VPon the fifth of Decemb. 1642. I was tra­velling upon the Road about my lawfull occasions, and in my journey towards New­bury, between Henly and Reading: I met with one, whose name was (as after I was informed) [...]hithe [...], and falling into dis­course, asked him the best and readiest way towards Ne [...]bury, which he certified me was through Reading. But I answered him I was loath to goe that way because of the Garison, and for feare of giving offence, he replied to me, that if I pleased to to goe that way, he would do me so much favour as to have me through Reading without any let or stay, I giving credit to him, went with him into Reading, and set up my horse at the Beare, where we supped together and there did Inne all night on the morrow early in the morning (the aforesaid) Whithead, came to my chamber and certified me, I must goe before the Governour which was Sir Arther Ashton (a ranke Papist as I am informed,) being come thither, there was also Colonell Feelding, which knew me to be a Londoner, and takes me by the hand and sweares he was very glad he had met with me, and so [Page 2] certified the Governour that I was as arrant a Round headed. Rogue and Traytor as any was in England and one that hath 700. men to command at any time to aid the Parliament. With that [...]he Governour without any further examination, swore at m [...] bitterly and calls me dam'd Rogue & Traytor and with that strook me with his Cane on the head, This cariage of Ashton & Feil­ding is not to be pa a [...]eld in Tur y many pa [...] o [...] the World. and brook it very sorely and swore like a mad man that he would presently hang me; and with a guard of Musquetiers did send me to the Gal­lowes, where I stood some quarter of an houre, expecting death: but such was Gods goodnesse toward me, that I was convey'd from thence to Prison, whither came the aforesaid Whethead, and in the name of the Governour took away my Moneyes: On the next Lords day I was conveyed to Wallingford, and the Wednesday following to Abington. I being brought before the Governour, A very moder­ate [...]ivill Gen­tleman. Lievtenant Colonell Sherly, there being divers Ca­valiers in his company, and one whose name was Smith, that had the watch that day, he would needs have me to say the Lords Prayer over to him, which I refused: Yet to give him satisfaction I told him, if he pleafed to lend me a Bible, I would read the Chapter over where that was, but that would not content him, he swore he would lay me neck and heels in Irons, which to prevent, I addressed to the Governour, and said, Sir, I conceive I am your Prisoner, and this Gentleman ha [...]h nothing to doe with me, and if it be your pleasure to put me in Irons I am content. This is not Smith the Mar­shall, but a Cap­tain of a foot Company. With that the Governour said, you came without Irons to me, and without you all go away: but Smith swore I should not; they swore so long, that they fell to blowes and by this difference by Gods providence I received mercy from the Governour. So the next day being Thursday I was convey'd to Oxford Castle. Who afforded me a good sup­per and bed at the Provose Marshalls [...]uar­ter that night. But to leave my particular suf­ferings, and come to give you a relation of others, I shall begin with a relation of the usuage of the Prisoners taken at Malborough, (in the County of Wilts) by the Cavaliers in their passage to Oxford.

After they had surprised the Town, and had taken 180. odde Prisoners they drove many of them through the waters and the first night thrust them all up into a nasty stinking stable a­mongst Horses; where was one horse dead, there they continu­ed till the next morning, and had no food allowed them, and [Page 3] so drove them like Rogues and theeves, tied together by the armes in the horse way up to the knees in mire and dirt, and allowed no food to them, nor suffered no friend to come at them; for a man coming to see some of them, was carried away to Oxon to Prison with them, and in foure daies time, as they were drove from Malbrough to Oxford, were allowed no food but only at Lamburne, a Gentleman did provide some for them: but they would scarce give time to receive it, and that was all the sustenance they had in all their passage, not so much as wa­ter, for some of them being drie, would faine have dranke of the water in the high way, but they would not suffer them, nay, they strook many of them over the heads with their Canes for stooping to take a piece of Ice to hold in their mouths to quench their violent thirst.

