, and kept locked every night for their security: which Gates they imployed, to help forward, and strengthen their Fortifications: They lay intolerabe taxes on most of the Members of the Church, and whosoever refused to submit to those most unjust, Illegal Impositions, were threatned to have their Houses Plundered, and their Persons sent on shipboard; where they must expect usage, as bad as at Argier, or the Gallies. Doctor Burnell, a grave learned man, and Canon of that Church, refusing to submit to their Taxations, they gave Command (though he were at that time sick and confined, not only to his Chamber but to his bed) to take him in the night, and bring him away to Prison though they brought him in his bed: but upon much importunity, some of the best rank of the Citizens being tendered his security, to render himself a true Prisoner, for that time they left him. For the like refusal, they took Doctor Hutchenson another Canon of the Church, a man of a weak infirm Body, but of a vigorous knowing Soul; and violently carried him towards the Ship, there to imprison him; by the way as they carried him along, he was (not only by the permission but by the incouragement of those that led him Captive) blasted, and abused, and howted at by the Boys, and exposed to the affronts, and revilings of the base Insolent Multitude: at twelve of the clock at night they seised on Mr. Hilliar in his bed, and another Canon of that Church, being almost Fourscore and Ten years of Age, and for the like refusal, because he would not disburse such sums as they demanded, for the maintenance of this horrid Rebellion, they carry him first to the Prison, and from [Page] thence to the Ship: in the way to the Prison, they throw dirt in his face, and beat the good old man so cruelly, that his roaring, and outcries were heard, and pityied by all his neighbours: and at last not able to endure (by reason of his extream old Age) the barbarous usage of the Rebels, he was forced to redeem his liberty at eight hundred Pounds: and now having dispossessed the owners, the Rebels find new imployments for the Canons houses: some of them they convert into Prisons, and in an Apish imitation, call them by the names of Newgate, Kings-Bench, Marshalsey; others they imploy as Hospitals, for sick or maimed Soldiers: some they use as Slaughter-houses, and Shambles: and for the Bishops Palace, they might have called it their Smithfield, for in, and about it, they kept their fat Oxen, and Sheep, and all their Plundered Provision. These houses though fouly abused, yet do still stand, as to upbraid the Rebels injustice, and oppression; so to give entertainment to their own Master, or their successours, unless some men, possessed with worse devils than ruled in these children of disobedience, shall to their just damnation alienate them from their Original use: but other houses belonging to the Church, they set on fire, and burn down to the ground: for they burnt down the Guild-hall in S. Sidwels, belonging to the Dean, and Chapter, and as many houses more of their Ancient Inheritance and revenues as were worth 100 l. per Annum, making likewise great havock and spoil of their woods, and Timber, maliciously intending to disable them, from reedifying what they had most barbarously burnt down.

§

[Page]

Reader,

ENgland lately gloried in being Mistris of 28. famous Cathedral Churches, beautified with such magnificent structure, that no Nation in Europe could equalize them; and of these, the impiety and irreligion of the Schismatical Reformers of these times, hath hardly left any one undefaced, though for the present the exact relation of the particulars are not come to our hands. God in his good time will, we doubt not, pour down his Judgments upon the Actors of these horrid Prophanations.

[Page]

A Catalogue of the CATHEDRALS in England and Wales.

1 Canterbury.

2 Rochester.

3 London.

4 Lincoln.

5 Chichester.

6 Winchester.

7 Salisbury.

8 Exeter.

9 Bath.

10 Wells.

11 Gloucester.

12 Worcester.

13 Lichfield.

14 Coventry.

15 Hereford.

16 Ely.

17 Norwich.

18 Oxford,

19 Peterborough.

20 Bristol.

21 Landaffe.

22 S. Davids.

23 Bangor.

24 S. Asaph.

York Province.

25 York.

26 Chester.

27 Carlisle.

28 Durham.

Besides

1 Rippon.

2 Southwel. And

3 Westminst. Abby.

FINIS

Mercurius Rusticus, &c.
V.

[Page]

The Cathedral Church of Peterborough Robbed, defac'd and spoil'd by Cromwel and his Schismatical adherents, &c.

COuld we sooner have produced a certain, and full relation of the observable circumstances about the ruines and desolations of the sometimes flourishing, though now demolished Cathedral of Peterborough, the same might justly have challenged to have been inserted before this time and place, both in respect of the dignity of the Ancient, Religious and Royal Founders, the same of the irreligious and unworthy defacers, the admirable vicissitude of its own condition, and reasons of its Fatal doom, having suffered not so much by the fury of the Danes, because a rich Monastery, as by the zeal of Cromwel, because an Episcopal See: and (if his knowlege reached so high) for that it had been so much and often honoured by the Princes of this Nation in several ages.

When Peada the first Christian King of the Mercians to propagate the faith of Christ, laid the foundation, but had a sudden period put to his life and pious intentions by his unnatural and wicked Mother, Wolpher his Brother, albeit at first averse, yet afterwards a convert to Christianity, (to expire the Murder of his two Sons whom he had cruelly put to death for embracing the Gospel before him) by [Page] the help of his Brother Ethelred, and his Sisters Kimburga, and Kinswith, having finished that work in the year of our Lord 633. Consecrated it to the memory of S. Peter (whence the place ever since hath been stiled Peterborough, which before was called Medeswel-hamsted, or Medeshamsted) and it continued for the space of two hundred and fourteen years, in such glory, that in the Judgment of our Learned Antiquary, Monasterium fuit longè Celebratissimum, till the Danes massacred the Monks and destroyed that place of Devotion, which was after an 108. years restored to its former state, by Ethelwould Bishop of Winchester, asisted by King Edger and Adulph his Chancellour, about the years of our Lord 960. in which it remained, until covetous Sacrilege began to get the upper hand of wel-meaning charity in his Reign, who was as fitly, as truely said to have had Ingentes virtutes, nee minora vitia, though at the undoing of its Kindred, this had least reason to complain, being then advanced to a Bishops See; But this third woe hath so much disfigured that Majesty which till then this building retained in its fore-front, this Cromwel hath so far out-vied in acts of Piety his Precedent, that Cromwel in Henry the 8. time, this place hath now suffered in so great a manner for its Loyalty, as that we know not where to enter upon the narration of the same, except at the great West-window (where his Soldiers made their first breach and entrance) which was adorned with such variety of Ecclesiastical History, as will evidence them to be deformers of that through-Reformation in our blessed Queens time of happy memory, whom notwithstanding they so highly cryed up. From thence they presently hurried to the Choire, where as soon [Page] as they had broken open the doors, they, according to their trade and custom in other places, fell on tearing in pieces the Books of Divine service, and sacred Anthems, yea (which may seem more strange) they were so hot against Preaching or hearing Sermons, that all the seats of the Auditours were plucked up and the Pulpit, the place of the Divine Oracle, and the Book seat pulled down with that black-mouthed cry, Down with that Throne of Antichrist, down with it even to the ground. And when their zeal had driven them, to that height of impiety, that some standers by could not behold it without great reluctancy, which moved one of them to request Cromwel that he would please to stay his Soldiers from further defacing and ruining that place, all the satisfaction he could get, was but a provocation to further mischief, replying, that his Gods were a pulling down, and when the other answered that the God he served was beyond the reach of Soldiers, Cromwel told him that they did God good service in that action, as if even in these days were fulfilled that prophecy of our Saviour, John 16.2. The time is coming whosoever doth the greatest Mischief will think he serveth God. But observe the wages that divine Justice repayed one of them for their work, which may testifie how he accepted of the same; When they had demolished the Choire, the East-end was the next they aimed at, where one espying in the roof right over the Communion-Table, our Saviour pourtraied, coming in glory with his holy Angels, and at the 4. corners, 4. Evangelists (none of which they will endure, as knowing how opposite they are unto them) he charged his Musquet to shatter them down, but by the rebound of his own shot, was struck blind; If he did his God [Page] good thereby, he did himself an ill turn, his wickedness falling on his own pate; He laid a long while in a woful condition, and never recovered his former sight: His life by Gods mercy was repreived, that he might repent, but he was surely scourged, that he might take notice, there is punishment for Sacrilege, and bear witness of that truth unto his fellows, although he found more savour than Calisthenes, who attempting to burn the temples by setting fire on the Gates, was for that act himself burned: or Alcimus, who whilst he was pulling the house of God down, was struck with a Palsie, and dyed in torment. Some would have thought, that that remarkable judgment overtaking him so on the sudden, sufflaminated their running on, and that striking of him blind, should have opened their eyes. But let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet they will not learn righteousness, in the land of uprightness will they deal unjustly, and will not behold the Majesty of the Lord; But Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see, as thou foretoldest by thy Prophet Esay 26.10.11.13. it should come to pass, When other Lords besides thee have dominion over us; They were not at all deterred, neither left any ways unattempted to get down that roof, which ladders failed, they cut the Bell-ropes (wich if rightly applyed, might have curred their itch) to eke out their tackling, till they reached it with their Poleaxes, and brake down the carved works. Psal. 7.4. Afterwards espying the rare structure of Stoneworks over the Altar, admired by all travellers for the excellent artifices, which was no ways guilty of superstitious workmanship, they made all of it rubbish, breaking up also the rails of which they [Page] compiled bone-fires, tumbling the Communion-Table over and over, they were also so offended with all memorials of the dead (knowing themselves in the number of those whose memories at the best shall perish as if they had never been) that not one Monument in the Church escaped undefaced, no not of the pious benefactors, (whose accusation was sufficient, they had done good to the Church) not those two fair Tombs of Katharine Queen Dowager of Spain, the Repudiate of King Henry the 8th. and Mary albeit Queen of Scots. It was so great a crime to have been Queens, the marble walls, and guards of irons wherewith they were surrounded and incircled could not preserve them in repose from all their miseries, but they would add this one unto the rest, to lay the Emblems of their honours in the dust, pulling away the herse of black velvet, and carrying away whatsoever was vendible: When their unhallowed toylings had made them out of wind, they took breath afresh on two pair of Organs, piping with the very same about the Market place, lascivious Jiggs, whilst their Comrades danced after them, some in the Coaps, others with the Surplices, and down they brake the Bellows to blow the coals of their further mischief, and left any should ring auke for the fire they had make, they left the Bells speechless, taking out their clappers, which they sold with the Brass they flaied from the graven stones, and the Tin and Iron from other parts of the Church and Chappels belonging thereto, which were many and richly adorned, but the Daughters faired no better than their Mother; there was not suffered any window to remain unshattered, or remarkable place in them unruined, their intent being to leave those consecrated [Page] walls as a room fitted for vermin to nestle in, or which was worse for Cap. Ashwell to exercise his Soldiers in, where while he was in town, he made his Rendezvous, and when they went away, set fire on some part of the wood-work, to have burnt the remainder down, if it had not timely been discovered; Neither did the Cloysters attending, scape better than those they were made to wait upon, though these both in their roof and glazing might be compared with the chiefest Cathedrals, the first square being beautified with the History of the Old Testament, the second of the New, the third shewed the whole relation of those by whom the Church was builded, the fourth presented us with all the Effigies of our Kings since William the Conquerour: But it seems; those unreasonable and wicked men, care for scripture, and Princes, and Pious Monuments all alike, their wide throats were as open Sepuclhres, their Sacrilegious appetites (being yet unsatisfied with devouring) must needs swallow up the Lands appertaining to that Church, to whith that they might pretend the juster title, they broke open the Charter-house, Plundered away the great Charter, all the Evidences, leases, and other writings belonging thereunto, manifesting their parties desires to have all Estates of others, to come, and be at their arbitrary disposals, and they unto whom in right they are due, to lie as these places and Persons at this day, Mourning in Sack-cloth and Ashes.

§

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Querela Cantabrigiensis: OR, A REMONSTRANCE By way of APOLOGIE, For the banished Members of the late flourishing UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.

By some of the said Sufferers.

S. MATTH. 10.17, 18.

Beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the Councils, and they will scourge you in their Synagogues. And ye shall be brought before Governors, &c.

Basil. Magn. Epist. 79. Eustach. Episc. Sebastiae.

[...].

LONDON: Printed in the Year 1685.

AN ADVERTISEMENT To every indifferent Reader.

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Christian Brethren, and Fellow Subjects,

IT is a memorable saying of an ancient Heathen Moralist, Curae leves loquuntur, ingentes stupent: And the like may be said concerning sorrows; when they come once to overcharge the heart, they stupifie it, and obstruct those passages, by which it should ease it selfe of them. This hath been our particular case: Our being deprived of our livelyhoods (for how small a trifle this insuing Remonstrance will manifest) hath filled our hearts with sorrow: But when we considered, not onely the hand foom whence this oppression cometh, (even that which pretendeth to the infallible weild of the sword of Justice) but withal that through our sides such a fatal stroke is given to one of the most famous Universities of Christendom: this sad prospect did so far surcharge us with grief, that it cast us for a long time into a fit of Musing, till at last (the fire being kindled) we spkae with our Tongue.

The Preface.

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And now that the string of our tongue is untyed, our earnest desire is, that none of these its sorrowful expressions may be mis-interpreted by any. And to that end we have perfixed this advertisement, to prevent three mistakes, which are all we can possibly imagin the malice of our greatest Enemies can any way fansie against this our Remonstrance.

I. The first is, That perhaps it may be groundless, because we have not therein set down the express words, either of those Protections by which we might securely have expected an Indemnity, or of those Orders by which we suffered.

To which we answer, that the reason hereof was partly to avoid tediousness, and therefore we gave onely some short hints in the margent. And partly because (being despersed) we could not possibly have the true Copies of all of them by us. And to publish any thing that was but supposititious, could not consist with our constant endeavour still to maintain the truth, notwithstanding whatsoever difficulties to the contrary. But yet (to prevent all mistakes as near as we can) we have here inserted the true Copies of such as we had by us: whereby the indifferent Reader will not onely guess at the rest, but also easily imagin what rigour and malice there was used in the execution of them, which we assure him are as much (or more) than he can possibly fansie. For they being to [Page] deal with an Vniversity, which then had a reverend esteem over the whole Kingdom, must counterfeit Jacobs voice as much as possibly he could in their Orders, though their hands were far rougher than Esau's in the execution of them. And accordingly (though now it is too apparent it was but only in mockery) we had sent us these two following Protections.

Die Sabbati 4. Mar. 1642.

THE Earl of Holland, Chancellour of the University of Cambridge, having this day represented in the House the present condition of the said University; the Lords in Parliament apprehending that through the publick distractions, and by reason of great multitudes of Soldiers resorting from several places to the Town of Cambridge, some disturbance might happen to the quiet and studies of the Scholar: For preventing therefore of any such mischief, have thought fit to declare the esteem and care they have of that ancient and noble Seminary of Learning; and have accordingly Ordered, that no Person or Persons whatsoever, shall presume to offer any outrage or violence either by themselves or others unto any the Colledges, Chappels, Libraries, Schools, or other buildings belonging to the said University, or to any the Scholars or publick Ministers thereof: Nor plunder, purloin, deface, spoil, or take away any the Books, goods, chattels, or houshold-stuff of or belonging to the said University, or any Col. there, or to any Scholar or publick Minister thereof, under any colour [Page] or pretence whatsoever, as they will answer the contrary to this House at their utmost perils. And that Divine Service may be quietly performed and executed throughout all the said University according to the settlement of the Church of England, without any trouble, let, or disturbance, until the pleasure of the Parliament be further signified. Provided nevertheless that this Protection shall not extend to stop any due course of Law, or proceeding of Parliament, that may or might have had its course if this Protection had not been granted. And herein ready obedience is to be given by all such whom this doth or may concern, as they will answer the contrary at their perils.

Jo. Brown, Cleric. Parliamentorum.

THese are to will, require, and command you, and every of you, to forbear (under any pretence whatsoever) to prejudice or offer any dammage to the University of Cambridge or to any the Schools, Colledges, Halls, Libraries, Chappels, or other places belonging to the said Universities, by plundering the same or any part thereof in any kind whatsoever. Hereof fail not as you will answer the contrary at your perils.

Given under my hand and seal the 7. day of March, 1642.

Essex.

To all Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, Captains, and all other Officers and Soldiers of the Army under my command.

[Page] These indeed were our Protections, but they were blasted in the bud by this following Warrant.

THese are to authorize you to enter into the houses of all Papists, Malignants, and other Persons whatsoever, that have or shall refuse to appear at Musters, or to contribute according to the Propositions of both Houses of Parliament, or refuse to enter into the Association: and to seize upon all such Horses, Arms, and Ammunition, as shall be found in their custodies, and to apprehend their said Persons, and them to be brought before me, or any one of the Deputy-Lieutenants of the County; and in case of Resistance, to force the same. Commanding all Mayors, Sheriffs, Captains, Trained-Bands, and other inferiour Officers whatsoever, to be aiding and assisting to Colonel Coke herein. Dated Feb. 23. 1642.

Gray of Wark.

To Col. Coke, Lieutenant-Col. Bryldon, or any other of his Officers.

This Warrant was issued out the more suddenly, and prosecuted the more violently, in regard that our Protections were then in procuring: But the rigorous prosecution of this, made those to be of little or no use, more than the name, unless it was to shut the Stable door after the Steed was stoln. For under pretence of Papists, Malignants, &c. there was scarce a Scholar in all the Vniversity which escaped examination: And lest [Page] our Colledge Chappels, Libraries, or Treasuries, or even the privatest Cabinet therein, or in any of our Chambers or Studies, should (perchance) have been converted into Stables for Horses, or Magazines for Arms and Ammunition, they searched them all so strictly, and plundered them all so throughly, that nothing which they liked escaped their fingers, our ancient Coins not excepted.

When we had seen their unparallel'd rigour herein, and how we were slighted when we made our just complaints against it, we did not much regard whether they had any Commission or not for whatsoever they did to us afterward. But like Christian sufferers, when they took our Cloaks, we forbad them not to take our Coats also: and when they took our goods, we asked them not again. For we did plainly see that we were destinated to ruin, and that all these were but previous dispositions, to take us down and fit us for the great stroke, when they should please to lay it upon us. And therefore (omitting all the rest, though we could insert some) we shall here only add two other Warrants, mentioned hereafter: The one their general Summons, the other their first form of their Writs of Ejection.

THese are to will and require you upon sight hereof, to give speedy advertisement, viis mediis & modis, to Master, Fellows, Scholars, and Officers of your Colledge, to be resident in your said Colledge the 10. day of March next ensuing, to [Page]give an account wherein they shall be required, and to answer such things as may be demanded by me, or such Commissioners as I shall appoint. Given under my hand and seal the 26. of Feb. 1643.

E. Manchester.

To the President or Locum tenens of [...] Colledge.

BY vertue of an Ordinance of Parliament, entituled, An Ordinance for regulating the University of Cambridge, and the removing of Scandalous Ministers in the seven Associated Counties, giving me likewise power to eject such Masters of Colledges as are scandalous in their lives or doctrines, or do oppose the proceedings of Parliament: I do eject [...] from being Master of [...] Colledge in Cambridge, for opposing the proceedings of Parliament, and Mark. It was not for scandalous acts, but for opposing. other scandalous acts in the University of Cambridge. And I require you to sequester the Profits of his Mastership for one that I shall appoint in his place: and to cut his name out of the Butteries, and to certifie me of this your act within one day. Given under my hand and Seal the 13. of March, 1643.

E. Manchester.

To the President and Fellows of [...] College in Cambridge.

[Page]This, we hope, will satisfie the indifferent Reader concerning the truth and ground of our Sufferings.

II. But lest a second mistake should arise, that (supposing them to be true, yet) they are not (perhaps) so great as we pretend, because that for the most part we have given but a sleight glance at them; we held it very requisite to give this further Advertisement.

1. That in matters of this nature, a man ought not to macerate his Soul too much by reflecting on his own misery, lest the Devil thereby get an advantage upon him, to tempt him to a melancholy despair. 2. Though we desire hereby to move every compassionate Christian to a fellow-feeling of our miseries; yet have we endeavoured (as much as we could) to forbear the long insisting upon particulars, lest we should offend his ears, instead of moving his compassion. For as in Musick, the harshness of a discord may be admitted if it be not too long produced; so have we studied to temper those harsh notes to the tender ear of the Christian Auditor, by making a speedy transition from one to another. 3. We had so many matters of complaint, (and might have many more, if we had been all together to confer our Sufferings) that this small Remonstrance would have swelled to (an Iliada malorum) a just Volum; if we had not purposely endeavoured to comprise an Ilias in a Nutshel, by instancing only in some, [Page] and reducing those to as small a model as possibly we could. And to this end also we have used as much plainness of speech in our expressions, as ingeniousness of the truth of the thing it self. And indeed if we should but a little have indulged our Pen the liberty of a Rhetorical flourish, we should thereby have made our sufferings (which in themselves are almost beyond belief) to have seemed altogether incredible.

III. But our greatest and last fear is lest the intolerable weight of those heavy pressures under which we have so long groaned, have (perhaps) extorted from us some expressions which may not seem altogether to become persecuted Christians. And in this we submit our selves wholly to the candour of the charitable Reader, desiring him to interpret all things in the best sense. For tho we have used our endeavours to avoid all manner of expressions which might seem to savour of malice, yet carrying about us those passions which accompany flesh and blood, it is impossible but we should sometimes slip. We know very well, and acknowledge, that Prayers and tears are the only defensive weapons of a Christian against persecutions: And if anything, which is not fully consonant hereunto, hath passed from our pen, we desire it may be imputed to our many infirmities; seeing we are still ready to pray for our Persecutors, that God would open their eyes, that they may yet [Page] see and repent of those many and great wrongs which they have done to him, his true Religion and Service, to his Anointed our gracious Sovereign, as also to us in particular, and other their fellow-subjects. Which if it would please him to grant unto them, we might quickly recover the temporal peace of this distracted Kingdom, and they the possibility of enjoying everlasting peace in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Querela Cantabrigiensis: OR, The Universities Complaint.

