A True relation of the sad passages between the two armies in the west shewing the perfidious breach of articles by the Kings partie : their horrid crueltie offered to the Lord Generals souldiers in their march from Foy as it is certified by severall letters under the hands of judicious godly men : commanders in the army who were themselves eye-witnesses and patient sufferers in all these cruelties herein expressed / published by G. S.

A True relation of the sad passages between the two armies in the west shewing the perfidious breach of articles by the Kings partie : their horrid crueltie offered to the Lord Generals souldiers in their march from Foy as it is certified by severall letters under the hands of judicious godly men : commanders in the army who were themselves eye-witnesses and patient sufferers in all these cruelties herein expressed / published by G. S.

Table of contents

Title page

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A true Relation of the ſad Paſſages, between the two Armies in the Weſt.

WHile the Lord Generall was quartered at Liſtithell in Cornwell, He drew out his Army ſeverall times, attempting to give the Enemy battle, but the Enemy refuſed, (So imbelbick have they alwayes been, and would never fight but upon great advantage) only they had dayly Skirmiſhes by parties, about paſſages, which the Enemy laboured to take, to hinder all Proviſions, for Horſe and Foot, from coming to His Excellencyes Army: In all which Skirmiſhes the Enemy had the worſe; till the Enemy at laſt grew numerous, and by advantage of incloſiers, which was with ſto [...]e walles, the Enemyes Foot got very neer His Excellencyes quarters, which was great annoyance, and kept them to continuall duty, neceſſitated them to a narrower compaſſe, and hindred proviſions every way: So that on Friday the 30. of Auguſt, His Excellency drew his Carriages to Foy; It being concluded by a Counſell of Warre, that His Excellency, and the Lord Roberts ſhould go by Sea to Plimouth, and that the Horſe ſhould break their way through the Kings quarters: Leaving all the Foot under the Command of Major Generall [Page] Skippon: The Lords, (God be praiſed) came ſafe to Plimouth, and the Horſe ſafely paſt through the Enemies Army, with loſſe to the Enemy, more then to themſelves. The Plimouth Regiment of Horſe only ſtayed with the Foot, who were reſolved to live and dye with them: Theſe Horſe with all the Foot, ſtood upon their Guard, in hope ſome relief might come, or at leaſt to make their own conditions.

The Enemy having felt the Animoſity of our Horſe, in breaking through their Army, had little heart to purſue them; but preſently withall their force, fell on our Foot, on every ſide, ſuppoſing them to be all at their mercy, but reſolved to ſhew them no mercy at all, but to have ſwallowed them up wholly: For by a Counſell of War they had reſolved, to put every man to the Sword, and give quarter to none: This was on Friday, the King was in Perſon in the Army; Then to put a quick diſpatch in execution, of their cruell reſolutions, they fell with all violence on our Foot, and at the firſt aſſault having taken about 30. they put them to the Sword, who aſking quarter, they anſwered, God damme, not a man of you ſhall have quarter.

This inhumanity of theirs, increaſed reſolution and courage in our men, who reſolved to ſet their lives at a high rate, beyond what the Enemy durſt bid, as indeed they did, for after Major Generall Skippon had made a ſhort Speech to the Army, they threw up their Hats and gave a great ſhout, reſolving unanimouſly to fight it out to the laſt man, and to ask no quarter, and upon the Enemies approach, they gave them many fiery Salutations, which much amazed the Enemy, for by their great and ſmall ſhot, ſent with reſolved courage, there fell of the Enemy at leaſt ſix for one, inſomuch that the enemy made a [Page] ſtand, and drew back, changing their reſolutions of giving no quarter: and offered quarter, which that Gallant Gentleman, Major Generall Skippon refuſed, except he might have Honourable conditions: at laſt it was graunted that he ſhould draw his own conditions, which he did, but not granted; yet after ſome debate, there was a Treatie, and this was on Sunday, the firſt of September. The Treators, for the Enemy was Prince Maurice, the Lord Forth, and the Lord Digby. For Major Generall Skippon, was Colonell Wichcot, Colonell Barkley, and Colonell Butler. That night they agreed to the Articles, which here I have ſet down Verbatim, that the world may ſee their incongruent performance, by the relations following.

