The Kings MAIESTIES LAST SPEECH IN The Isle of WEIGHT.
CONCERNING A hot GAME to bee plaid in the Moneth of May; And a Declaration of His Majesties proceedings at Cartsbrooke Castle, coue [...]ing the presen [...] [...]ff [...]irs of the Kingdom of England.
With an exact Relation of the last Fight, betwixt the Parliaments Forces, and Col. Poyer, and the number of men slain and taken. Also, the proceedings of the Inhabitants in the W [...]st And [...]he full par [...]iculars [...]ouching his H [...]ghnesse t [...]e Prince of Wales, and the Scots.
London, Printed by J. C. for R. G. Anno Dom. 1648
From the Isle of Weight. April, 18.
WE have of late been much terrified as it were by the many and various reports brought hither, of the devisions and distractions of the whole Kingdome, but specially in that we have no good newes from Wales, nor our brethren of Scotland, The uncontrouled behaviour of Poyer, an [...] t [...] VVelsh Malignants, is dayly renewed amongst us, onely we hope to heare in some time, of the proceedings of Colonell Horton, against those disturbers of the king [...]omes welfare, against whom, as i [...] is said, he is marched against, and is neere upon ingaging; here hath also beene some rep rts of distu bances in Cheshire, and some ta ke, as if Swanley, a Commander at Se [...] had deserted the Parliament with some Shipping, but yet I cannot learne, w [...]at grounds they have for this report, or whether it be true, or not true, I cannot averre; but yet we dayly see to our griefe, that many in trust proove base enough, and bet [...]ay the trust reposed in them, for whom doub esse the [...]e is vengeance determined, which in convenient time will lay hold on them, and give them the just recompence of the reward that appertaines unto such perfi [...]ious wretches.
As for his Majestie he is in h [...]alth, and merry, and sometimes very pleasant in his discourse, and free in his expressions [Page 2] to the Governour, and other about him for his morning exercise; his Majesty most commonly walks about the Castle, and discourses with his attendance, till towards dinner time, and after dinner, if the weather be f [...]ire, his continuall sports is Bowles, it being, as his Majestie saith, an exercise whereunto he hath been continua [...]ly add [...]ct [...]d, and which is the chiefest pastime [...]is Majestie delights in.
It is suspect d that sometimes his Majestie receives letters from France, and other parts, but how, or by what meanes, it is not knowne, but it is supposed by his discourse of the generall aff [...]ires of this kingdom to forraign parts, with some things which causeth much wonder, to imagine how such things should come to his Majesties knowledge,
This day being the 18. of April, many came unto his Majest [...]e to be touched for the Kings evill, as they call it, and as he came down from dinner, they were admitted into his Majestie presence, where He touched them, and prayed with them, and so dismissed them; after that he went to Bowles, and being in bowling alley, he suddenly stood, and spake as it were, in a rusticall manner, or as if he meant so, saying, it wil be hot bowling in May. This is the news that for the present I can impart unto you; our feares are many, the Lord settle things as may be most for his glory the advancement of Religion, the peace of the Church and State, So prayeth
SCotland affords little newes this weeke, onely the Parliament sits close, and ke [...]pe their resolutions private, all things do stand at a stay, neither is it certain knowne what the result will be, the Malignants still are in expectation, and [Page 3] take as if their hopes were great; and the things will be ordered so, as shall prove to their advantage, the English in Edenburgh [...]re many, and daily incre [...]se, who with the Scots Malignants, are very desirous of a Warre wi [...]h England. But it is h [...]ped, they will not prevaile, God in his wisdome doe what is best for us the Ministers are very desirous o [...] peace, and continually move the Parl. thereto, neither will they consent to making of a war with England, which will bee a chief means to frustrate the desires of the Malignant Party; but the Malignants give ou [...], that if an Army be not raised to come against England, and if the Parl. will not consent to the raising of an Army, they will r [...]se an Army of [...]heir own cost, which they say they are able to do, but that is nothing but a flourish, for without shelter and countenance from the Parliament, their power is of no value.
The Eord Lee is supposed to bee on his jou [...]ney towards London, and brings Propositions from the Parl. of Scotland to the Parliament of England; what the event will be, a litle time will shew, the English Commissioners labour to the uttermost, to beget a right understanding of all things, and use their constant and utmost endeavours to discharge the trust reposed in them, they are admitted to treat with the Commitee of Danger, and daily wait, and endeavor to see what conclusion the Scots will make, and what answer they shall receive from the Scots Parliament: so desirous are t [...]ey to breed a good understanding between the Scots and English, and that they may not frustrate the expecta [...]ions of the English Parliament, nor b [...]tray trust committed to them: also many of the well affected of the Kingdome of Scoland, doe dayly forsee the maintenance of the Conjunction and Union betweene the two Kingdomes, [Page 4] as the interest of all honest men binds them to do, and to say the truth, these men deal plainly, and as men that are c [...]sible of their present condition. I h [...]pe to see the time when I shall send you better newes: this is all for present, but that I am
The Copy of a Petition from the West, agree upon, and intended to be presented to the Honourable Commons assembled in Parliam nt.