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1 PET. 4.16.‘If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorifie God on this behalf.’

ACT. 5.41.‘They departed from the presence of the Council, rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.’

JOHN 16.33.‘In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’

Aug. in Psal. 93.‘Bonilaborant quia flagellantur ut filii: maliexultant quia damnantur ut alieni.’

Idem in Psal. 125.‘Sicut qui seminat per hyemem non deterretur ab opere propter hyemem: Sic & nos pressura mundi non debemus a bono opere deterreri, quia qui seminant in lachrymis, in gaudio metent.’

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THough an Apologie for our long silence might better become us than any other form of Prefacing, yet were there some that thought it better to sit down in the shade of cool patience, and sweeten the sad prospect of our own miseries, by reflecting on the great publick woes of this Kingdom, than incur the suspicion of querulous natures, such as are apt to cry out only at the imagination of being hurt. But seeing our miseries are real, and our sufferings not so much intended against us, as against that famous University, whereof by right, we are still actual Members; and that the adverse party, hath hitherto made so much advantage of our tameness, as to steal away our livelyhood from us, and conceal the Theft: though our own Mothers mouth be stopped, by violently seizing her press, and thereby not suffered to speak, but (like Apollos Statue of old) just as the evil spirit speaks in her, which at this time utters little else but disloyalty and Rebellion: yet seeing it hath pleased the hand of providence to give us this happy opportunity freely to bewail our own miseries; We are at length resolved to do Justice to these Mens iniquity and our own innocence, that our fellow-subjects may [Page] know, (and if they leave so much learning as to speak in another language, the whole World may hereafter understand) how and by what Arts the Knipperdullings of this Age (who think shortly to make themselves Kings of this Sion) have reduced a glorious and renowned University, almost to a meer Munster, and have done more, in less then three years, then the Apostate Julian could effect in all his Reign, viz. broken the heart-strings of Learning and learned men, and thereby luxated all the joynts of Christianity in the Kingdon.

The particulars whereof, and the barbarous courses taken to bring these designs to effect, as we shall truly and impartially set them down, so we fear not to appeal to any impartial Judg, whether if the Goths and Vandalls, or even the Turks themselves had over-run this Nation, they would more inhumanly have abused a flourishing University, than these pretended advancers of Religion and Learning have done; it being a constant custom (if not also the Law of Nations) in the fiercest encounters of the most enraged parties, to exempt and priviledge Scholars from, if not protect them by their Martial proceedings.

To begin therefore with the first occasiion (as we conceive) from whence they pretended any cause of this rage and persecution against us, (though the meer conscience of so sensless a Rebellion cryed up only by the illiterate herd, might afford reason enough for them to look asquint upon all Scholars quâ tales) The contribution of a small pittance of Money to our Sovereigns extream necessity before any War was thought on by us, is made to be our unpardonable crime, (though not then prohibited by any Order or Ordinance) which [Page] (added to the tenderness of our consciences in refusing their wicked confederacy, commonly called the Covenant) by the help of their Legislative Engine, has bereaved us of all, and cast us from our livelyhoods, maintenance and Colledges.

For when His Sacred Majesty (whom they made to be the first Grand Delinquent, and whose Crown-Revenues and Estate, together with his Towns, Ships, and Magazines, they sequestred and seized on) deigned (by His Royal Letters) to acquaint His poor University with His strange wants, even of sustenance for his very houshold: Our hearts burned within us, to hear our living Founder, whom we expected to be made (by that time) a great and glorious King, (as was promised him) should almost starve while we had bread on our Table. Whereupon out of our poverty, a small and inconsiderable sum of Money was collected and tendered, as a Testimony not only of our Loyalty to him as King, or of our gratitude as our most gracious and bountiful Protector and Benefactor; but also of our Charity to him as a Christian, then in extream want and necessity. We hope our Persecutors will Pardon us this expression, seeing our Metaphysicks may with less danger of Treason abstract Charles from King than their bullets; and this was the first flower out of which they suck'd all their venom which shortly after they disgorged upon us.

Hereupon his Sacred Majesty (knowing well how eager that party was in revenging the least seeming provocation, and being informed of that Cloud which was then hanging over us and ours, for that action of Humanity, Loyalty, and Christian [...]ty) out of his care and tenderness, proffered to [Page] secure our Colledge Plate (if we were content to deposite it in his hands) which their intended Revenge, had already swallowed without any Grace, so much as of the publick faith: and therefore wrote his most gracious Letters to us to take an exact survey of it, not only for the weight, but also of the form of every piece, together with the Names, Arms, and Mottoes of the respective Donors, that if (perhaps) his Majesty could not preserve it entire as it was, he might restore it hereafter in the same weight and form, and with the same marks: All which he graciously insured upon his Royal word.

It behoved not us to refuse protection from that hand to which God (for that end) had entrusted a Scepter, especially considering the concurrence of Actions about that time. It is not unknown to most part of this Kingdom, that not long before this, the zealous Brethren of Essex and Suffolk had packt themselves together in a Religious Rout, to give the first Essay of a Popular Reformation: How happily this work did thrive in their hands, has been already published to the Kingdom, and the ruines of the two magnificent houses of the Countess Rivers (with many other Gentlemens houses of quality) are still dismal witnesses.Vid Mercur. Rustic. 2. So that (having found the sweet of their labours) the Reformers would in all likelyhood have prosecuted the great work as far as Cambridge, for a less prize than our University, (thanks be to God and our good Benefactors.) And we had good reason to fear the increase of their Army, if they had come near us, seeing the inferiour part of the Town, had provided Arms, and yet had no Commanders; [Page] and some that durst discharge a Musquet, made it their practice to terrifie us, and disturb our Studies by shooting in at our windows. And therefore lest our Plate should become a bait to have our Liberties rifled,This particular appeareth by a Paper delivered into the Registers Office, under the hands (if not also upon the Oaths) of Master Christopher Terne, and Master Anthony Walker, both of S. Johns Colledge, who had Musquets several times discharged in at their windows, as also divers others. our Colledge; pulled down, and perhaps our Throats cut, we thought it our wisest course to secure all, by securing that in His Majesties gracious hands.

Upon these reasons (which no judicious man will esteem otherwise than weighty) we endeavoured to convey away some part of our Plate about the beginning of August, 1642. (which by the way was before either His Majesty Standard was erected, or his Proclamation issued out to that end: However many of us, and others have suffered for it, as fomenters of this War) But within a few dayes after, (see how the just grounds of our fears concentred) one Master Cromwell, Burgess for the Town of Cambridge, and then newly turn'd a man of War, was sent down by his Masters above, at the invitation of his Masters below, (as himself confessed) to gather what strength he could to stop all passages that no Plate might be sent: But his designs being frustrated, and his opinion as of an active subtile man, thereby somewhat shaken and endangered, he hath ever since bent himself to work what revenge and mischief he could against us. In pursuit whereof, before that month was expired, down he comes again in a terrible manner with what Forces he could draw together, and surrounds divers Colledges, while we [Page] were at our devotion in our several Chappels, taking away Prisoners, several Doctors of Divinity, Heads of Colledges, viz. D. Beale, Master of S. Johns Colledge, D. Martin, Master of Queens Colledge, and D. Sterne, Master of Jesus Colledge, men of such eminent worth and abilities, as render them above the reach of our commendation, and these he carryes with him to London in triumph: And though there was an express Order from the Lords House for their imprisonment in the Tower, which met them at Tottenham-high-crosse, (wherein notwithstanding there was no Crime expressed) yet were they led captive through Bartholmew-fair, and so as far as Temple-bar, and back through the City to Prison in the Tower, on purpose that they might be houted at, or stoned by the Rable-rout.

Since which time, now about three years together they have been hurryed up and down from one Prison to another at excessive and unreasonable charges, and fees exacted from them, far beyond their abilities to defray, having all their goods Plundered, and their Masterships and Livings taken from them, which should preserve them from famishing. And though in all this time there was never any Accusation brought, much less proved against any of them; yet have they suffered intolerable imprisonment ever since, both by Land and Water, especially that in the Ship, where for ten days togethe [...], they (with many other Gentlemen of great rank) were kept under deck, without liberty to come to breath in the common Air, or to ease Nature, except at the courtesie of the rude Sailors, which oftentimes was denyed them. In which condition, they were more like Gally-slaves, than free-born Subjects, and men of such quality and [Page] condition; and had been so indeed, might some have had their wills, who were bargaining with the Merchants to sell them to Argiers, Alex. Rigby the Lawyer. Vide Declar. of the Parl. at Oxf. Mar. 19. 1643. or as bad a place, as hath been since notoriously known upon no false or fraudulent information.

And now that we are mentioning our Reverend and worthy Heads of Houses, we may not omit, what our long exile from the said University will not suffer us otherwise than by certain Report to be apprehensive of: Namely, that a very great number of them are since in the same condition with us, that is, deprived of all, and banished: Particularly, the Right Reverend Father in God, the Lord Bishop of Exeter, against whom their malice could invent no more than that he was a Bishop, nor pretend any thing, but that, being Vice-chancellour, he did according, to his Office Preach a learned and pious Sermon in S. Maries, Mar. 27. 1645. being the day of His Majesties most happy inauguration. To whom we may add that most Reverend and learned man, Doctor Collins, His Majesties Professor of Divinity, whose extraordinary worth and pains had continued him in that place almost thirty years, and made his name famous, and his person desirable in every Protestant University in Christendom: and yet his Loyalty and conscience caused our new pretended Reformers to think him unworthy so much as of a Country Cure, (for they sequestred likewise both his Livings) though since, as we hear, they have restored him to his Professors place, which none of them are able to discharge, and he living in their Quarters, durst not deny. Thus likewise have [Page] Doctor Comber, D. Pask, D. Cosins, and D. Lany been deprived of their several Masterships and Livings, and some of them also Plundered of their goods, though all of them be very eminent for their Learning, Prudence, Judgment and Piety, among all that knew them, and have no prejudice of them. And for conclusion (as the Epitome of all) we add D. Holdsworth, whose universal approbation put him upon the troublesom office of Vice-chancellorship for three years together in the beginning of these troubles; yet before his Triennial Office was expired, his person was seized upon and imprisoned, first in Ely-house, then (because they thought that was not expensive enough, though they had Plundered him of all) they thrust him into the Tower, only for his Loyalty in seeing His Majesties Commands executed for the Printing of such Declarations at Cambridge, as were formerly Printed at York; which though the Committees before which he appeared have always objected against him as Licensing the Kings Books, yet hath he ever denied it, (for the manner, though not for the matter) professing himself before them, not to be so saucy as to offer to License any thing which His Majesty Commanded to be Printed: but yet still enjoyning the Printer (as he would answer the contrary at his peril) that the thing might be performed according to His Majesties Command.

And that the whole Body of the University might fare no better than the Heads; not long after the carrying up of the first three, they gave us an Argument of a sad presage. What was like to become of that Ancient and famous Seminary of Learning and Religion, when those Root-and-Branch-men chose that place for the prime Garison [Page] and Rendezvouz of their Association: whereby the subtile Enginiers of the great pretended work of Reformation hoped not so much to gain security to their disloyal actions by any fortifications of that Town, (which it never was capable of, as now plainly appears) as some countenance and authority rather (which they had more want of) from the sacred name of an University to be listed Theirs. By this means instead of carrying us all to London Goals, (thanks be to our multitude, not their mercy) they found a device to convey a Prison to us, and under colour of Fortification confin'd us only in a larger inclosure, not suffering any Scholars to pass out of the Town, unless some Towns-men of their Tribe promise for him that he was a Confider, as they call it.

And after this intrenchment for almost two years together, (we are forced with unspeakable grief of mind to think) what prophanations, violences, outrages and wrongs our Chappels, Colleges and Persons have suffered by the uncontrolled fury of rude Soldiers, notwithstanding two several Protections to the contrary, one from the House of Peers, the other from the Generalissimo the Earl of Essex. It is grievous to our memories to recount, how our Vice-chancellour and Heads of Colledges solemnly assembled in Consistory, being many of them threescore years old in an exceeding cold night till midnight, without any accommodations for food,On Good Fiday, Mar. 30. 1643. firing or lodging; and for no other reason, but only because they could not in conscience comply or contribute any thing to this detestable War against His Majesty: Yet they, notwithstanding all terrours and ill usage the day [Page] following this their imprisonment, did constantly unanimously avouch and declare before the then General of the Association, That it was against true Religion and good Conscience for any to contribute to the Parliament in this War. Whereupon our Learned and Reverend Professors, two of Divinity, and one of the Law, the very Junior whereof (as well as the other two) had faithfully discharged his place almost so long as that by the Imperial Laws (his own profession) ever since Valens the Emperour, he might have challenged to have been Imperator Valens Grammaticos, Sophistas, Legum Professores, qui per vigliti annos probe munere docendi: suncti sunt, annumerari & honorari cum iis, qui ex vicaria sint principis dignitate jubet, & inter Comites. Greg. Tho. losan. Syntag. lib. 19. c. 1. §, 8. ubi citat l. uni de Professor. qui in urbe Constantinop. lib. 12. C. tit. 1. juncta rub. & gl. Comes Imperii; yet all the encouragement any of them could get from these was perpetually to be harrowed by Plundering and tedious imprisonment to betray their Loyalty, Learning, and Consciences to the advancement of this present Rebellion, till at last that Reverend man (whom Posterity will honour henceforth as much for his Loyalty as his Learning) Doctor Samuel Ward (a man of known integrity and universal approbation even amongst those who were his adversaries in this Cause) took the wings of a Dove to flie away and be at rest: whose dying words (as if the cause of his Martyrdom had been written in golden Letters upon his heart) where breathed up to Heaven with his parting Soul, GOD BLESS THE KING.

And though the grave resolution of all the Reverend Professors of Divinity and Law in so famous an university ought to be more sacred and powerful [Page] with them than the noise of their new Teachers and obstreperous American Lay-lecturers, yet they are not ashamed, after all these (upon mature deliberation and consultation with the rest of the Learned men of that famous University) have publickly and unanimously declared their proceedings to be flatly contrary to Christian Religion and Loyalty, (and have stood therein even to imprisonment and death) to perswade the silly abused multitude, that all is for the Defence of His Majesty, and the Protestant Religion.

Neither is their wild fury confinable within those banks, it swells yet higher: for as the Tyrant wished that Rome had but one neck, that he might cut it off at one stroke; so these having got the opportunity, imprisoned the whole University, March 23. 1643. which day the whole Senate, (the Representative Body of it) being solemnly assembled in the Regent house, were there violently invironed with great Bands of Armed Soldiers, who wanted nothing but the Word to dispatch us, because we would not vote in a matter as they would have us, though that matter did not any whit concern them or their Cause, more than the conferring of a Degree upon such a man as the whole University in their consciences judged unworthy of it: And one Master Danes, (General of that famous Expedition, but formerly a Member of that house which he then so abused) adding Perjury to his former sins, came in a terrible manner, (contrary to his Oath formerly taken to his Mother the University) and flatly denyed the Vice-chancellour leave to dissolve the Congregation, unless he would first promise that the matter should be voted, as they required: whereupon sundry Members of that Senate, being observed [Page] to make use of that Statute-liberty and freedom, which was essential to that assembly, were forthwith seised on, and imprisoned by the Committee, in no better Lodgings than the common Court of Guard: which strange and violent perverting of our Universities proceedings, we wonder at the less, for that this Captain had not done more to us, than Captain Ven with his Raggamuffins had done formerly to the sacred Senate of the whole Kingdom.

And that all Academical Exercises might expire and so the face of an University be quite taken away, a grave Divine (the Lady Margarets publick Preacher) going to Preach Ad Clerum, M. Power. (according to his Office) pridie Termini, was furiously pursued over the market place by a confused number of Soldiers, who in a barbarous uncivil manner cryed out A Pope, A Pope, and vowed high revenge if he offered to go into the Pulpit; whereupon the Church was straightways filled with great multitudes, and when some who accompanied the Preacher, told them, it was an University Exercise, and to be by Statute performed in Latin, they replyed, They knew no reason why all Sermons should not be performed in English, that all might be edified, threatning withal totear the Hoods and Habits which Graduats then wore, according to the University Statute. Yet all this may perhaps be extenuated as a sudden uproar of undisciplin'd Soldiers, but (which is the aggravation of all, and makes us believe that these petty Reformers were but the sensless instruments of higher Agents) when all this was related to their then General of the Association, Lord Gray of Warke. no course was taken at all to prevent these growing [Page] mischiefs, but the Divine appointed by Statute to Preach Ad Clerum, was inforced to return Re infectâ, and glad he could escape so: And this is the great protection which Learning is like to find from these grand pretenders to advance it.

And that Religion might fare no better than Learning in the University Church, (for perhaps it may be Idolatry now to call it S. Maries) in the presence of the then General our Common-Prayerbook was torn before our faces, notwithstanding our Protection from the House of Peers for the free use of it,See the Preface. some (now great one) encouraging them in it,M. Cromwell. and openly rebuking the University Clerk, who complained of it before his Soldiers. Thus those Reverend Fathers, the Compilers of it, who sealed the truth thereof with their dearest Blood, being content to burn at a stake for the light of the Gospel, are now this second time Martyred and torn in pieces in their Liturgy, yet all this under pretence of Religion.

It will not be strange now to hear how our Persons have been abused, seeing Religion and Learning have suffered so deeply amongst us: how divers of us have been imprisoned without so much as pretending any cause, but snatcht up in the streets, and thrown into Prison at the pleasure of a small sneaking Captain, where we have lain three or four months together,Jordan. not so much as accused, much less heard, but quite and clean forgotten, as if their had been no such thing in nature. How some of us (and many others with us) have been thrust out of bed in the night, that our Chambers might forthwith be converted [Page] into Prison Lodgings: how our young Scholars with terrour have been commanded to accuse and cut out the names of their own Tutors,So at S. Johns College. and some of them thrown into Prison for not being old enough to take their Covenant So was Jo. Bullock of S. Johns.: But (to pass higher) how often have our Colleges been beset, and broken open, and Guards thrust into them sometimes at midnight, while we were asleep in our beds? How often our Libraries and Treasuries ransackt and rifled, not sparing so much as our Ancient So at S. Johns College, whence they took in Ancient Coyn's to the value of 22. l. according to weight. Coyns? which those that know any thing, know to be a great light to the understanding of History. How often hath that small pittance of Commons which our Founders and Benefactors allotted for our sustenance, been taken from off our Tables by the wanton Soldier? How often have our Rents been extorted from our Tenants, or if received, re-manded of our Bursars and Stewards, and by force taken from them? And all this under the old odious title of Plundering, which word though they cannot endure to hear of, since that new term of Sequestration was invented; yet the thing is the same, and more practised than ever, they having for above two years together set themselves upon little else than to seise and take away our goods and furniture belonging to our Chambers, prizing and selling away our Books at a tenth part of their value, which are our only tools and instruments whereby the trade and profession of Learning should be holden up. And to this end they have constituted a decay'd Hatter, Plunder-master [Page] General, who (together with a Conventicling Barber and a Confiding Taylor) hath full Comission,Fortune. Parrell. Curd. for our propriety sake, to Lord over us, and dispose of our goods as they please: So despicable a thing to them is an University, or any that belong unto it.

But their malice is unsatiable, and cannot be contained within the Line of their Fortifications, and therefore to propagate their own wickedness, and make us odious and abominable to the whole Country, as we were already (though most undeservedly) to some of themselves; they have invented a pretty device to reserve out of their Plunder all sorts of pictures, were they but Paper Prints of the twelve Apostles, and every market day to burn ihem openly in the market place, proclaiming them the Popish Idols of the University, until we became so hated by the weaker sort of the deceived People, that a Scholar could have small security from being stoned or affronted as he walked the streets.

But why do we insist so long upon particular mens Plundering, when whole Colleges (wherein not only the present, but also the future propagation of Religion and Learning is concerned) have drunk so deeply the dregs of their malice? For besides the cutting down of our Walks and Orchards, (contrary to their own Generalissimo's Orders of War) they have cut down the Woods and Groves belonging to our Colleges,So at Jesus College- and sold them before our eyes to a great value, when by an Ordinance they were declared not Sequestrable: And (which was likewise contrary to an Order) they have seised and taken away the Materials of our intended buildings, to the worth of [Page] three or four hundred Pounds in Timber, which our pious and charitable Benefactors had out of their devotion conferred towards the re-edifying of an ancient College which Time had impaired: And,Clare-Hall. to shew what violent passions they are transported withal, they have pulled down, demolished and defaced five or six fair Bridges of Stone and Timber belonging to several Colledges,S. Johns, Trin. Kings, Garret Hostle, and 2. at Queens. and have spoiled a good Walk with a new Gate pertaining to one of our Kings College. Colleges, upon pretence of keeping out Cavaliers, and yet for forty shillings they would fain have been hired to spare it, and cast up a Work beyond. And let the World judg whether this was not done to get the countenance of a Contribution from a College to their Fortifications, and consequently to this War against the King.

But (as if Bridges and materials for Building were nothing) they have yet proceeded further, even to the very Structure it self of one of the fairest Colleges in our University,S. Johns Coll. which they Plundered the true owners of, for above sixteen months together, as an especial argument of their love to Learning, and have converted all the old Court thereof into a Prison for His Majesties Loyal Subjects, (which before the other was built, has contained above three hundred Students at a time) not suffering any whom it concerned to remove any Bedding or other goods, whereof the Goaler could make any use or benefit, but renting them all out together with the Chambers at above five hundred Pounds per Ann.