The Articles are theſe.

FIrſt, It is agreed, That all the Officers and Souldiers, as well of Horſe and Foot, under the Command of the Earl of Eſſex, being at the time of the concluſion of this Treaty, on the Weſt-ſide of the River Foy, ſhall to morrow, being the Second of September, by Eleven of the clock in the morning, deliver up in their quarters, near the old Caſtle, all their Cannon, and Train of Artillery, withall Carriages, Neceſſaries, and Materialls thereunto belonging, and likewiſe all the Armes offenſive, and defenſive, both of Horſe and Foot, and all Powder, Bullet, Match, and Amunition whatſoever, unto ſuch Officers, as the Generall of His Majeſties Artillery ſhall appoint, to receive the ſame, except onely the Swords and Piſtols of all Officers, above the degree of Corporals: who are by this agreement to wear and carry away the ſame.

Secondly, It is agreed, that immediately after the delivery up of the ſaid Artillery, Arms, and Amunition, &c. That all the Officers and Souldiers, both of Horſe and Foot, of the ſaid [Page] Army, ſhall maroh out of their quarters to Liſtithiell, with their Collours both of Horſe and Foot, Trumpets, and Drums, and that all Officers above the degree of a Corporall, ſhall take with them ſuch Horſes, and Servants, as properly belong to themſelves, as alſo all Reformadoes, their Horſes, and Armes, not exceeding the number of Fifty, and likewiſe to take with them all their Bagge and Baggage, and Wagons, with their Teemes of Horſe, Properly belonging to the ſaid Officers.

Thirdly, it is agreed, that they ſhall have a ſafe convoy of a 100. Horſe, from their quarters to Liſtithell, and from thence in their march the neareſt convenient way to Poole, and Warham: and that in their march they touch not at any Garriſon.

Fourthly, it is agreed, that in caſe they ſhall march from Pool, to any other place by land, that neither they nor any of them ſhall bear Armes, more then is allowed in this agreement: nor do any Hoſtile Act, untill they come to Southampton or Portſmouth.

Fiftly, it is agreed, that all ſick and wounded Souldiers of this Army, who are not able to march, ſhalbe left at Foy, and there ſecured from any violence to their perſons, or goods: and care taken of them till ſuch time as they can be tranſported to Plimouth.

Sixtly, it is agreed, that all Officers, and Souldiers of that Army, for the better conveniency of their march, ſhalbe permitted to receive all ſuch moneys, proviſions of victualls, and other accommodations, as they ſhalbe able to procure from Plimouth; to which end they ſhall have a Paſſe granted to any perſons, not exceeding the number of twelve; whom they ſhall ſend for the ſame.

Seventhly, it is agreed, That there be no inviting of ſouldiers, but that ſuch as will come voluntarily to his Majeſties Service ſhall not be hindred.

[Page] According to theſe Articles, The Artillery, Carriages, Ammunition, Armes, &c. Were delivered into the Kings poſſeſſion: But how contrary to theſe Articles, they dealt with us, theſe following Teſtimonies do teſtifie.

