AFter the Sheriff of our County had sent abroad his Warrants for posse Comitatus, to suppresse certain forces and unlawfull Assemblies gathered together against the Law, who said Sir Richard Vivyan came to Truro, the day before the appea­rance, being the Law Court day when the new Major was chosen, but before hee was sworne, the Knight came to the stairs of the Town-hall, and prayed to speak with the Major, who comming to him, he said; hee would advize the Towne to come forth and send out their Arms, for that it was no Muster but a Command by Statute Law, upon paine of Imprisonment and Fine and Ransome at the Kings pleasure, and that it would fall heavy upon them if they came not forth; the Major replyed, that it concerned every particular man in his own person to appeare, but for any man to require another mans Arms (as at Musters) he saw no such power in the Sta­tute, and that for his part if any that had Arms assessed on them would goe, he would not discourage them; but Sir Richard Vyvian did so affright the Com­mons who were gathered together about them with the danger of the Law, and so perswade them with the Kings Service, and that they knew not what unlawfull Assemblies were gathered in many parts of the County to the dan­ger of their lives, their wives, and children if they came not out to assist the Sheriffe and Justices; and that hee was their Colonell, and advised for their good, and would take it kindly of them. All this so wrought upon them, as they were on fire to goe in all haste, and came to the Major in the Court, and required the Town Arms, and the Magistrates Arms, but the Maior answered [Page 2] they should have none, for that none was required to seeke other mens Arms, and if they had any Arms assessed on them selves, they might doe what they would, if they had none they need not goe; but they said they would goe how­ever, and complaine to the Sheriff for want of the Arms, hee said he cared not if they did, for he knew no unlawfull Assemblies to be suppressed: Afterwards when the new Major was chosen, hee asked the Townes advice what to doe, some said no Armour was required in the Statute, but only by the Warrant, and that was no Rule for them without Law; but the Recorder being not present (but refusing to come for feare of himselfe, and returning no advice about it, as hee was intreated twice by letter from the former Major;) the Town Counsell being one master Hoblyn, perswaded them by all means to goe forth, and send forth the Arms, else they would be deeply fined, and the Maior in danger of great trouble, which hearing, most voices were to send forth the Arms, though three or foure still denied and said, they would goe forth too, but their Arms should never be carried against the Parliament, they would die rather; but the maior part by the Counsels meanes prevailed, which had the Recorder beene there they had not done; well, out they came the next day all of them (or most part) and sent the Arms; but some kept their men with them, and would not suffer them to goe in among the Bands, but brought them home along with them the next day; but the first day came a great number, I think neer fifteene or sixteen thousand men but I think not above foure thousand armed; proposi­tions were sent by the Committe to the Sheriffe and Gentlemen, who agreed to choose six Treaties on each side, and to meet next day at Red-yet in Saint Cleer, halfe way between Bodmin and Lanceston, where Sir Richard Buller was with six or seven hundred men; but when they met, the Sheriffe and his side (with the Troopers) drew up new Articles of their own so unreasonable as the Com­mittee could not (commendably or conscionably agree unto; the Treaty there­upon broke of, and the Treaties returned, whereupon they that did not bring back their men and Arms with them the first night were stopped; for the second day (being warned over night to, meet againe next day) they suddenly had word to march forward towards Lanceston, which they did; every Cap. leading his Company, and every Colonell his Regiment: but by what power I know not, unlesse the Sheriff gave them any power so to traine and muster; for the Commission of Lievtenancie is void, and the Militia side appeared not, and for the Array there was no power neither, for the Lord Mohun hath deserted the cause, and did not appear at all among them, which did at first somewhat daunt them, but the great appearance of the County upon this plot of the She­riffs Warrant (advised by Ioseph Ianc, and George Spry, as is conceived for their [Page 3] owne ends) put them in such a height of Pride and Insolency, as they thought it an invincible Army; and quartered Wednesday about Lisbord, and Thurs­day some letters past betweene Sir Richard Buller out of Lanceston unto some of the Gentlemen with the Sheriffe, as Master Basset and others, who appoin­ted to come into Lanceston that evening to treate againe with him and the rest of the Committees, but Master Basset came not according to promise, which made the Committee feare some sudden surprise, and the People of the Towne cryed out lamentably to Sir Richard Buller to depart the Towne, else they should be all killed, for the Sheriffe had by that time got twentie or thirtie thousand; and had sent new Warrants and threatning messages to those that would not appeare, that they should bee hanged at their doores, which so terrified the people, as all the West part came out except Saint Ives (who petitioned for themselves for feare of Ireland) and all along, except the Parishes that served under the Committees: Sir Ri­chard Buller, and the Committees hearing the cryes of the Towne, and the rage of the Army, (set on by the Sheriffe and Iohn Arundel of Trevie, Sir Nicholas Slaney, Sir Bevill Greenvile, Sir Richard Vivian, Sir Peter Courtny, and infinite other Collonels, Captaines, and others, calling the Parliaments side Rebels and Round-heads, and threatning to chop them in pieces, and beat downe the houses, did account it the wisest course (and to avoid effusion of blood being at such infinite disadvantage) by night privately to ride away; and after he was gone sent to the Army in the Towne to get away with all speed, which they did in a confused manner, so as they left much of their Arms behind them, and some they lost on the way; so as on Friday morning the Sheriffe had notice they were all gone and the Towne gates set open; then they all came with great triumph into the Town as Conquerours, where there was no enemy to resist; but then the baser sort of Rogues fell a plundering of some houses, the first was Master Ambrose Manningtons house (a Justice of Peace neere the Church within the Towne) they brake out a great window and stole away all his Plate, Pewter, Clothes, and Houshold-stuffe, or the greatest part of it tooke his Writings and Deeds and Leases, and tare many of them, yet that Gentleman Master Mannington was not against them, but a meane party betweene both striving by all meanes to make Peace, only hee dwelt there; and when Sir Richard Buller rode away he went with him & lockt up his dores, and thus was [...]bbed; And some other houses were broken up, as Captaine Bennets and M [...] Bolithous, and some say two or three other; But when the Sheriffe and [...] heard it, they made Proclamation to [Page 4] apprehend the Theeves, and got backe asmuch of the goods as they could find into the houses againe, though much be lost, and much spoile done, and neere twentie of them in the Gaole for it. On Saturday the Sheriffe and Justices held a privie Sessions there at Launceston, to present and indite all that tooke up Armes with Sir Richard Buller, as causers of Riots and unlawfull assemblies, and all that came not with them against the Committee, and caused every Constable and others to bring in the Names of all that appeared not, and tooke oath for it, and doe purpose to send Warrants to apprehend them and imprison them, or Fine them & distraine them; Among whom I am complai­ned against, and shall (I doubt not) heare shortly of it: Then they resolved on Munday to advance towards Salt-Ash, and leave a Garrison at Launceston, but hearing they of Salt-Ash would not resist (but open their Gates) they came not thither, but gave out they would march into Devonshire towards Plimoth, if Devonshire men had given the least assistance to our Committee, which they thought to doe, as by their letter appeareth, to which the Sheriffe and Gentle­men answered peremptorily as you may see inclosed, and upon their quiet reply all was stayed; and so their Army disbanded, and every man returned home, with such base exclamation upon the Committees, calling them Round-heads and Run-awayes, and with extreame violence and madnesse so as I never heard the like.

Thus you have the full Relation of the first part of the Chronicle of Corn­walls second Commotion; The next part must bee of the Parliaments side, which is expected daily.