Editing The Packet of Letters

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'''The Packet of Letters: 26 June 1646'''</big>
	
'''The Packet of Letters: Or, an Exact Collection of all the Letters, Messages, and Summons, with their Answers, which have any relation to our present Ingagements.
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'''From Venice'''

:::Sir,
:::Since my last, it hath pleased Almighty God, so to prosper the ingagements of our Christian Army, that besides the hopes of regaining the Garrison of Canea,<ref>Chania, in Crete; the Venetians and Ottomans fought a long war over the island.</ref> we have taken from the Turks the Island of Metellin, and 20. of their Gallies at that famous Gulfe of Lepanto. And now we are confident that that God whom we serve, as he can, so he will deliver us out of the devouring talents of this Anti-christian. We heare the Pole will not let him sleep on the one side, and the Persian pricks him up on the other. And for our parts, we are not idle: Our Generalissimo, together with our famous Morosins, are gone towards the Dardanels of Constantinople, and we make no doubt, but before their return, that service shall be crowned with victory; it is thought by this time they have met with the Turkish Navy newly come from Canal; and desire nothing more then to fight with them; the Lord of Hosts protect them, guide them, and direct them in their undertakings, and grant that the swords that are now drawne against good friends in Europe, may onely have their points directed to the heart of this Antichristian Turk, and help their brethren.

:::Your servant
:::T.W.


'''From Newcastle'''

:::Sir,
:::There have been diverse conferences between His Majesty and most of the nobility of Scotland concerning a well-grounded peace; in which they moved His Majestie to take the Covenant, confirme the Directory, send for the Prince, and consider of Ireland: to all which His Majesty replied, that for some scruples best known to himselfe, he could not consent to the Covenant, nor confirme the Directory. Mr Hinderson<ref>Alexander Henderson, a Church of Scotland minister and one of the Scots Commissioners</ref> strove by all meanes to stave him off from building his Arguments upon the rotten Maximes of a Monarchie, but could not prevaile for the present. The whole Committee hearing this, upon their bended knees, and with teares in their eyes, besought His Majesty that he would be pleased to put an end to these miserable distractions, and condiscend: His Majesty observing their posture, hearing their speeches, and beholding their teares, was exceedingly moved to the same passion, but not to the same compassion they expected; yet he told them, he had sent such faire Propositions to the Parliament of England, that it was beyond his imagination to correct them, and that he verily believed, they should make a happy conclusion. He also then cleared himselfe concerning the businesse in Ireland, and protested to discharge all acts of hostility where his power could extend. We hear he hath a great mind to see Mons. Moutril returne before he condescend to any thing; The Marquesse of Argile (it is reported) will shortly be at London, and then I hope wee shall heare of some good conclusion. In the meane time I rest, Sir,

:::Your true Friend, L.C.


'''From Colonel Morgan. A Summons.'''

:::Sir,
:::I am commanded by his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, to summon you to surrender unto me for the use of the Parliament, the Castle of Ragland, with all the Armes, Artillery, Ammunition, and all manner of military provision therein, which I conceive you have no reason to hold, being out of all hopes of reliefe, and that all or most of the Kings Garrisons are surrendred into the hands of such as the Parliament hath appointed, to keep them for their service; and Ragland Castle being one of your last, if you refuse to surrender it upon this Summons, the County will witnesse against you to be the disturbers of the peace of this kingdome, and deprive your selfe and all with you from those honourable conditions which you may now receive from

:::Your Servant, Tho. Morgan.
:::For the Governour of Ragland, these.


'''The Marquesse of Worcesters Answer'''

:::Sir, I have received your Letter, by which you manifest that you have received command from Sir Thomas Fairfax to summon this place, to be delivered up unto you with all, &c. In the first place, I know not the reason, having not to the best of my knowledge given just cause of offence to the Parliament, nor by any Law of the Land forfeited my inheritance, which is none of the Kings to give or dispose of; but the Forces I have here are the Kings, which he may dispose of at his pleasure; and therefore if you please to affoord me the civill courtesie, that I may have reasonable time to send to His Majesty, to have leave to give you contentment, I shall be ready to give you any reasonable satisfaction; for loath would I be to live the houre that it may justly be said that I have falsified my trust reposed in me: if otherwise, I am of beliefe, that God is of more strength then all humane forces, and therefore must rely upon him for aid and assistance: what honourable termes you meane I am ignorant of, and when I shall receive His Majesties answer, you shall not find him obstinate that desires to be esteemed

:::Your Friend and Servant, H. Worcester.


