Ingler corrects Dorchester report

19 Aug 1643 (Sat) || Whereas a temerarious¹ Relation was inserted into the last weekes Informations, about the late yeilding of Dorchester,² because it was desitute of its Souldiers 600. of them being with the Earle of Warwicke, and that Sir Walter Erle should have 1200. more of them against Corfe Castle, and that therefore the Town was forced to yeild because it had not above two or 300. souldiers to defend it, and that Sir Walter Erle should write so to the  Parliament, which Relation being erroneous, and not rightly bottomed, I have thought fit to retract, that the truth may be vindicated, and that no prejudice may reflect upon those whom it may concerne. Wherefore I affirme (having now been rightly informed) that Sir Walter Erle wrote not so to the Parliament as was related, that the Earle of Warwicke had but 200 of their souldiers, whom he sent back againe; that Sir Walter Erle had but about 200. foot besides his own Troope of horse against Corfe Castle, and that when Dorchester was yeilded, there were about six or 700. Souldiers in the Town, who perhaps might have defended it for a time, because there was not so great a number as 5. or 6000. that came against them. This being the truth, the dissonancy between verity & error I hope is cleered, concluding with the Moralist, Humanum est errare, sed beluinum in errore perseverare. || William Ingler – Certaine Informations (P)

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¹ Reckless; rash
² See report on 11 August

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Dorchester yields to the Royalists

11 Aug 1643 (Fri) || Since Dorchester was yeilded up to the Cavaliers, the Reports are come that Lyme and Poole are also rendred and have submitted themselves to the Yoks of slavish bondage. And the reason why Dorchester yeilded upon the first summons, was, because it was destitute of the souldiers the inhabitants had raysed for the defence thereof, for the Earle of Warwicke had 600 of them for the Excester expedition: and Sir Walter Earle had 1200 more of them against Corfe Castle, and what could the residue being about 200. doe against 5. or 6000. cavaliers, especially when they could hope for no reliefe nor aide. As for Sir Walter Erle, he was forced to raise his siege from before Corfe Castle and he is since arrived at London, with about 120. horse, which are now quartered at Fulham in the County of Middlesex.¹ || William Ingler – Certaine Informations (P)

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¹ Ingler retracted the details of the report on 19 Aug, admitting they were incorrect.

Nathaniel Fiennes explains his decision to surrender Bristol

Sunday 6 Aug 1643 || For the losse of Bristoll, the late Governour thereof Colonell Natt: Fynes gives this account to justifie himselfe in the surrendring up thereof, he affirmed that after three dayes assault, and the slaughter of many hundreds of the enemy (amongst whom were Colonell Sir Richard Slanning, Colonell Lunsford the younger, and Colonell Bucke Slaine, the Lord Grandison and John Belassis, desperately wounded) the enemy entred the breach, and wunne the Suburbs, whereupon it was held fit to Parley, and it is true, conditions of Surrender were agreed on, which if they had been performed, was conceived to be more advantagious, then to Retreat from the Town to the Castle, which was victualled but for three moneths for eight hundred men, and there were but fifty barrels of powder in the Castle (the Castle Commands the whole Town at pleasure) & divers of the Gent of Somerset conceived the Surrender on the conditions to be more advantagious, besides no liklyhood of aid from hence in any time, which reasons, with other, induced the surrender, and hardly any of the conditions were performed on the other side. But yet Prince Rupert (as the Governour saith) was very Noble in doing his endeavour to prevent disorder, but could not prevaile with the Common Souldier: yet for all this the Governour is to be tryed by a Councell of War. || Richard Collings – The Kingdome’s Weekly Intelligencer (P)

Royalists reportedly impose heavy taxes on Bristol

3 Aug 1643 (Thu) || Since the Surrendring of Bristoll, it is reported, that the King hath forbidden the Inhabitants thereof to pay any money that they owe to the City of London, but they must pay them yo such as He hath appointed to receive them, and that He will give them discharges for such debts, which, if it be true, how contrary such Commands are to Gods word, any man may discerne that readeth Ezek. 45.9.

