at a common councell there held the two and twentieth day of august, in the time of dennis wise, esq; mayor there. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (thomason .f. [ ]). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing g a thomason .f. [ ] estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; : f [ ]) at a common councell there held the two and twentieth day of august, in the time of dennis wise, esq; mayor there. wise, dennis. dorney, john, b. or . sheet ([ ] p.) s.n., [london : ] imprint from wing. signed at end: john dorney, town-clarke. annotation on thomason copy: "aug: ". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng cathedrals -- england -- gloucester -- early works to . church buildings -- england -- gloucester -- early works to . church fund raising -- england -- gloucester -- early works to . gloucester (england) -- history -- th century -- early works to . a r (thomason .f. [ ]). civilwar no at a common councell there held the two and twentieth day of august, : in the time of dennis wise, esq; mayor there. wise, dennis a this text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion at a common councell there held the two and twentieth day of august , , in the time of dennis wise , esq mayor there . forasmuch as his highnesse , the lord protector , and his councel , the first of iuly last , have been pleased to order that the late cathedrall , or colledge church in this city of gloucester , and the utensils thereof , with the cloysters , and other things mentioned in the said order , be thenceforth enjoyed by the mayor and burgesses of this city , and their successors , for the preaching and hearing of gods word , and other publique uses , in the said order expressed . and forasmuch as the said church is now very ruinous , and in great decay , for want of needfull and necessary reparations , and great part thereof ready to fall downe , unlesse the same be timely prevented ; the charge of which said reparations is too great to be borne by the chamber of this city , being already much indebted , by reason of their former charges and engagements for the publique . and in regard divers gentlemen , and others , have expressed their willingnesse to contribute to so good a worke , it is thereupon thought fit and ordered by the said mayor and burgesses of the said city , that the ruines and decayés aforesaid , especially such as are most needfull , be speedily repaired and amended ; and that for the better effecting thereof , the benevolence of such gentlemen , and others , as are minded to be benefactors to so good a worke , be prayed and desired ; and to that end it is now further ordered , that laurence singleton , one of the aldermen of the said city , toby iordan , thomas pierce of the same , gentlemen , george guinnet the elder , of shurdington in the county of the said city gentleman , iohn brewster of the city of london gentleman , iohn singleton , iames commelin , iohn tomes , godfrey ellis , william angell , walter harris , iohn donne , and thomas burroughes of the same city , gentlemen , and master matthew haviland , master iohn wells , master iohn langley , master thomas tyther , and master robert gyde of the city of london , and every of them be intrusted to be collectors , and to make their addresses to such persons as in their discretions they shall think fit to represent the ruinous condition of the said church unto , and to receive the subscriptions , or what shall be freely given and bestowed towards the repaire thereof , and from time to time to pay in and deliver what shall be by them so received , unto dennis wise of the city of gloucester , alderman , who is now also appointed to be treasurer to receive the said money ; which said treasurer is hereby ordered to issue out the same from time to time , according to such order or orders in writing , as he shall receive from the mayor of the said city for the time being , william cooke , thomas hodges , christopher gise , richard atkins of the county of the city of gloucester , esquires , evan seys , thomas pury the elder , thomas pury the younger , of the said city of gloucester , esquires , and anthony edwards , one of the aldermen of the said city , or any three of them under their hands : which said mayor , william cooke , thomas hodges , christopher gise , richard atkins , evan seys , thomas pury the elder , thomas pury the younger , and anthony edwards , are desired and intrusted to be trustees and overseers , to take care for the speedy repaire of the said church , according as money shall come in for the doing thereof . and the said collectors are hereby also ordered from time to time to give an account of what they shall receive , and pay in to the said treasurer , and the said treasurer is also to give an account of his receits and disbursements , all to be entred into a register booke , to be kept by the mayor for the time being , to the end that it may appeare what is given and brought in , as also laid out for the uses aforesaid . aug : john dorney , town-clarke . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- city of glouc. ss. [to the kings most excellent majesty. the humble address of your most loyal ... subjects ... of] hereford approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). b wing t b estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. b ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) [to the kings most excellent majesty. the humble address of your most loyal ... subjects ... of] hereford charles ii, king of england, - . sheet ([ ] p.) re-printed by john swintoun ..., edinburgh, : anno dom. . title from wing ( nd ed.). imperfect: sheet cropped with loss of text. in two columns. left is address of hereford; right is address of city of gloucester. cf. national library of scotland. reproduction of original in: national library of scotland. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng hereford (england) -- history -- th century -- sources. gloucester (england) -- history -- th century -- sources. great britain -- history -- charles ii, - -- sources. broadsides -- scotland -- th century - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - elspeth healey sampled and proofread - spi global rekeyed and resubmitted - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion hereford . may it please your most sacred majesty . since we are very sensible that no age hath ever yet produc'd any prince that hath with more justice , goodness and mercy , swaid the scepters of the three kingdoms ( blessings which our forefathers never had in a more eminent degree of perfection , and all other nations never yet knew ) we conceive it our duty to manifest to your majesty and all the world , our just value and grateful apprehensions of the happiness we enjoy under the best of kings , and most upright of governments : and however some ill men to accomplish their black designs by attempting to subvert the government , slily insituate to the credulous people , causeless fears and false jealousies of arbitrary power growing upon us , yet the publick manifestations your majesty hath at all times given to your people of your governing by the laws of the land , and by no other method ( which we find your majesty holds to inviolably , and and maintains as sacred ) keep us as safe from such mean apprehensions , as we are secure from the dismal effects of such a way of government , which we have no cause to suspect , unless it be from those that suggest it , nor from them neither , till they have subverted a well temper'd monarchy , and introduc'd their belov'd tyranical republick . we cannot but with all humble duty , loyal gratitude , and excess of joy , observe your majesties constant endeavours to give satisfaction and ease to the minds of your majesties subjects , not only in your strict adherence to , and favour of the true protestant religion , but more especially in your late declaration , which cannot but stop the mouths of the seditious and factious , preserve from apostacy the doubtful , and confirm the loyalty of your best setled subjects ; and that your majesty may see that we are not poyson'd , or likely to be so by any seditious and factious designers , we do unanimously and heartily assure your sacred majesty , that we will stand by your majesty in the preservation of your person , your heirs and lawful successors , and the government in church and state , as it is now by law established , with the last drop of our bloud , and penny of our fortunes ; and shall be ready on alloccasions cheerfully to give you such large assistances as ( joyn'd with the proportionable supplies of other your majesties loyal subjects ) may make your government great and easie to your self at home , and valued and feared by all your allies and neighbours abroad . we humbly beg your sacred majesty to give a gracious acceptance to the steddy resolutions of us your most obedient and loyal subjects , which no time , no treachery , no power , no fraud or faction , shall ever make us decline or alter . your majesties most humble , loyal , and obedient subjects and servants . to the kings most excellent majesty . address the city of glouchester may it please your most sacred majesty , we your majesties most humble , loyal , and obedient subjects , out of a deep sense of your most princely tenderness and transcendent care for us , and all your good subjects , as well in respect of our religious as civil concerns , do make this our most humble and faithful address , returning all possible gratitude for your majesties most gracious late declaration , which hath like a flood of goodness , issued from your royal heart towards all your subjects , whereby all men that have not wilfully blinded their intellects , may be abundantly satisfied of your majesties fatherly love to us all . we cannot but remember by what frauds and machinations the subjects of this your majesties realm in the late times were beguiled , and under pretext of religion ( and particularly this city , of which there was a most deserved infamy brought upon us by men of seditious principles , the dregs of which still remain always watching to disturb our peace ) cheated into a rebellion , the consequences whereof was a sad devastation of all , and the loss of the best of kings . and we have reason to believe the same deadly poyson was again preparing , and had certainly been given , had not god put it into your majesties heart timely , and most prudently to prevent it , as therefore we are bound to glorifie god for his mercy , so we make our most humble and grateful acknowledgement to your majesty for your most intent vigilance to save us from so portentous a storm ; and do therefore with all humility and faithfulness prostrate our selves at your majesties feet , solemnly vowing before god and the whole world , that we are and will be ready , to the last drop of our blood , and mite of our estates , to stand by and defend your most sacred person , your lawful successors , and the just laws by which you govern both in church and state. the god of heaven and earth , by whom kings reign , bless you with length of days , health , and all affluence of wealth ; establish your sacred person in the hearts of your people . dissipate your enemies , and confound their devices ; and let the scepter of great britain be sway'd by you and your lawful successors to the end ot time. several other addresses have been presented to his majesty , as from bristol , lyn-regis , &c which there is not room to publish here . edinbvrgh , re-printed by john swintoun , one of his majesties printers : anno dom. . the . of august. . whereas the committee for the militia in the city of london by vertue of an ordinance of both houses of parliament ... have power to command the shutting up of all shops ... england and wales. parliament. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (thomason .f. [ ]). