An Examination Examined: Being a full and moderate Answer to Mayor Inns Relation concerning the Siege and taking of the Town of Leicester by the King's Forces, the last of May 1645.  
THere lately came forth an Examination of a Narration of the siege of the Town of Leicester, attested by James Inns, which we conceive to be Major Inns, he must needs take up by way of trust what this Pamphet contains, which concerns not that Siege, for he was not in the Town above one week; we wish he had named his Informers: but we hope Soldiers that are men of honour, and prise it so dearly, will not slander others from less than honourable assurance. First, he takes upon him to declare, That complaints were heretofore made by honourable persons against the Committee of Leicester, and that they were not groundless Accusations, nor splenative Aspersions We think he means by complaints, those words spoken by the Earl of Stamford at the House of Commons door, for there was not yet any complaint made to the House of Commons, & we are sure that no one Accusation raised against us hath any true grounds to make it good; and under his favour, if he, or others, divulge things from Honourable persons against us that are not to be proved, they are splenative aspersions; were we guilty but in the least measure, we had long since suffered, and we still justify our whole proceed, though not to be free from error, yet from injustce, partiality, or any just imputation; and we hold it forth to the world that divers of us have served the Parliament from before this war began to this present, with integrity without change or gain.  
The Author goes on in these words; Those Gentlemen of quality that at the beginning of this sad war had with the hazard of their lives and fortunes put the Town of Leicester into a posture of Defence, could not choose afterwards out of zeal to the public, but continue their care for the suppressing of it: though the full managing of that Affair were since taken out of their hands, and committed to others of meaner rank, and such men who had not at first joined in the hazard with them, nor appeared till danger seemed to be blown over. To this we answer, That the Town of Leicester was not begun to be fortified till about three quarters of a year after the war began, neither was there much hazard to any man's person in that work, no considerable enemy being then near to interrupt them. We cannot but commend those Gentlemen for their zeal to the public, and their forwardness in fortifying Leicester, and with their care had still continued for maintenance of those Fortifications, and not for the suppressing them, as is confessed in the Pamphlet; with sadness be it spoken, the Parliament hath found many such Changers, and we should be glad to know their names, that their thanks might suit with their merits, and the Parliament take notice of them accordingly. And for the distinction made betwixt the present Committee, and those who acted then, we cannot distinguish so well as to afford them their say, since none that did execute then were left out in this Ordinance but Master Danvers, Master Cotton, and Master Richard Bent, whose quality is not of such note, neither in regard of persons, estates, or families, to be magnified above those Gentlemen who now act as Committees: And for those who were left out, the Parliament saw cause for what they did; and though some of meaner rank were put in, they are such as never petitioned for that employment, and to their best abilities have endeavoured to advance the public, and have both appeared & acted when divers of greater rank in the Country either durst not, or would not appear, being made Committees by the same Orders and Ordinances. And there are some of this Committee, when the King came in person to demand the Magazine at Leicester, before he advanced his Standard at Nottingham, were active in defence thereof, and saw the order of the Knights of the Shire for the distribution thereof by the grand Jury to the Country executed accordingly.  
And whereas they say, They will insist only upon such things, as without too much injury to truth cannot be let pass, we shall give a full answer to this Pamphet without any injury to truth, and clear ourselves of any aspersion cast upon us.  
It is well they have nothing to say against what the Committee did upon Master Purefoy his intelligence from Bristol, some thought to have made it a very great charge.  
And first, they seem to confute what the Committee writ in a Narration touching the mending of the Works, with this Answer, That divers Houses of advantage to the enemy were undemolished within one hundred and twenty paces of the Works, and most of them within Pistol shot. Where is the Logic? In this answer the Works were not amended, for the houses were standing. But to reply to the standing of the houses, we found them so, and a Major General and those Gentlemen of quality spoken of, had as much power to pluck them down as the now Committee, yet we resolved in case of absolute necessity to fire them, which was done accordingly. And whereas Major Inns doth apply the burning the houses at St. Sundays bridge to his men, we say, That there was only two of his men, and all the rest were Colonel Greys, and some Townsmen.  
And as to the next charge, That the Committee was unprovided of Mattocks, Spades, and Shovels to make up the breaches. Our answer is, We marvel what became of all those pioneers instruments that were provided for the making of the Works at the first, and wherefore they were not delivered to the Committee for the service of the State; yet there was no want of such implements, witness the brestwork against the battery that was raised and finished within the Newarke wall in a very short time, where many hundreds worked together to the amazement of the enemy.  
