A true relation of the late expedition into Kent by the appointment of both Houses of Parliament. As it was expressed in a letter from a man of good credit, who was in the action, dated from Dover the 29. of August, 1642. Wherein my Lord Roper, and Sir Peter Ricault, were taken into custody and confined unto Upner Castle, and likewise how we tooke His Majesties great ship called the Soveraigne of the Seas, and furnisht her with a sufficient guard. As also newes from Cambridge, and the bringing in of Dr. Wren bishop of Ely, with good store of treasure, in the Tower of London.

1642

A TRUE RELATION of the late Expedition into KENT By the appointment of both Houses of PARLIAMENT. As it was expressed in a Letter from a man of good credit, who was in the Action, Dated from Dover the 29. of August, 1642. WHEREIN My Lord ROPER, and Sir PETER RICAVLT, were taken into custody and Confined unto Ʋpnar Castle, and likewise how we tooke His Majesties great Ship called the Soveraigne of the Seas, and furnisht her with a sufficient guard. As also Newes from Cambridge, and the bringing in of Dr. WREN Bishop of Ely, with good store of treasure, to the Tower of London.

September, 2. Printed by T. FAVVCET. 1642.

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Good Newes from KENT.

MY love to you remembred, and your sonne his duty, being both of us in good health praise be given to God.

When we went from London, the first place we staid at was Dertford in Kent, where wee quartered our selves for a night. The next day we came to Cobham-Hall, an House belonging to the Duke of Lenox, from whence wee tooke three Barbary Horses, valued at 200. pound a piece, and five loads of Ammunition. The next day we went to [Page 2] Rochester, where wee had very good respect from all, and made our abode there two dayes: Our next remove was towards Maidstone, where by the way at Ailsford two miles short of that Towne, we found the House of Sir Peter Ricault, who also hath a faire House in London neere to the Stocks, he dwelleth in Ailsford next doore to Sir William Cooper; from him they tooke certaine Plate and some Money, and committed his person to Upnar-Castle over-against Chatham, which Castle we took, and all the Ordnance, and put in a Garrison of Souldiers, who keep and hold it for the King and Parliament. At Rochester wee light upon the Lord Roper, and sent him to Upnar-Castle likewise to beare Sir Peter Ricault company. After this we came to Sir William Butlers house not farre from Maidstone, where wee found good store of Plate, Money, and Povvder, all vvhich vve took possession of, but vvithall our [Page 3]Souldiers stumbled upon such plenty of Sugar and Svveat-meats, as served to take avvay the stomacks of the most of them for that day and the next. When vvee came to Maidstone, many gave us good vvords, but vvee might perceive by the countenances of divers of them, that vve vvere not so generally vvelcome as many expected. From thence vve advanced as farre as Canterbury, only by the vvay vve called in at Sir Edward Deerings, and made bold to plunder his house, albeit vve found very little, either Money or Armes. After vve vvere entred into Canterbury, vve took out of the Deanes house great store of Armes, about some three Carts lading beside 14. Barrels of Gunpovvder, vessels about the bignesse of a beer-barrel; divers of our Troop having got into the Minster, pulled dovvne the Organs, and pulled to pieces the Rayle about the Communion Table, and removed that they called their high Altar into the body of the Chancell.

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From thence wee removed towards Dover, where wee found our selves least welcome of any place we yet came to, for scarce any one would vouchsafe us a good looke, yet wee made shift to possesse our selves of the Castle for all that, and have furnished our selves with about seven thousand pounds, all which wee have made bold with out of the houses of Recusants.

One thing I had almost forgotten, that at our being at Chatham we possessed our selves of the Kings great Ship, called the Soveraigne of ehe Seas, and have put into her a Guard of Souldiers. We suppose our next moving will be towards Rye and Hastings. Having no more to write at this time, I rest,

Yours, J. W.

[Page 5]Thursday the 1. of September, 1642.

THis morning earely Nevves came to London by a Minister vvho came from Cambridge yesterday, that by Order from the Honourable House of Parliament, certaine Troopes of Horse have surprized divers Heads of the Colledges, vvho vvere suspected for sending Monies and Plate to the King, and imprisoned them, and have searcht their Colledges, and taken avvay such Plate and Money as they found there: And this afternoone Doctor Wren Bishop of Ely vvas brought up to London, vvith other Doctors and Heads of Houses, being guarded vvith 500. Horse, vvho vvere scene comming thorovv West-smithfield [Page 6]in London, vvith a Cart load of Treasure brought up to the Parliament to be disposed of by them, and in the meane time the Bishop of Ely vvas conveyed to the Tovver, vvith others in his company, till the Honourable Houses of Parliament shall determine vvhat is further to be done.

FINIS.

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