FRom Norwith on Munday last it is certified by a Fa­ctor who liveth there, that there are many Cavaliers scattered up and downe, who have plundered many mens houses living in villages neere unto Norwich, being supposed to be about 150 Horse, and 300 Foot; but God be thanked we are above 2000 able armed men with­in the Citie, and wee doe not doubt but in short time to drive them away; Captaine Sandly, Sir Tho. Owfield, and Captaine Ogle are gone to meet them, to stop their pro­ceedings with 100 Horse, and 200 Foot; and the whole Countie doth gather Forces together continually, and there are Writs sent out into everie Hundred, to know the strength of the Countie, which verie shortly when it is certainly knowne I will give you intelligence: I doe heare for certaine, that this countie will live and dye in the defence of the Parliament, for the maintenance of the Protestant Religion.

From Northampton-shire.

There are good and prosperous informations brought from Northampton shire; for the towne of Northamp­ton is verie strong having 4000 men in Armes, and 400 Horse for the defence thereof: and as soon as the Earle of [Page 2] Peterborough comes downe, whom they verie earnestly do expect, they hope to declare their magnanimitie and fidelitie to the Parliament, for being animated with stan­ding in their defence, they intend with much cheerfull alacritie against my Lord of Nor­thampton and his Cavaliers. Coventrie (whither of late the King is march'd to set up his Stand [...]rd) hath a thousand men in Armes; that will lose their lives in repelling any hostile violence that shall bee offered by the Kings Forces, having taken away a Peece or two of Ordnance, and a load of Armes from my Lord of Northamptons men last week. The generall and in­clinations of this countie doe stand right and full of in­tegrity to the Parliament, so that some of our Parliament men being come downe, they have so well confirmed them in their resolutions to stand for the Parliamen, that by taking subscriptions of plate, money, and horse, they have found the cheerfull bounty of the County, so ample and affectionate, towards them, so that in a dayes sitting they have got to the value of 1000 l worth of plate, and twice so much money, and about 2 or 3 hundred horse, many yeoman men comming in with 10 l and a horse, and 20 l and a horse, and the Parliament have subscribed so many horse, and so much money in the County as they did in London; the commissioners for the Array finding that Northampton is so well replenished with men and Armes, doe grow somewhat timorous and fearfull to exe­cute their office, and there is nothing lacking for the de­fence of the Town, but Ordnance, whereby they might be able to defend the money and plate, gathered and col­lected by subscription, being a booty that will be much aym'd at to instigate the ravenous Cavaliers, who are rea­dy [Page 3] to attempt anything especially being drawn on by the temptation of getting and obteyning any considerable prize.

In this great and generall distraction of severall Counties, there is most certaine note given by credible information, that there are great store of Troops upon Dunsmore Heath, who do violently take away Armes by night, and thereby strike a great terrour into the Inhabi­tants: it being also for certaine reported, that the King intends to be there on the 24 of this moneth. But though his Majestie do thus prosecute his intentions in severall places, the whole adjacent Counties being much per­plexed by his sudden determinations, and by the many insolent and outragious inrodes of the Cavaliers; yet there is a kind of defection, or falling off from the King in York-shire, the Gentrie and Trained Bands forsaking and relinquishing the matter, as cold and discouraged therein; the Lords Troops running away by twenties, and from the Princes Troop the last week from Lincolne ten: so that now the chiefe Abettors and Supporters of these designes are the Papists, who are much necessitated, and I hope will be more hereafter; so that though they buy many horses, yet they are such meane ones, and of low prices, and so unserviceable, that they appeare ra­ther Carriers jades, than light horses for the cutting Ca­valiers, though their number of subscription was verie great.

All the Shire are called and summoned to appear this week, concerning the Commission of Array, together with the Trained Bands and Free-holders; and it is ge­nerally exclaimed on, and cried out amongst the best of our people, that Altar-Priests have poysoned the best [Page 4] of the people, which doth not a little take with the worst. The former informations and relations were sent up in a Letter to Mr. Newton living in the Old Jurie, from his brother dwelling at Coston in Leicester-shire: and from another brother of his living at Northampton.

The King being highly incensed, and full of indigna­tion against the City of Coventry, for denying him admittance into the Towne with his whole compa­ny of Cavaleers, departed much discountented, threat­ning to convert their City into a heap of ruine and and dissolution, and accordingly brought divers pieces of Ordnance, and with them made many shot against the gate of the City, which at last was by the continuall playing of the Ordnance layed open, but before that could be done, some shot not being rightly levelled, did beat downe part of the Lady Hales house in white Fryers, so that the Lady, and old mother Iohnson who had laid Bed­ridden 5 yeares before, in a place called the tower, adjoy­ning to white friers, were both killed, in this great affright and amazement, the thundering noyse of the Cannons made the Citizens full of courage and resolution, and as it often happens that extremity of danger doth necessitate the wit to invent and put somewhat in execution, that may be advantageous to the present occasion, sothe City­zens of Coventry very fortunately to the great joy and admiration of all people well affected to the Parliaments partie, watching a fit and convenient opportunity to at­tempt their designe, when the Kings forces were retyred and expected nothing lesse than that which happened, these resolute Citizens of Coventry with one unami­nous consent sallyed and issued out of the towne, and be­haved themselves in such a valiant manner, that they com­pelled [Page 5] the Kings forces to retire and forsake their Ord­nance, and so prosecuting their good successe hitherto so prosperous unto them, they at last cleerd the Ordnance from all incumbrance, and tooke 2 of them into their own possession, whereby the Kings intents for the battring of the City of Coventry, were altogether disappointed, and besides the Citizens thus valiantly and fortunately issu­ing out, most magnanimously performed their parts a­gainst the Cavaleers, and encountring with them, gave them such a violent onset, that in short time threescore and ten of them at least were slaine, and the rest that sur­vive to doe more mischiefe, were forced to notice, and save themselves by flight; and thus the Citizens of Warwick have by their own valour, seconded with for­tunate successe tooke [...] pieces of Ordnance froth the King, and lessened the cruell and insolent number of the Cavaleers, whereby it appeares that a just cause, such as the Parliament doth undertake, need not fear any strength or opposition, for the justice of Heaven can not let it suffer, but will at last crown it with renowned victory, for magnaest veritas & praevalebit, great is truth, and those that stand in defence of the truth shall prevaile.

The City therefore of Coventry, being now some­what animated and encouraged by their fortunate taking of the Kings Ordnance, and the killing of 70 Cavaleers, with whom they viliantly encountred, doe now seeke fur­ther to improve their good successe, and to prevent any second attempt that may be made against them, not know­ing when they shall againe by the kings forces and the Cavaleers beeassaulted, they have therfore to prevent any second violence, if the king should plant any Ordnance against the City; being as they suppose as much discon­tented [Page 6] as hee was at the first, whereupon the Citizens have resolved to sortify the City as much as they can, and for their better security, they have with much labour and industry raised a mud wall against Newgate, to dampe and daunt the shot if any should hereafter be made against it, and they intend also to make the like) fortification of eartherne rampires to strengthen the wals, they being very joyfull in regard of their late happy proceedings against the Kings undeserved attempt, and the cruell Ca­valeers, and no doubt the Relation thereof, will be very gratefull and acceptable to all well affected people. And moreover if the Cavaleers should hereafter appear again, and make another attempt to enter the City as they for­merly have done, they have continued a very pretty po­litiek meanes to disappoint the insolency of their mali­cious fury, for that they might hinder their passages, and plunder them at their comming into the City, they have brought forth their tables, chests, Stooles, and harrowes, and layd them in the street to prevent the horse, if the Cavaleers should oppose again unto the City.