On Friday they came to Oxford; and as they passed through the streets towards the Castle, there was much rejoycing by the Inhabitants, Scollers, and Souldiers, calling them Round-headed Rogues and Traytors, and striking some of them. One passage is worthy observation, that the Lord George Digby and Commissary Wilmot took Master Iohn Franklin, By this you may see how the Lord Digbie, and she now Lord Wil­mot loves the House of Com­mons, Member of the House of Commons, and led him away from all the rest of the Prisoners, to a Tree, and there swore deeply they would hang him like a damn'd Rogue and Traytor, if he would not confesse where his Money was. And this is a short Relation of these mens sufferings before they came into the Castle.

Now you shall know our usage after we were in the Castle, under Captaine William Smith, This is not Smith the Fen­cer, his name is Thomas Smith▪ the first night we were put up into the Tower, 180. od, the place being so little that we were forced to lie one upon another, and were allowed one penny bread a peace, and a Can of small Beere (water was better) and so for the best part of 13. nay some of us 23. weeks, were al­lowed no more. Some of us have many times been two daies without any thing at all, so that by this cruelty, and living on the boards, many fell sick and very weak in body almost all of us like to perish and end our daies by the bloody flux, and one of us was starved to death; and as this man was drawing on to­wards his end Marshall Smith was sollicited in all the faire waies that possible could be, by the Gentlemen and the Cap­taines there in Prison, that he would suffer some thing to be [Page 4] provided for the poore man but such was his crueltie, that he would not, and so the man died.

He saies it was a base Protesta­tion, onely fra­med by a com­pany of ebels and Traytors to take away the King-Crown and life.Some few daies after, he called us to take the Protestation, (which he stilled the Kings, we desired to heare it read over to us, which when we had heard it, we refused it, as being against our Consciences, telling him we had taken one already, which was the King and Parliaments, he swore at us, and call'd us damn'd Rogues and Traytors, striking us with his Cane, drives us all up into the Tower, swearing deeply he would make us take it or he would make us to shit as small as a Rat: But he was for­sworne, for we shewed him a faire paire of heels. whereup­on he gives command that no body be permitted to come at us to relieve us, either with food or linen, causes a hole to be made up where things used to be conveyed to us, and confined us to our former allowance, and charge was given upon pain of death that no more should be allowed us, or any thing else permitted to come at us, which was accordingly done, for food being sent to us out of the Citie by some he caused his Souldiers to take it way and eat it. Then the Gentlemen and Captaines impriso­ned, made a weekly Purse for the reliefe of the poore Prisoners (and made A Lievtenant of Horse. Lievtenant W. Dingly Steward of it) vvhich if they had not done I am very confident, vve should halfe of us have perished. He causes this to be restrained, and threatens the Ste­vvard to lock him up close Prisoner, if he did after offer to re­lieve us vvith Bread or Beere.

Some small time after this, Sir Iames Penimon vvanting Soul­diers, they called us dovvne into the yard, and as vve passed through the great Chamber, vvhere at least 12 or 14. Gentle­men lodged, and had vvashed their hands in a Bason of vvater, such vvas our extreame drought, that vve could not be restrain­ed from drinking it yea the very raine vvater that vvas on the Barrels heads that stood in the yard.

There they propounded to us, that if vve vvould take the Protestation, and take up Armes to serve in that Armie vve should presently be all released. We all refused it, vvith that Peniman svvore at us, and Smith ran after us as fast as his lame legs vvould giv him leave drives us all up again into the Tovv­er striking us vvith his Cane, swearing deeply that he would wake take it, or he vvould make us to shit as small as a Rat; and so kept us still to our former allovvance.