[Page]And as if spoiling of one College were not enough, their malice has since extended it self to all the rest, in Quartering multitudes of Common Soldiers, in those glorious and ancient Structures, which our devout and Royal Founders designed for Sanctuaries of Learning and Piety, but were made by them mere Spittles and Bawdy-houses for sick and debauched Soldiers, being filled with Queans, Drabs, Fiddlers, and Revels night and day. Which black deeds of darkness being divers times complaned of by us to their Officers, and the particular men shewed them, who had thus lewdly abused our Colleges, none of these new Reformers were ever punish'd,Pembr. Hall. nor the holy Sisters removed, nor so much as called before any that then bore rule among us. By which means, (see what Religion they fight for, and what a glorious Reformation we may expect) they have dishonoured Cod, countenanced leudness, scandalized modest and civil men, and driven from us, or poisoned among us those young Students which were left.

To this we may add, how they have torn and defaced those Reverend buildings, pull'd down and burned the Wainscot of our Chamb. Bed-steeds, Chairs Stools, Tables, and Shelves for our Books, so as they may now have some plea for multiplying of Goals, if the Liberty of the Subject shall so require. And when their ragged Regiments which had lain lowzing before Crowland nigh a fortnight, were commanded to Cambridge, forthwith the Colleges are appointed for their Kennels, and fourscore were turned loose into one of the least Halls in the University,Pembr. Hall. and charged by their Officers to shift for themselves; who without any more ado broke open the Fellows [Page] and Scholars Chambers, and took their Beds from under them. But when the Kings Prisoners taken at Hilsden-house were brought famished and naked in triumph by Cambridge to London, some of our Scholars were knockt down in the streets, only for offering them a cup of small Beer to sustain nature, and the drink thrown in the kennel, rather then the famished and parched throats of the wicked, as they esteem'd them, should usurp one drop of the creature. And it is much to be feared, thay would have starved them in prison there,Mistris Cumbers maid. if a valiant Chamber-maid had not relieved them by force, trampling under her feet in the kennel their great persecuter,Homes. a Lubberly Scotch Mayor.

What should we mention moreover, how we have been over-whelmed with insupportable Taxes extorted from us by Plundering, seised not by any of our own Body, but (which is directly contrary to our established privileges) by the Arbitration of a few confiding Aldermen, our professed Enemies, who instead of that gratitude which very nature requires at their hands, now repay us with unsatiable malice and Envy: which properties of their shave since commended and qualified them to be appointed Commissioners and Judges to strip us of our estates and livelyhoods. And when neither our consciences nor Estates could extend any further to defray their imposts for our very Chambers (which their Soldiers then possessed and burnt) besides all excises, weekly payments, Taxes, fifth and twentieth part, upon all our Revenues, and other such new terms of property and liberty, all the favour we can expect from them, is, quietly to be thrust into Prison without further abusings.

[Page]And although all these are but sad theams to be thus far inlarged and dilated upon, yet they think they can stop the noise of all these just complaints with their usual grinning objection, that several of our Students are in the Kings Army: making that to be their crime, to which if their own innate Loyalty did not draw them, yet their haughty and heathenish usage would of necessity drive them: for who had not rather fall upon the bed of honour, and assert with his dearest blood, his Religion, Loyalty, and Liberty, than live a slave under them, to set his surviving foot-steps upon the graves and ashes of expired Loyalty, Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, and Civility it self?

And now to tell how they have prophaned and abused our several Chappels; though our Pens flowed as fast with vinegar and gall, as our eyes do with tears, yet were it impossible sufficiently to be expressed: when as multitudes of enraged Soldiers (let loose to reform) have torn down all carved work, not respecting the very Monuments of the dead: And have ruin'd a beautiful carved structure in the University Church (though indeed that was not done without direction from a great one,M. Cromwell. as appeared after upon complaint, made to him) which stood us in a great sum of Mony, and had not one jot of Imagery or Statue-work about it. And when that Reverend man the then Vice-chancellour told them mildly,D. Ward. That they might be better imployed, they returned him such Language, as we are ashamed here to express.

Nor was it any whit strange to find whole Bands of Soldiers t [...]ning and exercising in the Royal [Page] Chappel of King Henry the sixth: Nay even the Commanders themselves (being commanded to shew their new Major General Master Pawson of Sidney College, though since he hath proved himself an arrant honest man, and is rewarded for it with a fellowship in S. Johns. how well they understood their trade) chose that place to train in,Kings Coll. (whether in policy to conceal their Mistery,Crawford. or out of fear to betray their ignorance, or on purpose to shew their Soldiers how little Gods house was to be regarded, let the World conjecture.) And one who calls himself John Dowsing, and by vertue of a pretended Commission goes about the Country like a Bedlam breaking glass windows, having battered and beaten down all our painted glass, not only in our Chappels, but (contrary to Order) in our publick Schools, College-Halls, Libraries, and Chambers,See the Pref. mistaking perhaps the Liberal Arts for Saints (which they intend in time to pull down too) and having (against an Order) defaced and digged up the floors of our Chappels, many of which had lain so for two or three hundred years together, not regarding the dust of our founders and predecessors, who likely were Buried there; compelled us by armed Soldiers to pay forty shillings a College for not mending what he had spoiled and defaced, or forthwith to go to Prison: We shall need to use no more instances than these two, to shew that neither place, person nor thing, hath any reverence, or respect amongst them, Master Pawson of Sidney College, though since he hath proved himself an arrant honest man, and is rewarded for it with a fellowship in S. Johns. A Fellow of one of our Colleges was violently pluckt from the Communion as he was ready to receive that holy Sacrament before the solemn Election of a Master [Page] of that College, and thrown into Goal, to the great disturbance of the Election: And at another * College the Communion Plate was sacrilegiously seised upon and taken away from the very Communion Table,S. Johns notwithstanding it was (upon a former Plunder) restored to the said College by an Order from the Close Committee of the 18. of Septemb. 1643. under the hands of the Earl of Pembroke, Earl of Denbigh, Lord Say, Lord Howard, Sir Wil. Waller, and Mr. Pym.

And yet all these actions of theirs, were but preparatory Pills to dispose our whole Body for its final Purge of Reformation, when ever they should please to think it sick of us: And that is this last act, which is none of the least arguments, of this our sad complaint. For although we were seldom in any freedom for any time near these three years from some Protestation, Oath, Association, Vow and Covenant, &c. menaced upon us, yet this last only brought with it the fatal doom of our final extirpation: though we must have leave to wonder that all Liberty of Conscience should be denied us by them, who latety pleaded nothing else against the established Ecclesiastical Laws, and now pretended partly to fight for the same: But indeed the Covenant was not the true cause but the pretence only for our Ejection, (for that is the word of Art, for this newly invented Mistery) as appears by several writs issued out under hand and seal without mention of refusing the Covenant. The thing was absolutely determined by a peremptory decree, to plant a new University for propagating at least, if not inventing a new Religion: And to that end the old one must be removed, at least so much of it, for the present, [Page] as might hinder this great design; Only some means and plausible pretences were yet wanting.

The first that was attempted was to summon all those that were absent to return within ten days. But then they were so far to seek for reasons of Ejection, as that after almost half ten days more study all they could insert in their writ was, For opposing the proceedings of Parliament, and other Scandalous Actions in the University;See Pref. Their tongues thereby testifying their minds, though perhaps out of incogitancy, which are so furiously set upon their great work of Reformation as to punish the opposing Scandalous Actions, with the loss of all a mans livelyhood. Whether they were ashamed of the phrase or not we know not; but they had very good reason to be ashamed of the Act, being so different from all shew of Justice, as to enjoyn impossibilities in commanding men to return within twelve days, after issuing the summons, which at that time were above two hundred miles distant, and had two Armies to pass through all the ways: or enjoyning them to be resident at Cambridge, whom themselves at the same time kept fast Prisoners at London: And yet for non-appearance, for no man knows any other cause, these must be Ejected.

But though this be not so plausible, yet they have a sure reserve, their Solemn League and Covenant, which coming from their dear Brethren of Scotland, they think no penalty too great for refusal of it: And this, because it carries in its frontispiece a pretence of Rrformation, comes not alone, but (though without any visible Order) accompanied with a new Legislative fangle called an Oath of discovery, [Page] but indeed was an Oath of Treachery, a wild unlimited device to call whom they would before them, and make them accuse their nearest and dearest Friends, Benefactors, Tutors, and Masters, and betray the Members and Acts of their several Societies, manifestly contrary to our Peaceable Statutes formerly sworn unto by us, which provide against all faction and sedition, which these men only hunt after, [viz. Non revelabis aliquod secretum Collegii; Non malum aut damnum inferes Collegio aut cuilibet Sociorum:] And apparently reviving the Oath Ex Offishio, (as their Commissioners spell it) abolished this present Parliament, to accuse our selves: For what is it else to accuse our own Societies and Corporations, whereof our selves are parts and members?

And though we would not any whit derogate from the Oath Ex Officio as it is used this day in most Christian Kingdoms and Common-wealths, nay even in Scotland and Geneva, and may be of excellent use, if not stretched beyond the due limits of Law: yet this Oath of Discovery, all, we think, except one or two, refused, perceiving that thereby the design of a second Century was to be promoted; for they finding no accusation or crime objected against any of us, where with to colour their ugly purposes which they had already plotted in private against us, and yet their Covenant must be for Reformation, they resolved to shrive us with an Auricular Confession sanctified to the Cause, that so we might help them out with their malice, which was otherwise like to be born blind, though hitherto it hath been Eagle-eyed over our most venial slips; And forthwith upon refusal of this Oath was their Solemn League and Covenant urged upon us.

[Page]We cannot but signifie by the way, that seeing it must be tendered to the University, as their Printed instructions told us, we hoped it should have been to the whole body Statuteably assembled, either to admit of, or otherwise humbly to shew reasons of denial; but they were wise enough to foresee what entertainment such stuff was like to find from all the Learned men of so famous an Unversity, and were not willing it should be blasted with their Universal refusal. And therefore contrary to our hopes, a selected number of particular men are cull'd out, partly as the lot sell, for it much resembled a lottery, but chiefly of such whom they most redoubted, and of whom by some petty information, they had received a black Character of Loyalty termed Malignancy, and to these, yet severally, was tendered the Oath of discovery, and after that the Covenant.

And though indeed we should, by Gods help, as often have refused it, as it should have been offered, yet after one single denial, without a second tender, contrary to the Eleventh Article of the Instructions, a warrant was straightway issued forth under the Earl of Manchester's hand and seal for our Ejection and Banishment from the University of Cambridge for refusing to take the Solemn League and Covenant, and other Misdemeanors in the said University, which were surely no other than the denial of the Oath of discovery, for not one of us who were there present, had any one accusation brought, much less proved against him, when we appeared upon their Summons. And without any delay our names are cut out of the College Tables, and we strictly commanded in three days space to quit the University and Town under pain of Imprisonment and Plunder, if any thing was left.

[Page]And it is here not to be passed by, that whereas by the Laws of the Land we were ever reputed to have as good an interest in our several fellowships during life, as any of our fellow Subjects in his fee Simple, provided we carried our selves according to those Statutes by which our several Colleges were respectively to be governed, yet now we are utterly deprived of them by the mear Arbitrary power of one of our fellow Subjects without transgressing of any one Statute, or being called to answer for any pretended offence whatsoever. Nay, so little was Propriety valued, that a pair of M. Ash, and M. Good. Camp-Chaplains, or one of them, might expunge, eject, and banish whom they pleased, especially, such as would not sacrifice their Loyalty and consciences to the nerves and cement of this Rebellion, called the Covenant. For instance, when a Warrant for Ejection of certain Fellows of S. Johns College was issued out under hand and seal, and their names expresly mentioned in it, yet Mr. Ash knows very well who it was that expunged Mr. Henmans name, and put in M. Botelers, without so much as writing the Warrant over again.

And now (seeing what courses were taken) it will not seem strange to the Reader, to hear that no less than 32. Fellows, (together with the Master) have been thrust out of the said College, the emoluments of whose places have been ever since swallowed up by not half the number, and not content with that neither. And in an other they have made a through Reformation,Queens Coll. Root and Branch, leaving neither Fellow nor Scholar. In others indeed they have left perhaps one or two, (or more as they see [Page] good) like Gibeonites, to hew wood and draw water, till such time as they have discovered unto them all the mysteries concerning their College Revenues, and by that time they will find enow godly men of their own Tribe, Learned enough to pocket the profits of two Fellowships apiece, which is the end of all this blessed Reformation. Thus is their old pretence of Regulation vanished, in place whereof their true intention of a total Extirpation of the whole ancient Body of the University doth now so plainly appear, that they which run may read it; which though a great many would not believe, till by woful experience they found it, yet was it conspicuous enough from the very beginning to any that was but tolerably provident in matters of this nature.

For it was hardly possibly that Cambridge should be free from these two crying sins of Sacrilege and Rebellion, which the devil hath long endeavoured to make this whole Kingdom guilty of: and to that end (mis-calling them by the names of Religion and Liberty) had masked under the counterfeit vizard of a Covenant for Reformation: by which means though the simplicity of the vulgar was much abused, to the extreme hazard of this once flourishing Church and State; yet seeing it could not be able to endure the strict search, which in such an University of all sorts of Learned and conscientious Men it was not like to escape; it could not be otherwise expected, but that those who were his instruments herein, would lay a sure foundation, and (how moderate soever their pretences were) reform Root and Branch, as they called it, that seeing they could not make the University of Cambridge to Rebel by taking their Covenant, they might [Page] at least make a Rebellious University at Cambridge which should take it.

And to this end those new intruders which falsly call themselves Masters and Fellows of our several Colleges, instead of those solemn Oaths which our pious and prudent Founders and Legislators enjoyned to be taken, (and without taking of which, no man can pretend any right to any of their foundations) only take their Covenant again, and make a Protestation to reform all our wholsom Laws and Statutes according to that Covenant.

A Covenant with Hell, begot between Munster and Mecha, by the help of a Jesuite, sthe most impious and unchristian confederacy that their grand Master the devil could contrive: the chief end whereof is to dethrone the Lords anointed, and throw down the Church and Apostolical Government thereof, and to force not only their Fellow-Subjects to contradict their Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, but even their most gracious Sovereign to perjury, in violating this his sacred Oath which he solemnly made at his Coronation. And to compleat that their most horrid and heinous sin, to joyn in Arms with a foreign Nation, to lay desolate their own native Country, to stain this Earth with the Blood of their own Country-men and Fellow-Subjects, and to expose the treasures of England, the Cream of these fruitful Vallies, to the empty and hungry maw of a Rebellious Scot: and then vow never to have peace, but what shall be written in the Blood of their Enemies (His Majesty and His Loyal Subjects,) and lastly, most cruelly and wickedly to exhort and solicit all Protestants in the Christian World to undertake the like course with them by rising in Rebellious Arms; thereby exposing the [Page] Throats and Lives of all our Brethren the Protestants in France and else where to the just jealousie of their several Princes. And yet (for sooth) this Covenant is made the foundation of the great work of their glorious Reformation, and under pretence of refusing this we must be banisht, and thrust out of all we have.

It will not be more than what upon trial will be found true, if we here mention a mistery which many (we conceive) will not a little wonder at, viz. That this Covenant, for which all this persecution hath been, consisteth of 6. Articles, and those Articles of 666. words. This is not the first time that a persecution hath arisen in England upon 6. Articles, (witness those in the Reign of King Henry the 8th. See Mr. Fox, Act. and Mon. Vol. 2. p. 443. Edit. London. 1631.) But as for the number of the Beast, to answer directly to the words of those six Articles, it is a thing, which (considering Gods blessed providence in every particular thing) hath made many of us and others seriously and often to reflect upon it; though we were never so superstitiously Caballistical as to ascribe much to numbers. This discovery (we confess) was not made by any of us, but by a very judicious and worthy Divine, formerly of our University,Mr. Geast. and then a Prisoner (for his Conscience) within the precincts of it, and not yet restored to his liberty, but removed to London. And therefore we shall forbear to insist any farther, either upon it, or the occasion of it.

For our own particulars we shall only add thus much, that seeing some of our own Reasons with which we had Armed our selves against that Misery [Page]of iniquity have since that time been published to the World (in such humility of phrase as well became Christian sufferers, though in such distraction as may sufficiently testify who were the Authors and what their Condition) we appeal to any who with Judgment and moderation hath or shall read the same; whether we have causlesly and foolishly trifled away those fair advantages wherewith God by the means of our renowned Benefactors had endowed us, for the advancement of his Glory, and further propagation of Learning and true Religion; or whether we had not rather suffer'd an unjust deprival of all our livelyhoods under the merciless hands of cruel Tyrants who neither fear God nor respect the just scruples of tender Consciences.

For when a Member of our University was brought upon this occasion before the Earl of Manchester, Mr. Baldero. and being not satisfied in Conscience, desired his Lordship that his Chaplain (then present) might resolve him in some Scruples about it; to this motion (being then thought not unreasonable by his Lordship, and much pressed by some that were there present) his Reverend Chaplain Learnedly replyed before the whole Company, that he came not thither to resolve Mens Consciences, but to Preach to his Lordship. Whereupon the Gentleman was not long after sent up Prisoner to London by the said Earl for tendring the Reasons of his refusing the Covenant, though invited and required thereunto by his Lordship: And there without farther hearing committed to Prison, where he continued a long time at excessive charges, which is all the satisfaction [Page] he could find (or any other can expect) from them, for the scruples of a tender Conscience.

Thus are we imprisoned or banished for our consciences, being not so much as accused of any thing else, only suspected of Loyalty to our King, and Fidelity to our Mother the Church of England; and not only so, but quite stript of all our livelyhood, and exposed to beggery, having nothing left us to sustain the necessities of nature, and many of us no friends to go to, but distitute and forlorn, not knowing whither to bend one step when we set footing out of Cambridge, having one only companion, which will make us rejoyce in our utmost afflictions, viz. A clear Conscience in a righteous cause: humbly submitting our selves to the chastisement of the Almighty, who after he hath tryed us, will at last cast his rods into the fire.

As for us, God forbid that we should take up any railing or cursing, who are commanded only to bless: we are so far from that, that we have rather chosen to let the names of our greatest persecuters rot in our ruines, than so much as mention them with our Pen, save only where necessity compelled us unto it.

But though we spare their names, we hope we may without offence to any describe their qualities: And therefore if Posterity shall ask, Who thrust out one of the eyes of this Kingdom? Who made Eloquence dumb, Phylosophy sottish, widowed the Arts, and drove the Muses from their Ancient habitation? Who pluck'd the Reverend and Orthodox Professors out of their Chairs, and silenced them in Prison or their graves? Who turned Religion into Rebellion, and changed the Apostolical Chair into a Desk for Blasphemy, and tore the garland from [Page] off the head of Learning, to place it on the dull browes of Disloyal Ignorance? If they shall ask, who made those Ancient and beautiful Chappels, the sweet remembrancers and Monuments of our fore-fathers Charity, and kind fomenters of their Childrens devotion, to become ruinous heaps of dust and stones? or who unhived those numerous swarms of labouring Bees, which used to drop honey-dews over all this Kingdom, to place in their rooms swarms of sensless Drones? Tis quickly answered, those that were, who endeavouring to share three Crowns, and put them in their own pockets, have transformed this free Kingdom into a large Goal, to keep the liberty of the Subject: They who maintain 100000. Robbers and Murtherers by Sea and Land, to protect our lives, and the propriety of our goods: That have gone a King-catching these three years, hunting their most gracious Sovereign like a Partridge on the mountains in his own defence; They who have possest themselves of His Majesties Towns, Navy, and Magazines, and Robbed him of all his Revenues, to make him a glorious King: Who have multiplyed Oaths, Protestations, Vows, Leagues and Covenants for the ease of tender consciences: Filling all Pulpits with Jugglers for the Cause, canting Sedition, Atheism, and Rebellion, to root out Popery and Babylon, and settle the Kingdom of Christ: who from a trembling guilt of a legal trial have engaged three flourishing Kingdoms, and left them weltring in their own Blood; They (lastly) which when they had glutted themselves with spoil and rapine, hissed for a foreign Viper to come and eat up the bowels of their dear Mother: The very same have stopt the mouth of all Learning, [Page] (following here in the example of their elder Brother the Turk) lest any should be wiser than themselves, or Posterity know what a World of wickedness they have committed.

And now seeing they are not content to deprive us of our Estates, but (which is much more greivous unto us) have also Robbed us of our good names, branding all of us in our several writs of Ejectment with a black Character of Misdemeanors in general (and yet not any one particular was alledged against any one of us, which were then there, much less offered to be proved by any one single witness, although especial care was taken by an Ordinance for appointing a Committee to sit at Cambridge for that purpose) we challenge and conjure them as they will one day answer for this slander and oppression, that they declare and prove what those Misdemeanors are; which if they do, the shame and guilt will be ours: if not (as we are confident they cannot) we must appeal herein from these unjust Judges to the impartial Tribunal of the righteous Judg of Heaven and Earth, who knows our integrity, and to whom we submit our selves and cause, Humbly beseeching him not to lay this Sin to their charge. For though for our many sins against him we may justly receive at his hands, heavier Judgments than these: yet our Innocence will plead Not Guilty, to the face of any Man who shall object against us any Civil Misdemeanors, whereby we can more justly be deprived of our Fellowships than any free Subject in England of his fee Simple, if they please to say he is guilty of Misdemeanors.