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing e thomason .f. [ ] estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the . of august. . whereas the committee for the militia in the city of london by vertue of an ordinance of both houses of parliament ... have power to command the shutting up of all shops ... england and wales. parliament. committee for the militia of london. aut sheet ([ ] p.) by richard cotes, printed at london : . title from caption and first lines of text. ordering business to cease and the militia to march to the relief of gloucester. -- steele. reproduction of original in the society of antiquaries, london, england. eng committee for the militia of london -- early works to . great britain -- history -- civil war, - -- early works to . england -- proclamations -- early works to . london (england) -- defenses -- early works to . gloucester (england) -- history -- early works to . broadsides a r (thomason .f. [ ]). civilwar no the . of august. . whereas the committee for the militia in the city of london by vertue of an ordinance of both houses of parliament, england and wales. parliament a this text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the . of august . . whereas the committee for the militia in the city of london by vertue of an ordinance of both-houses of parliament , dated the seventeenth day of this instant moneth of august , have power to command the shutting up of all shops within the lines of communication to the end the inhabitants thereof may the better fit themselves for the defence of the said city and parts adjacent , and forasmuch as the said committee have been moved , as well by a committee of lords and commons in parliament , as from his excellency the earle of essex , to send forth of this city some speedy aide for the relieving of the city of glocester , now in great distresse by reason of the enemies army , wherewith they are besieged : and the said committee conceiving that the city of london and parts adjacent cannot be long in safety , if that city be lost , they have thereupon resolved forthwith to send out a force both of horse and foote , for the reliefe of the said city of glocester . and for the better furtherance of that service , the said committee of the militia , doe hereby require all persons inhabiting within the lines of communication , immediately to shut up their shops , and to continue them so shut up untill glocester be relieved , or untill further order shal be given by both houses of parliament , or this committee , and to apply themselves to the furthering of this so necessary a service , and the officers of the regiments of trayned bands and auxilliary forces , which by lot are appointed to goe in this expedition , are required to returne to the said committee , as well the names of such persons of the said regiments , as shall neither march with the rest , nor appoint other sufficient men to goe in their roome , and of such as shall in any sort hinder this expedition , to the end such course may be taken with them ; as this discovery of their ill affection to the safety of this city and parts adjacent deserveth , as also the names of such voluntiers not listed in the said regiments , as shall goe in this expedition ; to the end they may receive the like pay which the rest doe , and also be taken notice of as persons well affected to the city , parliament , and kingdome . printed at london by richard cotes . . a true and exact relation of the marchings of the two regiments of the trained-bands of the city of london being the red & blevv regiments, as also of the three regiments of the auxiliary forces the blew, red, and orange who marched forth for the reliefe of the city of glocester from august by henry foster ... foster, henry. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing f ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; :e , no ) a true and exact relation of the marchings of the two regiments of the trained-bands of the city of london being the red & blevv regiments, as also of the three regiments of the auxiliary forces the blew, red, and orange who marched forth for the reliefe of the city of glocester from august by henry foster ... foster, henry. [ ] p. printed for benjamin allen ..., london : octob. , . reproduction of original in thomason collection, british library. eng newbury (england) -- history. gloucester (england) -- history -- siege, . a r (wing f ). civilwar no a true and exact relation of the marchings of the two regiments of the trained-bands of the city of london, being the red & blew regiments, foster, henry b the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - robyn anspach sampled and proofread - robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a true and exact relation of the marchings of the two regiments of the trained-bands of the city of london , being the red & blew regiments , as also of the three regiments of the auxiliary forces , the blew , red , and orange , who marched forth for the reliefe of the city of glocester from august . to sept. . wherein the most materiall passages of every dayes marchings are briefly delineated . as also a true description of the severall battells and skirmishes had against the enemy at stow the old sept. . at aburne chase september . and at newbery septem. . set forth for the satisfaction of many who earnestly desired information herein , by henry foster , quondam serjeant to cap. george mosse . exod. . , . thy right hand , o lord , is become glorious in power ; thy right hand , o lord , hath dashed in peeces the enemy . and in the greatnesse of thine excellency thou hast overthrowne them that rose up against thee ; thou didst send forth thy wrath , which consumed them as stubble . london , printed for benjamin allen in popes-head-alley . octob. . . a true relation of the diurnall marchings of the red and blew regiments of the trained bands of the city of london , as also the three regiments of the auxiliary forces . wherein the most materiall passages of every dayes occurrences are briefly delineated . vpon wednesday the of august , our red regiment , of the train'd bands marched into the new artillery ground , and from thence that night wee marched to brainford , and came thither about one a clocke in the morning ; from whence the next day many of our citizens , who seemed very forward and willing at the first to march with us , yet upon some pretences and faire excuses returned home againe hiring others to goe in their roome ; others returned home againe the same night before they came to brainford . upon friday the of august , wee advanced from brainford to vxbridge , where our regiments were quartered there that night , and marched away the next morning . saterday the of august we advanced to a towne miles beyond vxbridge called chaffan , where wee were quartered that night ; at this towne a souldier belonging to lievtenant colonell tompson was accidentally slaine by shooting off a musket by one of his fellow souldiers though at a great distance from him , yet shot him in the head whereof hee died . sabbath day august , we advanced from chaffan neere to a village called chessun ; this day the blew regiment of the trained bands , and the three regiments of the auxiliary forces met us upon a great common about three miles from chessun . our whole regiment was quartered at one mr. cheyneys house an esquire , where we were well accommodated for beere having great plenty , two or three hundred of us this night-lay in one barne . monday the of august , we advanced from thence to a towne called asson-clinton a little village miles from alesbury , wee continued here one day and two nights . wednesday the of august , wee advanced from thence to a village called clayden ; this day the lord generalls army and our regiments of the trained band , together with the auxiliarie forces met at alesbury ; the great guns were fired at every fort about the towne , as the lord generall passed by : this was the fast day : our regiment was quartered this night at sir ralph verneys house a parliament man ; his father the kings standart-bearer was slain at edge hill . thursday the of august , wee advanced from thence to a village called stretton-araley ; this night all our brigade consisting of six regiments ; viz : colonell manwarings red regiment , two regiments of trained bands , and three of the auxiliary , were all quartered at this little village , it is conceived wee were in all of this brigade about . here was little provision either for officers or souldiers , the night before we came hither , the cavaliers were at bister two miles from this village and miles from oxford but were beaten out of it by our souldiers and the lord generall with his army quartered there this night . friday the day of september , wee advanced from hence to a place called bayards-greene in oxford shire , being three miles distant from brackley , and eight miles from banbury , where our brigade met my lord generall with his whole army ; whereat was great shouting and triumph as he passed by to take a view of our regiments the whole army being drawne up in their severall regiments , continued there about an houre and then we marched away : it was a goodly and glorious sight to see the whole army of horse and foot together ; it is conceived by those that viewed our army well that wee did consist of ( to speake of the least ) horse and foot , some speak of many more . this day good newes was brought to us concerning glocester ; and exeter . from hence we marched this day to a village called souldern , foure miles from banbury , where our six regiments that came from london were quartered , and my lord generall and the rest of the army were quartered about a little mile from us , at a market town called ano on the hill ; we were very much scanted of victualls in this place . saterday septem. wee advanced from hence to hooknorton , miles from glocester , at which village our whole brigade was quartered . this day the lord generals troops had some skirmish with the cavaliers ; it is reported there was eight slaine of the enemies party and one on ours . from hence we marched away the next morning . sabbath day septemb. wee advanced from hence to a little village called addington about a mile from stew the old , the hithermost own in glocester-shire , and about miles from glocester ; where in our march this day , wee againe met the lord generalls army , upon a great common about halfe a mile from chippingnorton ; at which place also our five regiments departed from his army ; and marched to the village aforesaid . the blew regiment of the train'd bands marched in the van and tooke up the first quarter in the town ; the other regiments of the auxiliary forces , were quartered at the adjacent villages ; whereupon our red regiment of the trained band was constrained to march halfe a mile further to get quarter we were now in the van of the whole army , having not so much as one troope of horse quartered neer us : but we were no sooner in our quarters , and set downe our armes , intending a little to refresh our selves ; but presently there was an alarme beat up ; and wee being the frontier regiment neerest the enemy , were presently all drawn up into a body , and stood upon our guard all that night , we were in great distraction , having not any horse to send out as scouts , to give us any intelligence : my lord generall with his army lay at chippingnorton , about three miles behind us ; who had an alarm there given by the enemy the same night also : our regiment stood in the open field all night , having neither bread nor water to refresh our selves , having also marched the day before without any sustenance neither durst we kindle any fire though it was a very cold night . munday septemb. we got some refreshment for our souldiers , which was no sooner done , but news was brought to us , that the enemy was within halfe a mile of the town which proved to be true , for presently one rid downe to us having his horse shot in the neck all bloody , and told us the enemy was at the towns end ; also one trooper slaine a quarter of a mile above the town , one of our souldiers stript him , and brought his clothes to us : it was a little open village , the enemy might have come in upon us every way ; therfore we conceiving it not safe to abide in the town , drew up our regiment presently into a body , and marched into a broad open field to the top of the hil , the blew regiment of the train'd bands were quartered within lesse than half a mile of us , but came not up to us : being come into the field we saw about or 〈◊〉 of the enemies horse surrounding of us , one rid post to my lord generall to informe him of it one great body of their horse stood facing of us upon the top of the hill at our townes end , within lesse then a quarter of a mile from us , another great body of their horse was in the valley , upon our right flank as we stood ; and a third great squadron of their horse were going up to the top of a hill , in the reere of us ; by all which it appeares , they had an intent to have surrounded our city regiments , and to have cut us off ; we stood and faced one another for the space of halfe an houre , then , or . of our men who had horses , rod up to them , and came within lesse then musket shot , florishing their swords , daring them , and one or two of our men fired upon their forlorne hope : we had lyned the hedges with musketeers , which they perceiving did not move towards our body , but only stood and faced us . then some of the auxiliary forces came up to us , at whose coming we gave a great shout : and then by and by after we saw my lord generals forces comming down the hill about a mile and halfe behind us : my lord drevv out the forlorn hope upon the hil as they came dovvn ; who fired . or . drakes against the enemies horse that were neer themon the top of the hil , that were coming upon the reer of us , and made them retreat to the rest of the body , their intent was to have compasted us in on every side , but the lord prevented them , they might have spoiled our whole regiment , had they in the morning come down upon us when we were taking a little food to refresh our selves , the enemy being then but half a mile off ; a great many of the cavaliers lay all night , within lesse then a mile of us , which we perceived in our march the next day , i hope the mercy of that day , wil not bee forgotten . when this was done , my l. generals forces marched up to our brigade : when they were come we drew forth our forlorn hope , and marched up to the body of their horse that stood facing us on the top of the hill : we fired some drakes at them , they retreated : then the lord generall drew up his great guns , they faced us againe , we fired two great peeces of ordnance at them , and then they retreated up to the towne of stow , and drew up all their horse into a body , and stood upon the side of the hill facing us : then we let flye two or three of our greatest ordnance at them ; they all fled , and wee pursued them and followed them three miles : then they stood and faced the lord generall againe about the going downe of the sun , we fired at them a great while , marching up towards them five or sixe regiments together , all in a body , about or abrest , sixe deep , we having roome enough , it being a brave champian country : which goodly shew did so much the more daunt the enemy , that ( as it is reported ) prince rupert swore , hee thought all the round-heads in england were there . in the first skirmish we lost but one man , who was flaine by our owne cannon through his owne negligence , and another sore burnt and hurt by the same peece . when we came to stow , the cavaleers reported that they had killed twenty of our men , and we two of theirs ; but we heare there were sixe of their men slaine , some horses killed , and five prisoners taken . prince rupert was there , and some say the lord of holland also . our men pursuing them skirmished till nine of the clocke at night ; wee marched after them till twelve of the clocke at night : we lay all in the open field , upon the plowd-land , without straw , having neither bread nor water , yet god enabled our souldiers to undergoe it cheerfully , there was not one feeble sicke person amongst us , but was able to march with us the day following . tuseday september . we advanced from that field neare to a towne called prestbury , within sight of glocester , about seven miles from it : this day the whole army marching together , it fell to our red regiment of the trained-bands to march in the reare of the waggons , and had charge of them : about sixe of the clocke the lord generall comming to the top of a high mountaine or hill , called presbury-hill , where we might see the city of glocester , he commanded foure or five great peeces of ordnance to be fired : some say it was against the cavaleers who were about a mile off , in the towne below the hill : others say it was to give intelligence to glocester of our approaching to their reliefe . the army marched downe the hill , and hastened to the adjacent villages for quarter , but before the waggons could come to the top of the hill , night drawing on it began to be very darke , so that our waggons and carriages could not get downe the hill , many of them were overthrowne and broken , it being a very craggy steep and dangerous hill , so that the rest of the waggons durst not adventure to goe downe , but stayed all night there : sixe or seven horses lay dead there the next morning that were killed by the overthrow of the waggons : our red regiment having charge of the waggons , were constrained to lye all night upon the top of this mountaine , it being a most terrible tempestuous night of winde and raine , as ever men lay out in , we having neither hedge nor tree for shelter , nor any sustenance of food , or fire : we had by this time marched sixe daies with very little provision ; for no place where we came was able to releeve our army , we leaving the rode all the way , and marching through poore little villages : our souldiers in their marching this day would run halfe a mile or a mile before , where they heard any water was such straits and hardship our citizens formerly knew not ; yet the lord that called us out to doe his worke , enabled us to undergoe such hardnesse as hee brought us to . this evening the lord generall was faine to fight for his quarter , and beat the enemy out of it , at a market-towne called cheltnam , five miles from glocester , and two miles from this hill ; about midnight we had two alarms upon this hill , in the midst of all the storme and raine , which together with the darknesse of the night made it so much the more dreadfull , which also caused a great distraction among our souldiers , every one standing upon his guard , and fearing his fellow souldier to bee his enemy . many other particular sad stories of this tempestuous stormy night i leave to the relation of others : one young man of the colonels company was shot in this confusion upon this hill , whose death will be much lamented by his parents and friends , from whom he received a letter but a few dayes before to returne home . the next morning being wednesday sept. ● . our souldiers came downe from that hill into the village aforesaid , being wet to the very skin , but could get little or no refreshing every house being so full of souldiers : the cavaleers were in the towne but the day before . wee stayed here but two or three houres that morning , and then wee had an alarm that the cavaleers were neere the towne with a great body of horse : we were all presently drawne up into a body in the field ; our souldiers began to complaine pitifully , being even worn out and quite spent for want of some refreshing , some complaining they had not eat or drunke in two dayes , some longer time . yesterday the enemy raised their siege from before glocester : this day our two regiments of the trained bands marched to a little village called norton , three miles wide of glocester , and foure miles from teuxbury , where our souldiers had some reasonable accommodation and refreshment : in this village wee had many alarms : we continued here two dayes and two nights . thursday sept. . the kings forces fell upon some of our troops of horse at winscombe , they being secure , the enemy killed many of them , and tooke many prisoners , and some colours : the regiments of our horse there did belong to col. vere and col. goodwin . the auxiliary regiments were quartered within two miles where this was done . this night about seven of the clock there came a comand for our regiments of the trained-bands to march five miles back againe in the night but it being a very darke night , and our men worne out and spent with their former marching , they refused to goe ; but next morning being friday sept. . we did . the lord generall with the whole army marched into glocester this day . the citie was exceeding full of horse and foote : the enemy besieged this towne a full moneth and three dayes . they had many strong assaults against it , and battered some of their workes ; & in two or three places they had begun to undermine the gates , and out-workes , but were met with by the citie forces , who did undermine within to meet them : without they shott many granadoes of great weight , which when they fell in the citie were red as fire ; yet blessed be god , kild not one man therewith ; onely tore up the ground as if a beare had been rooting up the earth : the inhabitants in the citie report that the enemy shot shot great and small in one day , and yet killed neither man woman nor childe ; they lost but about thirtie in this citie during the time of this siege ; most of which , as is reported , were shot in the head , in peeping through some holes at the enemy ; wee found very loving respect and entertainment in this citie , they being very joyfull of our coming ; wee abode here fryday-night and saturday , and marched away on sabbath day-morning : the lord generall left in this citie three great pieces of ordnance , as also many score barrells of powder , with match and bullet proportionable , furnishing them to their hearts desire . sabbath day septemb. . the whole army advanced from glocester to tewksburie , where wee abode foure dayes and five nights , till glocester had provided themselves of come and other provisions : the enemy had cut off from the citie all their pipes of water , and burnt their mills : my lord generall summoned this towne of tewksbury , and demanded the twentieth part of their estates for the reliefe of glocester . wee were at this towne five dayes , from sabbath day till fryday septemb. . on thursday-dayesnight the enemy did fall upon some of our troopes of horse , who were quartered about three miles from tewksbury , of the regiment belonging to sir james ramsey , they slew many of our men , and took many others prisoners . wee took foure of them prisoners ; but the greatest losse was sustained on our side . before wee marched from this towne , the lord generall gave order for the making of a bridge over the river severne neere tewksbury , as if our intention had been to march with our army over there to worcester ; which caused the enemy to draw their forces thither , as a place of refuge : the wisdome and policie of the lord generall and counsell of warre , as also their great care for the preservation of our army , is highly to be commended and never to be forgotten ; and may serve to stop the mouths of all such as shall hereafter be opened against him : for had the enemy knowne which way we had marched , they might have had us at a great advantage , by gaining the hills ; wee being now in the vale of esum , and all our great ordnance and carriages to be drawn up those hills , they might have kept us there all this winter , & starved our army : but blessed be god , we all marched away with safetie . one that was present at esum , where the king with his army lay , affirmes that when tydings came to the king that wee were marched from tewksbury , they did stamp and swear and curse their scouts exceedingly , that they gave them no better intelligence of our departure . and the same day we marched from tewksbury the king with his army and traine of artillery marched from esum after us , as will appeare in the ensuing matter . fryday septemb. . our whole army advanced from tewksbury to ciceter , alias cirencister miles we marched all night , and sate down before it about three aclock in the morning : when we came thither sir robert pye marched up to the towne , and with some muskettiers he gave fire upon the centinells , killed one of them , and wounded the other ; sir robert himself received a shot in the arme : the cavaliers yeelded the town and desired quarter : wee took . prisoners , whereof . were commanders , we tyed them two and two together with match , and brought them along with us : we took also waggon-load of provision , which the cavaliers had provided for the reliefe of their own army : they had taken the school-house , belonging to the towne , and made it their store-house , to lay in such provision as they made the countrey to bring in : they slew one man of ours , who was pistold by one that took him prisoner : we killed . or . of them . saturday septemb. . we advanced from ciceter five miles to a village called letton , where our london-briggade was quartered that night ; the lord generall with his army quartered a mile further at a market-towne in wiltshire called cricklet ; at the village aforesaid were ten cart-load of cavaliers , who were sick and lame , and brought thither to be quartred , who when they heard we were marching to this place , they then found their leggs and run away : this day we had a wet march , and in the night a false alarm . sabbath day septemb. . we marched from cricklet to a market-towne called swindowne . miles . this morning newes was brought that the cavaliers were come to ciceter , and had taken and kild many of our men , who stayed behind drinking and neglecting to march with their colours : who are not much to be pittied : this day we drove along with our army about sheep and head of cattell , which were taken from malignants and papists in the country for the maintenance of our army : sheep was allotted for our red regiment , but wee afterwards lost them all , when we came to fight ; it being every mans care then to secure himselfe , and to see to the safetie of the army : this night our london-briggade was quartred miles beyond the lord generalls quarters at a little poore village called chizelton , where wee could get no accommodation either for meat or drink , but what we brought with us in our snapsacks : most of us quartred in the open feild , it being a very cold frosty night , wee marched away hence the next morning . munday septemb. . we advanced from this village about two miles to a place called abern-chase , where newes was brought to the lord generall , that the enemy was coming upon us with a great body of horse , which caused the lord generall to make a stand , our whole army being in a deep valley , and the enemy upon the hills on our left flank , we drewup all our army into a body to the top of the hill , where we had a full view of the enemy over against us : there appeared a great body of their horse ; if was conceived there was or but no foot that we could discerne ; we stood a while and faced them ; then one