albeit his chief dependence was both for money | be in the power of the parliament to pervert them, and provisions from the Isle of Wight, yet he was or to make ill impressions in them towards his careless to secure those small castles and block- majesty's service. houses, which guarded the river; which revolting to the parliament as soon as he declared for the king, cut off all those unreasonable dependences; so that he had neither men enough to do ordinary duty, nor provisions enough for those few, for any considerable time. And at the same time with this of Portsmouth, arrived certain advertisements, that the marquis of Hertford, and all his forces in the west, from whom only the king hoped that Portsmouth should be relieved, was driven out of Somersetshire, where his power and interest was believed unquestionable, into Dorsetshire; and there besieged in Sherborne castle. 66 66 Whilst his lordship in this gentle way endeavoured to compose the fears and apprehensions of the people, and by doing all things in a peaceable way, and according to the rules of the known laws, to convince all men of the justice and integrity of his majesty's proceedings and royal intentions; the other party, according to their usual confidence and activity, wrought underhand to persuade the people that the marquis was come down to put the commission of array in execution, by which commission a great part of the estate of every farmer or substantial yeoman should be taken from them; alleging, that some lords had said, "that twenty pounds by the year was enough for any peasant "to live by;" and so, taking advantage of the commission's being in Latin, translated it into what English they pleased; persuading the substantial yeomen and freeholders, that at least two parts of their estates would, by that commission, be taken from them; and the meaner and poorer sort of people, that they were to pay a tax of one day's labour in the week to the king; and that all should be, upon the matter, no better than slaves to the lords, and that there was no way to free and preserve themselves from this insupportable tyranny, than by adhering to the parliament, and submitting to the ordinance for the militia; which was purposely prepared to enable them to resist these horrid invasions of their liberties. The marquis, after he left the king at Beverley, by ordinary journeys, and without making any long stay by the way, came to Bath, upon the very edge of Somersetshire, at the time when the general assizes were there held; where meeting all the considerable gentlemen of that great county, and finding them well affected to the king's service, except very few who were sufficiently known, he entered into consultation with them from whom he was to expect assistance, in what place he should most conveniently fix himself for the better disposing the affections of the people, and to raise a strength for the resistance of any attempt which the parliament might make, either against them, or to disturb the peace of the country by their ordinance of the militia, which was the first power they were like to hear of. Some were of opinion, It is not easily believed, how these gross infu"that Bristol would be the fittest place, being a sions generally prevailed. For though the gentlegreat, rich, and populous city; of which being men of ancient families and estates in that county once possessed, they should be easily able to were, for the most part, well affected to the king, give the law to Somerset and Gloucestershire; and easily discerned by what faction the parliament "and could not receive any affront by a sudden was governed; yet there were a people of an infeor tumultuary insurrection of the people." And rior degree, who, by good husbandry, clothing, if this advice had been followed, it would probably and other thriving arts, had gotten very great forhave proved very prosperous. But, on the con- tunes; and, by degrees, getting themselves into trary, it was objected, that it was not evident, the gentlemen's estates, were angry that they "that his lordship's reception into the city would found not themselves in the same esteem and repu"be such as was expected; Mr. Hollis being tation with those whose estates they had; and "lieutenant thereof, and having exercised the therefore, with more industry than the other, "militia there; and there being visibly many dis- studied all ways to make themselves considerable. "affected people in it, and some of eminent qua- These, from the beginning, were fast friends to the "lity; and if he should attempt to go thither, and parliament; and many of them were now intrusted "be disappointed, it would break the whole de- by them as deputy lieutenants in their new ordisign: then that it was out of the county of So- nance of the militia, and having found when the merset, and therefore that they could not [le- people were ripe, gathered them together, with a gally] draw that people thither; besides, that it purpose on a sudden, before there should be any "would look like fear and suspicion of their own suspicion, to surround and surprise the marquis power, to put themselves into a walled town, as at Wells. For they had always this advantage of "if they feared the power of the other party would the king's party and his counsels, that their reso"be able to oppress them. Whereas, besides Pop- lutions were no sooner published, than they were "ham and Horner, all the gentlemen of eminent ready to be