SIr, I have writ twice to you before, but have not received on line from you; which makes me thinke my Letters have miſcarryed; what our Straits were, and have been, I formerly writ in the extremity of our ſtraits: After the Lord Generall was gone by Sea to Plimouth, and our Horſe made their way through the Kings Army (of which I aſſure my ſelf you have heard) the enemy made violent aſſaults againſt us, greedily thirſting after our blood, as the ravening Beaſts after their prey; intending not to leave one of us alive: But God hath in mercy preſerved us, and did wonderfully uphold the courage of our Souldiers, who were reſolute and valiant, reſolving either to die like men, or to come off with honour; inſomuch, That after ſome ſhowers of great and ſmall ſhot, the heat of the raging enemy was well cooled, and they willing to be ſhut of us, upon reaſonable termes; rather then to buy our blood at ſo dear a rate; and were willing to accept of a Treaty: And after ſome time ſpent about the conditions, on Sunday night the firſt of September, we were all agreed, and were to march away with a ſafe Convoy the next day, with our Colours, and Drums, &c. but with no Arms, except Officers: But then came our miſery; For when we had laid down our Arms, and came to march through the enemies Army, we were inhumanely delt with; abuſed, reviled, ſcorned, torne, kickt, pillaged, and many ſtript of all they had; quite contrary to the Articles: For preſently, even in the preſence of the [Page] King, and of their Generall, they took away our cloakes, coats, and hats, calumniating us by reproachfull words, and threates, if we would not deſert the Parliament, and turn to the King; And after a day or two march, they Stript many of our Officers to their ſhirts, taking away their Boots, Shooes, Hoſe, &c. notwithſtanding Major Generall Skippon ſtoutly urged the Condition ſeverall times, and with much wiſdom behaved himſelf: nor was this the worſt, for they hindred us in all our march from proviſions, and quarter, on purpoſe to deſtroy us: and truly the Mercy and Providence of God was wonderfull to us, that we periſht not in our march; I hope I ſhall have opportunity to ſee you ſhortly, and ſhall then tell you ſomething of my own particular uſage and loſſe, I pray, &c.

Southampton, the 19. of September. 1644.

Your aſſured Friend, and Servant, R. B.

This Letter was writ to a Gentleman of quality and worth, from his intimate and faithfull Friend: here followes another, writ to a Gentleman of Eminency in the City, from a Captain of his acquaintance, who is known to be Diſcreet, Honeſt, and Religious; a Sholler, and a Valient Souldier.

[Page]

Moſt worthy Sir, My ſervice to your ſelfe, and to, &c.

VVHen my Lord Generall advanced into the Weſt, He comm [...]nded our Regiment out of Plimouth, amongſt which I was one. We oftentimes skirmiſhed with the Enemie, and had ever the better, which preſaged a Victorie to us (as I conceived) if we would fight. The firſt time, our Plimouth Horſe (being but a handfull) charged a vaſt body of the Enemies horſe, and put them all to flight: I cannot deſcribe in writing, what I ſaw that day act [...]d: I was my ſelfe preſent in that Charge; It was wonderfull to ſee the couragious hearts of our men, and the baſeneſſe of the Enemie. This was the firſt skirmiſh of note; the reſt I omit. The next of any note, was the day my Lord Generall began to draw from [...]iſtithiel towards Foy: At that time both Horſe and Foot skirmiſhed, but eſpecially the Foot; That day, in the morning, we beat the Enemie back, for divers fields; took three Foot Colours, and one Horſe Colour, and divers priſoners and men of note: I that day got the Princes Colours in the field: The whole body of the Enemies horſe and foot, ſtood amazed at our Footmens reſolution. All that day we skirmiſhed very hot, and the Enemie ſtuck very cloſe on every ſide, plying us continually with ſhot. The night comming on, the Enemie drew into divers bodies of Horſe and Foot; but eſpecially towards our Right and Left Wing, two vaſt bodies of Horſe appeared, their Foot concealing themſelves as well as they could; yet we plainly perceived, their intention was, that night to fall on, or to give us a great Alarme; which they did to the purpoſe. The next night, my Lord Generall, and the Lord Roberts, and Sir John Merrick took boat for Plimouth: and, as it fell out, it was well they went, (I meane the Lord Generall, and Lord Roberts) for without all queſtion the Enemie would have killed them. On Sunday we had a Parley, and it ended the ſame night: the Articles agreed upon, I believe you have heard: but how they were violated, I am ſure you cannot know, except you had ſeen it. Sir, believe it, no tongue can expreſſe the barbarous uſage of our men by the Enemie: They ſtripped many hundreds ſtark naked, wounded many, and pillaged moſt of their money, coats and hats. This was [Page] on the Munday, Septemb. 2. They made us, after we had laid down our armes, to ma [...]ch through the Kings Army, where the Souldiers came upon us in moſt barbarous manner, moyling our men in the dirt, and kicking them, pulling all from them, doublets, hoſe, and ſhirts, leaving many ſtark naked. When we came from the Kings Army to Liſtithiel, the poore Souldiers were aſſaulted with more crueltie by the Towns-men and women of Liſtithiel, who ſtripped many men ſtark naked, not leaving them any thing to cover their nakedneſſe: And I ſaw them ſtrip a woman of our partie, to her ſmock; ſhe had lyen in but three dayes before: they took her by the haire of her head, and threw her into the River, and there had almoſt drowned her: the woman dyed within twelve houres after. Divers other women and men were ſerved in the like nature. Alſo, upon Liſtithiel Bridge, there met three brethren, two were on the Kings partie, and one for the Parliament; The two laid hold on the other brothers throat; one of them would have killed him; but the other was more mercifull: yet they ſtripped him, and beat him, and ſwore, If ever they caught him againe, they would kill him. It is not five ſheets of paper will contain the Stories and Tragedies of this kinde. They ſo courſed and hurried our Souldiers, that many fell down under their mercileſſe hands; others, with exceſſive thirſt, were forced to drink water, worſe then runs in the channels in London ſtreets.

