THE EARL OF ESSEX HIS LETTER TO Master Speaker.  
July 9 1643.  
With some brief Animadversions on the said Letter.  
OXFORD, Printed by Henry Hall, 1643.   

Master SPEAKER,  
I Would now have given you the true Relation of the skirmish on Sunday last between some of my Horse and the Enemies near Buckingham; but Sir Philip Stapleton and Colonel Goodwin being then upon the place, I refer that Relation to them: since when being informed that the King had sent more Forces to Buckingham to maintain that Place and bring those parts into contribution, and give us battle there: hereupon I advanced with the Army towards that Town, where the Enemy stayed until the Army came within two miles of them, and then made haste away towards Banburie, notwithstanding they had persuaded the People that they would not quit the Place till they had beaten me out of the County. I then understanding that they were fled held it not fit to go to the Town with mine Army, but sent Colonel Middleton with some Horse to clear that Town and Coast, which they did, and then advised where to quarter with most conveniency for our Army, and most ready for the Enemy, the Queen's Forces being like to join with them very suddenly; and that our Army may better secure the Parliament and City of London and Counties adjacent, and be more safely supplied with moneys from London, and lie most conveniently to join with the Forces with the Lord Grace in Northamptonshire, I was advised to march to great Brickhill, as the most fit Place for all purposes. The Enemy being so strong in Horse, and this Army being neither recrewted with Horses, Arms, nor Saddles, it is impossible to keep the Countries from being plundered, nor to fight with them but where and when they list, we being forced when we move to march with the whole Army, which can be but slow marches, so that the Countries must suffer much wrong, and the cries of poor People are infinite. If it were thought fit to send to his Majesty to have Peace; with the settling of Religion, the Laws and Liberties of the Subject, and to bring unto just Trial those chief Delinquents that have brought all this mischief to both Kingdoms; and as my Lord of Bristol spoke in Parliament, how we may be secured to have those things performed hereafter; or else (if his Majesty shall please to absent himself) there may be a day set down to give a period to all these unhappy distractions by a Battle, which when and where they shall choose, who may be thought any way indifferent, I shall be ready to perform that duty I own you. And that it may not bring with it a Treaty, the Propositions to be agreed upon between his Majesty and the Parliament may be sent to such an indifferent place that both Armies may be drawn near one to the other, that if Peace be not concluded, it may be ended by the sword; no Officers of the Army to be of the Committee, nor any intercourse to be between them. So I am  
Your assured Friend ESSEX. Great Brickhil, july 9 1643.  
THis Letter will need no Interpreter, only the Reader may please to observe what is now the chief task of the Rebel's Army [To secure the Parliament and City of London.] for as that wretched City hath been both Midwife and Nurse of this Rebellion, which some desperate Malcontents had cunningly begotten; so now their General must so order his business, that neither the one nor the other be brought to an account: for if the Members be disturbed, the Contrivance would cease, and not to protect their Citizens would stop Contribution, and so their Army (and this bloody Civil War) would melt and dissolve into our former happy peace.  
Next, consider in what case their Army now apprehends itself, who foreseeing Her Majesty would advance out of the North, Declared it was not in their power to prevent Her, but that (maugre all they could do to the contrary) The Queen's Forces would suddenly be joined to the Kings: which accordingly was done, Her Majesty meeting her Lord and Sovereign in Keinton Field, and thereby manifested that She valued their Forces no more than their lies and slanders.  
Again, you may observe what excellent good Masters the Authors of this Rebellion have still approved themselves, that their General the Earl of Essex (whose repute in the world had cast some credit on these men's designs) should now be rewarded with so slight and cheap an estimation, as if he had been a common slander by. For though in the beginning they smoothed and courted him to undertake their Cause; and (after to continue him) passed a fine Vote, That Robert Earl of Essex had deserved so highly, that He and his House should be recorded to all Posterity for their service done to the Commonwealth: whereby they heaved Him up to such a value among the people, that a mere Letter of his to Isaak Pennington from Northampton was able to command an hundred thousand pounds in four days; yet now is he sunk to so low a rate in their affections, that He is fain to complain, and (as here He doth) beg not only for Men, Money, and Horses, but for Saddles, and such other particulars as were not wont to find room in his Excellency's Letters: nay, and Isaak Pennington's own Chaplain (one that for stealing a Gown and his good ability in Learning was fain to leave the University) doth now preach against Him, and whether it will stay at a mere neglect, themselves best know. Nor is it their general's case alone, Sir john Hotham, Colonel Essex, with others (too many now to mention) have as amply been rewarded; the Colonel imprisoned because he was too fair a Rebel, and not so vile an Enemy as that bloody Coward Nathaniel Fines; and Hotham (with his Son and Family) imprisoned, wounded, pillaged of all his vast Treasure, though he was the first great Stickler in their Cause, and if he opened not the first mouth, yet he held up the first hand against His Majesty; for without Hotham they might have Voted and gnashed their teeth against the King, but gone no farther, he being then possessor of His Majesty's Magazine. But Hotham was rich, which (as their case stands) is against the Privileges of Parliament, they being resolved (as Suetonius says of Vespasian) to make their Agents Sponges to suck in all they can, 
In vità Fl. Vespasiant.  and after squeeze them for their own use.  
