STRANGE NEWS From the NORTH. CONTAINING A True and exact Relation of a great and terrible Earthquake in Cumberland and Westmoreland. With the miraculous Apparition of three glorious Suns that appeared at once. And other wonderful Appearances that happened in Yorkshire, of divers bodies of armed men marching, and riding through every Town for twelve mile's compass about Malton, with the strange accidents that befell the thereabout through fright thereof, to the admiration of many thousand beholders. Together with, the Charge against Charles Howard Esquire High Sheriff of the County of Cumberland. Verified by several Gentlemen of known and approved credit. TINMOUTH-CASTLE depiction of Tynemouth Castle LONDON, Printed by J. Clowes and are to be sold at the Royal Exchange and without Cripplegate, June 11. 1650. STRANGE NEWS FROM THE NORTH. SIR, I Have often mentioned in my letters to you, the many and marvellous signs and sights, which before and since these Wars, have been seen in these our Northern parts, the Lord warning us as it were thereby, not only of our late troubles, but of the continuance thereof; if by righteous judgements our Governors do not appease his anger, I formerly related to you how shortly after the Scots march into England in aid of our Parliament, it reigned blood, and covered the Church and Churchyard of Bewcastle in Cumberland, of three Suns seen there the day before Edg-hill battle, and a little before Hambleton with his Army came into England, two Armies were in Yorkshire, seen in the air vissibly, discharging and shooting one against the other; and seemingly after a long fight, the Army which risen out of the North, first vanished. This last Winter in the North we have had very strange and fearful storms, with much thunder and lightnings; But to admiration that of the 18. of January last was most remarkable, in the night time the storm began very fearfully, Armies and Armed Troops, (in every town for twelve mile's compass about Molton in Yorkshire) were heard to ride and march through the Towns; their Cattle and beasts in these Towns, were so frighted with the storm, as most of them broke out of their pastures, some breaking their necks and some their legs in this madding fit, some run away four miles, some more, who when found and brought home, were so wild and heated, as if they had been chased with a hundred mastive Dogs; one Ox where he lay in a stake-yard lame, and not able to rise without the help of man, in this storm broke out, and the next day was found lying above a mile from the place he was in the night before, and was brought home on a sledge; for a month after the the storm, the beasts thereabouts run madding about, and would not be kept in their Pastures, people were so astonished therewith, as for a long time they had little other discourse then of the strangeness of the storm. I see a Relation of three Suns, lately seen about Manchester; but sure it is, that in the beginning of March last, there were seen at one time in Cumberland and Westmoreland, three glorious Suns, to the admiration and great astonishment of many thousands of the beholders. And further, upon the 11. of April last about 5. of the clock in the afternoon, in the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland, we had a general Earthquake; the people were so frighted therewith, that they forsook their houses, and some houses were so shaken, that the Chimneys fell down; Some may doubt and question the verity of these things, be confident I have related nothing but what I know to be true, and have had from men of known and approved credit. These things I thought good to communicate to you, as I have done before things of like nature; for news we have little in these parts, only great fear of the Scots invading us again; I could wish our honourable Parliament and Council of State, as they are very sensible of the ensuing threatened troubles, and for prevention whereof, as they have increased their forces: so they would be pleased, to make diligent inquiry of all in Magistracy, how they stand affected to the Commonwealth under this present Government, especially in these our bordering Counties, which will be a door to let in, or keep out any enemy from Scotland. Here the honest party are much cast down, our Justices of the Peace do countenance such Ministers as be against the Engagement, and Mr. Baldwin the Lecturer of Penreth and other Ministers there, have had sundry private meetings, and do work privately against the subscribing the Engagement, if somewhat be not speedily done herein, all our County will be against the Engagement. Our new Sheriff of Cumberland the most powerful man of the County, we find he hath been in Arms, both in the first and second War; and now hath for his Agent and Councillor, one Lawyer Fallowfeild a professed Papist, and now said to be a Priest; and the other day came from the Irish Rebels (as I hear) in Ireland. How in the last War our Sheriff behaved himself, by the Charge and proof before the Commissioners for Sequestrations in Cumberland against him will appear, a Copy thereof being come into my hand I send you, desiring it may be published for public good. It were good the Council of State would take notice of those, who recommend such dangerous persons to so great offices of trust; by this means honest men are still kept under, and till such be removed out of these places of trust, we are never the more secure for all our great successes and victories; for our enemies though they have lost their swords in battle, yet by regaining the sword of authority, are in hopes to recover their former estate, and bring us under them; in the mean time, by their ill Government they do disaffect the people, and bring them in dislike of the present Government, and oppress the honest party, and will be ready as formerly, to invite a foreign enemy, and at home raise tumults and insurrections upon any opportunity; therefore I pray improve your interest & credit, that such withus' as have been in Arms against the Parliament, may no longer continue in such great places and offices of trust, and I shall as opportunity serves from time to time, let you know the state of our County, in the mean time, I bid you farewell. Penreth 30. May 1650. T. C. The Charge against Charles Howard Esquir High Sheriff of the County of Cumberland, Exhibited to the Commissioners for Sequestrations in Cumberland. THat the said Mr. Howard, having a Commission to be a Col. for the King in the last war, which he did confess was as large as any man had, did by virtue therreof, send out his warrants to the several Constables of Gilsland for three several musters; Requiring, all men above sixteen, and under threescore to appear before him at Brampton, And the Constables to present their names upon Thursday the 10. of August, 1648. and the fourteenth, and the sixteenth day of the said month following at the several days, the said Mr. Howard came to the abovesaid place, accompanied with many Soldiers in Arms, under his command, and gave order for free-quarrer for his Soldiers; And that the Constables should Levy moneys to pay for the horses he took in every place. Proof to this Article, Tho. Milburn. Tho. Bell. Anthony Hevyside. Secondly, That the said Mr. Howard, took 10. horses in Hayton parish for the said service, and proportionably in other parishes within Gilsland according to the purvey. Tho. Bell abovesaid, Anthony Heviside. Thirdly, That the said Mr. Howard, did declare openly at the said Musters, that the men and Horse so levied, was for the King's service; And that he was to meet the Prince with his men at Barwick Saturday the 19 of August following. Tho. Milburn. Tho. Bell. Fourthly, The said Mr. Howard sent a Letter to ten Cavaliers that had horse and Arms, quartering upon Leonard Hodgson Constable of Hartleburn in Northumberland, That if they would ride in his Troop to Barwick as Reformadoes, they should have Command as places fell; and they should come to Francis Grames of the Stone house in Gilsland, and there abouts they should have quarter till they marched to Barwick. Proof to this Article Leonard Hodgson. Fifthly, The said Mr. Howard, repared several times to the enemy's Garrison at Carlisle, and walked abroad with his Arms. Richard Hutton. Sixthly, At two several Musters by warrant from the said Mr. Howard in the first Article mentioned, the said Mr. Howard had made his speeches to the Country, his Soldiers drew their swords and cried, a King a King. Thomas Addison. This Charge was presented to us, and the several witnesses names to every Article, that will make good the same. Tho. Craister. John Musgrave. John Priscoe. Thomas Laughorne. FINIS.