And as it hath pleased our gracious Master (whose Ministers we are) to make us examples [Page] (though but of suffering) to the rest of our Brethren: So we hope he will continue unto us his grace of humilation under his mighty hand, as an earnest of his exalting us in due time: And in the interim, that he will lay no more upon us, than he shall be pleased to strengthen our infirmities to bear: And that he will still preserve unto us a good conscience, that whereas our persecutors speak evil of us as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsly accuse our good conversation in Christ.

FINIS

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§

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Mercurius Belgicus: OR, A briefe Chronology of the Battels, Sieges, Conflicts, and other most remakable passages from the beginning of this Rebellion, to the 25th. of March, 1646. Together with A Catalogue of the Persons of Quality slain on both sides:

CICERO.

Incerti sunt exitus pugnarum, Marsque esi communis, qui saepe spoliantem, jam & exultantem evertit, & perculit ab abjecto.

Printed in the Year, 1685.

The Preface.

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Readers,

YOU have here a canded and impartial Epitomy of an unnatural War, Subjects banding against their lawful Prince, Brother against Brother, and Father against Son. Read but the said ensuing Story, and therein consider the number and quality of Persons slain, the destruction of Houses and Families, the desolation of Cities and Towns, the increase of Widows and Orphans, the Tyranny and inhumanity of our new Legislators over their own Fellow-Subjects, and you will easily conclude of these, as Cicero did of Sylla's time,

—Nemo illo invito, nec bona, nec patriam, nec vitam retinere potueirt.

In earnest, it may well be wondred whence these men have their minds, God, nor man, nor Nature ever made them thus. To be short, the Reader may here see the flux and reflux of Fortune de la Guerre, now this party flourisheth, and that goes down, anon that flourisheth, and this goes down, as if the guilt of our sins were drawing a heavy Judgment from Heaven upon this Land, and these Rebels were ordained for the instruments of it. But let us hope for better. And particularly, that God in the richness of his mercy, will look [Page] down upon these macerated Kingdoms, and periodize these distractions, That Religion may again flourish in its purity, maugre the Plots and impieties of all Seditiaries and Schismaticks, That His Sacred Majesty may be re-established in His just Rights and Prerogatives, that Parliaments may move in their own and known Centre, the Ancient Laws of the Land re-inforced and freed from fellow-subjects Tyranny and Arbitration, and the Subject re-estated in his Ancient Liberties▪ freed from Murder, Rapine and Plunder: which that we may quickly see, let it be the Subject of ever good Christian Prayer.

Memorable OCCURRENCES since the beginning of this REBELLION.

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Anno Dom. 1641.

IN December 1641. The House of Commons published a Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom, therein setting forth all the errors of his Majesties Government, a meer design to alienate the affection of his Subjects from him.

The tenth of January following, his Majesty with the Queen, Prince, and Duke of Yorke, left White-hall, and went to Hampton Court to avoid the danger of those frequent tumults then hazarding the safety of his Royal Person.

February the 23d. the Queens Majesty took shipping at Dover, having been driven before from White-hall by the frequent tumults of the Rebels, And soon after His Majesty went to New-market and from thence to Yorke, where (after the Rebels had Guards for three Months before) the Gentry of the Country raised a Guard for his Majesties Person.

Anno Dom. 1642.

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MAY the 20th. it was voted by both Houses, That the King intended to levie War against the Parliament: which they did on purpose to excuse themselves for raising a Rebellion against His Majesty, as appeared within few days after.

July the second the Kings ship called the Providence, Landed in the Creek of Kenningham near Hull, till which time His Majesty had not a Barrel of Powder, nor any Arms, or Ammunition whatsoever.

July the 12th. the pretended two Houses Voted, that the Earl of Essex should be General of their Army, and that they would live and die with him.

August the first, the Earl of Essex caused all the men then raised (being in number about 10000) to be committed to Officers, and divided into Regiments, which men had been raising ever since the 12th. of July 1642. at which time he was made General of the Rebels.

August the sixth the Earl of Bedford having fruitlessely besieged the Lord Marquess of Hertford in Sherburn Castle for four days before, retreated to Yevell; the Noble Marquess sallied after him, and with a small number fell on that great body of the Rebels, Kill'd above 140 whereof 9 Commanders, took divers Prisoners and routed the rest; so as he marched away, and after divided his small Forces, going himself into Wales, and Sir Ralph (now Lord) Hopton into Cornwall, of both which there followed so good an effect.

August the 22d. His Majesty set up his Standard [Page] Royal at Nottingham, for raising of Forces to suppress the Rebels then marching against him.

September the 23d. Prince RUPERT with about 11 Troops of Horse gave a great overthrow to the Rebels in Wikefield near Worcester, where Colonel Sands that commanded in chief, received his mortal wound, Major Douglas (a Scot) and divers other Captains and Officers slain and drowned, Captain Wingate a Member of the House of Commons, with four Coronets taken, and two more torn in pieces. This body of the Rebels was observed to be the flower of their Cavalry.

October the 23d. was that signal great battel fought between Keynton and Edg-hill by his Majesties Army, and that of the Rebels led by the Earl of Essex: wherein the Rebels lost above 70 Colours of Coronets and Ensigns, and His Majesty but only 16 Ensigns and not one Coronet. The exact number that were slain on both sides in this Battel is not known: But it is certain that the Rebels lost above three for one. Men of eminence of his Majesties Forces, who were slain in the Battel were, the two Noble and valiant Lords, Robert Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain of England, and George Lord D. Aubigney Brother to the Duke of Richmond, and Lenox, Sir Edmund Verney, Knight Marshal to His Majesty, with some other worthy Centlemen, and Soldiers, but besides these three named there was not one Noble Man or Knight kill'd, which was an extraordinary mercy of Almighty God, considering what a glorious sight of Princes, Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts, Barons, Knights and Gentlemen of all Orders, were not only present but engaged themselves against the Rebels as much or more than Common [Page] Soldiers, which they most cheerfully did by example of His sacred MAJESTY, whose Royal undaunted Courage put life into every man, exposing His Sacred Person to so much danger as all good men do tremble to remember; His Royal Sons (the two young Princes) CHARLES Prince, of Wales, and JAMES Duke of Yorke, being also in the field in very much danger, if God whose cause it was) had not covered their heads in the day of Battel. The Rebels as they had few men of quality to lose, so those they had, were sensible of their guilt, which then they expressed by their flight, some sculking into holes and Saw-pits, and others running out before they were well in the field. They lost of note the Lord St. John, eldest Son to the Earl of Bullingbrooke, Sir Charles Essex, with many inferiour Officers.

October the 27th. His Majesty to compleat his Victory in Keynton field, drew his whole Army before Banbury; but after the firing of one piece of Ordnance, the Rebels submitted to His Majesties mercy (which were in number about 800 Foot (of the Earl of Peterboroughs, and Lord Says Regiments) with 10 Colours, and a Troop of Horse) and yeilded the Town and Castle to the King: at which time the Earl of Essex with his shattered Force, were crept over the River Aven into Warwick (full eight Miles backward from the place where they were beaten) there to secure those few he had left under the protection of the strong fituate Town and Castle, leaving behind him above 20 Waggons loaded with Powder and other Ammunition.

November the 12th. His Maiesty after four hours fight forced the Town of Brainford, where Lieutenant [Page] Colonel Quarles that commanded in chief was slain, and at least 400 more of the Rebels kill'd and drowned, as many taken Prisoners, with little loss to His Majesties part, these thus taken and kill'd, were observed to be the best foot Soldiers the Rebels had.

November the 13th. (being Sunday) certain of the Rebels had come down the Thames from Kingston, with 13 pieces of Ordnance, which (so soon as they could see) they fired against Sion house, and His Majesties Train of Artillery; but did little or no harm. Whereupon Order was presently given for drawing down some Pieces into the Meadow and to the River side against them; which was accordingly done: and likewise a Demy-Cannon planted near the South-end of the Town. All which were so judiciously plied, that they shot through their Boats and Barges, and at last fired the Powder in one of them, which blew up divers of the Rebels: Those Rebels which escaped took them to their heels, leaving behind them their mangled Boats and Barges, with all their Ordnance, and the remainder of their Ammunition, on which His Majesty presently seised, and afterwards made an honourable and safe retreat to the City of Oxford.

December the 5th. His Majesties Forces under the command of Lieutenant General Wilmot, having his own Regiment of Horse, with the Lord Grandisons, and Lord Digbies, and Sir William Pennimans, and Colonel Blagues Regiments of Foot, and Colonel Ushers, and Colonel Grayes of Dragoons, took the Town of Marlborough, defended by Robert Ramsey (a Scot) and about 500 Foot; Ramsey and divers of the chief Rebels brought Prisoners to Oxford; all their Arms taken, and four Colours.

[Page]On the same 5th. day, the Earl of Newcastle laid siege to Tadcaster, where at that time was all the strength of the Rebels in Yorkeshire (excepting Hull) and by several assaults on the Town (from Ten of the Clock in the morning, till Seven at night) kill'd Cap. Lyster, and about 60 more of the Rebels, who found such hot service that they stole away in the night to Cawood and Selby, leaving Tadcaster fortified for His Majesties service.

January the 19th. a great Victory was obtained by the Lord Hopton, near Bodmin, in the County of Cornwal, where was slain in the pursuit 200 of the Rebels, and 700 taken Prisoners (amongst whom was Sir Shilston Colmadee) and eight Colours; good store of Ammunition, an five excellent brass Guns, and one of Iron.

January the 22d. the Lord Hopton assulted Saltash, forced the Town, where he took Ten pieces of Ordnance, 700 more Prisoners, 4000 Arms, and a Ship with sixteen pieces of Ordnance.

January the 27th. certain of the Rebels under the command of Master John Hampden, to the number of 1800 Foot, and seven or eight: Troops of Horse, with two pieces of Ordnance, came before Brill, and made an assault upon it: But were so bravely repulsed by His Majesties forces there, under the command of Sir Gilbert Gerard (the then Governour thereof) that they made all possible hast away; His Majesties Horse having the pursuit of them, for above 4 miles, about 80 of them being sound dead, and betwixt 40 or 50 men wounded, which they had left together in a private House.

February the 1st. Lieutenant General King, and Lieutenant Ge [...]eral Goring coming from Newcastle with a great Convoy, of much Arms and Ammunition: [Page] and being faced at Yarum, with 400 Foot, three Troops of Horse, and two pieces of Ordnance of the Rebels, fell upon them, slew many, took the rest of the Foot, and most of the Horse Prisoners, with their Ordnance and Baggage.

February the 2d. Cyrencester, (or Cicester) in Gloucester-shire was taken by his Highness Prince Rupert, with the loss of less than 20 men of his Army, there being above 300 of the Rebels slain, and near 1200 taken Prisoners. Of Colours taken, one Coronet, two of Dragoons, and fourteen Foot Ensigns, together with all their Ordnance, Arms, and Ammunition.

February the 13th. the QUEENS Majesty left the Hague, and went to Sciveling. And on the 16 day Her Majesty imbarked again in the Princess Royal of Great Brittain. And on the Sunday after came within sight of Flamborough-head.

February the 20th She cast Anchor in the Harbour of Burlington-bay. And the 22d. day following (upon fight of 1000 of his excellency the Earl of Newcastle's Horse) landed at Burlington Key.

Fibruary the 24th. in the morning four Ships and a Pinnace, in the Rebels service, (which came over night into the Road) made above 100 great shot at the houses in the Key, for two hours, shooting Cross-bar-shot, and Bullets of twelve pound weight, all of them aiming so near as they could, at the house were the Queen lay. Insomuch that her sacred Majesty was forced to make what hast she could out of Her Bed, and to get under an hill to save Her life from the fury of those Bloody Rebels, who endeavoured to Murther Her. But God Almighty preserved Her Majesty both by Sea and Land.

[Page] March the 18th. and 19th. was a great Battel on Hopton-heath in Staffordshire, wherein Gell and Brereton (two cowardly Rebels) were routed by His Majesties Forces under the command of the Right Honourable Spencer then Earl of Northampton, in which fight, above 300 of the Rebels were taken and kill'd; at the least 200 more wounded; abve 300 of their Horse taken, four pieces of Cannon, and a case of Drakes, with some Ammunition, here was the most Noble and valiant Earl of Northampton unfortunately slain, with C. Middleton and some few others on His Majesties side.

March the 23d. Grantham was taken in, by some of His Majesties Forces under the Command of Colonel Charles Cavendish: wherein were taken 360 Prisoners, with all the Captains and Officers, three foot Ensigns, two Cornets, together with three loads of Arms and Ammunition. And afterwards the works demolished.

Anno Dom. 1643.

APRIL the third Prince Rupert entered, and possessed that seditious Town of Burmingham, wherein was 300 Foot, and two Troops of Horse, who being gallantly charged by the Welch-men, in less than half an hour forsook their Breast-works, and retired to their Barricadoes within the Town, wherein they found such slender defence, that they took them to their heels, and that so fast, that though they were pursued as soon as the Prince had possessed the Town, yet few of their Horse were overtaken, only about 80 of the Rebels were kill'd, and as many Prisoners taken; together with about 150 Musquets, [Page] and betwixt 4 and 500 Swords, and three Colours; In this service the Noble Farl of Denbigh received a wound, whereof he afterwards died.

April the 11th. there was a fight near unto Ancaster in the County of Lincoln, betwixt the Kings Forces under the command of Colonel Cavendish, and the Rebels of that County, under young Hotham (their then General) in which fight the most part of the Rebels were slain, and taken Prisoners, their General put to flight, and their whole Body totally routed.

On the 21st. day (being Friday) the Close at Lichfield (after three weeks siege, and the loss of some men) was yeilded up to Prince Rupert, together with the Ordnance, and Ammunition, all sorss of Arms (except the Horse-mens Arms, and a certain number of Musquets) and all such Treasure which had been formerly conveyed in thither and did not properly belong to the Soldiers there. These Soldiers were part of those Forces under the command of the late Lord Brook (a great Leader in this Bebellion, and a maliciious enemy to the Church) who was kill'd in his assaulting this Church by a shot into the eye, on S. Chads day who was the first Bishop of this See, in memory of whom this Cathedral was built, and called S. Chads Church.

The last day of April his Excellency the Earl of Newcastles Forces, encountered with, and totally routed a whole Body of the Rebels (consisting of above 3000 men) which were going to relieve the Town of Leeds, killed 150 of them in the place, took 240 Prisoners, three pieces of Ordnance, together with all their Victual and Ammunition.

[Page] May the 6th. James Earl of Northampton (the true Heir of his Fathers Loyalty and valour) encountered with a Body of the Rebels in Middleton Cheny Town-field, near Banbury (consisting of about 700 Foot, and five Troops of Horse) where he wholly routed their Foot, killed 217 upon the plain, took above 300 Prisoners, all their Ordnance and Ammunition, 416 Musquets, 150 Pikes, and above 500 Swords, pursued the fugitive Horse, and killed, and took many of them: the rest made what hast they could to Northampton. In this fight his Lordship lost but three men, and those not of any note: Nor had above one Officer so much as hurt.

Upon the 16th. of May the Lord Hopton assaulted the great Rebellious Body then intrenched near Stratton on the Borders of Devonshire, fought with them full ten hours, and having spent his Ammunition, insomuch that he had not powder left to serve one hour longer, fell upon the Rebels with Swords, Pikes, and Musquets stocks: And (with unexpressible valour) wholly routed the Rebels Army, killed many hundreds of them in the place; wounded many more; took 1700 Prisoners, whereof above 30 Commanders, all their Cannon, being 11 pieces of Brass Ordnance, and 4 of Iron; 2 Morter pieces; 75 Barrels of Powder, with Shot and Match proportionable, betwixt 2 and 3000 Arms; and 3000l in mony; there being not above 46 of the Kings Forces killed and hurt, and amongst those not any one Commander or Gentleman of Quality.

May the 23d. The Queen was most traiterously voted a Traitour, for her love so exemplarily expressed to the King Her Husband.

May the 30th. Master Robert Yeomans and Master [Page] George Boucher, two Citizens of Bristoll, were there publickly Murthered by Colonel Nathanial Fines for their Loyalty to His Majesty.

June the 18th. 1643. His Highness Prince Rupert beat up the Quarters of the Rebels at Postcombe and Chinner in Oxfordshire, killed some 50 of the Rebels there Quartered, took about 120 Prisoners, almost all their Horses and Arms, and three of Sir Samuel Lukes Dragoon-Cornets: obtained a great victory in Chalgrove field, and utterly defeated the Rebels Horse-men and Dragooners, slew divers of their Commanders, especially Colonel John Hampden (one of the five Members accused of high Treason) who in this fight received his mortal wound, in this very Chalgrove field, where he first Mustered, and drew up men in Arms to put in execution the Rebellious Ordinance for the Militia.

On Friday the last of June: His Excellency the Earl of Newcastle obtained a great victory against the Northern Rebels under the Lord Fairfax upon Aderton-heath, within the County of Yorke. In which fight my Lord soon put the Rebels into such confusion, that they could not be reduced again into any Order; until he had gained all their five pieces of Cannon; which he presently turned against them; the sight whereof did so terrifie them, that they made what hast they could towards Leedes. But finding that his Excellencies horse had intercepted that passage; their last shift was to recover Bradford, which was done in such a disorderly manner, that his Excellency in the pursuit of them killed and took above 2000, whereof above 1500 Prisoners. As for their General Fairfax, he with much adoe made shift with one poor Troop of Horse to [Page] get (at night) into Leeds, leaving the rest to the mercy of the Victor.

July the 1st. The Earl of Essex being with his Army at Tame in Oxfordshire, sent Colonel Middleton with 500 horse and Dragoons to Padbury to waylay Prince Rupert and his Forces from returning from Buckingham to Oxford, while Essex with his Army fell on the Prince, but Sir Charles Lucas by his Scouts discovered the Rebels design, and accordingly met them with three Troops of his own Regiment, wherewith he routed all Middletons 400 horse and Dragoons, pursued them to their pass at Werthillbrook, followed them through the foard (in despight of all their Musquettiers there) slew above 100. took 40 Prisoners, and prevented the Rebels hopeful design.

The same day the Marquess of Newcastle besieged Bradford, bestowed upon it above 40 shot from his great Artillery; and the morrow after made himself Master of the Town. In which he took 2000 Prisoners, with all the Horse Arms, and Ammunition, which either the Rebels found in the Town, or brought thither with them.

Hereupon the Rebels deserted the Town of Hallifax, and presently after Sir Hugh Cholmely fell upon Beverly, and took it for his Majesty.

July the 5th. Master Tomkins and Master Challoner were most barbarously Murthered by the Rebels in London for their Fidelity to his Majesty; And the same fifth day, there was a fight on Landsdownhill, betwixt His Majesties Forces under the command of the Marquess of Hartford, and the Rebels under Sir William Waller; who (after 11 hours fight) stuck their lighted matches in the hedges, and ran quite away, leaving behind them above 500 Musquets, [Page] 14 barrels of Powder, a whole Stand of Pikes, with good store of all sorts of Arms. Their Foot were absolutely routed, and all dispersed: his loss of Officers and horse was great, many hundreds of his men were killed; His Majesties forces having the pillage of the field. And here was that most valiant Knight Sir Bevill Greenvill unfortunately slain in the Front of his men, with some others of less Quality.

The 13th. of July about four a Clock in the Afternoon the King and Queens Majesty met at Edgehill, where the Rebels had received their main overthrow: and the same day and hour His Majesties Forces under the Command of the Lord Wilmot Lieutenant General of the Horse, the Earl of Carnarvon, the Earl of Crawford, and the Lord Biron obtained another great and strange victory upon Round-way-down, with 1500 horse, and two smal pieces of Cannon only: wherewith they totally routed the Rebels Army under the Command of the old-beaten Soldier Sir William Waller, consisting of above 2500 Foot, and 2000 Horse, besides 500 Dragoons, with 8 pieces of Brass Ordnance: slew 600 of them in the place, took above 900 Prisoners, all their Cannon, Arms, Ammunition, Waggons, Baggage, and Victual, 28 Foot-Ensigns, 9 Cornets, and left not one Rebel, but what was either killed, taken Prisoner, or narrowly, escaped.

Upon the 24th. of July his Highness Prince Rupert having joyned his Forces to his Brothers, and the whole body of their strength being brought together, they sate down before Bristol, and began their Batteries. And the 26 day (with unexpressible valour) they gained the Out-works, and the 27 day following the City and Castle was delivered up to [Page] His sacred Majesty, with all the Ordnance, Arms and Ammunition. At this siege were slain on His Majesties part Sir Nicolas Slanning, one of the Lunsfords, with some few others, and that valiant Lord, the Lord Grandison, did here receive a wound.

August the 3d. Corf-castle in the Isle of Purbecke (which had been so often, before besieged by Sir Walter Earle) but had always beaten off the Rebels, and killed their Cannoniers, was once more fallen upon by the Rebels, who were so bravely received by Captain Laurence, that 60 of them were kill'd in the place: the rest hearing of the most valiant Earl of Carnarvons approach, ran away.

Soon after, the Earl of Carnarvon, Summoned Dorchester, which was thereupon delivered up to his Lordship, with all the Arms, Ammunition, and Cannon: which were disposed of for His Majesties use.

About the 9th. of August, the Castle and Isle of Portland were reduced again under His Majesties command; And the Town and Haven of Weymouth and Melcombe submitted to His Majesty.

August the 20th. Colonel Jo. Digby defeated the Rebels of Biddeford and Barnstable, killed 100 of their Foot, took 211 Officers and common Soldiers Prisoners, (most of which were miserably wounded) two pieces of Ordnance, six barrels of Powder, 400 weight of Bullet, 200 and a half of Match, and above 300 Arms; besides all the Foot-Officers horses: Pursued their horse to the very works of Biddeford, and returned victoriously, without the loss of more than one man, not one of the rest of his Soldiers being so much as hurt all that day.

