A DECLARATION BY Major General Laughorn, AND The rest of the Forces joyned with him IN WALES, Of the grounds of their Engagement, and Demands in relation to the King, Parliament and Kingdom.
Likewise the Copy of an Oath given to all that enter into the said Engagement with them.
Also the true Copies of several Letters and Transactions betwixt the Parliaments Commissioners, Colonel Horton, and Major General Laughorn, since his last coming into Wales.
And two Letters to his Excellency the Lord Fairfax from Col: Horton, more fully relating the particulars of the late Fight near Cardiff, May 8. 1648.
With a perfect List of the Names of the Prisoners, Officers, private Gentlemen and Soldiers taken in the said Fight and Pursuit.
London, Printed for Laurence Chapman, May 15. 1648.
A DECLARATION of Major Gen: Laughorn and his Forces, with the rest of their Associates.
WE whose Names are subscribed do Declare, That we will use our best Endeavors to bring the King to a Personal Treaty with His Parliament, with Freedom, Honor and Safety; To the end the just Prerogative of the King, Priviledges of Parliament, Laws of the Land, and Liberties of the people may be all maintained and preserved in their proper bounds; and the Protestant Religion, as it stands established by the Law of the Land, restored throughout the Kingdom, with such regard to be had of Tender Consciences, as shall be allowed by Act of Parliament.
The copy of an OATH imposed upon the Gentry and others in Wales, upon the former Engagement and Declaration.
YOu that will either give consent to this Declaration, & joyn with us in effecting it; or if you shall not think fit so to do, then not to reveal or prejudice our Oath: and if you do consent to it, then to joyn with us in Councel, & not to reveal our Secrets to any, so long as they are Secrets, but to those whom you think fit to reveal them to for the furthering of the business, and those to be such as you do believe to be well affected to us, and will not betray or reveal our Secrets.
A Letter from Major Gen: Laughorn to Colonel Tho: Horton.
I Desire you would let me know, by what Power you first came, and still remain in these counties of my Association, I being Commissioned Commander in chief of these parts by an Ordinance of Parliament; and upon what grounds the Injury of seizing on some of my Troop was offered, and the taking of the whole attempted, without satisfaction rendred them in point of Pay, according to the Instructions of Parliament to the Commissioners for Disbanding such Supernumeraries: I should gladly be satisfied in these supernumeraries: I should gladly be satisfied in these particulars, otherwise your perseverance in these Affronts to my self, and the Soldiery, and the countrey, will not be without some difficulty. Sir, If you please to withdraw your forces out of this county, it may be a special means to prevent several Inconveniences; besides the necessary Resolutions which otherwise must be forced upon,
For Major General Laughorn.
I Thought that it had not been unknown to you, that His Excellency the Lord Fairfax is General (by Ordinance of Parliament) of all the Forces both in England and Wales, and is impowered to dispose of them into such places, and in such maner as he shall see cause, for the preservation of the Peace of this Kingdom; In order to which, he commanded me into these Counties, with the Forces now under my command, occasioned hither by Colonel Poyers refusing to Disband according to Ordinance of Parliament, and His Excellencies Orders to that end, and Col: Powel's adhering to him; notwithstanding whosoever should so do, were adjudged and declared Traytors by the Parliament: As also Col: Poyer's and Col: Powel's (with others their Confederates) issuing out Warrants (without the least colour of Authority) for the tumultuous raising of the Counties of Southwales; Their entertaining Captain Arram's Company of Foot, after they had received Three moneths pay, and were by the Commissioners of this County declared Disbanded; Their inviting and gathering together most of the Officers and Soldiers which were Disbanded in this county; and the joyning all these with the most active Cavaliers, both in these and other parts, into a Body, [Page 6]to the great Disturbonce of the Peace, and much impoverishing of these Counties; As also the apparent laying the Foundations of a New War; Besides the Affronts put upon two Companies of Foot (sent by his Excellency to assist the reducing of Pembroke Castle) by some of your Forces, which was owned by Col: Powel, before any thing was attempted upon Capt. Agborows Troop, called yours; who notwithstanding the mutual Engagement betwixt the Cōmissioners of this county, my self, and the Captain, That his Troop should not depart this County, where they should lie secure until Disbanded; yet Captain Agborow, having received Four hundred pounds in order to Disbanding, gave private Orders (as I can clearly prove) to his Lieutenant, to march (upon my advance) to joyn with Col: Powel; which Orders the Lieutenant did observe, refusing to return into this County, to receive the rest of his Disbanding money, though thereunto desired by the Commissioners. Whereas I now understand that you are come down into the Countrey (considering the former Trust the Parliament hath reposed in you, and your late Obligations to them) I would have rather believed, that you came with an intention to joyn with us, for the suppressing of that Tumultuous Assembly with you, then to appear amongst, and own those who have so manifestly violated the Authority of Parliament, which you seem to maintain, and infist uponin your Letter to me,
A Letter from Col: Horton to His Excellency, The Lord General.