And whereas it was objected, That the Committee would not suffer that place in the Newarke to be fortified where the breach was made, because it was upon M. Wadlands ground, who is Clerk to the Committee. We answer, That had we been permitted to fortify the Newarke, this tax had been just, but wherefore was it not done by those Gentlemen of quality before spoken of.  
The next objection is, That the Lord Grey could never prevail with the Committee for the pulling down those houses, and shortening the Line: we answer, the Lord Grey was Major General, and one of the Committee, and might have done it by his own power; nor was it ever propounded unto us, debated amongst us, or opposed by us.  
And where it is objected, that in our Narration we writ, that the Kings coming to Ashby was so sudden, that we had no time to call off our men from Cole-Overton, and bring off our Cannon: To which the Author tells us, that Sir John Gell, by Letters advertised us three days before the Kings coming, that in all probability his design was for Leicester: to that we answer, that what Sir John Gell writ, was but probable, and uncertain; and Cole-Overton was a Garrison within Canonshot of Ashby, and had exceedingly weakened them both in reputation and strength, and was the preserver of all the Northern Trade to London, and of as great consequence as any small Garrison in England, which made us unwilling to quit that place; but upon undoubted intelligence of the King's resolutions for Leicester, had we quit that Garrison, and the King gone Northward, of which we had probable intelligence, those careful Gentlemen of quality than had had one just complaint, at which we should have blushed.  
The next, is an answer to the reply made by Sir Robert Pie and Major Inns, after the Town was summoned, both of them then questioning, whether the strength of the Town was sufficient to defend it against the King's Army? which Major Inns answers, saying, that upon view at the Posts they found but four hundred and fifty soldiers: Our reply is, That if he means Listed Soldiers under the Committee, besides Townsmen, it approaches near unto truth: There was of those, about five hundred; Colonel Grey, in his march to the Works, had in his company two hundred and thirty, being accounted by Sir Robert Pie; Captain Farmer had one hundred and twenty, Captain Hurst had one hundred twenty and nine, Lieutenant Colonel Battersby about fifty; there was also about nine hundred Townsmen, and 150 of the Countrymen, and this computation riseth near to sixteen hundred.  
In the next place it is said, That Sir Robert Pie desired the Committee, that Teams might be in a readiness, for removing the Cannon from place to place; but that not a Horse or Team was to be seen in readiness for that service: whereunto we answer, That all the Teams in the Town were in readiness, and many of them employed to bring Wooll-Packs, Bags of Hops, and other necessaries, to stop the breaches, and to supply us with what was wanting; and this doth appear to be so, because there was but two Cannon desired to be removed, the one from the Horse-fair Leyes to the breach in the Newarke, and the other from the high Cross to the North Mills, which were done accordingly.  
The next Charge is, That the Committee did not keep promise with Sir Robert Pie, to keep three hundred men upon the main guard: we say, that we made no such promise, neither was it suitable to the Town strength, having so large a work to man; yet the enemy found a main guard, which cost many of them their lives; and we had many prisoners also, that while we were in sight, violently pressed for liberty, so that we were enforced to draw off some Musquetiers from the main guard, to keep them in order.  
We consent with Major Inns that it is a vast Line, but under his favour, we differ upon the defence of it, for fifteen hundred men cannot half man it against a great Army; which we foreseeing, endeavoured the fortifying of the Newarke, the Works being near four miles in circuit: And we desire every man to take notice, that when it was in the Enemy's hands, and that Sir Thomas Fairfax came against it, the Enemy had as many more Forces as ever we had in it, all our Arms and Ammunition, the Trained Bands being called in to their assistance, & the Country compelled to fortify; & notwithstanding all this, thought it not safe for them to stand upon their defence, but yielded without any assault at all.  