Upon the 2d. and 3d, of September, the Towns [Page] of Biddeford, Appleford, and Barnstable, delivered up their several Garrisons to His Majesty.

Upon the same 3d. of September, Prince Maurice gave a very hot assault upon the City of Exeter, and battered the Walls, whereupon the Rebels desired Parley; but refusing the conditions, the assault was afterwards eagerly pursued, and the next day after won the great Sconce, turned the Ordnance there against the Town. Whereupon the Rebels craved to be admitted unto those conditions which before they rejected, and obtained the same, delivered up the Town and Castle to the Prince his Highness, with all the Ordnance, Arms, and Ammunition, after it had been blockt up and besieged about six weeks.

September the 17th. the Rebels Army (stealing out of Gloucestershire towards London) surprised part of a new raised Regiment of His Majesties horse at Cirencester, but were overtaken by Prince Rupert with His Majesties horse, near Auburne in Wiltshire, where he gave them two charges, the one by a commanded Party under Colonel Urrey, the other by the Queens Regiment, commanded by the Lord Iermin, who performed it so well on the Rebels whole Army, that many great bodies of Foot were routed, and many of them slain in the place, without any loss to His Majesties Forces, save two common Soldiers killed, and the Marquess de la Vienville taken Prisoner, (who was afterwards Murthered by the Rebels in cold Blood) and the Lord Digby and Lord Iermyn lightly wounded: by which two charges the Rebels Army was so retarded, that His Majesty had time to overtake them with his Foot, and on Wednesday after (the 20th. of this month) upon an Hill (near Newberry and Enborne-heath) His Majesty [Page] fought with the Rebels, who were seated in the most advantageous place imaginable: yet in despight of all their Cannon, Foot, and Horse, His Majesty beat them from their ground; gained the Hill, and one piece of their brass Ordnance, and quickly routed all their horse upon the Heath. The most that were killed in this fight of His Majesties Forces, exceeded not the number of 300, though above 600 of the Rebels were slain, and a very great number wounded. In this fight were slain the most Noble and valiant Earl of Carnarvon, the Earl of Sunderland, the Lord Viscount Faulkland, Col. Morgan, Captain William Symcots, with some other Gentlemen and Commanders. After this fight the Rebels were further pursued, and routed again, so as they fled into Reading, where they durst not stay, but left the Town for His Majesty.

September the 25th. That pernicious confederacy, called the National covenant, was taken by the Members of the House of Commons at Westminster, in S. Margarets Church.

October the 18th. the Pince of Harcourt Lord Ambassadour Extraordinary from the French King and Queen Regent, (after he had been most barbarously used in his passage by the Rebels) came safe into Oxford, where he had entertainment more suitable to the worth of so great a Personage.

In this month of October, His Majesties Forces under the command of the Lord Widdrington, and Colonel Henderson a Scot received a defeat near Horn-castle in Lincolnshire, by the Rebels under the command of Manchester, Cromwel, and Fairfax; there were taken Prisoners near 600 of His Majesties forces, Sir Ingram Hopton and some few others slain, not without some considerable loss to the Rebels, [Page] it cannot be said that in any other Battel since this Rebellion, but this, that His Majesties forces made a dishonourable retreat, where the fault was I, cannot say.

November the 11th. an Ordinance for authorizing the counterfeit great Seal.

November the 21st. Sir William Armine, and others (sent by the Houses at Westminster) arrived at Edenborough with Articles of accord, and advance Mony, to hasten the Scots Invasion.

November the 27th. the Kings Messenger Hang'd at London for discharging his duty in serving His Majesties Writ.

December the 4th. Hawarden-castle surrendred to His Majesties Forces.

December the 8th. John Pym died (de morbo pediculoso) at Derby house in Westminster, in which place the medley Scots, and others sit, and hatch their contrivances for support of the present Rebellion.

December the 12th. Becston Castle assaulted, and taken for His Majesty.

December the 21st. Lapley house taken by Captain Heavenningham for His Majesty.

December the 28th. Colonel Nathaniel Fines, one of the first that appeared in this Rebellion, was in a Court of War at S. Albans by his fellow Rebels sentenced to be Hanged for a Coward.

December the 29th. The stately Screen of copper richly gilt, set up by King Henry the seventh in his Chappel at Westminster, was by order of the House reformed, That is, broken down, and sold to Tinkers.

Anno Dom. 1644.

[Page]

JAnuary the 16th. The perfidious Scots (contrary to the solemn Pacification) invaded this Kingdom.

January the 22d. The Members of Parliament assembled at Oxford according to His Majesties Proclamation.

March the 2d. The Scots came over the River of Tyne, General King pursuing their rear, forced them into Sunderland, whereupon the Marquess of Newcastle sent for Sir Charles Lucas out of Yorkeshire, who had been Ordered to stay there to fortifie Doncaster.

March the 13th. Hopton Castle in Shropshire taken by Col. Woodhouse for His Majesty.

March the 18th. Wardour Castle in Wiltshire after long siege was taken by Sir Francis Dodington for His Majesty.

March the 22d. Newarke, after three weeks siege was happily relieved by his Highness Prince Rupert; in which action the Rebels forces there were totally defeated, all their Arms and Ammunition consisting of 4000 Musquets, 11 pieces of brass Ordnance, 2 Mortar pieces, and about 50 barrels of Powder, &c. were taken. And soon after, Lincoln, Sleeford, and Gainsborough were quitted by the Rebels, and many pieces of Ordnance, with good store of Arms left behind them.

March the 23d. Sturton Castle in Staffordshire rendred to Sir Gilbert Gerard, Governour of Worcester for His Majesty.

March the 24th. The Scots being much provoked [Page] to come out of Sunderland, came to Bowdon-hill, whence with great loss they were forced back into their Trenches, but next morning they came with many of their horse and foot on the Marquess of Newcastles Rear, and had so disordered it, that the whole Army was endangered, but Sir Charles Lucas, who was then in the right Wing, hasted to the Rear, and with his own Regiment fell upon the Rebels Lanciers and routed them, which made the rest fly from pursuing their advantage.

March the 24th. Apley house in Shropshire, Garrisoned by the Rebels, was taken by His Majesties Forces, commanded by Col. Ellis.

April the 3d. Longford house in Shropshire rendred to his Highness Prince Rupert, wherein was taken 100 Musquets, &c. and about the same time, Tongue-castle in the same County was likewise surrendred to his Highness.

April the 13th. The Rebels from Gloucester assaulted Newent (then a Garrison commanded by Colonel Mynne) but were gallantly repulsed and pursued, leaving behind them two pieces of their Cannon, and many dead bodies before the Works.

April the 17th. The Queens Majesty began her Journey from Oxford into the West.

April the 17th. Brampton Bryan in Herefordshire (a Castle of Sir Robert Harleys) after three weeks siege, and the loss of 7 or 8 men, summoned and rendred (at mercy only) to Sir Michael Woodhouse, wherein was taken 67 men, 100 Arms, two Barrels of Powder, some Plate, and a whole years provision.

April the 17th. Dunfreize in Scotland taken in by the Marquess of Montross, &c. for His Majesty, [Page] with all the Ordnance, Arms, and Ammunition.

April the 22d. Stutcombe in Dorsetshire assaulted and entred by the force of his Highness Prince Maurice, wherein was taken 5 Captains, and 16 other Officers, 114 Soldiers, with all their Arms, 6 Colours, one piece of Cannon, and two Murtherers, good store of Ammunition, and one Seditious Lecturer.

May the 6th. His Majesties Forces in Latham house in Lancashire made, amongst divers others, a most remarkable sally; wherein they killed many of the besiegers in their trenches, and continued the execution to the park side, and slew near 300 Rebels, took 3 great pieces of Ordnance, having since the 10. of April then last taken 7 of their Cannon, besides one Mortar-piece, many Colours, and killed above 600 of them.

May the 12th. The Rebels from Plymouth assaulting Mount-Edgcombe house in Cornwal (which was only defended by thirty Musquettiers) were bravely repulsed and eighty of them killed in the place.

May the 24th. The Rebels having formed 2. Armies, (consisting for the most part of the London Trained-bands and Auxiliaries under the command of the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller) this day joyned about Blewbury in Berkeshire, and bent their course towards Abingdon.

May the 25th. Prince Rupert assaulted and took Stopford, a strong Garrison of the Rebels in Cheshire, together with all their Cannon, most of their Arms and Ammunition, and about 800 of them Prisoners. Hereupon Latham house after at least 18 weeks siege, was timely relieved by [Page] his Highness Prince Ruperts approch into those parts.

May the 28th. His Highness Prince Rupert summoned Bolton, (the Geneva of Lancashire as the Brethren call it, the first Town in that County and consequently in England, that put in execution the Militia, as the readiest means to ruin the Kingdom. But they out of a zealous confidince Hanged one of the Princes Captains which they had not long before taken Prisoner, whereupon the Prince stormed the Town, and in the two attempt took it, wherein were kill'd at least 800 Rebels, 600 Prisoners taken, with all their Colours, Ordnance, Arms, and Ammunition. The justice of which act was foreseen by Mr. Booker, who about this time had noted it in his Almanack thus, Authores dissentionum & sanguinis profusionum, absque dubio mercede sua mulctabuntur.

May the 29th. The Rebels Armies severed, The Earl of Essex marching from Abingdon to Islip, with purpose to distress Ozford on the North part, as Waller at Abingdon on the South part.

May the 30th. The Rebels attempted to cross the River Charwell at Gosworth-bridge, but were gallantly repulsed by a small party of His Majesties Forces that had the guard of that pass.

May the 31st. Waller attemping to pass Isis at Newbridg, and being then repulsed, retired to Abingdon, where he, to revenge himself, demolished Abingdon Cross, defaced the Church, burnt all the Tables and Chess-boards in Abingdon, and Plundered most of the People of their goods.

June the 1st. The Rebels did attempt in several places at once, to cross the river Charwell, but could speed at none, being still beaten off with great loss, and particularly at Gosworth-bridg, where they lost above 100 men.

[Page] June the 3d. His Majesty perceiving the Rebels intention to besiege Oxford, left a sufficient strength for defence thereof, and (to disburthen the City of unnecessary force,) marched with the rest of his Army this evening towards Worcester.

June the 4th. the Earl of Essex perceiving the Kings Forces drawn away, passed Charwell with his Army, and hearing of His Majesties departure from Oxford, hastned after, but upon Campsfield near Woodstock there fell upon his Army such a prodigious and violent storm of hail and rain, accompanied with such terrible thunder and lightening for the space of two hours, that some of them took occasion to say, that the Conjurers at Oxford had engaged all their Familiars to work them a despight, there being some hail as big as Nutmegs. Others more nearly touched with an apprehension of the wickedness of their actions, confessed, that they suffered the violence of Heaven. No such storm being seen at Oxford, nor in any the adjacent Villages. But the besotted Rebels contemning this presage from Heaven, went on to their own ruin.

June the 5th. The Earl of Essex went this day as far as Chipping-Norton after the King.

June the 6th. But unwilling to lose his labour any longer, returned to Burford, where he deputed Sir William Waller to proceed in the adventure of King-catching, that himself might have the sole honour of taking in Lestithiell.

June the 11th. Dudley Castle (which had been gallantly defended by Lieutenant Col. Beaumont for three weeks before) was relieved, and the siege raised by His Majesties Forces sent from Worcester, who took two Colours of the Rebels horse, two [Page] Majors of Foot, two Captains, three Lieutenants, kill'd about 100 in the fight, and took above 50 common Soldiers Prisoners, without any considerable loss on His Majesties part.

June the 12th. Col. Gage with some forces from Oxford took in Borstall house, a Garrison of the Rebels in Buckinghamshire.

June the 18th. His Majesty in Worcestershire having intelligence that the Rebels Armies were now severed, (whilst Sir William Waller to get before the King ran into Staffordshire) resolved to reinforce himself with the Regiments left at Oxford, and encounter Sir William, to which end he returned and came this day to Witney.

June the 20th. His Highness Prince Rupert being then in Lancashire clearing the County, Colonel Shuttleworth with 400 Rebels came to beat up some of his quarters, and fell in at Blackburne. Where that vigilant Commander Sir Charles Lucas was so ready for him, that he killed and took above 100 of the Rebels, making the rest run for their lives.

June the 22d. Sir William Waller having run himself out of breath, gave over the pursuit of the King, (the rather for that His Majesty was provided for him.) Whereupon His Majesty directed his march towards the Rebels associated Counties, and came this night to Buckingham, where he received the joyful newes of His Queens safe delivery of the Princess Henrietta, who was born at Exeter the 16th. of this month.

June the 25th. Sir Charles Lucas hearing Colonel Shuttleworth had gathered 300 horse and 100 Dragoons at Colne on the Borders of Yoreshire, marched to him, and fell on with such skill and courage that [Page] he totally routed all the Rebels both horse and Dragoons, had execution for three miles, wounded Shuttleworth himself, who with very few others escaped; all the rest Sir Charles killed and took, and brought their Colours with the Prisoners to Prince Rupert.

June the 26th. Waller to recruit his weary Army from the Garrisons of Gloucester, Warwick, Coventry, Northampton, and Kenelmworth-castle, had this day a rendezvouz in Keinton field, whereof the King having notice turned his march towards him, and quartered this night at Brackley.

June the 28th. This day the King coming before Banbury, found Waller drawn up in Battalia Westward from the Town, on the side of Crouch hill, taking advantage of the hills, bogs, and ditches.

June the 29th. His Majesty discerning that Waller would not come into the plain, nor could be assaulted as he lay but with much disadvantage, removed somewhat Northwards, to see if thereby he could draw him from his station, which succeeded accordingly, for Waller likewise advanced on the other side the River, whereupon the King at Cropready marched further off the River, leaving the Bridg in hope to draw them over, which Waller greedily apprehending as an advantage, put over 2000 horse and a great body of foot, with 14 pieces of Cannon. The Rebels being thus divided were immediately charged by the Kings Rear, the brave Earl of Clevelands horse, and Sir Bernard Astleys foot, routing all that had past the Bridg whilst the Earl of Northampton charged the rest of the Rebels horse that were fording over: In this fight were slain at least 300 Rebels, and many of them taken Prisoners with [Page] their 14 pieces; there were slain on His Majesties part two gallant Knights, Sir William Butler and Sir William Clarke, and not above 14 common Soldiers besides, and so much for Wallers Army this Summer.

July the 3d. The King having thus defeated one of the Rebels Armies bent Westwards after the other, and came this day to Evesham to refresh his Soldiers after their hard duty, from whence he sent to Westminster his message for Peace of the 4th. of July.

In the beginning of this month his Highness Prince Rupert marched out of Lancashire with a considerable Army for the relief of Yorke, which had been two months besieged by an aggregate body of Rebels, consisting of the Earl of Manchesters Army, the Lord Fairfax, and the Rebellious Scots under command of Lesley. The Prince had no sooner relieved Yorke, but drew forth after the Rebels, and in Marstone Moore there began a terrible fight, wherein his Highness had at first much the better, took the Rebels Ordnance, and many of them Prisoners insomuch that Lesley and the Lord Fairfax thinking all had been lost, fled many miles from the place where the Battel was fought, and never came to the remainder of their Armies till two days after the fight, but in conclusion (whether by fate which attends the event of War, or by neglect I know not) the fortune of the day turned, and the Rebels recovered their lost Ordnance and took some of the Princes baggage, and with it Sir Charles Lucas, Col. Porter, and Col. Tillier Prisoners. In this Battel were slain on His Majesties part, the Lord Cary, Sir Thomas Metham, Col. Ewer, Col. Townley, with some others of note, and about 1500 [Page] common Soldiers. On the Rebels part were slain Sir Charles Fairfax (younger son to the Lord Fairfax) with many other of their Commanders, and at least 3000 common Soldiers.

This done, the Rebels rally, and sit down again before Yorke, which was valiantly defended for three weeks after by Sir Tho. Glenham, and then delivered upon honourable conditions, to march away with Arms, Bag and Baggage, which conditions were most persidiously broken by the Rebels.

July the 6th. The Lord Hopton routed 350 of the Rebels near Warmister, which were pursued above 20 miles by Sir Francis Dodington.

July the 15th. The King came to Bath with his Army, which day the Queens Majesty arrived safe at Brest in Britanny, notwithstanding 50 great shot made at her by Batty, the Rebels Vice-Admiral.

July the 23d. The King made His speech to the Summersetshire men on Kings-moore, who came in to His Majesties assistance very cheerfully.

July the 31st. Middleton the Scot furiously assaulted Denington Castle, and received a most shameful repulse, leaving dead behind him one Col. eight Captains, one Sergeant Major, with many inferiour Officers, and Soldiers.

August the 1st. His Majesty with his Army passed into Cornwal over Tamar at Polton bridg in pursuit of the Earl of Essex whom he had now chased through Devonshire.

August the 25th. The King gained from the Rebels the Castle of Lestithiel, (where their Army lay strongly encamped) and in it took Col. Butler, and some others Prisoners.

[Page] August the 30th. The Rebels horse in the night passed between His Majesties Quarters and fled towards Plymouth.

August the 31st. The Rebels Foot making towards Foy were beaten from five pieces of their Ordnance.

September the 2d. The Rebels being deserted by their General the Earl of Essex, (who with the Lord Roberts fled to Plymouth in a Cock-boat the night past,) this day yeilded up to His Majesty all their Train of Artillery, viz. 49 pieces of fair brass Ordnance, 200 and odd barrels of Gunpowder, with match, ball, &c. proportionable, above 700 Carriages, and betwixt eight and 9000 Arms. His Majesty out of his wonted Clemency granting them their lives.

September the 5th. His Majesty having obtained so compleat a victory over the Rebels, did (as formerly after the defeat of Waller) from Tavestock send his second message of Peace to Wistminster.

In the beginning of this month His Majesties forces in Scotland under the command of his Excellency James Lord Marquess of Montrosse, and General Major Mackdonald (who not long before landed in that Kingdom with 1000 Irish) obtained a great victory over the Rebels there upon Newbigging Moore, near S. Johns Town, where were kill'd above 1200 Rebels, among which was the Laird of Rires and some others of note, and seven brass Pieces taken; this done, His Majesties forces pursued them to S. Johns Town and took it, and therein and in the battel took 2000 of the Rebels Prisoners, with two pieces of Ordnance more, all their Arms, Ammunition, and Baggage, and this done [Page] with the loss of not above 60 men on His Majesties part. The Rebels in this battel were commanded by the Earl of Tullibairne, the Lord Drummond, the Lord Elcho, and Sir James Scot of Rossy, their word was Jesus, no Quarter.

And within a fortnight after this success, his Excellency the Marquess of Montrosse and Major Gen. Mackdonald obtained a second victory over another body of Rebels in that Kingdom commanded by the Lord Forbes, Burly and others near Aberdeen, wherein the Marquess kill'd and took Prisoners at least 1000 with three pieces of Cannon, and all their baggage, without any considerable loss on His Majesties part; among the Prisoners taken by the Marquess, there was Sir William Forbes of Craigyvar, and John Forbes of Boynly with others of note: And soon after the Marquess took the Town of Aberdeen, with all the Ordnance, Ammunition and Arms, and many of the fugitive Rebels therein.

September the 11th. The Garrison of Basing (after 18 weeks siege wherein the Rebels lost many hundreds of their men,) was relieved from Oxford by Sir Henry Gage.

Septemb. the 12th. Ilfercombe in Devonshire rendered to General Goring for His Majesty.

September the 17th. Barnstaple in Devonshire (that had revolted upon the Earl of Essex this approach) submitted to His Majesty, and obtained from him their second pardon.

September the 23d. Col. John Fines (having besieged the Castle of Banbury above a month before) hired his men to storm it in five places, in all which they were shamefully beaten off with great loss.

[Page] October the 7th. in the night Sir Richard Greenvile took the Town of Saltash by storming, wherein 400 Rebels were kill'd, and at least 300 taken Prisoners with their Arms, this Town had been quitted by His Majesties forces not long before without any considerable loss.

October the 25th. The Earl of Northampton and Sir Henry Gage raised the siege of Banbury Castle, fell upon Col. John Fines his flying Troops, slew about 60 of them, took above 100 Prisoners, with about 200 horses, one piece of Ordnance, all their Ammunition, and many Arms.

October the 27th. The Rebels having thus lost two of their Armies, called the third (under the Earl of Manchesters command) out of the Associated Counties, and forced other Regiments out of London to withstand the King, who was now advanced to Newberry with part of his Army, where the Rebels apprehending a great advantage in regard that the rest of His Majesties forces were not come up, fell upon His Majesties quarters, but were beaten off, with the slaughter of above 1000 of their men, whereof Major Urrey with some other of their prime Commanders were part, with the loss of Sir Anthony St. Leager, and less than 100 others on His Majesties side, who had the pillage of the field; here the valiant Earl of Cleveland was casually taken Prisoner, having his horse first kill'd under him.

November the 6th. His Majesty had his rendezvouz on Bullington-green, betwixt Wallingford and Oxford.

November the 9th. His Army came to Dennington Castle, which since His Majesties marching thence, had been again besieged by the Rebels, and raised [Page] the siege, the Rebels not daring to withstand his Army.

November the 17th. The King having some days expected the Rebels, who it seems were loth to hazard the last stake, advanced towards them to Hungerford, upon whose approach, the Rebels left the field. Whereupon His Majesty sent Sir Henry Gage with a party to supply the wants ef Basing, that had been besieged all this Summer by five Colonels and their Regiments, but the Rebels had raised the siege before his approach.