IN my last I made mention of sundry Gentlemen of the counties of Brecknock and Radnor met at Bealt, to consult about the raising of those counties to joyn with Col: Powel; and my sending a party to apprehend them, the success whereof was the taking of one Mr. Hugh Lloyd (one of the excepted persons) Lewis Lloyd late Sheriff of Brecon, and one of his sons Marmaduke Lloyd, and some others. After the Ammunition was come up to us at Brecknock, we being upon a serious debate of our next motion, which was proposed for Pembrokeshire; We were ascertained by some special Friends in Glamorganshire, That the body of the Enemy was fallen down into that county, having a Design upon Cardiff, both by force and feigned friendship tempting the cordial and constant minded Governor, with Mr. Bushy-Mansel, to come in unto them, so that we were necessitated, for the preservation of that place, and prevention of the Enemies Design, of intirely raising the counties of Glamorgan and Monmouth (which in the judgement of wise and faithful men, was thought to be no less probable then dangerous) to march with all possible speed towards Cardiff, which was done with much difficulty, by reason of all ways over the Mountains, very unseasonable weather, and want of Accommodations both for Horse and Man; and at last we passed the River Taff at Landaff, about a mile [Page 8]above Cardiff, and came to St. Fagons upon the River Ely, whether the Enemy intended to have advanced the same night, which occasioned their stop at St. Nicholas, two miles from us on the other side of the River Ely, being a place much for their advantage, where we could make no use of our Horse, and because for want of food we could not rationally attempt any thing upon them. This morning the Enemy is drawn off from S. Nicholas towards Penmark and Fulnum castle. Major Gen, Laughorn came to them on the 4. of May, and on the fift sent two Letters, one to the Commissioners of this county, and another to my self, the copies of both which, with our Answers, I have herewith sent unto your Excellency: It hath been formerly represented to your Excellency by our most knowing and faithful Friends in these parts, how improbable it was, that one party, though more considerable then ours is, should of it self be able to subdue the Enemy in the Field, reduce Pembroke, and keep all Southwales from rising, being generally inclined to it, by reason of the malignity of the most of the Gentry, which lead the common sort of people which way they please, which we fin 'e by every days experience; and without doubt, Tumults will grow greater, and their numbers increase, if such a strength be not assigned to these parts as may attend both the motion of the Enemy, and to awe those places which are most apt to rise. Captain Creed, with three Troops of Col: Thornhaughs Regiment doth very good service in this kinde, being now quartered about Glasebery bridge, which is a great pass near the conjunction of the counties of Hereford, [Page 9]Radnor and Brecon, Col: Philip Jones, with his Company from Swanzy, hath (for our assistance) been with us in all our march, and himself many ways helpful to us: I had frequently acquainted your Excellency with our condition, the temper of these parts, and the state of the Enemy, had I not been hindred both from intelligence from my friends, and likewise from sending to your Excellency, the countrey people searching all passengers, and abusing of them: I am much afflicted that I can give your Excellency no better Accompt of the state of Southwales, but in one word I must say again, That it is generally against the Parliament, so that what our condition hath been, and is like to be, before any supply can probably be sent hither, your Excellency may easrly perceive; yet by Gods assistance I shal use my best endeavor (with my life) to prove my self still faithful to the Kingdoms interest, and
Major General Laughorns Letter to the Parliaments Commissioners.
