A SECOND LETTER Sent from John Ashe Esquire, a Member of the House of Commons, to the Honourable VVilliam Lenthall, Esquire, Speaker of the House of Commons in Parliament. Concerning divers Messages, and passages between the Marquesse Hartford, Lord Pawlet, Lord Seymour, Lord Coventry, and others his Majesties Commissioners: And the Deputy Lievtenants and other Commissioners for the County of Somerset. Together with divers Propositions for peace, by the Commissioners and Deputy Lievtenants for that County. And the Lord Hartford, Lord Pawlet, Lord Seymour, and others Answer thereunto. Ordered by the Commons in Parliament that this be forthwith printed and published.
H. Elsyn. Cler. Parl. Dom. Com.
LONDON, Printed by A. N. for Ed. Husbands. and I. Franke, 1642. August 16.
A second Letter sent from Iohn Ashe Esquire, a Member of the House of Commons, to the Honourable VVilliam Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the House of Commons,
IN my last sent you by Master Coombs you received, a full relation of all that was done by his Majesties loyall Subjects, and the Parliaments most faithfull Friends and servants here in this part of the County of Somerset, you sh [...]ll now receive an account of what passed between your Committees and Deputie Lievtenants and the Lord Marquesse Hartford, the Lords and others his Majesties Commissioners.
[Page 4] Upon Friday, the fifth of this instant August, about twelve of the clocke, there was sent from the Lord Marquesse and the Commissioners unto your Committees and Deputy Lievtenants then in the field neere Chewton, Anthony Stocker, VVilliam Basset, and Richard Brown, three Justices of the Peace, of this County, who went but that very morning to Wells, upon a Letter which they produced unto us sent unto them from the Marquesse, wherein they were desired to come unto Wells, to preserve the peace of the Countrey. These three Messengers told us that they had a Message to deliver us from the Lord Marquesse, and the Commissioners which they were willing to bring unto us, because (as they conceived) it did conduce to the peace of the Countrey, and thereupon delivered the message in writing, a Coppie whereof is herewith sent you, and at the same time they delivered us a Declaration, which the Lord Marquesse and the Commissioners had caused to be published for the satisfaction of the Countrey, in which is especially set out those severall passages at Shepton Mallet upon Munday, the first of this moneth, the Declaration we do likewise send you, which when you have compared & examined with our relation formerly sent you touching the same matter, you may then see the errours and mistakes committed by the Commissioners contained in the said Declaration. When your Committees and Deputy Lievtenants had perused this Declaration and Message, for that Master Strode, Master Pyne, Master Rogers, and Master Francis were [Page 5] not come unto us, and some of them were principally concerned in that of Shepton Mallet, we thought fit to returne the Commissioners for the present this answer, which we here send you, promising them a more full answer the next day, by which time we did hope to enjoy the company, and have the advise and consent of those Gentlemen above-named, for wee expected them every houre, but they came not unto us at all. When your Committees and Deputy-Lievtenants had deliver'd unto the messengers their said Answer. They the Messengers did propose that a course should be taken, that the peace might be kept between us during this time, that the Commissioners were to expect our next Answer, and thereupon was added the last clause in this our first answer, upon this condition that they the three messengers should engage that the like assurance should be given us from the Lord Marquesse, and the other Commissioners, or else to receive timely advertisement by them, whereby wee might have time to put our selves in some readinesse for our safety and defence, which the Messengers consenting unto they departed; And in the evening (by which time all our Companies were marched from Chewton unto a Hill above, and in view of the Towne of VVels) the same Messengers came againe unto us, and brought the Warrant for our safety under the Lord Marquesse, and some of the Commissioners hands, which writing we likewise doe herewithall send unto you. The next morning wee made ready our answer to their first Message which was digested into propositions, and about ten of the clocke sent the same into VVels by foure Gentlemen, Master Giles [Page 6] Hungerford, Master VVilliam Eyre, Master George Bompfield, the Master Prickman, who were attended by our Trumpetter, and so brought safe to the Lord Marquesse, and delivered him the Propositions, from whom they received this Answer, That the Answer and propositions were of a very high Concernment, and therefore his Lordship and the Commissioners did desire time to consider of them, but would give their reply by two of the clocke at the farthest, and send the same unto us by Messengers of their owne; The Meslage and Propositions you shall receive herewithall.
After the Lords and Gentlemen had received these our Propositions, they then (as wee were informed) made ready all things for their departure, and hastned away with speed, yet to keepe the people in expectation whilst they might with the more safety depart the Towne, They sent us up to the Hill by three Gentlemen, Master Stocker, Master Seymour, and master Button an answer to our Propositions, but before their messengers came from them, all their Carriages were gone out of the Towne, and the Lords and Gentlemen ready to take horse, the answer wee have herewith sent unto you.
