MY Conscience is within me cleare, and quiet, and therein I have given satisfaction to my selfe my actions were not obscure, nor done in darkenesse, and they render me an intire man to all that saw them, or knew me; yet am I so unhappie as to suffer by the meere guilt of rumour, or by some aspertions cast upon me by the subtile enemy, whose interest is the discord of friends, wherein I can claime no privi­ledge above my Saviour, who was not free of slaunders; 'Tis for his cause that I glory I have shed my blood, nor neede I repine to be a sufferer like him: And certainly neither the hardship of mine own imprisonment, nor the distrest condition of my tender family, could have induced me to have dained so much to a false rumour, as to have given this open satisfaction, were there any more noble way left me to vindicate my reputation, more pretious, then my life; But since necessity inforceth me to this Apologie, take it, without glosse or smooth expression, my cōmerce is more with the Souldier then the Orator, and plaine truth is to it selfe a sufficient coun­tenance. I undertooke not this service for private intrest, revenge, or pay, I had an estate cōpetent left by my Anccstors, the office of a Justice of Peace I long had executed in my Country, and I wanted not solicitations to adheare to the Kings party, being put into the Commission of Aray, but upon Assembly of the Gentry that were that way affected, hearing some discourse that tended both to the dishonour of God, and the overthrow of the common liberty, I totally disavowed the executing that Commis­sion, and fully resolved with my utmost to promote the purity of Religi­on, and the publique peace, I applied my selfe to Sir Peter Prediux a De­puty Leiftenant, and from him received a Commission in the Militia, be­ing the first, and I suppose the last Gentleman in Devonshire, that raised and continued a Regement in that County, and since have raised severall Re­gements at my owne charge, at severall times all actually imployed in the Parliaments service; the particulars of which imployments have beene thus. Vpon the Lord Marquest of Hartford and Sir Ralph Hoptons first sur­prising Shurburne Castle, a party of the County of Devon were summoned at Collumpton, whether I brought a considerable number and was desired [Page 2] to march thither and to perswade that Regement, which I did, and by reason of my respects and vicinity with them, I got readily their consent, though they had stood mute to others before, and marched with three companies of them, this was my first imployment. The next Sir Ralph Hopton and the Cornish forces advancing towards Exon, I brought into that City a good supply of men and maintained it, untill we were relieved by the Earle of Stanford our then Generall, where, for that service & kee­ping Cowley Bridge with much disadvantage against a violent storme I re­ceived a memoriall of their loves and thankes, then was Belfore made by the said Earle my Major, I was commanded to send him with 100. Dra­goneares, to march with the Army, the rest of the Regement to disband which I did: Then after their defeate in Cornewell, Plymouth being be­sieged, I was commanded to bring what force I could to Exon to joyne with the Regements there, where I brought a considerable number of my friends and neighbours, and from thence marcht to Modbury, and after a long fight the enemy was beaten thence, and Plymouth relieved, and a treaty of both Counties Devon and Cornewell assented to, and my Rege­ment with the rest of the Army was disbanded, the treaty broke off I was againe commanded to bring my Regement to Crediton, whence I marcht to Stratton, where I continued all the fight and came off with my generall who continued to the last, having I suppose not twenty men left with him, when he fired with our assistance divers peeces of Ordnance upon the Ene­my, the Earle went to [...]iford, thence to Exon, I to mine own house where Sir Ralph Hopton bei [...] upon his march, I received an other Summon to bring in my Regement, [...] as many as I could procure to Exon which I did, thence upon a Petition, I was sent to Tewerton, where I was like to have beene betrayed by the Mayor, and was forced wanting Armes Am­munition and men, to goe for Taunton, having got up what force I could. I marcht through the enemies quarters with much hazard, and came a­gaine to Exon, where I continued all the siege: after the surrender of that City upon composition, I went to my owne house, where I could not stay without I would take up Armes for the King, which rather then I would doe, I chose to leave my wife, children and estate to the mercy of the Enemy, though the Parliament was then in it's lowest ebbe. Then I came to Lym [...], thence to London, where I was againe imployed by the Par­liament, and sent to Lyme with about 200. men, with them I beate up Bridgport quarters of the Enemy and tooke 100. good horse, which so hartened the Inhabitants about Hemlocke, that they generally rose to free themselves, and sent to me for some assistance of Horse and Officers, which by a generall consent of a Councell of Warre at Lyme was gran­ted, [Page 4] and Major Butler sent with 60. Horse thither, to bring them to mee at Studcombe House, which order, if it had beene observed, I at that instant beating up Collinten quarters of the Enemy, taking most of that Garison prisoners, I desire all Deavonshire men to consider whether I had not beene master of the field as farre as Exon, this was done before Leifetenant Colonell Blakes comming downe, these successes drew Prince Morris to leave Plymoth, and besige Lyme where I continued all the siege being shot, though not governor, yet commander in chiefe of most of the forces in the town, in all this time I beleeve there was not the least suspition of infi­delity in me, for I was received into my Country with as much honour as they could give, or I expect for the good service I had don, witnes the great appearance I had at the first summons, when his Excellency came down, w ^ch I think all the Army can testifie, for within a short time I raised two Regements, one of horse, the other of foote without money; when his Ex­cellency marcht into Cornewell, I went with him never being off my Re­gement, untill our Armes as is well knowne, were laid downe, and then had not gone from them but upon this occasion, quarters and good tearmes being compounded for, by Major Generall Skippon and the Councell of Warre, we marched from Castell dore to Lostwithiell, where at the Bridge were many barbarismes used, some killed, others flung into the water, most plundered, and three of my colours taken away, and I for the safety of my life was forced to crosse the water, and with much speede to recover the hill where Major Generall was, I acquainted him with the passages, & there staying untill the Army came up, I met with Major Bel­fore, sometimes Major of my Regement by order aforesaid, but then tur­ned to the King, who told me he wished me well, and saw that I was wet, and heard that I was wounded, and that our Army was to lye that night upon the hill, where they would be plundered, advised and perswaded me to goe to