SPECIAL PASSAGES, AND Certain Informations from ſeverall places collected for the uſe of all thoſe that deſire to bee truly informed.From the 13th. of September, to the 20th.
CAptain Dragner having gathered neere 300. Horſemen in the neighbouring Villages, by verrue of a warrant given him by His Excellence, marched round the County, ſearching and diſarming all Papiſts, and all others that were knowne to be promoters of his war, and enemies to the proceedings of Parliament, from whom he tooke great ſtore of Armes and Ammunition plate, and money, packt up in ſeverall places, to be carried to Nottingham, but now tis laid up in Northampton, till hee ſhall have order from the Parliament how to diſpoſe of it
THe Earle of Bedfords Troop under the command of Captain ANSELL, marcht out of Hartford towards Puckeridge to ſearch a Papiſts-houſe, which was ſuſpected to have great ſtore of Armes, but by the way they met with Sir John Watſon accompanied with neere 200. Cavaliers, which were his tenants, and inhabitants neer Hartford, men of looſe carriage and decayed fortunes, which had joyned with the ſaid Sir John Watſon, to aid him and the reſt of the Commiſſiousrs, in the ſetling of the Commiſſion of Array at Hatford; but being diſcovered by the Earl of Bedfords Trpop, Captain Anſell ſent a meſſage back to Hartford to raiſe the trained bands, giving them notice what he ſuſpected, withall hee retreated unſeene back to Hartford, to the end that he might joyne with the trained bands, for the ſuppreſſing of the ſaid intended diſturbance: by that time the trained bands were in Arms, and ready to entertain them. Sir John Watſon and his men appeared in ſight comming off the hill from Ware, the ſight of the trained bands ſtartled him, inſomuch that he made a ſtand, and drew his men up to a full body, ralling of his men in warlike equipage.
In this order he marcht up to the Towne, till he came within Piſtoll ſhot of the Town, his men being led by one which he had made Lieutenant of his Company, hee himſelfe bringing up the Reare, and a ſumpter horſe following him, lead by one of his ſervants.
4All this while Cap. Anſell with his troop ſtood ſtill in a cloſe way which comes from Hodſden, to Hartford, and joyns with the way from Ware, within a bow ſhot of Hartford: Sir John Watſon being paſt him, he with his Troop rode up to him as faſt as he could gallop, ſeiſing Sir John Watſon and his ſumpter horſe, before ever his Company could make any reſiſtance, ſome piſtols were diſcharged, but little hurt done, for as ſoone as the Cavaliers ſaw Sir John Watſon taken, they clapt ſqurs to their horſes and rode away as faſt as they could. Sir John Watſon was carried into Hartford, and a guard kept about his Chamber, at the bell, till they ſhall receive directions how to beſtow him, his ſumptuer horſe was laden with plate and money to the value of 4000. pounds, which was likewiſe detained. Since the ſurprizall of Sir John Watſon the country has been very quiet, he being the main diſturber of all thoſe parts.
THe Deputy Lieutenants in Cheſhiere having gathered forces together, and marcht up againſt the Welſhmen who were bilited in that Countie, but as foone as they heard that the Parliaments forces were comming, they tooke their heeles and ran for it, the Countie ſtands generally for the King and Parliament.
It was reported that the King intended to come to Weſtcheſter, to ſettle the commiſſion of Array, others ſaid, that they thought if he came thither, it was becauſe he meant to get ſhipping and go for5 Ireland, but theſe are but falſe rumours, for he intends not to ſtir from Nottingham.
SIr Edward Peto this day ſent out a party from the Caſtle, to Maſter Dormers a great Papiſt, inhabiting at Grove-parke; where he took tenne Cavaliers with a Jeſuite, and great ſtore of powder and Armour, which was hid in a vault which they had made in a Dove-houſe.
AT the Grange neere Weſt Hallam, within 6. miles of Darbie, the houſe of Mr. Poudrel a great Papiſt, was made the magazine for the Papiſts of that Countie, it being both neer Nottingham, and guarded by the Cavaliers, Endimion Porter making it his chiefe randevouz, but the Major of Darby and the Lieutenant of the ſhire having intelligence ſecretly raiſed a troope of Dragooners, and two other troops of Shire horſe, and by night marched to the Grange, where before ever they were diſcovered; they beſet the houſe, broke ope the doores and entered, where they found Endimion Porter and his ſonne, Mr. Willobie, brother to Sir Francis Willobie. Having made a privie ſearch they found a Vault which they had made to goe from the Grange to a great houſe they had at Weſt-Hallum, being neere a bow-ſhot diſtance, where they uſe it ſeemes to beſtow their Prieſts when any ſearch is made, for there they found one Atkins a knowne Jeſuite, who was in the habit of6 a ſervingman; theſe they carried to Darbie, and are to be ſent up to London, to be diſpoſed of by the Parliament: ſome Arms there was found, but it was moſt of it carried to Nottingham before their arrivall.
ONe Maſon a ſinging-man of the Colledge, was carried before the Major for ſpeaking divers ſcandalous words againſt the Parliament, which being proved againſt him, he was turned out of his place and kept in priſon till the ſeſſions, that the Law may determine what puniſhment he ſhall have, There are many malignant ſpirits here, but they are kept under by the well affected party, ſo that they dare not be ſeene to ſtir, for upon the leaſt knowledge of either word or act the Major impriſons them, our Newgate is as full of Cavaliers as yours.
WE are here in a very good poſture of defence, only we had ſome Cavaliers come hither under pretence of comming as uſually Gentlemen doe at the ſpring and fall, to bath; themſelves in our ſprings, but during their abode they privately endeavoured to raiſe forces, promiſing them great rewards that would be aſſiſtant; but being diſcovered they ſecretly left the Town, otherwiſe wee had taken order with them and hindered their proceedings.
OUr Biſhop is turned Cavalier, for hee is ſecretly gone from Wells, and gone to the King, the Towne hath ceiſed upon his Pallace, and fortified it with Ordnance which they borrowed at Briſtol, ſo that now they are well provided to entertain the Cavaliers.
THe Earl of Cumberland ſummoned the inhabitants of that Countie to meet him at Northalerton, and according to his appointment, they met him to the number of 5000. or thereabouts, but when the E. of Cumberland had declared the extent of his commiſſion, they went away faſter then they came, for within 3, hours the E. had not above 50. followers, for which cauſe he was much diſcontented, and immediately ſent Letters to his majeſty of his proceedings, withall deſiring him to employ him in ſome other ſervice, for in that he was like to do him little good.
AT Morpoth in Northumberland there was a great combuſtion made by ſome il-affected perſons of the Town, inſomuch that the trained-bands were inforced to riſe and ſuppreſſe them, who after they had tooke them, clapt them in the Caſtle feeding them with bread and water, And in a ſhort time, they will hardly be ſo luſty.
THe Cavaliers by his Majeſties appointment made an attempt againſt Boſton, but Sir John Hotham having intelligence ſent them word beforehand, ſo that they were well provided to entertain them, though they came by night, many ſhots was made from the Towne, which kept the Cavaliers from comming too neere the Town, ſo that finding they were not like to gaine their ends, they retreated, but before they could get cleare, the Country roſe upon them, and ſlew 14. hurt others, tooke 3. priſoners, which are comming up to London, to beare the reſt of their fellow Cavaliers company.
On Thurſday the King removed from Nottingham to Darby, and tis thought he meanes to remove into Wales very ſuddenly.