The true copy of A LETTER; Sent from Sir RALPH HOPTON. Col. Ashburnham. and Sir John BERKLEY. To Mr. Christopher Clarke, Major of the City OF EXCESTER, For the laying down their arms, raised for the Parliament, and the delivering up the City to the KING  
With the Answer which the Major returned to them.  
Published by Command.  
London, Printed for I. T. and R. R. 1642.   

A copy of a Letter received FROM Sir Ralph Hopton, by the Major of EXETER;  
Mr. Major,  
NEither your slight Answer to our last Letter, nor your no Answer to our former, (in which we sent you a copy of our Commission) nor your neglect of the known laws, in levying arms without his majesty's leave, nor your employing those arms to the destruction of His majesty's good Subjects, and such as proceed by His 〈…〉 have that effect upon our minds, as to make us with His majesty's usual mercy and clemency any ways contracted with you; And therefore 〈◊〉 we may satisfy all goodmen, not only of the Justice and Equity of our proceedings, but also of that charity, and compassion, (of which there scarce can be any access in cases of blood) These are to require you once more in His majesty's Name (by virtue of our Commission) to lay down your unlawful arms, and to conform yourselves to the duties of your Allegiance, and to be no more a cause (by your obstinacy) of drawing those calamities upon your Country, which even the hearts of strangers bleed to see, and foresee, in case you shall think it fit to accept of your own safety, and the quiet of your Country, at no greater price, than your returning to the laws; These are to assure your City, and every person in it of imdempnity for our part, but in case you shall still continue in arms without his majesty's Authority, and against it, These are to call God and man to witness, that it is you, which have broke these laws, which have hitherto kept this kingdom in Peace, and cannot but expect the bitter fruits of your own planting.  
As for us, so may God bless us in our proceedings, as we have been far from giving occasion to this unnatural war, and as we are, and ever have been ready to embrace all just ways, of composing it, in which way we are ready to approve, ourselves,  
Your very loving Friends, Ralph Hopton, W. Ashburnham, John Berkley. Alphington, Decemb. 30. 1642.   

The Answer of the Maior of EXETER.  
Gentlemen,  
YOu had no Answer to your first Letter, because your Commission, whereof you sent me a copy, I conceive, had no relation to our City. To the second Le●ter, signed by colonel Ashburnham, I thought it not fit to give a serious Answer, the contents being as far from my belief, as your intention, for I cannot be persuaded to find those friendly in this City, that have invaded the County of Devon. with an Army, and used the Inhabitants as Enemies; And besides, this City being committed (under our most gracious sovereign) to my charge, and government, I should falsify that trust very much, if I should receive into it numbers of Power, to master both it, and me.  
For our taking of arms for our defence, even your approach in the manner you came, is a sufficient reason, if there were no more, But the defence of those laws, and that Government by Parliaments, which hath so long kept this kingdom in happy Peace, is the cause of our Arming, no more doubting of the lawfulness of the Authority, than I do of my humble Duty, and faithful Allegiance to his Majesty, the Oath whereof I have often taken, and ever will keep.  
To the Authors of this unnatural war, all evil is wished by all good men; I do not impute the beginning of it to you, because I know it not, I wish I could acquit you of the prosecution, while we pray for a blessed reconciliation between his Majesty, and this Parliament, and do our best to defend both; There are some that have most unfaithfully persuaded his Majesty to bend his royal face against that Court, to the destruction of the fundamental laws, and ruin of the kingdom: That you are a partner in the execution at least of that design, is my confident belief, being manifest by your practice; your discerting this unnatural and destructive war, and joining with us of this City in prayers to God, and Petitions to his sacred Majesty, to vouchsafe a concurrence with his faithful Lords and Commons in Parliament, to give a speedy remedy to these bleeding miseries, would cause me really to sign myself,  
Your Friend to serve you Christopher clerk, Major.  
FINIS.