THE DECLARATION Of Major Generall MASSEY Concerning comming into England to assist His Dread Soveraign Lord the KING: AND To be Lieutenant-Generall under His Highnesse the Prince of WALES. With his Message to the Queen of England, and the Prince concerning the same.
Also, a Relation of the relieving of Colchester, and a List of the Duke of YORK his Navie, concerning their proceedings, and their sayling towards England.
Likewise, joyfull Propositions from the House of Peeres, concerning a Personall Treaty with the Kings Majesty, to compose all differences between the King and His People, and to settle the Kingdome in Peace and Unity, to the great joy and comfort of all true-hearted Subjects.
⟨July 13⟩ Printed for generall satisfaction of all that desires Peace.
THE DECLARATION Of Major Generall MASSEY Concerning His comming into England, to assist the King Majesty, and to be Lieutenant Generall under His Highnesse the Prince of Wales.
BY an Expresse from Hamborough it is certified, that Major Gen [...] Massey [...] amongst the Swi [...]ers, and is made L [...]e [...] Gen. of the Swedish Forces who are designed to joyn with the Venetians.
[Page] But it is said that he hath received several invitations from the Queen of England, and the Prince of Wales to engage for England, and to receive commission under His Highnesse, as Lieut. Generall, to assist His Royall Father, and to restore Him to His just Rights and Priviledges. But he returned this Answer, and Declared,
That seeing her Majesty, and his Highnesse, were so graciously pleased, as to honour his person with such a noble and Military Title, he would endeavour to make the world an object to behold his loyalty, protesting to sacrifice his life against any forraign enemy, who should endeavour the in [...]ringment of the least tittle of the R [...]yall Prerogative; but to engage against his Native Country, he were resolved to the contrary, saying, he would never draw his sword more to involve England in bloud.
Here is great preparations for the entertainment of the Prince of Wales, who is said to be comming from Callice attended by divers Lords and Gentlemen, but their design is not yet known.
Divers old Souldiers and Commanders are come out of France and other parts, to this City. They give out, an if they had a Design for England, and wee are the rather conduced to believe the same, by reason of the Revolted ships still lying in Gorith Haven, who it is supposed are to transport the said Officers and Souldiers into England.
The Duke of York hath declared his great unwillingnesse to engage in the said ships, untill such time that He can be accommodated with money, armes, and other Furniture belonging to War.
From the Hague in Holland, July 12. 1648.
Postscript.
SInce the close of this Letter, here arrived a Post from Gorith, who saith, That just upon his comming away, the revolted ships were weighing anchor, and intends to be in the Downs very suddenly, and to put in for a personall Treaty.
We hear, that they have set forth a Declaration, declaring the grounds and reasons of this their Ingagement, & their resolution to maintain the Antient Government & known laws of the Kingdome of England, and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties Royall Person, and to endeavour the re-inthroning of him in his Royall Palace at White Hall, I have sent you here inclosed a perfect List of the Ships now intended for the Downs, and the number of their Ordnance.
- Ordnance.
- 1. The Constant Reformation. 56
- 2. The Convertine 46
- 3. The Swallow 40
- 4. The An elope 40
- 5. The Satisfaction 38
- 6. The Hynd 36
- 7. The Roe-buck 40
- 8. The Crescent 40
- 9. The Pellican 40
- 10. The Rainbow 40
- 11. The Garland 40
- 12. The Revenge 32
By letters from the North it is advertized as followeth, That M. Gen. Lambert hath received a Letter from D. Hamilton, intimating, that the Parl. of England had not given satisfaction to the Parl. of Scotland in their desires [Page]sent unto them, for the [...]ing whereof he was to come with an Army into the Kingdom of England, in which enterp [...]ize he expected no opposition from him, Gen Lambert returned him answer, That as to non satisfaction [...]om the Pa [...]l of England; he had not to say; but as to his comming to an hostile way into England he had authority from Parl. to resist any power not raised by them, and therefore declared that he and his Army would oppose, and fight with them as traytors and enemies to the Kingdome of England, & that this great breach of Covenant between the two Nations, he doubted not but would be revenged upon them to their utter ruine, &c. This Letter together with the Answer was read in the House of Commons, July 12 and the Commons voted that they approve what May Gen Lambert had sent in answer to the said Letter of D. Hamiltons.
The House of Commons at a Conference gave severall Re [...]sons for a Treaty with his Majesty he being at liberty before any Acts be agreed upon.
- First, Its the desire of the Kingdome or Parliament of Scotland.
- Secondly, The Agreement will be more Authenticke.
- Thirdly, Its probable, having no Army in being, he will condiscend to that which at Uxbridge and Oxford he refused▪
- Fourthly, Its not the way of Treaties to confirme any before all is agreed, especially those of most concernment;
And that which chiefly will be insisted vpon or to this effect the Commons concurrence was desired God grant a good uniting.
A Fight in Worcester-shire.
IT cannot be imagined with what skil & policy, the Cavalier party have acted in severall parts of the Kingdom, for raising of forces to renew the first quarrel, & put it into a new combustion, for which purpose many Agents have bin employed, not only in this c [...]unty, but also in Herefordshire. W [...]rwickshere, &. other parts of the Kingdom; & although they have bin very private in their meetings, and listing of men, yet we blesse God they are discovered and some of those which were principall actours herein apprehended their persons secured, which may much co [...]uce to the peace and quiet of these parts, especially [...] our neighbour Counties do the like, one of the chief in this County wich is suspected to have a hand in this businesse, is the Lord Dudleys sonne, there be also five more apprehended but they shall be namelesse, till a fuller discovery, be made of this businesse, some of them hahaving already confessed that there was a generall designe to have raised forces, in all the Counties of the Kingdome, these Gent. had many private meetings as Bromsgrave & Kittermaster, and had gotten some forces in a readinesse, but the whole plot being now made manifest, the well-affected in these parts declare themselves against their proceedings, and doe utterly abhor their actions, and say their actions are destructive to the setled Government of this Kingdom.
[Page] One of their Actors being apprehended, confessed that they had a design to secure Hereford, Kidderminster, and other places, for the King, relating the day, time, and place of their Randevouz; whereupon a party of Horse were drawn out, and sent to the said place appointed for meeting, who came thither undiscovered and upon the approach of the Royalists, they fell upon them, killed four, and took divers prisoners, amongst whom was Col. Dudley, and divers other eminent commanders.
This Plot was discovered accidentally by Captaine Juets Dragoons, who found in a Corn field twelve B [...]rrels of Powder, great store of Match, and other necessaries for War.
Worcester July 12. 1648.
A great rumour was eccho'd amongst divers persons of the relieving of Colchester, by 3 ships from Holland who landed 2000 men; but no credence can be given to this: therefore, I give it you as a report rather of them that would have it so, then of any certainty that it is so, &c.