First in all humility, acknowledging the constant call of the Parliament to preserve the peace, and safet [...] of this Kingdom, & esp [...]cialy in those late timous Vo [...]es concerning the King, &c. We desire to present unto that great Assembly, our humble thanks in that behalfe, and our Resolutions unanimously to adheare unto them in preservation thereof.
We do likewise present unto your considerati [...]ns, the great & apparent danger under, which this Country lyeth, b [...] reason of the malignant, and appost [...]te persons therein and do humbly desi e to represent the same unto the Parliamens, that a timely and speedy course may be taken to settle peace, and to free us from the power of all Malignants, Newtrals, and Appostates.
We further d [...] remonstrate the gr [...]at dearth [...]f Co [...]ne and graine amongst us, and we do pres [...]nt the excessive mu [...]titude of Aleh [...]uses an [...] Malsters to be the cause thereof; we therefore desire, that or [...]ers may be granted to the Justices of the Pea [...]e, commanding them to suppresse all unnecess [...]ry Al [...]h [...]uses unto a convenien [...] nūber: as also to lessen the great number of M [...] sters, and to pu [...] in execution the Lawes against Fo [...]est [...]ll [...]rs, Regrators, and Ingrossers, and diso derly Alehouses licensed and not licensed, that the penalties incurred by them, may be constantly and impartially levied, notwithstanding [Page 5] the contradiction of any man, as hath been lately practised.
That notwithstanding divers Ordinances of Parliament to the contrary: Delinque [...]ts, and men of ill affection to the Parliament, are chosen, and still retained and placed i [...] Offices of judicatre and trust, divers now being Recorders, Town Clarkes, Burgesses of Corporations, Coroners S [...]ewards of Courts, Constables, and Bailiff [...]s of hundreds, and other inferiour Officers in places of publike imployment, whereby the service of the Parliament is much retarded, and the Ordinances thereof not at all, or but negligently, put in execution.
And that Deli [...]quents, and such as are not within Articles of Treaty, do openly practice, as Councellers, Attorneys, & Solicitors of the Law, &c. by whom frivolous, and vexatious actions are brought, and violently prosecuted against the well affected party.
Also we further humbly desire that the contents hereon may be effectually put in execution.
COlonell Horton with the forces ordered to reduce Poyer, all advanced as farre as Keath, and Col. Okey is joyned with them, the enemy is incouraged, on this side the River Towry, wch runneth through the middle of Carmarthenshire, whither the forces are marching to give them battell, if they have but the stomack to figh [...], some skirmishes t [...]ey have had already, Col. Flemming gave them an Alarm at Havethry, where with a party of Horse and Dragoones, he beat up their quarters, and after a light skirmish tooke 12. Horse and men prisoners, it is supposed that most of the Officers and Souldiers, that were under the Command of Laughorne, will come into the Parliaments forc [...]s when they see they must fight. 2. Captains are com [...] in already, & Powells [Page 6] declaring absolutely for the King, wi [...]l bring in others; Malignants come in daily unto them, an [...] the Commonalty apace, chi [...]fly for them, and shew themselves in great numbers at the Randezvouz; [...]ut when they shall come to fight, they wil [...] q [...]ickly leave them, and as it were sl p their ne ks out of the Coller again; want of Horsmeate is a great trouble to the Parl. Forces upon the barre [...] Mountains, and want of mony as great, without which it is hard to purchase other provisions.
Swausey Aprill 17. 16 [...]8.
The Copy of a Letter from France.
Here hath been some dispute as if the Prince should have set forward for Scotland or Wales, without farther d [...]la [...]; but he knowes not what to think of the Scots for the present, a [...]so the Prince expects aid from the [...]rench, but they are unwilling to meddle in a business [...] which concernes them not, or will not prove advantagious unto them; but on the contrary, it may cause a division amongst themselves, because the greatest part of France is against any such undertakings.
The young King, wi [...]h the Queen Regent, and the Duke of Anjou, his brother gave the Queen of England and Prince Charles a visit, lately near St. Jermans, where they then were, but it is verily believed, that the Prince will not have halfe that favour and assistance from the French that he expects.
The Parl. or body representative of this Kingdom, ha [...]e resolved on Thursday nex [...], (all other busines bring la [...]d aside) to meet together no purpose, to find out and agree upon a speedy meanes for the setling and establishing the peace of this Kingdom, and to compose the many differences and distr [...]ctions thereof; therefore the Ministers are desired in their respective places, to represent their [...]arnest suppl [...]cations unto God Almighty, for a blessing upon their [...]r c [...]edings.