small body of horse as a forlorn hope marched up the hill to them , and fired upon them , and then retreated to their main body in the valley ; the enemy followed our horse in their retreat , firing at them all the way very feircely ; then we fired some drakes at their horse , but did little execution ; then our body of foot was drawne downe from this hill to the top of another high hill , where we stood and faced the enemy , having a full view of all that was don between our horse and theirs : our foot were not ingaged at all in this fight , except two regiments onely : then collonell meldrams and colonell harvies troops drew up in a body & gave the enemy a very feirce charge , which was performed with as brave courage and valour as ever men did , and then wheeled about to a regiment of our foot that stood in the reer of them , the enemy pursued them in their retreat , skirmishing one at another all the way : what number was slain in this fight is not yet known : here cap. willet received a shot from the enemy , of which wound he is since dead : we lost no other man of note in this fight : one man of great note and esteem of the enemies partie was here slaine , marquesse de la veel , his father is lord high marshall of france , and chiefe commander in the feild : we took up his body and carried it to hungerford ; i viewed his wounds , he received three shot in his body from us , one in his right pap , another in the shoulder , and a third in the face : from this place all their horse gathered into a body when it begun to be dark , and so ours likewise , and wee marched away that night to hungerford miles : our red regiment with some other regiments were quartred a mile on this side hungerford , at a little village called shelton ; those that marched in the reer of the army , were marching this miles all night : we were much distressed for want of sleep , as also for all other sustenance ; it was a night of much raine , we were wet to the skin : this day we took cavaliers at hungerford , whereof one was slaine . tuesday , septemb. . we advanced from hungerford to a village called embry , about a mile and halfe from nubury : the lord generall had intent to have quartered at nubury that night , but the king got into the town that day before , and so we were prevented . this morning a trumpetter came from the king to the lord generall , to desire that chyrurgions and doctors might have free accesse from them to the marquesse that we had taken . but the messenger came to late : for the marquesse was past their cure . the lord generall told him , if they pleased to send for his body , they might have it . the death of this marquesse hath much inraged the enemy , being one whom they did highly esteem . this night our whole army quartered in the open field ; we had no provision but what little every one had in his snapsack . we had now marched many dayes and nights with little food , or any sustenance , and little sleep . this night the king sent a challenge to the lord generall , to give him battell the next morning , which accordingly was performed ; and in the night our enemies gained the hills where they intended to give us battell , they planted their ordnance , got all advantages they could desire , before our army marched up to them : yet now wee see there is neither wisedome , nor policie , nor strength , against the lord ; yea , had not the lord himselfe been on our side , they had swallowed us up quick , so great was their rage and fury stirred up against us , they being confident of the victory before we came to fight : but let not him that puts on his harnesse boast as he that puts it off . for it was not our owne arme that saved us , but the right hand of the lord became glorious in that day , to get himselfe a glorious name . the next morning , septem. . very early before day , we had drawn up all our army in their severall regiments , and marched away by break of day ; and then advancing towards the enemy with most cheerfull and couragious spirits : the lord roberts souldiers had begun to skirmish with them before we came up to the enemy ; which we hearing , put us to a running march till wee sweat again , hastening to their reliefe and succour . when wee were come up into the field , our two regiments of the trained bands were placed in open campania upon the right wing of the whole army . the enemy had there planted pieces of ordnance , and stood in a great body of horse and foot , wee being placed right opposite against them , and far lesse then twice musket shot distance from them . they began their battery against us with their great guns , above halfe an houre before we could get any of our guns up to us ; our gunner dealt very ill with us , delaying to come up to us : our noble colonell tucker fired one peece of ordnance against the enemy , and aiming to give fire the second time , was shot in the head with a cannon bullet from the enemy . the blew regiment of the trained bands stood upon our right wing , and behaved themselves most gallantly . two regiments of the kings horse which stood upon their right flanke a far off , came fiercely upon them , and charged them two or three times , but were beat back with their muskettiers , who gave them a most desperate charge , and made them flie . this day our whole army wore green boughes in their hats , to distinguish us from our enemies ; which they perceiving , one regiment of their horse had got green boughes , & rid up to our regiments crying , friends , friends ; but we let flie at them , and made many of them and their horses tumble , making them flie with a vengeance . the enemies canon did play most against the red regiment of trained bands , they did some execution amongst us at the first , and were somewhat dreadfull when mens bowels and brains flew in our faces : but blessed bee god that gave us courage , so that we kept our ground , and after a while feared them not , our ordnance did very good execution upon them : for we stood at so neer a distance upon a plain field , that we could not lightly misse one another : we were not much above halfe our regiments in this place ; for we had files of muskettiers drawn off for the forlorn hope , who were ingaged against the enemy in the field upon our left fank . where most of the regiments of the army were in fight , they had some small shelter of the hedges and bankes , yet had a very hot fight with the enemy , & did good execution , an 〈◊〉 to it as bravely as ever men did . when our two regiments of the trained bands had thus plaied against the enemy for the space of three hours , or thereabout , our red regiment joyned to the blew which stood a little distance from us upon our left flank , where we gained the advantage of a little hill , which we maintained against the enemy halfe an hour : two regiments of the enemies foot fought against us all this while to gain the hill , but could not . then two regiments of the enemies horse , which stood upon our right flank came fiercely upon us , and so surrounded us , that wee were forced to charge upon them in the front and reere , and both flanks , which was performed by us with a great deal of courage and undauntednesse of spirit , insomuch that wee made a great slaughter among them , and forced them to retreat ; but presently the two regiments of the enemies foot in this time gained the hill , and came upon us before wee could well recover our selves , that we were glad to retreat a little way into the field , till we had rallied up our men , and put them into their former posture , and then came on again . if i should speak any thing in the praise and high commendations of these two regiments of the trained bands , i should rather obscure and darken the glory of that courage and valour god gave unto them this day , they stood like so many stakes against the shot of the cannon , quitting themselves like men of undaunted spirits , even our enemies themselves being judges . it might be expected that something should be spoken of the noble and valiant service performed by the rest of the regiments of the army both horse and foot ; but their courage & valour it self speaks , which was performed by them that day , our men fighting like lions in every place , the great slaughter made amongst the enemies testifies . my noble and valiant captaine george massie , who was with the forlorn hope , received a shot in the back from the enemy , of which wound he is since dead . this . of september ( hinc illae lachrymae ) we lost about or men in our red regiment of the trained bands , besides wounded men , we having the hottest charge from the enemies cannon of any regiment in the army . also that worthy and valint gentleman capt. hunt was slain in this battell , whose death is much lamented . these two poore regiments were the very objects of the enemies battery that day , and they have since made their boast of it . it is conjectured by most , that the enemy lost four for one : . chief commanders were slain on their side . this is most certain , that they did acknowledge themselves to be beaten . it is credibly informed by those that were this day in the kings army , that the king himself brought up a regiment of foot and another of horse into the field , and gave fire to two peeces of ordnance , riding up and down all that day in a souldiers gray coat . the next day i viewed the dead bodies : there lay about stript naked in that field where our regiments stood in battalia . this night the enemy conveyed away about . cart load of maimed and dead men , as the towne-people credibly reported to us , and i think they might have carried away cart load more of their dead men the next morning ; they buried in one pit , lay dead in one ditch : this battaile continued long ; it begun about six aclock in the morning , and continued till past aclock at night : in the night the enemy retreated to the towne of newbury , and drew away all their ordnance ; we were in great distresse for water , or any accommodation to refresh our poore souldiers , yet the lord himselfe sustained us that we did not faint under it ; we were right glad to drink in the same water where our horses did drink , wandering up and downe to seek for it . our word this day was religion , theirs was queen mary in the field : the great goodnesse of god , in giving us victory this day is so much the more remarkable from these three considerations : first , that great disadvantage we had this day , in case we had been beat by the enemy , we having no place of retreat for safety neerer then glocester , which was above miles : whereas our enemies had possession of newbury , and in a manner of the whole countrey round about : secondly , we had great scarcitie of provision for our army , having marched many dayes and nights with little food or sleep , or any refreshment ; had not god fed us with the bread of our enemies which we took at ciceter , we could not without a speciall providence of god have been able to subsist , whereas our enemies had the town of newbury , and the country all about for their relief . thirdly , we had a great disadvantage by giving battell in that place the enemy had made choice of their ground , planted their ordnance , gained all advantages they could desire . beside many other disadvantages on our part , which i forbeare to relate ; yet god gave us the victory , and made our enemies flie before us , that we kept the field all night . the lord generall deserves perpetuall honor by his wise , valiant , and worthy managing of this dayes battle , as also no lesse praise and commendation to the rest of the councel of war . many more particular passages might here be inserted , but i proceed . thursday , sept. . after we had buried our dead , we marched frō this field with our whole army to a town called the veal , miles , and miles from redding ; where in our march this day , our enemy pursuing of us , fell upo our reer in a narrow lane about a mile and halfe from a village called aldermason , they came upon us with a great body of foot and horse : our london briggade marched in the reer , and a forlorn hope of muskettiers in the reere of them , besides a great number of cur horse : but our horse which brought up our reere , durst not stand to charge the enemy , but fled , running into the narrow lane , routed our own foot , trampling many of them under their horse feet , crying out to them , away , away , every man shift for his life , you are all dead men ; which caused a most strange confusion amongst us . we fired or drakes at the enemy , but they came upon us very feircely , having theirfoot on the other side of the hedges ; many of our waggons were overthrowne and broken : others cut their traces and horse-harnesse , and run away with their horses , leaving their waggons & carriages behind them : our foot fired upon the enemies horse very bravely , and slew many of them ; some report above and not of ours : some that we took prisoners our men were so inraged at them that they knockt out their braines with the butt-end of their muskets : in this great distraction and rout a waggon of powder lying in the way overthrowne