Prince Roberts message to my Lord of Essex with an answer to his desires touching the construction of the lawes and certaine other points to the great satisfaction of all people : wherein is declared his wicked resolutions mask'd under the pretention of loyalty unto his Uncle, Our Kings Majesty : together with his desire of a pitch-field in Dunsmore-Heath with the true relation of his wicked and tyrannicall proceedings where hee goes : also the true relation of a challenge hee gave unto his excellencie &c together with the entertainment hee and his brother, Prince Mavrice, found in Shrewsbury by the trained bands and other pieus people there inhabiting : also the wonderfull mercy of God shewed towards His Excellencie in delivering his honour from a fatall conspiracy pretended against his person at Worcester.

A CONTINVATION OF Certaine Speciall and Remarkable passages from both Houses of Parliament and divers other parts of this Kingdome, From Wednesday the fifth of October, till Sater∣day the Eight of October 1642.

Thurseday the 6. of October.

THere came Letters to both Houses of Parliament by one Captaine Iohnson from Yarmouth, Infor∣ming them that they have there taken a shippe comming from Holland with great store of A∣munition about 400. barrells of Pouder, ten pee∣ces of Ordnance and 150. of the Prince of Oranges chiefe Officers & Souldiers, & some Treasure & other Armes which the Queen had procured to assist his Majesty, and they intended to have landed there at Newcastle, but the ship sprang a leake at Sea, and so was forced to come into into Yarmouth, upon the first taking of the shippe they pretending they had brought those provisi∣ons for the Parliament, but upon further examination it appea∣red otherwise, however by good providence they are now likely to be imployed for the service of the Parliament: The ship be∣ing ordered to be safely conveyed up to London by the Earle of Warwicke, and the Prince of Oranges Commanders, also to come

〈…〉〈…〉 Master thereof and company having certaine Letters which they brought from the Queene; tyed them up in a peece of Sayle cloth, and with a cord tyed a great Cannot bullet to the end thereof to make it sincke, and so threw it into the Sea by the side of the shippe to prevent discovery.

But the Letters being found were also brought to the Parlia∣ment and broake open, but the wett had so defaced the writing they could scarsely be read, onely thus much was informed by them, that the Queene hath provided another shippe with great store of Amunition and moneys to come speedily after this shippe to Newcastle to relieve his Maiesties forces.

But the Parliament upon consideration of this businesse have sent to the Earle of Warwicke to desire him that withall possible vigilency he would guard the Coasts from Holland, whereby that shippe may be also intercepted in her passage to Newcastle.

There was a certaine report made to the Parliament, that the King hath sent to his Coyners of the Mint at the Tower to bring their coyning mould and other implements, and come 〈…〉〈…〉 to his Army at Shrewesbury, but the Parliament have sent •…•…∣der Or∣der to the Masters of the Mint that they shall not goe.

There was also certaine information given to the houses by letters that his Majestie hath sent the Lord Faulkland his cheife Secretary over into Ireland, with some private instructions con∣cerning the Army, but the full end, and intent thereof cannot as yet be learned.

However the Parliamen have ordered that Master Goodwin, and Maister Reynolds members of their house appointed for that service shall have their speedy dispatches and be sent over to Ire∣land, but the Earle of Leicester it is much feared will scarsely be permited to goe over at all, for that he refused to shew to the Parliament his instructions which he had from his Majestie for the ordering of the affaires of Ireland whereby the Parliament have a great Iealousie of him.

Captaine Price a member of the House of Commons hath been very busie there abouts in puting the Comission of Array in Ex∣ecution, and doeth give out great threats against such as refuse to obey it, where upon it was voted by the Commons that hee should be expelled the house, and a nother to be chosen in his roome.

There was also one Master Price a Suffolke man brought be∣fore the Commons and cōmitted to Prison for saying that the Earle of Pembrooke was an Ass, A knave, and a foole, and that the Parliament men, were noe better then a company of beggerly fellowes, chosen out of the very scume of the people &c.

The houses received certaine information by letters out of Cornewell that Sir Ralpeh Hopton and some other of the Marques of Hartfords cheife Confederates, that left the Marques to My•…•…ard for that they could not gett passage wiih him over the Sev•…•…, have been at Plymouth and have pillaged, and spoyled divers ho∣nest men there abouts, and that he and his company are now marched into Cornwell and have possessed them selves of a very strong Castle there belonging to Sir Nicholas Sla••y, who is also one of theire Confederates, but the Marques of Hartford is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cardife Castle in Wales.

