England's wolf with eagle's claws: OR The cruel Impieties of bloodthirsty Royalists, and blasphemous Anti-Parliamentarians, under the Command of that inhuman Prince Rupert, Digby, and the rest. Wherein the barbarous cruelty of our civil uncivil wars is briefly discovered.   depiction of a wolf in cavalier's clothing with eagle's claws for feet 
1. ABout the middle of September, 1642. a base and barbarous act was performed against that faithful Commander, Captain Wingate, a Member of the Honourable House of Commons, being taken prisoner by the King's party in fight near Worcester, he was carried prisoner to Worcester, and there brought before the two German Princes, Rupert and Maurice, and by them with many base reproachful revilings examined, concerning his being in Arms against the King, which he wisely, and as resolutely declared. At which the bloody Prince Rupert being incensed to hear, with an outrageous fury, called the said captain Parliament dog, telling him, if he had such a gift of patience, he should speedily be made a rare martyr. Immediately after this they marched from Worcester to Ludlow, and this Captain being bound with his hands behind him was set on horseback, bound fast to the horse, guarded by Troopers that swore damn them they would pistol him. And having rode about six or seven miles, having oft set their charged pistols to his breast, if he would not turn they would shoot him. But Prince Rupert himself coming to him gave command, if he would not renounce the Parliaments service, and turn to the King, he should presently be stripped and ride stark naked before them to Ludlow. But this faithful Captain still continued his former resolution, and was presently stripped, (receiving, as he said, more hurt by the cold, then trouble at their cruelty and scorn.) And thus the Prince caused him to ride through the street at Ludlow, and with jeers asked him, If he had now learned to suffer, vowing if he would not recant, to proceed against him with cruel torments to put him to death: but he persisted still in his constancy, and being sent to prison, was used most cruelly, being allowed but bread and water. This truth is confirmed and published by authority of Parliament formerly.  
2. Amongst the rest one that was hanged three several times, one after another, the halter broke every time as he was cast from the ladder, & the last time of the three, in a rage they took two halters, and twisted them together, but this also snapped in sunder. When he was cast off, and the man was still perfectly alive and well, at which they were struck to the heart, yet cast him into prison, and there starved him to death; which upon occasion by witness is to be verified.  
3. Their common saying is, They will not be beholding to God to save them, and that they had rather be in hell with their Comrades, then in heaven with the roundheads.  
4. After the Parliaments Forces were out of the city of Bristol, and without the works, the Cavaliers revilingly and blasphemously told them, they were sorry they could not butcher them, upbraiding them, and asking where is now your God? where are your fastings and professions? where is your King Jesus, and said, King Charles should be King for all King Jesus.  
5. Another saving of theirs is; The devil that made us, dam us, and damn me and Ram me into the mouth of a Cannon, and shoot me nine miles into hell.  
6. They drink a health to King Charles, in whom they live, move, and have their being.  
7. How should we forget that bloody massacre of Byron in Cheshire, that in cool blood murdered no less than 1500. that fled into a Church for shelter, by firing the same, and all these innocent poor souls burnt therein.  
8. At Crowland in Lincolnshire about the middle of May, 1643. the Cavaliers coming to a neighbour Town called Spawling, they beset the house of one Master Ram, a godly painful Minister of that town, they took him with one Master Harington, Master Horn, and Master Slator, all worthy religious Gentlemen, and carried them away prisoners, and there kept them at Crowland for three weeks.  
9 After which time they of Spawling beset Crowland, hoping to release these worthy Gentlemen and their Minister. Whereupon these Cavalerian Crowlanders took these worthy Gentlemen out of prison, apiniond them all together, and set them on the top of their breastworks of the town, in the face of their friends that came to relieve them, who not knowing who they were at such a distance, shot fiercely at them, and one Captain Harington, son to Master Harington, than prisoner, shot three several times at his own father not knowing him, but at last perceiving this cursed wile, the fight abated on that side where they were placed.  
10. Herein appeared the admirable providence of God, that in so many violent and furious shots, not one of these worthy Gentlemen were touched or hurt by the shot, God guiding the Bullets not to hurt his servants. Thus they were miraculously preserved, and the Town taken.  
11. Cicester prisoners coming near to Oxford, divers Inhabitants went to see them, the prisoners were tied two and two together with cords or Match, two Ministers trashed through the dirt as the rest: when they came before his Majesty, in the mire they fell upon their knees for his majesty's favour; but it was in vain, his Majesty returned this answer, they had brought that misery upon themselves: five or six died the same night they came to Oxford with their miserable usage; and one to end his misery cut his own throat.  
12. They also took after the fight five of the Parliaments soldiers, and tied them by the hands with ropes, and forced them into the Thames, where they were drowned.  
13. Amongst the rest one honest woman, Jane White, that reproved them for swearing, was shot with a brace of Bullets through the back and belly, being great with child, and within three weeks of her delivery, she died immediately.  
14. At Banbury, though his Majesty gave his hand and seal to the contrary, that no injury should be done, yet most barbarously they fell to plunder the whole town, to the utter ruin of the said Inhabitants, saying, The King did not know the state and condition of war.  
15. One William Wright, of Abington, being well affected to the Parliament, advised the Inhabitants to stand upon their guard, and oppose the enemy, who being discovered, by Prince Plunderers command was condemned by martial Law, and hanged at his own door.  
16. A Gentleman of good worth they hanged up in a With upon a tree, for saying, he was for the King and Parliament.  
17. At Ipbeworth an honest religious man, saying he was for the King and Parliament, they cut off both his ears, and gave him thirty wounds; and after threw him on the dunghill, saying in a scoffing manner, Let the dogs lick him whole.  