The next thing observable is an ingenuous confession (of him that knows best) who is now Master of the Field; The Enemy (says the Earl) is so strong in Horse, and this Army being neither recrewted with Horses, Arms, etc. it is impossible to keep the Country, etc. nor to fight with them but when and where they list, We being forced when we move, to march with the whole Army, to keep ourselves from being broken. Nor can the Earl confide in those few Forces he hath, for he complains in his late Letter to the County of Essex, of the looseness and inconstancy of his Soldiers; by looseness he means running away from him, and by inconstancy running away from before Us, when we offer to charge them. But the words themselves are full and home.  
And I cannot pass that the Earl is troubled at those horrible outrages done to the Countries; and I confess I am glad to see Him returned to so much sense of his Honour, that He finds himself aggrieved at these desperate villainies. For (as He here saith) The cries of the poor people are infinite; but who have been the Authors, or are the Actors in these common robberies, shall be recorded to Posterity, to the lasting infamy of these bloody Hypocrites, who cut our throats in courtesy, and are not satisfied with our Money, unless they have our lives. And it is no wonder if my Lord be weary of such as these.  
Now if you take notice that the Earl desires them, to send to His Majesty to have Peace, with the settling of Religion, the Laws and Liberties of the Subject, and to bring unto just trial those chief Delinquents that have brought all this mischief upon both Kingdoms. I must needs tell you they are no new words; for His Majesty made this motion too often now to mention; nay, (upon an exact survey) this very thing hath been called upon by His Majesty above sixscore several times in His Declarations and Messages; that (if possible) He might have stopped this issue of blood, which since hath run so freely in all parts of this Kingdom. But whether the Earl's motion for Peace, be as real and clear as His Majesties was heretofore, will not easily be evinced; only it is manifest, the Earl's thoughts did not so fare abhor the very name of Peace as others of his Faction, for on the reading of this Letter among the remnant in the Lower House, such a noise was made, and such a dust raised, both in the House, and among their Faction in the City, as if the Earl had now persuaded them to remember themselves, & submit to His Majesty, which (you will say) would quickly have been Voted for another new and horrible Plot. And for bringing Delinquents to a Legal trial, let them consider those they have tried already, and those they Voted should never be Tried; the Earl of Strafford, Master Tomkins, Master Chaloner, Master yeoman's, Master Bouchier, these (to say but so) received their Trials: and the Lord Kimbolton, Master Hollis, Sr Arthur Hasterig, (M. Hampden) M. Pym, and M. Strode, were Declared too innocent to be stained with a purgation. Remember for what end the former died, and the later lived, I say no more.  
And it is worth your notice how he quotes the Earl of Bristol for words spoken by His Lordship in Parliament; the words are in that excellent and seasonable Speech made by his Lordship for Accommodation, May 20. 1642. which (because they are excellent words) I shall repeat them; The greatest difficulty (says my Lord) of Accommodation may seem to be, how that which is agreed upon, may be secured for the future; this is commonly the last point in Treaties betwixt Princes, and of greatest niceness; but much more betwixt a King and his Subjects, where that confidence and belief which should be betwixt them, is once lost; and to speak clearly, I fear, that this may be our case, for it is much easier to compose differences arising from Reason (yea even from wrongs) than it is to satisfy Jealousies, which arising out of diffidence and distrust, grow and are varied upon every occasion. Which Speech the Earl of Essex is pleased now to take up, ingenuously confessing, it was prudent sober counsel, for indeed it foretold them what since we all have felt, as any that peruse it may evidently perceive.  
Once more you may observe, that the Earl in this His Motion for a Treaty, would exclude all Officers of his Army from being of the Committee; for my Lord sees too many decayed Members have Voted themselves to be Colonels and great Officers, who being their own Carvers have found sweet and frequent Pay-days, and would therefore be unwilling to recurre into a beggarly Peace.  
But (to trouble you with no more) the Earl hath received so small encouragement from His ingrateful Patrons, that He wishes a dispatch whether by War or Peace, and therefore tells them here, that if they have no mind to compose these unhappy distractions fairly, that there might be a day set down to give a period to all by a Battle; which if it be agreed upon, he says, He shall perform that duty which he owes unto them: but what that duty he owes unto them is (for he speaks indefinitely and comes not to particulars) lies concealed in his own breast. And sure I should believe it were not much, considering he hath ventured his life and fortune in their service, and yet hath arrived at no greater estimate in their eyes, than to be next to Mistress Venus, fare inferior to my Lady Waller, who expects every hour (by participation with her Husband) to be Lady General.  
FINIS.