mission to the Houses, upon their indemnity and further satisfaction to their petition, which, whether it be true or false, I leave to a small times determination, since others affirm it is only the act of some of the gentry of that county, not of the commoners. And this is the best rela

tion I can learn.

Now for the City. No Common Hall could be procured; for it being referred to a committee of their own, and all accesses being shut up from disturbing them, it was there ordered in the negative; so that you may hereby plainly perceive from where all our mischiefs proceed, even from a self-interested party in the City, commanded both by Parliament and Army. From the North, none contradict the this day's report of the taking of Pomfract Castle by a party of Langdale's forces; which news, with the bruit of Cromwell's defeat in North Wales, does not a little recover our drooping cavaliers. The ships (it is said) are more and more firm, though some wise men believe they will be wrought upon with money and other corrupt practices. Some report_Norfolk and Suffolk to be newly risen. Sir Charles Lucas, we hear, is gone this morning into Essex, and that your cousin, S. T., with divers others, follow him this evening.

From Ireland there comes no news at all; but it is reported this morning (from a Blue Bonnet), that our brethren will undoubtedly come in some time this month, as he assures us; all factions being there appeased that may obstruct them.

It is now a-voting whether the Earl of Norwich shall be a traitor or not. What they conclude, expect by my next.

As touching applications to his Majesty, be confident none will be, unless by a very high and an almost miraculous hand they be compelled at last unto it; for, in order to a personal treaty, nothing is resolved on by the Houses, save the preparing those bills for the re-calling his proclamation, the security of their militia and presbytery for three and ten years; which is sent down unto the Scots, with a golden hook, and, if swallowed by them, it is likely his Majesty (accepting of their benevolence) shall, upon his divesting himself, obtain leave to approach to Hampton Court, there to be almost a Duke of Venice.

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For all this, Sir-" Fides que coronat ad aras "—let us have good hearts.

APLANOS.

I would foot this letter with what I have since learned; but how true, I leave to time. It is now hot come to town that the dispute hath been so hot in a long fight yesterday and to-day with the remaining part in Kent, that, as some affirm, Sir Thomas is wholly routed; and certain it is, the men of Essex have beaten (being new in fight) those horse, their opposers, even unto Whitechapel. God improve this!

London, 15th June, 1648.

SIR, Lest I should endanger the departure of the post (which hath hitherto made my despatches so confused and precipitately written), I shall continue my intelligence to you before the Houses are risen, and from henceforth prepare my letters in convenient time for their delivery; adding what shall intervene as postscripts, till the fixed moment of sending them away cause me to seal them up. Since my first of June, I expect you have received mine of the 5th, 8th, 12th; all which I have punctually and without interruption sent you. And now for the news. The scene is Essex, more topically Colchester; the persons, Lord Norwich, Lord Capell, and Sir Charles Lucas, who (with us) passeth for the actor in chief; and I pray God it conclude not in a play (a tragedy I mean); for the army of the faction made such haste after them, that (as some say), diffident of his horse, he betook himself to the town; yet it seems not so opportunely but that he was constrained to shut the gates upon some of his own men, about 300, who were most of them taken. Whereupon they set fire to the suburbs, and (as they say) were storining of the town, in hopes of success.

This, Sir, is the story of the faction; but others report (and methinks, upon the unconfident manner of late and sickly relations of theirs, with as much face of truth) that in this conflict was a sore and bloody fight, till the darkness of the night caused them to withdraw into the town;

the suburbs whereof being thereupon set on fire, with the conspiration of the wind, which was full in the army's teeth, rendered them of the town such a light and opportunity to fight by, that, upon a second bold issue, they recovered not only their losses, but gave a great overthrow to the enemy, causing them to make towards their ordnance, which lay three or four miles off; in this chase killing and taking divers eminent ones of the soldiery, which are not yet come to light. And this, I must confess, I am somewhat inclined to believe, knowing for certain that the general sent to Skippon for a re-inforce of 3000 horse (no less) this morning very early. And now I mentioned Skippon, you must know that the faction here have presented him with many horse, which are privately listed, and are ready upon all such occasions. By which practice of theirs (if the City be no wiser) this town will insensibly fall under a considerable bondage again; for all their militia, and the junto at Westminster, make all possible diligence to put the adjacent counties in their posture of defence; impeding all such meetings, by their proclamations and otherwise, as they apprehend may tend to petitioning, however freely they have voted in right of the subject; yet with all this ado, scarce hindering the sollevation' of Hampshire, some parts of Sussex, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk; the two last of them being of late (if not yet in considerable numbers) ready to join with the Essexians. And, without doubt, could Sir Charles be able to make good his march forwards, his forces would be incredibly augmented by that time he attained Sir Marmaduke,whom he believes to be the most serious and likeliest party of Loyalists in this poor kingdom. It is here confirmed that he is retreated to join with the Scots, who some affirm to be more cordial in the design than myself am inclined to flatter you with at present.

