NOt to paralell the present distractions of England with the Warrs of Germany, which were no dispa [...]y, I shall onely ap­ply my selfe to set forth the truth of such carnages that have happened since the beginning of these present warres by reason of the cruelty and insolency of the Cavalliers that are in his Majesties Army, and because I have not to multiply discourse or to spend time in relating those things which are not so per­tinent to my present purpose. I will not stand to particularize the faire promises and pretences wherewith those that have bin chiefly intrusted by his Majesty have deluded and deceived the people nor the trai [...]us practises of those that have pretended good to the King and Country, as that of Colonell Goring betraying the Town of Portsmouth, under the specious vizard of some speciall service to be done for the King and Parliament; but to give a true relation of those bloudy & cruell practises that have bin committed by the Cavalliers, whose wicked enterprises have not onely purchased them hatred and disdaine in those places where they have bin▪ but render them odious to the whole world.

I shall begin with that barbarous and inhumane act committed by the Cavalliers at Leicester, where after they had gotten entrance into the Towne, and falling on plundering and pillaging thereof and when there was no man opposed them they see­med as fierce as Lions, and swore damme me and sinke me if we doe not kill all the Puritans and Round-heads in the towne. There was a good Religious honest wo­man named Iane White, that hearing them so notoriously to sweare and blaspheame began to reprove them for it, offering no manner of resistance unto them: whereupon one of this wicked rabble shot her with a brace of bullets thorough the back and bel­ly, upon which she immediatly dyed; she being great with child [...] and within three weekes of the time of her delivery, and burnt many honest mens houses which did refuse to make division, and to separate the King and the Parliament, and plundred sir Edward Roodes his house in York-shire, and afterwards burnt it downe to the ground, and tooke away all his Goods, killed one of his Servants, and violently u­sed others, and the like insolencies have they committed by pillaging, burning and spoyling in every Country where they come, setting on fire whole fields of Corne immediatly before Harvest: as at Broad-way, when sir William Walter was just­ly apprehended there by one Master Steevens that was chiefe Constable: When the Cavalliers came from Oxford they rescued away the said sir William Walter▪ and burnt the Corne-fields of the said Master Steevens, and attempted to fire his Houses and would most cruelly have put him to death if they could have come at [Page] him; and since they have taken the said Master Steevens prisoner, where hee is d [...] [...]yned with hard and cruell usage: And in Leicester-shire and Stafford-shire they spoyled his Majesties good subjects, and many were murthered and barbarously used, ravishing of women, and bloudily killing others, not sparing those that were great with child, nor pittying poore little infants: nay such was their inhumanity that at the late Battell fought neere Kynton, when they saw they were not able to revenge their malice upon the Parliaments Army: they left fighting with Souldiers and fled about the Country, killing of men women and children that were altogether unable to defend themselves, killing any living creature that they met with; for they slew the very Doggs and all, and as if the most cruell and mercilesse of this Nation could not invent cruelties answerable to their bloudy minds: they doe en­tertaine into their Army a great number of the Irish Rebells, whereof are great store of Irish women, which pillage and rob in the Countries where they come worse than the Souldiers, and are more cruell and mercilesse than they: and at the Battell at Kynton did not onely get the best pillage of the dead Corpes at the time when the battell was a fighting; but those that they found wounded or may­med that they were not able to get off from the place (although otherwise might have recovered▪ they most cruelly cut their throates with great Knives which they carry for that purpose, or else knocked out their braines with their Pole-axes.

When the Cavalliers were at Shrewsbury they plundred most of the honest mens houses both in that Towne and Country adjacent, and tooke their Cattell, and did drive them to their quarters, and what they could not eate they drove to some other places and there sold them, and when they had made a prey of all that they could meete with about Shrewsbury, they played the like prankes at Bridg-north, and other places thereabouts, and at their going away out of that Country, besides what hurt they did at Kittermaster and Bewdly, which bought their freedome at a very deare rate; they carried away with them all the Butter, Cheese, Bacon and other provisions they could find, which hath bred a great scarcity thereof.

From thence they went to a Town called Burmegam in Warwickshire, where without any respect of persons they fell to plunder the whole Town, and took all the money, plate, and other things that were of any value that they could finde, and not being content therewith▪ they came to diverse persons of ability (which by reason of their forwardnesse to give them entertainment▪ and shewing them friendship [...] ex­pected other usage at their hands) and held their pistols charged against their breasts, with many wicked imprications, that if they confessed not where the rest of their monie was, they would shoot them thorough; by which means they got the whole wealth of that Town, and spoiled their [...] of houshold- [...] and other things which they were not able to cary away with them, and so left in a [...]ble con­dition: and yet their wicked desires to do mischief not being satisfied▪ they made an attempt to fire the whole Towne; but by reason that they were suddanely put to fight through feare of the Parliaments Forces which were marching after them, they went away unsatisfied in that particular.

