BLOUDY NEVVES From the Isle of WIGHT SINCE The return of the Parliaments Commissioners from THE KING, WITH The particulars thereof, and the number killed, and taken prisoners; And His Majesties Declaration concerning the said Fight.
The Demands and Proposals of the Army, touching His Majesty, and their full Resolution thereupon; presented to the Lord Gen. Fairfax, to be communicated to the Parliament.
Likewise, a bloudy Fight at Sea, and the full Relation of a great Victory obtained by the Prince of VVales his Fleet, Prince Rupert mortally wounded, and divers other Commanders slain and taken prisoners.
London, Printed for Nathaniel Gibson. 1648
BLOUDY NEWES From the Isle of WIGHT SINCE The return of the Parliaments Commissioners; and the sad accidents which befell thereupon.
SInce the return of the Parliaments Commissioners here hath hapned very sad accidents, occasioned by a Disputation between the Royalists and the Parliamenteers, the manner thus: On Thursday night last Divers of the Royall party resorted to the [Page 2] George Taverne, where they began their Soveraignes health lustily; and upon a conference touching his Majesties last Concessions to the Bill of abolition of Arch-bishops, &c. they resolved to declare to the contrary, and theseupon made great Protestations to avenge their quarrell upon some of the chief Instruments thereof: But heidg diskovered in the height of their Arguments, four Files of Musquetiers were sent to apprehend them, and to bring them before the Governour; but upon their motion to secure them, the Royalists resisted, drew their swords, and discharged their pocket pistols, insomuch that a bloudy conflict began to ensue, both parties engaging and disputing the place with great resolutenesse and gallantry, for the space of half an hour, till at last Ensigne Smith entred the Room where they where, killed two of them, and secured the rest, with the lesse of three men; which done, he guarded them to Carisbrook, and upon examination were ordered to be committed to safe custody.
And his Majesty being informed of the said Riot and Commotion declared a great dislike thereof, saying, That He desired justice to be executed upon all such Contemuers and Covenant-breakers.
His Majesty (since the Commissioners departure from hence) hath declared a very good liking of the Army, touching their constancy and great fidelity to the trust reposed in them.
Dated from Newport in the Isle of Wight, the 11. of Octob, 1648.
A Declaration of his Majesties last Condescensions in reference to the Army. viz.
That his Maiesty is pleased to condescend that Iustice be executed upon all Delinquents and Offenders who have acted contrary to the fundamentall Lawes of this Kingdome.
That his Maiesty desires such a Peace may be concluded of, that may tend to the preservation of the Liberties and freedomes of the people of this Nation, without violating their just rights and priviledges, or inslaving them by oppression and cruelty, either from King, Parliament, or any other Courts whatsoever.
That his Maiesty is willing that provisions be made for the payment of the Souldiery, even from the highest to the lowest, and that they may have a generall Act of Oblivion to protect and secure them for what they have done or acted, in relation to the wars, &c.
These particulars are said to be dispersed throught the Western Regiments, with a desire, that his Majesties will and pleasure may be published at the Head of each Regiment throughout the Army.
The Duke of Lenox, and the rest of the Kings Councell, presseth his Majesty much to write to the Generall for a happy compliance, and to endeavour a uniting upon honourable tearms and conditions, and for the better accomplishing the same, they advise his Majesty to confer great Honours and Titles upon the supream Officers, as the Lord Generall Fairfax, Lieut. Cen. Cromwell, and others.
And it is said, that his Majesty hath something to propose to the Generall, and Lieut. Gen. in relation to the same.
A Declaration of Maior Gen. Skipon concerning the ARMY.
MAjor Gen. Skippon having received information of divers Plots and Conspiracies agitating by the adverse party against the Common-weale of this Kingdome, declared to both Houses, the danger the Parliament and City was in by the confluence of disaffected persons to London and parts adjacent, together with their plots tending to the assassinating of many of the Members, also his inability to protect them, and the reasons why, and offered that they might go all armed, that Blunderbusses be in the House, and chiefly (if it would relish well) that some of the Army come to guard them, which besides the saving other charge, will free at present the Country of giving so many free quarter.
The Desires and Proposals of the Army.
MAy it please your Majesty, Whereas, the Officers and Souldiery under the immediate conduct of his Excellency the Lord Generall FAIRFAX, are possest with divers fears and jealousies, that they cannot be safe for the future, unlesse speedy Iustice be executed upon the capitall Offenders of this Nation; and that this present Treaty may not conclude a peace with his Majesty, without care taken to preserve the Liberties and Freedomes of the people of this Nation; the which, being granted and confirmed, we do declare, that none shall be more instrumentall for the setling of a safe and well-grounded Peace, then our selves. And that so soon as your Majesty shall be pleased, to enact and make provisions [Page 5]for the free-born people of England, that both we and future Generations may defend our selves against insulting tyranny and oppression; We shall use our utmost endeavours for there-investing of your Royall person, and making You and Your Posterity happy and glorious throughout all Ages.
The Proposals.
1 That execution of Iustice may bee done upon those ho raised the former and the later warres against the Parliament of England, And that there not be any exemption of persons from Justice, to neither King nor Subject. 2 That the Treaty may not conclude a peace with the King and his party, without care taken to preserve the Liberties and Freedomes of the people of this Nation. 3 That limits may be set to bind Kings for the future, that they shall not have power to inslave the people by tyranny and oppression, and tryumph upon them as over conquered slaves. 4 That provisions be made for the people of England, that both we and future Generations may defend our selves against insulting Kings. 5 That there may be some course taken for pay for the Souldiery, that have served and been faithfull to the Parliament. And sufficient security thereunto for them, to guard them in what they have done. 6 That these, and such other things as shall be agreed on by the Generall Councell, may be sent to the House of Commons by the Lord Generall, and his Excellency to desire a speedy answer therein.
A bloudy Fight between the English and the Dutch.
ON Sunday Novemb. 12. Letters from the Navy say, That there hath been a late Fight aboard the Princes Fleet between the English Commanders and the Dutch, the manner thus. Prince Rupert having received Commission from the Prince of Wales, to command in chief aboard His Highnesses Fleet, the Mariners began to mutiny, and resisted his power, denying submission to his Orders; whereupon the Prince, and the rest of his Irish and Dutch Commanders, called a Councell, and disputing the quarrell, resolved to make the chief Fomenters thereof exemplary; but the Seamen unanimously resolved to live and dye together, and upon the Princes Demands, to have some of the Ringleaders delivered up to answer it before the Prince of VVales, they gave him a volley, killed two of the Irish Commanders, wounded Rupert, and took prisoners Cap. Hamon, and Cap. Fog, and forced the rest of the Royalists ashore; it is thought they will speedily come in upon Indempnity.
Gowry Novemb. 10. 1648.