But by that time we had received, and read this their Lordships reply, there came Messengers unto us from the Major and Citizens of Wells, who assured us that the Lord Marquesse and all the company were gone, and had left the Towne, and therefore petitioned us, that the Sould [...]ers might not come down, nor attempt any thing against them. Upon which relation the Souldiers looking round the Countrey, they espied the Lord Marquesse and all the company marching away, [Page 7] and gone about three miles off, neere unto a Towne called Glassenbury, since which time we have received certaine intelligence from one that continued with them unto this very day; That they marched that night unto Somerton, a Towne neere unto Sir Iohn Fowells house, from which place went the Lord Paulet, and many other Gentlemen from the Marquesse unto their homes: The Lord Marquesse and those that were left, stayed at Somerton untill Munday morning, and then left that Towne, and are gone and setled at Sherborne, as we are credibly informed. Sir Ralfe Hopton and Sir Francis Dodington with some others resolving not to leave the Lord Marquesse, but to keepe under his protection, for that the whole Countrey doe take Sir Ralph Hopton for no better then a Rebell. There are reports that they intend to returne into this County againe to bee avenged for this affront: Very probable it is, that they goe about to get more strength to come into this County or into Wiltshire, for Shirborne is not farre distant from that part of Wilts, where the Lord Cottington, the Lord Arundell of Warder, the Lord Sturton, the Deane of Windsor, the Earle of Marlborow, Master Coventry, and Master Edward Seimour, neighbour altogether; And a strong report hath beene these ten dayes, that they will very speedily put their Cōmission in execution about Sarum and Warminster; Wherefore it is held most necessary, that both Counties stand upon their guard, and that those Noble Earles of Bedford and Pembroke be hastened away into the Country with such Commanders, and other strength as you shall thinke fit to supply us withall; Sir, we are lost and spoyled, if we have not Commanders, [Page 8] for though the Countrie people be stout and resolved, yet we are not able to maintaine the cause, and support our courage, without expert men that can leade and advise us. We shall therefore comfort our selves with the speedy expectation of their arrivall, and shall pray for your safeties as our own, which shall be the constant imployment of
Sir, This Letter is written by the consent and approbation of Sir Edward Hungerford, though he bee not present to subscribe it, the other Committees and Deputies being busily imployed in severall parts of the County to make all safe if they can.
The first Message sent from the Lord Marquesse of Hertford, and the Commissioners, by Mr. Stocker, Mr. Bassit, and Mr. Brown.
YOu are to signifie to those whom you shall finde assembled, That my Lo: Marquesse Hertford, and the rest of the Commissioners take notice of a great number of people gathered together from divers places in a warlike manner, with Arms, Ammunition, and Ordnance, contrary to the Laws of the Kingdom, and against the peace thereof; His Lordship therefore requires in His Majesties name, and upon your Allegiance, that every man depart peaceably to his own home; which if they shall refuse to do, and so be a means of the breach of the peace, and raising a war within this Kingdom, the evil which may come of it, must rest upon their own heads; and that you may understand his Lordships inclination, and intentions to preserve the peace, this Gentleman hath direction to deliver unto you a Declaration under his Lordships and the Commissioners hands, which they will observe in all points, unlesse they shall be forced for their own defence to the contrary. And you are further to give them notice, that yesterday some few horse going out to open the passages hereabouts, which were stopped by armed [Page 10] men, and meeting many hundreds of men armed with Musquets, Pikes, Bullets, Match lighted, marching; some of the Gentlemen that went out by my Lord Marquesses and the Commissioners appointment, sent to them a desire to treat; and thereupon three or four of them meeting with as many of the other, they desired them to return their armed men, and some of them to come and speak with my Lord Marquesse and the Commissioners, who would give them all just satisfaction: They took time to consider of it, and at last returned answer, that they would come on, and make their way; and so marching, when they came within Musquet shot they gave fire upon them, and so continued till they came within the reach of the Carabines, who then gave fire upon them also; by which means, the blood which was shed, must light on their own heads; for we desire nothing but peace: Whereunto if you shall agree, and dismisse your Assemblies, and advance no further, there will be an end of the Distractions of this Country, which God Almighty grant.
- Hertford.
- Paulet.
- Seymour.
- J. Coventry.
- John Stowell.
- Ferdinando Gorges.
- Henry Berkley.
- Ralph Hopton.
- John Poulet.
- Fran: Dodington.
- Charls Berkley.
- Francis Hawly.
- Will: Walrond.
- Tho: Smith.
- Edw: Kirton.
- Edmund Windham.
The Committees and Deputy Lieutenants first Answer to the Lords Commissioners Message.
