A COPY OF Lieut. Gen. Cromwel's Letter; Concerning the taking of WINCHESTER Castle: With a List of the particulars. Where was taken; 7. Pieces of Ordnance. 17. Barrels of powder. Musket bullets 2000 weight. Match 800. weight. Beef & Pork, 38. hogsheads. 15000. weight of Cheese. 800. pound of Butter. Wheat & meal, 140. quarters. Biscuit, 7000. weight. Strongbeere, 112. hogsheads. French Wine, 3. hogsheads. Salt, 10. quarters. Oatmeal, 20. bushels. Candle, 70. dozen. Wood, 30. load. Charcoal, 40. quarters. Seacole, 30. bushels, for the Smith. Sheep, 14. Fresh Beief, 4. quarters. Together, with Mr. Peter's report made to the House of Commons, from Lieutenant Gen. Cromwell. Commanded to be printed, and is published, according to Order. Octob. 9 London, printed by jane Go. 1645. Mr. PETER'S his report, made to the House of Commons. MR. Peter's, Minister to the Army, being sent from Lieutenant General Cromwell from Winchester, came to the House of Commons, with the Lieutenant General's man attending him to the House; with a Letter from his Master to the Speaker, concerning the taking of Winchester Castle; and the House gave Mr. Spavin, the Lieutenant General's Secretary, 50. l. And forthwith called Mr. Peter's into the House, who went in attended with the Sergeant at Arms with the Mace before him; where the Speaker giving him thanks for his unwearied labours in the preservation of this Kingdom, and assuring him that the House took care for him, who had so often brought them good tidings▪ and hazarded himself so much; and told him, that he had liberty to speak freely, what he had in commands from the Lieutenant General. Mr. Peter spoke in the House, the sum of whose discourse, was as followeth. Mr. Speaker, I Came from Winchester the last night late, but I had come sooner, had not my L. Ogle, and his company been so unwilling to part with their sack and strong beer, of which they drank so liberally at their farewell, that few of them (as it is their manner) could get up their horses without help, for the agreement was for their marching out at 3. a Clock but it proved la●e, through their debaughchery. My Commands (from the Lieutenant General) are to give this honourable house a further narative of the Castle of Winchester, being upon t●e place and a spectator of God's good hand in the whole work, as also to present his humble request to the house in some particulars; and before I speak to either of them, if gratitude itself were not sometimes unseasonable, I would (in my own name and the name of many thousands) ●●ume this honourable house most humble thanks for our Lieutenant General, in that you suffer (with patience) the vacansie of his place in this House. My wish is, that his spirit and that public English spirit of Hamden Pim, and Str●u●, may be doubled upon your new elected members. For our Lieutenant General, this I must say: that judgement and affections in him are striving for the mastery, I have rarely seen such heights, and depths consent in one man, that when I look upon the 2. Chiefs of our Army: I remember Gustavus Adolphus and Oxenstern, and I wish our hopes in these nay not be so short lived as the Germans hopes in them, were. More I might say, concerning him that sent me, who is so fare above the world, and lives so little upon the states pay, and minds himself so little; but that he hath enjoined silence to all his friends, in any thing that might turn to his onws praise. For the Castle of Winchester: we begun our batteries upon Saturday morning, which wrought so ●ff●ctually; that a breach (wherein 30. men might go a breast) was made: The enemy sallied out, and beat us off from our guns which were soon recovered again, we played then with our Granades from our Mortar pieces, with the best effect that I have seen, which broke down the Mansion house in many places, cut off a Commissary of theirs by the thighs, the most austere, and wretched instrument in that Country; and at last blew up their flag of defiance into the air, and toarre the pinnacle in pieces upon which it stood. Summons being sent as we entered upon this work, was refused by the L. Ogle their Governor; and another summons God sent them in the middle of our battery; his Lady (to whom our Lieutenant General had given leave to come forth, and had gone some miles out of the town) died; by whom the Governor had during her life, one thousand pounds a y●ar with her, lost by her death. The chiefest street of the town the enemy played upon: whereby divers passengers were wounded, and some killed, in which street my quarters being; I have that cause to bless God for my preservation. The Lord's day we spent in preaahing and prayer, whilst our gunner's were battering, and at 8. a clock at night we received a letter from the Governor for a treaty, which I have brought with me. Colonel H●●mond, and Major General Harrison were sent into t●e Castle on our party, Sir Edward Ford, and a Major of theirs, were se●● to us. The whole night was spent about it, our men standing upon some special terms with them, and very desirous were we to to accept Sir Edward Ford: and Bennit to be our prisoners, by 8. a clock on monday morning it was a greed they should departed out of the Castle at 5, a clock according to the Articles which the Lieutenant General hath sent by me. I was forthwith sent into the Castle to take a view of it before my departure, where I found a piece of ground improved to the b●st advantage, for when we had entered by our battery we had 6. distinct works, and a draw bridge to pass through; so that it was doubtless a very strong piece, very well victualled, as appears by this note, which I crave leave to read. Then Mr. Peter read the said Note, of which here followeth the Copy. 7. Pieces of Ordnance. 