18. They took another man in the same town, and fastened a cord to his feet, and dragged him about the streets: at last being weary of their cruelty, thus they said; Why should we weary ourselves with this P●rliament dog, and so discharged three pistols at him to end his torment and life together.  
19 A young man at Leeds for refusing to bear Arms against the Parliament, was horsed by the Cavaliers, and great weights hung at his legs, which so hurt him that he bled and filled his boots with blood, and his Mother weeping offered largely to take him off, but they would not, so that within a small space after he died.  
20. Great cruelty was used to the prisoners at Oxford to force them to take the Protestation by the tyrant Smith, by tying lighted Match between their fingers, burning them to the bones, of which there were eye-witnesses.  
21. Prince Rupert coming to Brainford with his cruel Cavaliers, he exercised most inhuman outrages there, plundering a brewer's house, spoiled and let out his beer, took from him ten or twelve Horses, drew his wife out adores in her smoke, with her young infant in her arms, having lain in but a week before; she died soon after.  
22. All those Prisoners which were taken at Brainford fight, they pinioned together with match and ropes, stripped them to their shirts, whipped them, and drove them before them like dogs to Hounslo, over surres and prickly bushes, barehead and barefoot. Some of these poor wretches fled from them into the Thames for hoped safety, were shot by these barbarous Cavaliers; and thus many were drowned.  
23. In November 1642. by that cruel and devilish Catiline, the Lord Digby, entering the town of Malbrough with his cruel companion Sir Daniel Oneale, that Irish bloody rebel, having with granadoes fired the town in four several places, rod furiously through the streets, and with drawn swords cut and hacked all they could meet with, whether men or women.  
24. Then they broke open their shops, and took away all sorts of goods they met with, setting their swords and pistols to men and womens' breasts, threatening to kill them, if they would not confess where their money was, and what goods they could not carry away, they broke and spoiled.  
25. One Cavalier above all the rest coming an honest gentleman's house in Malbrough, uttered these words in a most insolent outrageous manner; God dam me, ram me, sink me nine miles into hell, if I suffer one Round-head to continue here.  
26. In a short time after the Lord Digby or Grandison came into the same gentleman's house, who had many children, and told him he must pay 500.1. within four days after at farthest; the Gentleman told him he had not wherewith possible to pay 100.1. he had been so plundered lately; and besides he had 18. children to maintain, and now nothing left to keep them: but this Lord swearing his common Oath, God dam him, what did he tell him of 18. children, why did he not tie them two by two together and drowned them; then demanding where they were, he said, if he would not drown them he would and then swore the same oath as formerly, if he would not pay that sum, he would hang him at his own door.  
27. Another Cavalier in the Town proffered a Townsman twenty shillings, to teach him a new Oath, that he had never heard sworn.  
28. The spoil at this time was most lamentable, besides what they convayd away, letting out whole hogsheads of oil, and vessels of strong water, Aqua vitae, Treakles, spice, and fruit, which was all thrown about the shops, and streets, besides the burning and taking away of large Bibles, and all sorts of good books, with which they made great fires.  
29. In one man's shop, wherein was Hemp, Flax, oil, Pitch, tar, Rosin, and such like combustables, they kindled a fire, and left it burning when they left the town, which was timely discovered and quenched.  
30. At this time they drove at least 200. prisoners before them to Oxford, bound two by two, & forced them on foot through all the dirt and mire where their Cannons went: of which number about thirty were honest able Townsmen; they were most cruelly used in the Tower of the Castle, not being allowed fire, candle, or straw to lie on, but the bare boards and planks of the room, and a penny in bread, and a farthing beer, depriving them of all friends, or supply otherways.  
31. And when Smith their cruel Gaoler was solicited to pity them; his answer was, Hang them damned rogues, villains, traitors, the devil take them, they are used too well, and when some of them were ready to die, and he told of it, he would suffer nothing to be administered for their help or recovery.  
32. Note moreover, that besides all this spoil by plunder, and otherways, of this distressed town, these wicked Cavaliers burnt down 35. dwelling houses, and made at least 150. able persons homelesse and harbourless; six or seven barns full of corn burnt and destroyed, besides stables, wood piles, and outhouses, and all their horse taken away: the loss of this town in all is by eye-witnesses and sufferers confirmed to be 50000.1.  
33. This tigerlike Tyrant Smith hath so pinched his prisoners with cold and thirst, denying them water to drink, that when they have been brought forth and examined by their merciless Judges, they have gladly drank the water wherein Gentlemen had washed their hands, and rainwater in the Castle Court, yea, many have drunk their own urine.  
34. After some were brought to such misery, than they were promised a penny a day in cheese, and their liberty at length, if they would take that Oxonian cursed Protestation. Whereupon divers poor souls took the same, and within three days after their cheese was denied them, and all hope of liberty, unless they would pay the Tyrant Smith large fees, or serve in arms for the King.  
35. And others had their heels and necks tied together for 44. hours, not suffering them to have one bit of bread all that time, or drop of water: some were so tied or manacled three weeks together, without intermission, because they would not take that Protestation.  
36. The perfidious dealing of Prince Rupert at Bristol, violating all Articles of agreement at the surrender of the town, as soon as they had entered plundering all houses as well Malignants as others.  
37. They also took women by the throats, one especially, and put a rope about her neck, threatening to throttle her, if she would not reveal where her husband's money lay, and tied a sheaf of hemp to her body, and began to set it on fire, thereby to force her to confess the same.  
38. Some gave money to several Officers, that they might escape, yet were plundered, and found no redress; others were greatly fined to recover those goods that were taken away.   

LONDON; Printed by Matthew Simmons, dwelling in aldersgate-street. 1647.