And now it is more fully related, that Bristoll hath beene pillaged, and whereas they had compounded to pay 50000. pounds; Prince Rupert hath imposed 150000. pounds upon then, and they are also commanded to maintaine 6000. men in garrison, and to set forth 30. ships presently for the Kings service, whence they may perceive that their cowardly yeilding, hath brought upon themselves, a slavish and arbitrary government, and whereas not long since they refused to lend Sir William Waller 10000. pounds, they are now forced to part with greater summers, but it may be, as seemeth by their easie yeilding, they love the Cavaliers better then them, and desire to be rid of their moneys by force and constraint, and then, Volenti non fit injuria.¹ || William Ingler – Certaine Informations (P)

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¹ “To a willing person, no injury is done”; a principle of law, by which if someone willingly puts themselves in danger, they can’t blame anyone else.

Bristol surrenders to the Royalists

27 Jul 1643 (Thu) || This day came the newes from Bristol, on which His Majesties Army which lay about it had given a brave and gallant onset the day before, and gained the out-workes, (though with the losse of one of those three brave brothers the Lunsfords, and the wounding of some noble and valiant Gentlemen, as the Lord Grandison, Colonel Bellasis, Sir Nicholas Slayning,¹ and some others, who all carried themselves as bravely as themselves can wish, or we possibly imagine: ) insomuch that the Rebels seeing in what case they were, did earnestly desire a parley; the effect and issue of which was, that the Citie and Castle should be delivered by nine of the clocke this day to His Sacred Majestie, with all the Ordnance, armes, and Ammunition, the Citie to be left to the disposall of His Majestie, the Officers and Commanders to be dismissed in safety with their swords by their sides, the common Souldiers with no other weapons ten sticks or cudgels in their hands: which being condescended and agreed upon, was performed accordingly, His Majesties Forces takng possession at the time appointed: in which was found (as it is confidently reported) about 80 Peece of Ordnance mounted, many hundred Barrels of Powder, 6000 Armes, with other Ammunition answering thereunto. But for the certainty of these particulars, I have it onely by report, and not by Letters.  || John Berkenhead/Peter Heylyn – Mercurius Aulicus (R)

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¹ Grandison died of his wounds in September; Slanning at the scene.

Royalists gain Taunton & Bridgwater

10 Jun 1643 (Sat) || This  day there also came a punctuall information of the successe which had befallen the Marquesse of Hartford and Sir Ralph Hopton since the conjunction of their forces. There had been a report on Sunday that the Marquesse passing by the Towne of Dorchester, and Sir Ralph Hopton leaving forces to block up Exeter, were to meete that night; and with their joint power take some course for the reduction of Somerset-shire to His Majesties service. And it was certified this day, that with their whole forces, amounting to 9000 men and upwards they drew towards Taunton, a towne of great comand and consequence in those parts of Somerset: and by their coming strooke such a terrour into the inhabitants, that they desired to be admitted to His Majesties favour upon such conditions, as should be agreed upon betwixt them. Whch were in fine to this effect, that the inhabitants should be free from plunder, and imprisonment, that the Towne and Castle should be delivered to His Majestie with all the Ordnance, Armes, and Ammunition, which was found therein, and that the people should afford the Army free quarter and a whole weekes pay. This being condescended and agreed upon, His Majesties forces tooke possession of the Towne and Castle, in which they found 6 peece of Ordnance, 500 Armes, 19 double barrels of powder, a tun of match, with bullet, and other things thereto proportionable. The newes whereof being brought to Bridgewater a towne of great importance also, which hitherto had held on the Rebels side; they sent unto the Marquesse to desire that their submission might be taken on the like conditions: which being yeilded to, they gave up the Towne, and in the same 8 peece of Ordnance, with Ammunition, Armes, and other necessaries proportionable to so many Ordnance. By meanes whereof His Majesty is already master of the most part of that County, there being but few places in it which are able to resist in the lease degree, and the most active and considerable of the Rebels being fled to Bristoll, as their onely Sanctuary in the West. || John Berkenhead/Peter Heylyn – Mercurius Aulicus (R)

Out of the West is is informed, that the Towne of Taunton in Somersetshire had fortified themselves with Outworkes, Ordinance, and a Garrison of 5000. of the trained bands of the County, but that upon the approach of 2000. Hoptonians, the bands ran away, and left the towne to discretion, which hath compounded with them for the delivery of their armes and Ordnance, and a thousand pound ransome. And that Bridgewater, a towne neer thereunto, was also deserted by their Forces, where the enemy had of them their armes, Ordnance, and 500.li in money to save them from pillaging. England, henceforward trust not trayned bands, nor ordinary Troopers, for they have proved cowardly and treacherous.  || William Ingler – Certaine Informations (P)

