His MAJESTJES DEMANDS AND PROPOSITIONS PROPOUNDED By His Majesty, to the Major, Knights, and Gentry; To the City of Chester, accompaned with the Prince, Sir Edward Dering, and 2. Regiments of Horse and Foote, togeather with their inditious Answer thereunto.
Likewise the Prince his desire to the Earle of Essex, with the true d [...]scription of the Bataile fought by the Trained Band of Chester, and the Earle of Newcastle, Lord Rivers, Earle of Bristoll, and the Earle of Lindsey, who came to take possession of the said City, September 26. with the Number of them that were Slaine on both sides
As it was sent in a Letter from a Gentleman of note, to a speciall friend of his in LONDON
London, Printed for Thomas Rider Sept. 29. 1642.
The Kings Maiesties Demands, and Propositions, propounded by his Majesty, to the Major, Knights and Gentry, to the City of CHESTER, Sept. 24. 1642.
VPon Satterday last, His Majesty with-drew Himselfe from Shrewsbery, and tooke His Iourney towards Chester, accompanied with the Prince and the Duke of Lenox his troope, and presently after came the Lord Chomleyes Regiment, togeather with 22. pecces of [Page]Ordnance, when His Majesty came to the Gates of the City he propounded these ensuing Propositions to the Knights & Gentry that were within the City, Viz.
1. That His Majesty out of the Princely care and affection that he bore to this City of Chester, hath and is Resolved to make it his cheife place of Residence, and therefore desires the Knights and Gentry that are inhabitants thereof to give him admittance.
2. That since his Majestyes comming from London he could find no place so convenient and meet to entertaine His Royall Person and posterity, as Chester, and that he hoped that they would prove as loyall to him as he hath beene mercifull unto them.
3. That his desire is, That they would bee pleased to resigne up the Magazine to his royall Majesty, and withall to deliver the keyes of the Gates of that City, and that they would condescend unto these his Demands, as to let the Trained Bands to goe alone with him towards Shrewesbury, but unto these Propositions and [Page]Demands of his Majesty they would by no meanes condesend, alleadging that if the trained bands were gone and the Magazine resigned up, wherein consisteth the strength of the county, they should he left naked and exposed to the hazard of what dangers might befall in these trouble some times, and so would not by any meanes give consent to those his requests.
TH [...] COPPY OF THE LETTER.
AFter my best respects recommended unto you and to my loving Cozen your Wife, according to your desire and expectation, J emboldned my selfe to write unto you, the newest occurrances that have, happened in these parts, viz. Upon the 25. of this instant moneth of Sept. the Lord Strange and the Earle of Lindsey, came to the City of Worcester, with about the number of some 600. Mountiners, togeather with divers others of the ragged regiment, acounted and estemed of us, the scume of the Northern Counties, they were also accompanied with the Lord Rivers, the Earle of Newcastle, and the Earle of Bristoll; and came towards the City of Chester, in a Warlike manner, with about 1300. Horse and foote, but they found there as Noble and undaunted spirits as they have done in other places.
For at their first approach neere unto the City, the Earle of Lindsey rod foremost upon a faire and comely Steed, which made some of the Inhabitants of the City of Chester thirst after him, to bring him a little lower, and indeed happily might it have beene so, had he not retreated so suddenly, for no sooner had he given the onset upon the Towne, but he fell backe, then the Earle Rivers, with his Venomous spleen and envy brought up his foote, thinking to have beought his Divillish desires to perfection, and to have fired the Towne with wild-fire, but by Gods providence and helping hand, all their hopes were foustrated, and their devices and Plots could take no effect, for their successe was as bad as their causes, and well worse, these Commissioners of Array having performed what they could and sound all was but labour in vaine, they about 2. of the cloke in the afternoon, with drew their forces from Chester and march towards [Page 5]the borders of Wales, and it is supposed togea her more power & strength, but all this while the Inhabitants of Chester and the Trained bands tooke example by the men of Coventry, Resolving either to loose their Lives, in the defence of the King and Parliament, and Gods true Religion, then to yeeld and lye at the mercy of the Enemy, (the hell bred Cavaleers) There are now some forces come from London to us, which do much encourage the adjoyning Counties, for since their comming, divers of the Cavaleers have revolted from his Majesty, and have profered their Service to us.
Likewise from the adjoyning Counties they come in dayly, but this City stands in much hazard and danger, for the aforenamed crew, hath vowed revenge upon us, Sir William Berington doth very good Service here, and is a great encourage to all the yong Souldiers.
It is credibly reported that the Lord [Page 6] Brookes hath given the Cavaleers a great overthrow in Shropshire or else neere Worcester, and hath killed many of them, the Earle of Essex is now at Worcester, with 22000. men, and hath had some opposition there by the Cavaleers, who have entrenched themselves about the said City; but as yet hath not made any attempt against the City, by reason that the Kings Majesty is resolved to meete him there, and to treat upon these present affaires, His Majesty is now going from worcester towares Chester, but it is thought he will returne very suddenly againe, this weeke will be a weeke of some sorrow or joy, for both Armies are resolved to meete.