HAving so fit an opportunity, and such vari­ety of newes afforded me, I could not passe you by unsaluted, with a full and true Nar­ration of the Affaires in these your native parts. Upon Tuesday last, Lieutenant Jones (who sometimes belonged to the worthy Colonell Edward Popham) came to our Town, with Letters from Oxford, directed to our Governour Master Edmund Wyndeham, the contents whereof we know not, but doe beleeve it was for the sending the Garrison Souldiers towards Oxford; for the day after his comming to us, all the Souldiers in the Towne were drawne forth, being in number 300 Musquetiers, and they marched about two miles; but upon a sodaine the Governour sent to command the said Souldiers backe againe. The occasi­on was this: On Munday night last, Noah Rendall came [Page 2]from Mynehead, and brought certaine newes that there were landed in that place about a thousand Irish Rebels, which so amazed the poore Souldiers, that they all with an unanimous voyce cried, away to Min [...]e [...]d, le [...] us cut those Papish Dogges throats. This noy [...]e continued a­bout two houres; when at last Windham (th [...]t old prin­ciple Patriot of P [...]pists and Monopolist) came to the Souldiers and used this learned Oration.

Gentlemen Souldiers, you have hitherto quitted you [...]ravely, so that no interiour Souldiers deserve better of his sacred Ma [...]esly then your selves doe, for which I doe not onely render you many thankes, but doe also promise you as I am a Gentleman, to give you as much satisfaction as your hearts can desire. But to give you true notice what those are which you call Rebels at Minehead, know for certaine, that they are no more Rebels then I, or your selves are: No, they are our friends, our brethren, whose zeale for our Reli­gion, Lawes and Kings Monarchy, have brought them hi­ther, to suppresse the insolencies of those true Rebels, the pretended Parliament, and the Round-heads; these are those that come to [...]oyne with you (and 8000 more are upon comming) to establish our Soveraigne in his glorious throne, and to make the almost extinct flames of the Protestant Re­ligion shine in his former lustre. Therefore (brave Gen­tlemen) take your rest this night, and I beseech you make no mutinies, for the time will not be long ere the worke will be ended, and then instead of being commanded, you your selves shall be Commanders of the severall estates which the Round-heads have enjoyed.

No sooner had this Tertullus ended his insinuating Oration, but one of the Souldiers swore with a great oath, saying, we have now brought our Hogges to a fair [Page 3]Market; what be there not Protestants enough in Eng­land to fight for our Religion, but the King must send for the Irish Papists? (I see I must not call them Re­bells) He never hold with Papists as long as I breath, and presently all the Souldiers cryed no Papists should joyn with them. So that there was a terrible Mutiny till the Masters of the Towne came and appeased them. Now these Souldiers were very glad that they had an oppor­tunity offered them the next day to runne away (which they had done if they had recovered two miles farther) that so they might have passed the danger of Wyndehams sonnes Troopes: Of which plot Wyndeham being adver­tised, demanded them backe againe. You will not be­leeve how the comming over of the Rebels at Minehead and at Bristoll (for we heare for certaine that there are 2000 landed there) hath wrought upon the heart [...] of Master Hill, Master B [...]kin, Master Pits, and generally on all the crew of M [...]lignants: They now being a­wakened, doe reason among themselves, whether their Governour be right; that is, whether he be a P [...]pist or no? And whether this Warre be not a great d [...]ale worse then the Scots War, for that was but to set up Episco­pacy, this to establish Papacy. And the result of all their reasoning is, that certainly the Parliament is in the right way, and they desire God to pardon them, that they have yeelded no better obedience to the Ordinances of the Parliament. We have here a very great Market upon Thursdayes, but I beleeve with some confidence, that there are 40 buyers to one seller, for people are afraid to bring provision to market, in regard Captaine Harvey (that murtherous Rascall) and some of his crea­tures, issue forth and robs the poore Country people of [Page 4]their monies. We are squeezed like wax in our weekly payments, still mounting; but I trust in God it will not be to establish the purpose of the Kings Councell. I pay weekly (besides a hundred pounds which I was first fined at) 15. s. 6. d. besides, I biller at free quarter five Troops. It is a lamentable thing to consider; but yet it is not onely my case, but hundreds more of my fellows and therefore I many times solace my selfe with the words of the Poet, Solamen miseris socios babuisse delore; Although we pay such Taxes, yet the foot Souldies are not paid above 14. d. a moneth, and some of them no­thing at all, so that here are quotidian fits of Mu [...]inies. The Governour being assaulted on Saturd [...]y last, as he was walking on the Corn-hill, by ten sturdy fellowes, who shewed him their ragged cloaths, and torne shooes, and told him they must have better cloathes, or else he should have never a Coat to his backe another (laying his hand on his sword) told the Governour plainly, that he was a Papist, and that it was evident to all men that it was true, for he had almost undone the Country by great Taxations, and had almost starved the poore Souldiers, and that he kept all for the dam'd dogges the Irish Rebels. Whereupon the distressed Governour was faine to run into Master Edward Sealyes house, and there he com­manded the Club-men of the Towne to come and assist him; unto whose command they shewed a very briefe and tedious obedience; so that if Captaine Wyndehams Troop had not then accidentally come to the Towne, I am confident they had puld the house obout the Gover­nours eares: But that Troop stild the tumult, and then the Governour came forth and commanded the said ten men to be clapt in the Bilboes. But as soone as the [Page 5]Troopers were dismounted, their Comrades released them: And now these Mutineers, are to be imbarqued for Bristoll; but I know whatever comes of them, they will never fight against the Parliament.

Here you may see that place confirmed, The wisdome of this world is foolishnesse with God. For the falesharted Achitophels about the King thought they had given wise Counsel I to have the Rebells brought over to subdue his M [...]jesties true Subjects, and subvert their Religion, Lawes, and Liberties, but I beleeve it will prove the foolishest Councell (though bloody) that they have yet given; for there is not a man in these parts, but have waxed cold in his former malignancy, since the Bruto that the Rebels were landed in our County. So that if there were but an Army on foot againe in these parts, I am confident it would increase like a show-ball, for there is nothing more talked of and feared, than that those blood-thirsty Saint murthering Rogues will make this County an Aceldama. But I hope the Lord of Hosts is yet with us, and that the God of Jacob will so protect u [...], that the end of these Rebels coming into England shall be to save our English men a labour, to confound those Helhounds here, that were so marchlesse in their owne Countrey, for I assure you they will want their Fennes and Quagmires to retreat unto here in England. I heare his Majesties Army doth encrease with such as runne from your Army, which, if true, I wish he may have no abler men than that valiant runaway Atheisti­call turne-coat Jones, whom I before ment [...]oned, for you k [...]ow he is very able with a wench in a Barly-close but m ghty apt to runne at the sight of the enemy. Our Organs toot it out to the purpose six times on a Lords [Page 6]day; for preaching we have commonly as good as was usuall in Wels Cathedrall. I hope our sufferings are al­most at the highest, we hope of a westerne Army, but if we should speake of any preparation or likelyhood of it, we should presently be clapt into prison. I have bin the more tedious, because I would set forth the truth at large, and also beleeving it will not be troublesome to you to read it, in regard (as I heare) you want imploy­ment, which I hartily wish you to your content; and so I commit you to the protection of the Almighty, desi­ring him to blesse, protect and guide you.