When they had tryed by all these wayes of cruelty, they had or could extend to us in the Castle, then they sought by faire meanes to win us, and Sir Iames Peniman, and Smith, calls us all downe into the yard, and there they argue the case to us, and alleadge the Scripture to us, (as the Divell did to Christ) but when they saw that by this they could not prevaile with us, they swore most bitterly at us, and Sir Iames Peniman swore God dam me, none of us all did belong to Salvation, but wee were a Company of damned Rogues, Rebells, and Traytors, and swore we should bee made to take the Protesta­tion, for we should have no Victuals allowed us, saying they that would not worke should not eate, But after this 14. were remo­ved out of the Dungeon to an upper Chamber so little, that we could but lie down, when we went to sleepe. and so wee were kept without any thing for a day and above; And to extend his Cruelty, and in­crease our misery, Smith causes us on Munday Feb. 6. to be remo­ved from the Castle to Bridewell to the Dungeon, where we were above 40 of us put down into it, about foure Weekes thronged, in so little Roome, that woe were scarse able to stirre one by another, There being never a house of Office. the place also being made very noysome, because wee eased our selves in the same, so that in some place of it, we might goe over the shooes in Pisse and filth.

About a Fortnight after, woe had bin there: A Petition that we had made to the Lord Generall of that Army, and a Letter that was written to London, setting forth the barbarous usage of us by Smith, came out in P [...]int The Letter was Printed in my name, which is Edmund Chil­le [...]den, which Smith would have fathe [...]ed on mee, but hee could not prove it. But this Let­ter and Petition netled Smith, that he gave the Capt. and Gent. a great deale of Liberty upon it. Whereupon the Generall as wee con­ceive appointed Commissioners to examine the truth of the things contained in the Letter and Petition, and on Mu [...]day Feb. 22. Six of us, namely, Edmund Chillenden, Thomas Cheny, Edward Leader, Ed­ward Bradney, William Whitlawe, Ioseph Blises, were like Felons and Rogues brought through the Streets in Irons to Sir Iacob Ashleys, where was Dr. Reeves the Kings Advocate, and two other Com­missioners, who instead of examining of us, fell a Railing at un a [...] ­king us to take the Protestation; We Answered we had taken one already, which was the King and Parliaments, which we would maintaine to the last drop of our bloods, I making this Q [...]estion, because it was I that spake for all of us; They told mee that I should of all the rest bee han­ged, say [...]ng you are a pe­ermtory Rogue indeed. but as for this Protesta­tion we know not what it is, nor whose Authority if beareth, for we know that the lawes of this Land provide; That no O [...]th should bee forced on us contrary to consent in Parliament, which Laws were out Inheritance, and therefore wee would defend and maintaine them as our proper Rights and Liberties, and no wayes betray them, or words to this effect: VVee further said that to [Page 8] sweare the Earle of Essex was a Traytor, or the Army under his conduct was raised against the Kings, or that the Kings proceed­ings with his Army was good and necessary, or whether the Sub­jects of England were bound, or not bound by the Votes Acts, and Orders made by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, was a high point above our Capacities to decide, and therefore desired to be excused from taking that Oath, conceiving that wee must not sweare upon doubts and questions, but in judgement, righteousnes, and truth. Smith he cries out, harke, harke, they are a Preaching; we then complained to them of our ill usage, and told them it was the way to starve us, and that a many of us were sicke in the Dun­geon, and desired they might bee removed where they might have more Aire, and wee said that wee hoped, that it was not the Kings will, nor the Counsell of VVars pleasure, thus to destroy us: But Dr. Reeves told us in plaine termes, that it was the Kings mind, and Counsell of Wars pleasure to destroy us, But the Dr. hath forgot his Spectacles would multiply. and took his Spectacles and looked on us, and said we looked as fat as Connies, and so wee were sent backe againe to the Dungeon, and those that were sicke, grew weaker and weaker: so that one eased nature as he lay, Namely one Giles Carter, and Caleb Selfe. and another was troubl [...]d with a continuall Vomiting; those things were gr [...]evous to us, they being done in the place where wee all were; when Smith came to Bridewell, we complained to him of it, and desired him that they might be removed where they might have more aire, and have some comfortable thing made, and per­mitted to come to them, or else they would not live long; he cald us, if we would take the Protestation we should have any thing; we desired, but if we would not, if wee all died hee did not care, wee were our owne murtherers, and did not permit any thing more to be allowed, save our former Allowance; not any Friend, no not our Wives, to come to see us, or any to have our Shifts washed: Nay, hee put the Man that dwelt in the Bridewell in Prison in the Castle, because he had meat a boyling over the fire, for his owne dinner, and all Smiths men came and eate up the mans meat, so that by his cruell usage, the afore-named Giles Carter ended his daies in great extremity.