[Page] In York when they had continued long in that City, and exceedingly impoveri­shed the inhabitants taking all the provision that was in the City, and drinking out both beere and wine without giving any satisfaction for the same, at last they fel to plundering and pillaging the City, and plundered a great part thereof, and impriso­ned those that withstood them, threatning to kill divers of the [...]est Ministers. When they came to Banbury, although his Majestie himselfe gave his hand and Seale to the Major that no injury nor violence should be offered to that Town to any of his Sub­jects, yet such was the barbarous carriage of the Cavalliers at that Town, that with­out charity or respect of the Kings honour, having engaged his word to the contrary, they plunered the whole Towne, taking from thence not only money, plate, jewels, and other things of good value which they found in their houses, but took their Cat­ell, horse, sheepe, &c. and carryed them away, and also tooke away the cloath and other commodities that were in Trades-mens shops, to the ruine and destruction of the Inhabitants, saying that the King doth not know the condition and state of War; and likewse have plundered the Lord Say his house there, leaving nothing but the walls, drove away his Cattell, destroyed his Deere, and such as they could not kill, they plucked downe the pales to let them out: At Abington it was not sufficient to plunder the Towne, after they had gotten a great sum of contribution money, and to leave the Inhabitants in as naked a condition as they did those at Banbury, but there being an honest man of good repute, William Wright in the said Towne, that before the Cavalliers came thither, gave counsell and advice to the rest of the Inhabitants to stand up on their guard, and oppose them, and thereby to keepe the said Towne from violence and oppression: And that the Ammunition that was in that Towne might be secured out of their hands, that so it might not be employed against the Parlia­ment. By the speciall command of Prince Robert this person was condemned by martiall Law, and banged up at his own doore: such is the bloody mind of Prince Robert, that it would make any Christian mans heart to ake, to think of it, for as he was begot in the heate of a bloody war, so he lives and hopes to thrive by his bloody practises: But the neerer their approach is towards London, the more sad demon­strations we shall finde concerning this subject. Then they began to burne houses, the pillaging of goods will not suffice, nor the like enormities which [...]efore is rela­ [...]e, but the violating of all lawes both humane and divine.

Two Gentlemen of good repute being travelling from London into the Countrey, were taken in their way at Hounsloe at the signe of the Kathern-wheel by the Ca­valliers, who had been forraging up and down the Countrey to see what booty and pillage they could get, who violently broke into the chamber where they were, and when they had taken them prisoners they hasted into the stable and seized on their horses and forced these Gentle-men to ride behind two of them to Eggham, and there they found Prince Robert, who had made a Vow, never to vndresse nor shift himselfe till he had brought King Charles to white-hall; and being examined by him it was laid to one of these Gentle-mens charge that his wife was a Round-head, and if they had her there present, they did sweare they would hang her, and it was al­leadged [Page] against the other that he was a Preacher in a tub, but nothing being proved they were carried to the Court of Guard, and a Captaine that was a French man had the charge over them, who set them in such a smoky chimney, that they were al­most quite choaked, yet they durst not stir for a strong guard was set over them which threatned, and swore God damme them, they would pistoll them.

And that night Prince Robert being to march to Hounsloe, these Gentlemen (ra­ther out of their cruelty, or to make them merry then otherwise) were made their conducts, and following them with pistols, they swore that if they led them but a yard out of the way they immediately would shoos them. And they were not suf­fered to eate or drinke one drop, though they offered to pay for it, and were ready to starve for cold & hunger, but were pursued with reproachfull words, as lead on lead on, you Parliament dogs, we will hang you in chaines, as we did your friend [...]lague and such other Round-headed rascalls we will pistoll you, &c. and were driven on with many other prisoners, being coupled with cords two and two together,

The 28. day of this month was apprehended a Gentleman clothed in very good habit, and hanged in a with upon a Tree, for saying he was for the King and Parliament, and for speaking in honour of the Parliament; and no man suffered to cutt him downe or cover his face untill he had been made a pub­lique spectacle to the whole Army. At a towne called Istle-worth the Cavalli­ers tooke an other honest Religious man called good man Bray, who because he said he was for the King and Parliament, they most inhumanly d [...]d cart of his Eares and gave him besides thirty woundes in his body, and not being con­tent with this Butchery they threw him after wards on the Dunghill; with this most unchristian scoffe, Let the doggs licke him whole. They tooke another in the same towne who flying from their fury got into a house, and having bar­red fast the gate, his wife comming he was enforced to open it for her; and the Cavalliers rushing violently in after her fastned a coard upon his feet and drag­ged him about the streetes, and being weary of their owne cruelty: they said why should we weary our selves any longer with this Parliament dog; and so discharged three pistolls at him, and so eased him of his torments, and his life together.

