of the castles resist as yet, if some internal discord do not injure them, it being talked here as if the commanders were all at defeud one amongst the other.

Letters this day from the North confess, that Sir M. Langdale is grown to a very considerable army, well appointed and disciplined. His head-quarters are at Kendal; and, if he do advance with any convenient speed into Yorkshire, they acknowledge him irresistible because of the defection of that county: and our letters from Scotland affirm that, notwithstanding all the complaisances here, and their victory in Wales (which the letter says has nothing disanimated the counties in those parts), they are unanimously resolved to march forwards very suddenly. Upon which, his caution was that unless 5000 horse and dragoons were expedited, all would be lost in those quarters. And assure yourself, their armies at present are so exercised with apprehensions at home, that they have not such numbers to spare abroad; not daring as yet to remove the garrison from Whitehall; and, with very ill wills, that of the Tower marches out to-morrow. In the mean time, Skippon doth much complain, that he does not find the trained bands under his command in such due obedience, since his late re-instatement, as he expected they would have been.

[The remainder of this letter has been cut off.]

London, 1st June, 1648.

SIB, I have these two days continued in town, to enable myself for the intelligence of this day; every motion proving now of such consequence, as if the whole State depended upon every man's reports. That the scene is in Kent, I need not re-advise you; but that the entire machine of our hopes is altogether knit upon the success there, I can assure you.

On Tuesday last, Sir Thomas drew out upon Blackheath (having marched through Surrey, where, by the way, many soldiers deserting him, neither he nor any of his durst adventure to lie in beds or in towns, but kept the field all the night, for fear of the incensed countrymen), to the number of 3000 sober and well-appointed men. He is since 5663

men, as the list was given in to the committee at Derby House; which advice I got very strangely. The next day he advanced as far as Dartford, and so that night quartered even to Gravesend (where at present the head-quarters are), having swept the places through which he hath marched of all their horse, which the Kentishmen spared, that they might not disoblige the countrymen, and, [seizing] other moveables, plundered the town. As for acts of hostility committed, there hath as yet been little, beside the conjunction of some scouts and forlorn hopes, wherein it is reported the people have had much the better; and one tells me that Colonel Backstirr (the same that commanded the Surrey assassins) came yesterday into London, mortally wounded.

Touching the reports of this day, they seem to be very much in favour of the Army, as that Rochester was entered by stratagem, or Canterbury (for none of the relators agree either in the place or modus), the Cavaliers defeated, and the whole people were in disorder. But it comes through such hands and from such persons, that I do assure you it is no part of my creed; for the whole body, being within the river of Medway, it is believed, were in a better posture than to be dispered with a single party, though never so resolute. Besides, two watermen, which were employed by some of our correspondents, arriving just now from Gravesend, assure us that such as were sent to discover, towards Rochester, came back with a sad relation of their strength and numerosity. Others say there was a strong party sent through Sussex to relieve Dover; by that means taking a gallant force of gentlemen, who ad esteemed them the King's friends; whilst another is reay to depose there is no such matter, but that, on the contrary, as some troops were marching through Sussex, the inhabitants of the county fell foul upon them, and so frustrated that design. For mine own part, I believe neither the one nor the other, but absolutely gather from the variety of the best, and unconfident relation of the worst, that they have never yet engaged to any purpose.

As for the Kentish army, I hear it is divided into three brigades, their commander-in-chief being Hales. They have one council, to redress the complaints of the county;

and another, to transact all martial affairs. That which is most considerable with us, will be their remaining in this posture till matters are arrived to more maturity in Essex and the City; the one wanting time for their absolute declaration, and the other a little more warmth in their new nests of militia; for I do assure you the snakes do now begin to hiss, and may speak aloud ere it be many days longer.