VVe seeing this conceived in our selves if wee staid here, there was no way but of death and perishing; did with one consent re­solve our selves of this extreme miserie, so we with our knives, and the hooke of a doore, made a hole through a Free * stone wall, [Page 7] above a yard thicke, and so all that were well went forth, which was about 40. whereof 4. were taken againe, and 6. was left sicke, in the Dungeon, which 6. (when Smith knew the rest were gone) laid in Irons when we were so weake as not able to stirre, and so kept us till Thursday, or Friday, having nothing to comfort us, but water; and then wee were removed to the Tower in the Castle a­gaine, wherein the roome where we were put, was about 60. men, and a many sicke of the small pox, so that the place was very un­wholsome and nasty, and there allowed us one penny bread, and a Can of Beere.

I come now to relate to you some other of Smiths Tyrannicall and dishonest practises.

When Marlborow men were sick, Smith gave to one Mr. Betterise a Chyrurgion of Oxford, 5, s. to provide some hot and comfortable things for the sick [...] Prisoners, Mr. Betteris laid out some of the mo­ney presently, after this meeting him in the street demanded his money of him and threatned him, if he would not give it him, so M [...]. Betterise gave him all his 5. s. againe, though he had layed out some of it before: This Mr. Betterise did use to come at first into the Castle to dresse the wounded Prisoners, and by that meanes knew the disease of the sicke Prisoners, did say to some N [...]ighbours of his, that they were spoil'd for want of water, and so indeed they were; for we had no water sometimes in two dayes time; Smith he heares of this, and meeting with Mr. Betterise put him in Prison in the Castle, for so saying, but was within a short time by Sir Iacob Ashley released out of the prison, but by Smith commanded to come no more to dresse the wounded prisoners.

About this time there were some prisoners brought in, which were taken at Banbury, and amongst them was one that was woun­ded in the head with a Pole-Axe. Smith was by the Gentlemen and Captaines in all the faire wayes, intreated to let a Surgeon to come in to dresse him, he would not permit any to come, so that this mans wounds festered and stuncke, and in a short time hee ended his dayes in great extremity.

There a so being in the Tower many Prisoners, and they hav [...]ng had no water in 20. na [...], 48. houres time, knockt for water, Oc [...] ­don the Captaines man came and told them hee could help them to none (though the River runne by the doore) they being dry knoc­ked again, Smith came himself, & said I will give you water, caused [Page 8] 3, or 4, of his men to come arm'd to guard his person, and cal'd downe one that was my Lord Saies Miller, and layes him in Irons Neck and Heeles; and one Sergeant Wallis hee Canes him at least 60. blowes over the head, and wounds him very sorely, that he hath lost one of his joints, and after this layes him in Irons 28. pound weight, Neck and Heeles, and so keepes him 48. houres in a nasty Dungeon, without bread or water, or any other sustenance; and Caned Lievtenant Whitehead, and layd him in Irons; and to colour over his Tyranny; commands his men to say, they made a mutiny.

