Memorable Dayes and Workes of God in the Yeare past 1645.
Ianuary
the 10 th ARch-Bishop Land be headed that Arch-Traytor to Church and State: the Arch-enemy of Godly Ministers, and Godly people: and Arch-incendiary of the three Kingdomes, since whose Execution (whatever the Cabinet Papers Prognosticated) it hath pleased God wonderfully to prosper our Armies.
Ianuary the 11 th
Victory at Culham, neare Abingdon, against Prince Rupert, S. Henry Gage slaine (the then Governour of Oxford) and many others of note. A good Checke to their new Generall.
Uictory over Gerard in Pembrooke-shire: 900 slaine and taken, beaten againe, at the end of this moneth.
Ianuary the 21 th
Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX Voted our cheife Commander: In the Cabinet Papers reptoached as a Brutish Generall, [Page] but raised and assisted of God to bring downe the wise, and mighty things: A terror to the enemy, and Object of envy to our owne, who are carnall.
Strensham-House taken, and made our Garrison.
February
the 22 th Partshall-House taken: two Iesuites: Gentlemen.
Shrowsbury Surprized: eight Knights taken, many Officers, 15 Ordnances, 2000 Armes. A Beautifull Towne, and of great consequence, to hinder the enemies Recruits out of Wales and otherwise.
Feb. 28
Weymouth wholly retaken: 180 slaine, 38 Ordnance tataken, 40 Ships, After three weekes labor, and conflicts.
March
the 12. Sir Iames Long taken, and his whole Regiment, foure hundred horses.
Col, Holborne takes horses from Goring severall times.
Likewise Sir William Waller at the Devises.
Great actions of Sir William Brereton at Chester: and Major Generall Browne at Oxford.
April
14. Rebellion in Kent quickly suppressed.
Refractary troopers there, and elsewhere, quietly and safely reduced to obedience. A great mercy.
24 Blechendon House taken, 70 Horses 2 or 300 muskets. Item the Queenes Colours, 400 Horses, 200 prisoners 200 slaine.
26 Col. Conquest taken, Major Bamfield, 3 Captaines.
At Whitney 3 Colors taken, 120 Horses, 10 Officers, 27 At Bampton bush, Col. Sir Henry Vaughan taken, 2 Liev. Colonels, Major Lee, 5 Captaines, 8 Lieut. 8. Ensignes, 20 Ser [...]anes▪
May
11. A Plot against the Ile of Ely, happily prevented.
Taunton in extremity releived, by the flight of the enemy.
A wonderfull mercy, to brave people: great wealth saved.
1 [...] Evesham stormed, and taken: 120 Horses, 500 armes. Gaunt-house taken, and made our Garrison.
Iune
10. Greenhough-house taken: with all the Ordnance and Ammunition.
Hougham-house taken: 60 Horses: 100 Armes three Captaines.
14 The Glorious Victory at Naisby: When the Lord magnified his servant Fairfax, and gave an earnest of further mercies. Armes taken 9000. Horses 2000: Prisoners 4540. 12 Ordnance, Letters for discovery.
Sundry Knights, and Colonels, brought in afterwards.
18 Leicester regained, 14 Ordnance, 30 Colors, 2000. Armes. 500 Horses. 50 Barrles of Powder.
A great mercy. As the losse was unexpressible.
23 Castles in Shrop-shire rendred: Caus, S [...]ke, and Shrowarden.
28 Carlile rendred: 20 Ordnance. 1000. Armes.
Highworth Garrison taken: 100 Armes.
Horses in divers parts taken: 100, 60. 50. 45, 60. or 70,
Iune 4.
Taunton againe mightily releived.
9 Victory at Langpart. against Goring.
10 More: Sundry Colonels taken: 2000 Prisoners: 2000 Horses: 4000 Armes: Colors of Horse 35: of Foot 21. two great Ordnance, thirty of their Regiments broken. A wide door of hope hereby opened, for recovering the West.
14 [...]rough [...]. Garrison taken, and other.
21. 22. Bridg-water stormed, and taken A Mighty Piece.
Fontefract Castle yeelded to the Parliament.
Froome-Cannon taken by storme: of the Scotts.
Three smal Garrisons Garrisons neer Bridg-water, quitted.
23 Raby Castle surrendred to the Parliament.
Chadwick house taken by the Lyme-men,
25 Scarborough-Castle Surrendered to the Parliament.
28 Bathe Yeelded up to the Parliament 4 Ordnance.
Eightie Horse of the Kings Life-guard taken.
August.
3. Clubmen, Leaders taken at Shaftsbury. 51.
4 Club-men routed, 2000 Armes taken. 300 men,
Uictory over Gerard. and Haverford west taken.
Yo [...]ghall releived. A great mercy. Sliga taken, 150 Horses Sundry Castles.
15 Sherborne Castle stormed, taken and demolished, In it 16 Ordnance taken, many Officers.
28 Portshead point taken, 6 Ordnance 200 Armes.
Sep. Carew & Mamarby Castles taken. Nunny Castle taken.
11. Bristoll Stormed, and surrendred to the Parl. Thinke how great Strength, and Wealth, and what a mercy not easily dived into. O love the Lord &c.
13 Montros Routed, and Scotland revived. A Wonder! Let the Kingdomes studie thankefulnesse.
23 Devizes Castle taken. 300 armes. Ordnance. And Lacock house.
Cardiffe Castle taken. 16 Ordnance. 400 armes.
