The yeare of jubile: or, Englands releasment, purchased by Gods immediate assistance, and powerfull aiding of her renowmed Parliament and the forces raised by them

CHAP. III. The Generall receiveth Poutheram Castle by composi∣tion, and prepareth for to fall on the City of Exceter.

HAD we any reason to expect, or could our behaviour challenge the least of those infinite mercies the Lord hath been pleased to bestow, and doth still, upon our unworthy and sinfull selves, who even when we were pressed and sank under our burthens, when we expected to be delivered into the hands of the malicious and cruel ene∣mie, even then, I say, who was hee that truly and sincerely humbled himselfe under the afflicting hand of God, were not then the ale-benches pressed with the weight of Drunkards till they groaned, who mixing oaths with Ale, made an ingredi∣ence, which quaft of, might surely destroy the health both of their bodies and souls.

Did not that capitall sin of pride reign as kingly, and was borne in as magnificent pompe on the backs of men and wo∣men, as ever before or since: Was not the Sabbath as frequent∣ly and wickedly prophaned as before? And in a word, were not all sins obnoxius and destructive to a Nation, then predo∣minant? and since it hath pleased God to take his hand off from us, and to burn the rod wherewith he erst so sorely scour∣ged us? Who is he that rendereth thanks as hee ought? are we not frozenin our dregs, and abide in our wretchednesse stil? well let us take heed and look to our selves, least it happen to us as whilome to that now scattered b Nation, whom neither judgemements would convince, nor mercies allure.

AFter the taking of Dartmouth, the Generall advanced to Powtheram Castle, situated within three miles of Exceter, and having sent a Summons to Major Fletcher the Go∣vernour he accepted thereof, and surrendred the Castle on these terms, that every man should goe to his own home, armed with swords onely, the other Armes, Ammunition, and what∣soever else was in the Castle, to be delivered up to the Generall, There were in it 1200 Souldiers.

Taken, 1400 Armes, 4 Horses, Match and bullet proportionable.

FRom Pawtheram Castle the Generall advanced towards Exceter, with a resolution to reduce that City, but here the Souldiers undrwent much sorrow, a scarcity of all things necessary: for the enemie having been but a little before them here, had eat up the Countrey, and as their manner was, and still is, left nothing of worth behind them, so that the Generall was forced to purvey for his Armie, and to fetch provisions from places and Towns far distant from them, the Gover∣nour of Exeter doubting of the fidelity of the Townsmen, and of their coherence with the Parliament, to make all sure, and strengthen himselfe, as he thought, framed, and imposed on all the Inhabitants this Oath.

I AB do freely from my heart sweare, vow and pro∣test in the presence of Almighty God, that I wil use my best ondevour to mayntain and defend the City of Ex∣ceter against all Forces raised, or to be raised without his Majesties consent, and perticularly against the Forces new under the command of Sir THOMAS FAIR∣FAX, or any other that shall command them, or any o∣ther Forces against this City, all Forces which do or shall adhere to them or their Party, and I will neither direct∣ly or iudirectly give, nor as much as in me lyes suffer to be given any intelligence, advice or information to the Army, or any of those Forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, or to any other Forces not raised by the Kings consent, which shall now, or hereafter come against, or lye before this City, but will from time to time discover to the Governour of this City, all trea∣cherous Plots, Designes, Conspiracies, or Attempts, which I shall know, heareof, or probably suspect to be plotted against his Majesties person and this City, or any of his Majesties Armies, Towns, or Forces, neither will I, nor shall any other by my procurement, directly or in∣directly, by words, or otherwise disswade or discourage, any of the Souldiers or Inhabitants of this City from in∣gaging themselves or persisting in his Majesties ser∣vice, or the defence of this City, against the Forces aforesaid, and this I vow and protest, according to the usuall sense and meaning of the words, hereof without any equivocation, or mentall reservation, so helpe mee, and by the contents of this Book.

Thus this cruell and tyannicall Governour, not content to force divers honest and godly men, which were known to be in that City, to expose their lives for the defence of those, who

complead and furthered all means and ways, destructive to re∣formation, but also by this did his utmost to kill their souls by imposing upon them, an unconscionable an wicked oath, but in such cases it is doubtfull, whether wee may or not, cheere our selves saying, votum extortum, non esse servandum.

Notes

• b

  The Iews.