There was one Mr. Freeman a Constable neere Banbury; Smith cals him to take the Protestation, hee refuses it, Smith said if hee would not take it, he should goe up into the Tower, hee said that was the worst he could doe to him. Is it saies Smith you damned Rogue, and striked him with his Cane, sweating bitterly at him, la [...]ed him in Irons neck and heeles, set him on a cold Stone in the yard, takes away his coat from him, sets a sentinel over him, so keeps him 30 4 daies in the winter time, without either bread or water, or air, other food: This Freeman was also removed to the Dungeon in Bridewell, where he escaped to his owne house, and there was taken againe and brought into the Castle; Smith layes him in Irons and so he ended his dayes also in great misery.

The same day he cal'd downe one of Marlborow souldiers, and offers him the Protestation, the youth refused it; Smith sweares at him, and beats him with his Cane, layes him neck and heeles in I­rons, puts him in a Dungeon, set a Sentinell over him, so keeps him till he had forced him to take the protestation, and allowed no food to be given him.

There was one Mr. VVierby a minister, and one Mr. Price, and one Mr. Selven, that did refuse the protestation; hee strikes them, and breake their heads, makes the blood run downe their eares, and sends them to the Dungeon in Bridewell.

There was one Mr. Edward Bradney, that had a man exchanged for him, yet had not his liberty; Smith told him if hee could get 10. l. to pay his Fees hee should have his liberty. Mr. Bradney got 5. l. told Smith I have 4. l. 10, s. Smith said he would not take that, so Mr. Bradney was putting up his money againe, Smith snatches his money from him, and said I will keepe this in part or payment; so took away foure pound, and kept the man in prison six moneths after; first in the Tower, then in the Dungeon in Bridewell, where [Page 9] he escaped, but was taken againe, Smith laid him in Irons hands and feet, and so keepes him about 8 weekes: by reason of this his cruell usage, he fell very weak and sick, and in his sicknesse he would not suffer any body to come to helpe him in his great extremity, so that for three weekes he lay in his owne Dung and pisse, and so by a long and languishing disease, being pined to nothing in, a great deale of woe ended his dayes.

There was one Richard Cawdle, and one Robert Neale, that esca­ped out of Bridewell, and were taken againe, he burnt them with match betweene the fingers to the bone, and laid them in Irons hands and feet, suffers no Surgeon to come to them, so keeps them 8. weekes, and they both in this extremity ended their dayes in much misery.

There was one Andrew of London, who came to Oxford, and being brought into Prison, Smith himselfe tooke 23. s. out of his pocket, and kept him there a short space, and then turning him go­ing, but never gave him his money.

There was one Mr. I. A, the Lord of Douns man, brought in for a Spie, he tooke the Protestation, and was by Smith released, pay­ing 50. s. fees; and hee comming into the Castle to see a Friend, Smith would not let him goe till he had paid him 50. s. more.

There was one Mr. Wilde a minister, a Malignant, committed to prison, who lay there 7 daies, and paid Smith 3. l. 10. s. for his Fees.

There was two Londoners, Mr. C. Mr. M. that tooke the pro­testation, that paid Smith 20. l. for their fees.

There was one William Burthen a Constable, that tooke the pro­testation, and was by Smith released paying 4. l. but hee after heard he was a rich man, got him in prison againe, and there keepes him to make him pay 60. l. more, and did not let him goe, till hee had paid him 20. l. more.

There was one Mr. Ad. of London, prisoner, Smith tooke 5. l. 10. [...]illings, out of his pocket, and never gave it him more.

There was one Mr. VV. B. a Gentleman, whom the Bishop of Armath You mayste by this that if there be any vil­lany to be done, a Bishop is at hand to act it, perswaded to take the protestation, hee was released paying 20. l. fees; Smith gets him againe and keepes him prisoner, till he had made him pay or given him bond for 30. l. more.

He also got a Bill of Exchange for 30. l. from Captaine Wingate, and Captaine Austen, but he hath not yet paid them, though he [Page 10] hath bin often asked for it, and Captaine Auston asking him for it, Smith gave him very opprobious words, calling him shit­ten Prentice boy, and threatned to lay him in Irons, neck and heels.