some spark of fire or match fell among it , which did much hurt ; men burnt and kild : the enemy had got of our drakes in the reer , had not our foot played the men and recovered them againe : this was about or aclock at night ; many of our men lost their horses , and other things which they threw away in haste : wee marched on and came to the veal about . aclock at night . fryday sept. we advanced from the veal and came to reading foure miles , where we refreshed our souldiers after our hard service and wearisome marchings . we stayed here fryday saterday and sabbath day : saterday night about of the enemies horse came and gave us an alarm . sabbath day was celebrated a day of thanksgiving ; we marched away hence on munday morning . monday sept. . wee advanced from reading to madenhead , our briggade was quartred here . but the lord generall with his army and all his train marched to windsor . tuesday sept. . we advanced from maidenhead about aclock in the morning , having some intentiō of marching to london that night , but came no farther then brainford , where we stayed the next day also being fast day . thursday , sept. . we marched from brainford to london , where we were joyfully received home of all our friends , and all that wish well to the parliament ; and to the vexation of heart of all wicked malignants who had raised reports that we were all routed and slaine : the lord mayor together with the aldermen of the citie met us at temple-barr , and entertained us joyfully : many bidding us wellcome home , and blessing god for our safe returne : thus god that called us forth to doe his worke , brought us through many straits , dilivered us from the rage and insolency of our adversaries , made them turne their backes with shame , giving us victory , and causing us to return home joyfully . finis . a briefe and exact relation of the most materiall and remarkeable passages that hapned in the late well-formed (and as valiently defended) seige laid before the city of glocester collected by john dorney, esquire, towne-clarke of the said city, who was there resident the whole siege and appled himselfe wholy to this businesse. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing d ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing d estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : or :e , no ) a briefe and exact relation of the most materiall and remarkeable passages that hapned in the late well-formed (and as valiently defended) seige laid before the city of glocester collected by john dorney, esquire, towne-clarke of the said city, who was there resident the whole siege and appled himselfe wholy to this businesse. dorney, john, b. or . [ ], p. printed for thomas vnderhill ..., london : . "published by authority, and entred into the stationers hall-booke according to order" reproduction of original in thomason collection, british library. eng gloucester (england) -- history -- siege, . a r (wing d ). civilwar no a briefe and exact relation of the most materiall and remarkeable passages that hapned in the late well-formed (and as valiently defended) s [no entry] b the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - celeste ng sampled and proofread - celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a briefe and exact relation of the most materiall and remarkeable passages that hapned in the late well-formed ( and as valiently defended ) seige laid before the city of glocester . collected by john dorney esquire , towne-clarke of the said city , who was there resident the whole siege , and applied himselfe wholy to this businesse . published by authority , and entred into the stationers hall-booke according to order . london , printed for thomas vnderhill at the signe of the bible in wood-streete , m. dc . xliii . a briefe and exact diurnall , containing the most materiall and remarkeable passages that happened in the late well formed siege laid before the city of gloucester . after the unexpected surrender of bristoll , the city of gloucester was assaulted with severall letters , messages , and such verball solicitations , by divers in the kings army of no meane quality , thereby pretending our good , and expressions of their love and care of us , but really intending their own sinister ends and our destruction . amongst the rest , there came a letter on friday , august . dated august . from a captaine of a troope of horse in the kings army , to mr. alderman pury , one of the burgesses of the parliament for this city , full of perswasive oratory for the yeelding up of this city , with great promises as heretofore of preferment , and braggs of the greatnesse of the army that was then on their march coming against us , viz. all prince ruperts forces , from bristoll , with addition of . armed welch , and club-men out of wales , and armes sufficient to arme them from bristoll , foote with a regimenent of horse from worcester , and foote with a brigado of horse of the queenes forces from oxford , and if he would send an answer , it must be by the sunday-night following or not at all : but mr. alderman pury ( whose fidelity is sufficiently known to be so firme to the parliament , that it is not to be shaken by promises or threats ) thinking it not worthy of , so accordingly sent no answer . saturday , august . we received intelligence , that about horse from bristoll were advanced within mile of this city , whereupon severall messengers were dispatched to the parliament . sunday , august . generall garret faced this city with his brigado of horse in tredworth-field , and sent a trumpeter to the governour for horses of his formerly taken by a party of ours in cotswold , for which he offered others in exchange for them , or any other satisfaction . in the after-noone , a small party of horse and foote commanded by captaine blunt , and assisted by lieutenant colonell matthewes , captaine white , captaine pury the younger , and captaine lieutenant harcus issued forth of the north-gate , and at wotton tooke about prisoners , and sending home the foote , the said captaines with the few horse they had , went along to vpton , st. leonards , and thence to the foote of painswickes-hill , on the top of which they discovered a party of the enemies horse , and so going round about by matson , they retreated without the losse or hurt of any . this day we wrought hard in the amending and repairing of our bulwarkes . munday , august . newes came to captaine pury the younger to gloucester , that the enemy was plundering at tuffleigh , about a mile and halfe from gloucester , nowly assigned for his quarters for the billeting of his souldiers , who thereupon acquainted captaine evans therewith , resolving to take what men of theirs they could on the suddaine get to surprize the enemy ; but being come thither , assisted with lieutenant pierce , they understood that they were gone away with their plunder to mr. woods house at brockthroppe , about a mile and a halfe further : they thereupon ( having not above foote , and some few of captaine backhouses horse ) left some few foote to secure their retreat , and with the rest marched forward to meete with the enemy , skirmished with them , compelled them to take refuge in the house , killed one in the orchard , and hurt or killed others in the house , and tooke one prisoner , and horses : but perceiving a party of horse , that looked on on the hill all the while , to make towards them , they were forced to retreat without any losse , only one through his own indiscretion taken prisoner . as they were just at the townes-end , they met with the governour and a party of musketteers coming to their rescue , newes being brought to towne that they were in danger of being cut off . tuesday , august . we understood that the king with all the foote from bristoll , and carriages were come to berkeley , and that they intended to speed their march towards us . wednesday , august . we had intelligence that provision was made for the entertainement of his majesty at princknedge , in the lady bridgemans house , about miles off the city , and that the foote and carriages would be there that night : we likewise received intelligence , that the lord chando's that day dined at brockworth , at the guises there , whereupon a party went out of the north-gate towards barnewood , skirmished with the enemy , and did some execution upon them , and amongst the rest a little boy of captaine nelmes company , having shot away all his bullets , charged his musket with a pebble stone , and killed a commander therewith , we retreated without any losse at all . thursday , august . his majesty with about horse and foote as we conceived , the welch & worcester forces coming after , faced us in tredworth field , at the foote of ribinhoods-hill , about a quarter of a mile off the towne ; & about horse more , faced us in walham , within canon-shot at randome of our workes . towards the afternoone his majesty sent a message by heraulds at armes , whereof the one being somerses herald , read the message at the talsey as followeth . out of our tender compassion to our city of glocester , and that it may net receive prejudice by our army , which we cannot prevent , if we be compelled to assault it ; we are personally come before it to require the same , and are gratiously pleased to let all the inhabitants of and all other persons within that city , as well souldiers as others know , that if they shall immediately submit themselves and deliver this city to us , we are contented freely and absolutely to pardon every one of them , without exception : and doe assure them in the word of a king , that they nor any of them shall receive the least damage or prejudice by our army in their persons or estates : but that we will appoint such a governour and a moderate garison to reside there , as shall be both for the ease and security of that city , and that whole county . but if they shall neglect this offer of grace and favour , and compell us by the power of our army to reduce that place ( which by the helpe of god , we doubt not , we shall easily and shortly be able to doe ) they must thanke themselves for all the calamities and miseries that must befall them . to this message we expect a cleere and positive answer within houres after the publishing hereof , and by these presents doe give leave to any persons , safely to repaire to and returne from us , whom that city shall desire to imploy unto us in that businesse . and doe require all the officers and souldiers of our army , quietly to suffer them to passe accordingly . the herald mentioned the publishing of this message openly in the streete , but his majesty by his message not requiring the same , the governour would no wayes permit it . but the heralds being withdrawne , after some debate in satisfying mr. major scruples touching his oath of majoralty , an answer was drawne , and unanimously agreed unto both by citizens and souldiers in these words following . we the inhabitants , magistrates , officers and souldiers within this garrison of gloucester , unto his majesties gracious message , returne this humble answer . that we doe keepe this city according to our oathes and allegiance , to and for the use of his majesty and his royall posterity , and doe accordingly conceive our selves wholy bound to obey the commands of his majesty , signified by both houses of parliament , and are resolved by gods helpe to keepe this city accordingly . this answer was immediately sent to his majesty , ( who was by that time come to tredworth-field , attended by prince charles , the duke of yorke , prince rupert , lord generall ruthen , &c. ) by serjeant major pudsey , and a citizen who accordingly presented the same and so returned . thereupon his majesties forces advanced forward into our suburbs , chiefely on the east-part into barton-streete , where we killed a commander from the east-gate : but the houses proved too hot for such inhabitants , for we had after the returne of our messengers , fired all our suburbs on the north-east and south parts , as being those that could and would have done us most harme : yet one issolds house in barton-streete ( by reason of a garden betwixt that and the next above ) tooke not fire , so that the enemy played from thence with musket-shot against us , till we by or canon-shot from the walles , forced them to quit that place , our canon likewise from the pen upon the west-gate , discharged upon the body of horse in walham , and doing some small execution there , made them goe seeke better quarters . our women and maides wrought all this after-noone in the little meade out of our workes in the very faces of those houses , in fetching in turfe for the repairing of our workes : we were forced now through want of men for the guarding of the city it selfe ( we being not above at most ) to quit our out-guards of the wine-yard , and the two sconces we had formerly made at each corner of the isle of alney for the securing thereof and the river of seaverne . friday , august . upon breake of day we discovered that the enemy had the night before begun their entrenchments in gawdy