Sir John Digbies LETTER TO Colonel Kerr Governor OF PLYMOUTH, Persuading him to betray his Trust, and deliver up the Town and Forts of Plymouth, to the KING'S Party.  
Together with Col. Kerrs Answer.  
Wherein is expressed his faithful Resolution in keeping the Trust he hath undertaken.  

ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That this Letter be forthwith Printed and Published.  
Hen. Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.   
London, Printed for Edw. Husband, Printer to the Honourable House of Commons, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Sign of the Golden Dragon in Fleetstreet, near the Inner-Temple, January. 2. 1645.   

The Copy of the Letter from Col. Digby to Col. Kerr, Governor of Plymouth.  
SIR,  
I Am troubled to understand, that through the ingratitude of those you serve, you are like to be rewarded with the dishonour of having a person of much inferior merit put over your head, an injury insupportable to any man of Spirit, and which may offer you a justifiable occasion of doing a very eminent Service to your Native King and Country; and which if you will embrace, to deliver up the Town with the Works of Plymouth, I shall engage myself on my Honour, and the Faith of a Gentleman, you shall be rewarded with Ten thousand pounds sterlin, and have the command, if you please, of a Regiment of five hundred Horse, with what Honours you yourself shall desire. Sir, be not scrupelous in taking the advice of an Enemy that desires hearty on these terms to become your true Friend, and to serve ever for the future in all occasions, as a most faithful Servant  
John Digby. Plimpton, 3. Decemb. 1645.  
For Col. Kerr, Governor of Plymouth.   

Colonel Kerrs Answers.  
SIR,  
YOur motion to Treason I have seen, and detest it, it is below my Spirit for personal injury (supposed only by an Enemy) to take National revenge, and for a punctilio of honour, to take advice from Hell, and bentray my trust; I am sorry that one so ingennous, as yourself should abuse your natural parts only to do mischief; yet I have no reason to wonder much at your persuasion to Treasheiy, because I have had experience of the Endeavours of your Family to corrupt others also. I remember the Gun-power Plot, the Letter your Brother wrote to my Lord Roberts in this place for the same purpose, and his negotiation with Major General Brown at Abbington. Surely those principles came from Spain; but you should have told me also, that Spanish Proverb, To love the Treason, and hate the Traitor.  
Sir, If my Council may take with you, than I beseech you to consider the evil Council you and your Party have given His Majesty, whereby the Kingdom, especially those parts under your power, are become almost a desolation; And when you have thought upon the sad effects of those Wars, then let your heart tell you the truth, That much of the Blood and Rapine in this Country must lie upon your account, and guilt may enforce you to seek for terms of Reconciliation first with God, then with the Representative Body of the Kingdom, whom you have so highly offended. Let not this advice from him whom you call Enemy be despised, as you hope for mercy, and the respects of him, who according to the National Covenant resolves to be,  
Sir, Assuredly your Servant James Kerr. Plymouth, 10 Dec. 1645.  
For Sir John Digby General, at Plimpton.   

To the Right Honourable Committee of Parliament, for the safety of Plymouth, Pool, and Lyme.  
My Lords and Gentlemen,  
IT hath been my endeavour, since I had any Command here, faithfully to discharge the trust reposed in me, especially for the preservation of this Important place Plymouth: and although you in your wisdoms have thought fit to change the Government, I do contentedly acquiesse in it, and shall always be ready to serve my God and the Kingdoms, according to the Nationall Covenant in any condition, I shall be thought worthy to be employed. My Neighbour Enemy Sir John Digby, sent me on the third of this Instant this Temptation, whereof the enclosed is a true Copy, by a Countryman of mine that resided in this Town; It seems the fellow was an Instrument of theirs, for he went twice to Parley with the Enemy without Order, and the second time received this Paper from that Renegado Major Balfore privately, who conjured him with secrecy to deliver it to me, and told him he might gain Five hundred pounds by the business. The Messenger accordingly delivered his Message, but could not read it. I no sooner saw it, but sent for the Committee, Mr. Wadden, Mr. Francis, Mr. Alsop, and the Secretary, and discovered it to them. It was at first resolved, That I should seem to comply with him, and by it to get advantage; but since that Resolution is changed, and the enclosed returned in Answer; the Messenger is still in Custody, and shall receive a Trial according to the Rules of War; And I desire only that you will Publish my Integrity to the World, and I shall continue to be for ever  
Plymouth, the 12. of Decemb. 1645. Your Honours and the Kingdoms most faithful Servant, JAMES KERR.   

To the Right Honourable Committee of Lords and Commons, for the safety of Plymouth, Pool, and Lyme.  
Right Honourable,  
Upon Wednesday last was seven-night in the Evening, Col: Kerr sent for us, and communicated a Letter he had then received from Col: Digby, by the hands of one Thomas Read a Scottish Seaman, (whom he had then secured in his own Quarters;) And when we had considered the nature of it, we at first resolved to Deceive the Deceivers, (if we might) but because some other accidents have since intervened, we changed our Resolutions. We profess we found Col: Kerr extremely troubled at this Treacherous notice, and exceedingly grieved that an Enemy should suspect him capable of Treason: And we shall give this Testimony of him, that we believe him a most cordial faithful Servant to the Kingdom and this Place; and make it our Requests, That you will return him thanks for his fidelity, and cause the Letter to him, and his Answer thereunto to be made Public; which we conceive is an Honour too small for his Resolution in resisting such a Temptation. So rest  
Plymouth, the 12. of Decemb. 1645. Your Honour's most humble Servants, 

John Bear.  
Justinian Peard.  
Tho: Ciely.     

A Letter from Colonel John Digby, to Colonel James Kerr, Governor of Plymouth, and the Answer of the said Colonel James Kerr unto him, were both this day Read, and Ordered to be forthwith Printed; and that the Committee of Plymouth do prepare a Letter to be sent unto him from this House, in testimony & acknowledgement of his great fidelity, and that Five hundred pounds be from this House bestowed on him, and paid unto him or his Assigns, by the Committee of Plymouth; and that he be in an especial manner recommended from this House to the Committee of the Army for some place befiting as a man of such approved Faith and Integrity.  
The Messenger that brought this Letter to Colonel James Kerr, hath since received his reward, and is executed by Martial Law.  
H. Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.   
FINIS.