The Parliament have resceived the bill for the assembly of the Clergy to consider of the settling of Religion and Ceremonies and they have added to the List divers Scotch Ministers▪ that are sent over by the Kingdome of Scotland, to ioyne with our Assem∣bly for the setling of an uniformitie in Religion in both King∣domes and it is ordered that the meeting shall begin by the 5. of November next.

The houses of Parliament have tooke Order for the sending to the Scotch forces in Ireland that they would send up to the Par∣liament the Earle of Antrim an Arch-Rebell whom they touke prisoner in the North of Ireland, that he may be heare examined concerning the Rebells proceedings.

It was informed the houses by letters from Hereford-shire that Coun••y do much repent themselves for theire Malignancie a∣gainst

the Parliament for that so the c••ring•• of the Kings Cava∣liers tends to nothing but distruction, and therefore they have sent 400. Voluntiers to the Earle of Essex, and his Excellencie hath sent the Earle of Stanford with 500. horse and 2000 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Hereford, and that they have possessed them selves of that Citty and fortifie it for the Parliament.

It was also informed the hovses that the Earle of Bath is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the Earle of Bedfords Troopes in Devonshire and that he and divers others of the Marquis of Hartfords Cavalliers are bringing up to the Parliament.

The Marguis of Hartfords Steward was upon Thursday last brought up to the parliament, and Commited to the Gateho•…•…

There came more Letters to the Houses from Shrewesbury in∣forming that his Majestie makes great provisions for the ce•…•…∣ing of Shrewesbury, but Prince Robert with the maine force is marched to Bridge North a place of speciall Eminencie, where they intend to place them selves for a pitcht battell, the King 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to stay at Shrewsbury and hath reserved a part of his forces for a Garison there, his Majesty hath caused all the houses without the Walls of the Towne to be taken downe that so he may with more Conveniencie plant his Ordnance to secure the Towne, but the Townesmen doe not relish these proceedings and are much troubled at it.

Vpon Friday last the Parliament received further information by Letters from Shrewesbury, that Prince Robert with his Maie∣sties maine forces is matched from Bridge North, and go•…•… more neere to the Lord Generalls Army, and that hee is now within 15 miles of Worcester, and that some sudden attempt is expected betwixt the two Armies: It is boasted that the Kings Forces is 20000 strong, but it is thought hee wants a quarter of the number.

It was also informed the Houses that upon the Earle of War∣wickes taking of the two shippes before Newcastle Captain •…•…¦stradling Made escape from his shippe in his long boate, and that he is now gone into Ireland.

As also it was informed that the Lord Paukt is of certaine gone over into Ireland with the Lord Faulkeland, and that the in∣tent of their going is to wast over a Regement or two of the forces, there to assist his Majestie.

This afternooe Sir Robert Hern High Shreiffe for the Coun∣ty of Lincolne who was lately apprehended by the Parliaments Forces in that Crunty for his great delinquency in opposing the County in their yealding obedience to the Parliament, and a cheife Array man, who upon his first apprehending was so unru∣ly, that the Country was enforced to tie him in a Cart, and carry him to Boston prison, was this day brought with a strong guard to London, and committed prisonor to the Tower, till the fur∣ther leasure of the Parliament to examine him.

Also the under Keeper of the Gate-house that had charge of Captaine Legg, was that after-noune brought before the Com∣mons and examined cencerning Captaine Leggs escape, but would not confesse any thing concerning the same onely that the cheife Keeper hath also absented himselfe, and as it is con∣jectured is gone a long with Captaine Legg to his Majesty.

Where upon it was Ordered that the under keeper should be Comitted to the Serjeant at Armes, and a more strict course to be taken for his Examination.

There came also Letters to the Houses from Master Srickland at the Hague, informing the faire correspondency which the State desire to hold with the Parliament, & that with there per∣mission, there shalbee no supplies sent from thence to his Maies∣tie, But the Queen by underhand dealing, and by the meanes of the Prince of Orange hath procuredsome provisions which shee intends to bring along with her into England, there being 14-sayle of Shipps that lye ready for her Transportation.

FINIS.