A terrible Battell between London and St, Albons, fought betwixt a party of the Royaliſts, and a party of the Parliaments forces upon Saturday laſt,
THis day being the 28. of Sep. 1648. A Member of the Houſe gave notice, that himſelf and another Gentleman, having occaſion to paſſe forth of the City about ſome extraordinary buſineſſe, were affronted by 3. Gentlemen, (who very well knew the ſaid Member, calling him by his name) two of them drew their Swords, and fell on him, the third had a Dagger to ſtob him, but by great providence gave them a Repulſe. T•ere was alſo information given that Col. Rainsborough was likewiſe ſet upon by 3, of the Kings party between London and St. Alba•s, he having a Captain in his company, the Cavaliers ſeeing their gallantry and reſolution, put ſpurs to their horſe, and rode for it & being extraordinary well mounted over rid them.
A great Plot diſcovered, Wherein ſhould have been Murthered, and moſt villanouſly Maſſacred foureſcore of the Houſe of Commons, divers of the Chiefe Actors being diſcovered.
UPon Saturday laſt, Information was given to the Committee of Darby houſe and the Speaker, that there were divers of the Kings party who had c•mbined to maſſacree foureſcore of the Members of the Honourable Houſe of Commons, who as they ſaid oppoſed the Treaty in the Houſe, & gave a note of 4. of their names A Captain of the Army was likewiſe killed in London, and a Major the laſt week.
A Petition was preſented to the houſe in the name of many Thouſands of the County of Ox•n, ſhewing their approbation of the large Petition in the name of many Thouſands of the City of London, Weſtminſter, and parts adjacent, and the great danger the Kingdom is in at this Time, deſiring that thoſe that have ever adhered to them and ventured their lives and fortunes in this great cauſe may not periſh ſuddenly, while the deſtroyers cry peace, peace, but ſeek after blood, And that they would return to their firſt principles and not fail from the good work of God, that Gods wrath may be appeaſed, the enemies of him and his people ſubdued, their friends reconciled, which will be like life from death to this poor dying Nation, and ſo by this meanes a wel-grounded peace eſtabliſhed.
From St. AlbonsSeptemb. 29.thus.
There hath little of concernment happened here ſince the laſt Poſt, his Excellency takes all the care he can to3 the Countrey that undergoes the great but then of Free quarter; complaints coming in daily concerning the ſame and that which adds to affliction is, That the Souldiers is not paid, whereby to inable them to diſcharge•heir quarters, ſome Regiments having not had one penny pay theſe 18. weeks paſt, and none having had above one month pay in a•l that time, except the 2. Regiments which were in Kent, and the Souldiers begin to be much diſcontented, that the fault ſhould be imputed unto thē for not ſatisfying for what they have in proviſions when as they have been ſo ill paid, it is v•ry much feared if ſome ſpeedy courſe be not taken herein, neither the Countrie nor the Souldier will with patience long undergoe the ſame. His Excellencie had letters out of Scotland (where Lieut. Gen. Crumwell is with the Army) informing of the good correſpondencie betwixt the Earl of Argiles Army and ours, and that Monro was poſſeſt of Sterling bridge, hoping thereby to increaſe his Army its conceived it will rather leſſen their number. There paſt ſome Scots priſoners this way going to be ſhipt for beyond the Seas, moſt of them curſe Duke Hamilton, and wiſh that the Deele may flea his hide, ſome of them who eſcapt when they came to beg made as if they were dumb, making ſignes for bread, leaſt their language ſhould diſcover them.
2. Letters came this day to the Generall from good hands, that there was a Deſign that 2. Caviliers ſhould ſto•him during his reſidence at St. Albans, another from France came this week to his Excellency to the ſame purpoſe, and the party is in England and upon his journey from France that firſt diſcovered it.
4The Lord Admirall with his fleet conſiſting of about 20 ſhips hath now alarmed the revol•ed ſhips & is labouring to reduce them the particulars are as followeth. viz.
His Lordſhip called a Councell of war upon receite of the Ordinance for giving indemnity to the revolted ſhips, And it was reſolved to ſend them a ſummons and offer indempnity to them accordingly.
And comming within 4 leagues of them, a Summons was ſent to them, offering them if they would ſurrender themſelvs and their veſſels they ſhould have Indempnity and favour if not, to expect none.
But the Prince ſent anſwer of a poſitive denyall to come in, or do any thing in order to that Summons, ſleighting the indempnity offered. And declared reſoluton and thoſe with him for the reſtoration of the King his Father to his former Rights.
My Lord having received this anſwer, ſent a reply to the Prince, to let His Highnes know the dangerous courſes he is in, and thoſe with him, and what a hopefull way the Kingdom of England, is now in to be ſetled, and all differences5 compoſed, and very good invitation to his highnes, and thoſe with him to hearken to an agreement with the Parliament of England.
The Hollanders declare themſelves Newters, and that they will not meddle at all neither on the one ſide nor on the other, between the King and Parl. of England.
And they have a fleet of ſhips put in between our ſhips and the Princes, that ſo no hoſtile act may be done on either ſide.
But the Officers, and Sea-men have differences among them, with the Prince, and that very great; only at preſent upon a little mony paid to them, they are ſo unruly altogether, ſince the Prince came, as they were before, & yet I do not hear that Prince Charles is aboard them. It is thought his Highnes will not goe aboard for fear they ſhould have ſome deſign to carry him away.
Intelligence came juſt now that the Warwick Frigot hath had a fight with one of the Iriſh ſhips, and taken her with 10 peeces of Ordnance, 5 barrels of Gun-powder, and good ſtore of Marchandize, diverſe hundreds8 of Hids, and many Thouſand Weight of Tallow. And there is alſo a little Veſſell t•ken that was (by the Lord Iermins order) going with reliefe to his Iſlands, and all the Ammunition therein taken.
BEing at preſent arrived into Cheſter water, having been to the Northward, and came on yeſterday our of the Bay of Carrickfergus, where upon Saturday was a ſennite, Col. Mouke did ſurprize the Town and Caſtle of Corrickfergus, and the ſame day did ſurprixe Belfaſt: I have brought over with me the Generall Major Monro Priſoner unto your Honours; Upon Thurſday laſt when I received him aboard, Col. Monk did march away toward Colrane, I pray God give him good ſucceſſe, he is in great want of men and money; here is one Captain Browf come over in charge with the Generall Major, to whom I referre you to further relation at his coming to you.
Thus with my humble ſervice preſented unto you, I take leave and remain, Yours.
FRom this Iſland for the preſent I can write little of Newes, only his Majeſty and the Commiſſioners goes on very hopefully, and his Majeſty is willing, and ready to come to an agreement upon reaſonable Conditions, ſo that there is great hopes of a ſpeedy alteration and happy union between both parties.