17. Barrels of Powder. 2000 weight of Musket Bullets. 800. Weight of Ma ch. 38. Hogsheads of Beef and Pork. 15000. weight of Cheese. 800. pound of Butter. 140. quarters of Wheat, and Meal. 7000. weight of Biscuits. 112. Hogsheads of strong Beer. 3. Hogsheads of French Wine. 10. Quarters of Salt. 20. Bushel of Oatmeal. 70. Dozen of Candles. 30. Load of Wood 40. Quarters of Charcoal. 30. Bushels of Seacole, for the Smith. 14. Sheep. 4. quarters of fresh Beef. Then Mr. Peter went on in his Speech, as followeth. Mr. Speaker, The Castle was manned with near 700. men, divers of them Reformadoes, the chief men I saw there were Viscount Ogle their Governor, Sir john Paulet, an old soldier, Sir William Courtney, and Colonel Bennet, also Dr. C●rle the Bishop of Winchester, who came forth to our quarters in the morning, with whom I spent an hour or two, who with tears and much importunity, desired the Lieutenant General's favour, to excuse his not accepting of the offer that he made unto him at his first entering the Town; he desired of me a guard to his lodging, lest the soldiers should use violence to him and his Chaplain, who were in their long Gowns and Cassocks, and he was accordingly safely convoyed home. I do verily believe, that they will hardly bring to Woodstock 200. men: It did much affect us, to observe what an Enemy we had to deal with, who themselves being judges, could not choose but say, that our God is not as their God. And this is the 19 Garrison hath been taken this Summer, through God's goodness. And he that will not take his share in this common joy, is either stupid or envious. Our Brigade is marched to Langford house, by Salisbure, which I hope will not be long work, and then that Country will be clean, and our men ready to wait our Generals further Commands. (Doubtless) w●re not the year so fare spent, and our foot thereby not able to lie abroad, we might soon look for the finishing of this War. The fruits of what is already done are great, amongst the rest, what I saw upon the way; all sorts travelling upon their occasions freely to their own homes, with Carriages and Wanes: many Inns filled with guests. The former face of things returning upon us in several kinds; yea, now we may ride with safety, from Dover to the middle of Devonshire. The Commission I have to this Honourable House, from the Lieutenant General, which he delivered unto me with much vehemency and sense, was this. 1. That you should be truly informed concerning the payment of the Army, it being generally reported, they are completely paid, and that Army constantly enjoined to pay their quarters, in which there hath been much care taken, and by which much hath been gained upon the Countries. It is most certain, that of twenty one Weeks, the Horse are twelve weeks behind; and the foot have likewise their proportion of sorrow, through want of pay. I know threescore in one company lying sick, by eating of raw roots and green Apples, through want of money to buy better food. It is most humbly desired, that they may not suffer by the State, who are willing to do so much for it; the hands and feet of a natural body, are not more apt move for an aching head, than this Army (in every part of it, are) for this afflicted Kingdom. I have often wished (if it might be thought good to your wisdoms) that every County (according to the store of money sessed upon every County) might know their soldiers, and a Committee of their own reside in the Army to pay them, it being the way of the Low-Countries; whereby the War hath been so well upheld and continued: The frame whereof I have long since given in writing, to some Members of this Honourable House. 2. The second thing I have in command is, That you be truly informed about your recruits of men; when we have been promised and expected 4000 we have received but 900. And upon Friday last, when we were promised 3000. and did not expect less, we received but fifteen hundred. It may be easily conceived that such an active Army must needs be a great spender of men by sickness and otherwise, though blessed be God it appears at every siege, the enemy's sword cuts not off many: at this of Winchester I know not of above 2 or 3 soldiers lost. Your recruits are so chargeable in their bringing to the Army, that with half the money our officers would recruite themselves. And were this Army recruited to your first intention of 21000. not only England, but I hope Ireland would soon reap the fruits of their labours. The last thing I take boldness to commend to this Honourable House is, that the Garrisons we take in, may be for God, this Honourable House, and the whole Kingdom, my meaning is, that forthwith some course may be taken, for the many ignorant and heathenish souls in and about the places aforesaid. This city is glutted, the country is famished; we are quarrelling here about the covering of the