And Picton Castle.
Wales begins now to awake, and grow regular.
24 The Caveliers routed at Rowton heath. 11 Colonels taken. with other Officers: 2000-Horses 1500:-Prisoners.
26 Barkly Castle stormed, and surrendred to the Parl. And Farley Castle in Sommersetshire.
Oct.
Sandall Castle yeelded to the Parl.
6 Winchester Castle yeelded to the Parliament: with great provisions 7 Ordnance 700 Armes.
14 Bazing house taken by storme: with great riches and provisions The Rendivouz of popery and wickednesse.
Chepstow and its Castle taken: 17 Ordnance:
Digby and Langdale rowted at Sherborn in Yorkshire:
600 Horses taken: 5 Colonels, 3 L. Colonels, 7 Captaines
18 Lankford house delivered to the Parl.
19 Tiverton taken by storme, & strange providence: 4 Ordnance 4 Majors 7 Captaines: 7 Lievetenants:
Carmarthen delivered to the Parl with ordnance, Armes, Digby and Langda [...]e againe rowted: at Carlile sand [...].
24 Monmouth, and its Castle delivered to the Parliament 7 Ordnance: 300. armes:
Novem.
Victory at Denbigh: 5 or 600 Horses taken: 400 prisoners:
6 [...] Castle delivered to the Parliam [...]t: Welbeck-house flighted,
10 Werton house delivered to the Parl.
16. Beeston Castle delivered to the Parl.
Dec.
7. Lathom house delivered to the Parl.
Taken i [...] from the enemy an other Garrison ly [...]ng West of Exeter Called Callantine house and therin 30 or 40 horse and as many prisoners.
Taken in Skypton Castle 7 peice of ordnance 300. armes [...] horse and 4 Barrells of powder.
With many other, which time would faile to observe and illustrate. Oh for a compleat historie, which would set forth Gods glory, and these Kingdomes happinesse.
A [...]d now England, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to feare tht Lord thy God, to walke in all his wayes, and to loue him, and to serve the Lord thy God [Page] with all thy heart, and with all thy soule- Deut. 10. 12.
Meanes to render to the Lord according to all his benefits
1 Be a receiver in the maine: by making Christ sure to thy soule soe to get a full and right title to these inferior mercyes: And this will sweeten every benefit, and lift it up high in thy thoughts, seing it al comes from soe heavenly a spring of love; when a soule can be thankfull for Christ first, and for other favours in him: when it seeth salvation wrought, and applyed, and soe takes the cup of salvation The heart hereby is marveilously warmed, & enlarged unto thankfulnesse and a small mercy elevated, as a pledge of greater. Is it not received in Christ, who is the heire of all thinges? Doth it not come swimming to us in his bloud? And the want hereof is one cheife cause of the great unthankfulnesse we see in these times: some dead and heartlesse, others grosely prophaine, the love of Christ would have constrained them, and beene stronger then death, to doe and suffer for him to the vttermost: 2 Cor. 5. 14 and Cant. 8. 6. 7.
2 In deepe thoughts set together Gods greatnesse and thy vilenesse. That such a God should doe such thinges for soe wretched and unworthy a creature as thou art. Man would not doe soe for a stranger, especially for an enemie: Only he that is infinitely good, and free in all he doth, one that workes for his owne sake, because mercy pleaseth him yea, he works with delight to do his people good, Ps. 35. 27. he hath pleasure in the prosperitie of his servants, Thus many became soe thankfull, Luk. 1. 48. considering the Lord to be mighty, and her selfe in a low estate, a heart spiritually humble is ever a thankfuil heart, As mans worth goeth downe soe Gods goodnesse goeth up.
3 Prize and remember the mercies thou receivest, It is not the having of mercies that makes one thankfull. but the [Page] esteeming & magnifying of them as they are, many mercies grow stale by the commonnesse of them: as the Sun that shineth dayly, and the Gospel which is preached plentifully, victories, and deliverances are now adays ordinary matters therefore not duely regarded, He that slights my kindnesse will scarse thanke mee for it, or he that forgets it, soe of God and his people, Psal. 105. 5. and. 106. 13.
4 Put case yee wanted such and such mercyes, which for most part are best seene in the want of thē: What mischeife would it have beene, if the enemy had prevailed at Naisby, and other places? If they had entred into soe many of our strong places, which were left? If an arbitrary Goverment had beene erected and thereby a perfect slavery? If popery had been introduced, and the Gospel banished? Sit do woe & thinke what a sad face of things would have now appeared: remember all the way which the Lord thy God hath led thee in these heavy times as Deut. 8. 2.
5 Pray to be able and willing to render, As thou prayest for the increase of other graces, so pray also to be acting & exciting this grace of thankfulnesse, God, if intreated will enlarge thy heart to runne the way of his Commandements.
6 To prayer add thine own endeavour, Strive and straine to doe this dutie? as David. 103. 1. Blesse the Lord, O my soule and all that is within mee, Blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord O my soule, and forget not all his benefits. Water comes not up without pumping: and wee have dry hearts, there needs an holy violence to be used, as Mat. 11. 12.
7 There needs some thought taking: as David, VVhat shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards mee? Psal. 116. 12 God studies to doe us good, and waits to be gracious: and that by a counsell from all eternity hath thoughts of peace toward his Church, thoughts of supply of delivetance, of turning all to good.