HIs Majesty came to Salop on Tuesday last, with great strength both of men and Arms, where he stayed till Friday, and then came to Whitchurch, and went to Chester; I was one that was appointed to attend him thither, which I did, with divers more Gentlemen and Free-holders: His Majestie and the Prince dined in Whitchurch, and so went for Chester: when we came to Miltongreen, there was M. Richard Edgerton of Ridley, with some 600 Musketriers, and then when we came to Hetton-heath, there was the Lord Rivers with all his For­ces, and my Lord Chomley with horse and Foot, very compleat beyond the other; so they having displaid their Colours, gave his Majesty a valley of Shot; which being done, his Ma­iesty having ridden once or twice about the Army, taken no­tice of the Sheriff and his Company, with divers other Gen­tlemen which were, then came to Routten-heath, where was Sir T [...]o. Aston with that Company he had, which did shew themselves as the other had done. Then his Maiestie see forwards for Chester; at Boughton, where the Liberty of the City beginneth, the two Sheriffs of Chester, with all their company attended: Then coming to the Bars, there attended the Maior and Aldermen, where the Maior delivered both Mace and Sword into his Maiesties hand, who received them, and gave them to him again, and so he marched before the King, with all the Aldermen and Sheriff, with all the Companies in Town with their Gowns, and all the Trained Bands of the City, with voluntiers set on each side of the Street, who discharged just as his Maiestie passed by. Thus was his Maiesty attended to the Court with all the Bells ringing, Drums and Trumpets sounding.

Thus for His Majesties going to Chester.

YEsternight, about 4 or 5 a clock, the King came into the City, attended with two Troops of Horse that came with him; and after his Majestie, came Sir Tho­mas Aston with his Troop: The Maior and Aldermen stand­ing on a Scaffold in Eastgate Street, before Tho Parnels door; Serieant Brerewood the Recorder made a Speech; but there was such great shouting for joy, that I think his Maiesty scarce heard him: and all the Companies standing with their Arms in the Eastgate street, to entertain his Maiesty; and the Sheriffs, and Sheriff peers are such as have been She­riffs. Sheriffs peers, and such as have been Leave Lookers is an office one degree under the Sheriff. Leave-Lookers, rid out of Town in Scarlet (as they use to ride out at Midsummer) to meet his Maiesty, with all our Trayned Bands: The Maior rid before his Maiesty, carrying the Sword, from the Scaffold to the Bishops Pallace, as I am told for truth by them that saw them. The Lord Dillon, and ano­ther Irish Lord▪ a great Rebell, came with his Maiesty into the City: Sir Richard Wilbraham met his Maiesty, and fell down on his knees to him, but his Maiesty would not take notice of him; he and Sir Tho. Delves are committed to the Sheriff, both those Knights declared themselves for the Ordinance of the Militia: It is thought there are Warrants out for the apprehending of many other Gentlemen.

Yesterday, about two hours before his Maiesty came, there came about a Troop of the Lord Strange his horse, and 80 horse loads of Muskets and Bandaliers, and such like Pro­vision, which were laid in our common Hall; and there are 200 more at the Lord Strange his house, that came from New­castle. The Lord Strange hath delivered those Arms that were taken from papists in Lancashire, to them again, and threatened the Maior of Leverpool to batter down the Town if he would not deliver them, it is said there are 5000 com­ing thorow Lancashire, which came out of the North for his Maiesty. Yesternight, at 9 a clock, the Lord Strange came [Page 5]into this City with one or two Troops of Horse. This day all betwixt the age of 16 and 60 yeers, of the Trayned Bands of the County, are summoned to appear before his Maiesty at Hoo-heath, two miles from Chester.

Upon Wednesday last the Town of Nantwich were in some fear lest they should be disarmed, and stood upon their Guard, and some ayd came to help them; but that night fol­lowing about 1000 horse came thither; the Lord Cholmley came with them, with the Commission for the Array; they were to have a parly, the Town would have been delivered, so that they might have their Arm, and Liberties; this while the other side got in at back Gardens, and disarmed all, and plun­dered some houses: The day following they went to Sir Ri­chard Wilbrahams, and Sir Tho. Delues, and disarmed them, took their horses, and three Care load of Armour from them, and do further proceed, doing much harm at many other pla­ces and houses. It is thought our Maior and Aldermen in­tend to give the King a sum of money.