executed, there being an absolute imquality and fortune of Somerset were either pre-plicit obedience in the inferior sort to those who "sent with the marquis, or presumed not to be "inclined to the parliament.' And therefore they proposed "that Wells, being a pleasant city, in "the heart and near the centre of that county, "might be chosen for his lordship's residence." Which was accordingly agreed on, and thither the marquis and his train went, sending for the nearest trained bands to appear before him; and presuming that in little time, by the industry of the gentlemen present, and his lordship's reputation, which was very great, the affections of the people would be so much wrought upon, and their understandings so well informed, that it would not 66 وو were to command them; and their private agents, with admirable industry and secrecy, preparing all persons and things ready against a call. Whereas all the king's counsels were with great formality deliberated, before concluded: and then, with equal formality, and precise caution of the law, executed; there being no other way to weigh down the prejudice that was contracted against the court, but by the most barefaced publishing all conclusions, and fitting them to that apparent justice and reason, that might prevail over the most ordinary understandings. When the marquis was thus in the midst of an enemy that almost covered the whole kingdom, his whole strength was a troop of horse, raised by Mr. John Digby, son to the earl of Bristol, and another by sir Francis Hawley, (both which were levied in those parts to attend the king in the north,) and a troop of horse, and a small troop of dragoons, raised and armed by sir Ralph Hopton at his own charge; and about one hundred foot gathered up by lieutenant-colonel Henry Lunsford towards a regiment, which were likewise to have marched to the king. These, with the lord Pawlet, and the gentlemen of the country, which were about eight and twenty of the prime quality there, with their servants and retinue, made up the marquis's force. Then their proceedings were with that rare caution, that upon advertisement that the active ministers of that party had appointed a general meeting at a town within few miles of Wells, sir Ralph Hopton being advised with his small troop and some volunteer gentlemen to repair thither, and to disappoint that convention, and to take care that it might produce the least prejudice to the king's service; before he reached the place, those gentlemen who stayed behind (and by whose advice the marquis thought it necessary absolutely to govern himself, that they might see all possible wariness was used in the entrance into a war, which being once entered into, he well knew must be carried on another way) sent him word, "that "he should forbear any hostile act, otherwise they "would disclaim whatsoever he should do." Otherwise the courage and resolution of those few were such, and the cowardice of the undisciplined seditious rabble and their leaders was so eminent, that it was very probable, if those few troops had been as actively employed as their commanders desired, they might have been able to have driven the bigots out of the country, before they had fully possessed the rest with their own rancour: which may be reasonably presumed by what followed shortly after, when Mr. Digby, sir John Stawell and his sons, with some volunteer gentlemen, being in the whole not above fourscore horse, and fourteen dragoons, charged a greater body of horse, and above six hundred foot of the rebels, led by a member of the house of commons; and without the loss of one man, killed seven in the place, hurt very many, took their chief officers, and as many more prisoners as they would; and so routed the whole body, that six men kept not together, they having all thrown down their arms. But this good fortune abated only the courage of those who had run away, the other making use of this overthrow as an argument of the marquis's bloody purposes;, and therefore, in few days, sir John Horner and Alexander Popham, being the principal men of quality of that party in that county, with the assistance of their friends of Dorset, and Devon, and the city of Bristol, drew together a body of above twelve thousand men, horse and foot, with some pieces of cannon, with which they appeared on the top of the hill over Wells; where the marquis, in contempt of them, stayed two days, having only barricadoed the town; but then, finding that the few trained bands, which attended him there, were run away, either to their own houses, or to their fellows, on the top of the hill; and hearing that more forces, or at least better officers, were coming from the parliament against him, he retired in the noon day, and in the face of that rebellious herd, from Wells to So merton, and so to Sherborne, without any loss or trouble. Thither, within two days, came to his lordship sir John Berkley, colonel Ashburnham, and other good officers, enough to have formed a considerable army, if there had been no other want. But they had not been long there, (and it was not easy to resolve whither else to go, they having no reason to believe they should be any where more welcome than in Somersetshire, from whence they had been now driven,) when the earl of Bedford, general of the horse to the parliament, with Mr. Hollis, sir Walter Earl, and other ephori, and a complete body of seven thousand foot at least, ordered by Charles Essex, their