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when our good subjects shall understand the accusation of our inclination to the Papists, strange enmity between these men and truth, (which the authors of it in their own conscithe no-conscience they use in publishing, and ences, which will one day be dreadful to informing those by whom they pretend to them, know to be most unjust and groundless) be, trusted, things monstrous and contrary we can say no more, and we can do no more, to their own knowledge, they will be no less to the satisfaction of the world. If they offended with their falsehood to them, than know that the Romish priests have encouraged their treason to us. 'Tis well known we those of that religion to conform themselves never refused to give admittance to any Mes- to the Protestant religion, by coming to Church, sage or Petition from either or both houses receiving the Sacrament, and taking the Oaths of parliament; their messengers have been of Allegiance and Supremacy, they are more received and entertained, not only with that conversant v ith the subtleties of them than we safety, but with that candour, as is due to the are; but we must confess, till we be certain best subjects; when their errand hath been they have found that way to deceive us, that is, full of reproach and scorn, and the bringers, to elude the laws which are against them, w bold, arrogant, and seditious in their demican- shall, in charity, believe their conformity to be our; and therefore there needed to have been real, and not pretended: But that any Priests no more scruple made in the delivery of this, or Jesuists, imprisoned, have been released by than the other Petitions which have been us out of the goal of Lancaster, or any other brought us. The truth is, we were no sooner goal, is as false (to use an expression of their acquainted at Shrewsbury, by the carl of Dor- own) as the Father of Lies could invent; neiset, that he had received a Letter from the ther are the persons named in that Declaration, earl of Essex, intimating, That he had a Pe- to whom commissions are supposed to be tition from both houses to be delivered to us, granted for places of command in this war, so and to that purpose asking a safe-conduct for much as known to us; nor have they any comthose who should be sent; but we returned mand, or, to our knowledge, are present in our this Answer, That as we had never refused to army; and 'tis strange that our Oaths and Proreceive any Petition from our houses of par-testations before Alinighty God, for the mainliament, so we should be ready to give such a tenance of the Protestant religion, should be so reception and answer to this as should be fit; slighted in the end of that Declaration; when, and that the bringers of it should come and go in the beginning of it, it is acknowledged to be with all safety;' only we required, that none the strongest obligation and assurance that any of those persons whom we had particulary ac- Christian can give. We desire to have our cused of high treason should be, by colour of Protestations believed by the evidence of our that Petition, employed to us.'-After this we actions: But they are informed (and that is heard no more till a second Letter, at least a ground enough for them to lay the basest imfortnight after the first to the earl of Dorset, putation, upon their sovereign) that sir John informed us,. That our former Answer was Henderson and colonel Cochran (men of ill redeclared to be a breach of privilege, in that port both for religion and honesty) are sent to we would, not allow any messengers to come to Hamburgh and Denmark, (we thought we us; that is, that we were not content that should have heard no more news from Densuch persons, who had conspired our death, mark) to raise foreign forces, and to bring them might securely come into our presence. Our hither. We have before, in our Declaration, second Answer differed little from our former, (sufficient to satisfy any honest man) declared insisting, That the address should not be our opinion and resolution concerning foreign made by any of those persons whom we had force; and we had never greater cause to be particularly accused of high treason, amongst confident of security in our own subjects, and whom the earl of Essex himself, was one; but therefore cannot believe so vile a scandal can declaring that our ear should be still open to make any impression in sober men.-Let a list hear any Petition from our two houses of par- of the nobility and gentry about us, and in our liament' whether this were a denial from us service, be viewed; and will they not be found to receive their Petition, or, whether, if our the most zealous in the Protestant religion, the two houses of parliament had indeed desired most emment in reputation, of the greatest forto treat with us by Petition, they might not as tunes, and the greatest fame, the most publis well have sent it to us, as they have since done lovers of their country, and most earnest assertheir Instructions to their ambassadors into Ire- tors of the liberty of the subject, that this kingland, and their new Bill, for rooting out Epis- dom bath? How different the reputation of the copacy, and devising a new. form of churchprincipal ringleaders of this faction and rebelgovernment, let all the world judge. We have lion is, how careful they are of employing virreason to believe that the Petition then pre- tuous and honest men, is apparent to all the pared for us (if we have seen the true copy world; when they have entertained all the desof it) was thought, by the persons trusted for perate and necessitous persons. (whereof very the presenting it, fitter to be delivered after a many are Papists, which we speak knowingly, battle and full conquest of us, than in the as having taken several of them prisoners) they head of our army, when it might seem some- can draw to them; and when they supersede a what in our power whether we would be de- proceeding at the common law, for an odious posed or not. For that continued dishonest and infamous crime, that Mr. Griffen may hare

