A true and perfect RELATION of The manner of the apprehension and taking of 46. rebellious Cavalliers at Brackly in Northamptonshire, under the Command of sir John Byron Colonell, who were surprised by the Lord Brookes his Regiment, and first committed to the Goale of Northampton for ten dayes space, and from thence brought up to Newgate, being men of severall Counties, intended for mischiefe and spoyle against the Parliament, and the Protestant Religion, with a Catalogue of the names of every particular person as they were delivered to the Sheriffe of Middlesex in a Lift.
Whereunto is annexed the true Coppy of a Letter from Sir John Byron Colonell to Master Clarke at Draughton neere Brackly in Northamptonshire.
ORdered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, that this be published.
Printed at London for Thomas Bates, at his Shop in the Old Baily. 1642.
A perfect and exact Relation of the famous and valient Fight of Sir John Byron Colonell of 3. Troopes of Horse at Brackly in Northamtonshire, with a Declaration how above 60. Cavalliers were taken, and much Gold, Apparrell, and other Riches to the value of 8000. pound, which Cavalliers were sent up to Newgate in Carts; where they doe now remaine.
SIr Iohn Byron with his two Brothers, was marching from Leicester to Oxford with three Troopes of Horse, he being the Colonell, and his two brothers each of them led a Troope, who promised the Souldiers that they should do service for King and Parliament, and that they should fight for Religion; and the upholding of the happinesse, and tranquallity of the Kingdome; and so by faire speeches perswaded the Souldiers to beleeve that they should goe for the King and Parliament, and they received monies to buy them Horse, and were all provided of Horse, but not of Armes nor provision; and so they marched from Leicester towards Oxford, tidings whereof was brought to the Officers and Governours in the Country, and thereupon the Country was raised, and pursued them with the greatest force, and all expedition they could till they came to brackly, where newes was brought to Sir Iohn Byron that it was high time to looke about him, f [...]r the Country was in pursuite after them, and that if they [Page 4] made not great hast they would all be taken; which struck such an amazement into sir Iohn, and the Commanders, that they knew not what to doe.
So the Colonell, Captaines, and the rest of the Officers made the greatest hast to flye away that could be, not caring either for estate, or souldiers, so that they could save themselves, and so the most of them fled away.
This was on Sunday the 28. of August last, at which time the Country came into Brackeley upon them; and did there take many of them, to the number of about 60. with much wealth and many horses.
- 1. Above 60. horse.
- 2. two hatfull of gold.
- 3. About [...]000. pound in silver.
- 4. a Trumpet.
- 5. a boxe with great riches and wealth.
- 6. a packet of rich cloaths of Sir Iohn Byrons worth 200. pound.
- 7. about 14 or 15 paire of pistols.
- 8. a Sumptor horse of Sir Iohn Byrons very rich.
- 9. betwixt 60. or 70. men.
- 10. The value of all the gold, mony, horse, and aparrell, with other things, cannot be worth lesse then 6 or 8000. pound.
These men were taken, had all their money taken from them, so that they have since that time lived on the charity of such as send them releefe.
They were then sent to the prison in Northampton, for the space of about 8. or 9. dayes, and afterwards sent up to New-gate, where they now lye.
They were brought to London in carts on Saturday the tenth of this present September, and newes being reported in the City that they were come, they were followed with a great acclamation and shouting, about 8 or nine of the clock at night they were brought to Newgate, where they [Page 5] do now lye in great misery, and had they not relife sent them in of charity, they might perish.
It is every day and houre expected when 40. Cavalliers more (which are also taken) shall come to Newgate, or to some other prison here in London, as it shall please authority to appoint.
A Relation of the manner of the taking of these Cavalliers.
VVHen Sir Iohn Byron was at dinner in Brackly with his two brothers, and the rest of the Commanders souldiers, some at that time with him, others at other places.
Sir Iohn gave his sumpter man charge to hast away with the sumpter after dinner, and all the rest to hast away and looke every man to himselfe.
Then hee tooke his owne horse which was an excellent stout steed, [...]nd got up, set his spurs to the horse sides, and rid away with all might and maine, and so got away before the Countrey came in.
