Remarkable Paſſages from the laſt of October, to this peſent day.
Newcaſtle.
IT is rertainly peported here, and we ſee it manifeſted before our eyes, that my Lord of Newcaſtle our Governour does all he can poſſible, to advance the Cauſe of the malignants againſt the peace of the Kingdome and Parliament, borrowing here, by a certaine compulſive way, that they muſt lend ſpight of their teeths, what monyes he can poſſibly get, uſing, indeed, more rigorous exactions here then the Scots did during their abode with us: the ſaid Earle does what he can poſſible to incenſe the number of his forces, taking, as the Proverb is here, Tag-rag and bob-taile, men of all ſorts and conditions, eſpecially Papiſts, of which he had a conſiderable number among his regiment, being rumour'd in the Biſhopricke of Durham and this County, to be eight thouſand ſtrong, when indeed, they cannot be foure thouſand, with the blacke Coats and all: the Clergie eſpecially in the Biſhoprick, like their leading Deane, Doctor Coſens, being moſt pertinacious malignants; he has endevour'd to ſeduce all the Sailers that man the Coal-ſhips, to his part, proffering them double pay, but thoſe honeſt men are not to be won to imploy their hands to ſo bad a purpoſe, reſolving rather to follow their lawfull vocations, then to be traytors to their Country; we wiſh him. (ſo does all the poore and honeſt people hereabouts), at the divell, they make all things ſo deare with their rapine and devouring, that we feare a ſcarcity, if not a dearth in theſe plenteous parts.
Durham.
In this City drums are beating for Voluntiers for the Earl of Newcastle, but hee can get but a few, though the preachers exhort them to it in their pulpits. So odious is the cauſe, and the very name of Cavalier in theſe parts, to all but ſome few malignants.
Rippon.
HEre wee are in great dread of my Lord of Cumberland and his Cavaliers, who ride up and downe, and plunder where ſoever they come, ſparing neither man in their rage, nor woman in their luſt: ſome halfe a ſcore of thoſe rutters, or rather roiſters comming two dayes ſince to an honeſt gentlemans houſe, a Kinſman of my Lord Farefaxes: demanded of the gentlemen who unfortunately was at home, whether, hee would adhere to the King or Parliament the gentleman made anſwer, hee would with all his heart ſerve them both, but not the King againſt the parliament For the Parliament, he was certaine it would do nothing againſt the King. With which honeſt anſwer not nothing unſatisfied, but inraged, one of them calling him Traytor, diſcharged his petronell quite through his body, ſo that the good gentleman fell downe dead, they immediatly forcing in to his houſe, the defenceleſſe gentlewoman agaſt at her husbands death, they tooke, and heating a paire of tongs, put them burning to her threat, to make her confeſſe where the Plate and Money was, which amounting to at leaſt the value of two hundred pound, they tooke away: in moſt vilde manner uſing the ſorrowfull gentlewoman they before her face, forced her two daughters to ſatisfie their libidinous appetites. And one of them proffering the like villany to the dairy maid, a handſome luſty wench, was by her ſtab'd to the heart. A fit reward for ſuch a monſter. After their firing the houſe they departed. Their Generall, though complaint was made by the5 poore gentlewoman againſt them, doing her no Juſtice, Alleadging hee could not finde certainly who they were. God diliver us from the hands of ſuch blood thirſty Cannobals.
Lincolne.
IN theſe parts about Bourne and Stamford, as in other places of this County, there is much ſorrow and heavineſſe for the death of my Lord of Lindſey, ſlaine in the late battaile neer Keinton: the malignants, ſuch as Maſter Harringtou, Sir William Th•orold, and the like, ſtriving what they can to ſeduce the people from their good affections to the Parliament, about Boston they rejoyce as faſt, the ſaid Lord having been a great and continuall enemy to that good towne, that wiſhes the like end to all that diſturbe and oppoſe the tranquility of this Kingdome,
Redding.
HEre wee have been in great feare this two or three dayes of Prince Robert and his Cavaliers, who like torings Lions go about ſeeking whom they can devour, plundering and pilaging the Countryes round about us: No mans eſtate being his owne, or ſecure from the fingers of thoſe Harpies: as yet he hath not approached us. Wee could wiſh wee were of ability our ſelves, to ſecure our towne againſt his invaſion, wee would give him as good a welcome hither, as his aſcociat my Lord of Darby had at Manchester, but wee are not ſo well provided, and could wiſh a good able garriſon of the Parliaments Forces, to ſecure our lives and liberties, which elſe wee are fearefull will run into much danger, by thoſe malignants cruelties.