house, the foundations whereof are not yet laid in the country. In this I am the bolder, because of the cries of the people to me in the places where I have been; and some of Winchester at my departure crying for help with them of Macedonia. All which I represent to the most serious thoughts of this Honourable House, and the blessing of peace be upon all your Counsels, AMEN. Here followeth a Copy of divers several papers brought to the Parliament by Mr● Peter's from Lieutenant General Cromwell. The Copy of the several Letters that came from Viscount Ogle the Governor of the Castle, during the time of the siege. SIR, I have received a sad summons, and desire, you that this enclosed may be conveyed from WINTON Castle, 4. Oct. 1645. Your Servant, OGLE. SIR, Upon the opening of your sad message by your Drum, there was a mistake between your men and mine, for there was a man making an escape from the castle, at whom your men and mine did shoot, not knowing in the dark who he was; and the man is killed. OGLE. SIR, I have received formerly a Letter from you, wherein you desire to avoid the effusion of christian blood, to which you received my Answer, that I was willing as yourself. But having received no reply to actuate your desires, I have thought fit to desire a Treaty; whereby we may pitch upon some means, both for the effecting of that, and the preservation of this place. And that I may receive your letter with all conveniency, I desire that neither Officer or Soldier of your p●rty may come off their Guards, and I shall take the like course with mine. Winten Castle, at eight at night, October 5. 1645. Sir, I am Your Humble Servant, OGLE. Castrum WINTON, Articles agreed upon the 5 of October, 1645. between the Right Honourable William Viscount Ogle, Governor of the Garrison of the Castle of Winton of the one part, and Colonel Robert H●mmond, and Major Thomas Harrison on the behalf of Lieutenant General Oliver Cromwell of the other party; for the surrender of the said Castle. 1. That the Lord Ogle shall deliver up the Castle of Winchester, with all the Arms, Ordnance, Ammunition, Provision, and all Function of War whatsoever therein, without any imbeazelment waist or spoil, unto that Officer or Officers as shall be thereunto appointed by the said Lieutenant General, to morrow being Monday the 6 of Octob. by 3 of the clock, after noon. 2. That the said Lord Ogle shall have his own colours, and one hundred fixed Arms for his Guard, and one hundred men to carry them. 3. That the Lord Ogle and all the Officers in Commission, shall march out of the said Castle with their own horse and arms, and their own proper goods, unto Woodstock, thither they shall be safely convoyed. 4. That there shall be allowed to the Lord Ogle and his Officers, six Carriages for transporting of their goods aforesaid. 5, That all Officers, Gentlemen, Clergymen, and Inhabitants of the city of Winchester, and all Officers within the Guards (desiring it) may be at their own time free from all violence and injury of the Parliaments forces. 6. That the Lord Ogle shall give sufficient Hostages for the performance of the Aricles here constituted on their part to be performed, also for the safe return of the Convoy. A Copy of Lieutenant General Cromwel's Letter. SIR, I Came to Winchester on the Lord's day being the 28 of September, with Colonel Pickering; commanding his own, Colonel Mountagues, and Sir H●rdres Walls Regiments; after some dispute with the Governor, we entered the town, I summoned the castle, was denied, whereupon we fell to prepare our b●●teries, which we could not perfect (s●me of our Guns being out of order) unt●ll Fri●ay following, our Battery was six Guns; which being finished, aft●r one firing of them round, I sent him a second Summons for a treaty, which they refused, whereupon we went on with our work, and made a breach in the wall near the black Tower; which after about 200 shot we thought stormable, and purposed on Monday morning to attempt it. On Sunday night about ten of the clock, The Governor beat a parley, desiring to treat, I agreed unto it, and sent Colnoell Hammond and Major Harrison in to him, who agreed upon these enclosed Articles. Sir, This is the addition of another mercy, you see God is not weary in doing you good. I confess Sir, his favour to you is as visible, when he comes by his power upon the hearts of your enemies, making them quit places of strength to to you, as when he gives courage to your soldiers to attempt hard things, his goodness is in this much to be acknowledged, For the castle was well manned with 680 horse and foot, there being near 200 Gentlemen, Officers, and their Servants; well victualled with 15000 way of cheese, very great store of wheat and beer, near 20 barrels of powder, 7 pieces of Cannon, the works were exceeding good, and strong. It is very likely it would have cost much blood to have gained it by storm, we have not lost twelve men: This is repeated to you that God may have all the praise, for it is all his due. Sir I rest Your most humble Servant, Oliver Cromwell. Postscript. For other things that I am not willing to write, I have entrusted Mr. Peter's to communicate to you, who was within the place, and an eyewitness to all our proceed, and knows the true state of our Army; whom I do pray you to hear. FINIS.