A more Full and Exact RELATION (Being the Third LETTER To the Honorable William Lenthal Esquire, Speaker of the Honorable House of Commons) Of the several TREATIES between Sir Tho. Fairfax and Sir Ralph Hopton, and of his coming into the PARLIAMENT.

Together with the coming in of the Gentry of that County to Sir Thomas, and the taking of Saint Mawes, the principle Fort of Pendennis Castle.

Which Letter was read in the House of Commons.

17. Martii. 1645.

ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That this Letter be forthwith Printed and Published.

H. Elsynge, Cler. Parl. D. Com.

London, Printed for Edw. Husband, Printed to the Honorable House of Commons, and are to be sold at his Shop at the signe of the Golden Dragon in Fleetstreet, neer the Inner-Temple. March 18. 1645.

To the Honorable William Lenthal Esq Speaker to the Honorable House of Commons.

SIR,

THis is the third I sent unto you since the Treaty with the Lord Hopton; the time may seem somwhat long since it began; yet if you will consider the many par­ticulars that are to be insisted upon concerning the Disbanding of an Ar­my (though it be sooner Disbanded then Raised) you will not think the time too long that hath been spent about the same: It is now finished, Subscribed by both Generals, and Hostages given: They consist of many particulars, and are very long; and therefore I will not presume to touch upon any of them, lest I do mistake, but leave you to the Articles at large when they come up; onely this (in general) the Field-force in the West of England is to be dissolved: To morrow at eight of the clock, the first Brigade of English (of Horse) are to be at a Rendezvouz, and there every Of­ficer to receive his Pass, first giving his ingagement never to bear Arms against the Parliament (the like in­gagement hath not been given on any Articles) and [Page 4] every common Trooper to be dismounted, to deliver up his Horse and Arms, and to receive the promised re­ward of twenty shillings to bear their charges home (it being too little for many of them (my Countrey­men) that have neer Five hundred English miles home) It is not to be credited how much this Army is be­come in their esteem, during this Cessation; and what sorrowful expressions many of them do make; that they have been thus deluded concerning our carriage; the most ingenuous of them affirming, the wayes of the Court at Oxford have never been rightly represent­ed unto them. Officers and Souldiers unanimously de­sire imployment for Ireland, being willing to take the Sacrament-Oath, or to give what other Obligation shall be thought fit, That as they will never bear Arms in England against the Parliament, so will they not when they are imployed in Ireland by the Parliament, desist from pursuing their Commands against the Irish Rebels, upon anp invitations of the Kings: They af­firming, They have sufficiently smarted for being in­ticed formerly by him. This I onely offer to your consideration, to make what use of it shall be thought convenient; and if it shall be thought fit to imploy them into Ireland, it is requisite some of the Com­mittee of the Army for Irish affairs, or other chief Officer be sent down with all possible speed that may be to Salisbury, where these may be met marching to their several homes, and will be ready to hearken to any Proposition of Imployment that way: Likewise some of the Horses may be allowed to go upon that Service, if it be desired, which is thought better to be granted (upon a second consideration) then at the Dis­banding [Page 5] to permit them, to let them and their Horses Quarter in a body upon the Countrey, and give those disturbances that the other Horse of this kinde have done neer Basing. I think you may have a thousand Officers, Souldiers, and Reformadoes by the first of April, will be at any Rendezvouz upon the Sea-Coasts to be mounted and transported for Ireland. It is now a fit time to take the same into consideration, which is the onely cause of my presumption to mention it unto you, if the wisdom of the Parliament shall think fit to imploy them again.

Every hour more Gentlemen of quality do come in: And this day Colonel Trevanian come from Peurin, and some of his Officers came to Truro with their Co­lours flying, and their men armed, even from the Lord Hoptons Head-quarter. This hath wrought such opera­tion upon the Governour at St. Mawes (the principal Fort that commands the Haven at Falmouth, having a greater command thereof, then the Castle and Fort of Pendennis) that he hath sent to the General to be re­ceived into favour, and will deliver up the Castle, Fort, Ordnance, Arms and Ammunition: and accordingly there is Forces sent away this night to take possession thereof.