sergeant-majorgeneral, a soldier of good experience and reputation in the Low Countries, and eight full troops of horse, under the command of captain Pretty, with four pieces of cannon, in a very splendid equipage, came to Wells, and from thence to Sherborne. The marquis, by this time having increased his foot to four hundred, with which that great_army was kept from entering that great town, and persuaded to encamp in the field about three quarters of a mile north from the castle; where, for the present, we must leave the marquis and his greatspirited little army; It could never be understood, why that army did not then march directly to Nottingham; which if it had done, his majesty's few forces must immediately have been scattered, and himself fled, or put himself into their hands, which there were enough ready to have advised him to do; and if he had escaped, he might have been pursued by one regiment of horse till he had quitted the kingdom. But God blinded his enemies, so that they made not the least advance towards Nottingham. They [about the king] began now to wish that he had stayed at York, and proposed his return thither but that was not hearkened to; and they who had advised his stay there, and against the advance to Nottingham, were more against his return thither, as an absolute flight; but wished the advance of the levies, and a little patience, till it might be discerned what the enemy did intend to do. In this great anxiety, some of the lords desired, "that his 66 majesty would send a message to the parliament, "with some overture to incline them to a treaty;" which proposition was no sooner made, but most concurred in it, and no one had the confidence to oppose it. The king himself was so offended at it, that he declared, "he would never yield to it;" and broke up the council, that it might be no longer urged. But the next day, when they met again, they renewed the same advice with more earnestness. The earl of Southampton, a person of great prudence, and a reputation at least equal to any man's, pressed it, " as a thing that might "do good, and could do no harm;" and the king's reasons, with reference to the insolence it would raise in the rebels, and the dishonour that would thereby reflect upon himself, were answered, by saying " their insolence would be for the king's advantage; and when they should reject the "offer of peace, which they believed they would "do, they would make themselves the more odious "to the people, who would be thereby the more "inclined to serve the king." So that they took it as granted, that the proposition would be rejected, and therefore it ought to be made. It was farther objected, "that his majesty was not able to make "resistance; that the forces before Sherborne, 66 66 66 William Udall, (whom his majesty gave leave under that pretence to intend the business of his own fortune,) to the two houses with this message, which was sent the third day after his standard was set up. 66 "We have, with unspeakable grief of heart, long "beheld the distractions of this our kingdom. Our very soul is full of anguish, until we may find some remedy to prevent the miseries which are ready to overwhelm this whole nation by a civil 66 war. And though all our endeavours, tending to the composing of those unhappy differences "betwixt us and our two houses of parliament, (though pursued by us with all zeal and sincer"ity,) have been hitherto without that success we hoped for; yet such is our constant and earnest Portsmouth, and at Northampton, were three "several armies, the least of which would drive "his majesty out of his dominions; that it was only in his power to choose, whether, by making a fair offer himself, he would seem to make peace, which could not but render him very gracious to the people, or suffer himself to be "taken prisoner, (which he would not long be "able to avoid,) which would give his enemies power, reputation, and authority to proceed against his majesty, and, it might be, his posterity, according to their own engaged malice." Yet this motive made no impression in him. "For, he said, no misfortune, or ill success that might attend his endeavour of defending him"self, could expose him to more inconveniences "than a treaty at this time desired by him, where care to preserve the public peace, that we shall " he must be understood to be willing to yield to "not be discouraged from using any expedient, "whatsoever they would require of him: and how "which, by the blessing of the God of mercy, may "modest they were like to be, might be judged by lay a firm foundation of peace and happiness to "their nineteen propositions, which were tendered," all our good subjects. To this end, observing "when their power could not be reasonably un66 that many mistakes have arisen by the messages, "derstood to be like so much to exceed his ma- "petitions, and answers, betwixt us and our two jesty's, as at this time it was evident it did; and "houses of parliament, which happily may be prethat, having now nothing to lose but his honour," vented by some other way of treaty, wherein "he could be only excusable to the world, by "the matters in difference may be more clearly "using his industry to the last to oppose that tor- "understood, and more freely transacted; we have rent, which if it prevailed would overwhelm him." "thought fit to propound to you, that some fit This composed courage and magnanimity of his " persons may be by you enabled to