greene , on the south-part of the city , and about issolds house on the east part , both within lesse then musket-shot of our walles . they had likewise cut the pipes that conveied our water from robinhoods-hill to our conduits , and diverted the course of water that drove our corne-mills , so that we were forced to content our selves with pumpe and seaverne water , and to grind our corne with horse-mills . their pioneeres plied their workes in their trenches , the musketteeres on both sides playing hard , we lost only a boy and a girle through their indiscretion gazing over the walles . the welsh forces under sr. william vavasor advanced to the wine-yard , where after houres solemnity , they with great valour tooke it , no body being there to make a shot against them . yet upon their entry of the outward worke , when they saw another within , they according to their knowne prowesse , immediately ran out , yet taking heart againe , they at last to their eternall glory tooke it . upon their drawing up on the side of the hill , our demeculverin discharged from the pen fell amongst them and did good execution ; we discovered them through our prospectives carrying away their dead or maimed , and afterwards divers gazing where the bullet grazed that durst adventure so farre to kill her nowne cozens and countrymen . among this crew had that treacherous adams , once a lieutenant colonell under sir william waller , placed himselfe . they about dayes afterwards leaving a sufficient guard at the wine-yard and the sconse by maysemore , made a bridge of boats there , and joyned with the forces that had now newly come from worcester and quartered on the north west side of the city , at longford and the kingsholme , where they made their leagure in two fields there about , lesse then halfe a mile off us . the lord generall ruthen had placed his leagure at some grounds behind lanthony , within a quarter of a mile of the towne , it being somewhat sheltered from our shot by a rising ground that lay betweene , yet our shot hapned sometime amongst them and did some execution . there their lord generall pitched his tent , and sir jacob ashley quartered at mr. woods house in barton-streete : captaine lieutenant harcus , assisted by colonell stevens ensigne , at midnight issued forth of the south part , with a small party , beat the enemy from their trenches , and brought away many of their shovels and pickaxes . the same night the enemy making an approach in barton-street , our canon from the east-gate killed of them , whereof one was a lieutenant colonell , and another a captaine of the queenes black regiment under colonell blackwell , sir jacob ashley was then shot in the arme . the enemy likewise advancing somewhat from lanthony toward the barbican , our guards there fired upon them and killed and wounded many of them , as we have received information by divers confessions . august . saterday . in the forenoon a party commanded by captaine leivetenant harcus sallied forth through a door we made for that purpose in a brick-house adjoyning to the towne wall on the south east part over against rignall stile ( making a bridge of ladders over the moat ) and fell into the enemies trenches in gawdy green , beat them out , gained some working tooles , arms and prisoners , and retreated without losse of any , onely two wounded . this was a hot skirmish for the space of halfe an houre . in the afternoon a party of about . musketteers commanded by captain gray sallied forth over the works at the little mead , and fell upon the enemies quarters at the kingsholme , marched up to their main-guard , there killed captain rumney , and about . or . common souldiers , took . prisoners , and divers armes , burnt their main-guard , and houses they quartered in , and retreated without the losse of any . these were the worcester forces with whom the welsh had not yet joyned . the same afternoon after our retreat the enemie had planted two great culverins of between . and . pound bullet at the east side out of musket shot point blanke , with which they made some store of shot , intending to batter the town-wall , but did no harm , although many fell into the town . they then likewise began the making of a redoubt in a field neer lanthony towards severn , making a breast-work from it to lanthony wall crosse the causey . and we perceiving by their canon baskets they placed in their square redoubt in gawdy green that they intended a battery there , began the lining of our towne wall from the south to the east gate , which we shortly after perfected ; that night the enemy shot severall great granadoes out of their morter pieces , they all brake , but did no harme ; we have since received intelligence from some that were the whole leaguer in the kings army , that their biggest morter-piece brake at the first discharging of it , they say the biggest in england . sunday , august . the enemy having planted three pieces of ordnance on their battery at gawdy green of . and lb. bullet weight , began to batter the wall and brick-house over against rignall stile , killed one of our men ( no souldier ) in the said brick-house , as he was peeping there , but did no other harm . this day we began the blocking up of the south port , making a damme of earth against the draw bridge , and a breast-work canon proofe against the wall reaching from the draw bridge to the gate , and lining the houses on each side , and the almes-house between the gate and draw-bridge with earth . munday , august . we had some suspition and kind of intelligence that they were drawing ordnance to the kingshome ; and that it lay in some grounds undiscovered between the north gate and the margarets ; wherupon a party of about . musketteers commanded by captaine mallery sallied forth of the north port to surprize it , but not finding any , retreated , without losse , but killed four of the enemies , and took two prisoners , and fired some of their quarters at the margarets . this day the enemy played with their ordnance from gawdy green , and battered the town wall on the south-side of the fryers orchard , but we quickly made up the breach with wool-sackes and canon baskets . by this time they had drawne their trench in gawdy green neer the meat at rignall stile , where they made a kind of mine to drain the moat , which much sunk the water of the moat between the south and east ports . tuesday , . august . the enemy removed their tents and carriages to their leaguer neer lanthony . and in the afternoon valiant iames harcus , captain lievetenant to the earl of stamford was slaine in the fryars orchard , as he was too venterously looking what execution a granado had done , which he then threw into the enemies trenches . wednesday , . august . about . musketteers commanded by captain crispe sallied forth at the north port , and fell upon the enemies trenches upon the east side of the friars orchard , killed above . men ( as is confessed by some of the enemies themselves ) wounded many , beat them out of their trenches , took some spades , shovels , and arms , and retreated without the losse of any , only two wounded after an exceeding hot skirmish for the space of halfe an hour or more , the canon and muskets on both sides playing most furiously . amongst others a serjeant and corporall of captaine nelmes company were observed to behave themselves very bravely . the enemie began this day to intrench between barton street and the fryars barne , within musket shot of the wals . and we imployed some time in lining of the house adjoyning to the north gate with earth , and in amending and strengthening the works about the fryars barne . thursday , . august . the enemy shot divers granadoes out of their battery in gawdy green into the towne ; whereof about four fell upon some houses and brake into them , but ( by gods providence ) did no harme , and one fell into the street neer the south gate , but a woman coming by with a payle of water , threw the water thereon , and extinguished the phuse thereof , so that it did not break , but was taken up whole : it weighed . pound weight . this night the enemy made divers alarmes about the city , and our ordnance and muskettiers plaid hard against them . they then likewise brought fagots and the like to the moate by the fryars orchard , but were beaten off by our musketteers from the wals . this day a printed paper conteyning the kings message and our answer thereunto was sent out of the kings army , unto m. alderman pury , with a perswasive letter for the surrendring up of the citie the close of which printed paper runs thus , let the world now judge if his majestie could have sent a more gratious message to his most loyall subjects , and whether these desperate rebels deserve any mercy , who after so many offers do still refuse a pardon : but since their returning this rebellious answer they have set their own suburbs on fire ; which surely is not to keep the city either for king or parliament . printed at oxford , &c. at the same time there was also sent unto him certain specious considerations and reasons subtilly composed , tending to satisfie conscience in the delivering up of the citie not withstanding the late oath and protestation , wherewith all the said capt. pury being not convinced , did not divulge the same till after the siege was raised . friday , . august . the enemy played with their ordnance at gawdy green upon the wall on the south side of the fryars orchard , but did small hurt thereunto . they having likewise ( after the conjunction of the welsh with the worcester forces ) drawn . pieces of ordnance to the kingsholme , one whereof they planted against the awnyate , and the sconces thereunto adjoyning . a partie of about . muskettiers commanded by major pudsey , and captain gray assisted by captain faulkner , and captain massie , sallied forth of the north gate , being led by one weaver , a stout fellow of captain pury the youngers company as their guide , and having sent lieutenant pincocke with about musketteers over the workes at the little meade to give them an alarme , who advancing up to their canon ( that made but one shot against them , ) in the mean while they got behind their canon and brestwork there , and fell upon their maine-guard , killed divers of their officers , and two canoneers , with about common souldiers mortally wounded , captain basset with divers others , took lieutenant tipper and about others prisoners , nailed their canon and retreated without other losse then killed , and about taken prisoners . saturday , august . the enemy having planted peeces of ordinance at gawdy greene as afore said , and now more on the east side of the fryars orchard neare rignall stile , within lesse then pistoll-shot of the town-wall , and more in another battery neare the east-gate . they began a most furious battery upon both sides of the corner of the wall next rignall stile , making above great shot thereupon , wherwith they shrewdly battered the wall , but our earth-workes stood firme ; by all this shot there was only a man and a maide hurt , and a canon-bullet , its force being almost spent , running along the ground struck down a pigge , which our souldiers eat , and afterwards well jeered the enemy therewith . upon this battery of the wall we began a brestwork from the wall on the south side of the fryars orchard all along the middle of the said orchard , and so making up all passages into the towne between that and the east gate . this day ( as hath beene confessed by some of the kings army ) we killed three of their principall canoneers . this day and the night following the enemy shot divers granadoes into the town , whereof one fell in at the top of m. hathwayes house into his chamber over his kitchin , and thence obliquely descending through the end of the chamber took that with it , and brake in his court . one piece fell in the kitchin chimney , where three women were sitting by the fire , but by gods blessing hurt neither of them . the rest did no other hurt then to houses , and that not much neither . we expected that the enemy would have fallen on this night , whereupon we beat up an alarme with our drummes round about the city . the enemy attempted to make a passage over the moat at the place they had battered , but being descried by our sentinels , they were beaten off with some losse by our musketteers . sunday , . august . this morning that rogue hatton , one of our canoneers , ran away to the enemie . the enemy followed hard their trench-work , and carrying of fagots . and some of ours , whilst other went to church , as at other times , to implore divine assistance , wrought likewise at our works within the city . munday , august . two severall parties were designed for the nailing of the enemies canon . the one being about . musketteers , commanded by captaine stevenson , and assisted by captaine moore , sallied forth at the north gate to have fallen upon their trenches at the east gate , but their guide foolishly mistaking the way , brought them round about to s. iacob ashleyes quarters at the barton , where about . muskettiers encountred with five colours