There was one Dr. Claiton, Doctor of Divinitie of Waltom­stow in Essex (as he himselfe said) who was taken at Branceford, and carried to Oxford Prison, who lying there in great mise­ry, did endeavour to make an escape and getting over a wall, fell downe and broke his neck.

Captain [...]ohn Lilburne, he kept him in Irons 19. or 18. daies and since he being very sick, even to death yet w [...]uld not per­mit any woman to come to look to him in his sicknes.

Captaine [...]ohn Frank in and Master Iohn Brown Gentleman, he ironed together, and so kept them a good while, and since Captaine Iohn Frankling is dead.

Master William Dingly, a Lievtenant of Horse, he laid him in Irons, and so kept him 8. or 9 weeks. He kept one Master An­drew Ellu (one of my Lord Generalls Life-Guard, a Gentle­man of the Innes of Court) in the Tower amongst the Com­mon Prisoners, and made him to lie on the Boards.

Master Iohn Frankling, Member of the House of Commons, he hath most basely abused, and calld him Rogue and damn'd Traytor, yea stinking fellow and took him by the shoulders, and thrust him into a little Chamber, saying to him you are a damn'd Traytor, and I will use you like a Traytor; locks him up close Prisoner, and gives the key to one Bradshaw that was a Cavalier in Prison, and Smith on purpose set on this Bradshaw, and one Captaine Cew, one of the Cavaliers an Irish Papist, to drinke healths and carrouses in the roome with Mr. Frank­ling, to abuse and torment him, This B [...]adshaw being si [...] did confesse. and hath ever since kept him close Prisoner. And Captaine Walton, Captaine Iohn L lburne, Captaine Vivers, Captaine [...]atesby▪ Captaine Scroope Captaine, Auston, Captaine L [...]dcot he hath kept them all close Prisoners, for the most part of their time, and seldome would permit their friends to come to visit them, no nor their wives to see them.

Yea he hath taken away the beds from the Captaines and made them to lye on the cords, and against their wills placed some of the Cavaliers in them.

As for Captaine Wingate, he hath alwaies kept him close Prisoner alone, without any company, not suffering him to conferre neither with men nor Books, not permit him to have a Bible, onely when Blage was hanged. Master Harfeild Minister of Banbury, and he was in one Chamber, and Smith had layed this Reverend Minister in Irons hands and feet, and after that Blage was dead brought his body and threw it into the Roome where Captaine Wingate and this was, and so locked them up all three close Prisoners, and many times Smith hath kept those that have died so long till they have stunk like to poison them, nor would not carie them away, till the Prisoners were con­strained to pay for their buriall. He would not suffer Captaine Wi [...]gate to walke in the Garden for his health sake, notwi [...]h­standing the Kings mind was that he should, as hath been in my hearing declared by the Lord of Craford.

As for Captaine Clifton Cot sby and Captaine Vivers, they being in [...]anbury, his Majestie was pleased by his Herauld of Arms to declare, that if they would come and yeeld themselves to Him they should have a free Pardon, the which they did, and had also the Lord Generalls word, on his honour to confirme the same: yet after this they were brought to Oxford Prison, and by Smith kept there, and were before the Lord chiefe Justice Heath, on Oyer and Termine [...], arraigned for their lives. Whereupon they both of them made a Petition declaring his Majesties Act passed to them which was acknowledged by the Generall [...] as appeares plainly by the Answer of the Petition, The Petition I have seen with the Answe but as yet [...]ann [...] procure he Co­py of it He would not [...] Cap aine C teso [...]y, [...] c [...] se h w [...] [...] not pay him [...]oo pounds for his fee, and so also he did by Mr. Ha field, Mini­ster of [...]bury, and so by Cap­tai [...]e Vive [...]. I do not believe any of them committed any fa [...]lt, de [...]erving any Pa don, but this I say accor­ding to their Proceedings. and thereupon order was given, they should be released, yet notwithstanding Smith kept them in Prison close, and by his ill usuage, Captain C [...]tesby is since dead, and Cap­taine Vivers hath bin almost at Deaths dore, and is yet Prison­er: therefore it behoves the King and the Generall to vindicate their Honour by executing Justice on Smith, for thus grosely abusing the King and the Generall

He hath kept many in Prison (after they have been pardon­ed by the King and have taken the Protestation) for excessive Fees.