After we were paſt Liſtithiel, we marched ſomething quietly, till night; and then we were ſet upon as we marched, and divers of our Captaines were ſtripped at that time, to the great terror of the Common Souldiers. We marched about ſeven miles from Liſtithiel on Munday: that night we lay in the fields neere to a ſpring, which was ſome refreſhing, having no other proviſion. This night they ſtole away divers of our horſes; my horſe was ſtollen that night, and I was forct to foot it to Southampton.

On Tueſday morning we marched towards Horſebridge: when we came within two miles of the Bridge, on the Down, we were ſtayed: they told us, we muſt not march, till further order from the King; which much amazed us: Sir John Browne commanded the Convoy; and Generall Major Skippon urged the Articles to him, and preſſed the unjuſtneſſe of the action, in ſtaying us: but within the ſpace of an houre, news came, we might march; We with much. willingneſſe advanced; and having gone about two [Page] miles farther, we were ſtoped again for the ſpace of an hour, by Generall Goring; yet we marched that night to Bren-farr, where we ſcarce had the benefit of water; we lay in the open fields that night alſo, it being a bitter Rainy night.

On Wedneſday morning, we advanced toward Ockhampton, which Town we deſired to have to quarter in; when we came within a mile of the Town, news came to us, We muſt advance no further, the Kings Force being before us in the Town: this cauſed no ſmall trouble; you might read diſcontent in every mans face, and hunger in all: this being the third day they had marched without victual's The Major Generall freely ſpake his minde to the Convoy, intreating for us with threats, rather then flatteries; and deſiring to have quarter in the Town, at laſt it was granted, and into the Town we came: they quartered in the Town, and we quartered in the Town; but they ſtopt all manner of Proviſions from our men: the Souldiers lay this night in the field, but they lay neer the Town; where you might have heard, the ſaddeſt moans, and direfull complaints for Bread, that ever ear heard. That night a Penny Loaf would have been ſold for half a Crown, and many thanks beſides: I my ſelf offered twelve pence for three ounces of Bread, at laſt I got about three ounces for ſix pence: I ſee ſome of the Souldiers pay ſix pence for a peece of poor Cheeſe, not weighing three ounces; and many of them pay the ſame rate for that proportion.