I Presume you hear of the passages at Nantwich on Wed­nesday last: The Town, after some preparation for re­sistance, received the Lord Grandison, and 1100 horse, fearing if they had by force of Arms driven them back, his Maiesty being in those parts, would have revenged the same in a seuere way: Being suffered to come in, he presently dis­armed the Town, and Countrey-men there; I for company lost my Repier.

The day follwoing, they took Arms from Crew hall for 20 men, but did no other violence; Sir Thomas Delues left his house empty, and much Arms on the hall Table for them; They dealt more hardly at M. Vernons, taking many other things besides Arms; No violence that I could hear of was offered to any mans person in Nantwich on Wednesday, but [Page 6]to one Radcliff, an honest man, about Wistaston, who was shot into the hand and shoulder, because he was slow in deli­vering his Musket: They have also been in divers other hou­ses in Bartomley Parish, the Parsons for one; and what they have done on the other side of the Town I know not. The Gentlemen and Trayned Bands are to attend his Majesty this day at Hatton heath.

The Earl of Essex is expected in Cheshire to morrow or on Munday: The face of things in Cheshire is strangely altered; we did not make our due returns when we had got more quiet times, God in his mercy prevent the effusion of inno­cent blood: If you have not already bought that little mil­litarie provision I bespake, I think its best to make a stay thereof, for I fear no such thing can be either safely sent hi­ther or kept here, our Arms must be prayers and tears, for we have not so much as a sword to defend us, God of his mercy keep you, pray for us I beseech you good Sir, as he will do for you, who is your most obliged friend and Cozin,

THe latter end of your Letter is somewhat comfor­table, in that you write there are some Dragons coming into Cheshire for our relief, but surely they are not come, and now will come too late for we are all plundred and undone; Nantwich is taken by My Lord Grandisons Army, and the Town disarmed, and many houses plundred who stood for the Parl ament and Militia, the owners of them driven to run away for safety of their lives, for they have threatned them much, and after they had disarmed the Town, they came into the Country [...]d disarmed all the great houses: First Sir Thomas Delves, then my Lord Crews, then Sir Richard Wilbrahams, and so all the other Gentlemen round about us, and plundred their houses, they belong forced not onely to leave their own hou­ses, but also the Town of Nantwich, and their poor Ten­nant [...] and Count [...]y men, to the mercy of those m [...]rcilesse Villans who will have what they list, nay th [...]y will have wh [...]t we have not for them, or else they will set a Pistoll to [...]ur throats and sw [...]are God damne them they will make us swallow a Bullet, some of them are not content to take what Arms they can find, but also Mony, Plate, Linnens, Cloaths, Writings, Meat, D [...]ink, and not therewith content, but stea [...]e our horses and maers, drive our women and children into such feare that they over run their houses, ly in the fields, ditches and woods, I do not heare of the like cruelty that hath been used any where but in that miserable and blee­ding Kingdom of Ireland, we are like to be worse yet, for [Page 7]this day tho King is at Chester, and all the whole County from 16 years to 60. is to meet and attend His Majesty, and the Commissioners of Array within half a mile of Chester with all their Arms which they haue left, none dare refuse to come, the malignant party will inform against them, and then they are threatned to be all carried away with my Lord Grandisons Army, the best of it is, if we stay at home we are now their slaves, being naked they will have of us what they list, and do with us what they list, however, I believe we shall be made the seat of War, and so be utter­ly ruined and undone, for want of help in time and true hearts amongst our selves, I thank God hitherto I have es­caped; yet with much fear and danger, but I must confesse it is more of the goodnesse and mercy of my good God, then of any deseart in me, God grant I may make a good use of it and give him the glory; The secondarie means was, I ha­ving acquaintance with some of the Cavaliers, who former­ly were something beholding unto me, I now find it to be something better with me and some friends of mine then I or they expected, and yet our feares are great when houses night unto us have bin plundred twice over, and the owners thereof watched for, as the Cat watcheth for the Mouse, what they would do with them, or how they would use them, God knowes, I pray you pardon my errors in writing, for my feares and distractions are great; I onely desire you to pray for us, and let us heare from you; God knowes how long or short a time we shall heare one from another, the Lord fit us for these ill times, and worser which I much feare. So prayeth your much obliged friend, &c.

To heare the pittyfull scriking, weeping, and howling of wo­men and children, did more trouble me then any thing else; God grant I never heare the like.