But to let all the world see he is a knave in all respects, and to all persons friends and foes, he hired a Priest to preach in the Prison, and this Priest was as base as Smith himselfe, and [Page 14] would raile against the Parliament and the Citie of London, as loud as Smith, yet when this Priest came to demand his quar­terage of Smith, P [...] th [...]s it [...] that the P [...]rl [...]ment [...]s [...] in the least [...]staken, in say­ [...]i [...] the King is [...] and invi­ [...]d i [...] by King [...], [...]naves and [...]eeves. he to save his Money, and deprive the Priest, of his due, calls him all to naught, and saies to him, you raile against the Parliament, you shall have quartering, and so claps Irons on the poore Priest, that he was glad to loose his Money to be rid of his Irons, and so he serves all his men, when they aske him for Money, now let all the world judge whether it be for a Kings honour to have such Officers.

And further to set out his base dissimulation when the Commissioners from the Parliament are in Oxford, then to make the matter faire as if he were a stranger to a Tyrant, he will let the Gentlemen & Captains have liberty to walke in the Garden, and suffers their friends and wives to come to them, but as soon as ever they are gone forth of the City, he locks them up close Prisoners, and debars all friends, yea their owne wives, and though they be sick, will not suffer them to come to helpe them in their extremity, nor no Phisitians, but whom he will appoint, which for ought any knowes, may poison them, for in a short time there hath died of these Gentlemen, Captaine Liacot, Captaine Fleminge, Captaine Iohn Frankling, Captaine Gasterill, Captaine Stevens, Iunior, Captaine Stevens Senior, Captaine Plai [...]r, Captaine Austen, Captaine Caseby, Liev­tenant Flower Master VVitman Merchant of London, Mr. Her­field Minister of Banbury, old Thomas Web, and three more Clo­thiers of Glocestershire. and 4. more common men, which are before mentioned.

There was a Clothier of Glocestershire, which was released, Smith got him againe, and kept him in Prison to make him pay a great Summe of Money, and there the man ended his daies.

UPon Thursday the second of February 1642. Prince Ru­pert with a great company of his Cavaliers, came before Cirencestor, and there after an hot Skirmish, they being valiantly resisted by about 400. of my Lord Stamfords Blew Coats, and Captaine Wallingfords Dragooners there being in the Town not above 500. Souldiers, with the Trained Bands and all, yet such was the cruelty of the Cavaliers, seeing my Lord Stam­fords Blew-Coats thus valian [...]ly resisting them, and in their resisting slew many of them so that thereby they were much enraged, insomuch that they set on fire a Barn and some hou­ses, and Hay Ricks, which did much anoy our men, who had overtoyled themselves with resisting them, not being relieved by the Trained Bands which were in the Towne, and by this means were forced to retreat into the Town the Cavaliers pur­suing them, and so surprized the Towne, and after they had given them Quarter, because they had slaine none, before they murthered many of the Inhabitants, about twenty per­sons or more; Let all Ma­lignants take notice, that not­withstanding they love them and their Cause, yet where they get the [...]ictory, they will make no diffe [...]ence between a Ma­l gnant and an honest Round­head. and most of them were Malignants against the Parliament.