of the enemy , and having slaine divers of them , and taken lievetenant anderson , and lievetenant trappes , prisoners , forced them to a retreat , then marching through the barton court , they faced and fired at eight coulors more , and so retreated . in the retreat two troops of the enemies horse came upon the reere , but ensigne matthewes facing about , charged them , and forcing them to retyre , made good our retreat . in this skirmish were two killed , three hurt , and a serjeant of captain nelmes taken prisoner ; this party was all of colonell stephens regiment , and some few of colonell devereux men . the other was of the lord stamfords regiment commanded by captain blunt assisted by captain william white , who sallied forth by boat down severne , and marched up to the enemies quarters at severne street , beat the enemy out of their redoubt there , ( our canon the mean while playing from the barbican upon the houses there ) killed serjeant major wels , captain of the watch , and some common souldiers , took one prisoner , and advanced up to the turnepike at the upper end of severn street . but the designe failing through the misguidance of the other party , they were called off , and by the help of our ordnance from the barbican made a fair retreat without losse of any , only two wounded . wednesday august . . about . musketeers sallied out of the north gate and gave the enemies an alarme and so retreated . this day the enemy received supply of prvision and ammunition by water from bristoll . we employed our selves in lyning the fryars barne on the outside with earth for the preservation of our canon there , & in strengthening of our brestworks there , conceiving the enemy had intended a battery against it . in the evening , the enemy shot some few granadoes into the town , which did no harme . and about of the clock at night two of ours out of a company ( all the other sallies being in like manner commanded men out of both regiments ) sallied out of the north-gate , and giving the enemy an allarme retreated . the enemy thereupon after our retreate spent good store of powder and shot against the wind . thursday , august . this day there was a conference with mr bell of sancthurst hurst , and mr hill of tewxbury within the draw-bridge at the north gate , upon their desire thereof by a letter sent that morning , intimating thereby that they had something to impart unto us for our good by word of mouth , which could not be done by letter or otherwise . the effect of their speech was to perswade the yeelding up of the citie in regard of the great power & terrible threats of the enemy , and the small hopes , and in a manner impossibility of relief , withall adding the heavy burthens under which the countrey groaned , which they said were likely to prove heavier if we yeelded not . to this speech they received a resolute negative answer , and so departed . the enemy made divers shot this day with two piece of ordance they had newly planted at lanthony , but did little hurt , killed none . one bullet of about . pound weight came through a chamber of the inne called the crown , c●rried a boulster before it into the window , and there slept in it . this night came the only rain that happened during the whole siege , which much annoyed the enemy in their trenches . this night we discovered a fire upon wain-loades hill , which gave us some encouragement , because we had appointed a man we had formerly sent out , if he heard of any relief , and could not come to tell us thereof , to make a fire there , which he now did accordingly . but the enemy not willing the countrey should take notice of it , or their souldiers be discouraged thereby , endevoured to perswade them , it was their stratageme purposely made to deceive us , and to draw us out upon some ambuscadoes they pretended to have layd . fryday august . some few musketteirs of ours this morning sallied forth of the north port , and gave the enemy an alarm , who through the suddennesse of the alarm , and hurly burly thereupon , had a barrell of powder blowne up in the afternoone their ordnance playd from gawdie greene , and they likewise from thence shot many granadoes , two fell into the south-gate-streete , whereof one mortally wounded a woman , but did no other harme ; some others fell upon severall houses in the citie , and shrewdly battered them , but did no other hurt ; one fell-downe upon the enemies workes . they shot likewise great fire-balls , which did no harme . they also shot great stones out of their morter-pieces , which did little hurt , and killed none . in the evening and night following , they shot from their battery at lanthony above twenty fiery melting hot iron bullets , some pound , others ; pound waight in the night wee perceived them flying in the ayre like a starre shooting , male of them fell into houses and stables where hay was but by gods great providence did no hurt at all . one came through three houses , & fell into a chamber of mr. comelins the apothecary , and being perceived , many payles of water were cast upon it to quench the same , but that little avayting , it was cast into a cowle of water , where after a good space it cooled . this night ( it being suspected that false rumours of our being taken might be spread abroad to hinder our reliefe ) it was ordered that some lights should be set up on the colledge-tower , to give notice abroad of our holding our , the performance whereof was committed to the care of captain pury junior , who performed it accordingly . the enemy vexed there at levelled some shot at the tower , one whereof came close by the said captain pury , as he was looking towards lanthony , whence their fiery bullets came , who for all that continued the burning of his linkes till the moone was fully risen . saturday august . : the enemy wrought hard in filling up the moate ( at the place they had battered with fagotts and earth making a gallery over the head of their trench , to save themselves tromour shot : at night they made some shot from their battery at gawdy greene , upon the town wall , on the southside of the fryars orchard but did no harm , onely two or three hurt a little by the flying of the stones of the wall . divers times during this siege some of our men would go forth ouer the works & fetch hay out of walham , which to prevent the enemy this day , as often before , set some of the cockes on fire , which some by reason of our shot , i beleeve , dearely repented . sunday august . the enemy wrought hard in casting earth into the moate , and making divers trenches 〈◊〉 here . they also this day made about twenty great shot upon the house over the east gate . munday august . wee conceived that the enemy had sunke a mine under the east gate , whereupon we began to countermine in two severall places there , but finding springs we left off , conceiving the enemy would be forced to doe the like for the same reason . tuesday august . we began to undermine on the east side of the fryars orchard , to make a place to put forth a piece of ordnance at the bottome of the wall , to batter the flanke of the enemies gallery , there we likewise made some great shot upon the enemies trenches at the east gate from the fryers barn . this night two intelligencers we had sent forth on saturday-night last , returned from warwicke with newes of speedy reliefe from his excellency and sir william waller . wednesday august . being the publique fast day , there were two sermons preached at st. nicholas , without any disturbance , onely a musket . bullet fell into the church , but did no harme . this day wee turned out our cattle to graze in the little meade , and so continued them afterwards , guarded by some muskettiers , taking them in at night : wee made a bridge of ladders , and thereby put them in over the workes . this day and the day before , the enemy shot out of their canon long loggetts of wood , which did no harme . thursday august . wee againe turned out most of our cattle into the little meade , guarded by some few muskettiers , the enemy fretting thereat , sent out some horse and straggling muskettiers , upon whom wee did some small execution ; wee should have done more , durst the enemy have adventured against us , but they kept themselves still almost musket shot at randome of us : at the barbican three of the company of sergeant major ferrer ( major of the towne , who for his indefatigable paines , and extraordinary care and faithfulnesse to us , hath exceedingly deserved of us and the whole kingdome ) crept along seavern-bank , and gave the enemy an alarm , holding them play almost an houre : upon the alarm about an hundred of the enemies had gathered themselves under a wall at lanthony , upon whom wee discharged a demi-culvering , shot from the barbican , which lighted in the midst of them , made the stones of the wall fly about their eares , and could not but doe good execution . fryday september . about three a clock in the morning , a sergeant and foure more of captain whites company , with one john barnewood , of captain pury the elders company ( who went forth in all the other salies with granadoes ) crept forth of a hole made in the dungeon at the east-gate , and came very softly to the mouth of the enemies mine there . the said barnewood after he had taken aside the board that covered it , and a pretty while viewed them , fired and cast a granadoe in amongst them , our foure muskettiers playing at them as they ran out of it , and so retreated without harme . wee killed foure and hurt others . this put the enemy into a great fright , they crying nothing but arme , arme , for a good while after . saturday september . our mine in the fryars orchard , was early this morning perfected and a sacre placed there . five out of a company were drawne out upon the walles , and some granadoes provided ready . about eight a clock in the morning we playd thence with our great gunne upon their gallery , our muskettiers fending plenty of shot into their trenches , and cast divers granadoes thereinto . the enemy played with their ordnance upon the top of our wall , with which hitting one of our blinds , they killed one of our men , as he was discharging his musket against them . they played likewise with their canon in gawdy-greene upon the south gate to little purpose . wee battered their gallery with our bolt shot , but towards the evening the enemy had sunke a peice against the port-hole of our mine , so that we were forced to withdraw our sacre thence . about night they shot some granadoes into the towne , whereof one fell upon a stable in the eastgate-street , neer whereunto stood many horses , but hurt none of them . our men skirmished this day with some straggling men in walham , where they killed a corporall that refused quarter . we discovered that the enemy for all the springs went on with their mine at the east-gate , whereupon wee renewed our countermine there . the welshmen at the wineyard had likewise now at last gotten the heart to advance as far as the towne ham , where placing themselves in a ditch , they played upon our maides and workmen that were fetching turffes out of the little meade , but our great gunne at the pen speaking some harsh language to them , frighted them away , bereaving some of their owne native language . sunday september . in the forenoone the congregation assembled at the church to performe holy duties , but the minister being informed of our great danger conceived at the east-gate , the enemy having planted store of canon-baskets there , within lesle then halfe musket-shot , intending a battery there , as we conceived , upon the springing of their mine , dismissed the congregation without any sermon . whereupon we began the lining of the houses over the east-gate , and the making of a very strong brestworke crosse the east-gate-streete , with a large trench before it , filled by some springs there , intending to raise it up to the eaves of the houses , and to plant some canon there . wee also this day finished the sconce we began september . upon the mount in the garden by the fryars orchard , where we could plant foure pieces of canon , to scoure the fryars orchard , and all along the eastgate . the enemy with some stragling horse and foote vapoured this day in the walham , but durst not come within the reach of our musquetiers , upon the retreate of the horse a peece of ordnance from captain pury the elders sconce , fired and fell in the midst of them , a white horse was seene to fall . in the afternoone a paper was shot upon an arrow into the towne , the contents whereof was this ; these are to let you understand your god waller hath forsaken you , and hath retired himselfe to the tower of london , essex is beaten like a dog , yeelde to the kings mercie in time , otherwise , if we enter perforce , no quarter , for such obstinate traiterly rogues . from a well wisher . to which presently upon another arrow was returned this answer . waller 's no god of ours , base rogues ye lie , our god survives from all eternity ; though essex beaten be , as you doe say , romes yoke we are resolv'd nere to obey : but for our