his quarters, ingaging the faith of a Souldier bee would see me safe to our Army againe the next morning, then I finding my selfe in a wett and sicke condition so as that nights colde lodging might have indangered my life, I tooke his word, relying some thing upon our for­mer intimacy of acquaintance, but principally upon that faith, which if broken, so much dishonoreth a Gentleman or Souldier, & with two of the Convoy went Master Salway my Chalplaine and Cornet Davis who ac­companying me to Liskard, where we were civily dealt withall that night, the next morning when we thought to returne, the house and towne were full of souldiers, where we had beene barbarously used had not the con­voy protected us, then sending for Belfore, I desired him to make good his promise unto me which he basely and ungentlemanlike denied saying, [Page 5] there had beene much enquirie for me that night, and that I must goe to Sir Richard Grendvile, I was not then in a condition to contest more then with bare words, and so went with him to Grendvile, who lay in the same town, no sooner came I thither, but I acquinted him with the passage, desi­ing him as he was a Souldier to send me to the Army againe, w ^ch he refused saying, I had beene the most active enemy they had and he was glad hee now had me in his custody, and that he would send me to the King upon breach of the Articles, in learning the rode way with the Army, I told him it was Belfores ingagement brought me thither, he replyed, Belfore was a foole to promise more then he could performe, and so put me into another roome, and within a short time sent for me againe, telling me I must either to the King or serve him, and then I should not want encouragements; truely this their base carriages did much amase me, and perceiving I could not avoide going to the King, of whom by reason of my former actions, I could expect little favour, or suffer under the hands of an unruly multi­tude who thronged about me with many menaces, in this extremity I promised to serve the King, but with a secret reservation to my selfe, no further then he complyed with his Parliament, holding it no sinne to de­ceive them that had beene twice perfidious to me, then Grendvile gave mee in charge to Major Mohum, who brought me that evening to th [...] [...] Goring, unto whom upon the same constraint as to Grendvile, I ma [...] the same promise; then was I carried that night with a sufficient guard to Master Trefrayes house, the next day to Okehampton, where I met our Ar­my, but was not suffered to stay there, but by Mohum was carried a mile out of the towne, where my Major came unto mee, to him I gave forty shillings for to buy victualls for my Souldiers, and told him privately and passionately how basely I had beene used by Belfore, desiring him to as­sure the Major Generall I would speedily be with him, for I would never serve against the Parliament, this he is more a Souldier then to deny, if he do, I can prove his confession of it. Thence I was carried to Tiverton where Sir John Bearkley lay, unto whom I made the same promise as to Gren­vile and Goring, and got of him a release for divers Souldiers there taken up, and brought them to mine owne house, where giving them money and victualls, I sent them to our Armie, telling them with as much assurance as in discretion was thought fit, I would never serve against the Parliament; this I did to them and others, which I can prove if my owne words in my owne cause be not currant, the friday after the compossition I came to my owne house, the Sabboth following came Colonell Lindsie and some eight persons more with him unto me, who demanded in a rough way of me the reason I had not sent out my warrants, saying, when I was for the Parliament [Page 6] I was daily active, now I did nothing swearing they would make me doe i [...] or [...]end me to Ex [...]n, I replied what I did for the Parliament I had com­mission for, and quarters for my men now. I had neither then said Linsey write a letter to the Lord Goring and I will carry it, and you shall have any thing upon it. I writt a smooth letter to Goring, & had an order to free [...] [...]rom Ha [...]rton his then quarters▪ & for me to quarter there, this Order I shewed to M [...]hum, and so was freed of those two tormentors, that night I intended to goe for Taunton, but before night in came Cockin and his troope, and Captaine M [...]efor [...] quartered at my house; then sent I to Captaine K [...] to know whether hee could not bring me twenty honest men from Sampf [...]rd our neighbour Parish, and we would adventure upon that troope, and bring them away, he said no, it was hard to trust Country followes with so weighty a secret as concernes our lives, these fell [...]wes kept so strict a guard over us as wee could not escape without danger and infinite hazard, we wanting horse and other accommodati­ons for our dispatch; at last God offered a meanes the which I tooke, this Captaine Mu [...]ifor [...] desired me to make him Captaine of Tiverton Com­pany, I pe [...]ceived by it a company would worke much with him, which I g [...]anted so hee would ass [...]t me in bringing in my Regement, hee not without oathes promised it then the next day being Sunday, I tooke the advantage and car [...]ed him to the Constable of Halbertones house, unto whom I did openly before Muddifor [...] and Cockin [...] quartermaster deliver a warrant, but before had privily told him my intentions never to serve a­gainst the Parliament; and s [...]ewed them a smooth letter that I had writt t [...] Sir J [...]hn Bar [...] & desired them to send it▪ this bread such a confidence in them that Muddifor [...] ride with me and Quartermaster Baker to one Th [...]mas Knights house, where I had appointed Captaine Kerslake and his Leiuetenant to meete me where we dined, and after dinner under pretence of this warrant which M [...]ddif [...]r [...] had, we brought him in by waies some seven miles neare Milverton Heffeild where we understood of a troope of the enemies horse not farre before us, and Muddifor [...] mistrusting by rea­son of our whispering rid away, otherwise wee had brought him away prisoner, then I and my company posted to Taunton, where I was hartily welcomed by Leivtenant Colonell Blake the governour of the Castle: the next day being munday, I sent one Bartholomew Merson with warrants to countermand them I had delivered the day before, commanding the C [...]untry to appeare before me at Taunt [...]n, upon it divers came in, who I beleeve are in actuall service now there I stayed aweeke, and had conti­nued longer as there was neede, had not the London Pamphleteeres beene [...]l of the scand [...]ll of my revolt, which to cleare, and to give the world [Page 7] satisfaction of my integrity, by offering my selfe ready to wipe off that aspertion came away, having with me a large testimony under the Gover­nours hands to Shasbury to Sir William Waller, with whom and Sir Arthur Hasterig I had some discourse, thence I came to Southampton where I was imprisoned by his Excellencies Order, otherwise I had come to London of mine owne accord. But I heare a rumour among the mul­titude that I,