treat with the majesty seemed too philosophical, and abstracted like number to be authorized by us, in such a from the policy of self-preservation, to which men manner, and with such freedom of debate, as were passionately addicted: and that which was may best tend to that happy conclusion which the king's greatest disadvantage, how many soever "all good men desire, the peace of the kingdom. were of his mind, (as some few, and but few, there "Wherein, as we promise, in the word of a king, were,) no man durst publicly avow that he was so; "all safety and encouragement to such as shall be a treaty for peace being so popular a thing, that "sent unto us, if you shall choose the place where whosoever opposed it would be sure to be, by gene- "we are, for the treaty, which we wholly leave to ral consent, a declared enemy to his country. 66 That which prevailed with his majesty very reasonably then (and indeed it proved equally advantageous to him afterwards) was, "that it was most probable" (and his whole fortune was to be submitted at best to probabilities) 66 that, out of their pride, and contempt of the king's weakness and "want of power, the parliament would refuse to "treat; which would be so unpopular a thing, that as his majesty would highly oblige his people by making the offer, so they would lose the hearts of "them by rejecting it; which alone would raise an army for his majesty. That if they should em"brace it, the king could not but be a gainer; for by the propositions which they should make to him, he would be able to state the quarrel so clearly, that it should be more demonstrable to "the kingdom, than yet it was, that the war was, on his majesty's part, purely defensive; since he never had, and now would not deny any thing, "which they could in reason or justice ask: that "this very overture would necessarily produce some pause, and delay in their preparations, or "motions of their armies; for some debate it must needs have; and during that time, men's "minds would be in suspense; whereas his majesty should be so far from slackening his preparations, that he might be more vigorous in them, by hastening those levies, for which his "commissions were out." For these reasons, and almost the concurrent desire and importunity of his council, the king was prevailed with to send the earls of Southampton and Dorset, sir John Colepepper, chancellor of his exchequer, and sir you, presuming the like care of the safety of "those we shall employ, if you shall name an"other place; so we assure you, and all our good subjects, that, to the best of our understanding, I nothing shall be therein wanting on our part, "which may advance the true protestant religion, oppose popery and superstition, secure the law "of the land, (upon which is built as well our just prerogative, as the propriety and liberty of the subject,) confirm all just power and privileges of parliament, and render us and our people truly "happy by a good understanding betwixt us and our two houses of parliament. Bring with you as firm resolutions to do your duty; and let all our good people join with us in our prayers to Almighty God, for his blessing upon this work. "If this proposition shall be rejected by you, we "have done our duty so amply, that God will "absolve us from the guilt of any of that blood "which must be spilt; and what opinion soever "other men may have of our power, we assure you "nothing but our Christian and pious care to pre"vent the effusion of blood hath begot this mo"tion; our provision of men, arms, and money, "being such as may secure us from farther vio"lence, till it please God to open the eyes of our people." 66 "dom; which we have by all means endeavoured to prevent, both by our several advices and pe"titions to your majesty; which have been not only without success, but there hath followed that "which no ill counsel in former times hath pro"duced, or any age hath seen, namely, those "several proclamations and declarations against "both the houses of parliament, whereby their "actions are declared treasonable, and their persons traitors. And thereupon your majesty hath set up your standard against them, whereby you "have put the two houses of parliament, and, in "them, this whole kingdom, out of your protec"tion; so that until your majesty shall recall "those proclamations and declarations, whereby "the earl of Essex, and both houses of parlia the houses met. The earl of Southampton went into the house of peers, where he was scarce sat down in his place, when, with great passion, he was called upon to withdraw; albeit he told them he had a message to them from the king, and there could be no exception to his lordship's sitting in the house upon their own grounds; he having had leave from the house to attend his majesty. However he was compelled to withdraw; and then they sent the gentleman usher of the house to him, to require his message; which, his lordship said, he was by" the king's command to deliver himself, and refused therefore to send it, except the lords made an order, that he should not [deliver it himself]; which they did; and thereupon he sent it to them; which they no sooner received, than they sent him word, "that he should, at his peril, immediately" ment, and their adherents, and assistants, and depart the town, and that they would take care "such as have obeyed and executed their com"that their answer to the message should be sent "mands and directions, according to their