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long resisted the envy of Christendom, to a speedy desolation, to satisfy their own pride and ambition.-And we doubt not our good subjects of Scotland will never think themselves engaged by the act of Pacification, (to which we willingly consented) to assist a rebellion against their own natural king, for the assistance of persons accused, and notoriously known to be guilty of high treason; the bringing of whom to condign punishment would, with God's blessing, be a speedy means of happiness and peace to our three kingdoms."

The King resolves to march towards London.] The king, having by this time greatly augmented his army at Shrewsbury and the counties adjacent, left the earl of Essex behind him at Worcester, and resolved to march directly towards London. This resolution put both houses and the city into the utmost consternation; the parliament not only sent to their general to hasten after the king, but were endeavouring to raise another army, under the command of the earl of Warwick, to oppose him.

liberty to keep them company in this rebellion. -For our affection and gracious inclination to the city of London, and how far we are from any such purpose as these impious men charge us with, appears in our late Proclamation; in which we declare the suburbs to be comprehended, as well as the cities of London and Westminster ; to which we doubt not they will give that credit and obedience, as we shall have cause to commend their loyalty in joining with us to suppress this rebellion; which, uncontrouled, in a short time must make that place most miserable.-For the Oath and Covenant which they threaten us with; if it be to engage them to do, or not to do, any thing contrary to the Oaths they have already taken of Allegiance and Supremacy; as it cannot oblige them being taken, so we doubt not our good subjects will easily discern that it is a snare to betray and lead them into a condition of the same guilt, and so of the same danger with themselves: and we must therefore declare, whosoever hereafter shall suffer himself to be cozened by those stratagems, and take such a voluntary The Parliament and Citizens prepare for their oath against us, we shall impute it to so much Defence] Oct. 24. Orders were given, requirmalice, as will render him incapable of our par- ing all manner of persons whatsoever, in Loudon; and shall proceed against him as a despe- don, Westminster, and Southwark, to shut up rate promoter of sedition, and an enemy to the their shops, and forbear their trades; that so kingdom.-Let all honest men remember the they might, with the greater freedom and dili many gracious acts we have passed this parlia- gence, for the present, attend the defence of ment, for the ease and benefit of our people; the said places, and put in execution such Comthat when there was nothing left undone or un-mands as they should from time to time reoffered by us, which might make this nation happy, these mischievous contrivers of ruin, instead of acknowledging our grace and justice, upbraided us with all the reproaches malice and cunning could invent, in a Remonstrance to the people, a thing never heard of till that time; that having thus incensed mutinous and seditious minds, they made use of them to awe the parliament, driving us and the major part of both houses from our city of London; that they took away our fort and town of Hall from us, kept us from thence by force of arms, and employed our own magazine against us; that they seized upon our royal navy, and with it chased our good subjects, and kept all supply from us; that they voted away our negative voice, and then raised a formidable army to destroy us; that when they had thus compelled us to raise some power for our defence, (by the help of such of our good subjects, who, against the fury of these men, durst continue loyal) they absolutely and peremptorily refused to treat with us for the peace of the kingdom: And, lastly, That on the 23rd day of Oct. they brought this army (raised for the defence of our person) into the field against us; and used their best skill and means to destroy us and our children. We say, whoever remembers and considers this progress of theirs, will think of no other Covenant than to join with us in the apprehending the authors of this miserable Civil War; that posterity may not, with shame and indignation, find that a few schismatical ambitious persons were able to bring such a Aourishing glorious kingdom, which hath so

