THursday last, after my Dove was fully plum'd, her Intelligence given her, and her Packet sealed, there came some Intelli­gence of good Newes, which then I had no roome to insert, (as you may remember) one was of the taking of Bash, of which I [Page 738] then gave you a briefe relation; another was of the taking of the Kings Life-guard, or the most part thereof; they were passing over the River from Wales to Min-head, and so to Bristol, and in their passage were taken by a Frigot; The King (as is reported) was in­tended to follow, and in some danger, (or rather so neere to such a happinesse) to be taken about the same time: a third thing which I would have related last weeke, is the brave service done by Cap­taine Shilburne of Alisbury, which I shall new briefly relate, be­cause I find the Relation thereof made by some to differ much from the truth of the action; in briefe, and for truth, it was thus: The Kings Garrisons at Oxford, Walling ford, and Bostocke, being denyed the money they had Levyed upon the Countrie, toward Alisbury, threatned to come and Plunder the Townes, and burne their houses, &c. The Committee therefore sent out Captaine Shilburne, with a­bout 120 Horse & Dragoons to secure the Countrie; he went out on the Saturday, and stayed till Tuesday; in all which time he saw no Enemie: But on Tuesday about noone, he (being at Wadsdon, and his Horses unbitted) received Intelligence that the Enemie was comming against him with a strong partie from Thame; Cap­taine Shilburne, with all speed prepared, and encouraged his men: but before he could get readie, the Enemie got betweene him and Ethrop-house (which was their Garrison) and in striving to get a little lane, which is about the mid way betweene Ethrop and Wads­don, their forlorne parties fell to blowes, and presently their whole bodies; the Enemie being 240, we not above 120. But gallant Shil­burne behaved himselfe so bravely, that he gave great incourage­ment to his Souldiers, and as much dis-heartned the Enemie; he charged the Enemie twice through, slew divers of them, some were men of quailitie, he wholly routed them, and tooke divers priso­ners, he lost not above 8 men: the Enemie fled towards Oxford, and as they passed through Winchington, divers of them that were wounded stayed; some dyed there, some a little farther: and by the judgement of the Countrie that see them, there was not lesse then 100 of the Enemie wounded: Captaine Shilburne received two flight hurts in the fight. Had some men (more forward to use the Pen then the Sword) done such a service (which they seldome doe) all the Pamphlets would have rung of their Letters, in prayse of the action: We know that emptie vessels make the greatest noyse. This [Page 739] brave Gentleman hath done severall gallant services, and tels no bo­die, nor will he let one of our Pamphlets be beholding to him for one letter; others will be beholding to the Pamphleter to blaze their Letters and their tainter-strecht Relations, which are fuller of words then of truthes; It is the best prayse of Vertue or Valcur, when the actions flowing there-from, speakes it more then their owne Pen.

The Commissioners sent from the Parliament of England, to the Parliament of Scotland, set forward on their journey on Fryday last.

Colonel Harlow is made Governour of Cannon-Froome, the Gar­rison lately taken by the Lord Generall Leven: From which Army was certified lately, that they were marcht over the Forest of Dean, and (as was conceived) they intended toward Monmouth: and thereupon it was generally reported, that the Lord Generall Leven had summoned the Towne: but it was not so, for he struck off from the Forest to Hereford, and sent summons to it, but was refused by the Towne: He is now before the Towne, hath layd close siege to it; sent for his great battering Peeces, and raysed workes and ram­piers for batterie: what the issue will be, I cannot tell you; that we leave to God, who I hope will give that Towne and the rest short­ly into the Parliaments hands.

And thus much give me leave to say, for satisfaction to some, that although no great actions have beene done by that Army since they came into these Southerne or South-west parts, yet they have done great service (though easie) in hindring the Kings designes & his re­cruits; and when God shall be pleased to put them upon greater action, I doubt not of their good and well performance of it; if men would have patience to stay Gods time, and not look upon men as if they were Gods, able to doe what they will; nor esteeme of them worse then men: which are two extrenies betweene which mens fancies are too much divided, and too often fall upon preju­dice by the one or by the other; it were well if men would avoyd both these evills, and looke upon men as men, without singularitie, or prejudice, but onely as instruments, by which God worketh to accomplish his owne will.

The Parliament have intreated Generall Leven to take care to keepe the King on that side of Severne where he is, and to hinder his [Page 740] recruits as much as may be, and to keepe any partie from Cheshire and those parts; which no doubt he will doe, and something else, of which I hope you will heare shortly. There are some Letters from Scotland this week, but they import no action or other newes that concernes our Intelligence.