I Cannot be ignorant how the sole command of these Associated counties was conferred upon me by Ordinance of Parliament, nor of the Injuries [Page 10]and Affronts put upon my men, in stead of receiving their Pay allowed them by the Parliament, and agreed upon by some of your selves. Truly, I was very confident my past Service for your countrey, had merited much better of you, then that such Miscarriages should happen in my absence, and to your knowledge unrighted: However, if you please to appear with your countrey, and to continue your Endeavors in prevention of the Slavery threatned it, you shall not fail of the most effectual assistance shall lie in the power of,
The Commissioners Answer.
AS we are not ignorant that you were Commander in chief of the Forces of this County, by vertue of an Ordinance of Parliament, so we well know that by the like Ordinances, Thomas Lord Fairfax is appointed General of all the Forces of England and Dominion of Wales, and that the Forces under your Commaud, were by an Ordinance of Parliament to be Disbanded; upon his Excessencies Orders in prosecution whereof, such of them as lay in this county received their money, [Page 11]and some of them thereupon disbanded, and all departed this county, whereinto they nor any other of your Forces were not again to return, without the Lord General his Orders, but ought to have remained in the respective counties wherein they then lay, to yield their obedience to the Ordinance of Parliament for disbanding: We therefore much wonder, that not onely your Forces lying in the other counties, but likewise those who had received their money and debenters, and had been departed, disbanded; yea, and a great part of the Inhabitants of Carmarthen, Pembroke and Cardigan, should be drawn into this county, we know not any colour of the Authority of Parliament for such proceedings: If you please to appear with us, to ease our countrey of this intollerable burthen, and to prevent the slavery that thereby is endeavored to be brought upon us, and the whole county, we shall be glad of your assistance: As for injuries and affronts put upon your men in your absence, we are so far from being privy to any, that we believe we have shewed to them all possible respects and civility, and have not been in the least measure behinde in the pay alloted them by the Parliament, whatsoever we have exceeded; wherein might have appeared our willingness, to express to your self and Forces, all the affection that became real welwishers to the publique good:
Another Letter from the Major General to the Commissioners.
NOr can I be ignorant how much you have forgotten your Service I and my Soldiers have done you in your greatest Necessities; nor could they nor my self expect much favor in our Disbanding, knowing some of you have constantly designed our Ruine from the beginning, and rather have been affected to your own Ends, in promoting a Faction, then any way reflecting upon the Publique good: But 'tis my comfort, the countrey hath a better sence of me and my abused Soldiers, then you have had, who neglected the Generals Order in that point of Satisfaction to me allowed by him: And for my Soldiers, I refer it to the World, how instrumental some of you have been, by your ill usage to distemper them, for the enslaving your countrey. I promise you, my self and all with me are far from the thoughts of it; and if you will but free your selves and countrey from those with you now, more likely to enslave you, you shall finde me very ready to comply with your desires, in drawing of the burthen off your Neighboring countreys, and appear, in what lies in my power,
Another Letter from Col: Horton, to his Excellency the Lord Fairfax.