Obj. 1. Suffered the Bridge to bee taken by the Kings forces, otherwise they had never entred Cornewall.

Ans. When the King entred Cornewall our Army was neere 20 miles off, and I then by command was at Lostwithell.

Obj. 2. That I had the keeping of a Bridge neere the Lord Roberts house.

Ans. I sent by order a party of Dragoones thither, and kept it untill by order they were drawne off, as Captaine Sheeres and other Captaines can testifie.

Obj. 3. That I had the command of a Castle neere Lostwithell which was lost.

An. Tis true, a party of men were sent out of my Regement without my consent theither by two cashiered Captaines formerly under my com­mand, but by what order they were sent thither, or how discharged of that command I know not, I beleeve no generall officer will say hee gave me the charge of that place, there being but 18 men in it.

Ob. 4. That I quited the Post at Castledoore being there Commanded by Major Generall Skippon.

An. It is true, I marched thither in the reare of my L. Generalls Rege­ment with one part of five of my Regement, and there continued untill my Lord Generalls Regement came backe and routed mine, then I did my uttermost to preserve the Ordnance and brought them into a lane nereby, and placed as many men as I could make stand in a ground at most advan­tage, this I did of my self when the Colonell of the other Regement with­drew himselfe.

Ob. But you have spoken words that doe not tend to the honour of the Lord Generall.

An. I confesse I have spoken that in some passion which might have beene well left unsaid, which I will as nakedly confesse as the rest being demanded, and I hope not of that nature as to extinguish all former merit.

Obj. 6. That I carried my Regement to the King.

An. Let proofe be made that I carried one man, or advised any so to doe, or was with the King then let me suffer to the utmost.

Obj. 7. That you were with Colonell Barkley, and did not desire him to demand you upon the Articles.

Ans. Tis true I met him, but had I acquainted him and desired him to have demanded me upon the Articles I beleeve I had never met him againe for they that cared not to breake Articles upon no pretence, what would they have done to me having some colour for it, it would have certainely endangered my life.

And thus you have plaine punctall Narration of my actions; wherein perhaps may be some weaknesses; Let him accuse me that hath not any; However I was neither false, or prejudiciall to the cause, though per­haps some slaunder insinuated by the enemy (to worke divisions) have represented such, as also the heate and passion of a Souldier may carry him to some extravagancies when his heart is reall; I justifie my actions, few men can all their cursory casuall discourses; if mine have erred, it has been on the right hand, out of too passionate zeale to the good successe of this cause; the which I so much tender, that I would rather lye a prisoner, then interupt the proceedings thereof by an unseasonable petition, though a triall be that which so much above all things I desire; my present suffe­rance not so much grieving me as the present scandall I lye under, and the frequent scoffings of the disaffected, to see me so much discountenanced by those for whose prosperity I have forsaken wise, children, house and lands, spilt my blood, having at this instant a wound greene, a bullet in my body, and not expended lesse then all; scarse having ought left to yeeld my selfe and family a subsistance, especially where the expences are not small, But I waite deliverance from God and good men.