November the 19th. Monmouth that had lately been betrayed by Kirle, was bravely regained by the Lord Herbert and Ragland, wherein was taken the Rebels whole Committee, 14 pieces of Ordnance, with store of Arms and Ammunition, 30 Officers and common Soldiers proportionable, whereby South-Wales is much secured.

November the 23d. The King having thus victoriously, defeated two of their Armies and driven away the third, came to Oxford to entertain an overture of Peace, (certain Propositions being the same day come thither from London) having disposed of his Army to their Winter Quarters.

November the 26th. A Vote passed by the members of the House of Commons at Westminster for the utter abolishing and taking away of the Book of Common-Prayer, with intention to set up a new device to be called a Directory in its room.

December the 13th. His Majesty (out of his wonted desire of Peace) sent the Duke of Richmond and Earl of Southampton to the Houses of Parliament at Westminster for a Treaty, as the best expedient for Peace.

[Page]About the middle of this month Helmsley Castle in Yorkeshire, (which had been gallantly defended during 16 weeks siege by Capt. Jordan Crosland, and some others) was delivered up to the Rebels under command of the Lord Fairfax, upon honourable conditions to march away, the Governour and Officers with their horses and Arms, the rest without Arms. In this siege the Defendants (amongst others) made one remarkable salley wherein they took Sergeant Major General Forbs a Scot Prisoner with divers others, here did Sir T. Fairfax also receive a shot in the Shoulder from the Castle.

December the 22d. Colonel Eyre with some horse from Newarke, took two Troops of horse at Upton belonging to the Rebels of Nottingham, brought the Men, Colours, Horses, and Arms, all safe to Newarke.

December the 23d. Sir Alexander Carew was beheaded on Tower-hill by Martial Law, for intending to deliver up the Island at Plymouth to His Majesty; he was observed to be most violent against His Majesty in the beginning of this Rebellion, but it should seem he had of late some disposition to be a convert, which made his fellow Members think fit to dispatch him to another World.

December the 24. Sir William Vaughan Governour of Shrawarden Castle for His Majesty, fell on a party of Rebels at Welch Poole cammanded by Sir John Price, kill'd some, wounded others, took 47 Prisoners, 64 horse and many Arms.

December the 28th. A party of the Lord Gorings Forces took Master Blakes house at Pinnel near Calne in Wiltshire, and in it 59 Rebels, but more Arms.

[Page] December the 31st. The Members at Westminster Voted Sir Thomas Fairfax to be their new General, cashiering the Earl of Essex, with whom they had formerly sworn to live and die.

January the 1st. Young Hotham was beheaded on Tower-hill, and Sir John Hotham his Father the morrow after, both by Martial Law. Here the Reader may take notice of a special mark of Gods judgment, for (the 23 April 1642.) when old Hotham denied His Majesty admittance into Hull, he held up his hands and prayed God never to prosper him or hiis posterity if he were not His Majesties Loyal Subject: And now see both Father and Son adjudged by their fellow Members, and condemned by their own beloved Marshal Law, for intending to deliver up Hull to His Majesty.

The same first of January, the Lord Astley took Lypyate House in Gloucestershire, and in it 45 Prisoners with all their Arms, Victuals and Ammunition.

Soon after this, Sir Marmaduke Langdale totally routed Col. Ludlowes Regiment of horse at Salisbury, took five Rebel-Captains Prisoners, besides under-Officers, and 80 common Soldiers, 150 Horse and Arms, with there Colours, Ludlow himself hardly escaping.

January the 10th. The Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was beheaded on Tower-hill. It would be too long here (where we aim at brevity) to set down the particulars of his imprisonments, the preposterous proceedings against him in his Trial, and his pious magnanimity at the time of his death, his Sermon on the Scaffold (whereof here follows a true copy) will satisfie the World that he died innocently, and (which is more) that His Majesty [Page] hath been unjustly accused of an inclination to Popery.

§

Good People,

THis is an uncomfortable time to Preach, yet I shall begin with a Text of Scripture, Heb. 12.2. Let us run with patience that race which is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the Cross, despising the shame, and it set down at the right hand of the Throne of God.

I have been long in my Race, and how I have looked to Jesus the author and finisher of my Faith, He best knows: I am now come to the end of my Race, and here I find the Cross, a death of shame; but the shame must be despised, or no coming to the right hand of God; Jesus despised the shame for me, and God forbid but I should despise the shame for Him; I am going apace (as you see) towards the Red-Sea, and my feet are now upon the very brink of it; an Argument, I hope, that God is bringing me into the Land of promise, for that was the way through which he led his People: But before they came to it, He instituted a Passeover for them, a Lamb it was, but it must be eaten with sour Herbs, I shall obey, and labour to digest the sour Herbs, as well as the Lambe. And I shall remember it is the Lords Passeover; I shall not think of the Herbs, nor be angry with the hand which gathereth them; but look up only to him who instituted that, and governs these; For men can have no more power over me than what is given them from above. I am not in love with this passage, through the Red-Sea, for I have the weakness and infirmities of flesh and blood plentifully in me; And I have prayed with my Saviour, ut transiret [Page]Calix iste, that this Cup of red Wine might pass from me: But if not, Gods will (not mine) be done; and I shall most willingly drink of this Cup as deep as he pleases, and enter this Sea, yea and pass through it, in the way that he shall lead me.

But I would have it remembred (Good People) that when Gods Servants were in this boisterous Sea, and Aaron among them, the Aegyptians which persecuted them (and did in a manner drive them into that Sea) were drowned in the same Waters, while they were in pursuit of them; I know my God whom I serve, is as able to deliver me from this Sea of Blood, as he was to deliver the three Children from the Furnace, and (I most humbly thank my Saviour for it) my Resolution is now, as theirs was then; They would not worship the Image the King had set up, nor will I the imaginations which the People are setting up; nor will I forsake the Temple and the truth of God, to follow the bleating of Jereboams Calf in Dan and in Bethel. And as for this People, they are at this day miserably misled, (God of his mercy open their Eyes that they may see the right way) for at this day the Blind lead the Blind, and if they go on, both will certainly fall into the ditch. For my self, I am (and acknowledg it in all humility) a most grievous sinner many ways, by thought, word, and deed, and I cannot doubt, but that God hath mercy in store for me (a poor penitent) as well as for other sinners, I have now upon this sad occasion, ransacked every corner of my Heart, and yet (I thank God) I have not found (among the many) any onesin which deserves death by any known Law of this Kingdom; And yet hereby I charge nothing upon my Judges; for if they proceed upon proofe (by valuable witnesses) I or any other innocent, [Page] may by justly condemned; And (I thank God) though the weight of the sentence lye heavy upon me, I am as quiet within, as ever I was in my life. And though I am not only the first Arch-Bishop, but the first man that ever died by an Ordinance of Parliament, yet some of my Predecessors have gone this way, though not by this means; For Elphegus was hurried away and lost his head by the Danes; and Simon Sudbury in the fury of Wat Tyler and his fellows; Before these, S. John Baptist had his head danced off by a leud Woman; and S. Cyprian Arch-Bishop of Carthage, submitted his head to a persecuting Sword. Many examples (great and good) and they teach me patience; for I hope my Cause in Heaven will look of another dye, than the colour that is put upon it here. And some comfort it is to me, not only that I go the way of these great men in their several Generations, but also that my Charge (as foul as 'tis made) looks like that of the Jews against S. Paul, (Acts 25.3.) For he was accused for the Law and the Temple, i. e. Religion; And like that of S. Stephen (Acts 6.14.) for breaking the Ordinances which Moses gave, i. e. Law and Religion, the holy place and the Temple (vers. 13.) But you will say, do I then compare my self with the integrity of S. Paul and Stephen? No, far be that from me; I only raise a comfort to my self, that these great Saints and Servants of God were laid at in their times, as I am now. And it is memorable, that S. Paul who helped on this Accusation against S. Stephen, did after fall under the very same himself. Yea, but here is a great clamour that I would have brought in Popery; I shall answer that more fully by and by; In the mean time you know what the Pharisees said against [Page] Christ himself, If we let him alone, all men will believe in him, Et venient Romani, and the Romans will come, and take away both our Place and Nation. Here was a causeless Cry against Christ that the Romans will come; And see how just the judgment of God was; they crucified Christ for fear lest the Romans should come, and his death was it which brought in the Romans upon them, God punishing them with that which they most feared: and I pray God this clamour of Venient Romani (of which I have given no cause) help not to bring them in; for the Pope never had such a Harvest in England since the Reformation, as he hath now upon the Sects and Divisions that are amongst us. In the mean time, by Honour and dishonour, by good report, and evil report, as a deceiver and yet true, am I passing through this World, 2 Cor. 6.8. [...] Some particulars also I think it not amiss to speak of.

And first, this I shall be bold to speak of the King our gracious Sovereign; He hath been much traduced also for bringing in of Popery; but on my Conscience (of which I shall give God a very present account) I know Him to be as free from this charge, as any man living; and I hold Him to be as found a Protestant (according to the Religion by Law established) as any man in this Kingdom; And that he will venture His life as far, and as freely for it; and I think I do, or should know, both His affection to Religion, and his grounds for it, as fully as any man in England.

The second particular is concerning this great and Populous City, (which God bless) Here hath been of late, a fashion taken up, to gather hands, and then go to the, Great Court of this Kingdom, (the Parliament) and clamour for Justice, as if that [Page] great and wise Court, before whom the Causes come, (which are unknown to the many) could not, or would not do Justice, but at their appointment. A way, which may endanger many an Innocent man, and pluck his blood upon their own heads, and perhaps upon the Cities also: And this hath been lately practised against my self; The Magistrates standing still, and suffering them openly to proceed from Parish to Parish without check; God forgive the setters of this (with all my heart I beg it) but many well meaning People are caught by it. In S. Stephens case, when nothing else would serve, they stirred up the People against him; and Herod went the same way, when he had kill'd S. James, yet he would not venture upon S. Peter, till he found how the other pleased the People. But take heed of having your hands full of blood, for there is a time (best known to himself) when God (above other sins) makes Inquisition for blood, and when that Inquisition is on foot, the Psalmist tells us, That God remembers (but that is not all) He remembers and forgets not the complaint of the poor, that is, whose blood is shed by oppression, verse 9. take heed of this, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, but then especially, when he is making Inquisition for blood; And (with my Prayers to avert it) I do heartily desire this City to remember the Prophesie that is expressed, Jer. 26.14.15. As for me, behold I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon your selves, and upon this City, and upon the Inhabitants thereof, &c.

The third particular is the poor Church of England. It hath flourished and been a shelter to other [Page] neighbouring Churches, when storms have driven upon them. But, alas, now it is in a storm it self, and God only knows whether, or how it shall get out; and (which is worse than a storm from without) it is become like an Oak cleft to shivers with wedges made out of its own body, and at every cleft prophaneness and Irreligion is entering in▪ while as Prosper spakes (in his second Book De vitae contemptu cap. 4.) Men that introduce prophaness are cloaked over with the name Religionis Imaginariae, of Imaginary Religion; for we have lost the Substance and dwell too much in Opinion, and that Church which all the Jesuits machinations could not ruin, is fallen into danger by her own.

The last particular (for I am not willing to be too long) is my self; I was born and baptized in the bosom of the Church of England established by Law; in that profession I have ever since lived, and in that I come now to dye; This is no time to dissemble with God, least of all in matter of Religion; and therefore I desire it may be remembred, I have always lived in the Protestant Religion, established in England, and in that I now come to dye. What clamours and slanders I have endured for labouring to keep an Uniformity in the external service of God, according to the Doctrin and Discipline of this Church, all men know, and I have abundantly felt.

Now at last I am accused of High Treason in Parliament: a crime which my Soul ever abhorred; this Treason was charged to consist of these two parts, An endeavour to subvert the Laws of the Land, and a like Endeavour to overthrow the true Protestant Religion estab [...]shed by Law. Besides my Answers to the several Charges, I protested my innocency in [Page] both Houses. It was said, Prisoners protestations at the Bar must not be taken. I can bring no witness of my heart and the intentions thereof; therefore I must come to my Protestation, not at the Bar, but my Protestation at this hour and instant of my death; in which I hope all men will be such charitable Christians, as not to think I would dye and dissemble, being instantly to give God an account for the truth of it: I do therefore here in the presence of God, and his holy Angels, take it upon my death, That I never endeavoured the subversion either of Law or Religion; and I desire you all to remember this Protest of mine concerning mine innocency, in these, and from all Treasons whatsoever. I have been accused likewise as an Enemy to Parliaments: No, I understand them and the benefit that comes by them too well to be so; But I did mislike the misgovernments of some Parliaments many ways, and I had good reason for it; for Corruptio optimi est pessima, there is no corruption in the World so bad, as that which is of the best thing in it self: for the better the thing is in nature, the worse it is, corupted. And that being the highest Court, over which no other hath jurisdiction, when tis mis-informed or misgoverned, the Subject is left without all remedy. But I have done, I forgive all the World, all and every of those bitter Enemies which have persecuted me, and humbly desire to be forgiven of God first, and then of every man, whether I have offended him or not, if he do but conceive that I have. Lord do thou forgive me, and I beg forgiveness of him, And so I heartily desire you to joyn in Prayer with me.

[Page] O Eternal God and merciful Father, look down upon me in mercy, in the riches and fulness of all thy mercies look upon me; but not till thou hast nailed my sins to the Cross of Christ, not till thou hast bathed me in the blood of Christ, not till I have hid my self in the wounds of Christ: that so the punishment due unto my sins may pass over me. And since thou art pleased to try me to the uttermost, I humbly beseech thee give me now in this great instant, full patience, proportionable comfort, and a heart ready to dye for thy honour, the Kings happiness, and this Churches preservation. And my zeal to these (far from Arrogancy be it spoken) is all the sin (human frailties excepted, and all incidents thereto) which is yet known to me in this particular for which I now come to suffer; I say in this particular of Treason; but otherwise my sins are many and great: Lord pardon them all, and those especially (what ever they are) which have drawn down this present judgment upon me: and when thou hast given me strength to bear it, do with me as seems best in thine own eyes: and carry me through death that I may look upon it in what visage soever it shall appear to me, Amen. And that there may be a stop of this issue of blood, in this more than miserable Kingdom, (I shall desire that I may pray for the People too, as well as for my self) O Lord, I beseech thee, give grace of repentance to all Blood-thirsty People; but if they will not repent, O Lord confound all their devices, defeat and frustrate all their designs and endeavours upon them, which are or shall be contrary to the Glory of thy great Name, the truth and sincerity of Religion, the establishment of the King and his posterity after him in their just rights and Priviledges, the honour and conservation of Parliaments in their just power, the preservation of this poor Church in her truth, peace, and[Page]patrimony, and the settlement of this distracted and distressed People under their ancient Laws, and in their native Liberties. And when thou hast done-all this in meer mercy for them, O Lord, fill their hearts with thankfulness, and with Religious dutiful obedience to thee and thy Commandments all their days: So Amen, Lord Jesus Amen, and receive my Soul into thy Bosom Amen. Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.

January the 11th. Sir Henry Gage Governour of Oxford marched thence with a party of horse and foot towards Abingdon with intention to raise a Fort at Cullom bridg, but Brown (having treacherous notice of the design) was prepared accordingly, which begat a hot skirmish, wherein the Rebels lost Major Bradbury, and at least 30 others slain, and on His Majesties part not above 7 common Soldiers; but by great misfortune Sir Henry Gage himself marching in the front of his men did here receive a fatalshot, whereof within few hours after he dyed. His Body was afterwards interred at Oxford with funebrious exequies and solemnities answerable to his merits; who having done His Majesty special service, was (whilst living) generally beloved, and dead is still universally lamented. His daily refreshed memory makes me trespass on the Readers patience with this

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ELEGY Upon the never-enough lamented Death of Sir HENRY GAGE, the most desired Governour of OXFORD.

SO Titus called was, The Worlds delight,

And straight-way dy'd; The envious Sisters spight

Still the great favourite: The darling head

Unto the Fates is always forfeited.

Our Life's a Chase, where (tho the whole Herd fly)

The goodlyest Deer is singled out to dye.

And as in Beasts, the fattest ever bleeds:

So amongst men, he that doth bravest deeds.

He might have liv'd, had but a Coward fear

Kept him securely sculking in the rear:

Or like some sucking Colonel, whose edg

Durst not advance a foot from a thick hedg:

Or like the wary Skippon, had so sure

A suit of Arms, he might (besieg'd) endure:

Or like the politick Lords, of different skill,

Who thought a Saw-pit safer, or a Hill;

Whose valour in two Organs too did lye

Distinct; the ones in's ear, th'others in his eye.

Puppets of War! Thy name shall be divine,

And happily augment the number Nine,

But that the Heroes, and the Muses strive

[Page] To own thee dead, who wert them all, alive.

Such an exact composure was in thee,

Neither exceeding Mars, nor Mercury.

Twas just, tho hard, thou shouldst dye Governour

Of th' Kings chief Fort of Learning, and of War.

Thy death was truly for thy Garrison,

Thou dy'dst projecting her Redemption.

What unto Basing twice (successeful spirit)

Was done, th'hast effected here in merit.

The Bridg was broken down: The Fort alone

GAGE was himself, the first and the last stone.

Go burn thy Faggots Brown; and grieve thy Rage

Lets thee out-live the gentle grasp of GAGE.

And when thou read'st in thy Britanicus

The boasted story of his death, say thus:

The Valour I have shewn in this, was Crime,

And GAGES Death will brand me to all Time.

In this month a fair new Ship called the John of London belonging to the East-India Merchants, was brought to Bristol (by the Loyalty of Capt. Mucknell and the rest of the Officers and Mariners of the Ship) for His Majesties service, wherein were 26 pieces of Ordnance mounted, 17000. l. in Mony, besides some other good Commodities. For which good service the said Captain Mucknell had the honour to be the first Knight that ever the Prince of Wales made.

And within a few days after another Ship called the Fame of London, (of burthen 450 Tuns, with 28 pieces of Ordnance mounted) was by Tempest forced into Dartmouth, where she was seised on for His Majesties service, as lawful prize, being bound for Dover or London. The Ship had been abroad 4 years, and was now returning homewards from [Page] the West-Indies, laden with Bullion, Oyl, Couchaneille, and other rich Commodities, to the value of 40000l. at least.

January the 30th. The Treaty began at Uxbridg, wherein the candour of His Majesties reall intentions and desires of Peace was very perspicuous: For His Majesty did not only Arm his Commissioners or any ten of them with a very large and powerful Commission to treat of, conclude and settle a firm Peace in all His Dominions, but did also by Proclamation appoint a solemn Fast on the 5th. day of February then next for a blessing on that Treaty, with a Form of Common-Prayer set forth by His Majesties special Command to be used in all Churhes and Chappels within this Kingdom. One of which Prayers drawn by His, Majesties special direction and dictate, I here afford the Reader.

The Prayer

O Most merciful Father, Lord God of Peace and Truth, we a People sorely afflicted by the scourge of an unnatural War, do here earnestly beseech Thee, to command a Blessing from Heaven upon this present Treaty, begun for the establishment of an happy Peace. Soften the most obduarte hearts with a true Christian desire of saving those mens blood, for whom Christ himself hath shed His. Or if the guilt our great sins cause this Treaty to break off in vain, Lord let the Truth clearly appear, who those men are, which under pretence of the Publick good do pursue their own private ends; that this People may be no longer so blindly miserable, as not to see, at least in this their Day, the things that belong unto their Peace. Grant this gracious God, for his sake who is our Peace it self, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[Page] February the 9th. Sir Walter Hastings Governour of Portland Castle for His Majesty, took the great Fort at Weymouth, and within two day after Sir Lewis Dives took the middle Fort and Town of Weymouth, and in a skirmish there slew Major Sydenham (a forward Rebel) with some others. This Town and Forts were not many days held by His Majesties Forces, but were as unfortunatey lost, as happily gained.

Febru [...]ry the 15th. Rowdon house neer Chippenham in Wiltshire (after 9 days siege) was taken by His Majesties Forces, and in it 120 good Horse, above 200 Foot, with their Arms and provisions, Col. Stevens the Mock-sheriff of Gloucestershire, six Captains, and above 20 inferiour Officers, all at mercy.

February the 20th. The Lord Macguire, an Irish Baron, was executed by the common hangman at Tyburn by command of the Members at Westminster. In the History of which execution recorded in many of their own Pamphlets written then and upon that subject, the Reader may observe two Questions asked by Mr. Gibbs, one of the Sheriffs of London, and answered by that Lord the very instant before his death; The first was, Whether he knew of any Commission the King had granted to the Irish Rebels, for the commotion they had raised in their Country? he answered, That he never knew nor heard of any. The second was, Whether there was not some agreement made by the Irish Commissioners, before the Rebellion first brake out with the Recusants of England? He answered, That to his knowledg, there was never an one in England, either Catholick or Protestant, that knew of it, but one, and he was an Irish man, and a Protestant, and he came to[Page]the knowledg of it but by chance, not at he was an actor in it.

Out of which, and out of that delivered by the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury on the Scaffold immediately before his death, the World may evidently see His Majestly irrefragably cleared, by two acts of the Rebels own cruelty, from two of the most scandalous aspersions, by which the malice of these forging Rebels hath from time to time endeavcured to make His sacred Majesty odious to His People. Salutem ex inimicis nostris, may the King well say, seeing his Enemies actions turned to his justification, quite contrary to their intendments. The first was an imagined inclination in His Majesty to Popery; The second, a pretended commissionating of the Irish Rebellion. In the first, the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury. In this, the Lord Macguire, both at their very dying hours, have rendred His Majesty as innocent, as the Rebels intended him odious. I say innocent, because we know the worst of Rebels cannot but credit those Persons especially testifying at such time when they were immediately after to give an account of all their actions to the knower of all hearts. Nor can any one believe, but the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury (who was daily conversant with His Majesty in matters of Religion) must needs know the very depth of his heart therein; And the Lord Macguire (who was privy to the first motion of the Irish Rebellion) must likewise of necessity have known of the Kings Commission, if any such thing had been.

