An Exact and true Relation of the many several Messages, That have passed between His Excellency Sir THO. FAIRFAX, and the marquess of Worcester, governor of Ragland-Castle, touching surrender thereof. Together, With A Copy of the Propositions sent to the general from the marquess of WORCESTER, out of Ragland-Castle, and his excellency's refusal to treat on them. Also, The Names of our Commissioners appointed to treat with the Enemy, upon the Propositions sent to them from the general. Certified in a Letter, to a Member of the honourable House of Commons, on Tuesday, August the 18th. 1646. And commanded to be forthwith printed and published. London, Printed for Fra. Coals, in the Old-bailey, August 19th. 1646. An Exact and true Relation, &c. SIR, IN my last I acquainted you with the Generals leaving of Bath, and coming in person to the siege before Ragland, where he was entertained in the army with great acclamations of the soldiers: After which, he sent a summons into the Castle, to which a dilatory answer (though not an absolute denial was sent; a civil Reply was made unto it: And after a day's consideration thereof, the marquess took occasion to write a calm Letter unto the general: Expressing how much he did respect the general's Family, and what long acquaintance he had with his Grandfather: In conclusion, invited to have some Propositions sent him, which were accordingly sent: The Conditions were honourable for the soldiery, but as to the marquess to submit to the mercy of the Parliament. The marquess having considered of the Propositions, remained doubtful, whether the Parliament would confirm what the general should grant, in case they should agree, to which the general returned him an answer; assuring him, That what he concluded of would be performed. Whereupon, Thursday, August 13. the marquess sent out a Drum, desiring leave to send out his Commissioners, Friday at 10 of the clock: Whereupon (he says) his excellency should see he would not be an obstruction to a peace: which we conjectured was as much as to say, He would send a positive answer to our Propositions: And thereupon the Drum was returned with a safe conduct for the Commissioners coming forth, and a cessation of arms from 10 of the clock till three. The Commissioners appointed on our part to meet theirs, were, colonel Birch, Master Herbert, one of the Commissioners of Parliament residing in the army, and Major Juliday; whose Commission was to receive what they should deliver, and to present it to the general. I shall now give you an account how near our approaches are made unto the Castle: That which is our main work, is about 60 yards from theirs, and that's the most. We have planted 4 Mortar pieces, each of them carrying Granado shells, 12 inches Diameter, and 2 mortar pieces planted at another place, carrying shells about the like compass: So that in case the Treaty do break off, we are then ready to show by what extremity they must expect to be reduced. This we are very confident, that the Granadoes will make them quit their works, and outhouses, and solely betake themselves into the Castle; which indeed will be a work of time before we shall be able to undermine it, in regard we must mine down the hill under a moat, and then their works, before we can come to the Castle; yet we conceive it feasible to be done with some loss. Our Engineer, captain Hooper, a painful and honest man (proceeding as he hath begun) with exact running trenches (which are made so secure, as if they were works against a storm) will (with God's Blessing) come within 10 yards in few days, and then I believe we shall make galleries, mines, and many batteries: The general is every day in the trenches, and yesterday appointed a New Approach, which the Engineer of this Army, who is now returned from Worcester is to carry on with all expedition: He has already broke the ground, thrown up approaches of about an hundred yards in length and circuit, and is within 60 yards of under part of their works. During the Parley yesterday, which held from Nine till Two, they permitted us to come to their works, stand close to their stoccadoes and trenches and discourse with them, so little do they regard our knowledge of their works they are so strong: The Propositions sent out by the marquess yesterday, were as high as ever any garrison yet propounded, to which the general returned a short and positive Answer, letting his Lordship know his Propositions deserved no answer, and as for himself, he must expect no other conditions but to submit to the mercy of the Parliament, and gave him time till this day at Ten a clock to receive his final Answer; We are all persuaded if he could but have leave to go beyond Seas, the soldiers having honourable conditions, he would submit, and were it not better to grant a man of 84. years those terms, that probably will be in his grave before the affairs of Parliament will give leave to call him to trial, and thereby save the lives of many an Officer and soldier that have adventured their lives in the Parliaments Cause (and may yet do them great service) to gain this old man's carcase at so dear a rate. Colonel Rainsborow is already come to the leaguer, and his Regiment and colonel Hamond's this day expected: The marquess hath this Morning sent forth word that he will treat upon the general's Propositions: Whereupon the Treaty is appointed at Master Oates his house about a mile and half from Ragland, where it is to begin this afternoon at Two of the clock. The general's Commissioners are colonel Morgan, colonel Birch, Master Herbert one of the Commissioners of Parliament in the Army, Quartermaster general Grasvenor, liutenant-colonel Ashfield and Major Julida: By the next you shall hear further from Uske. Aug. 15. 1646. Your assured friend and Servant, W. C. Here follows the several Messages and Replies. Sir, I do so much confide in your Honour, as that being at stake concerning leave to send to His Majesty, I will at this time forbear to make further motion in it: Only one thing which is extraordinary, I offer to your consideration for the just cause, besides my allegiance of my reasonable request: which is; That upon His majesty's promise of satisfaction, I am above twenty thousand pounds out of purse, and if I should do any thing displeasing unto him, I am sure all that is lost, and no benefit to the Parliament. If you knew how well known I was in Henry Earl of Huntington's time, unto your noble Grandfather at York: I am assured I should receive that favour at your hands that safely you might afford. God knows, if I might quietly receive my means of subsistence, and be in security with the Parliaments approbation, and freed from the malice of those Gentlemen that are of the Committee within this County, I should quickly quit myself of the Garrison, for I have no great cause to take delight in it. I have that high esteem of your worth, nobleness, and true judgement; that knowing you will offer nothing ignoble or unworthy for me to do, as the case stands with me: I desire to know what Conditions I may have, and I will return you present answer, and in the mean time rest: Aug. 8. 