There have been divers other passages between this Marquesse and Col. Morgan, of late, concerning the surrender of this Castle, but partly for brevity, and partly because they are elswhere printed, I omit them.


'''From Ireland'''

:::Sir,
:::I make no question, but before this time, you are made privie to that great mis-fortune, which hath befallen our Army since my last, in the Province of Ulster, and therefore I shall for the present forbeare, onely thus much, we lost not so many in number as the report is, though more of eminent persons then they speak of; our onely hopes are now, of a happy reconciliation betwixt His Majestie and his Parliament, and the Scots in England, that so we might be able to cry quittance with these mercilesse Rebels; O that they would at last forget their honourable termes, and private interest, and remember our bloudy wounds, which still do cry for vengeance! Sir Charles Coot, in the Province of Connaught still stands upon his legs, and we hope may march on successefull, if England, and Scotland, affoord but timely recruits, but if otherwise it fall out, then take my word for it, wee shall finde it as hot a piece of service to regaine that Kingdome, as any we have undertooke since these miserable times: The truth is, we heare (and not without great joy) of an addition of 5000. Foot, and 1500. Horse to these, first intended for this service, and of moneyes accordingly, which if we finde it to be true, wee make no doubt of as good if not better condition, then wee had before this fatall overthrow.

:::Yours to command, G.L.


'''From France'''

:::Sir,
:::My service presented, these are to let you know, that the Court at Amiens is now exceeding full, both of French and Strangers, amongst whom our two English gallants Digby and Jermyn are not a little looked upon by her Majestie of England, they being as it is reported, her chiefe Volentiers to the State of France, for a solemne Embassage to be sent to the Parliament of England in her behalfe; what Letters Mounsieur Montrill hath brought unto her, we cannot yet learn, we onely wonder at his speedy returne, but must say nothing. The Embassador will be amongst you shortly, and then you will know further. The Queen hath sent for the Prince, and exceedingly desirs his company, either at Amiens or at S. Germans with her, but wee hope he will bee so wise as to follow the steps of his Father if he come to London, rather then the instructions of his Mother. For French Newes we heare, that the Army of Prince Thomas of Savoy growes very potent, as also that the French Army in generall hath no need of any thing, it is said, they make the Spaniards shake their heads and sometimes their heeles, when they can meet together, their ayme is onely at the Kingdome of Naples, protesting no disturbance to his Holinesse, and first of all they intend to begin with the Citie of Gends, &c. Thus I take my leave and rest,

:::Sir,
:::Your servant, I.R.


'''From London'''

:::Sir,
:::All the newes I have to tell you at present is, that Presbyteriall Government is speedily to be established in the Churches in and about London; the Milita is ordered to be in the Parliaments hands for 20 years; and (as we heare) the King is comming to us, but as yet there is no certainty upon what conditions. The Marquesse of Argile communicated the intentions of the Scots, in this particular, to the Houses of Parliament, on Tursday, being yesterday, together with many other things, which as yet we are ignorant of; we make no doubt but their armes are good and honest, though some will scarcely believe so; there is a book intituled Scotch Papers, read it for your better satisfaciton. L. Col. Lilburne is close prisoner in Newgate for some unbeseeming words and actions in contempt on the House of Peeres. Master Hudson hath beene examined concerning the King, and the manner of his going to the Scots. Now there are divers reports in the town concerning diverse merry passages which befell His Majesty in that journey; therefore give me leave to relate some of them as I heard them.

:::Master Ashburnham the Gentleman, and M. Hudson, being at dinner, and their servant Charles attending on them, at a place called Barnet, about ten miles from London, the Landlord of the house looked very zealously at the serving man, and thought with himselfe he should known him, which being perceived by the King, he takes an opportunitie to goe forth, where the Oastler espying him, came to him, and (being a merrie fellow) gives him a good clap over the shoulder, and desired him to drinke a cup, the King condescended, and there they drunk a health to his Majesty in the first place, then to the Queen, and the Prince, &c., but my Gentleman fearing the worst, as also hearing of the bad newes at London, packed up, and away they went. In another place, Ashburnham being something pleasant, but His Majestie something sad, they called for a cup of beare, which being brought in by a pritty handsome maid, M. Ashburnham told her that he would help her to a rich hasband, and desired her to tell him what she thought of his man, doe you thinke (quoth the maid) that I will have such a dumb dog as this, that can say never a word for himselfe? Nay, faith I warrant you, and away she goes. This is all for the present, from

:::Your ever loving Friend, W.H.


