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An Answer to Col. Nathaniel Fiennes Relation concerning his Surrender of the City and Castle of Bristol. With Col. Fiennes his Reply to the said Pamphlet.
SInce the heart of man is deceitfull above all things, and none can know the issues thereof, wee will not search over-curiously into the desires of the late Governour of that unhappy City of BRISTOL, Colonell NATHANIEL FIENNES, Whether he affected the Government or no? Yet seeing it is a point controverted by himselfe, in his Relation, pag. 3. we will be bold to say,
FIrst, His undermining Col. Thomas Essex, whom hee struck in∣to the box, and laid himself in his roome: In this manner Colo∣nell Fiennes brought a letter to Bristol, from my Lord Generall, authorizing him to seize on, and send up prisoner Colonell Essex, then Governour of that City, and this was so under-hand carried, that the Deputy-Lieutenants and Committee of Parliament, then resident in Bristol, to assist Colonell Essex in the Government, were never consulted with to know what cause of suspition they found in him: This was an affront put upon the Deputy-Lieutenants in point of integrity, or discretion and industry.
A lie and scandall cast upon my Lo. Generall and his Order.
Secondly, His putting Creatures of his own (neither Souldiers, nor men knowne in those parts) into Bristol Castle, to make the go∣vernment more intirely his own, contrary to the desires both of the Towne and Countrey, which were to have a Gentleman of honour and integrity, such as both the Towne and Country could confide in, placed there.
Two Lye.
Thirdly, His many artifices, to lessen the Reputation and abridge the power of the Committees and Gentlemen of the Country (whereof more afterward.)
A Lye.
Fourthly, His underhand indeavours to draw a Territory of