ANALYSIS OF LETTERS & DOCUMENTS (apparently prepared by Col. Benett.) Towcester Novemb 22, 1643 Octob 30 [No. 56.] The Breviates of the Princes letters Worcester Estate in April 1643 11 February 1643 Sr A. Aston saw the workes on the hill begun Denbigh goes thorow Northampton; Essex sends men in to Ailesbury & Northampton desires ayd ag him; for fear of Towcester but some of P. R. troopes sent away ere now & Aston expects to be called out St John Byron's horse were quartered at Brackley & Willmott who went sick to Oxford Novemb 8 1643 About October 30 Thelwell comes from Reding towards Towcester wth 600 ffoote, 900 more being sent back. Willmot lay then at Buckingham. More forces sent into Ailesbury about mid November wch on Saturday 18 mustered 1400 by poll: & Essex marcht that waye. Worcestershire Commissioners doe little for King pretending to be hindered by Sr W. Russell's differences. Gilb Gerard Governor there. The Countryes contribution, 3000/ a month, Jan. 22, 1643 With Tillier & Broughton landed with 1800 ffoote & S W. Vaugham 300 horse whome L Byron sent to Shrewsbury They are at Ruthen Febr 21 K Towcester March 14 1642 1643 Jan. 14 Ailesbury Newark 1644 Ailesbury March 19, 1642 Camp removed Shropshire Estate Ld Biron from Brackley sends in Showells Ld Biron intended to be made Generall of P. R having gone to Bristoll, Essex sends St Nicholas Byron & S R. Willis taken. Some messages betwixt the Governor & Lord Biron then at Brackly November 9, 1643 but upon the fayling of Newport Pannell he sends Biron's woman messenger to Essex then at St Albans Upon the taking of this. Bellassys from Yorke sending into the Ile of Axholme, the Rebells quitt it in Maye 1644 S' John Culpeper's letter was ag correspondence with towne and agt the hopes: but Prince being marcht, the designe designe was knowne at Oxford Forth writes to the King that Essex meanes to quarter in Buckinghamshire & advises to rayse Abingdon leaguer & quarter the soldiers betwixt Whately & Oxford in Barnes & villages. Lord Capell complaynes that by drawing away the P of Wales regiment from him his Latham Lincoln Yorkshire condition was so weakened that the Rebells planted at Draiton: professes that wh 2000 ffoote more to take Warwick and Stafford : Invites P. R to looke that waye, being confident that there was no part of the Kingdome where in so short a time so much advantage may be made, & 6000 horse & ffoote raysed to marche any whither, nor a greater oportunity to add another Trophy to his Highnesse glorious atchievements Writes to invite the Prince again Aprile 14. E of Derby invites the Prince to take Liverpoole & releeve Latham : assuring his presence would strike terror into the Rebells & new life in the good subjects. Tells him in a former letter upon P. R his coming to Shrewsbury. That his fame getts credit to his Servants. The state of Licolne after Newark taken: expressed by 11 Commissioners letter. Theyre Commissioners desire the Princes March 29, 1644 help in 2 letters March 29, April 1. Denbighshire 1644. Newark After the Prince was gone to Shrewsburye to settle the County, quarters & contributions: See how backward the Commissioners of Arraye are for the mayntenance of one onely regiment of R. Ellices. The Commissioners of Lincolne & Nottinghamshire expresse their charges, feares of seige, the Scots invasions Newcastle's forti Newark Aprile 26, 1644 1643 October 2 Bristoll Maye 27 1643 Armes to Bristoll fort 1643 Feb 12 Ld Digby's compli ments. April 6 1644 fying Doncaster, & drawing away of S' C. Lucas & other forces to resist them. Bellassys allso complaynes he is calling out E. of Newcastle in streights. The Newark him. Glamorgan thanks the Prince for diswading him to marche into Cheshire : & gives him reasons why he since came to Tewksbuyre. Essex writes to Fiennes-I hope ere this you have made some examples of the Bristoll Traytors; & put others to a fine & ransome. The Queen sends a Dunkirk frigate wth Greate fort at Bristoll begun. Hopton Ld Digby professes all faythfullnesse to the Princes service: beseeching him to be confident that no man living should bring more industrye or more affection to the execution of all his commands then he should, when the Prince should honor him with them. And Whereas it seems by other of Digby's letters, there was a purpose at Oxford to recall the Prince thither from Shrewsburye, presently after his Newark victorye and one order had been sent from the King P. R. by Kgs orders by Digby; And Whereas the Prince was continued at Shrewsburye desirous to continue in Shropshire till he could gett up an Armye, the King sends other orders by Digbye, Dated April 6, 1644, upon that Digby thus complements. That the prince should stay there to rayse such an armye, as wee shall not neede committ that wch you esteeme a fault any more, of relying upon your reputation, which though it be not a foundation for councells, & resolutions; yet you must be pleased to allowe it to be of excellent heartning to all those who have so high an opinion of your virtue and braverye, as possesses the heart of y' Highnesse most affectionate Servant GEORGE DIGBY Oxford April 6, 1644 It seemes presently after Edgehill, there was some private designe to have Warwick Castle delivered wherefore Essex would not lett Col Vavasor be sent Prisoner thither. Essex extreme obstinate agaynst peace, as out of hope of pardon (says Lady Aubigny) Goring testifyes, the Queene understoode & esteemed P. R beyond his expressions Goring writes Newcastle was 16000 strong |