ceive from both houses of Parliament for that purpose. And, to secure themselves within doors, the house of commons had thought fit to require a Declaration from each of their Mem. bers, separately, That they would be assisting to the earl of Essex in this cause, with their lives and fortunes; and, as a testimony of it, to give or lend some money, immediately for that service.

An Ordinance of Parliament was read and agreed to, For making Provision for those that should be maimed in the present war, in the Service of the Parliament; and also for the Wives and Children of those that should be slain'

Oct. 25. An Order was made for putting the City Militia, &c. in motion; and another for allowing a maintenance to the king's youngest children, the duke of Gloucester and the princess Elizabeth, then at St. James's, out of his majesty's revenues, which the parliament had taken into their own hands.

Oct. 26. p.m. A Proclamation from the king, entered in the Lords Journal of this day, was read, but it is not mentioned who delivered it:

"C. R. His majesty, verily believing that many of his subjects, who are now in actual rebellion against him, are ignorant against whom they fight, is graciously pleased to promise free pardon to both officers and soldiers (except those that are, by name, proclaimed traitors) who shall lay down their arms and submit themselves to his majesty. We command you, Clarencicux king at arms, to pronounce this before the earl of Essex's army."

Relation of the Battle of Edge-hill.] This

day the lord Wharton made a relation of the Fight which had happened on Sunday last, the 23rd instant, between the Parliament's Forces and the King's, at a place between Warwick and Banbury, near a town called Keynton; and that it was conceived there were slain, of the king's party, 3000; and, on the parliainent's side, not above 300. That the lordgeneral with his forces were retired to Warwick, and that the king's army was in those parts, but refused to meet the parliament's forces on the Monday before his excellency retired*.

and nothing but the truth, in a very clear way of relation of what hath past.-Gentlemen, I shall open to you, as near as I can, as it comes within my memory, those circumstances which are worthy the taking notice of: And first, the Occasion why so many of the forces were not then upon the place; which you will find to be upon very good ground and reason, for the preservation of the coun ties that were behind, and of this city; which is the particular thing in the care, and now under the diligence of my lord-general to preOct. 27. The lord Wharton signified to the serve. There was left at Hereford, which lies lords; That the lord-general desired the rela- upon the confines of Wales, a regiment of foot tion of the Battle at Keynton might be made under the consmand of my lord of Stamford. Lo the city of London, having found so much and a troop or two of horse: that the power of friendship from them to the parliament's cause. Wales might not fall in upon Gloucestershire Hereupon the house ordered the lord mayor and upon the river of Severn, and so upon the to be sent to, to call a common-hall to meet West. There was likewise left at Worcester this afternoon, at 5 o'clock; and an extra- (which you all know how it is seated upon the crdinary committee of both houses to be ap- river of Severn, and what advantage it hath to Jointed to go to the city, where the lord Whar- intercept all force that shall come from Shrewston was to make the Relation to thein. Ac- bury down into, the West) a regiment of lord cordingly a committee of 10 lords and 20 com- St. John and sir John Merrick's. There was, moners was sent; some of whose speeches on for the safety of Coventry (for that was a town this occasion, being preserved in a pamphlet of it was likely the king might have fallen upon) this time, and no where else that we know of, the regiment of my lord Rochford; but it seems deserve our notice. We shall therefore give that his excellency the earl of Essex's army did them in their own phrase and diction†. so quickly come up to the king's, that his ma The lord Wharton spoke thus:-My lordjesty thought it no way fit or advantageous for mayor, and you the aldermen and common council of this city; In a business of this very great consequence and concernment, it was very well known to my lord-general, that you could not but be full of great expectations; and my lord had, according to his duty, taken care for to give information to the parliament, who had sent him, of what had proceeded: In the very next place it was his particular respect to this city, to my lord mayor, the aldermen, the common council, and all the commons of this city, that they might likewise be acquainted with the success of that business; towards which they themselves had been at so much expences, and shewed so much love and kindness in all their proceedings for that purpose: And because letters might be uncertain, and might miscarry, there being great interception of them, the forces of the armies being close together, my lord thought fit to send Mr. Strode, a member of the house of commous, and myself: And certainly whatsoever shall be related by us to you, it will be good news, or else we should not willingly have undertaken the bringing of it; and for the truth of it, though we already hear that there are those that have so much malignity as to oppose it, yet the certainty of it will clear itself; and therefore there shall need no apologies to be made, but that which shall be said to you, shall be the truth,

