THE COPIE OF A LETTER FROM THE Commiſſioners with the King; concerning the manner of the Souldiers fetching his Majeſtie to the ARMY.
And a Copie of a Paper delivered by the ſaid Souldiers, declaring their reaſons why they did it.
London Printed for R. Simpſ••, 1647.
YEſterday we got firſt uncertain intelligence of ſome parties of horſe upon their march near Stony-ſtratford.
Towards night other reports came to us, of an intention to ſurprize this place, whereupon Col. Graves doubled the guards, by ſuch as ha had moſt confidence in. At length a Scout of our own brought word of a party of horſe randezvouzing upon Harleſton Heath, not two miles off, about ten of the clock at night; and withall, wee were ſecretly informed, that their intentions were to ſeize Col. Graves, and to poſſeſſe themſelves of this Houſe.
Hereupon we began to prepare for defence, but forced upon advice with Colonell Graves, the guards were to little to be relyed upon, that we thought it requiſite, he ſhould withdraw himſelf, leſt he ſhould be taken by force from us there being no means le••us to ſecure our ſelves, to which neceſſity he was contented to ſubmit, and we purpoſely cauſ•d it to be divulged, that he was gone, hoping thereby to divert the Horſe from falling on us, But about one of the clock, we had certain knowledge of their being drawn into the Park and Meadowes adjoyning, and that wee were ſurrounded by them, which cauſed vs to ſend for all the Officers of our Guard, who with one conſent declared to us, that they found no diſpoſition in their ſouldiers to fight with any of the Generals army, with whom they had ſo often adventured themſelves againſt the common Enemy.
While this diſcourſe held with them, it paſſing two of the clock, about break of day we diſcovered a party of horſe drawne up before the great gates, and immediatly at the back yard, where our Horſe and Dragoanes ſtood; their horſe with many of ours amongſt them, entred without any reſiſtance at all, being quietly let in, and imbraced by the ſouldiers.
We preſently ſent to ſpeak with their chief Officer: it was anſwered, there was none that commanded: But ſoon after, Mr, Joyce Cornet to the Generals Life-guard came into us, and being demanded the cauſe of their coming in this manner, he anſwered, that they came with authority from the Souldiery to Collonell Graves that hee might be tryed by a Councell of Warre, for having ſcandalized the Army, whereby a Plot alſo (which was contriving to convey the King to London without directions of the Parliament) would be prevented.
VVe deſired he would put the ſame into writing, and they delivered us the incloſed accordingly wher in you will not find Colonell Graves mentioned by name, though intended.
This is the condition we are in ▪ with much ſorrow to our ſelves, that we can give you no better acompt though our endeavours have not been wanting. Our humble ſuit is, that by this Bearer Captain Titus, you will pleaſe to ſend us ſpeedy directions, the want whereof hath been no ſmall diſcouragement to us hitherto, in a ſervice of this length and importance.
WEE Souldiers now under his Excellencie Sir Thomas Fairfax his command, have by the generall conſent of the Souldiery, manifeſted our true love to the Parliament and Kingdome, by endeavouring to prevent a ſecond warre, diſcovered by the deſignment of ſome men privately to take away the King, to the end, he might ſide with that intended Army to be raiſed, which if effected, would be to the utter undoing of the Kingdome. VVe ſhall bee able and willing to bring our teſtimony, when called for, who were the Plotters and Contrivers therein. This being the only way and meanes to prevent all thoſe fore-mentioned dangers, that might unhappily have come upon us, and this whole Kingdome, whoſe weale we have alwayes endeavoured, with the hazard of our lives, and the bloud of many of our deare friends, and fellow ſouldiers. This being the onely thing preſented to us, which puts us on our late action, for the preſervation of the Kings perſon, and furthering of the Parliaments proceedings, together with the Commiſſioners great care to effect the ſame, and to diſcharge the truſt impoſed on them.
WE have from the Army further intelligence, to this effect; That the Committee of Troops that ſecured his Majeſtie, brought him to Huntington, Collonel Whalley is ſent to command in chief, and to ſtay His majeſtie that he march not nearer the Armie; His majeſtie is uſed with all civility, but kept with a Guard as formerly. The Army ſtiil continues at their Generall Rendevouz neare Newmarket; the ſouldiers both Horſe and foot are very unanimous, and overjoyed at the ſight of their Generall, whom they received with great joy and acclamations, whoſe preſence hath brought a great ſubjection in the ſouldiers to the Officers.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A80462)
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