HIS MAJESTIES LETTER To the Earl of WARWICK

HIs Majesties present Concessions with the Commissioners, doth plainly manifest his candid intentions, and reall resolu­tions for peace; and therefore desires, that the Ear of Loyalty, and the heart of Obedience, may be ready to receive his gracious promises and Condescentions, for a generall peace [Page 2]throughout his Realms and Dominions, promising up­on his Royall Word to leave no meanes unattempted for the peace and liberty of his people; and for the better faciliating of the present work in hand, his Ma­jesty desires that (during the time of the Treaty) there may be cessation of Arms, and all acts of Hostility whatsoeuer, both by Sea and Land, and that no Mari­ners or Sea-men, either upon the Coast of England, or else where, might plead ignorance thereof, his Majesty sent a Letter to the Earl of Warwick, purporting,

That his Majesty earnestly desires to put a speedy pe­riod to the unhappy differences of his bleeding King­domes; requiring all true subjects to lay their hands up­on their hearts, and to endeavour the propagating of this blessed Treaty, desiring his Lordship to be instrumentall therein, and to sheath the sword at Sea, during the said term of time, by giving Expresse Orders to the respective Captains aboard the Fleet, to forbear any further Acts of Hostility against the Princes Navy, till they have fur­ther Orders from his Lordship.

His Majesty in the said Letter) likewise intimated that he had given the same directions to his Sonne the Prince of Wales, having sent a Letter unto him, where­by he may understand the will and pleasure of his Majesty.

This morning here arrived a messenger from the Isle of Silley, who purports very sad newes from thence, viz.

That the Souldiery in that Island have declared for the King, secured the Castle and Fort, and seized upon all the Ordnance, Armes and Ammunition, but not [Page 3]without losse; for upon notice of their combination and confederacy, about 200 of the well-affected Islanders gathered to a head in the night time, and sent a messenger to col. Butler (the Governour) the next morning, to advertize him thereof, and to send some more aid unto them; but the messenger being inter­cepted, their design were discovered, and a party of Horse and Foot were forthwith sent out to suppresse them, which caused some action, both parties bodying, who disputed the place with great resolutenesse and gallantry, for the space of half an hour; but the Islan­ders being overpowred were forced to retreat, the Sol­diery pursued them to the very clifs of the Sea, killed ten of them, and took above 50 prisoers, the rest esca­ped away in long Boats.

During which conflict, another party of the Revol­ters hastned to the Governours quarters, but missing of him, made towards the Church, where they fell upon Col. Butler, and his party, and after many desperate & combatant blows, disarmed the Colonell, one Major, two Captains and some other inferiour Officers, and drag'd them by the hair of the head to the chiefe Fort, vowing to cut their throats.

They have also broken open their lodging roomes, and plundered them of all their monies, cloaths, and armes, and saith, That they shall lie and rot in the darke Dungeons, if they wil not declare for the King: this strikes terrour to the well affected, much lamenting the losse of so considerable a place, the enemy having possessed themselves of 20 piece of Ordnance, 400. arms, 15 Tun of Match, 20 Barrels of powder, and a Troop of Horse.

Newport 21 Octob. 1648.

New propositions from the undanted Independents.

Letters from the Army say, that their hearts are of known integrity and faithfulnesse, both towards King, City, and Country, and are resolved to see the King invested, the Kingdom setled, and the Liberties & Fran­chises of the City of London firmly preserved and maintained, without any violation whatsoever; and as a testimony of their fidelity, have declared that they will use their utmost endeavours for the composing of all differences, and inthroning of the King in his Royal Throne at Westminster, and unite Him with His great Councell of England, which God grant may speedily be effected. This is the sense of many in the Army, al­though divers objects against the same; especially the Northern party, and their Adherents, who have presen­ted their Remonstrance and Desires to both Houses, as followeth.

Humbly desiring, That Justice may be impartially and speedily executed upon the grand Delinquents o the Kingdomes, especially such as have been the onely promoters of this last Rebellion, who are traytors by the Law of the Land, and ought to be made exemplary without partiality, there being no exception therein to excuse any particular person (though the highest and greatest Incendiary and Delinquent) from Justice, who have confessed themselves guilty of all the bloud, ra­pine, murther, & almost utter ruine of these three poor dying, and last gasping Kingdoms, with whom a Treaty must be had when they are twice conquered, and when God hath delivered them up into the hands of his peo­ple, to the end Justice may be executed on them, and [Page 5]their lives sacrificed as traytors to all future Genera­tion. Further remonstrating and declaring, that with unexpressible grief of heart, they find the affections of Parliament alienated from them, in slighting their just and lawfull addresses, thinking them not worthy of an answer thereunto, whereby they conceive themselves in the capacity of enemies, or not free men, which will justly challenge the same from them, as being their Deputies and Trustees, or else petitioning for things unjust, though they know they are according to their solemn League and Covenant, and their own procee­dings and printed Declarations, upon which they inga­ged with them, and for them; and without which, we should never have drawn a sword the second time in their quarrel. And declare, that if their intentions fur­ther appear (as they have too much of late) to side with, and act for their enemies, and against the interest of them, and all the free Commons of England, in ma­king their enemies and conquered slaves to be their masters and commanders, they must look to and de­pend upon the law of nature for their preservation a­gainst those divellish and malignant principle, to which they declare themselves open enemies, and resolve to he utmost of their abilities to oppose, with the losse of lives and fortunes. Protesting, still to keep their first integrity without spot or blemish, and not bow their knee to Baal at the Kings Command, neither at the Par­iaments, and that if they act against the truth reposed in them by the people, the people are bound in consci­ence and duty to act against them, Salus populi being Suprema Lex.

A bloudy Fight at Scarbrough Castle,

ON Munday last the Besieged in Scarbrough Ca­stle sallied out upon our Forces, who by the neg­ligence of three Centinels, surprized one of our guards unawares, killed 5 of our men, took about 30 priso­ners, and wounded may; this sudden Onset allarums the horse guards, wherupon Col. Bethel advances, charging the enemy with one troop of horse, fell in amongst them, rescued the prisoners, killed nine of the enemy, the rest retreated, Col. Bethel pursues, and chased them to the very Gates, took, 14 prisoners, and made good his retreat with the losse of one man.

Beverley 18. Octob. 1648.

And it is further advertized from the Kingdome of Scotland, that the Earl of Lanerick is gone to the Prince to advise with his Highnesse, touching the disposall of the Fleet, and to invite them into the North Road, if possible to escape the Earl of Warwicks Navy. And it is said, that divers Agents are sent from France, and o­ther places, to treat with the States of Holland, for a conjunction between Vantrump (Admiral of the Dutch Fleet) and the Prince of Wales. But the States disap­prove thereof, and have declared against the same.