The King's Account of this Battle, printed at Oxford by Leonard Litchfield, and the ParJiament's Relation of the same, may be seen in Rushworth, vol. v. p. 33. et seq.

+ London, printed for Francis Coles and Thomas Bates, 1642.

him to spend any time upon those places, for certainly they would have very quickly been relieved; so that the king stepped by Warwick and Coventry, which otherwise, we conceive they were towns he had as good an eye upon as any other towns in the whole kingdom, excepting this. There were likewise, occasioned by the suddenness of my lord's march, two regis ments of foot, one under the command of a gentleman you all know, col. HAMPDEN, and the other under the command of col. Grantham, with some 10 or 12 troops of horse, one day's march behind; bringing up some poader, ammunition, and artillery, which my lord web not stay for; purposely upon his diligence and desire that there should not be an hour lost in pursuing after that army, and that he might make all haste in coming up to this town: And his desire to make haste to keep with that army was such, that he kept, for 2 or 3 days toge ther, a day's march before that army: and so, there being another regiment lodged in Banbury, occasionally for their own safety, ther was with the earl, when this Battle was fought upon the Lord's Day, 11 regiments of foot, and about 35 or 40 troops of Horse. That which makes me say this to you, is partly for your satisfaction, that you may know the reasons of the things that are past; and partly that you may give the more glory to God for his blessing, and for his preservation of that remuant of the army.-Upon the Saturday at night, after a very long march, for they came not in till 9 ot 10 o'clock, the army came to Keynton; and the next morning, about 7, (though all that night there was news came that the king was going to Banbury) we had certain informat