cabages which ye have eaten , be sure ere long ye shall be soundly beaten . quarter we aske you none if we fall downe , king charles will lose true subjects with the towne . so saith your best friend , if you make timely use of him , nicholas cudgel you well . munday , september . we perceived divers carts loden with sick and maimed souldiers going from lanthony to the water side at sudmeade , where some boats attended to carry them to bristol , the enemy had taken up all their horse about the towne , so we had some hopes of their rasing the siege . this morning early our miners had gotten as far as the outward part of the east-gate , where by the working of the enemies we perceived their mine to bee sunk a great deale lower then ours , so that we were above them , whereupon we set workemen upon the making of great borers with which wee intended to bore through our mine into theirs and so to drowne the enemies mine . we understood likewise that the enemy had by the direction of that jesuitticall doctor chillingworth provided great store of engines after the manner of the romane testudines cum pluteis with which they intended to have assaulted the parts of the city , bbtweene the south and west gates . these engines ran upon cart wheeles with a blinde of plankes musquet proofe , and holes for foure musquetiers to play out of , placed upon the axeltree to defend the musquetiers and those that thrust it forward , and carrying a bridge before it the wheeles were to fall into the ditch , and the end of the bridge to rest upon our brest-workes , so making severall compleat bridges to enter the city . to prevent this we intended to have made another ditch out of our workes , so that the wheeles falling therein the bridge would have fallen to short of our brestworkes into our wet moat , and so frustrated their intentions . after the rasing of the seige , we tooke all these engins , and brought them into the towne . this night we discerned two fires upon waynload-hill , made by two messengers , we had the night before sent out to give us intelligence if reliefe was comming : we answered them again with lights in the colledge tower . the enemie made about six great shot from lanthony barn , whereof one of l. bullet weight came through some houses into master john halfords kitchin , where his children were a little before , but did no hurt . we now perfected the lining of the houses over and by the east-gate . tuesday september . was appointed for a publique fast to be kept within this citty by such as might be spared from labour in the space betweene the sermons we discouered their carriages from lanthony making vp tredworth feild and afterwards we perceived their foote and horse marching after , yet we were not assured of their raysing of their seige or that our releife was so nere at hand , till we perceived their rere guard to fire their hutts and their men to be drawn out of their trenches , which we perceiving , some of our men ventured foroth into their trenches , and fired their gallery and canon baskets . and presently after an honest countrey man came tunning into the towne , and told us that his excellencie had beaten p. rupert about stow , and that the rest of the army rose to succour him . we therupon perceived that god had delivered us , and that we were now freed from the hands of those that had so long thirsted after our blood . to him therefore be the honour and glory , dmen . it was admirable to observe . the constancie of resolution in citizens and souldiers amidst so many temptations by reason of promises , threats , delay of succour , and want of intelligence even to the very end , although we had not in the whole town above single barrels of powder at the beginning of the siege , and not above three or foure at the raising thereof . we kept two powder-mills going , and with them made three barrels a week . . the vigilant care and unwearied endeavours of our valiant governor , and most worthy serjeant major , and the officers and souldiers of both regiments , in keeping the guards day and night without any reliefe , and the courage and good successe they had in their many sallies against the enemy . . the cheerfull readinesse of yong and old of both sexes , as well of the better as inferiour sort of people by day and night , to labour in the further sortification of our citie . nay , our maids and others wrought daily without the works in the little mead , in fetching in turfe in the very faces of our enemies . . the little hurt done by the enemy with their cannon , muskets and mortar peeces , that sent so many terrible messengers amongst us all that we lost ( either taken or slain ) amounted not to the number of above . men , yet we killed of the enemy ( although they never durst venture an assault against us ) above a thousand men , as hath been confessed by some prisoners and renegadoes , and is generally confirmed by the voice of the whole countrey , that continually heard the muttering of their souldiers at their return to their quarters , some say . some more : we killed likewise most of their canoniers , so that they were forced to send to bristoll for more , five whereof the king valued before . men . . the libertie we had in this strait siege for holy duties , though wee were continually neecssitated to bodily labour , and that the siege was raised upon a day of solemne humiliation . . how opportunely his excellencie came with reliefe unto us , through the great care of the parliament and citie of london , even then when the enemy thought themselves ready to devour us : for they had made many strong works and batteries within lesse then pistoll shot of our walls , undermined our gate , and wrought themselves quite over our moat , and provided their engines and bridges in readinesse . in all these they shewed and used extraordinary skill and industry . . the plenty and store of provision we had in the town of all sorts , so that we turned out even to the very last houre they staied before us , above head of cattell over our workes to graze in the very noses of them , beside others we kept in the town upon hay . . how confident our enemies were of prevailing , and how often they vainly promised to themselves victory : yet though they conceived mischiefe , they brought forth a lie , their designes were blasted , and we contrary to their expectation delivered . which gracious acts of divine providence do deeply engage us to praise the lord of hosts with our hearts , lips and lives , who hath gone out with our hosts , whose eye hath watched over us , and whose strong hand was with us . he made us a citie of refuge to others , and hath now been a refuge to us in the time of our distresse . what hath been done by us in our just defence against unlawfull violence , hath not proceeded from any disloyalty to our soveraigne lord the king ( whom god preserve ) but out of our endevours to defend true religion and justice , the main pillars of the kings throne : and therefore we far lesse deserve to be stiled desperate rebels , then those that pretend themselves good subjects , and are nothing lesse , their practices wholly tending to the subversion of the protestant religion , and the destruction of the common-wealth . our cause wee commit to him that judgeth righteously , upon whom we only depend for our protection , and to whom we daily pray , that he would be reconciled to prince and people , and reconcile each to other , that there may be no more shedding of innocent blood , nor bitter complaining heard in our streets . laus deo in aeternum . since the siege september . we received intelligence , that there was some ammunition come from bristoll in a bark to newnam ( about ten miles from glocester ) for hereford ; wherupon we sent out a party of about foot , and a troop of horse , to seize upon it for the use of our garrison , who according seized upon the same , being two tun of match , and some store of wine , and such other merchandize , and brought it in wains to glocester . sir iohn winter sent out some horse to prevent us , but they durst not come within a mile of us . the names of the superiour officers of both regiments that now lye in garrison in the citie of glocester . henry earle of stamford , colonel , edward massie , lieutenant colonel and governour of glocester . constance ferrer major of the town . & serjeant major to this regiment . henry stephens , colonel . humph. matthewes lieutenant colonel . isaac dobson , serjeant major . captaines edward grey , charles blunt , peter crisp , edward cotton , william white , robert malery george massie . iohn read , captain lieutenant . captaines . william singleton , thomas pury senior . luke nurse , iohn nelme , iohn evans , thomas pury , junior , robert stevenson , capt. lieutenant . there was likewise a broken regiment of dragoones of about men under the command of col. forbes , that upon the taking of bristoll came from berkley castle hither . but the other two regiments do properly belong to this garrison . edward massie , governor , anagram , never miss a good reward . he that doth stand so well upon his guard . i hope shall never miss a good reward . the copie of the letter mentioned to be sent to master alderman pury , sept. . sir , the affection which i bear you in particular , and the citie in generall ( and no sinister end i call god to record ) extorteth these lines from me : for should i be silent when the desolation of that place ( i so dearly affect and where i have bin so dearly beloved ) is at hand ; i cōceive the very stones of that citie being ruined , will rise up against me for ingratitude : but if my advice be not taken , and misery befall both the place and its neighbourhood , the fault shal then rest on you and the now inhabitants , and my conscience cleared . you well know , or at least may have heard , that the citie of bristoll is taken , twelve ships at sea yeelded , two ships of ammunition from rochel newly come into the harbour seized on , one ship with great artillery and ammunition coming from the parliament for reliefe of that citie , taken . and this i know , that there are great preparations made for the taking of your citie : all prince ruperts forces from bristoll , with addition of . armed welsh , and club men out of wales , and arms sufficient for to arm them from bristoll , . foot from worcester , with a regiment of horse , . foot with a brgade of horse of the queens from oxon. but i much fear that this will hardly sink into the beliefe of some amongst you , yet when you shall hear of the particular randevouzes , and your town surrounded , nay , your houses fired over your eares ; then , when it is too late , i much fear , will be the time of repentance . wherefore i desire you , as you love god , and the good of your citie for which you serve , and the which is committed to your charge and protection , to take into consideration your sad condition if the citie be taken by force ( most of the army being set against you very bitterly : ) and if it be not taken , in what condition of poverty and misery both your citie and countrey will fall into . is not your provision of corn out of herefordshire , your commerce ( wherein most of your livelihoods and being subsisted ) both up and down the river , taken quite away ? and if you will not consider your own good , yet in conscience think on your neighbours in the country , who have alwayes bin aiding & assisting to you for your protection , who must expect nothing but ruine , if by no other way , yet by the very lying of so mighty an army amongst them ; and if they be ruined , whence can you expect future supplyes , and the very laying of a siege before your town , must necessarily produce a destruction to your corn and provision of cattell ; and who will be losers thereby but your selves , i know not : but this i further know , that your ammunition is not over-much , your places of supply no where , your enemy continually at your doore , and able to retire to his own home at pleasure , and your friends farre , and utterly unable , or at least not capable to send you present reliefe . i know you to be a conscientious honest man , and one whose aimes ( as i have thought ) have tended to the publick good , and now is the greatest time and opportunity to demonstrate your affections by using some course for an accommodation between your citie and his majesty ( who now is here at bristoll ) and from whom i dare boldly affirme by some great friends i have neer him at court , i can procure any favour either for the citie in generall , or your selfe in particular : and of this you may be confident ; but if once the forces come against it , you must expect no manner of mercie , but present ruine : wherefore if you intend any thing , let it be done with speed , and send to my quarter at charvild , where you may send any one to me without suspition . i beseech you seriously to weigh these things in your breast , and to weigh them as coming from one that dearly loves you and your citie . and god give you all grace to doe that which may most tend to your good , are the prayers of your reall loving friend , finis .