duties, "to him." And so the earl of Southampton deare declared traitors or otherwise delinquents: parted the town, reposing himself in better com- "and until the standard, set up in pursuance of pany at the house of a noble person seven or eight "the said proclamation, be taken down, your miles off. Whilst the earl had this skirmish with "majesty hath put us into such a condition, that, the lords, sir John Colepepper attended the com- "whilst we so remain, we cannot, by the fundamons, forbearing to go into the house without" mental privileges of parliament, the public trust leave, because there had been an order, (which is mentioned before,) that all the members, who were not present at such a day, should not presume to sit there, till they had paid a hundred pounds, and given the house satisfaction in the cause of their absence. But he sent word to the speaker, "that "he had a message from the king to them, and "that he desired to deliver it in his place in the "house." After some debate, (for there remained yet some, who thought it as unreasonable as irregular to deny a member of the house, against whom there had not been the least public objection, and a privy-counsellor who had been in all times used there with great reverence, leave to deliver a message from the king in his own place as a member,) it was absolutely resolved, "that "he should not sit in the house, but that he should "deliver his message at the bar, and immediately "withdraw;" which he did accordingly. And then the two houses met at a conference, and read the king's message with great superciliousness; and within two days, with less difficulty and opposition than can be believed, agreed upon their answer. The king's messengers, in the mean time, being of that quality, not receiving ordinary civility from any members of either house; they who were very willing to have paid it, not daring for their own safety to come near them; and the others looking upon them as servants to a master whom they had, and meant farther to oppress. Private conferences they had with some of the principal governors; from whom they received no other advice, but that, if the king had any care of himself or his posterity, he should immediately come to London, throw himself into the arms of his parliament, and comply in whatsoever they proposed. The answer which they returned to the king was this: The answer of the lords and commons to his majesty's message of the 25th of August, 1642. "May it please your majesty: "The lords and commons, in parliament assembled, having received your majesty's message of the 25th of August, do with much grief resent the dangerous and distracted state of this king " reposed in us, or with the general good and "safety of this kingdom, give your majesty any "other answer to this message." When the king's messengers returned with this answer to Nottingham, all men saw to what they must trust; and the king believed, he should be no farther moved to make addresses to them. And yet all hopes of an army, or any ability to resist that violence, seemed so desperate, that he was privately advised by those, whom he trusted as much as any, and those whose affections were as entire to him as any men's, to give all other thoughts over, and instantly to make all imaginable haste to London, and to appear in the parliament house before they had any expectation of him. And they conceived there would be more likelihood for him to prevail that way, than by any army he was like to raise. And it must be solely imputed to his majesty's own magnanimity, that he took not that course. However he was contented to make so much farther use of their pride and passion, as to give them occasion, by another message, to publish more of it to the people; and therefore, within three days after the return of his messengers, he sent the lord Falkland, his principal secretary of state, with a reply to their answer in these words. "We will not repeat, what means we have used "to prevent the dangerous and distracted estate of "the kingdom, nor how those means have been interpreted; because, being desirous to avoid "the effusion of blood, we are willing to decline "all memory of former bitterness, that might ren"der our offer of a treaty less readily accepted. "We never did declare, nor ever intended to de"clare, both our houses of parliament traitors, or "set up our standard against them; and much "less to put them and this kingdom out of our "protection. We utterly profess against it be"fore God, and the world; and, farther to remove "all possible scruples, which may hinder the treaty so much desired by us, we hereby promise, so "that a day be appointed by you for the revoking "of your declarations against all persons as traitors, or otherwise, for assisting us; we shall, "with all cheerfulness, upon the same day recall 66 cr our proclamations and declarations, and take means to allay and compose the distempers of the "down our standard. In which treaty, we shall people, and that the hope and expectation of peace "be ready to grant any thing, that shall be really might not dishearten their party, in their prepara"for the good of our subjects: conjuring you to tions and contributions to the war, the same day "consider the bleeding condition of Ireland, and they sent their last answer to the king, they pub"the dangerous condition of England, in as high | lished this declaration to the kingdom: a degree, as by these our offers we have de"clared ourself to do; and assuring you, that our "chief desire, in this world, is to beget a good understanding and mutual confidence betwixt us and our two houses of parliament." This message had no better effect or reception than the former; their principal officers being sent down since the last message to Northampton to put the army into a readiness to march. And now they required the earl of Essex himself to make haste thither, that no more time might be lost, sending by the lord Falkland, within two days, this answer to the king: To the king's most excellent majesty ; The humble answer and petition of the lords and commons assembled in parliament, unto the king's last message. 