On the Thurſday, we marcht from Ockhampton, forth of London Road, that we might avoid the Kings forces, which alwayes lay in our way, on purpoſe to eat up our Proviſions from us: we came that night to a little Village; where we had ſome accommodation for our ſelves and Souldiers: the next morning we advanced towards Teverton, where we intended to quarter, and our Souldiers were exceeding willing to go thither, expecting good quarter there; but when we came within three miles of the Town, news came, we muſt not come neer it, for the Kings forces were there, which made us betake our ſelves to a little Village, two miles on our l [...]ft hand; when we came to the Village, the Kings forces were there alſo, which conſtrained our poor, wearied, and hungry Souldiers, to lie in the hungry fields. In the next morning, we were to march towards Collington; in the way, ſome of our Souldiers miſtook their way, and went a mile from the Army: many of which, were moſt miſerably wounded; ſome were killed within a little of Tiverton: [Page] and divers men we never ſee ſince, and many that eſcaped, came to us all blood, and wounded. After this we were pritty well rid of our enemies, and our poor ſtarved men began to gather courage. In all this trouble, I obſerved Major Generall Skippon in his carriage: but never did I ſee any man ſo patient, ſo humble, and ſo truly wiſe, and valiant in all his actions, as he: his Lievtenant Colonell was ſtripped to his ſhirt, by a Sergeant Major of the Kings. I bleſſe God, though I loſt all my Clothes, and other things, which my man had in his cuſtody; yet my ſelf was untouched: I brought off my Piſtols and my Sword; it was Gods great goodneſſe to me, for there was much inquiry after me: they asked of my own Souldiers, which is E. H. they fearing ſome evill, would not tell them. I thank God, I reſcued ſome of our men out of the Enemies hands: for they took me to be one of the Kings ſide. I give thanks to God for all. Sir, I beſeech you take not his for a full Relation, though it be a true Relation, my ſelf being an eyewitneſſe to all that I write. This is but the leaſt part of what ſome others have ſeen, and felt: I am now ready to take Boat for Plimouth, which is beſieged: I am in extreme haſte. I wiſh you may make ſenſe of my ſcribbling Lines: I deſire your prayers, who am,

Sir,

From Southampton, the 20. Sept. 1644.

Your moſt humble ſervant, E. H.

The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel; much more cruell is their direfull wrath: but God will divide them in Jacob, and ſcatter them in Iſrael: as they have done to others, ſo ſhall it be done to them; as their Sword hath made women childleſſe, ſo ſhall their mothers be childleſſe [...]ngſt women. Joab ſhed the blood of war, in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle, about his loynes; therefore Joabs Hoar-head muſt not go in peace to the Grave.

FINIS.

§

[Page]

A True RELATION Of the ſad Paſſages, between the Two Armies in the Weſt:

Shewing the perfidious Breach of Articles, by the Kings Partie:

Their horrid Crueltie, offered to the Lord Generals Souldiers in their March from FOY:

As it is certified by ſeverall Letters, under the hands of Judicious Godly men, Commanders in the Army; who were themſelves Eye-witneſſes, and patient Sufferers in all theſe Cruelties herein Expreſſed.

Read and Judge.

Publiſhed by G. S.

Ierem. 34. 18, 19, 20.

And I will give the men that have tranſgreſſed my Covenant, which have not performed the words of the Covenant, which they had made before me, when they cut the Calf in twain, and paſſed through the parts thereof.

The Princes of Iudah, and the Princes of Ieruſalem; the Eunuches, and the Prieſts, and all the people that paſſed between the parts of the Calf.

I will give them unto the hands of their enemies, and into the hands of them that ſeek their lives; and their dead bodies ſhall be for meat unto the Fowls of the Heaven, and to the Beaſts of the Earth, &c.

London, Printed according to Order for L. C. Octob. 2. 1644.

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Title statement

A True relation of the sad passages between the two armies in the west shewing the perfidious breach of articles by the Kings partie : their horrid crueltie offered to the Lord Generals souldiers in their march from Foy as it is certified by severall letters under the hands of judicious godly men : commanders in the army who were themselves eye-witnesses and patient sufferers in all these cruelties herein expressed / published by G. S.

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1644

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2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

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A71004

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Wing S28

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— A True relation of the sad passages between the two armies in the west shewing the perfidious breach of articles by the Kings partie : their horrid crueltie offered to the Lord Generals souldiers in their march from Foy as it is certified by severall letters under the hands of judicious godly men : commanders in the army who were themselves eye-witnesses and patient sufferers in all these cruelties herein expressed / published by G. S., G. S..

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Printed ... for L. C.,. London :: Octob. 2, 1644.. (Reproduction of original in Thomason Collection, British Library.)

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