It is also averred, That Sir Robert Pie and Major Inns declared they would contribute their best endeavours for the maintenance of the Town, which they said they fully performed. To this we answer; We cannot justify them in this particular; but say, That if Major Inns did any such service at the breach in the Newarke, by his favour, we know not how he came there, for his Post was assigned him at St Margaret's Churchyard, and the West Bridge; and to that ground he was brought by Colonel Grey, and Master Hasilrigge, two of the Committee, which ground he professed to maintain, or lose his life; But the Enemy entered at the North Mills, within that Line, and betwixt Belgrave Gate and Humberston Gate, close by that Line, and the Horse at Belgrave Gate. And thus plainly, yet truly, we are enforced to deal with him, to vindicate our own Soldiers from unjust charges: We know no Officer of ours that forsook his Post, nor we suppose that any man of honour will go about to prove it; And not to disparage his Service, we had at the breach in the Newarke, Commanders and Soldiers, both Horse and Foot, as valiant and tried men, as are any where to be found, as both friends and Enemies can witness, and had they not entered elsewhere, they must not have entered there: Though Major Inns had been away, our men did their parts, and there took two of the Enemy's Colours, and plucked divers of their Pikes out of their hands, and beat the Enemy back four several times. (This is truth:)  
And we do again aver it to be true which was said in the Narration, that we did disperse ourselves to several parts in the Town, to supply what was wanting in Ammunition or otherwise, in distributing Money and Provisions to the Soldiers, and to encourage them, some one amongst us distributing ten pounds of his own Money amongst them, besides what others did; and if any had want of meat or moneys, it might be their own fault, absenting themselves from the Works: And that the Committee very seldom appeared at the Works, it is also false, and is but the effect of that scandellous malice the Pamphlettor, without any just cause expresses, both towards us and our Soldiery through the whole Pamphlet, which he injuriously and senselessly prosecutes against Captain Hacker, taxing him with making an escape through the breach, at which the Enemy entered after five repulses, and that he should be taken near Humberston; if this had been true as it was not, it had been an honour to him to break out in the face of an Enemy, and not at a back door, or to hid himself under a Table; the truth indeed is, that when the Enemy had broken in on the contrary Line, and came upon the backs of them in the Newarke; then Captain Hacker, with divers others, got over the River at the Pike head, and were all taken on that side the River towards Bramstone, which is opposite to Humberstone.  
And whereas the Author goes on to make Captain Hackers name the burden to a scandalous story, saying, this is the same Captain Hacker that failed to join with Colonel Rossiter: It is true, his Forces were not joined with Colonel Rossiter, but himself was in person with him, when news came of the near approach of the Enemy, and was desired by Colonel Rossiter to go and fetch his Troops, which accordingly he did, not so much as a lighting from his Horse, but drew out his Forces and marched towards Colonel Rossiter, and was within half a mile of him, where news came to him, that Colonel Rossiter was routed, nevertheless he marched towards the Enemy, until Captain Collins of Burley (not Captain Collinson) met him, and told him, that Colonel rossiter's Horse were all routed, and that he had seen an end of all his brave Horse and men, and had not a man left to stand in the face of an Enemy; and told him further, that the Enemy had twenty bodies of Horse, and that their Forlorn Hope was as big as Colonel rossiter's Body; whereupon Captain Hacker, (the Garrison of Kirby not being finished, nor defensible, without Drawbridge. or so much as a Line drawn on ●●e side the House,) he set fire on part of the out houses, brought away all his Ammunition and Arms, and left not so much Provision as would have kept his men two days, and came to Leicester, whence (if Captain Collins his report had been true of the Enemy's number) he might have done more service than in a naked House; but offereth to prove, that the time the Enemy was in those parts, he had Scouts and Guards out continually, though by the Pamphlettor it is alleged to the contrary: And now let this be taken into their printed Records of more sincerity and truth, that this was that Cap. Hacker, for whose release the three Committees of Leicester, Nottingham, & Derby, petitioned the Parliament for, when he was Prisoner at Belvoyre Castle: This was that Cap. Hacker that was principal actor in taking Bagworth House from the Enemy; and first entered the Town of Nottingham, and took it, when the Enemy had possessed it: that in his return from Nottingham, with a few of his own Troop, entered Ashby Park, within command of their Muskets and Canons, brought many Cattles out of it; and the same that gave the defeat at Bagworth Heath to the Enemy, where they wounded and flew many, and took three score prisoners; and the same that gave the defeat at Milton, where they killed and wounded many, both Captains and Soldiers, took forty five Prisoners; and the same that entered the Town of Ashby, brought away forty of the Enemy's Horse, and divers Prisoners; and the same that with eight of his Troop entered the grounds under Belvoyre, and took thirty six of the Enemy's Horse; and the same that had the command of Leicester, Nottingham and Derby Horse, at the great defeat given the Enemy near Belvoyre, where they lost about nine hundred Horse; and the same Captain Hacker, that of all the prizes that ever he took, reserved nothing for himself, but gave all frankly to the State and his Soldiers; and the same, that having laid long Prisoner at Belvoyre, was offered his Pardon, and the Command of a Regiment of Horse to change his side, and refused it with scorn; and the same, that now at the Kings taking of Leicester, was so much prized by the Enemy, as they offered him a choice Regiment of Horse to serve the King, but he refused, choosing rather to suffer imprisonment and beggary, then to take up Arms against the Parliament; And finally this is that Hacker, that ever hath carried himself as a man tender of his Country, a friend to all honest and good men, and fights not for the spoil of the Kingdom: And these and many ●ore are his honest actions, and we know no cause of this invect●●● spleen against him, but that he is a valiant Soldier, and one of the Committee.  
