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. II. Sir Thomas Fairfax receiveth the famous City of Ex∣ceter by composition, and begirteth the City of Ox∣ford, with a strong siedge.

HAving brought our famous and renowrned Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax, to the Walls of the chiefe and grand Garison, of the enemy, the City Oxford, hee having by Gods assistance, all others of worth and validity: So that now the cause of God, and the Defenders of his Truth are exalted, and his enemies subdued and brought low. It is meet I should give thanks to God, and laud his name for his so great mercies.

An Hymne to GOD.

O Thou who art Etern, from whose bright eye nothing can hidden lye: Who rul'st the things above, and oke below, And all mens hearts dost know. Enter my frozen brest, and let there be A warmth infus'd in me That I may laud thy Name, as it is meet, Extoll thy mercies sweet. First, that thou Lord wert pleased for to give An heart to some to strike: And seek thy glory, when alas we thought In bondage to be brought.

And when we trembled, these things for to see, Adhered to Popery▪ Next that thou hast been pleased for to blesse, And crown with good successe Their just endevours, so that now we may Serve thee without gainsay. And hast subdued thy foes, so that theirs non•• Thy truth to tread upon. Go on our God, we pray, and crown the and, Thy goodnesse still extend. So shall those that hare thy ways convicted be, To see how wondrously: Thou hast supported us through dangers, great, And troubles that didst threat. But let not us, we thee entirely pray, Be not brought unto decay. By Davids Division, but so order thou And such prudence allow Unto the State of England, that they may Be able for to stay Ayded by thee, all ills, that else would hap, Are laid us to intrap: That having setled thy true worship, We May have CONFORMITIE.

We spake afore in the fourth Chapter of the second Book, how the Generall having left a strong party to block up Ex∣ceter, advanced after Hopton into Cornwall, and having obtai∣ned a bloudlesse Victory over him, and setled Cornwall under the Parliaments protection, he returned with his whole Army from the West, and finding the City of Exceter not yet redu∣ced to the obedience of the Parliament, he drew up his Army before it, and sent the a 1.1 Governour this Summons.

Sir, being retured with my Army from the West, where it pleased God to bestow a dry and bloudlesse Victory upon mee, to the great peace and quiet of those parts, and conceiving it

my duty likewise to endevour the good of this County, which by occasion of your Garison, is necessarily obstructed, I thought fit once more to send you a summons, to deliver up to me the City of Exceter, with the Castle, Forts, Armes and Amunition, believing by this you are satisfied of the relief you expected of the Princes Army, & may equally be of any reliefe, to come from any other place if your intelligence and know∣ledge, were the same with ours, there is nothing more indu∣ceth me hereunto, then an unfained zeale, to save any further bloudshed, and as much as in mee lyes to preserve that City, which hath already suffered deeply, in these unnaturall distra∣ctions, though I shall not boast of my number or strength, yet I must needs tell you that I doubt not but the same power, which hath formerly made difficult things easie will answer this, and will quit mee from being counted the occasioner of those inconveniences and miseries that will necessarily ensue upon your refusall: Sir, I shall expect your speedy and positive Answer, I rest your Servant, Thomas Fairfax.

Sir Iohn Berkley upon receit of this Summons, called a Coun∣cell of Warre, who after long debate, concluded that Com∣missioners should be chosen to treat, whereof one part should be for the Gentry, another for the Souldiery, a third part for the Clergy, and the fourth part for the inhabitants of the City, the Commissioners nominated; they sent their intentions to Sir Thomas, he yielded thereto, and appointed a place of meeting to be at Poultermore house, three miles from Exceter, the Commissioners on the behalfe of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax were these:

• Lievtenant Generall Hamond.
• Colonell, Sir Hardresse Waller.
• Colonell Lambert.
• Colonell Harley.
• Colonell Pry.
• Commissary Stane.

The Governour Sir John Berkley appointed these.

• Sir Henry Berkley.
• Sir George Carry.

• Col. Will. Ashburnham,
• Col. Godolphin,
• Cap. Fitzgarret,
• Master John Weres,
• Mr. Robert Walker,
• Mr. Thomas Knight,
• Mr. Thomas Kendall,
• Mr. Thomas Foord,
• Sir John Berkley.

The day appointed, the Commissioners met at the place a∣foresaid, two for the Gentry, two for the Soulderie, two for the Clergie, and two for the Inhabitants of the City, and Sir Thomas his Commissioners aforenamed, Articles were perfor∣med as agreed on, and the City delivered unto His Excellen∣cie Sir Thomas Fairfax, there were found therein

• 30 Peeces of Ordnance,
• 3 Murthering peeces,
• 100 Barrels of powder,
• 500 Muskets,
• 100 Pikes,
• 80 Tun of wine.

Sir John Berkley marched out of Exceter with 200 of the e∣nemie towards Oxford, which place he had nominated for his refuge Garison.

The Parliament knowing that the Princesse Heneretta Ma∣ria with her Governesse resided in this City, gave the Gene∣rall notice, shee should goe with a sufficient convoy, with their plate, money, and goods, wheresoever her Governesse plea∣sed,

the King hearing hereof desired shee might be at Rich∣mond, which was assented to.

From Exceter Sir Thomas Fairfax was desired by the Hou∣ses of Parliament, to advance for Oxford, and to lay siege to it, and God assisting to take it, at that present his Majesty being in person there, the reason, he had no place of strength else to be in, some Lords exempted from mercie in the propositions to be sent to the King for peace, desired the King to passe with them out of Oxford ere the siege was planted: Answer was re∣turned by some other Lords, that the King needed not to feare so sodain a siege yet, but notwithstanding when they saw Sir Thomas in truth intended the siege, all of them were desirous to have him gon, peradventure hoping thereby, to make the better conditions for themselves.

However, the King left Oxford, it was said by some hee went towards Wales, and so for Ireland, others for the North, and so towards Montrosse, but the House of Commons Apr. 9. received intelligence that the King in a private manner depar∣ted out of Oxford, his beard shaven close, and not after his wonted manner, his own hair turned up, and a periwig on his head, of a black colour, accompanied onely with three, and one of them his Majesty wayted on, after the manner of a Serving∣man.

His bosom friend the Duke of Richmond, the Earle of Lind∣sey, the Kings Cup-bearer, Sir William Fleetwood, The Kings Standard-bearer and Knight Marshall, Sir Edward Syden∣ham, and Mr. Carew of the bed chamber, came to Colonell Ramsborough, and cast themselves on the mercie of the Parli∣ament, who ordered they should be committed as prisoners to Warwick Castle.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Sir Iohn Be••kley.