February the 22d. The Treaty at Uxbridg, was broken up, though His Majesty sent a particular message, and his Commissioners did earnestly desire that the same might be continued. In this [Page] Treaty His Majesties Commissioners condescended much, but those of Westminster would abate nothing of the rigour of their first unheard-of Propositions, which was the cause the Treaty took no better effect.

February the 22d. The Town of Shrewsbury was (by treachery in the night) delivered to Col. Mitton the Rebellious Governour of Wem. Here you may see the Rebels Master-piece, in hatching this treacherous Plot in the time of Treaty, wherein they used the name of Peace, only as a masque for their designs, but intended nothing less. In this Town the Rebels did most barbarously execute 13 of His Majesties Soldiers, which his Highness Prince Rupert did soon after justly requite, (lege talionis) by hanging up a like number of theirs, which he had taken without Quarter given.

February the 25th. Sir Marmaduke Langdale routed a great Body of Rebels consisting of at least 1200 Horse and Dragoons, commanded by Col. Rossiter, a Scot, neer Melton Mowbray, in Leicestershire, kill'd above 30 of them, too 46 Prisoners, with four Colours of horse, with the loss of Sir John Girlington a gallant Knight, Capt. Gascoigne, and not above 6 or 7 common Soldiers on His Majesties part.

February the 25th. Col. Roger Molineux with a party of Horse from Newarke took the Rebels Committee at Wirksworth in Darbyshire, where they were gathering contribution, viz. Mr. Wigfall, (Sir John Gells Son in Law) Mr. Edward Charleton, Mr. Buxton, Major Molins, Capt. Harstaffe, Lieutenant Boteler, about 70 Troopers and Dragooners, with all their Horse and Arms, and 400l. in Mony. In this action some of the Rebels were kill'd, whereof [Page] of Mr. Sellors, a busie Sequestrator, was one, and on His Majesties part only one man lost.

February the 26th. Sir William and Sir Charles Compton (Brothers to the Noble Earl of Northampton) with 300 horse routed 400 of the Rebels horse of Northampton neer Daventry in that County, kill'd 13, wounded many, took 36 Prisoners, with 50 Horse, and good store of Arms.

In the latter end of this month, a party of His Majesties Forces from Hereford took Castle-ditch, (a Garrison of the Rebels on the borders of that County) and in it Col. Hopton the Governour, (Son to Sir Richard Hopton) his Under-officers, above 60 Foot Soldiers, with their Arms and Provisions, and some Horse.

March the 1st. Pontfract Castle (that had been long besieged, not without much loss to the Rebels, by frequent sallies made by the Defendants and otherwise) was relieved by Sir Marmaduke Langdale, who there utterly defeated the Lord Fairfax whole Army, kill'd 300 on the place, besides many drowned, took above 700 Prisoners, whereof 44. Officers, 22 Colours of Foot, being all the Rebels had, and 26 Standards of Horse, with 34 double Barrels of Powder, and a proportionable quantity of Match and Bullet, and 2500 Foot Arms, besides Horse Arms, and other spoil. In this action were slain many of the Rebels chief Officers, as Col. Armyn, Col. Thornton, Col. Malevery, with others; On His Majesties part no Officer slain, and but very few common Soldiers.

March the 6th. Sir Charles Compton with his Regiment of horse took 72 Pack-horses at Hawford on the borders of Warwickshire, being richly laden with the Rebels wealth of Gloucester, and intended [Page] for London; with these Sir Charles also took their Convoy of at least 100 Horse, and neer 70 Prisoners, with a Lieutenant, one Cornet and his Colours, having first kill'd 12 Rebels on the place, without loss of any one man, and but one hurt.

March the 7th. Major Abercromy a Rebellious Scot was slain neer Stratton Audley in Buckinghamshire, and 17 of his men taken by a party from His Majesties Garison of Borstal house.

March the 14th. Col. Long the high Sheriff of Wiltshire with his own Regiment of horse only, gallantly charged a great body of Wallers horse neer the Devizes, and did good execution on them; but being much over-powered by the Rebels numbers, was at length taken Prisoner with some part of his Regiment; which was within few days after sufficiently requited by the Lord Goring, who took above 700 of Wallers horse in those parts.

March the 15th. A Party of His Majesties horse from Pontfract Castle fell on Colonel Brandlings Quarters at Badsworth, four miles from Doncaster, took 67 Rebels Prisoners, whereof 13 Officers, 130 horse, and 1000 l. in Mony.

March the 18th. The Earl of Northampton with his three young Brothers, (in all whom Gallantry is hereditary) routed a great Body of the Rebels horse of Northampton neer Abthorp, kill'd neer 30 Rebels, whereof Captain Lidcote was one, and hurt many more, took 26 Prisoners, and this with the loss of 5 Troopers only on His Majesties part.

The same 18th. of March, Beeston Castle in Cheshire (that had been bravely defended for 17 weeks before by Capt. Valet, and as vainly besieged [Page] by Prince RUPERTS approach into those parts.

March the 24th. The Lower Member at Westminster Vote the clause for preservation of His Majesties Person, to be left out in Thomas Fairfax his Commission. Thus do the Rebels

1. Swear to live and die with their own General Essex, yet upon second thoughts they disoblige themselves from that Oath, and cashier him of his command.

2. Covenant to preserve His-Majesties Person and Authority, and yet afterwards Authorize Sir Thomas Fairfax to kill him if he can.

3. They vow to maintain the Protestant Religion, yet condemn and discountenance the essential parts thereof, and introduce Irreligion and Prophaness.

Now tell me, Reader, what Tropological sence can save this jugling from flat and literal Perjury? not all the addition of their Abrogative to their Legislative power, For this is indeed to abrogate Christianity as well as Loyalty out of the World: To give leave to kill the Kings Person in the field, and yet to cheat men into a conceipt of preserving His Majesty in William Lenthal's Chair: To make the World believe they are Protestants, when they permit and authorize an illiterate Assembly of Non-Divines to discountenance the 39 Articles, dispute about expunging the fifth Article of the Apostles Creed: To antiquate the Lords Prayer out of the Church Service, and turn out the long-setled Service of Common-Prayer out of the Church, to give way to a long winded extemporary non-sence in the room thereof.

[Page]O tempora! O mores!

Are not these fine Law-maker;, who violate the Laws of God and holy Church, as well as those themselves were born unto, to make way for their own Chimeraes? Would not any true Zelot pawn his Soul upon these mens Consciences, who make no Conscience of breaking their own Oaths? Would not any wise man melt his Fortunes to maintain these mens Cause, who have no cause for what they do? Yes, he that could be made to believe Perjury were Fidelity; Treason, Loyalty; Blasphemy, Sanctity; Atheism, Religion; the Speakers Cushion, the Kings Majesty; may likewise possibly believe that these Rebels intend the Churches, Kings, and Common-wealths good.

Post-monita.

THe Reader may take notice of two omissions; The first in February 1642. about which time His Majesties Forces from Hereford, commanded by Sir Richard Lawdy, encountred the Rebels of Gloucester at Cover on the borders of that County, routed their whole Body, kill'd and took most of the Rebels Commanders, and many common Soldiers, with four Drakes; yet this Victory came not off without some loss, for Sir Richard Lawdy himself was here slain by a shot out of a window in Cover Town, with 5 common Soldiers only on His Majesties part.

The other in the beginning of July, 1643. about which time Col. (now Lord) Jermyn with those Forces that guarded Her Majesty out of the [Page] North, assisted by Col. Hastings, now Lord Lowghborough, took Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire by assault, wherein there was taken Col. Houghton the Governour, with all the inferiour Officers, above 400 common Soldiers, 8 pieces of Ordnance, and good store of Ammunition, and this done without any considerable loss.

The End.

Mercurius Belgicus: OR, Memorable Occurrences, in Anno 1645.

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MARCH the 25th. 1645. The Lord Goring routed a party of the Rebels horse at Pitmaster neer Taunton in Summersetshire, slew Major Roy that commanded them, took 100 horse and Arms, and about 50 Prisoners.

April the 1st. Major General Sir John Digby with a brigade of horse and Dragoons beat up the Rebels Quarters at and about Wincaunton, took 100 Prisoners, 2 Colours, 300 horse and as many Arms, without any considerable loss on His Majesties part.

April the 5th. A party of the Lord Gorings horse routed Colonel Pophams Regiment in Wiltshire, kill'd 40 of them, took Major Car that commanded them, with at least 120 Prisoners with their horses and Arms.

April the 14th. the siege of High-archall in Shropshire, which had been continued by the Rebels for the space of 17 days, was raised by themselves: during this siege, the defendants commanded by Sir Vincent Corbet and Capt. Armorer, in several sallies kill'd and took at least 500 Rebels and 4 pieces of Ordnance.

[Page] April the 19th. A party of His Majesties Forces from Newark took the Fort at Nottingham Bridg by Scalado, took some 50 Rebels in it (besides an Ensign and 10 others kill'd and drowned) 30 horse, 200 Arms, and 5 pieces of Ordnance▪ Th [...] Fort His Majesties Forces held about 11 days, and then quitted it without any loss.

April the 22d. Col. Masseyes Forces were totally routed by Prince Rupert at Ledbury in Hereford-shire, where above 100 of them were slain, Major Backhouse, and neer 400 Prisoners taken, whereof 27 Officers, besides many hundred of Arms with all their Baggage, and this done with the loss of but 5 common Soldiers only on His Majesties part.

April the 23d. Major General Laughorne lying at the siege of Newcastle Emblin in Carmarden-shire, was totally defeated by His Majesties Forces commanded by Col. (now Lord) Gerard, who kill'd 200 of his men on the place, took neer 500 Prisoners, with all their Arms, Ordnance and Baggage, with the loss only of about 26 men on His Majesties part, and some hurt.

April the 24th. Col. Cromwell the Independent General routed a party of 200 of His Majesties horse neer Oxford, and no sooner summoned Blechington house, but 'twas delivered up to him by Col. Windebank the Governour, who was soon after Condemned therefore by a Counsel of War, and executed at Oxford accordingly.

April the 30th. Cromwell assaulted His Majesties Garrison of Farrington, commanded as then by Lieutenant Colonel Burges, who defended the place with such gallantry, that Cromwell was repulsed with the loss of neer 200 men, besides what [Page] were wounded, a Captain and some others also taken Prisoners.

May the 7th. The Lord Goring routed a strong party of Cromwells horse near New-bridge betwixt Oxford-shire and Barkshire, kill'd and wounded at least 80, took Major Bethell that commanded in chief, Prisoner, with divers common Soldiers and 2 Colours.

In the beginning of this month that unheard-of cruelty was put in practise in and about London by certain persons, men and women appointed and authorized to inveigle and intice Children from their Parents, and without their knowledge, and so convey them on Shipboard to be sold and transported to new Plantations, the Lord knows where. This so much discontented the People, that the houses at Westminster were glad to disavow the thing, and forthwith make an order against it.

May the 11th. His Majesties Forces made a gallant sally from Scarborougb Castle, wounded Sir John Meldrum, that commanded the siege, whereof he not long after dyed, slew Colonel Cockeram, Lieutenant Colonel Stanley, Major Dent, Captain Piercy, and 50 others, whereof most Commanders, and took divers Prisoners: On His Majesties part were only slain Capt. Gower and some 4 common Soldiers.

Soon after Capt. Zachary that commanded one of the Ships in the harbour of the Rebels, Received a shot from the Castle, whereof he dyed.

May the 15th. Hawkesley house a Garrison of the Rebels in Worcester-shire was surrendred to His Majesty, the Governour Captain Gouge, and 80 Soldiers submitting to mercy, and the house afterwards slighted.

[Page]This done His Majesty with his Army marched towards Chester, which had been long besieged by Sir William Bruerton, but before His Majesty came within 20 miles of it, the Rebels raised their siege.

May the 26th. Massey took Evesholme in Worcestershire a Garrison of His Majesties by storm, and in it Col. Leg the Governour, and some 300 common Soldiers, with the loss only of about 20 men kill'd, but more wounded.

May the 30th. His Majesties Army sate down before Leicester and the morrow morning early took it by storm, and in it the whole Committee. Sir Robert Pye and many hundred Prisoners, many horses, much Powder, Arms and Ordnance, and great store of wealth. In the assault on His Majesties part were slain Col. St. George and about 80 others, but of the Rebels about 120.

The same day the Rebels quitted their several Garrisons of Bagworth, Colehorton, Kirby-bellows and Burleigh. Whilst His Majesties Army was thus busied at Leicest. Sir Thomas Fairfax (the Rebels new General) lay some 15 days blocking up of Oxford, though fruitlessly, for by several Sallies thence, he lost many of his men, some kill'd, others taken Prisoners, and not a small number running away, so that he raised his siege thence the beginning of June; And June 4. he assaulted Borstall house commanded by Sir William Campion for His Majesty, but was beaten off with the loss of 300 of his men, the brave Garrison losing but one man, and 4 hurt.

June the 6th. there fell a strange hail storm in that part of Licestershire which is in and about Loughborough, some of the Hailstones were as big [Page] as small hens eggs, and the least as big as musquet bullets: it destroyed the Corn and did much hurt in that part of the Country were it fell.

June the 9th. His Majesties Forces encountred a body of Rebels near Stokesey in Shorp-shire, but being over-powred, were forced to retreat with the loss of Sir William Croft, a gallant Gentleman, and some others.

June the 14th. Was that fatal Battle at Naesby-Down in Northamptonshire, where His Majesties Army (till then victorious) was now by the incertainty of War much worsted, his foot, Ordnance and Baggage most lost. In this battel, Sir Peter Brown, Sir Thomas Dallison, Gol. Bawd, Major Wilson, and Capt. Thorold on His Majesties part were slain, the whole number on both sides slain was conceived not to exceed 400. but more wounded. Above all the Rebels cruelty was remarkable in killing upon cold Blood at least 100 Women, whereof some of quality, being Commanders Wives, and this done under pretence that they were Irish Women.

June the 18th. Leicester was re-taken by the Rebels upon Articles that His Majesties Soldiers within should march away, the Officers with horses and Arms, and the common Soldiers without, which Agreement was most persidiously broken by the Rebels.

The same 18th. of June a party from Newark commanded by Capt. Wright routed 200 of the Rebels horse at Riby in Lincolnshire, slew their Commander in chief, Lieutenant Col. Harrington, with some others, and took 50 Prisoners, with their horse and Arms.

June the 28th. The City of Carlisle was delivered to the Scots (after it had been gallantly defended [Page] 42 weeks by Sir Thomas Glenham and Sir Henry Stradling, the Governour of the City and Citadel) upon very honourable conditions, to march away with Arms, Bag and Baggage, Colours flying, drums beating, &c.

July the 4th. Sir William Vaughan with a party of horse beat up the Rebels Quarters near Bramcroft Castle in Shropshire, took 50 Prisoners and 80 horse. And next morning July 5. (having received some more supplies from His Majesties Garrisons in those parts) marched to Higharchall, then a second time besieged by the Rebels, and behaved himself so gallantly that he totally routed the besiegers, kill'd 100 on the place, and took 400 Prisoners, with all their Baggage and Carriages, without any considerable loss.

July the 10th. A brigade of the Lord Gorings Army being put to guard a pass at Langport in Somersetshire were over-powered by the Rebels and so forced to a disorderly retreat with the loss of 300 men kill'd and taken, but above all, here that gallant and resolute Genleman Sir John Digby received a hurt, whereof he not long after dyed.

July the 16th. Chippenham a new erected Garrison of the Rebels in Wiltshire was taken by Col. James Long, and in it 100 Prisoners, 300 Arms, and about 20 Rebels slain.

The same day a Party from Newark surprised Welbeck house, took 200 Prisoners in it, 3 pieces of Cannon, and above 300 Arms.

July the 21st. Pontefract Castle, after above three months siege, and many notable fallies, was delivered to the Rebels by Col. Lowder the Governour, upon honourable conditions.

[Page] July the 22d. Bridgwater was taken by Sir Thomas Fairfax by assault, not without much loss of blood to the assailants, and of goods to ther poor Towns-People.

July the 25th. The strong Castle of Scarborough after long siege was delivered to the Rebels by Sir Hugh Cholmley upon condition to march away, &c.

August the 1st. A party of His Majesties Forces from Newark took Torkesey house in Lincolnshire by Scalado, and in it 140 Prisoners, and about 8 of the Garrison slain, and but two men on His Majesties part.

Aug. the 8th. Capt. Allen a forward Rebel and his whole Troop were taken on the borders of Lincolnshire by a party from Belvoire Castle.

Aug. the 15th. Sherburne Castle in Somersetshire after much battery was won by assault, and Sir Lewis Dives the Governour taken Prisoner. In this action the Rebels lost Major Dove, 5 Captains, and many common Soldiers.

Aug. the 17th. The most noble and gallant Marquess of Montrosse utterly defeated an Army consisting of at least 12000. Rebels in Kilseith field near Glascow in Scotland, slew 3500 on the place, took their bag, and baggage and Ordnance, with 2000 Prisoners, and the next day the Marquess received the submission of 9 Lords in behalf of His Majesty, and in a manner became Master of all Scotland.

Aug. the 24th. His Majesties Forces took Huntington, (after a small skirmish, wherein Capt. Bennet and some other Rebels were slain.) In this Town were taken 400 Horse, 200 Prisoners, and good store of Arms.

[Page] Aug. the 31st. A party from Newarke marched as far as Barton upon Humber, and there took Sir Alexander Hope a Scot, with his two Brothers, and some other considerable Prisoners, with a good booty in mony and jewels, and brought all safe to Newarke.

Sept. the 2d. The Scots (that had lain 5 weeks before Hereford) suddenly raised their siege, by reason of His Majesties approach with his Army into those parts. During the time of this Siege were slain of the Scots, Major General Crawford, and Lieutenant Col. Gurdon, with at least 600 common Soldiers. At this siege was also slain Doctor Scudamore, but on His Majesties part no considerable number, nor any considerable person lost.

Sept. 6th. His Majesties Forces From Oxford beat up the Rebels Quarters at Tame, kill'd divers, took Prisoners Adjutant General Pride, with divers other Officers and common Soldiers. They also took 3 Colours and above 200 Horse, and this done with the loss only of Captain Gardiner a gallant young Gentleman, and some few more on His Majesties part.

Sept. the 9th. Master Stroud, one of the five Members, and one of the principal promoters of these troubles, dyed of a pestilential Fever, to say no worse of it.

Sept. the 11th. Bristol was delivered upon Conditions by Prince Rupert after about three weeks siege, part of the City was won by assault; which as the Rebels gained not without some loss, so was their loss, no ways equivalent to the importance of the place. During this Siege, in Sallies, and in defending the Assault, His Majesty lost four eminent persons, (viz.) Sir Bernard Ashley, Sir Richard [Page]Crane, Colonel Taylor, and Major Garneer a Frenchman.

Sept. the 13th. A Brigade of the Marquess of Montross his Forces received a defeat at Philip-haugh in Tividale in Scotland, wherein the Lord Ogleby and some others of note were taken Prisoners, and some slain. This was the first clear defeat that ever that noble Marquess, or any considerable part of his Army received since the beginning of this War.

September 22d. The Castle of the Devizes in Wiltshire was surrendred to the Rebels upon Conditions, &c.

Sept. the 24th. 5000 of His Majesties horse encountred a greater Body of the Rebels at Routon-heath near Westchester, then besieged. In this Battel His Majesties Army was worsted, having lost that gallant Gentleman, the Lord Bernard Steward, Earl of Lichfield, and some others. The Rebels here (as in most other places) lost no men of Quality, having very few or none in their Army to lose.

September the 26th. Barckley Castle in Gloucestershire was surrendred to the Rebels upon Conditions, &c.

October the 1st. Sandall Castle in York-shire was likewise delivered to the Rebels, after a long siege, upon Conditions, &c.

October the 6th. Winchester Castle was likewise delivered upon composition, &c.

October the 14th. Basing house was taken by storm, the defendants not having a sufficient number within to man their works, the noble Marquess of Winchester (that had so long and gallantly defended this his own house) was here taken Prisoner with about 200 others, and at least 100 of the defendants [Page] slain, many whereof in cold blood, not without some loss to the Assailants.

October the 15th. A Brigade of His Majesties horse marchimg Northward under command of the Lord Digby, and Sir Marmaduke Langdale surprized 800 of the Rebels foot at Sherborne in Yorke-shire, but before they had disposed of the Prisoners and their Arms, a fresh party encountred them, rescued the Prisoners, disordered His Majesties Forces, slew Sir Richard Hutton, and some others.

October the 16th. Tiverton Castle in Devonshire taken by assault by Sir Thomas Fairfax's Forces, the Governour and the rest within all at mercy, &c.

October the 27th. Shelford house in Nottinghamshire was taken by the Rebels by storm, the valiant Governour Col. Stanhop defended it, even to the last man, himself and near 200 others were slain by the Merciless Rebels after they were entered the house, having first lost about 60 of their men in the assault.

November the 5th. Boulton Castle in Yorke-shire hat had been long and gallantly defended by Colonel Scroop the Governour and owner of it, was surrendred to the Rebels upon Conditions, &c.

Novemb. the 16th. Beeston Castle in Cheshire (after long siege) was likewise surrendred to the Rebels upon Conditions.

Novemb. the 22d. The stables and outworks of Belvoir Castle were gained by storm, in which action the Rebels lost 100 of their men and more wounded, the defendants retreating all into the Castle with the loss of 2 men only slain and some few hurt.