The next Charge is upon Col. Grey, That it will be proved, that he suffered Sir Bern. Ashley, with his whole Brigade of Foot, to scale with three ladders, and entered the Works without discharging one Musket, and running from his Post, was wounded in the back, one of his Enemies saying, He would give him the mark of a coward. This charge is most unjust, we have it under the hands of sufficient witnesses, he behaved himself valiantly, and Major Trollop that took him in Leicester, acknowledges him to be a valiant and a stout man, he had no Post to keep, but maintained the Line with much diligence and courage, till the Enemy with Horse and Foot broke in upon him, encompassed Belgrave Gate, and there fight on Horseback, was wounded on the face, and had two cuts on the forepart of his head, one of them cut the scull, and also a wound in the back with a Pike, which was rather a mark of honour, then of disgrace, and there being beaten off his Horse, was led away; And were there no other Answer made to this Pamphlet, but to desire the honest Reader to observe these two last passages, he would find it stuffed with nothing but malice and falsehoods in the extreme, and things alleged impossible to prove.  
And concerning Captain Hurst, who is reported in the Narration to be slain, it was by misinformation, but wounded he was.  
And whereas it is declared in this abusive Pamphlet, that it is most certain, that the Committee were so possessed with fear, that they told his Majesty they would have delivered the Town at first, upon the Summons, had not Sir Robert Pie and Major Inns dissuaded them from it: Hereunto we answer, That the Committee never spoke with the King; that both Sir Robert Pie and Major Inns know, that if any of the Committee told the King so, they told him a notorious untruth, for they themselves, with many others, both Captains, Officers and other Gentlemen, were witnesses, that no one of the Committee spoke one syllable of the rendering of the Town, but all assented to what was said by him that read the Summons; the sum whereof was, That he desired to die in no better a Cause, and every man stood to his imprisonment, neither did we express so much fear, as either to crave or accept any pardon, which if any particular man have done, we desire to know him, and shall endeavour to put him out from amongst us.  
After which answer, Sir Robert Pie and Major Inns questioned, whether the strength in th● Town was sufficient for the defence of it? and how fare they wo●ld have proceeded by arguments to have persuaded us to the rendering of it (had they found us inclinable to have harkened to them) we know not: but the concurrence betwixt us and our Officers was such, in our joint resolutions for the defending of the Town, that they could have but small hopes to prevail thereby; although upon examination of some things lately come to our ears, we are not altogether without grounds of such a suspicion.  
And whereas it is alleged, that Sir Henry Skipwith, and Sir John Pate, two notorious Delinquents, and powerful with his Majesty, declared at Leicester, in the presence of many honest men there, That the greatest motive that drew the King to Leicester, was the certain intelligence that he had of the weakness of the Committee, and their want of experience in military affairs.  
We say, that it is was strange, that Sir Henry Skipwith, and Sir John Pate, should make such declaration to many honest men in Leicester, there being so few out of prison there, at that time: and we marvel the more, that such as come in to the King's Garrisons voluntarily, should by any wellwisher to the Parliament be accounted honest; and being of the King's party, they cannot be competent evidence to accuse us: and the planting of Cole-Overton Garrison, and managing of it, is so well known to the Country, that they will testify that the enemy was beaten as oft as our forces could meet with them: and if their wisdoms and experience were so eminent, we cannot but wonder, that they should not out us in all that time, being such a thorn in their sides, and so near, as that the bullets from our Cannon knocked at their doors in Ashby Town; and we may with modesty enough affirm, that if the King had not come, or some considerable army to their assistance, they would not have dared to have met us in the field this year. And touching the fortifying of the Newarke, they say in these words, we will leave it to the judgement of all the world, how great a discouragement that had been to Town and Country, and of what small advancement to the publque, since it was impossible that the Newarke could receive the persons, much less the Goods and Estates of the well-affected: For answer whereunto, we say, that Colonel Bard told some of us, that if that had been done, the King had never come to Leicester, and we suppose him as competent and impartial a Judge as Major In●●●; and what inconvenience had there been in that?  
Next, we say, that the Kings experienced old Soldiers thought it of so great consequence, as that they set upon it, and had done a good part of it before Sir Thomas Fairfax took the Town; and they being enemies to both, can be partial to neither.  