When the Cavalliers came to Brainford about five thousand of them, with many peeces of Ord [...]ance fell upon Collonell Hollis his Regiment, being all that were quartred at that towne, who fought very couragiously before they would yeeld to their mercilesse cruelty, insomuch that the Cavalliers said that they were either Saints or D [...]vills: for if they could have done execution upon any thing [...]able the great vollies of shotte they bestowed upon they had quickly killed every man of them in the place, but after many houres fight having taken many of them prisoners they put them in a pound and pin­nioned them together being stript to their shirts and without stockings or shooes and the next day drove them like sheep▪ whipping them like dogs to Hounsloe over furrs and bushes, which was more torment than of death it selfe. And some of Collonell Hollis his Souldiers fl [...] into the Thames for safety, where the Cavalliers shot at them till they were drowned, amongst which was one Captaine Lacy a stout and Valliant man, they tooke five of the Earl of Essex his Souldiers prisoners, and tyed their hands and forced them [Page] into the River, and a Trooper rod into the water after them and forced them into the depth, where they were drowned.

And when the fight began at Brainford they placed ten of the Earl of Essex his Souldiers whom they had formerly taken prisoners at Kynton pinioned in the front of their men at a breast-worke to receive the bullets that came from Collonell Hollis his Regiment: but such was the providence of God, that none of them were hurt though shot through the cloathes in many places; when they had possessed themselves of the towne, first they dranke and wasted the Beere and wine in the severall Innes and other places, and that which they could not drinke they let it out upon the ground.

They likewise pistolled to death one Francis who lived at Vxbridge, because he said he was for the King and Parliament, just as he came out of his Inne ri­ding home to his wife and children.

But one of the most inhumane actions that they did at Brainford was the pil­laging of one Mr. Pierce a Brewer, who not only tooke away all his beere and his cheife brewer, but ten or twelve stout horses, and not being contented therewith they came into his house, and drove his wife forth thereof into the high way, she being in her smock with her child in her armes, though she had laine in but a week, who suddenly dyed after it; and had like to have fired his house; such was their crueltie and inhumane actions at this poore Towne.

Also his next neighbour one Master Smith a servant to the King, being one of his guard, and well knowne to some of them, had much a doe to preserve his house from pillaging, his life and his wives from pistolling, and his house from firing; for they shot divers times at it, but yet mist it, thanks be given to God; And at their flying away from thence they tooke from the inhabi­tants their money, Linnen, wollen, bedding, wearing apparrell, horses, cowes, swine, henns, &c. and all manner of victualls▪ also Pewter, brasse; Iron-pots and kettells, and all manner of grocery, chanlery, and appothecary ware, and many of the feather beds which they could not beare away, they cut the tikes into peeces and scattered the feathers in the fields and streets. And to be short, they made spoile and hovocke of all things that were worth any thing in the towne: sparing neither rich not poore, but either spoiled or carried with them, all things from the costliest jewells, apparrell and hangings of many Gentlemen of great quallity, even to the poore alms-women, and the poor beggars, that begs at the townes end. And when they had used the towne in this manner, they defaced the houses and set one of fire, of purpose to have burnt downe the said towne, though afterwards it was happily quenched by an inhabitant.

Nay their insolency and cruelty appeared yet greater for they set drawne swords and Pistolls cockt to men and womens breasts; threatning them with death, if they brought not out all their money, and that they would cut of their noses; and pluck out their eyes, calling them Parliament dogs, Round-headed Rogues, beatting, laming, and wounding them, tying others with ropes and [...] and being stript to the shirts, were carried away prisoners; and as [Page] one was leading towards O [...]tland being very thrifty, he stooped to take a litle water in his hat to drinke, they most cruelly beate him and bruised him, for offering to doe it. When they came to Kingston, they used the like violence to that towne, as they did to Brainford, except to some few that were of the Malignant party, and therein they shewed more humanity at this town [...], then I have heard of before or since, for at other places they made no destin­ction of any. All is fish that comes to net to them; for neither Carrier nor Trava [...]ler, man nor horse shall scape them; for they have robbed divers men, especially two while I was an eye-witnesse; namely one Mr. Sparkes a Draper, and one Mr. Thomas a Book-seller of Bristoll, they tooke from the first all his money and his sword, from the other his watch, his mony, and his sword, being threatned with their lives, and looked every hour when they would kill them, but they esaped with their lives, th [...]y search all men u [...]der pretence for conveying lette [...]s bu [...] instead of letters, they take away their mony & rings.