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tion he was coming down a hill, called and such provision as that) and there they Edge-hill, which hath some advantage by took a bait upon our pillage, and fell a plunnature for forts and breast works, and such dering all the while the rest of the army was things as those are; and the king's army fighting; and indeed my lord-general had some (that army which, being raised by his authority, more loss than ordinary, by some cloaths and goes under the pretence of being raised for money he had there; but we may thank God him and the parliament, but really against the they were away, for thereby the rest of our parliament) coming down the hill, my lord of army had better opportunity to do the service Essex presently drew out into the field; and they did. My lord-general himself, upon this drew his army into a place of as good advan-extremity, did begin to shew himself to be tage as possibly he could, though the other more than an ordinary man, and indeed I think army had the advantage by the hill, which they more than I have heard tell of any man; for were possessed of before; and, at the begin-he charged up at several times, once with his ning of the day, the wind was against us, and own troop of horse, as I remember; but I am was for the advantage of the other army. The sure with his own regiment of foot, which preparation on both sides was for the making was raised here in Essex; and though of them ready for fight, and the king's coming so many ill passages happened before, yet down the hill was so long, that there was no- by his own foresight and encouragement, thing done till 4 in the afternoon. And, gen- and the encouragement of others, his troop tlemen, I shall tell you the worst as well as the of horse fell upon the king's own regiment, best, that you may know all; and that when (which they had the most hopes of) called the you have known the worst, you may find it in Red Regiment; and, after a sore and bitter your judgments, to give the more praise to fight (for to give them their due, they fought God for his mercy, after there was so little very well, those of my lord of Essex's regiment probability of any success. After we had shot I mean and those horse I spake of before) they 2 or 3 peices of ordinance, they began for to killed the king's standard-bearer, sir Edmund shoot some of theirs; and truly, not long after, Verney; also took the king's Standard which before there was any near execution, 3 or 4 of was raised up against the parliament, and our regiments fairly ran away. I shall name brought it to my lord-general; and he deliveryou the particulars, and afterwards name you ed it to a servant, who was not so careful as those that did the extraordinary service, where he ought to have been; yet it was not re-taken of you will find those of this city to have been by force, but by the carelessness and negligence very extraordinary instruments. There were of some persons: they took likewise the earl that ran away, sir Wm. Fairfax's regiment, sir of Lindsey the king's general, prisoner, and Henry Cholley's, my lord Kimbolton's, and, carried him away; they took prisoner my lord to say the plain truth, my own.-Gentlemen, general's son, my lord Willoughby of Eresby; you see by this time, I am like to tell you the as also the person you have heard so much of, truth of every thing; but yet I must say this, and been so well acquainted with here, col. that though they did so, I hope there will be a Lunsford, which should have had the Tower, good number of them got together again, that he was likewise taken prisoner, and his brother may shew themselves in better condition, and slain; sir Edw. Stradling prisoner, and divers better way of service than yet they have done: others of quality, as my lord Aubigny, col. VaI hope so, and, by the blessing of God, it may vasour, and sir Edw. Murray, a Scotsman of be so, for they are but young soldiers; and we great quality.-While these were upon this serhave some young soldiers that have, this last vice, I must do justice to divers other of the offi battle, done very extraordinary and gallant cers of the horse, which were upon the right wing, service. Not long after there was a charge that did extraordinary service too; that was upon the left wing of the horse, where I con- my lord of Bedford himself, who did very gal ceive there was a matter of 18 or 19 troops; lantly; sir Wm. Balfour, the late lieutenant of and truly I cannot say they did so well as they the Tower, sir Philip Stapylton, and all the should, though I hope there are not many of troop which formerly had been under some them cut off neither, but that they will be other kind of report, did extraordinary service, brought together again to do very good service and kept entirely to their charge; and though hereafter; but so it is, they had the worst of they were long under the power of the other's it, By this you will see that, at the beginning canon, there being some 17 shot against them, of the day, we night think it would not prove they stood still; and, God be thanked, not a so well as it pleased God it did afterwards in man of them hurt.-There was likewise very the close of the day; for four troops were di- extraordinary service perrmed by my lord vided, and one part of the horse was not in Grey and sir Arthur Haslerig, who indeed were good order; but it pleased God now to shew a help to give a great turn to the day, by cuthimself, for after the king's horse had past the ting off a regiment of the king's which was left wing of our horse, (I cannot say it was in called the Blue Regiment; and there were any hands but God's own Providence) they many other gentlemen of great worth, that went to the town where all our baggage was, did very extraordinary service too. I would (the baggage of the officers and the private not have you understand that others did not persons of the army, not they of the artillery, do it, because I remember not their names, but the solonels carts and the captains carts, for I speak to you now but on the sudden;

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did thus declare himself for the owning of his own cause, so you will not forget to apply yourselves to God, to give him the glory, and to intreat his blessing upon your future attempts."

