A LETTER FROM NORWICH.

I Am ſorry that this opportunity ſhould meet with the occaſion of ſending you ill newes from hence: for, on Munday laſt, here fell out a very ſad accident; the manner thereof, and the occaſion was briefly thus. I believe that you have heard that this town, as well as other places, was much divided, ſome againſt the Parliament and Army, and2 others for them, which cauſed a difference betwixt not only the meaner ſort of people, but even amongſt thoſe which were in chiefeſt place in the City, and the diſaf­fected party did ſo increaſe, that the reſt were often­times openly ſcorned and divided by them: the Major acting in ſome things otherwiſe then was expected was ſent for vp to the Parliament, which the malignant party were exceedingly vexed at, and ſaid he ſhould not be ſubject to that command, nor be carryed out of the city: the well-affected laboured to have the Parl orders obey­ed and here the buſineſse began to grow high, and came to an open quarrell, many hundreds of people being ga­thered together, and the malignant party thinking to ex­punge the rest, and poſſeſſe themſelves of all the armes and ammunition in the city, they ran with one accord, to the Magazine, which was furniſhed with a great quantity of powder and ammunition. Here they began to arm themſelves, and threatned ruine to all that bad or durſt oppoſe them; but before they became formidable, the Magazeen (amongſt them) was fired, and at leaſt 40 houſes was blown vp and ſpoyled by powder, the blow whereof did ſhake the whole City, threw downe part of ſome churches, wounded and killed a great many of the Inhabitants, the certain number not being yet known, nor many of them that were killed, as yet found, or can bee known, for many were torn in pieces, and carryed limbe3 from limbe, ſeveral legs, arms, &c. being found in the ſtreets, but we already find miſſing & mortally wound­ed at least 120. perſons; beſides as many more which received ſlight wounds & hurts. Yet was not this great miſchiefe a ſufficient terrour to thoſe that eſcaped, and had gotten armes, for they continued and perſiſted in their courſe, and would quit the City of all that joyned not with them, and take their goods for a prey: ſo that this combuſtion and diſtraction laſted divers hours, till 3. Troopes of Col. Fleetwoods horſe, which were ſent for, came into the City, and appeaſed the matter, and ſecured ſome of the chief Matiniers: ſo that we hope all things will be now quiet. And I wiſh, that accor­ding to the Proverb, others may be warned by our harms, and that when there is no enemy abroad, we may not find him at home, and by private diſ­ſentions, bring inevitable ruine and diſtractions upon our ſelves; which is all for the preſent, hee hath to write, that is

REport was made of the tranſaction of the late buſineſs in the City of London, in relation to the information lately given, that the Army had ſome intentions againſt the City, which was grounded on a ſingle affidavit made by one Mr. Everet, an Excize-man for the County of Bedford, of e­ſtate 220. li. per annum. This man went to the Head-quar­ters at Winſor, to get aſſiſtance for gathering the Excize at Bedford, & taking his Lodging at an Inne, he over-heard ſome in another roome to ſay to others of their acquaintance with them, that they had acquainted an eminent Comman­der with what they had to propoſe, & that he ſeemed to ap­prove wel of the deſign, which hee ſaid he heard them ex­plain to be the ſecuring of the city, diſarming of diſaffected perſons, the demanding of a million of money, &c. But that any ſuch thing was the ſenſe of the Army, or had bin deba­ted by a Councel, as ſome have reported, is utterly falſe; However, M. Everet thought himſelf bound in duty to diſ­cover to the city what he had heard, and thereupon came and acquainted the Lord Major, who cauſed him to finde ſufficient ſureties, & then took his examination upon oath, the effect whereof I have already ſet downe. Hereupon a Common-councel was called on Munday night laſt, where the ſaid Mr. Everet appeared, and affirmed what hee had be­fore declared to the Lord Major. And after a long ſitting of the Common-councel, they came to this reſult, That ſome particulars ſhould be drawn up, and preſented to the Parl. in relation to the peace and ſafety of the city, and the two Sheriffs Alderman Gibs, Alderman Fouk, and 8 Commoners were appointed, as a Committee to draw up the ſame, Tueſday night was another Common-councell at Guild-Hal about this buſines, where they concluded, and made an Act in theſe words.

The 27. of this inſtant, divers. Aldermen and Common-councel men of the city of London, preſented a Petition to both Houſes of Parl. ſetting forth the good affection of the city to the Parl. and that they will venter their lives & for­tune, for the preſervation thereof, according to their Cove­nant, deſiring that the city might be put into a poſture of defence, the Tower in their hands, the Army removed fur­ther, their chains put up, and Maj. Gen. Skippon Commander in chief of their Forces, that they might not be diſarmed, plundered, &c.

To which Petition, the E. of Mancheſter returned the an­ſwer of the Lords, which was to this effect.

1. I am commanded to let you know, that the Lords doe return hearty thanks to the Lord Major of London, Alder­men, and Common-councel, for expreſſing their good affe­ctions to the Parliament. 2. And that it never entred into the thoughts of the Parl. to diſarm the city, and know not that any others had any ſuch intent, and that the Parl. are and e­ver ſhall be very carefull for the good and ſafety of the ci­ty. 3. As for the information brought to the city by one Jo: Everet, the Houſe would take it into ſpecial examination to find out the truth or falſhood therof; in the mean time, they ſee not any cauſe why ſuch a ſlight information ſhould bee any blemiſh or ſcandall to the Army, which have approved themſelves in many things faithful. 4. As for that concern­ing Major General Skippon, he is a member of the Houſe of Commons, and ſo it did not belong to their Lordſhips to meddle therein before the Commons had debated that bu­ſineſſe. 5. And as for the putting up of the chaines for their own ſafety, they left it to their own diſcretion.