There is care taken by the Parliament for the keeping in of the Enemie at Oxford, Bostock, Banbury, Walling ford, Dunington, and Basing, which will with all possible speed be effected, to the ease of all the Counties adjacent, and the better if all would freely joyne in the worke for their owne good. The Reformadoes that last went to the reliefe of Taunton are all to be imployed in that service. Care is also taken for the affaires in Cheshire, &c. and for Newarke, though for the present they are injurious to the Countie of Lincolne. They have taken a Garrison called Torsey-house, about 4 or 5 miles from Gainsborough, they have burnt the house, & drawn up some Sluces, ve­rie prejudiciall to the Countie. A care is taken to secure that Coun­tie, and not onely so, but to bring that hellish sanctuarie of diaboli­call robbers into a better obedience; which if God be pleased to blesse the designe, will be of happie concernment to all those Counties, and to the Kingdome; I pray God prosper the worke.

Severall debates have beene in the house, about the establishment of the government of the Church in a Presbyterie way, and setling all things therein according to the true meaning and sense of Sacred Scripture: As also to distinguish (as farre as is possible) betweene them that are Christians indeed, and those that are onely Christians by name, &c. that such as are not fit to be partaker of holy things, (either by reason of their continued prophane lives, or by reason of their darke ignorance) to receive the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper, may be for a time separated from those that are fit & worthie receivers of those holy miste [...]ies, till they be better instru­cted and admonished: yet so, as there shall not be any violence to force any mans conscience (as some have dreamed and given out in words to retard the worke, and to rayse jealousies) no otherwise then by holy and Christian exhortation, according to the rule of holy Scripture, that so we that professe Christianitie, may be Chri­stians indeed, and all of one mind, and one heart, as the Father and the Son are one; for Christ hath but one sheep-fold and one Shep­heard; and he that entreth not in by the doore into the sheep-fold, [Page 741] but by some other way, he is a thiefe and a robber. It is true, that all authorities and powers are made subject to Christ, both in heaven and on earth; yet all Christians and men are by Christ made subject to all lawfull authorities on earth, for the powers that be are ordained of God, and we are all bound to submit thereunto, even for conscience sake, for so the Apostle teacheth: that is, in all things commanded by God, and in all things not forbidden by God; else were the sword put into the hand of the Magistrate in vaine, which it is not: for Scripture tells us, He beareth not the sword in vaine. Therefore, he that disobeyeth in either of these, resists the ordinance of God; as he that obeyeth more then this, transgresseth against the command of God; both which make him lyable to wrath, and brings him in danger of damnation: I pray God we may all seriously consider it, and learne to be godly wise, that we may denie our selves, forsake our owne wisedomes, and our owne righteousnesse, that God in Christ may be all in all unto us: If we thus doe, and seeke Peace one with another, God will surely give Peace to the Kingdome; else we cannot expect it from God as a blessing.

The Garrison of Banbury hath of late done verie much hurt to all the adjacent Counties, and doe dayly make incursions into all Roads; & have robbed manie Carriers that passe, Coventry Road espe­cially; they are as perfect at that Trade, as if there were with them some of the Journy-men of the Lord of Loughboroughs which is the arch rob-Carrier of England; they bestir themselves devillishly, as if they were in their last yeare of libertie, now let loose to trouble the Inhabitants of the Earth.

Sandall Castle, and Skipton in Yorkeshire, are both besieged, the Enemie are yet wilfull, and must be whipt into a better humour, which it is likely (by Gods blessing) will shortly be done: There is great hopes of Latham-house, but no certaintie.

Major Generall Skippon is recovered very well in his health, and in great measure healed of his wounds, which is a mercie to the Kingdome; for he hath, as is still likely, to be a good instrument of good to the publique.

Lieutenant Generall Cromwell hath beene sick of a Feaver in Bridgewater, but is in part recovered; God be praysed for the lives of such Worthies.

Major Generall Browne is now in London, he hath made knowne [Page 742] to the House the estate of those Counties within his Commission, and is hastening the ayd that shall be for their support.

Major Temple is made Governour of the Garrison of Newport. Pagnell.

Some Letters from Ireland, relate much crueltie dayly executed upon the Protestant partie by those Antichristian Rebe's, or rather Hellish Pagans; it is pittisull to relate, and very grievous to con­sider the immane dealings of those bloudie men: let us all seeke God for them, and send them what helpe we are able, and God will in due time deliver them and us.