[Page] December the 1st. The house of Commons at Westminster Vote the King to confer several honours upon several Members of each house, and (inter alios) a Dukedom on the Earl of Essex and the Heirs Males of his body lawfully begotten, &c.

The same 1st. of December a party of His Majesties Forces from Ashby de la zouch took a Troop of horse and some foot Soldiers conveying certain Rebels goods from Darby to Leicester.

December ihe 4th. Latham house (that had so long and gallantly defended it self, and so often offended the Rebeis) was surrendred to them upon conditions, &c.

December the 5th. His Majesty sent to the Parliament at Westminster to desire that the D. of Richmond, E. of Southampton, Mr. Ashburnham, and Mr. Palmer, might have a safe Conduct to bring Propositions of Peace.

December the 18th. His Majesty sent a second Letter, with the most powerful perswasions imaginable, that a safe Conduct might be granted according to his desire in his former Letter, but both had one denial in a Letter of the 25th. of Dec.

December the 18th. The Loyal City of Hereford was by the persidiousness of some within, and the bribery of others without, delivered up to the Rebels without any siege, or almost any bloodshed, whereby the persons and goods of many Gentlemen of quality and other loyal Subjects fell into the hands of the merciless Victors.

December the 22d. The Lords at Westminster (to the eternal dishonour of that House) put it to the Vote, Whether Christmas day should be kept or no? For truly to blot out that, and the memory of Christs Passion, is the nearest way to introduce Judaism.

[Page] Decemb. the 26th. His Majesty sent a third message, wherein he offered to repair personally to London for concluding a Peace, but this found no better acceptance than the two former.

Decemb. the 29th. His Majesty sent answer to the Parliaments Letter of the 25. of this month, and did then again use the best perswasions he could to beget in them admittance of a Personal Treaty; both which last received a denial from the Parliament by a Letter dated Jan. 13. 1645.

January the 1st. The Newarkers (to welcome in the New year) made a gallant sally upon General Pointz his Quarters at Stoke, kill'd and took above 220. with good store of Arms and other Booty, without any valuable loss.

Jan. the 14th. His Majesty sent a fifth Message, inviting to Peace.

January the 17th. His Majesty sent Answer to the Parliaments Letter of the 13th. of January, with many gracious expressions of his desire of Peace.

Jan. the 18th Dartmouth was taken by Sir Thomas Fairfax, part of it by storm, and other part by Composition.

Jan. the 20th. Sir John Cansfield with a party of horse from Oxford beat up the Rebels Quarters at Marlborough, took Col. Ayres, the Rebels Governour of the Devizes, Mr. Goddard a Committee-man, Cap. White their Commissary General, 3 Troops of Horse, 100 Foot Soldiers, with good store of Arms and Ammunition, with the loss of but 3 or 4 men slain, and not many hurt.

The same day a party from Ashby-de-la Zouche took Astley Castle in Warwickshire, by Scalado, and in it the Governour, with some 30 others, with good store of Arms.

[Page] Jan. the 24th. His Majesty sent a seventh Letter in fuller Answer of the Parliaments Letter of the 13th. of this month, with earnest desire of a satisfactory Answer to his former Letters, the aim of all which still levelled at the peace and welfare of this bleeding Kingdom.

Jan. the 29th. His Majesty sent an eighth Letter to the Parliament, with many gracious condescendings for Peace, but their ears were still deaf to such pious motions.

Jan. the 30th. A party from Ragland Castle commanded by the Lord Charles Sommerset, took the Town of Carlion in Monmouth-shire, wherein were 200 of the Rebels Foot Soldiers, and a Troop of Horse, some of which were slain, others drowned, and the rest taken Prisoners.

Feb. the 1st. The same party also took the Town of Newport in that County, after a sharp fight, wherein 200 Rebels fell, agd as many were taken Prisoners in the Town, His Majesties Forces in this action not losing one man, but had about 30 wounded.

Feb. the 3d. Belvoir Castle that had been defended for near three months by Sir Gervas Lucas was now surrendred to the Rebels upon Honourable Conditions to march away, with Bag and Baggage, &c.

The same 3d. of Feb. Westchester that had been gallantly defended by the Lord Byron above five months was likewise surrendred upon Conditions to march away, &c.

Feb. the 6th. Dunster Castle in Sommersetshire, that had been long besieged by the Rebels, was relieved by that try'd Soldier Major General Webb.

[Page] Feb. the 7th. A party of His Majesties Forces entred the Town of Warham in Dorsetshire, took Col. Butler the Governor, two Committee men, and some others, and thence marched to Corf Castle then besieged, which they relieved, took a Mortar-Peice of the Rebels, and made a safe Retreat without any Loss.

Feb. the 15th. A little but sharp encounter hapned between a party of His Majesties Forces from Titbury Castle, and a like party of Rebels from Barton house in Darbyshire, wherein after above half an hours dispute, some slain and many hurt on each side, the Rebels were Routed and many of them taken Prisoners.

Feb. the 18th. A party of Rebels near Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, were routed by His Majesties Forces, who slew Captain Watson their Commander in chief, with Captain Hard-staffe and divers others, and took 60 Prisoners, but more Horses and good store of Arms. In this action His Majesty lost Captain Sares only of Note and three Troopers.

Feb. 26th. His Majesty sent a ninth Letter to Westminster to desire an Answer of his former Letters, still pressing for Peace.

Feb. 16th. The strong Castle of Corf which had been lately relieved, was delivered into the hands of the Rebels by the Treachery and perfidiousness of one Lieutenant Colonel Pitman.

March the 2d. A party of His Majesties Forces from Oxford entred the Town of Abbington, seised upon the Ordnance and Magazin, yet for want of a sufficient supply were forced to retreat with some Prisoners, and few slain on either side.

[Page] March the 12th. The Lord Hopton being, much overpowered by the Rebels in the West was necessitated to accept of Conditions for the disbanding his Army, &c.

March the 21st. the Lord Ashley commanding a Brigade of horse and foot from Worcester-shire which were intended for Oxford, were set upon by an aggregate body of the Rebels on the edg of Gloucestershire and defeated, the foot most taken with my Lord himself and some of the horse, the remainder escaped and got to Oxford. Thus had His Majesty two Armies defeated in less than a fortnight, yet we are confident when Almighty God hath sufficiently punish'd the sins of this Nation, he will in his good time restore a pious King to his just rights, and his bleeding Kingdoms to peace and union in despight of all Sectaries and Opponents.

March the 23d. His Majesty (never weary in acting any thing tending to Peace) sent his tenth Message to this effect, That in case he might have the faith of his two houses of Parliament for the preservation of his Honour, person, and estate, and that liberty might be given to all those that do and have adhered to His Majesty, to enjoy their Estates, without any sequestration, or being compelled to take any Oaths, not enjoined by Law, he would then disband his forces, dismantle his Garrisons, return to and reside with his two Houses of Parliament, &c. And could more be offered by, or expected from a Gracious King? If the Ears of the Parliament continue deaf to so reasonable a motion, the World will easily perceive their intentions are not conform to their often professions: And His Majesty will be abundantly cleared before God and man for any ensuing miseries that shall (by want of an Accommodation) befal these Kingdoms, whereunto God of his goodness afford Peace and Truth.

§

[Page]

Reader,

THere remains now nothing to compleat this short sad story, but a Catalogue of the Persons of Note slain in these last four years, (not to speak of those many thousands of inferiour Rank) which may well challenge even from an adamantine heart the tribute of a bleeding eye, the rather, since there's hardly any story can parallel these calamities, which if truly resented, will exact from all good Christians an earnest and continual supplication, that Almighty God would please to avert his anger from us, and set a period to these distractions.

[Page]A Catalogue of the Names of all, or the most part of the Lords, Knights, and men of Quality slain or Executed by Law-Martial on both sides, since the beginning of this Unnatural War, to the 25th. of March, 1646.

On His Majesties part slain,

EArl of Lindsey.

Earl of Northampton.

Earl of Carnarvon.

Earl of Sunderland.

Farl of Litchsield.

Earl of Kingstone.

Marquess de Vieuville, a French man.

Lord Viscount Faulkland

Lord d' Aubigny.

Lord John Steward.

Lord Grandison.

Lord Cary, eldest Son to the E. of Monmouth.

An Outlandish Lord slain at Nottingham, who was a near kinsman to the Prince of Orange.

Sir Edmon. Verney.

Sir Bevill Grenvile.

Sir Nicholas Slannyng.

Sir Richard Lawdy.

Sir Ingram Hopton.

Sir William Butler.

Sir William Clark.

Sir Thomas Metham.

Sir Anthony Maunsell.

Sir Anthony St. Leger.

Sir Henry Gage.

Sir John Girlington.

Sir William Mainwaring.

Sir John Digby.

Sir William Crofts.

Sir John Smith.

Sir Thomas Gardiner and his Brother.

Sir Peter Brown.

Sir Thomas Dallison.

Sir Bernard Ashley.

Sir Richard Crane.

Sir Richard Hutton.

Sir Gilbert Gerard.

Sir William Wentworth.

[Page]Sir Cha. Blunt by Mutiny.

Sir Jo. Scudamore in a Duel,

Colonel Blague.

Col. Windebank.

Sir Job. Cademan.

Executed, by Martial Law: The first for Treachery, the second for Cowardise, and the third Beheaded at Bristol for killing an Officer there

Col. Howard.

Col. Lunsford.

Col. Trevanian.

Col. Morgan.

Col. Eure.

Col. Cavendish.

Col. Townley.

Col. Herne.

Col. Ferdinando Stanhop and Col. Stanhop, Sons to the Earl of Chesterfield.

Col. Marrow.

Col. Prideaux.

Col. Mynne.

Col. Mannyng.

Col. Slaughter.

Col. Bernard.

Col. S. George.

Col. Taylor.

Col. Bawd.

Col. Carnaby.

Col. Bentall.

Lieut. Col. Markham.

Master Sackvile, Son to the Earl of Dorset.

Persons of Note slain on the Parliaments part: where the Reader may observe, that as His Majesty had on his side ten Gentlemen at least for every one on their side; it must by consequence follow, that he must lose many more of Note than they.

THe Lord S. John, eldest Son to the E. of Bullingbrook.

Lord Brook.

Sir Charles Essex.

Sir William Fairfax.

Sir Charles Fairfax.

Sir John Meldrum.

Major Gen. Crawford.

Col. John Hampden, one of the 5. Members.

Col. Sands.

Col. Armyne.

Col. Thornton.

Col. Lister.

Col. Meldrum.

Col. Malevory.

Col. Cockeram.

Lieutenant Col. Stanley.

Lieut. Col. Quarles.

Lieut. Col. Harrington.

Lieut. Col. Gurdon.

Major Dowglas.

Doctor Scudamore.

Executed on the Parliaments side by Law-Martial, (not to speak of the E. of Strafford and the Arch-Bishop of Cant.)

Sir Alexander Carew. At LONDON.

Sir John Hotham and his Son. At LONDON.

Master Tomkins. At LONDON.

Master Chaloner. At LONDON.

Master Bourchier. At BRISTOLL.

Master Yomans. At BRISTOLL.

FINIS.

THE TABLE OF Mercurius Rusticus.

[Page]

ARcher Preaches Rebellion up, and Gentry and Learning down. pag. 35

Articles of Surrender broken. 49, 51, 65, 76

Sir Henry Audley Plundered. 13, 14

B.

Doctor Bargrave Plundered. 79. &c. dies of grief, 81

Barnard an ungrateful Schismatick. 145

Sir. Tho. Barrington for bids the Preaching of Divine Truth. 20, 21

Master Bartlets house five times Plundered. 186, &c.

Doctor Beale, Doctor Martin, Doctor Sterne imprisoned and barbarously used on Ship-board. 132

Beale a Rebel Plundered by the Rebels. 91

A Bear more merciful than the Rebels. 94

Bible abused. 213. Blasphemy. 43, 123, 124

Sir Wllliam Boteler Plundered. 7. His Steward tortured. 10

Bowlstrodes Prayer. 157

Sir Wil. Brooke stormes a Gally-pot. 9

John Brown tortured. 3

Burton intruded into Mr. Chestlins Living. 177

Master Bykar Murthered because he was a Parsons Son. 57

C

Sir Ralph Canterills man Tortured. 149

Cathedral Churches Prophaned and abused at Canterbury, 119. Rochester, 136. Chichester, 139. Winchester, 146, &c. Westminster, 154. Exeter. 158, 159

Mr. Chaldwel and his Wife barbarously used, and his Servant Murthered. 104

Chelmsford well governed, 25. and taught. 26

Mr. Chestlen unjustly ejected and Imprisoned. 170

Child hanged for not betraying his Father. 112

Children taken from their Parents. 54

Church Prophaned. 67, 110, 193.

Colchester, 1. their justice. 14

Mr. Cornelius Plundered. 33

Dr. Cox most inhumanely used against the Law of Arms. 71

D

Mr. Dalton Plundered and his Wife hardly used 144

Darke a Rebel makes his Servants plough on the Fast day without reproof. 127

The Dead violated. 67, 69, 105, 147

Divine Service disturbed. 29, 42, 108, 192.

E

Sir Walter Earles creeping valour. 12C

Evidences and Books destroyed. 39

Embassadour Robbed. 90

F

Father starves his Son, because he will not be a Rebel 101

Fear of Cruelty makes some run mad, others die. 41

Dr. Featley Persecuted to Death. 193

Nath. Fiennes his Warrant. 160

Mr. Flint murthered. 65

Mr. Flower Lamed and Imprisoned, his house Plundered, his Wife and Children barbarously used. 181, 182

G

Gentry to be rooted out. 111

Giffords form of Burial. 97

Mr. Gibb persecuted for Loyalty. 98, 99

A Goose strained at, a Mare swallowed. 191

Mr. Gray plundered and imprisoned. 59

H

Sir Arthur Haslerigs dance. 143

Mr. Haynes robbed and imprisoned. 57, 58

Sir. Tho. Hides compliance with the Rebels rewarded. 155

Mr. Hinson imprisoned, and inhumanly used. 165

Mr. Honifold plundered, imprisoned, and rudely hanled. 14

House Burnt to pay a reckoning. 41

Mr. Hutchinson and Mr Hiliard imprisoned on Shipboard. 161

I

Infant robbed. 131

Mr. Jones imprisoned. 92. famished. 97

Mr. Jones (another) persecuted. 125, 126

Jury perjured. 34

The Justice of the Earl of Essex. 42

K

The Kings Picture abused, 38, 129. and his Statue. 149

Kirles Cruelty. 84

L

Mr. Laud plundered for his name sake. 13

Mr. Losse barbarously used. 108

Sir John Lucas plundered and imprisoned, his Mother, Wife and Family abused. 1

M

Dr. Martin imprisoned, and inhumanly used on Shipboard. 132

Mercy forbidden to be shewed. 88

[Page]Dr. Michelson persecuted, and most inhumanly handled for Loyalty, and his Wife and Children undone. 27

Sir Richard Minshull plundered 36, 17

N

Mr. Newcomin rudely handled and imprisoned. 2

Mr. Nowel plundered and imprisoned. 78

O

Oath of implicit Obedience. 48

P

Parliaments Justice. 12, 46, 47, 58, 67, 171

Parliament, the Lords Anointed, how. 36

Prisoner's forbidden their Devotions. 100

Pyms lowzie ashes. 156

R

Rape threatned, 16. attempted, 78. with Murder. 98

Reading taxed. 44

Rebels lay their own Robberies on the Cavalliers, and cozen the Londoners. 90

Countess of Rivers plundered. 15, 41

Robber released by the Commons. 16

S

Col. Sandes a cruel plunderer. 7. his Travels. 79. indicted of Rape. ib. his Repentance, Relapse, and miserable Death. 131

A Scot defends the stealing of a Chalice, and holds a wooden dish good enough for the Sacrament. 143

Servent Treacherous. 1

A Soldier hanged for Loyalty. 129

Soldiers made drunk to bring them on. 122

Soldier brags of cruelty. 191

Spoil of goods. 38, 51

Mr. Squire plundered of 4000 l. 159

Mr. Swift plundered, his Wife and Children barbarously used. 83, 84

Mr. Stevens his neighbour murthered for concealing his goods. 17

[Page]Mr. Simons sequestered and persecuted for Loyalty, and a scandalous man put in his place. 18

T

Thanks given for Sedition. 5

Mr. Thorne unjustly imprisoned. 45

Treason preached and encouraged. 17

Mr. Tyringham wounded and inhumanly used. 136

V

Mr. Udal and his Wife cruelly used. 153, 154

Vens traitenous sauciness and cruelty. 100

W

Wellingborow plundered. 59

Whoredom on the Altar. 154

Mr. Wiborow abused. 42. and his Wife and Children. 139, 140

Women in labour cruelly used. 77

Woman whipt to death. 167

Mr. Wright plundered and his servants murthered. 132

THE TABLE OF Querela Cantabrigiensis.

[Page]

A

ANcient Coins plundered. 191

Ash and Good, two Camp-Chaplains, eject and banish, whom they please. 202

B

Mr. Baldero imprisoned to satisfie his Conscience. 246

Banishment. 201

Bishop of Exeter deprived and banished. 184

Book of Common Prayer torn in St. Maries Church. 190

Bridges broken down. 193

C

Cambridge made a Rendezvouz to ruin the University. 185

Chappels abused. 196, 197

Colleges defaced 193, 194. made a Prison. 193

Dr. Collins deprived of his places. 184

Dr. Comber and Dr. Cosin deprived. 185

Covenant with Hell 204. a cause of Persecution, like the six Articles 205. The number of the Beast. ibid.

Cromwels malice to the University. 182

Curd a confiding Taylor. 192

D

Doctors of Divinity carried Prisoners to London in triumph. 182. designed to be sold for slaves to Argiers. 183

E

Ejection of those for absence who had not time given to return, or were kept Prisoners at London 198

F

Fellow of a College pluck'd from the Communion to hinder an Election. 197

Fortune, a decayed Hatter, Plunder-master General. 192

G

Goods and Books taken from Scholars. 192

H

Dr. Holdsworth deprived and imprisoned. 185

Homes a lubberly Scottish Major trampled in the kennel by a Chamber-maid. 195

St. Johns College, Fellows there ejected. 202

Jordan a small sneaking Captain, his Tyranny. 190

L

Dr. Lany deprived. 185

M

Earl of Manchesters Chaplain will not resolve mens Consciences. 246. his Warrants. 201

Materials for College building taken away. 193

Meat taken from College Tables. 191

Musquets shot against Scholars windows. 182

G

Oath of discovery, Treacherous perjury. 199, 200

P

Dr. Pask deprived. 185. Pictures burnt. 192

Mr. Power not suffered to preach Ad Clerum. 189

Q

Queens College extirpated Root and Branch. 202

[Page]Regent house besieged to force the Congregation to confer a Degree upon an unworthy man. 188

Rents taken from Colleges. 191

S

Scholars thrust out of their Beds, 191. knock'd down for relieving Prisoners. 195

Soldiers Quartered in Colleges. 194, 195

T

Taxes imposed on the University by the Town. 165

Training in Kings College Chappel. 196, 197

V

Vice-chancelor and Heads kept Prisoners in the Consistory. 186

University, their Contribution to the King justified. 179

W

Walks, Woods, and Orchards of Colleges cut down. 192

Dr. Wards Loyalty to death. 187

Whores kept in Colleges by the Rebels. 194

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

Mercurius Rusticus, or, The countries complaint of the barbarous outrages committed by the sectaries of this late flourishing kingdom together with a brief chronology of the battels, sieges, conflicts, and other most remarkable passages, from the beginning of this unnatural war, to the 25th of March, 1646.

Ryves, Bruno, 1596-1677.

Edition statement

1685

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A58041

ID [STC]

Wing R2449

ID [STC]

ESTC R35156

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

15046384

ID [OCLC]

ocm 15046384

ID [VID]

103099

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A58041)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 103099)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1578:6)

Source

— Mercurius Rusticus, or, The countries complaint of the barbarous outrages committed by the sectaries of this late flourishing kingdom together with a brief chronology of the battels, sieges, conflicts, and other most remarkable passages, from the beginning of this unnatural war, to the 25th of March, 1646., Ryves, Bruno, 1596-1677., Barwick, John, 1612-1664. Querela Cantabrigiensis., Wharton, George, Sir, 1617-1681. Mercurius Belgicus..

Extent

[15], 205, [8], 116-216, [84] p.

Printed for R. Royston ... and are to be sold by R. Green ...,. London :: 1685.. (Added illustrated t.p., engraved.) (Attributed by Wing and NUC pre-1956 imprints to Ryves.) (The "Mercurius Rusticus" appeared originally in 1643 as a newsbook, in numbers. The "Chronologie" was issued in 1645 under the title "Englands Iliads in a nut-shell, or, A brief chronologie ..." The entire work, with additions, was published in 1647 under the title "Anglia ruina ..." cf. Hazlitt.) (Includes indexes.) (In 4 pts. Pts. 2, 3, and 4 each have special t.p. and separate paging.) (Pt. 2 has title: Mercurius Rusticus, or, The countries complaint of the sacrileges, prophanations, and plunderings, committed by the schismatiques on the cathedral churches of this kingdom.) (Pt. 3, an anonymous work attributed to John Barwick, has title: Querela Cantabrigiensis, or, A remonstrance by way of apologie, for the banished members of the late flourishing University of Cambridge.) (Pt. 4, an anonymous work attributed to Sir George Wharton, has title: Mercurius Belgicus, or, A brief chronology of the battels, sieges conflicts, and other most remarkable passages from the beginning of this rebellion, to the 25th of March, 1646.) (Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library.)

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