King’s Lynn fears plunder & stands for the King

29 Aug 1643 (Tue) || This day by Letters from London we were certified, that the Earle of Pembrookes goods, which were shipped for the Isle of Wight, were seized by the vertuous Lord Major Isaac Pennington (the new and most faithful Lieutenant of the Tower) but whether they be as yet restored to the Earle we are not informed. And in the same Letter it was signified, that the Earle of Manchester (that famous good man) doth rob all Country people in Suffolke of their Cart-horses, so as they cannot possibly get in their harvest, which is one of those new blessings he intends to bestow upon their Associate-Counties: which the Inhabitants of the Towne of Lin perceiving, like honest Subjects and true Englishmen, they kept his Lordship out of their Towne, telling him flatly, They kept the Towne for His Majesty, and by the helpe of God would so keepe it against whomsoever; which they are able to doe, it being so strongly fortified, that Kimbolton may as soone raise his good father from the dead, as force his enterance into Lin. || John Berkenhead/Peter Heylyn – Mercurius Aulicus (R)

Report from Gloucester; praise for the town’s self-defence

22 Aug 1643 (Tue) || Our Scouts hath made a second returne from Glocester parts, he reports of severall Fights that hath been between the City and the besiegers Friday and Saturday, and that they not daring to storme the place, attempted to make Gallories, to facilitate their approaches, and to that purpose brought Faggots, but those were burnt, and the besiegers driven both from their Canon and ground, leaving many dead behinde them, some of which Ordnance they have got into the Towne, others lie, that neither part dare attempt the fetching: This not succeeding, there was order given to fetch in green wood, but whether these things be true in the circumstances, we will not be over confident, yet of this we are, that there hath been a Fight those daies before mentioned, and from hence we cannot but conclude, that Glocester hath done bravely, and deserves to be recorded for posterity, whereas some other places had need to have buriall in the grave of oblivion, and shall not the valour of this City of Glocester, edge all the souldiers spirits now in service for the Parliament, and put them upon those, or such like resolutions: What, shall such brave men as are in Glocester be destroyed, be prisoners? Shall these Citizens and Souldiers that have stood out thus bravely, given the enemy so many repulses, slaine so many of their enemies, wasted their Ammunition, not be assisted, relieved? Weele not regard money, nor stand upon this terme, or that, but goe and fall upon the weary enemy, and utterly destroy his power: when Sir William Waller had beene fighting many dayes, they by fresh supplies overcame him: we will now put both together, and goe on, and revenge both at once; so shall we haste an end of these present troubles, then which, nothing can be more acceptable to God and men that stand for true Religion and Liberty. || John Dillingham – The Parliament Scout (P)

Scots agree to send forces into England

21 Aug 1643 (Mon) || From Scotland about the end of the last weeke the Parliament received Letters from their Commissioners, giving them to understand of their safe arrivall at Edenborough, and extraordinary welcome by the Scotch Lords, and that they hoped in short time to expidite the businesse they came about, which letters bore date the very next day after the Commissioners comming to Edinburgh. But in respect they gave no accompt of any forces already levied in Scotland how the Malignants in London rejoyced, and boasted up and downe that the Scotts would not stirre at all, and that all our hopes of their comming into this Kingdome were but as strange Chymaras Castles in the aire, &c. But observe now, how soone their vaine boastings is come to nothing, whose tongues indeed have a long time beene the forge of daily lies, for on Tuesday last the Parliament received more letters from their Commisioners there, giving them accompt of their Treaty with the Scots of Scotland, for the sending of forces hither, & that the States were of so willing a complyance in that businesse, and matters in that forwardnesse that they doubted not with a weekes time after the date of these letters (which is above ten dayes since) fully to end the worke. || Samuel Pecke, A Continuation of Certain Speciall and Remarkable Passages (P)