I Have already given you an Accompt of our late tedious Marches and condition, which seemed, (through the great increase of the Enemies numbers, by reason of the general defection of these counties) to be very hazardous, we having for some time layen at St. Fagons, near unto the Enemies Body, about two miles from us, at St. Nicholas. The Enemy on Friday last drew back to Lancarven, Penmark and Fulmun Castle, where they lay untill the Lords day at night; at which time they advanced to Peterstown: Upon Monday morning the Eigth of this instant, the Enemy advanced with their Body towards us, and we having some notice of it, drew forth, and took the best ground the place could afford: The Enemy tell us they were Eight thousand Horse and Foot. We had a sharp dispute with them for about two hours: In our Disadvantages, the Lord of Hosts wonderfully encouraged both our Officers and Soldiers, that unanimously (as the Hedges and Bogs would permit) they charged the Enemy, who were wholly Routed, and pursued about Seven miles: Many of the Enemy were slain upon the place, and in the pursuit we have taken, as I guess, about Three thousand Prisoners; as also Major General Stradling, with many Officers and Gentlemen: We have taken all their Ammunition, [Page 14]great store of Arms, and most, if not all their Colours. We have lost not many Soldiers, and not one Officer that I can yet hear of: We had a great loss in Horses, our Horse being forced to stand the Enemies shot, to second our Foot. Major General Laughorn, I hear, commanded the Field: About Sixty Horse of the Enemy charged once, but was beat back, and after not any of them appeared. Ere long I shall give your Excellency a more particular Accompt of what the Lord hath done this day: And though both Officers and Soldiers kept their order, and discharged their Duties very chearfully and couragiously, yet they earnestly desire that God may have all the honor, and so doth
A List of the Commanders Names in custody in Wales taken Prisoners at the Fight near Cardiff, May 8. 1648.
- MAjor General Stradling,
- Major Hopkins.
- Captain Matthews.
- Captain Rowland
- Matthews.
- Capt. James Matthews.
- Capt. Evan Price.
- Capt. Craduck.
- Capt. William Button.
- Capt. Lewis.
- Capt. Floyd.
- Capt. Williams.
- [Page 17]Captains,
- Hugh Floyd.
- Charls Aberey.
- Hopkins.
- Rob. Matthews.
- Owens.
- Jones.
- Pewery.
- Tho: Bowing.
- John Thomas.
- John Rice.
- Lucy Iones.
- Edmonds.
- Griffith Bowing.
- 25.
- Capt. Lieut. Bartlet.
- Capt. Lieut. Hewit.
- Lieutenants,
- Thomas Iones.
- Button.
- Swale.
- Wese.
- Richards.
- Prichard.
- Prother.
- Thomas.
- Talbot.
- Pew.
- Jenkins.
- Mockames.
- Floyd.
- Griffith.
- Williams.
- Powel.
- William Griffith,
- Lucas.
- Suttleworth.
- Loyd.
- Grimar.
- Griffith.
- Walter Iones.
- Taylor.
- Newsam.
- Lewis Iones.
- Tho: Morgan.
- Peregrine.
- Tho: Jenkins.
- 32
- Ensigns,
- Haires.
- Tho: Hopkins.
- Walter.
- Rowland Petrow.
- John Williams.
- More Prichard.
- John Carey.
- Nat: Gee.
- Tho: Patchard.
- Auberey Haward.
- William Fluin Griffith.
- Orian Morfew.
- Walter Williams.
- John Barrison.
- Griffeth Thomas.
- Bartholomew Rutter.
- Rice John.
- Owen Bowin.
- Morgan Relarth.
- Rice Hewel.
- James Annis.
- Tho: Williams.
- James Harman.
- Matt: Stakey.
- Evan Richard.
- John Barksted.
- Ed: Thomas.
- 27.
- Private Gentlemen,
- Samuel Howel.
- Hump. Matthews.
- Parson Owen.
- Dame Pewry.
- Rich: Floyd.
- Robert Davy.
- Roger Williams.
- Richard Mawning.
- Geo: Davis.
- Robert Nichol Chyrurgion.
- 10
- The whole number Ninety four.
- Private Soldiers in custody, above 2000.
Imprimatur Gilbert Mabbot.