CAptain Dragner having gathered neere 300. Horsemen in the neigh­bouring Villages, by verrue of a warrant given him by His Excel­lence, marched round the County, searching and disarming all Papists, and all others that were knowne to be promoters of his war, and enemies to the proceedings of Parliament, from whom he tooke great store of Armes and Ammunition plate, and money, packt up in seve­rall places, to be carried to Nottingham, but now tis laid up in Northampton, till hee shall have order from the Parliament how to dispose of it

THe Earle of Bedfords Troop under the com­mand of Captain ANSELL, marcht out of Hartford towards Puckeridge to search a Pa­pists-house, which was suspected to have great store of Armes, but by the way they met with Sir John Watson accompanied with neere 200. Cava­liers, which were his tenants, and inhabitants neer Hartford, men of loose carriage and decayed for­tunes, which had joyned with the said Sir John Watson, to aid him and the rest of the Commissio­usrs, in the setling of the Commission of Array at Hatford; but being discovered by the Earl of Bed­fords Trpop, Captain Ansell sent a message back to Hartford to raise the trained bands, giving them notice what he suspected, withall hee retreated unseene back to Hartford, to the end that he might joyne with the trained bands, for the suppressing of the said intended disturbance: by that time the trained bands were in Arms, and ready to enter­tain them. Sir John Watson and his men appeared in sight comming off the hill from Ware, the sight of the trained bands startled him, insomuch that he made a stand, and drew his men up to a full bo­dy, ralling of his men in warlike equipage.

In this order he marcht up to the Towne, till he came within Pistoll shot of the Town, his men being led by one which he had made Lieutenant of his Company, hee himselfe bringing up the Reare, and a sumpter horse following him, lead by one of his servants.

All this while Cap. Ansell with his troop stood still in a close way which comes from Hodsden, to Hartford, and joyns with the way from Ware, within a bow shot of Hartford: Sir John Watson be­ing past him, he with his Troop rode up to him as fast as he could gallop, seising Sir John Watson and his sumpter horse, before ever his Company could make any resistance, some pistols were dis­charged, but little hurt done, for as soone as the Cavaliers saw Sir John Watson taken, they clapt squrs to their horses and rode away as fast as they could. Sir John Watson was carried into Hartford, and a guard kept about his Chamber, at the bell, till they shall receive directions how to bestow him, his sumptuer horse was laden with plate and money to the value of 4000. pounds, which was likewise detained. Since the surprizall of Sir John Watson the country has been very quiet, he being the main disturber of all those parts.

THe Deputy Lieutenants in Cheshiere having gathered forces together, and marcht up a­gainst the Welshmen who were bilited in that Countie, but as foone as they heard that the Par­liaments forces were comming, they tooke their heeles and ran for it, the Countie stands generally for the King and Parliament.

It was reported that the King intended to come to Westchester, to settle the commission of Array, others said, that they thought if he came thither, it was because he meant to get shipping and go for [Page 5] Ireland, but these are but false rumours, for he in­tends not to stir from Nottingham.

SIr Edward Peto this day sent out a party from the Castle, to Master Dormers a great Papist, inhabiting at Grove-parke; where he took tenne Cavaliers with a Jesuite, and great store of pow­der and Armour, which was hid in a vault which they had made in a Dove-house.

AT the Grange neere West Hallam, within 6. miles of Darbie, the house of Mr. Poudrel a great Papist, was made the magazine for the Pa­pists of that Countie, it being both neer Notting­ham, and guarded by the Cavaliers, Endimion Por­ter making it his chiefe randevouz, but the Major of Darby and the Lieutenant of the shire having intelligence secretly raised a troope of Dragoo­ners, and two other troops of Shire horse, and by night marched to the Grange, where before ever they were discovered; they beset the house, broke ope the doores and entered, where they found Endimion Porter and his sonne, Mr. Willobie, brother to Sir Francis Willobie. Having made a privie search they found a Vault which they had made to goe from the Grange to a great house they had at West-Hallum, being neere a bow-shot distance, where they use it seemes to bestow their Priests when any search is made, for there they found one Atkins a knowne Jesuite, who was in the habit of [Page 6]a servingman; these they carried to Darbie, and are to be sent up to London, to be disposed of by the Parliament: some Arms there was found, but it was most of it carried to Nottingham before their arrivall.

ONe Mason a singing-man of the Colledge, was carried before the Major for speaking divers scandalous words against the Parliament, which being proved against him, he was turned out of his place and kept in prison till the sessions, that the Law may determine what punishment he shall have, There are many malignant spirits here, but they are kept under by the well affected party, so that they dare not be seene to stir, for upon the least knowledge of either word or act the Major imprisons them, our Newgate is as full of Cava­liers as yours.

WE are here in a very good posture of de­fence, only we had some Cavaliers come hither under pretence of comming as usually Gentlemen doe at the spring and fall, to bath; themselves in our springs, but during their abode they privately endeavoured to raise forces, pro­mising them great rewards that would be assistant; but being discovered they secretly left the Town, otherwise wee had taken order with them and hindered their proceedings.

OUr Bishop is turned Cavalier, for hee is se­cretly gone from Wells, and gone to the King, the Towne hath ceised upon his Pallace, and fortified it with Ordnance which they bor­rowed at Bristol, so that now they are well pro­vided to entertain the Cavaliers.

THe Earl of Cumberland summoned the inhabi­tants of that Countie to meet him at North­alerton, and according to his appointment, they met him to the number of 5000. or thereabouts, but when the E. of Cumberland had declared the extent of his commission, they went away faster then they came, for within 3, hours the E. had not above 50. followers, for which cause he was much discontented, and immediately sent Letters to his majesty of his proceedings, withall desiring him to employ him in some other service, for in that he was like to do him little good.

AT Morpoth in Northumberland there was a great combustion made by some il-affected persons of the Town, insomuch that the trained-bands were inforced to rise and suppresse them, who after they had tooke them, clapt them in the Castle feeding them with bread and water, And in a short time, they will hardly be so lusty.

THe Cavaliers by his Majesties appointment made an attempt against Boston, but Sir John Hotham having intelligence sent them word be­forehand, so that they were well provided to en­tertain them, though they came by night, many shots was made from the Towne, which kept the Cavaliers from comming too neere the Town, so that finding they were not like to gaine their ends, they retreated, but before they could get cleare, the Country rose upon them, and slew 14. hurt o­thers, tooke 3. prisoners, which are comming up to London, to beare the rest of their fellow Ca­valiers company.

On Thursday the King removed from Notting­ham to Darby, and tis thought he meanes to re­move into Wales very suddenly.