Thus you see how God doth work for us, and for the good and welfare of this Land; and let nothing in this great businesse done in this Countrey in so short a time, where so little hopes of successe was expected, be attributed unto man, but solely unto God who or­ders affairs thus so much for the publike good.

Arundel the Governour of Pendennis, sent to tempt the Governour at St. Mawes to come in the Castle of [Page 6] Pendennis, he refused the same, and as aforesaid craved the aid of this Army. There are two great brasse pieces of Ordnance in the Fort, of about Four thousand weight a piece. For the Castle of Pendennis, I make no doubt as soon as this Army is totally Disbanded (which though it begin to morrow, will take too or three dayes before it be ended) make what speed we can; we shall finde them tractable; if not, we shall settle this County in such a posture of Security against that place, as will compel them in a short time to hearken to worse Propositions then they now might have had, if they persist in a refusal of the Summons intended to be sent them. Sir John Arundel, (who sent former­ly) Sir John Meux, Sir Henry Hastings, and many other Commanders and Gentlemen of quality, have all ac­cepted of Passes and Protections; and (unaminously) Officers and Souldiers do all agree, and would be en­gaged by Oath to oppose French, or Irish (though of the Kings sending in) to their utmost: And that which hath wrought upon many of their spirits, and (especi­ally of the whole County of Cornwal) was, the Letter sent from Glamorgan (His Majesties principal Agent with the Irish Rebels) signifying to the Prince an in­tention, to send over Irish (being a Duplicate of that Packet which we took at Padstow.) Thus hath God turned that to the Kings, and the bloody Irish Rebels disadvantage, which he and they had thought to have made their means of continuing the War in England: And I hope God will so order it, That those men they expected here to fight for them, will be as valiant, and as zealous as any against them. To morrow assoon as the first Brigade is disbanded, there goeth Forces to­wards [Page 7] Pendennis; and as there is occasion to give you an account of that, or any other businesse, you shall not fail to receive the same. I thought good to send this Messenger Post with this, lest my former Letters did miscarry, or mis-reports should arise by the long con­tinuance of this Treaty, desiring you to consider him for the greatnesse of the Journey: None should have been more willing to have undertaken it then my self, but that the businesse of the Atmy is now greater then ever it hath been, since I had the honour and happinesse to serve therein.

This day some of the Princes servants who are come to the Head-quarters, say That the Prince is landed at Ceely, that they left him there, that his condition is mean: Provisions must be sent from hence, or he, and that poor Family with him cannot long subsist. They curse Hyde and Culpepper, and desire they might have no other Executioner then themselves, for the Treason committed by them in carrying away the Prince, and to be so deceitfull in doing the same, as to publish a De­claration in the Princes Name, the day before he went, That there was no such intention, and that none about him should presume to speak a word to that purpose, and yet the next day on a sudden shipp'd him, and car­ried him to Sea: He was three dayes at Sea before he got to Ceely, the winde being crosse, and forced him to sayl at a distance.

There is such care taken in the Army by the General and Lieutenant General, that I am confident, not one man that came off upon this Treaty, shall be plundered to the value of two pence: So much our Souldiers have forgotten former injuries, and inclinable (I may [Page 8] say it) and (beyond expectation) to requite good for evil.

It is late, and I have much businesse more to do this night, in order to the businesse to morrow, and there­fore must abruptly break of, and remain,

Your most humble and faithful Servant, J. R.

THis Bearer was through the greatest part of H [...] Army, and see their Horse; some good, some bad, about four thousand in all: Our men have gotten al­ready choice Horses, by exchange, and buying at low rates▪ and by that means we shall have most of the Officers Horses; for they want money as well as the Souldiers.

FINIS.

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