Major Brown (no later than yesterday morning) said in full House, that the Army were no less traitors than the men of Kent themselves, calling them a pack of shufflers and varlets; and added that himself would be one of the thirty who would meet any forty of them in the field, to determine the truth of his assertion; telling them, moreover, that he which, at that present, commanded the Parliament Guard below, would not refuse to assert his expression, as secure as they thought themselves; which (being called up) he readily declared at the bar. For this demeanour it was this day expected the Major should have been questioned by the House; but nothing was done, save the reception of a petition, which came from the moderate party in the city, wherein they express their desires of a personal treaty in London, the releasement of the imprisoned Aldermen, and that they would join with them in an association with the Kentishmen, Essex, Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and Sussex. This demand being a breakfast more hard than they could digest at that time, they referred them to a committee, which was presently selected, that should endeavour to give them competent satisfaction; but what this is I cannot yet learn, nor do I believe it is yet determined. Perhaps they will offer them to be contented with the settlement of the militia throughout the whole kingdom which they pretend to be now in hand with; with other such stuff or design to procrastinate the time till they see what will become of their main stock, which is now that of Kent; who, they hope, will be forced to an engagement, and so to a confusion, that they may bid a second good night both to King and people. But I hope God will in his mercy prevent it.

In the mean while, the City are extremely discontented; and I have protracted my this day's writing as long as I

durst, that I might have given you some intelligence what has been done in Common Council; but they are not yet risen. Besides, we have great talk of a Common Hall, which it is believed may happen to do strange feats with Skippon and the Parliament; all which, together with the whole fate of these fair blossoms, absolutely depend upon the Kentishmen's behaviour and non-engagement, which you are desired to pray for, without ceasing.

The news of the revolt of almost the whole navy stands yet good. Warwick is gone down; but it is thought he will not be admitted, unless he change his spots, and avow their protestations. Cromwell, it is feared, may be near with some horse; but many do not believe it. The gentlemen in the North increase, but have a great force against them. The Scots look like Janus with two faces, and pretend such distractions among themselves that they are generally taken for knaves amongst us. Yet some affirm they will come in. From Ireland no succour comes yet to Wales. It is wished you would send us some sober, wise, stout, man into Kent. Surrey have this reply to their Commissioners, that no more soldiers shall be quartered amongst them ; that the authors and executors of those murders shall be prosecuted according to law (there having been seven more found strangled and butchered, lying unburied in a cellar at Whitehall, since the soldiers left it; there appearing by the names subscribed more than 100 that have iniscarried, or at least not yet returned home): all which shall be put in execution when the Kentishmen have played out their game. Believe it not before; for they are resolved to adventure the whole State upon this design, continually expecting when the good tidings will be brought them of their bloody and desperate designs upon that poor people, which God divert! APLANOS.

London, June 5, 1648.

SIR, Not to lose time (though I may haply escape some more fresh intelligence, by sealing up my letter before the Houses are risen) I am destined to relate to you the sad news of our Kentish misfortunes. On Thursday, the army began to engage with the Kentish at Gravesend, where

there was little opposition; on Friday, on attempting Rochester Bridge, they were repulsed with some loss from the town, so that finding no passage in those parts, they advanced as far as Maidstone, where by the treachery of a gunner, who was to fire the ordnance on the bridge, which he converted against the people in the town, they rushed into the streets, and after a very hot dispute (by the help of the disaffected therein) they mastered the town, killing about one hundred, and taking some prisoners; but all this was not done without a considerable loss on their part, which it is believed, sextupled the number of the countrymen. However, the fame thereof came so seasonably to the City, that it hath for the present quite dashed all our proceedings for an accommodation, and, as their own relations will have it, they endeavour to make us believe that they have killed 200, taken 1200 men, 5000 arms, and finally so dispersed the rebels, as they call them, that there are not two men left in a body through the whole county. In the mean time, those who calculate the march of Fairfax can by no means probably consent to the truth hereof; for he, being suddenly commanded back by the Houses who apprehended themselves in some danger from the tumultuary inclined people, could not possibly have time enough to penetrate unto the more eastern parts of Kent, where we do yet believe there is a sufficient power to preserve themselves in a body and take the castle of Dover, which some say is beleagured. Besides, there is another force at Canterbury, not as yet dissipated, as appears by Sir Thomas's own letter of this day from Rochester, where he is, having sent a party of 600 horse through the city into Essex, to pursue those who, upon the taking of Maidstone, quitted Rochester as untenable. Of these, who are about 5000 horse and foot, the Earl of Norwich is general, a very unfit man, as his character is with the City; which makes them much suspected. They ferried over on Saturday night about Greenwich, and upon their arrival, having made good the bridge at Bow, beat back with some loss to the enemy such of the horse as were sent round about, and foot likewise, who issued out of the Tower Hamlets against them: this is their posture at present. I am told the Essex men, (who are joined in great numbers with them) have now sent up Charles Rich with their sub