I shall now endeavour to give you intelligence of the passages in the West. Last weeke I told you our Noble Generall, Sir Thomas Fairfax, was at Wells, and Major Generall Massey gone toward the enemie; which was true: but now the Generall is before Sherborne. He hath raysed batteries, and made divers battering shot: his whole Armie is there with him, quartered at all the Townes adjacent; Major Generall Massey is marcht that way, towards him. The ene­mie, Goring and Greenvile, are betweene Exeter and Barstable; they have drawne out divers of their Ordnance from Exeter, to make them a Traine of Artillerie: his Majestie made our Noble Gene­rall Master of his Ordnance at Naesby field, and Goring delivered all that was in his custodie unto his charge at Langport and Bridge­water, and is now bringing more to him out of Exeter; if God please, they may all shortly be delivered to our Generall to keepe, he knowes how to use them well. His Majestie is somewhere in Wales, but I cannot tell you where; I will at this time obey his Pro­clamation (yet I never see it) and will not tell any man where he is. I know he is not where he should be; if he were, it would be a dou­ble happinesse, not more to his subjects then to himselfe: God open his eyes, and shew him the way to find out his errors, & mis-leaders; they hate him, but his Majestie loves them: but his Majestie loves not them that loves him most; he takes counsaile with them that are the destroyers of counsaile.

It is by Letters certined from the Generals Armie, that hee in­tends to advance speedily toward the enemie with his whole Body: the enemie drawes all out of Cornwall, and their Garrisons, to make up a Body: it seemes, they meane to have another field for their part; let them goe on, and let God fight his owne Battailes, and [Page 743] judge betweene us and them. The inhabitants of Cornwall (though they are really Gorings friends, and that partie to assist them) will not suffer Goring to come with his Armie into that Countrey: and to that end they supplicate, lest our Generall following, their Coun­trey should be destroyed by both Armies; they begin to faint: if God give their Armie now, with Greenvile and Goring, into the Ge­nerals hand, all Cornwall will crie for mercie.

Major Generall Massey is going toward Bristol (as is certified) with about 2500 Horse and Dragoones, and two or three Regiments of foot, to block up the enemie at distance; the Plague is still very hot in the Towne.

Farnley Castle, the House of Sir Hungerford, in the Countie of Wilts, hath yeelded voluntarily to Sir Thomas Fainfax, and both Governour and souldiers submit to the obedience of the Parlia­ment.

The Club men are little spoken of in any Countie, it seemes they are in a good way of submission; and it is not the least of the rest of Gods mercies, that hath disposed so of things, that the enemie is disappointed in that plot and hope. The Club-men of Hampshire generally have declared themselves, to cast themselves upon the Par­liament for all matters of right, and to submit to such government of the Church, as by the Assembly shall be propounded to the Par­liament, &c.

There was a partie from Basing House, that went to M. Wallops Parke, called Farreley Parke, and were there killing and spoyling the Deere; and the Countrey came in upon them, and beat them, tooke some of them, and divers of their Armes, the rest fled away. At a place called Tadley, about five miles from Basing, they in­tended to keepe a Wake, and there came divers to sell Fruit, and Pedlars Ware, and it was to be kept the last Sabbath day; but on the Saturday night a partie from Reading went thither, and tooke from them all their provisions, Pedlars packs, and other Knacks, which spoyled all their sport.

There hath beene debate in the House about sending Propositions to the King, if yet his Majestie will be pleased to accept thereof; and it was voted they would send Propositions by Bill, but without any Treatie. The world may see the Parliaments desire of peace, and [Page 744] their tender care of his Majesties honour and preservation; pro­vided it may stand with the safetie of the Kingdome.

There was published a Murcurous Britanicus on Monday last, dis­honourable to the King; which the Parliament taking into conside­ration, have imprisoned both the Author and Printer: it is not the Author that used to write the first Britanicus. Aulicus of Oxford hath continually abused the Parliament in the basest language that a base heart could conceive, and his Majestie hath never given the least check to him for it; but the Parliament would not so requite his Majestie.

Colonel Russel is appointed to be Governour of the Isle of Ely.

The Club-men in Dorsetshire being tumultuously ga­thered together, and sent to by the Generall to depart to their Dwellings, would not, but grew more nume­rous: The Generall sent Lieutenant Generall Cromwell with two Regiments of Horse, and two Regimenrs of Foot, and sent them home with bleeding pates; a just reward for their boldnesse.

Reports tell us of Ruperts comming to Banbury, and the Kings preparation toward the North; it were good to seare the worst.

There is a Tract intituled Englands Pressures, or, The Peoples Complaint, extant, which is usefull to give satis­faction to all murmuring Complaints, and worth the Readers labour and charge, to read and buy.