A DECLARATION OF The proceedings of the Kings Majesty at Carisbrooke Castle in the Isle of WIGHT, touching the Engagement of Sir Charles Lucas, & his forces at Colchester, with the Parliaments Army.
WITH Another great Discovery of a most horrid and bloudy Design against the person of the King; shewing the manner how he should have been bereaved of his life, and his Royall blood spilt upon the ground.
And in the Honourable House of Piers, and their proceedings thereupon, touching the chiefe Actor
[...]ikewise, the Lord Generalls Letter to a great Commander in Colchester, and his Answer thereunto, in R [...]lation to the KING.
LONDON, Printed in the Year of Discovery 1648
Another Message from the Lord General Fairfax, to the Earl of Norwich, and Sir Charles Lucas.
THis day his Excellenci [...] sent in a letter, signifying, That the Parliament being sensible of their se [...]sing of Sir Wil. Massam and others of the Committee (no [...] being p isoners of War) had sent down the Lord Capels Son, with others that he might be sent in exchange for Sir Wil. Massam. His Excellencie therewith sent 2. affidavi [...]s upon Oath, by which i [...] appeared that by the Earl of Norw [...]ch & the Officers directions, the Souldiers chewed bullets and cast with sand delivered out of the stores whence they usually received their Ammunition, which being a thing contr [...]ry to the Law of Armes, he required the like might be forborn for the future, or to expect what will follow.
To that concerning the Lord Capels Son: This evening his Lordship made a particular Answer, That [Page 2] he conceived it in humane, and that if all the Committee had been offered for him, he would have disdained the motion, and that he joyed to see any of his, (if no other way) yet by their sufferings, to pay that duty they owe to the King, and known lawes to the Kingdom. To that concerning Bullers the Triparite Generalls returned Answer, denying any such command or practice; but for rough cast Sluggs, they were the best they could send on the suddain.
This day we have been verie quiet; not one horse or man of the enemy appearing out of their works: Our men have secured Grinstead Church, and the passe from the Heath, so that now both the East and North passages are so stopt, that they can make no incursions into Tendering Hundred or any part for provision. The works near the Almes houses began the other night is now almost finished, the graft so high that they are forced to make use of Ladders or the perfecting thereof. Our perdues lye so near the Enemy as to hear them discourse, drink healths, &c. Some of our Musketiers go so near the Town towards Headgate that the Enemies M [...]sketiers fire out of the windows upon them; The enemy hath this day opened 3. of their sallyports, and left only Headgate blocks up, which as is conceived is in relation to an escape.
As soone as it was day this morning, the enemy played their great Guns [...]gainst ou [...] Horse Cu [...]rds, and new work near the Almes house, but when they saw how deepe our men were in their Trenches that the shot could not hurt, they desisted shooting with great shot, and fel [...] to annoy us with small shot out of [Page 3] Mr. Grimstons house, but our great Cannon shooting through and through the house, cutting off the leggs and Armes of many of them that were glad to flye into the Town, and in a malicious humour set the house on fire, and burnt other houses with it.
Colchester Iune 3. 1648.
A most horrid and bloody Plot against the Kings Majesty in the Isle of Wyght.
J Am ready to make an Oath that Mr. Richard Osburne, told me, the Kings person was in danger, and that the said Major Rolph; had a designe for conveying his Majesties person to some place of secresie, where only three should goe with him, and where they might disp [...]se of his Majesties person as they should think fit, Which i [...]formations from Mr. Osburn, and the assurance I had of his Majesties intentions forthwith to come to his Parliament, was the cause of my ingagement in this businesse.
I am ready likewise to depose, that the said Rolph came to mee, when I was a prisoner in the Castle, and in a jearing Manner aked me why the King came not down according to his appointment. And then in great indignation and fury said, he waited three houres under the Plat form with a good pistoll ready charged, to have received him if hee had come.
Mr. Abraham Doucet, delivered this upon Oath, to bee all truth, before their Lordships.
Major Rolphs Letter to the Lords.
KNowing my self (I speak in the presence of that God who searcheth all hearts to be perfectly clear and innocent of that foule and horrid crime charged upon me that I abhorre the very thoughts of it: Earnestly desiring an opportunity of appearing for vindication of my innocency, or what ever else malice in wicked men can lay against me; resting fully assured that whatsoever award I shall find at the hands of men, I shall injoy the happinesse of an upright and peaceable conscience with the same God in whose presence I stand.
ORdered by the Lords in Parliament that it be referred to the Kings learned Councell to bring in an impeachment of High Treason against Major Edward Rolph.
The enemy sallied out the last night on the other side the leagure toward Suffolk, which our horse discovering, lined the hedges with Dragoones, and went on with a party of horse, as if they had meant to charge the enemy, and then faced about runing away as if they had been afraid of the enemy who pursued them, and as soone as they came up to the Dragoones, did so gall the enemy with shot that they forboore to advance further there being at that time a Lieut. Col. and 4 other Officers of the enemy very desperately wounded, and some sl in, as some who came out of the Town this day affirmed: And this morning they sallied out again with three Troops of horse, 500. foot, and a Drake, our horse guard that were upon the Rode from East gate towards Tendering [Page 5] Hundred perceiving the drawing out both horse and foot toward Grinsted Church; whereupon the passage being narrow, the horse could not engage them, foot were sent for to come to the assistance of the horse, but before our foot could come up from the Suffolk forces, the Enemy had taken up thereabouts and driven in some Cattel, and killed one Mr. Sanaford at Brittlesea that had interest in the Cattel, though as it is said he was their great friend. And this night we designed to fortifie Grinsted Church nea [...] the Hive with foote and a piece of Cannon; so that they must take their farwell of any more provisions, had Suffolk Fort been finished sooner, we had foot as well as horse to have secured that hundred.
Four Companies of Col. Ingolsbies Regiment and some horse are marcht to secure that Church, which commands the causey, and gives passage over Hive bridge into Tendering hundred.
There was this day taken prisoner in or near Harwich a Colonell that came out of Colchester who upon examination cald himselfe Col. Smithson; but some Townsmen who saw him there in Town, say that his souldiers cald him Col. Bard, but those that have seen him it is not Sir Henry Bard.
This day the enemy in Colchester gave out that 700 London Apprentices with fore gunes were this night come to Chelmsford for their releife, that the Parliament men are driven from Westminster into the Army. The enemy have this night burnt M. Barringtons house on the other side the Town: They give out that they will fire the Subburbs, they are fortifying the L. Dacres his house in the Town, it [Page 6] being moted round, and are resolved to keepe that to the last, so that nothing but ddstruction is expected to this poor Town.
July 3. 1648.
SInce my last, dated June 24. we have received intelligence, that the English revolted Ships which lye at Gor [...]th in Holland, are almost ready to put to Se [...], and that there are some whisperings, touching a design against this Island; As for His M [...]j. he is not altogether so merry and pleasant as formerly, by reason of the sad commotions which daily happen, throughout severall Counties within his Majesties Realms and Dominions, his heart bring much inclined to peace, a [...]d desirous to prevent the further effusion of Christian blood; And his Maj. hath further declared, that he desires nothing more, then a right understanding betwixt himselfe and his two Houses of Parl. [...]hat so Religion may be setled, and all differences composed; And further it is intimated, that his Maj. doth not in the least countenance the late Rising within the County of Kent, & he present distractions in the County of Essex, but doth absolutely protest against the same; as also, against the proceedings of Si [...] Charles Lucas and his adherents; we are fortifying of this Island in severall places, and repairing of the Works; As for the Fleet before spoken of, by the next, you shall hear further from