Parliament’s forces take Warrington

30 May 1643 (Tue) || From Manchester in Lancashire they write, that Colonell Aston with his Army hath beseiged the Towne of Warrington, lying upon the River Mersey, which severeth the Counties of Chester and Lancaster, and that after a weekes siege he took the great Streete and the Church, with the steeple, which was abandoned by the Enemie, as being not tenable for their purpose; and that the Enemie thee, had so foreclosed the rest of the Streets in that Town, with strong Barricadoes and Pallisadoes, (having had a long time to doe it) that he could not yet force his entrance into them, unlesse he could mount his Ordnance upon the steeple, which commandeth the whole Towne. And they write further from thence, that one of the Parliaments ships under the Earle of Warwickes Command, came into the Harbour at Leverpole, which so affrighted the Earle of Derbyes forces there, that they presently left the Towne, by which meanes the mariners in the ship have with the more facility seized upon it. And they also say that colonell Tillesley, who is the onely man of note now left in that County for the Earle of Derby, is gotten on foote againe with some of his lewd adherents, and that he beginneth anew to imbroile the northerne parts of the County. || William Ingler – Certaine Informations (P)

King denies knowledge of Reading surrender clause

12 May 1643 (Fri) || This day came out His Majesties Proclamation and Declaration concerning a clause of the late Articles at Reading, in which His Majestie taking notice of a Proclamation bearing date the 18^th of April, containing His Majesties gracious pardon to the Rebells then (and now) in Armes against him; as also, “that by certaine Articles betweene the Earle of Essex and the Commander of His Masjeties Forces in Reading such persons who had left that Rebellious Army, and betaken themselves to His Majesties service and protection, were delivered backe into the hands of those whom out of conscience and duety to His Majesty they had forsaken”; declareth unto all the world, that he was neither privy to, not in the least degree consented to that exception, but holds the same so prejudiciall to his service and derogatory from his honour, that he should rather choose to run any danger the violence and treason of his enemies could bring upon him, then to withdraw or deny His Majesties protection to any of those, who should returne unto their duty, and betake themselves unto His service: His Majesty declaring further, that as he had referred to a Councell of warre the full examination of all the particular proceedings in the delivery of that Towne, that Justice might be done accordingly; so he would alwaies proceed with like severity against all such as by the like dishonourable conditions should expose such of His good Subjects unto ruine, who had returned to their obedience to His Majesty. Which signified, His Majesty againe renewes His gracious promises and offers contained in that His Majesties Proclamation of the 18^th of April, upon the limitations and conditions in the same expressed; His Majesty further in the word of a King,  assuring all such His good Subjects who should so put themselves into His Majesties hands, that they shall not onely receive His Majesties grace and protection, but that their former errours shall never be remembred in the least degree to their disadvantage. || John Berkenhead/Peter Heylyn – Mercurius Aulicus (R)

Earl of Derby abandons Wigan

10 May 1643 (Wed) || From Manchester they write, that Colonell Aston [Asheton] with some 2000. horse and foot, marched from thence to Wigan, where the Earle of Derby with 900. Muskettiers, and some Troopes of horse, was againe refortifying of that towne, but upon the Colonels approach they all fled from thence to Latham; the Colonell having reobtained that towne, demolished all the Workes and Fortifications, and burnt the new gates and posted that were set up, and tooke and oath of the Townesmen never to beare Armes againe against the King and Parliament: From thence he pursued the Earle to Latham, who left that house, and fled to Preston, whither the Colonell pursued him, and in his way thither tooke a house of the Earles called Knowsley, whether the Earle sent him a message, that he would give him 300li if he would not burne his house, the Colonell returned answer, that he came not to burne houses, but to reduce him to peace and obedience, and from thence he went to Leverpoole, but before he came thither, the Earle was fled, and as some say, is gone into Yorkeshire with two Troopes of horse to the Queene. || William Ingler – Certaine Informations (P)

Sir William Waller abandons Hereford

9 May 1643 (Tue) || It was this day certified, that Sir William Waller either upon intelligence of Prince Maurice comming that way, or not being able to spare so many of his Souldiers, as of necessity must be left there in Garrison, had quitted Hereford, without much spoyle or hurt done to it, and was retreated back againe unto his starting hole at Gloucester.  || John Berkenhead/Peter Heylyn – Mercurius Aulicus (R)