'''From the King, to the Prince
'''
:::Charles,
:::This is rather to tell you where I am, and that I am well, then at this time to direct you in any thing, having writ fully to your Mother what I would have you to doe, whom I command you to obey in everie thing, Religion onely excepted, concerning which, I am confident she will not trouble you and see that you go no whither, without her, or any particular direction, let mee heare often from you, So God blesse you.

:::Postscript.

:::If Jacke Ashburnham come where you are, command him to wait on you, as he was wont, as still I shall send for him, if your mother and you be together, if she will, he must wait on her.


'''From Yorke'''

:::Sir,
:::We are all exceeding glad to heare that his Majestie will bee amongst us shortly, yet withall we are as sorrie on the other side, to heare that the Scottish Army comes along with him, for I am confident if ever they come amongst us again in Yorkshire, we shall certainly be all undone, wee know them (God wot) too well to believe the contrary & yet, we hope the best, and perswade our selves that His Majesties Person may something restraine their insolencie, & must also confesse the best of them will be perswaded with reason, but the rest are devilish, yet wee hope the goodnesse of the one bring Commanders, will prevaile against the wickednesse of the other, being but common souldiers. Also Generall Pointz is so gallant a man, that wee rest confident he will see all well; we are now (thanks be to God) in a pritty good condition, especially in the East Riding towards Hull, and this is the greatest Newes and the best that for the present I can tell you, if the King comes, I will send you word, and of all proceedings, till which time I rest,

Yours to command, T.L.


'''From Flanders'''

:::Sir,
:::Although the French be too hard for us in Italy, yet we are even with them here in Flanders: For since our strengthening of S. Omer and completing the new dike, wee have had a fight with them, and in fine after a hot dispute on both sides, wee had the glory of an absolute victory: there were slain and taken prisoners between 7 and 8 thousand French, and on our side not above one thousand in all; the particulars I will send you more at large hereafter; we have since raised the siege at Cortnick, and have hopes of regaining the Castle at Lannoy. I am

:::Yours, T.M.


'''From Oxford'''

:::Sir, these are to confirme both you and all others, who desire satisfaction in this particular, that the Garrisons of Oxford, and Farringdon, are now delivered up into the hands of his Excellency Sir Tho. Fairfax, for the use of the Parliament, they enjoying as honourable Articles, as possibly they could desire: many hundred of them came out on Munday, and as many of ours went in, but now they are all packing up as fast as can be; This piece of service we hope hath put an end to our English war, and will prove the cause of a better condition to incounter Ireland then otherwise could possibly have been expected.

:::Yours to command, H.S.


'''From before Ragland'''

:::Sir, Since these divers Letters and Summons which have past between the Marquesse and Col. Morgan, concerning the surrendring of this castle, there hath fallen out a scurvey piece of service for our men, the enemy making readie 80. Curasiers and as many Firelocks, together with 200. foot, sallyed forth of the castle on Fryday last, and fell dangerously upon Col. Kerls Quarters,<ref>Sir John Kyrle</ref> yet notwithstanding God assisting us, beat them in againe. Capt. Temple, and Capt. Crosse, have deserved well in this encounter, we lost some men and had manie wounded, 14. of the enemies slaine upon the place, &c. we hope another Summons will let them see their error in holding out so long to their greater ruine, I pray God they take example by Oxford and Farringdon, and prevent it in time: Thus I rest

:::Yours ever, T.D.


We heare since the writing of these Letters, that His Majesty hath condescended to all things formerly desired, and that an absolute peace is expected by both Kingdoms, Likewise that Prince Rupert and Maurice lay at Maidenhead on Wednesday night, and came on Thursday to Oatlands; but Sir Tho. Glemham and some other Lords are still in Oxford.


Published according to Order
Printed for Thomas Bates at the Maidenhead on Snow-hill

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'''Source:''' British Library, E.146[8]
	
'''Search tags:''' Chania (Canea), Colonel Kyrle (Kerl), Dardanelles (Dardanels), Faringdon Oxon (Farringdon), General Poyntz (Pointz), John Ashburnham (Master Ashburnham the Gentleman), Marquess of Argyll (Argile), Marquess of Worcester, Monsieur Montreuil (Montrill, Moutril), Raglan Castle (Ragland), St Germain (S. Germans), St Omer (S Omer), Sir Charles Coote (Coot), Sir John Kyrle (Col. Kerl), Sir Thomas Glemham (Sir Tho. Glemham), Snow Hill London (Snow-hill), Thomas Morgan (Tho. Morgan, Col. Morgan)
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