I Gave you an Accompt yesterday, of some passages of the Kings flying Army in these parts, and of his Advance from Huntington occasioned so suddenly as we conceive partly by the neere approach of the Scots horse and some others, who are now upon the pur­suite of him, and are crossed the Country by Northamp­ton to head him before he goes too farre Westward; there also joyned from Warwicke, Stafford, Northamton, and Newport, the last night about 1000. horse, who were in his Van and hope to halt him till the Scots come neerer; I came with some other friends this Afternoon to Huntington, where we found the whole Towne, for­merly notorious for malignancy, turned quite round in the space of three dayes: In which I thinke good to give you likewise some further accompt.

His Majestie on Sabbath day about five a Clock in the [Page 4]Afternoone entred the Towne; and with much comple­mentall hatting and bowing saluted all his good friends as he rode through the streets, who was entertained by them with reciprocall expessions of Joy, and such Accla­mations and Whoopings, as have not beene heard in place.

The Mayor of Huntington, and two Bailiffes of God­manchester a towne thereunto adjoyning, and their bre­thren presently, as a further acknowledgement of their de­light to see him, taxed the said Townes at 5. shil. 10. shil. 15. shil. a man, (meane men) and others at farre higher rates, and presented his Majestie therewith in Lumpe; which Mayor, Bailiffes, and 43. others of his brethren [most Royalists] for their loving expression, are carried Prisoners along with the Army; as also ma­ny others both Townesmen and others fetch out of the Country, [and that knowne friends to them] to ransome themselves by money; being set on their heads from 20. l. to 300. l. a peice. Presently after the K. came in, procla­mation was made: That on paine of death no Souldier should plunder, and that full satisfaction should be made to any who complained of such grievances; To put it to tryall; no sooner was it made, but they fell to plunder, carrying out of divers shops and houses, 3. and 4. loads of goods and wares a peece, amongst many, Mr. Fulwood an Apothecary, and the two M. Kings, Woollen Drapers can witnesse it truth, not leaving them one bitt of householdstuffe in their houses, or wares in their shops; all which they cary along with them in their march. Every house was billited, though never so poor, some 20, or 30. in a house, who was by speciall order to [Page 5]provide both horse meat and mans meat, and XII pence a day to each Souldier to spend, which was duly paied, though the poore creatures [by fearefull oathes and God dammees to be pistoled] presently were forced to borrow from house to house as many scores did; and this was ge­nerall through the towne: ourAt the Angell in Godmanch. Inkeeper that you know a strong Royalist where Major Mountaine quarterd, made provision for him and 40. more, of the best he could get, and that in plenty; the first supper they drunk 3. l. in wine; his men fetching it out by paile-fulls, and freely bidden so to do by the owner, and welcome all the while; yet for two dayes together the poore Man walkt in hourely danger of his life, upon their pretence of not ser­viceablenesse enough to them; and at their parting, after almost 6. score pound eaten and drunke by horse and man; forced him to borrow 42. shil. to pay each Soul­dier XII. pence or else they would carry him with them. Besides this he having but 10. sheep other souldiers fetch in 8. of them, and eate them at other houses; the other 2. he was fain to give 2. of his owne billiters 6. pence a peece to fetch them into his house to be killed for them, [in reguard all his owne people were busie] which they accordingly did, but when brought, forced the Inkeeper to give them 10. shil. for the sheepe claiming them as there owne, now they had them in possession, and glad he was so to please them, and presently drest them for them. In many quarters the souldiers fetch in sheepe of other-mens and made the Landlord pay them 4. and 5. shil. a peece for them to dresse them for their use, or else swore they would spit their children.

Many houses plundered to nothing, so that Tables, [Page 6]stooles, bedsteads and other combustiable things lye bro­ken in every roome, after the bedding, linnen, pewte, and portable things carryed out; very many people are not left worth one penny, and of their best friends: At their parting they drove away both Huntington and Godman-chester herds of Kine, about 6. or 700. and made them pay 13. shil. 4. pence, for every head before they had them againe.

They have left scarce a horse in either Town, nor in any other they Marched thorough or neer: so that there is lamentable complaining in the Country not knowing how to get in their Corne yet out, both men and women being very busie in fetching in that which lies neer the Town, on their backs.

After great sums have been taxed and payed in by se­verall Towns, all their horses have been fetcht away, and many persons plundred. One very tyrannicall expres­sion towards an honest man in Godmanchester, of 73. years of age, one John Robince, a man far in debt, of whom they demanded 300. l. not being able to pay it, they tyed lighted Matches between all his fingers, and burnt him exceedingly, then tyed his neck and heels together and so let him lye all night in his Barne, after that they had so crusht him that the blood sprung out of his nose and mouth to his almost strangling, the next morning they hung him up by the heels on a balke, put lighted Match behind his eares, to his cheekes, and to his privi­ties, which brought the old man almost senselesse. Yet notwithstanding all this have they carried him away with them in great extremity of pain, taking mournfull leave of his wife and six children at the doore, by pray­ing [Page 7]God to blesse her and them, and desiring her to bring them up in the fear of God and the like: and so without expectation of ever seeing each other they de­parted: this is most true: as by the Testimony of all his Neighbours, many whereof were witnesses to all passages. So his poor wife with much griefe and teares declared it to my selfe. Some others they put ropes about their necks threatning to hang, if they provided not so much money as they imposed. It is marvelous to see how all Malignants are changed in Iudgement: saying, they expected to have found the King and his Army Saints, who have so often protested to maintain Religion and their Liberties; but they swear now they are more like devils that come out of hell, then any sort of men, and vowing while they are worth a groat to joyne with the Parliament to suppresse them.

They have knockt off all the Irons of all the Fellons, and other prisoners in Huntington Goale, which were very many, and condemned men in Law, for grosse Rob­beries and Murthers; who have all taken up Armes for his Majesty. This is maintenance of Law.

Colonell Gerard in the presence of many honest men did here openly professe, That the Parliament go about to take the Crown and kingdome from the King, but they would take such a course before they had done with it, that it should be left scarse worth having; and farther wished, That the estate which he had in England was all of a fire, for things would never be well till it came to that.

The King, to please the Country, after many thousand pounds worth of goods sent away without any check, and [Page 8]many men undone, caused lots to be cast between foure, who had pillaged a poor Glover in the Town, (one Gim­ber) of about 5. shillings, and one to be hanged therefore: And at his departure gave the Town and Country great thanks for their kind entertainment of him, and forward­nesse to shew their readinesse to serve him, [which they will not be so forward to do the next time he comes.] One Providence is observable, That divers of the best af­fected to the Parliament, in and about Huntington, have scaped with least losse, and many of the Kings best friends have suffered most in their persons and estates. You may Recommend these Observations to as many as you please, being all truthes in every particular; so I remain

We are pursuing the Reere with 1000. horse and Dra­goones, from Cambridge and the Association.

I think it not amisse if you put this letter into some better form, and being made shorter it be Printed speedily, to satisfie some Malignants with you. It being in every particular true, and in hast written.