had sum German souldiers to commaund, or that I coulde infuse sum German corradge into them, for Yr English Commen souldiers are so poore and base that I could never have a greater afliction light uppon me than to bee put to command any of them I besitch y' highnes to present my humble services unto Liftet Generall Willmot, I am loth to repeat my disasters too often or els I would have written also unto him, whom I know will suffer in his thought with me Your Highnes most humble and most faithfuil servant, A. ASTON.* Reading 22 Janr. The ennemy weare but 600 in Henley but yesterday theer came in a 1000 foot mor they have also therein 7 troops of hors and 8 pces of cannon. Honored Syr [No. 15.] As by my laste I gave you an accounte of my releeving [Relfall] castle soe by these I must acquainte you with the ill newes of its being treacherously solde by him I lefte to commande there who being a soldier sent to me by my Lo. Generall and carrying himselfe very well at that tyme the Prince tooke the close I thought might have been trusted but it moste unhappily proves othereways for after a nights fight having killed and hurte forty men. felle to treat and concluded to deliver it up for a certaine some of money which treachery is noe small trouble to * Sir Arthur Aston, Colonel-General of the Dragoons in the Royal army, 1642. mee. Syr I assure you my wante of armes makes the service I ought to doe the King very difficulte the Rebells lying upon mee one every side and within walls that I canne attempt nothing against them but when they come out to mee which they doe not but upon advantag of my absense and that hath made Ashley often troubled with them I having not lane there this monthe the force of Graye and Gell met them the other night (I being in this Cownty) tooke some men and horse in the town and soe returnede. As I am writing I receave a letter from His Majestie commanding mee to observe the motions of the Rebells and if they marche that way to followe them and joine with Lo'. Cayrell as there shall be ocasion in all which particulers I shall be very obedient and will suddenly send into Lancashire to be informed from thence and give daily advertisements to Prince Rupert and yourself. Yet they lie in their garrisons nor canne I learne they intende to shewe only Gray is marchte with some troopes but whether to Essex or [Enicd] I am not certaine You shall hear daly from me that am Tutburry Castle Your affectionate friend & servant Sonday one in the afternoon F. HASTINGS.* Addressed. For his Maiestie special service Haste, haste Poste haste Present this F. HASTINGS. *Ferdinando, eldest son of Henry, 5th Earl of Huntingdon; summoned to Parliament as Baron Hastings, Nov. 3, 1640; and succeeded to the earldom, Nov. 14, 1643, and this letter must consequently have been written before that date. May it please y' Highns [No. 16.] I have received too comandes from his Matye one by the hande of Mr. Secretary Niclas, the other yo Lo Digbyes, the latter confines mee by a narrow compass: he comandes mee to take but a 1,000 foot and a 160 horse and noe more, and yeat expects I should advance neare Gloster wheare the Rebells are 1,700 foot & Horse, Besydes I understande yt the Horse wch came out of Ireland that were assined me are otherwayes disposed of, I beseach you Sr lett mee have a convenient power to doe it, and a meanes for theire subsistance, or lett me begeinn wheare I may with best safety wch is in ye welch syde, my Lo Herbert hath brought a commission for Coll Slaughter to be s'jent major Generall of the horse & my Lo Digbye wrights it is thought fittinge that St Francis Hawlye should have the comand of the Horse under mee (how to behave myself in this I know not,) nor do I understande in what condition I myself am in. My Lo Herbert is Generall, and yeat all [ ] are directed to mee, wch is not very pleasinge to his Excellency SI humbly beg y' Highn3: pardon this troble ye receive from * Sir William Vavasour, Clarendon states, "commanded all the forces in South Wales (the Lord Herbert having been persuaded so far to comply with the indisposition of that people as to decline that command, or at least for a time to dissemble it), as orders were despatched to him to draw all his forces to the forest side of the town" (Gloucester). Later on, however, he states, "his," the king's, "army would receive a very great addition by a body of three thousand men, which was commanded by Vavasour on the Welch side to block up Gloucester from annoying the country." Probably therefore the suggestion made by Sir William Vavasour in this letter was attended to. [No. 17.] May it please your Highnesse September 18 at one in the morning [1643] I have lett the King see what you writt who approuves of all in it, and will accordingly performe his part, only desires to have certaine knowledge when Essex mouved or shall mouve from Creklade, that if his Majties armie can come time enough (which he will ghesse at by the answer) hee will take up his quarter this night at, or about Wantage, so to reach Newberry as you propose, but if that cannot bee hee is loath to wearie the foote after so great a march as they have had, which you know inferrs that manie are behind; Last night my L Digby writt to your Highnesse by the Kings order upon the receipt of yours from Stamford,* to which I can adde what is only knowne since that beside Vavisor & some other forces Woodhouse will I am confident come to-day to the King (with Prince of Wales regement called 700) Hee lay last night at a place called Warmington & I then sent one who came from him imediately to give him order to march presently hither to the King, which I suppose may be soone enough to keepe pace with the motions of our armie, which depends much as the advertizements from you will give information. The King will acquaint my Ld Generall with what your Highnesse now receives from your most humble Servant J. R. & L. * This letter is printed in "Rupert and the Cavaliers," vol. ii. p. 290, and refers, together with the letter now published, to the evolutions immediately preceding the battle fought at Newbury, afier the siege of Gloucester had been abandoned. [No. 18.] May it please your Highnesse That which concernes dispatch or answer to business you will constantly receive from Mr. Secr Nicholas, who in that writes for the whole companie, & my particular care is not wanting in that, but what is more attentivelie my studdy, is what may have any referrence to yourselfe and therfore upon the receipt of yours last night, perceiveing, your Highn, from a hint taken of a letter from Ld D* was in doubt that at Oxford there might bee wrong judgements made of you and of businesse in your quarters, I made it my dilligence to cleare with the King (who answers the same for the Queene) which was easie; so as you may bee satisfied, no scruple at all ether is, or was, of your actions, this I say the lesse in, because you will bee assured of the same by my La Jermyn, considering the jealousie might have growne from some doubtful expressions in that letter you mention, I spoke with the partie how it was understood from his hand who seemed much grieved at it, assuring hee write only the advice of such intelligence as was brought hether, & for information, to make use of as you could best judge how upon the place. Yesterday one brought me your Comission to peruse, but it was under the great seale, so as if not so perfect as were requisite amendments could not bee made without beginning all againe, but I did not find that necessitie, for I looked it over & I thinke it is carefully drawne. Wee heare my Ld Hoptont is Marcht. La Goring is well arrived in Holland & by this is to * Lord Digby. † Sir Ralph Hopton was created Lord Hopton in Aug. 1643. On 3rd Nov. Nicholas wrote to Prince Rupert that Lord Hopton had marched to relieve Winchester. Lord Goring, sent as Ambassador to Paris in the autumn of 1643. D |