BY my last of Fryday the 4. instant, I gave you ac­count of what I understood from Holmby concer­ning the undertaking of some Souldiers on Wednesday last to secure the King from being secretly conveyed a­way, and that Col. Graves being therupon secretly slipt away, I had sent Col. Whalley with his Regiment to attend the Comissioners, and take charge of the guards [Page]there. On Satturday morning being at a Randezvouze beyond Newmarket, and advancing the Army this way in order quarter about Cambridge, I received ad­vertisement, That the Souldiers of Holmby had upon Fryday morning (with his Majesties consent) brought him away from thence, together with your Commissi­oners. That they lay at Hinchingbrook neare Hunting­don on Friday night, and would bee at Newmarket that day; The ground of this remove was alleadged to be an apprehension in the Souldiers, of some Forces ga­thering towards that place suddenly to fall upon them and force the King out of their hands, to withstand which, they thought they might be too weake (having then no notice of Col. Whaleyes coming with his Re­giment) upon this immediatly I sent after C. Whaley to advertise him thereof, with order to direct his course towards Huntingdon, and (where ere he met his Maje­sty and the Commissioners) to desire, that they would come on no further this way, but rather to returne, and suffer him to guard them back.

And to prevent any danger imaginable therein, I sent off from the Rendezvouze two Regiments of Horse more, to march after Col. Whalley towards Hunting­don, and so on towards Holdenby, to be assistant to him in the Guards about his Majesty if it should bee found needfull.

And thus I held on the motion of the rest of the Ar­my this way.

Towards Evening (after the Quarters of the Armie were assigned, and taken up hereabouts, and the Regi­ments marching off towards their severall Quarters, I understood from Colonel Whalley, that meeting the [Page]King and your Commissioners upon their way from Huntington towards Newmarket, about foure miles short of Cambridge, they had forborn to come on any further; but his Majestie being not willing to returne back for Holmby, they had taken up his Quarter for pre­sent at Sir Iohn Cuts house at Childerley, being the next house of any conveniencie to the place where hee met them.

Hereupon I sent thither Sir Hardres Waller, and Col. Lambert, to informe the Commissioners of my coming to Cambridge, and the Armies quartering hereabouts, & to desire, that they would think of returning backe with his Majestie to Holdenby, and (because there might be many inconveniencies in delay) that they would not make any stay where they were, but remove backe that way next morning (though it were the Lords Day) the Commissioners refused to act or meddle any otherwise in disposing the King, then by their Answer to mee, (whereof I have sent you a Copie here inclosed) you see. And his Majestie declares himselfe very anwilling to go back to Holmby. I have thus given you a true and faithfull account, how his Majestie came to the place where he is, and how the Quarters of the Army have fallen out to be so neare him.

what ever (by the concurrence of events to make it thus) may be suspected of designe therein. This is the exact truth of the businesse, and I can clearly professe, (as in the presence of God) for my selfe, and dare be confident of the same for all the Officers about me, and body of the Army, that this remove of his Majestie from Holmby was without any designe, knowledge, or privity thereof on our parts, and a thing altogether un­expected [Page]to us untill the notice of it came upon the Ran­dezvouz as before; neither the Randezvouz or coming hither to quarter with the Army from any purpose, or with any expectation to be so neere His Maj. as it hap­pens. But the effect is so farr meerly providentiall, and (to us) accidentall, but the case being as it is (your Commissioners refusing to intermeddle as before, and the King to go back) I have placed and shall continue a­bout his Majesty such a Guard of trusty men, and un­der such Command, Collonel Whalley being chiefe in the charge) as I may be responsall for to the Parliament and Kingdome, (so farre as can reasonably be expected from me) by the blessing of God to secure his Majesties person from danger, and prevent any attempts of such as may designe, (by that advantage of his Person) the best to raise any new warre in this Kingdome. And tru­ly (Sir,) to prevent any such mischiefe as it is my owne most earnest and humble desire, so I finde it to be the unanimous desire and study of the Army, that a firme peace in this Kingdome may be setled, and the liberties of the people cleared and se­cured accordingly, to the many Declarations by which we were invited and induced to ingage in the late war: and the Parliaments effectuall and speedy application to these two things (I find) would conduce more fully and surely to a chearefull and unanimous disbanding; And yet (what ever may be suggested or suspected) I do certainly find (and dare assure you, you may depend upon it) That the sence of the Army is most cleer from any purpose, or inclination, to oppose the setling of Presbyterie, or to have the Independant Government [Page]set up, or to up-hold a licentiousnesse in Religion, or to meddle with any such thing to the advancement of a­ny particular party or interest whatsoever, but to leave all such particular matters to the wisdome of the Par­liament.

I shall by the next send you a full Account of the proceeding and unanimous resolutions of the Army at the late Randezvouze (being not at present prepared so fully to do it as is fit) The letter from both Houses I have received but this night, the Quarters of the Army being lately altered before, will make the Heath neere Newmarket lesse convenient for a Randezvouze, yet I shall take order (according to the desire of the Houses) to have a Randezvouze either there or nor fame of on Wednesday next, I remain

I Shal according to my duty, and the de­sires of the Houses, doe my utmost to keepe the Army in good order, to which I find it absolutely necessary, that there bee some pay presently sent down.