As for South Wales, Cromwell has absolutely received a notable repulse from Pembroke, with the loss of at the least 300 men that miscarried in the storm.

From Ireland we hear nothing of consequence as yet;

1 Kindling of hostility; from the French, soulever. So, in a marginal note to this letter (next page) the French word "redarguer" is used for our English "blame."

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but the news of the faithful seamen and navy (consisting now of about fifteen stout ships) doth strangely encourage us, especially hoping that the approach of his Highness will add both resolution and constancy in them. And that this is a consideration of moment, I need only repeat you this passage of Sir H., which he let fall lately in the House, that the defection of the fleet (however they seemed to slight it) was of more consequence than the loss of five armies. Farewell!

APLANOS.

The business of Colchester looks now very suspicious, but nothing certain; only that the Scots are numerously entered, is uncontradictedly reported this evening; and this, with the ships, promises very much.

The three castles hold still out in Kent.

Mr. Spencer desires to know how his son doth, from whom he hath not heard long since. I shall recapitulate your letters, and the next week inform you how my particular affair stands with my brother.

SIR,

London, 19th October, 1648.

There is nothing from hence worthy your observation, besides what I have enclosed, to avoid the medium of writing. It is (as is imagined) the general sense and inclination of the forces (now sufficiently at leisure) to think on mischief, chastise the City, and cudgel the Parliament, for daring to treat with a King who standeth so ill in their bonnes graces.

The Speaker pulled forth a letter this morning (which he shewed to a friend of your servant's), intimating that for those whom he is desired may be given up (with his assent) as an holocaust, to be abandoned as ever incapable of making their composition either for lives or fortunes, he had given his ultimate answer, being resolved never to sacrifice those who had been his friends, though with the hazard of this overture. And as touching the abolition of Bishops (which two things are the only dif

1 "Spoken to redargue their coldness in reducing them."

ficulties), he replied that he had received no satisfaction (as to point of sacrilege and reason) from those arguments presented him by the divines, and therefore desired the Commissioners (whom he took to be intelligent and ingenuous men) that they would propose something which were less verbal and more substantial; the issue whereof you will soon understand. I pray it may not be with the dissolution of the treaty.

The last concessions (since those I formerly advertised you of) are the taking away all honours conferred by patent under his Great Seal since 1642. For himself, his Majesty hath as yet proposed nothing, save his coming to London, and the settlement of a constant revenue to the Crown.

Judge Bramston is likely fungi officio, as heretofore having acted nothing since the supersedeas which was sent him from Oxford; so that Wilde is not likely to supplant him. There is shortly a general rendezvous of the army at Newmarket. Every man speaks his mind of the treaty. For my part, I leave all to the soldiers; and, if they do not deceive us, peace may happily ensue.

I am since told that the army have put off their meeting, and that the treaty is like to be effectual; but this is Exchange news.

SIR,

From the Villa, 23rd October, 1648.

Your last of the 24th of October I received; and being now upon my journey into Sussex (where I intend effectually to settle my business), I conceived it would be seasonable for me to advertise you thereof, so that you might not imagine by my silence that there was any interruption in the Ordinary, by whom I have seldom failed to render you the best intelligence I can learn.

Since my last, I received an express from a correspondent of mine in the Isle of Wight, which gives me great hopes that the treaty may yet produce something like a settlement, which we continually expect in these parts. But what was more than I expected, an enclose from Mr. Warcupp (whom Mr. Speaker hath sent thither, to give him an account of proceedings there, and whose letters to