only these I have named come now to my memory, and you will hear more of the rest upon other occasions. Upon the close of the day, we knew it for certain that the best regiment of the king's was cut off, and his next best regiment, which was that under my lord of Mr. Strode spoke next :-"Gentlemen all; Lindsey; that there were all the prisoners As the noble lord hath told you, my lordtaken and persons of quality slain I told you general sent him up to you to give you a clear of; and we were informed by the countrymeu, information of what was done; and he hath that saw them bury their dead next day, and given you so clear a one, that there is little bring them up into heaps, that there were left for me to say to you; only my attestation, about 3000 of theirs slain; and we cannot and that is needless. Had that been all I should believe, nor we cannot have any information have said nothing; but in the enumeration of to give us reason to believe, that there were those regiments that did run away, and of hi above 300 of ours slain.-It is to be observed own, I must needs say thus much, that, when of God's Providence in this day's work, that they were all away, he staid with us in the serthough it began so improbably, yet before the vice all that night. This I hold my duty to close of the night, which was two hours, (for this honourable person, since it was modesty they began to fight but about 4 o'clock) we in himself to say nothing.-I shall crave leave had got the ground that they were upon; and a little further to make you some observation, had also got the wind of them; and we do not that as God did this great work, and we ascribe know, nor by information can conceive, that to him the honour, so you will look upon the there were 20 men of ours killed by all the persons by whom he did it. In the first place king's cannon. And when it was night and you have heard, when it was a thousand to there could be no more fighting, we drew our one but that we had lost the day, by the runforces together, and so likewise did the king. ning away of the troop of horse and the 4 reThey were then but at a reasonable distance, giments, that the general did draw up his own it may be three times, or six times the length, regiment; and that then did God begin, in or some such distance, of this room; but in the them, to shew his own work; and not only in night the forces of the king withdrew up to them, but by a regiment raised in Essex, wards the hill from whence they came: and another regiment raised in this city under the my lord-general sent, amongst others, myself command of Mr. Hollis, and one regiment of for to bring up those forces to him, which I my ford Brooke's which had the day upon them. told you were a day's march behind; these These were the men that were, ignominiously, were col. Hampden and col. Grantham and reproached by the name of Round-Heads? those troops of horse, and the artillery; and but by these Round-Heads' did God shew about one or two o'clock the next morning, himself a most glorious God: and truly, genthey came to my lord-general, and joined tlemen, they that will report to you the nomwith the rest of the army.-When the king ber of our dead, farther than we have reported had drawn his forces up the hill, my lord- them to you, must find them many miles from general drew us a matter of three quarters the army; and then they were men that ran of a mile, further from the hill, that he might away so far, that it was no matter who killed be out of the power of their cannon; there we them; for our men, killed any where about the stood on our arms all the night, and in the morn-place, we cannot find in all, or think of, above ing, drew ourselves again into the field; but we heard no more news of the other army, more than we saw some scattering inen, of some 3 or 4 troops of horse on the top of the Hill, which came to bury the dead, and to take away some of their cannon, and such things as those were; but they came no more down the hill, neither that day, nor on Tuesday; though there were divers reports came to us, in the army, and I believe came hither, that there was fighting on Monday and Tuesday: but, there was no fighting, for the king kept on the top of the hill; and we came away on Tuesday, at 4 o'clock; so that we can assure you there was no more action, than what was on the Lord's Day.-Gentlemen, now I have declared this Narration to you, I shall say no more than this, That certainly my lord-general himself hath deserved as much in this service, for his pains and care, and for the particular success that was upon it, as truly as, I think, ever any gentleman did; and in the next place, hat as God of his own immediate providence

300, and you will say they were well lost that run away; there were few lost of them that stoad their ground, and they that were so lost were lost with honour: so that truly I can say no more to you, in such a cause as this, that you have undertaken with your purses and with your persons: God hath shewed himself with us; be you but courageous and we never need doubt it. And so we say all."

Then the earl of Pembroke said; "My lord mayor, and you gentlemen of the city; I am commanded, and the reason that makes me trouble you at this time with saying any thing, is by reason of a Letter I received from the committee, which I think, is a Letter of some consequence, and fitting for you to see; other wise I am so ill a speaker, after such a declaration made to you, that I have not the boldness to say any thing to you; but truly though I say little, yet I have ever had so good a heart to this business, that I shall ever live and die in it.-Gentlemen, you have shewed yourselves like brave and noble citizens ; you have acted

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