THE QUEEN OF BOHEMIA Her Reſolution concerning Prince Roberts coming into England againſt the Parliament.ALSO THE PRINCE PALTSGRAVES Declaration to the Parliament of his departure out of England in theſe times of diſtraction: with his earneſt requeſt to the Parliament, and the Parliaments anſwer thereunto.
THe Prince Paltſgrave hearing of the jealouſies and differences that began to ariſe betweene the King and Parliament, came into England, no doubt with an intent to uſe his beſt skill to ſettle thoſe diſtractions: but it ſeemed his coming was not very well pleaſing to his Majeſtie; for after his coming to London, for ſome ſpace of time, he was not admitted into his Majeſties preſence,2 but lay privately at Eſſex houſe, and therefore was there the leſſe hopes that his coming ſhould doe any good: which when he perceived, he tooke his leave of his Majeſty, and went again over into Holland, his ſecond brother Prince Robert going away alſo with him. But it ſeems thoſe two brothers had contrary affections and intents towards England: for the one went with an intent and purpoſe to ſtay in Holland and not to meddle further with the diſtractions that were in England, and the other (as it appeares by the event) with a reſolution to bring in what Forces he could to aſsiſt the King in a war againſt the Parliament. But ſome are of opinion, that it was infuſed into his braine by the Queene after he went over from hence, which was much againſt his Mothers (the good Lady ELIZABETH) mind. And although ſhe could not perſwade him from coming againe into England, with a purpoſe to increaſe the diviſion between the King and Parliament,3 yet ſhe did refuſe to give him her bleſsing, who went about ſo wicked a deſigne.
Not long ſince the Queene of Bohemia ſent to the Parliament, to acquaint them that the twelve thouſand pounds a yeere which ſhe had wont to receive as a ſtipend from England, ſince theſe diſtractions betweene his Majeſty and the Parliament have happened, hath not been paid; which the Parliament have taken into conſideration, and notwithſtanding all thoſe ill offices which are done here by her ſonne Prince Robert, yet ſo ſoone as his Majeſty wilbe pleaſed to paſſe the Bill for Tonnage and Poundage, which hath been a long time with his Majeſty, out of which it is to bee paid, or the preſent diſtempers a little over, ſhe ſhould have the ſame.
Oh Tueſday the 27. of September, a letter was read in the Parliament Houſe which came from the Prince Paltſgrave, ſent to the Houſe of Peeres, wherein he makes a Declaration of his carriage4 in England while he was with his Majeſtie, ſhewing to their Lordſhips, that he had oftentimes perſwaded and counſelled his Majeſtie to hearken to the advice of his great Counſell, the high and honourable Court of Parliament, and to return unto them, and that during all the time that he continued in England, hee did never uſe any meanes either by words or actions to increaſe the difference betweene his Majeſtie and the Parliament, but as much as in him lay, had uſed all poſsible endeavours to the contrary: neither ſince his going into Holland had hee beene an occaſion of ſending over any ammunition, or other proviſion for warre, to bee imployed againſt the Parliament. Hee further declared unto their Lordſhips, that he was in great want of moneyes, deſiring their Lordſhips to conſider, that there hath beene but little ſupply had out of England lately, and therefore intreated their Lordſhips to let him have a thouſand pound for the ſupply of his preſent5 neceſsities. Which Letter the Lords communicated to the Houſe of Commons, deſiring that they would joyne with them in an Order, that the foreſaid Prince Paltſgrave might have a thouſand pound, in regard the ſum he deſired was not great, but only to furniſh his preſent occaſions: which after ſome debate in the Houſe of Commons, they joyned with the Lords in the ſaid Order, and it was done accordingly.
The Marqueſſe of Hartford when he fled from Sherburne, marched toward Bruton in Somerſetſhire, but the next day turned his courſe toward Minyard, and the Earle of Bedford purſued after him with his troupes, following after him with a continuall alarum, with the aſsiſtance of the countrey, and ſent a poſt before to Minyard to ſtop his paſſage into Wales by ſea, and ſo purſued him to the town: but finding no paſſage to get over into Wales, as he intended, he poſſeſſed himſelfe of a ſtrong Inne in the ſaid town, & there for the preſent ſtands6 upon his guard: the Earle of Bedford with his Forces came to the ſaid towne, and continues there: and a great number alſo of the Trained Bands of ſeverall countreyes neere adjacent are come thither, ſo that the Marqueſſe will finde it very hard to give them the ſlip the third time; for he dares not look out of the doores, he is ſo cloſely beſet: and were it not for feare of burning downe the towne, they would quickly force him and his company out of the houſe: but within two or three dayes it is ſuppoſed that hunger will bring them forth to fight, rather then they will ſtarve: and therefore we may aſſure our ſelves, that by the next Poſt we ſhall heare that the Earle of Bedford hath taken them.