After they had thus taken us, we were led into a field about halfe a mile from the Towne where the chiefe Commanders were, that they might take a view of us, who threatned to do [Page 14] execution upon us all, and there the Common Souldiers stript us, and wounded many of us, and then drove us back to the Church in Cirencester, where we remained almost two whole daies, and two nights in all, which time they allowed us no sustenance wherewithall to live, till just as they drove us to­wards Oxford, they gave each of us a small piece of bread and cheese, and then bound us all with match, and so drove us a­long without stockings on our legs, or shooes on our feet, or hats on our heads, many of us having no Dublets, and some Gentlemen of good quality without Breeches and so we came to Burford hill, where the Cavaliers gave each of us a little piece of Bread, which was all the reliefe they gave us in our way be­tween Cirencester and Oxon, and for this we waited a long time upon the hill, the wind blowing very cold, and we standing barefoot and bareleg'd in the snow. Then we came to Witneigh, where we lay in the Church, and from thence were drove to­wards Oxon, and about a mile from the City His Majestie with the Prince, and the Duke of Yorke, came thither to see us drove along more like dogs and Horses then men, up to the knees in mire & dirt along, the horse way, & aboundance of the Scollers much rejoycing at our misery, calling and abusing us by the names of damned Rogues, and Traytors. And when we came to Oxon, we were put all together in the Church, and there we received, for the most part of us, a piece of bread that night, the next morning they seperated the Voluntiers, from the Trained Bands, and cruelly used us to force us all to take the Protestation, and take up Arms for them against the Parlia­ment, for they allowed us but one small piece of bread, and a can of B ere a day, and would not allow us to have a draught of water to drinke, we offering to pay Money for it, yet wee could not obtaine it: by which cruell usuage they forced the most of them to take the Protestation, that of 1100. and 66. Prisoners, there was but 16. that refused it, that they had scra­ped about the Countrey for, for they brought old Almes men, about three or foure score yeare old, and lame Cripples from their mothers wombe blind men, and all to make up the num­ber of a great many Prisoners, they not only forcing them to take the Protestation, but afterwards fined th [...]m beyond their estates, and drove them to other desperate courses, so that one [Page 15] cut his throat, he not dying presently was asked the reason why he did so; he answered, he was so hungry that the Divill tempt­ed him to cut his throat to be out of his misery; and divers others of them fell weake and sick, and were sent to Bridewell, where they died two or three in a day, and one man drawing on towards his end, I and Edward Leader, and another, had op­portunitie to speak unto him, and we asked him what he thought of his last end? he said unto us, and fetch d a great sigh, he could have both said and thinked more if he had refused the Protestation and kept close to Christ, and so d [...]parted. Whi­lest they contiue in the Churches we that were in the Dun­geon hearing that they wanted bread, gathered 7. shillings a­mongst us and gave it the woman of Bridewell to lay out in bread for them, which she accordingly did and went to the Church to give it them: but such was Smiths cruelty, as that he would not permit it to be given them, so i [...] was returned to us againe and those of them that refused to take the Protestation, he beat and abused, tying some of them neck and heels, and o­thers he sent to the Dungeon, others he brough into the Ca­stle, where we were made to stand in the cold yard a [...]l the fi [...]st day in the snow; then at night we were put in [...]o the Ha l wh re we continued 3. or 4. daies, without receiving any allowa [...]ce from them whereupon we asked Captaine Smith for some al­lowance, he then giving us bitter words, and swore at us hid his man give us so much bread as he would give a dog a day, and for water let them lap in the yard and be hanged or pox't for a company of damn'd Rogues Dogs or to this eff [...]ct.

Then after two or three daies▪ he allowed us halfe a p [...]nny loafe a day, but we had no water to drinke in two daies toge­ther. Then we were put up into the Tower and there we were allowed a penny a day in bread and a can of beere, wh [...]ch was the best allowance that ever we received from them lying for the space of 15. weeks on the boards; and by reason of this hard usuage many of us fell sick, which dr [...]ve us to call from the Tower for more reliefe: whereupon he strikes two of us with his Cane over the head and layes us neck and heels in I­rons, and kept their allowance from them: and since the Pa [...]li­ament hath sent downe 1 [...]0 for the reliefe of the poore Pri­soners, he hath ever since kept away the Kings allowance from us.