Shrewsbury.
THe garriſon of welch and malignants in this towne doe great and daily miſchiefes, taking away both money and victuals and all other commodities from thoſe that frequent this towne with merchandice, ſo that the Countrey is afcaid to trade or trafficke to this towne at all, whereby it is very likely to fall in ſo great diſtreſſe and want of proviſion. They forrage on every ſide into the Countryes, ſo that all people here about, are in great and pitifull diſtreſſes, hunger wee heare at laſt will drive theſe deviliſh miſcrevants out of theſe quarters. Marquis Herford, it is here reported is gone into South-Wales againe, where hee does all hee can poſſible to ſeduce thoſe poore ignorant Mountayners, who with a willing heart, or at leaſt by conſtraint, come to wait upon their Prince, whoſe governor the Marqueſſe is, Sir William Plimhimmon a Knight of North-Wales, being a conſtant ſtickler in his affaires, he living neere Llannidlos in North-Wales and having a large extent of ground there, the whole mountaines there abouts being the ſaid Sir Williams Inheritance. God bleſſe us from the ſaid Marquis and his crew of malignants, for then our miſeries will bee increaſe'd upon us.
Briſtoll.
IN this rich and populous City, we are here in no danger nor feare of any, Keeping loyall hearts and valiant hands for the ſervice of the King and Parliament: our owne Forces in this City being ſufficient to defend our ſelves againſt any enemie whatſoever. Wee having fortified our towne with out-workes, as hornworks and a ſconce to Sommerſetſhire ward, whence if wee have any we expect our enemies the malignants, wee are in this towne eight thouſand of ſufficient able armed men,7 whom we every day practiſe in the rudiments of war; good ſtore of excellent Ordnance, braſſe moſt of them, at leaſt thirty pieces of demy Canon, Culvering and halfe Culvering, mounted upon our workes, powder, ſhot and match, with other Ammunition, ſufficient victuals, wee need not feare the want of having the ſea and ſeavern to friend to bring us in victuals. There was a ſhip brought in hither the other day loaden with Ammunition and ſome ſpare Ordnance, they reported they were bound from Nants in Brittaine, for the low countries. But certain they either were intended for the aſſiſtance of the Rebels in Ireland, or for Milford Haven in Wales to the Marquis Hartford there being letters found about one of the Marriners, were directed from one Maſter Walter Monto to the Lord Marquis howſoever wee made of the ſhip and Ammunition, and have it in ſafe cuſtody, Till the. Parliament pleaſe to give order for its diſpoſall.
Cornwall.
Ralph Hopton with the friends and Forces of this towne of Okchampton my Lord Mohunes are very ripe hereabouts, riding through this Dutchy of Cornwall with great clamor and outrage ſome honeſt gentlemen, men interreſted very ſufficiently in the Flameries in this Countrey, and very well affected to the Parliaments pleaſure, and the peace of the Kingdome, being much diſturbed by thoſe malignants excurſions and incurſſions, Sir Ralph Hopton and my Lord Mohuns Forces, being not ſo formidable here as they are ſuppoſed to bee. Beeing not above fifteen hundred hotſe, and two thouſand foot: poore Corniſh men moſt of them that are duced into the quarrell againſt the Parliament, and eaſily vanquiſh'd if wee had here any ſuccour from the Parliament to joyne with our owne Countrey forces, wee would live and dye in the cauſe.
Exceſter.
ALl the diſcourſe here, is of the Kings and Prince Roberts diſſertion of your parts, and their ſpeedy march with their Cavaliers downe into our quarters, where the enjoyning their Forces, with thoſe of Sir Ralph Hopton, and my Lord Mohun is expected and certainly talked of. For our parts wee know we can no wayes have a poſſibility of ſerving his Majeſty better than in ſerving his high Court of Parliament, ſo that our Maior and Aldermen with the intire body of the towne, are reſolv'd to ſtand for the common-Wealth. wee already have made good the decayd wals, & fortified our town with good and hanſome outworkes, have Ordnance planted, and indifferent ſtore of Ammunition, and ſome quantity of reſolv'd Souldiers to ſtand for the King and Parliament. Wee have, thankes be to God but few malignants in our City. And if the King come hither, wee are reſolv'd to give his Majeſty entertainment as befits loyall Subjects, but without admitting his Army of Cavaliers, the diſturbers of the publick peace and ſafety.