Sir Iohns two brothers, the two Captaines also got up and hasted away, one of their Captains with a boxe wherin was money, and other good things, they one way, and the other another way, also away as fast as they could, and got away with others of the Commanders and souldiers, who hasted away so fast, that whereas the Town was immediately before full of Souldiers, on a sodain they were all gone.
The Countrey comming into the Town met 4. of the Cavalliers riding out of the Town, and commanded them to stay, who were forced to yeeld themselves into their hands, and comming into the Towne, in the Innes there they found others of the Cavalliers who were likewise taken [Page 4] [...] [Page 5] [...] [Page 6] by them, to Northampton, and from thence to Newgate,
And comming to the Inne where Sir John Byron and the Captaines had dined, there they found the sumpter man loading of the sumpter horse, who seeing the people come in, ran into the stable, & went about Ostlers work, there, as if he had bin the Ostler of the house, so they took away the Horse, and all that was in the Sumpter, and went into the Stable, and there seeing him took him also.
Other Cavalliers were taken in other Country Towns neare adjacent thereabouts, who presently yeelded themselves into the Countries hands, for there was not any of them that did offer to stand out against the Country.
After they had taken as many as they could meet with of these Cavalliers, they stript them of their Cloaths, to see what money they had about them, and they found about some ten shillings, some twenty shillings, two pound, five pound, sixe pound, some more, some lesse, yet some of them was so cunning as to hide their monies in their Bootes, Dublet, or what private places they could finde out, and so did save the greatest part of their monies.
But they were afterwards searched againe, because this their subtilty was imagined, and then they found out a great deale more money than before about some of them, and when they had done they sent them all to prison.
To Master Clarke at Craughton neere Brackley in Northamptonshire.
IN my way to Oxford, I made some stay at Brackley, to refresh my selfe, and my horses, after a long march, were I was unexpectedly assaulted by sundry Troopes of Rebels that came (as I am since informed) from Northampton, and other adjoyning places, and withall most treacherously set upon by the Town of Brackley, so that I was forced to make a retreat to the Heath to resist them, had they had the courage to come forth of the Towne. In this confusion one of my Groomes who had charge of my baggage was surprized in the Towne, another who had a box, wherein was money, apparell, and other things of value, left it in a land of standing corne, which since hath beene found, and as I heare brought to you; I have therfore sent this Messenger to require the restitution of it; which if you doe, I shall represent at to his Majesty, as an acceptable service, if not, assure your selfe I will find a time to repay my selfe with advantage out of your Estate; And consider, that as Rebellion is a seed of a hasty growth, so it will decay as suddenly; and that there will be a time for the King's loyall Subjects to repaire their losses sustained by rebels and traytors: So I rest in expectation of a speedy answer by this bearer.
The names of the prisoners received by the Sheriffe of Middlesex of the Sheriffe of the County of Buckingham, the tenth day of September, 1642. And then delivered into the Gaole of Newgate.
- IAmes Estin.
- Robert Hardie.
- Robert Hooton.
- Robert Oliver.
- Iohn Stoddarts.
- William Craford.
- George Robinson.
- George Browne.
- Thomas Whitehead.
- William Hebbard.
- William Day.
- Iohn Holliday.
- Richard Moores.
- Edward Davenport.
- George Key.
- Franc [...]s Frickley,
- Arch. Bell.
- Ioseph Low.
- William Smith.
- Nickolas Creswell.
- Thomas Bond.
- Edward Gibson.
- Iohn Holswerth.
- Robert Pagget.
- Thomas Langefeild.
- Waltar Iames.
- Henry Mason.
- Iohn Garret.
- Andrew Brathwaith.
- William Addington.
- Ralfe Crompton.
- William Browne.
- Iohn Brace-girdle.
- Lwirell Thrifte.
- Iohn Greenwood.
- Richard Thompson.
- Iohn Taylerson.
- Christopher Foster.
- Iohn Berry.
- Iohn Maling.
- Edward Markyson.
- Iohn Holliday.
- Robert Hardy.
- William Bennet.
- Iohn Lee.
- Thomas Norwood.