66 66 May it please your majesty : "If we, the lords and commons in parliament "assembled, should repeat all the ways we have "taken, the endeavours we have used, and the expressions we have made unto your majesty, to prevent those distractions, and dangers, your majesty speaks of, we should too much enlarge "this reply. Therefore, as we humbly, so shall we only let your majesty know, that we cannot "recede from our former answer, for the reasons "therein expressed. For that your majesty hath "not taken down your standard, recalled your "proclamations and declarations, whereby you "have declared the actions of both houses of par"liament to be treasonable, and their persons "traitors; and you have published the same since your message of the 25th of August, by your "late instructions sent to your commissioners of array; which standard being taken down, and "the declarations, proclamations, and instructions "recalled, if your majesty shall then, upon this our humble petition, leaving your forces, return "unto your parliament, and receive their faithful advice, your majesty will find such expressions "of our fidelities, and duties, as shall assure you, "that your safety, honour, and greatness, can only be found in the affections of your people, " and the sincere counsels of your parliament; "whose constant and undiscouraged endeavours "and consultations have passed through difficul"ties unheard of, only to secure your kingdoms "from the violent mischiefs and dangers now ready to fall upon them, and every part of them; "who deserve better of your majesty, and can never allow themselves (representing likewise "the whole kingdom) to be balanced with those persons, whose desperate dispositions and coun"sels prevail still to interrupt all our endeavours "for the relieving of bleeding Ireland; as we may "fear our labours and vast expenses will be fruit"less to that distressed kingdom. As your presence is thus humbly desired by us, so it is our hope your majesty will in your reason believe, "there is no other way than this, to make your majesty's self happy, and your kingdom safe." And lest this overture of a treaty might be a 66 66 "Whereas his majesty, in a message received "the fifth of September, requires that the parlia"ment would revoke their declarations against "such persons as have assisted his majesty in this "unnatural war against his kingdom; it is this day ordered, and declared by the lords and commons, that the arms, which they have been "forced to take up, and shall be forced to take up, "for the preservation of the parliament, religion, "the laws and liberties of the kingdom, shall not "be laid down, until his majesty shall withdraw "his protection from such persons as have been "voted by both houses to be delinquents, or that "shall by both houses be voted to be delinquents, " and shall leave them to the justice of the parlia"ment to be proceeded with according to their demerits; to the end that both this and succeeding generations may take warning, with "what danger they incur the like heinous crimes: "and also to the end that those great charges and sums of money lent by them for those purposes, "and be satisfied their charges so sustained, out "of the estates of the said delinquents, and of "the malignant and disaffected party in this kingdom. 66 This declaration did the king no harm; for besides that it was evident to all men, that the king had done whatsoever was in his power, or could be expected from him, for the prevention of a civil war, all persons of honour and quality plainly discerned, that they had no safety but in the preservation of the regal power, since their estates were already disposed of by them who could declare whom they would delinquents, and who would infallibly declare all such who had not concurred with them. And the advantage the king received by those overtures, and the pride, frowardness, and perverseness of the rebels, is not imaginable; his levies of men, and all other preparations for the war, being incredibly advanced from the time of his first message. Prince Rupert lay still with the horse at Leicester; and though he, and some of the principal officers with him, were discontented to that degree, upon the king's first message and desire of a treaty, as like not only to destroy all hopes of raising an army, but to sacrifice those who were raised, that they were not without some thoughts, at least discourses, of offering violence to the principal advisers of it, he now found his numbers increased, and better resolved by it; and from Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Staffordshire, came very good recruits of foot; so that his cannon and munition being likewise come up from York, within twenty days his numbers began to look towards an army; and |