Prince Roberts disguises; or A perfect true relation of the severall shapes he has taken, since the Lord Generall went forth first from London; with a discovery of the pollicy he hath used, to be eye witnesse, and to know his Excellencies strength. Also how he came up to the city disguised like a vvoman, and viewed all the severall vvorkes, and trenches. Related to an inne-keeper at Colebrooke, who was toule it in a merry humour by one of the cavaliers, and sent by the said innekeeper, in a letter to Mr. Johnson, in Barbakin.

Prince ROBERTS diſguiſes.

SIr, my beſt of wiſhes waite on you, J write to you the laſt weeke concerning the paſſages of the Kings Army in and about Readding, but ſince they came to Colebrooke, they have bin ſtill the ſame, they are no changelings, they need no pay from the King, for they pay themſelves, and what they get with eaſe, they doe as freely ſpend, one night among the reſt halfe a ſcore of them being merry at my houſe, and three or foure of our Towneſmen with them, thus one of them related of Prince Robert, how that after the skirmiſh at Worceſter, ſome two dayes after he came to an ould womans houſe, being a widowe within a mile of the City, and askt her what victuals ſhe had in the Houſe, but not in the habit that he wore in the field, but like a Country Gentleman, the ould woman tould him ſhe had nothing but Collops and Egges, if he pleaſed to have any of them, he ſhould be welcome, to be ſhort ready they were made and he fell too roundly, afterwards he called for ſome drinke, ſhe told him ſhe had none but ſmall drinke, J am a very pore widow, and have none but my ſelfe and my ſon, he asked her where her ſon was, ſhe told him gone to Worceſter to heare what newes of the Cavaliers, for ſhe heard ſay ſhe thanked God for it, that his Excelency had made them fly the City, a company of rude knaves among them, ſhe was ſure of that they had halfe undone the City, if my ſonne were come home he would tell you more, he asked her what ſhe did thinke of Prince Robert, a pox choake Prince Robert ſaid ſhee, he might have kept him where he was borne, in his owne Country, this kingdome has beene the worſe ever ſince he landed, thers three pieces for that word, for J am of thy mind.

With that he tooke Penne Jnke and Paper, and writ a note to the Major of VVorceſter, to this eff • ct, he had given vnto this Widowe three pieces the bearer hereof for to co • ceale him from their ſearches which note he did injoine her to give it with her ow • e hand for ſhe would be rewarded nobly, What after followed yet we knowe not.

The Generalls army lying one Dunſemore heath, his powers not being far of he riding as neare the Army as he durſt within a narrowe Lane overtooke a fellow driving a horſe laden with apples, he asked what he had there, the fellow told him he had apples and peares which he was carrying to Danſmore Heath, to ſell them to his Excelencies ſouldiers, why doſt not thou goe to the Kings Army replyed the prince, J heare they are generous ſparkes and will pay double, oh ſaid the fellow they are Cavaliers, they have a mad Prince amongſt them, J was amonſt them but J ſould my ware at a very cheape rate, for the Devill penny J could get in the whole Army.

The Prince asked him what he ſhould give him for his loade, ten ſhillings ſaid the fellow, hould thy hand ſaid the Prince there is a piece for the, hould thou my Horſe and change habit with me, and ſtay here while J ſell thy apples, onely for a merry humour that J have, and at my comming backe Jle give the a piece mo • e, the fellow was glad and willing, lent him his long Coate and Hat, away went Prince Robert thorough all the Army, ſelling his apples at any rate, viewing their ſtrength, and in what kind they lay, and retourned backe againe, tooke his Horſe, gave the fellow another piece, with this charge, to goe to the Army and aske the Commanders how they liked the fruite Prince Robert in his owne Perſon did but this morning ſell them.

After the Battell at Keneton, Prince Robert, (his Excelencies Army being in and about Warwicke) within eight miles of the ſaid City, was forced by reaſon of the exceſſe of raine, to take into a little Alehouſe out of the way, where he met with a fellow that was rideing to Warwicke, but ſtayed there by chance to drinke, to ſell Cabbage Nets, to boyle Cabbage in, he bought the fellowes Nets, and gave him what he asked double, borrowed his Coate and told him he would ride upon his Horſe ſome foure miles off, to put a tricke upon ſome friends of his, and returne at Evening, leaving his owne Nag and his Coate behind, alſo he left a Crowne in the Hoſtiſ • es hand for them to drinke while his returne, when he came to VVarwicke, he ſould his Nets at divers places, heard the Newes, which ſide the Battaile went on, diſcovered many paſſages in the Town, which having done he returned againe, and tooke his owne Horſe, then ſent them word by him that he bought the Nets of that he had been with them, and ſould them Cabbage Nets, and withall he wiſhed him to tell them that it ſhould not be long ere he would to requite the r kindneſſe ſend them Cabbage.

Prince Robert in the ſhape of a woman, tooke water at Brainford, came up to London this laſt weeke, was here a day and a halfe, viewed the Workes, the Forts, the Baricadoes and Ambuſcadoes, the ſtrength of all the City and Suburbes, and in the ſame ſhape returned unto his Jnne, but he was very diſcontented, they wondering where the Prince had been, he tould them all he had been to ſee the City, how and in what manner you have heard related.

FINIS.