A letter from an eminent person in Gloucester, to a friend in London: Dated April 2. 1660. Giving an account of the late passages there, in reference to Maior Gen. Massey.
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- A letter from an eminent person in Gloucester, to a friend in London: Dated April 2. 1660. Giving an account of the late passages there, in reference to Maior Gen. Massey.
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- London :: printed for James Cottrel,
- 1660.
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"A letter from an eminent person in Gloucester, to a friend in London: Dated April 2. 1660. Giving an account of the late passages there, in reference to Maior Gen. Massey." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A87941.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 17, 2024.
Pages
Page 1
A Letter from Gloucester.
Honoured Sir,
I Thank you for yours; and that inclosed. Major Gen. Massey arrived here on Saturday night last: he came in another way then was expected, on purpose to prevent the throngings of the people. He came in betwixt 7 & 8, and took a private lodging. That night, the Maior, She∣riffs and Aldermen came to see him. The Maior invited him and others to dinner on the morrow, being the Lords day. He heard a Sermon at St. Ni∣cholas, on this text, Prov. 29.2. When the righteous are in authority, the people
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rejoyce: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. After Sermon, going with the Minister and others to the Maiors house, and passing by the Main Guard, the Commander in chief, (who the night before had highly complemen∣ted him,) took him by the arm, intima∣ting a desire to speak with him privately; several of the inferiour Officers (one a Captain) crying out, Fall on, kill the Rogues. The Minister telling them the Major General was willing to obey or∣ders; and how little honour they would gain by killing men unarmed peaceably coming from hearing the Word, had four or five swords drawn upon him, & a Pi∣stol fired at his ear, which did no execu∣tion, but the soldiers continued their cla∣mour, saying, The Cavaliers laid designs, and the Presbyterians preacht them up. By this time it was noised in the City,
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that the Major General and the Mini∣ster was killed: whereupon there was a cry, Arm, arm, through all the streets; upon which above 300 appeared imme∣diately in Arms. These running in a tu∣multuous manner, were desired to for∣bear a while; and the Minister being relieved by some of them, he fetch'd the Maior, Aldermen, and divers of the Common Council, who engaged their words to the Commander in chief for Major Gen. Massey's forth coming; upon which, and upon his own Parol, he was permitted to go to dine with the Maior, being first disarmed: and in this condition he remains as yet.
Sir, in this hurly-burly in the City, the said Officers crying, Kill, kill, as be∣fore; and one of them leading a party to the Crosss to oppose the Citizens, he was encountred; and being deserted by
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some of his followers, was forely woun∣ded, and divers of those with him: for so much were the Citizens incensed, that had not great pains been taken, and much mediation used, there had not a foot-soul∣dier been left alive in the City. The horse-men indeed were very civil, affir∣ming themselves to be for them that were for the peace of the Nation and City.
In about two hours time, all was quiet: Major Gen. Massey making a Speech to the Citizens, desiring them to mani∣fest their love to him, by a peaceable de∣parture to their habitations: the Bell∣man (according to the custom) being commanded to proclaim the like.
These stirs thus over, the Maior and Common Council sate, and voted Ma∣jor Gen. Massey a free man, and made him so, in regard that Tuesday is the County-Court: but the Writ for Ele∣ctions
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is concealed by a certain person, (you may guess who) who also got the Order (signed March 27.) to apprehend Major Gen. Massey, upon pretence that he came hither to raise an Army. It is very strange the Writ should be con∣cealed till after Election-day: but I be∣lieve he will be chosen here, notwithstan∣ding all this opposition.
Last night came Major Harlow very late, (but seasonably) who hath under∣taken to keep us in peace, and stop the march of a party of Hesilrig's Horse sent for hither by the Phanaticks, to help them here.
Sir, I being an eye-witness of these a∣ctions, do send you this Narrative, to prevent mis-information. VVe are all quiet now: The City keeps a guard at the Tolsey, and the Souldiers at their Main-guard. To morrow, the Militia
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are to meet. And to the end the whole Nation may know the truth hereof, I desire you to communicate it by print∣ing. There is onely one Ensigne and five Souldiers wounded. The Ensigne said the night before, that he was resolved to wade up to the knees in blood, but he would have Major Gen. Massey's heart-blood.
Sir, excuse this trouble. I remain,
Gloucester, A∣pril 2. 1660.
Your affectionate Friend.
FINIS.