ON Wednesday the 15 of October 1645. Mr. Peters came from Bazing upon some speciall concernments of the Army, and upon Thursday morning early was in the House with the Speaker and divers Mem­bers, and according to their desi [...]e, gave a full relation of some things concerning B [...]zing, not mentioned in the Lieutenant Generals Letters, which was to this purpose.

That Mr. Peters came into the house of Bazing, some time after the storm: on Tuesday the 14 of October 1465. and tooke a view, first of the workes which were many, though not finished, and of too great a compasse, for so few men [Page 2] to keepe. Sir Robert Peake the Governour swearing to him that they had but 300 fighting men in all, the circomwalla­tion being aboue a mile and a halfe-about, there were in both houses 16 cornyards great and small; the ould house had stood as it is reported 2. or 300 yeares, a nest of Idola­trie, the new house surpassing that in beauty and statelinesse: and either of them sit to make an Emperours court.

The roomes before the storme (it seemes) in both houses were all compleatly furnished; provisions for some yeares rather then moneths, 400 quarters of wheat: Bacons divers Roomes full, hundreds of flitches of bacon, Cheese proportionall, with Oatmeale, Beefe, Porke, Beare divers sel­lers full, and that very good.

A bead in one roome furnished that cost 1300l. Popish bookes many, with Copies and such utensils that in truth, the house stood in its full pride, and the enemy was p [...]rswad­ed that it would be the last peece of ground that would be taken by the Parliament, because they had so often failed our forces, that had formerly appeared before it. In the se­verall roomes, and about the house, there were slaine, in view 74. and only one woman, the daghter of Docter Grif­fith, who came forth railing against our souldiers for their ruffe carriges towards her father, who indeed did remember to him his former malignancy, there lay upon the ground flaine by the hands of Major Harrison (that godly, and gal­lant Gentleman) Major Guffle a man of great account a­mongst them, and a notorious Papist, and Robinson the player, who a little before the storme, was knowne to be mocking, and scorning the Parliament, and our Army, 8. or 9. Gentlewomen of ranke running forth together were en­tertained by the common souldiers somwhat coursly, yet not uncivilly, they left them with some clothes upon them, their plunder continued till Tuesday night in this manner,

[Page 3] 1 For the goods, the souldiers seased upon the first goods of which there were severall sorts; one souldier had sixscore peeces in gould for his share, others plate, others Iewels, a­mongst the rest one got 3. baggs of silver; who (being not able to keepe his own councell) it grew to be common pil­lage amongst the rest, the fellow himselfe had but one halfe Crowne left for himselfe at last.

There were some Cabinets of Iewels, and other rich trea­sure next to that, the souldiers sould the wheat to the Countrey people, and the p [...]ey held a while to the Country People, but afterwards the market fell, and there was some abatements for hast.

After that they sould the houshold stuffe, whereof there was good store, and they loaded away many Carts; and continued a great while fetching out all manner of houshold stuffe till they had fetched out all the stooles, Chaires, and other lumber, all which they sould to the Country people, by peecemeal which was admirable: that in all these great houses there was not one Iron bar left in all the windowes, save only what was in the fire before night.

And the last work of all was the lead, and by Thursday morning, they had hardly left one gutter about all the house.

2. For the fire, what the souldiers left the fire tooke hold on, joy was more then ordinary, leaving nothing but bare walles and Chimnies in lesse then 20 houres, and occasio­ned by the neglect of the enemie in quenching a fire ball of ours.

We know not how to give a just account of all that was within, for we have not 200 Prisoners, and it may be 100. slaine, whose bodies some being covered with rubbish, came not to our view, only riding to the house on Tuesday night, we heard divers crying in valts for quarter, but our men could neither come to them, nor they to us.

[Page 4] But amongst those that we saw slaine one of their officers lying on the ground seeming so exceeding tall was measu­red: and from his great toe to his head cronw was 9. foot in length measured by a Gentleman of an ordinary size, who was then present, There was in all (in the house) about 500. besides some that before got out of the house.

And it is reported there are some vaults that are farr un­der ground for their popish priests, of which cattle there were divers, but none came to our hands, how many of them we killed we know not.

3. Mr. Peters spent some time in conference with the Ma [...]ques of Winchester, and Sir Robert Peake the Gover­nour, one of Mr. Peters neighbours when he lived in the parish of Sepulchers.

The Marques being pressed by him, by way of argument, broke out and said that, if the King had no more ground in Eng­land but Bazing house; he would adventure as he did; and so maintaine it to his uttermost; (meaning with those papists) and the Marques said himselfe that Bazing house was called Loyalty. But he was soone silenced in the question betweene the King, and Parliament, only hoping that the King might have a day againe.

4. We see who are his Majesties deer friends, and trusty, and well beloved cosens, and Councellers; the Marques being the popes devoted vassall.

5. And thus the Lord was pleased in a few houres to shew us, what mortall seede all earthly glory growes upon, and how just and righteous the waies of God are, who takes sinners in their own snares; and lifteth up the heads of his despised people.

1. This is now the 20 Garison, that hath been taken in, by this Army this summer; and I believe most of them the an­swer of the prayers, and the trophies of the faith of some of Gods servants.

[Page 5] 2. The Commander of this Brigade, having spent much time with godly prayer, the night before the storm, and sel­dome fights without some Texts of Scripture to support him; And this time he rested upon that blessed Word of God written in the 115. Psalm, and the 8. verse. They that make them are like unto them, so is every one that trusteth in them. Which with some Verses going before was now ac­complished.

3. Whereas the House had ordered, that the Country people should carry away those buildings, God Almighty had decreed that before hand, nothing remaining but a blast of Winde, to blow down the tottering Wals and chimnies.

Doubtlesse this providence of God hath a double voice, the one unto the Enemy, the other unto us, the Lord h [...]lp us with skill to improve it. I hope by this time the State hath a penny worth for a penny, and I hope they will have full measure, and running o­ver. I wish that the payment and recruiting of this Army, may not be slighted. It is an easie matter to grieve God in our neg­lests towards him, and not heard to weary one another.

Quer. What if the poor souldier had some remembrance (though small) to leave as the acceptance of this service, which is already begun, byMaster May­nard. a worthy Member of the House, who hath appointed some Models to be made of gold, to be bestowed on those that ventured on the greatest difficulties.

Mr. Peters presented the Marquesses own Cullers, which he brought from Basing; the Motto of which was: Donec pax reddit terris. The very same King Charles gave upon his Coronation money, when he came to the C [...]own.

But our only God doth usually attemper such pleasant Cups un­to us; for the close of this glorious Victory, the death of Major Bethel was brought unto us, shot at Bristoll where he lost 8. ounces of bloud, and tyred through want of sleep, he is gone into the [Page 6] bosome of the Lord Jesus, whom he loved so deerly whilst he li­ved, I wish he may not go unlamented to his grave, who was so full of God, and the fairest flower of the Citie a­mongst us, lived without pride, and died full of faith.