Yet such is the heathenish barbarousnesse of this accursed generation, that I cannot without some prejudice to my precedent discourse, and likewise injury to the indiffe­rent Reader conclude this Tragicall story without speaking a word & no more con­cerning these unhumane creatures▪ whose practise is far worse then the heathenish Turkes or Caniballs, for they are not contented with the exercise of all the bloody cruelty that all the malice in the world if it were contracted within the breasts of these furies of hell, could devise in murthering and most cruelly handling men wo­men, little Infants, &c. but that the generation to come, might have every way cause to curse them, they endeavour to usher into this Kingdome the miserable calamity of famine, for they now begin daily to burne houses, fire Towns and Villages, destroy the Corne, both in the field and in the barne, cut downe and destroy the woods, and plants which the earth is bringing forth, drive away all manner of Cattell both of Horse, Oxen, Sheep, and other Cattell making no distinction of fat or leane bar­ren, or those that are great with young but drive them all away that they light on, both out of Bucking-shire Bark-shire and a great part of Oxford-shire, and other places, carrying them into such Towns where they are quartered, and these that they cannot eate, they kill and destroy, and cast into the dirt or to the dogs.

These are those cursed Ismaell [...] which do not only dishonour and abuse God his Annoynted by their oaths and blasphemies & would if it were possible pull God out of heaven, for they make it a common saying amongst them▪ We will drinke and be drunke, whore, and be damned, and will not be beholding to God to save us▪ And that they had rather be in hell with their Comrades, then in heaven with the Round-heads: And they have such new invented oaths▪ imprications, and healths, [...]o full of wickednesse and blasphemy, that the like were never heard of before amongst other Turkes or Pagans, for it is usuall amongst them to say: The Divell that made us damme us, and damme mee, and ram me into the mouth of a Canon, and shoote me nine miles into hell, &c. They make proclamations amongst themselves that if any Gen­tleman or souldier that can invent new oaths to damme & destroy Py [...] and his Ad­herents, shall have 100. l. for so doing. They drink a health to King Charls in whom they live, move, and have our being. And although their being is in him that is but a mortall man, they at another time will wish him without being▪ in whom they say [Page] their being consists, for when they were upon their hot march toward London, in the expectation of the fruition of plentifull and rich treasure, where they placed their summum bonum: His Majestie sleeping something long one morning, which hindered them of an houres march, they wished that hee might sleepe a whole fortnight toge­ther, that they might the more eagerly pursue their bloody intentions, and drunk healths to his confusion, and the confusion of our Saviour Christ himselfe, and his Gospell, if his Majesty concluded of a Peace without their consent or privity.

They do boast that the King cannot stir a quarter of a mile without their know­ledg, but they do watch him as a cat doth watch a mouse, they have a perpetuall eye over him and his actions, and so powerfull they are with his Majestie, that if his Ma­jestie resolve to have a thought of Peace and to come to his Parliament, they present­ly have their agents about his Majestie, that they can presently alter and change his minde like a weather-cock.

They likewise drunke the destruction and confusion of these worthy Gentlemen, who stand up for the King and Country; calling them Traytors, vowing to be avenged especially of them, and of the City of London, the County of Essex, and also of Kent as namely.

• The Lord Kimbolton now Earle of Manchester.
• Sir, Arthur Hasting.
• Master Denzell Hollis.
• Master Iohn Pym.
• Master Stroud.
• Master Iohn Hampden.
• Sir Iohn Hotham.
• The Earle of Essex.
• The Earle of Warwick.
• Isaac Penington Lord Major of London.
• Serjeant Major Generall Skippon.
• Colonell Iohn Ven.
• Sheriffe Fouke.
• Colonell Manwayring.

And the whole burthen of their songs at the drinking of their healths, is

Therefore what outrages and cruelties will not these Sonnes of Belial commit a­gainst the Creature, seeing all that they can invent will not satisfie their malice, but as much as in them lyes, doe abuse the Creator and the sacred person of our Saviour Christ himselfe.

Here would I faine make an end, for as the consideration of these inhu­manities and barbarous cruelties cannot but pirce the hardest heart that hath any love or regard to his native country, for it makes my pen weary in wri­ting these sad and pensive lynes, to thinke that such horrid wicked practices should be acted in this land, and by our owne nation, which was first hatched in hell, and by the working of the divill; were afterwards practised in Ire­land amongst the Rebells, and from thence by the example of those Rebells together with their ayde and assistance is now daily acted in England.