A Copy of his highness' Prince Charles HIS LETTER TO THE Commanders of His majesty's Forces. WITH A Copy of His highness' Commission to colonel POYER. ALSO A Letter Concerning the state of the kingdom. WRITTEN By Mr: Hugh peter's, Minister of God's Word. LONDON Printed by Robert Ibbitson, in Smithfield, near the queens-head Tavern, 1648. HONI SOIT x MAL Y PENSE royal blazon or coat of arms CHARLES P. Charles Prince of Great Britain, Duke of Cornwall and Albaine, Highest Captain general under His Majesty, of all the Forces by Sea and Land within the kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, To our Trusty and well-beloved Col. John Poyer, Greeting: WE do by these presents, out of the special Trust and confidence we repose in you, nominate, constitute, and appoint you to be governor for His Majesty, of the town and Castle of Pembroke, and of the Garrison soldiers, Forces, and Inhabitants thereof (whom we hereby command to obey you in all things, as their governor. Giving you full power and authority to command as well the present Garrison of the said Town and Castle, as any other or greater Garrison that shall hereafter be settled there, for his majesty's service, and to appoint and authorise by Commission, all such Officers under you, as shall be from time to time necessary, for the Government of the said town and Castle, and for the command of the Garrison and Inhabitants there, authorising and requiring you likewise, to keep and defend, with the assistance of the said Garrison, or of any other Forces you can get, the said Town and Castle for His majesty's use, and service, against all invasions and attempts whatsoever. And for the better defence of the same, to add such New Works, as you in your judgement and discretion shall think meet, to the Fortification already made, as also, to do and execute all such other things and duties as belong to the Office and authority of governor of the said Town and Castle, and as you in your judgement shall think fit, for the necessary defence thereof, and in as large and ample manner as you now hold and exercise the same. In the execution whereof, and of this our Commission, you are to obey and pursue such Orders as you shall from time to time receive from his Majesty, from Us, or from such person as we shall appoint, to be general of South Wales, or Commander in chief of the Army there, for the time being. Given under our Hand and seal the 13 of April, in the 24 year of the Reign of our royal Father the King. To our Trusty and well-beloved, Col: Rice Powel, governor of Tinby Town and Castle, and Col: John Poyer, governor of Pembroke Town and Castle. Charles P. TRusty and well-beloved, we greet you well: We have seen your Declaration, and received your Letter, and are extremely satisfied with the many Expressions we find in them, of your great zeal, and affection to the King, our royal Father, and to us: We have much reason to be assured of the Loyalty & integrity of your intentions, when we consider the present conjunctures, & seasonableness of your appearing in arms, and declaring yourselves for his Majesty, at this time, when the concurrence of others with you, in the same good design, may give us more than an ordinary hope of good success, and that you and they may be a mutual support and assistance to each other: The Answers we have herewith sent to your Propositions, will we hope, let you see how ready we are to embrace all things, that may give you Encouragement to proceed cheerfully & constantly in this cause, and the modesty you have used therein, shall invite us to lay hold of all occasions, to oblige persons that Engage themselves in so great an undertaking, with such reasonable demands for themselves. And we assure you, that we shall be careful, to supply and assist you in all things, to the uttermost of our power: And if it please God to bless us with success, we shall endeavour by all real effects of kindness, to let you see how truly sensible we are of your merit, and of the obligation we acknowledge to have to you. Given at St. german say the 23 of April. 1648. A Letter from Mr. Peter's. SIR, I Have at length gotten an opportunity to write unto you, and to give you a true account of the issue of our work, being left at Pembroke, and Tinby, for the settling some things there. Briefly, both these Towns were very strong, Tinby being like a Promontany into the Sea, the part without the walls stormed by Overtons regiment, and the Town commanded by Col. Powel yielded to mercy, as you have heard. Pembroke the strongest place that ever we sat down before, and the Castle even impregnable, which after six weeks' siege, constant rain, and much hardship endured by us and them, reduced as we desired, Viz. 5 to mercy being Leaders, 16 to 2 years' banishment, the rest sent home, The Enemy consisting of men of all parts, resolute enough, keeping it even to the last. Many were the providences in that work; for which, admire God's goodness. In taking Chepstow Castle and Town, and these other two, in all our long march we have lost about 50 or 60 men, and only one Major and one Captain, The enemy's loss hath been great, but none of more concernment than Col. Botlems' death, who was killed at a window, by a shot ours, at random. Their Interest was wholly changed, and from the Parliament fell to the King, having the Prince's Commission. I being commanded in at a hostage, and to wait upon Major general Laughorn, and Poyer, I lay in Poyers' house, and in a Vault there, found his Commission, and the Prince's Letter to him and Powel, with a Letter under the Princes own hand and seal; which shows they fought not for Arrears, besides all the transactions betwixt the Prince and them, together with many other Letters of theirs, manifesting the whole design of this years trouble, and the laying every piece of them in all parts of Scotland, England, and Wales. That I can truly say, the beating their Army at St. Fagons, and taking in this Country, hath been the greatest services we have been in. The people are a people merely deluded by the Name of King and Service-book, for their Religion. This I call the third testimony God hath given to the world of the integrity of this Army, and his presence with it. First, in the year 1645. where all the King's power was subdued by it. Secondly, when the tumults at London caused us to march through the city. And, Thirdly, this years' commotions: which hath been quelled by the Army thus exceedingly dispersed. Oh that men would yet confess with us, his goodness, & leave off jealousies, and wranglings, and mind their common interest! We are marched back to England, leaving a sufficient Force here, to maintain what we have gotten: And are yet resolved to bear our further witness as the Lord shall direct us: We have contested with so many difficulties in this journey, that we may not distrust God in hardships: we have wanted bread, lain in cold fields, constant rain, our Guns sunk in the Sea and recovered, we had a desperate Enemy, and few friends, but a mighty God; we had most of us no pay since we came from London, many barefooted soldiers, yet valiant and unchangeable: we are amazed at God's bounty, and now are safe at Hereford, Gloucester, &c. The honest true-hearted Lieutenant general living yet above all reproaches, of whom, I fear the poor Nation is not worthy. Alas Sir, we now know where even all the secret Enemies of the kingdom dwell, yea, such as we could not have thought to have been Enemies. The use I have made of our long being in these parts, hath been the discovery of men behind us in other parts. Good is the Lord. Sir, it was no ridiculous work I was about, when I would have joined Parliament, London, and the Army together; but that City did not know its day, nor the Associated counties theirs. I wish some Government were designed, whether by King or otherwise, I desire a blessing upon it, that so good a God may be no further grieved by us. Farewell good Friend, and remember him who is, Swansey 23 July, 1648. Excuse my haste. Yours, and the kingdoms. HUGH peter's. FINIS.