THe Committee and Deputy Lieutenants are all desirous of peace, and their coming hither is to preserve the peace of this County, which they conceive hath been broken, since the repair of the Lords Commissioners, and the Cavaliers into this Country, to the other particulars of their Lordships Message, which doth charge the said Committees and Deputies with the breach of the peace, and some of them with unwarrantable and disorderly behaviour at Shipton Mallet, whereof (they hope to make it appear) they are not guilty; as also, for the way propounded by their Lordships for the setling of this desired peace, the same being of great consequence, and many of the Committee not yet come, whose presence is hourly expected, they desire to respite untill to morrow, and then they will return a more full Answer unto their Lordships, and in the mean time they will take care that the peace shall not be broken by them.
- Edw: Hungerford.
- John Horner.
- Alexander Popham.
- Rich: Cole.
- Robert Harlyn.
- John Hipsley.
- John Ashe.
The second Message sent from the Lo: Marquesse and the other Commissioners by Mr. Stocker, Mr. Bassit, and Mr. Brown, upon the delivery of the Committees first Answer.
WE the Kings Commissioners will not fail to keep the Peace till we hear your further Answer.
- Hertford.
- F. Seynour.
- Jo. Poulet.
- J. Coventry.
- Edw: Berkley.
- Charls Berkley.
The last Message and Answer of the Committees and Deputy Lieutenant, sent unto the Lords and other Commissioners, by Giles Hung [...]rf [...]rd, William T [...]rre, Esq George Barryfield, Prickman Gent.
The Propositions of the Committee and Deputy Lieutenants, in answer to the Message sent from the Lords and others His Majesties Commissioners at Wels, the fifth of August. 1642.
1. THat his Lordship would be pleased to present unto His Majestie, the humble Petition of this Countie, for the withdrawing the Commission of Array, or any other Commission in opposition to the Ordinance of the Militia.
2. That all the Troopers, Cavaliers, and other Souldiers now enterrained, and under his Lordships Command at Wels, be forthwith disarmed, disbanded, and cashierd, and their Arms be put in sase custody untill some further course be taken therewith by the King or both Houses of Parliament.
3. That those Gentlemen of the House of Commons, and others which have been the principall Incendiaries and Authors of this combustion, (now with his Lordship) may be sent to the Parliament, to answer their delinquency.
4. That all the Arms which have been seiz'd, and taken away from severall men, and out of severall [Page 14] mens houses, by vertue of any Commission granted to his Lordship, and the other Commissioners, be forthwith restored to the owners, and satisfaction made to such as have receiv'd any dammage by the Souldiers and Cavaliers, since the coming of the said Commissioners.
5. That such Gentlemen and others as have been taken, and kept as prisoners, may be forthwith discharged.
These we offer to their Lordships, and other His Majesties Commissioners, as most conducing to the peace of this Countie, and the whole Kingdom, and unlesse they be forthwith yeelded unto, we do much doubt whither it will be in our power to keep the Souldiers from assaulting the Town.
The People in generall being apprehensive of, and much incensed by the late accidents, occasioned since the bringing of these Commissions into this Countie, by seizing of Arms, maiming some, and murdering others, the report whereof, hath spread far and nigh, and hath brought many hither out of their Counties to rescue this from their miseries, least the same Evills fall upon themselves afterwards.
- Edw: Hungerford.
- John Horner.
- Alexander Popham.
- Rich. Cole.
- Robert Harbyn.
- John Hipsley.
- John Ashe.
The Lords and others the Commissioners reply unto the Committees and Deputy Lieutenants Propositions.
1. TO the first Proposition, it is in your power to offer what Petition you please to His Maiestie, for withdrawing the Commission of Array, or any other; And if you desire to have the Execution of the Commission of Array to be forborn, in the meane time his Lordship and the Commissioners of this Countie, will be contented for the peace of this Countie, to forbear the Execution thereof, so as you forbear the Ordinance for the Militia.
2. To the second, his Lordship hath no Souldiers entertained in pay, but those of the Trained Bands, and some Voluntiers which he will disband, if you will do the like; And where there are with us two Troops of horse raised by His Majestie, we must leave them to His Majesties disposall, but if you desire to have them removed from thence, we will yeeld unto it.
3. To the third, we know of no Incendiaries or Authors of combustion amongst us; and did not expect that in a Treatie of Pacification, such false and scandalous Termes should be used.
4. To the fourth, we know of no Arms or goods taken, and if any shall hereafter appear to us, we will [Page 16] cause restitution to be made, if you will do the like.
5. To the fifth, we have delivered (before the making of the Propositions) such prisoners as were with us.
This we return in Answer to yours.
- Edw. Rodney.
- Edw. Berkley.
- Francis Dodington.
- Edw. Kirton.
- Hertford.
- Francis Seymour.
- Paulet.
- John Coventry.
- Henry Berkley.
- Edmond Windham.