1646 Your humble servant, H. Worcester. Sir Th. Fairfax Reply. My Lord. ACcording to your lordship's desire, I have returned you Conditions, such as may be fit and satisfactory to the soldiery: To your Lordship and Family, I have granted quiet and security from all violence of any that belongs to me: I would persuade your Lordship not to fear any ill, or disrespect from the Committee of this County (I shall easily reconcile that party) or that they will do any thing, but as they shall receive order from the Parliament. By this means you are at liberty to send to the Parliament, and upon a present surrender, and submission to their mercy and favou●, your Lordship cannot but think to receive better terms for yourself, then if you stand it out to the last extremity; when besides the hazard of your person, and of those in your Family (which I do presume are dear to you) and the spoil of the Castle, which cannot be avoided in extreme undertake against it. Your Lordship hath no reason to expect better than the marquess of Winchester received; who in making good Baling, house to the last, narrowly escaped in his own person, lost his friends subjected those that escaped to great frights, and hazard, his House and estate to utter ruin, and himself to extremity of Justice. Touching your Lordships twenty thousand pound, your Lordship hath ●iberty to solicit about that, by the same hands your Lordship shall give an account of the surrender to His Majesty. I desire your Lordship upon Receipt of these to dismiss my Trumpeter, and to return answer by one of your own. August 10th. T. F. The Earl of worcester's second Message. Sir, THe difficulty of resolution by the soldiers and Officers (other than I thought) causeth my request for your patience in not giving you full Answer to the conditions you sent me yesterday; but as soon as I shall obtain it, you shall not be long without it. But one thing, and that of moment, I desire to be satisfied in; whether if any conclusion should be made, that afterward I shall be left to the mercy of the Parliament for alteration at their will and pleasures; and if it be so, I shall endeavour in vain to study more about it: For example, in my Lord of Shrewsbery his Case, and divers others, how Conditions have been broken, doth a little affright me: I know by your will and consent it should never be; but soldiers are unruly, and the Parliament unquestionable, and therefore I beseech you pardon my just cause of fear, and I will rest: August 11th 1646. Your humble servant, H. Worcester. Sir Thomas Fairefax Second Reply. My Lord, I Have perused your Letter of this Eleventh of August. As to your scruple wherein you desire to be satisfied (so far as I understand it) I can only give you this Resolution, that what I grant, I will undertake shall be made good: As to the instance you give in my Lord of Shrewsberies' Case, the Actors in that breach (who were none of my army) have received their censure, and by this time I believe the execution. But here, if any Conclusion be made while I stay, I dare undertake there shall be no such thing, or if any, there shall be reparation. August 11th. 1646. T. F. The Earl of worcester's Third Message. Sir, FOr the better accommodation of these unhappy differences, if you please that there may be a Cessation of arms and working, and to engage your Honour for the return of my Commissioners to morrow by Ten of the clock, they shall wait upon you in your leaguer, where they shall vindicate me for being the only obstruction of the general Peace: So in expectation of your sudden Answer: I rest, August 13. 1646. Your humble Servant, H. Worcester. Sir Thomas Fairefax Third Reply. My Lord, HAving not yet received in any of your Letters a direct Answer to the Conditions I sent you; I have no grounds or consideration for such a Cessation of arms and working, as in your Letter you desire; But if it be your purpose to return your Answer by Commissioners, I shall by the hour you mention, appoint Commissioners of mine own to receive the same in the leaguer as you desire, and engage myself for the safe return of yours, not exceeding six Commissioners, and as many servants: And in order to this, I shall be content there be a Cessation of arms and working, from nine of the clock to morrow morning, till two in the afternoon: August. 13. 1646. Your &c. T. F. I Appoint colonel John Birch, Thomas Herbert Esquire, Commissioners of Parliament for the Army, and Major_____ Tuliday, or any two of them Commissioners on my part, to receive such Answers or returns as are or shall be made or offered by the Commissioners of the marquess of Worcester, for or concerning the Renditiou of the Castle and Garrison of Ragland for the use of the Parliament. Given under my hand and seal at Uske the fourteenth day of August. 1646. T. F. Sir, HAd I not thought you had been in the leaguer, to the end that Propositions from the place in answer to yours, might have been first presented unto you, and to avoid delays, which I thought your side would best like of, it was resolved to send Commissioners together with our Propositions; but considering it was otherwise, I have sent you such as I am advised unto, to take into your consideration, and because there is some addition to yours, I would have been glad you had heard the just Reasons thereof, to the end you might not have been persuaded to slight them without just cause; your pleasure for the ordering of business, I, at your leisure expect, and if you please, the dismission of this Messenger: and so rest, August 14. 1646. Your humble Servant, H. Worcester. My Lord, I Have perused the Propositions sent out by your Commissioners, which I find such as deserve no Answer: I have offered your Lordship and the rest conditions which you may yet have if you accept in time: If there be any thing in them obscure, needing explanation, or wanting circumstantials, for the better performing of the things intended therein: I shall be willing to appoint Commissioners on my part to treat with yours to that purpose, upon those Propositions of mine, provided you send Commissioners instructed with power to treat and conclude and return your resolution herein by six of the clock this Evening. August 14. 1646. Yours &c. T. F. FINIS.