A true relation of His Majesties coming to the town of Shrewsbury, on the 20 of this instant September,: and his passage from thence the 23 day, to the city of Chester, with the manner of his entetainment [sic] there. Together with the L: Grandisons surprizing Nantwich, and the plundering of divers houses in the town and country thereabouts, of such as stood well-affected to the King and Parliament. Collected out of severall letters from men of good credit to their friends in London.

September 23. 1642

Good Sir,

THe latter end of your Letter is somewhat comfor∣table, in that you write there are some Dragons coming into Cheshire for our relief, but surely they are not come, and now will come too late for we are all plundred and undone; Nantwich is taken by My Lord Grandisons Army, and the Town disarmed, and many houses plundred who stood for the Parl ament and Militia, the owners of them driven to run away for safety of their lives, for they have threatned them much, and after they had disarmed the Town, they came into the Country ••••d disarmed all the great houses: First Sir Thomas Delves, then my Lord Crews, then Sir Richard Wilbrahams, and so all the other Gentlemen round about us, and plundred their houses, they belong forced not onely to leave their own hou∣ses, but also the Town of Nantwich, and their poor Ten∣nant•• and Count••y men, to the mercy of those m••rcilesse Villans who will have what they list, nay th••y will have wh••t we have not for them, or else they will set a Pistoll to ••ur throats and sw••are God damne them they will make us swallow a Bullet, some of them are not content to take what Arms they can find, but also Mony, Plate, Linnens, Cloaths, Writings, Meat, D••ink, and not therewith content, but stea••e our horses and maers, drive our women and children into such feare that they over run their houses, ly in the fields, ditches and woods, I do not heare of the like cruelty that hath been used any where but in that miserable and blee∣ding Kingdom of Ireland, we are like to be worse yet, for

this day tho King is at Chester, and all the whole County from 16 years to 60. is to meet and attend His Majesty, and the Commissioners of Array within half a mile of Chester with all their Arms which they haue left, none dare refuse to come, the malignant party will inform against them, and then they are threatned to be all carried away with my Lord Grandisons Army, the best of it is, if we stay at home we are now their slaves, being naked they will have of us what they list, and do with us what they list, however, I believe we shall be made the seat of War, and so be utter∣ly ruined and undone, for want of help in time and true hearts amongst our selves, I thank God hitherto I have es∣caped; yet with much fear and danger, but I must confesse it is more of the goodnesse and mercy of my good God, then of any deseart in me, God grant I may make a good use of it and give him the glory; The secondarie means was, I ha∣ving acquaintance with some of the Cavaliers, who former∣ly were something beholding unto me, I now find it to be something better with me and some friends of mine then I or they expected, and yet our feares are great when houses night unto us have bin plundred twice over, and the owners thereof watched for, as the Cat watcheth for the Mouse, what they would do with them, or how they would use them, God knowes, I pray you pardon my errors in writing, for my feares and distractions are great; I onely desire you to pray for us, and let us heare from you; God knowes how long or short a time we shall heare one from another, the Lord fit us for these ill times, and worser which I much feare. So prayeth your much obliged friend, &c.

To heare the pittyfull scriking, weeping, and howling of wo∣men and children, did more trouble me then any thing else; God grant I never heare the like.