And last of all, Sir Thomas Fairfax his judgement in martial affairs, we suppose equal to those opposers, and he hath commanded the finishing of it as we had begun it, this we hope to effect in a short time: and whereas they object, want of room for the well-affected, and their goods, and so they had been subject to as much misery and plunder as before; to which we answer also, that it is the condition of many, that having once engaged in an argument, they will seek all corners, and sift every thing to the bran, to make it good; but the Newarke is of receipt enough to receive into it all the persons and estates of the well-affected, and yet leave sufficient quartering for two thousand soldiers for the defence of the place, there being in it a great circuit of waste ground; the Castle-Hal, where the general Assizes are kept; a very fair, large, and spacious Church; together with a vast Cellar by the Castle; and an Hospital, wherein are one hundred and nine poor men, together with their Keepers, every one having a several Room to themselves, besides their Houses for store, Wash-houses, etc. together with many fair Buildings, Houses, Barns, Stables, Orchards, Gardens, etc. within the Newarke and the Castle-yard.  
And for Colonel Booths Letter, which bears date from Leicester, (yet peradventure might be contrived elsewhere) we passed it over before; but since it comes to us reprinted, we shall presume to examine some particulars, omitting the filed phrase, and fall upon the substance: First, he says, that by all men's account, that there were not above two hundred soldiers in the Town; that is confuted by the confession of the Author, who confesses four hundred and fifty, and a more particular account of five hundred, besides Townsmen, and the Horse Troops: Secondly, that the soldiers were as peremptory against Discipline as the Governors more ignorant of it; to which if we should have answered, that this young Gentleman spoke more than he knew, it might have stood well enough; but we say, and are confident in it, that there are amongst us that have seen more in matters of War, and been in more Garrison Towns before he was borne, then ever he saw or came in since: And whereas he speaks with so much confidence, that he would hazard life and fortune, that he would take the Town at any time, day or night, with five hundred men; we say, it is no difficult thing, for so young a Gentleman to lose both life and fortune: but we hope the enemy's loss will teach this young Gentleman to beware of rash undertake, especially in Print; it being confessed by Colonel Lesley, that they lost few less than one thousand men, and of them two Colonels, four Majors, three other eminent persons, whose names they were not willing to reveal, all buried in martin's, and ten buried in Margaret's Church, many more in other Churches, these being all Commanders of note; besides many of the same rank being wounded, died since, and were buried at Leicester: And whereas he further adds, That the grand Masters (as he in scorn terms us) most sensible of danger, have all of them gotten houses in the Newarke; this also is as true, as that Captain Hurst was killed: for of sixteen of the Committee, there was eleven had houses or Lodgings in the Town, and not one of them removed, and some of us dwelled in Houses in the Newarke, before the War began. And whereas he saith, that he perceived the Townsmen much discontented with the fortifying of the Newarke, conceiving themselves destined by the Committee to the enemy's mercy; To this we answer, that certainly this young Gentleman alighted at a malignant Inn, and unless the malignants of the Town attended him there, and desired him to prefer this Complaint, we neither know nor imagine how this came about, for he spoke not with the Committee, nor a Common Hall; and the Townsmen, who were of the Committee, subscribed the Order for the fortifying the Newarke, though their houses stood in the Town. And whereas the Author (We) is so well assured of Colonel Booths good intentions in that dissuading Letter, we conceive young men seldom know their own intentions, neither do we his; this we are certain, that this Letter hath ruined us, both Town and Country: and we cannot but stand amazed, to see a stranger write with that confidence, of things he understood not, and of us he knew not; and we have again reprinted the Letter, hoping that by time and review this young Gentleman may come to give the Town and Country some satisfaction. And concerning the taxing of the Country, this answer may serve. That the weekly sum was imposed by the Committee an hundred pound less than we were enabled by the Ordinance of Parliament, and that gave power to raise but six hundred pounds weekly: the Tax both upon the Towns and persons, was made by the most able and honest countrymen we could pick out in the Country, and was not taxed by the Committee; and we dare affirm, that never any just complaint of inequality of Taxes was made to us, but it received redress. And whereas it is said by the Author (We) that it is verily believed, that had the Moneys collected weekly been converted to no other use then for the service and maintenance of their Garrisons, Leicester had been better provided for a siege, than (as appears) now was: Friendly Reader, let it fall into your consideration, what we may expect from this Bunch, if men included in this word (We) for it cannot be we, Major Inns only, but we defamers of other men's actions, have made this Quaere upon you, the Committee of Leicester; and we again, the Committee there, do thus answer: That in the Narration set forth, which this Pamphlet examines, and passes a censure upon; it is desired, that something might be first proved, and then Printed: but notwithstanding, we, the behind-doore publishers of this scandalous Pamphlet, in case we cannot find just matter proved, will yet upon our own brains believe and publish also, that you are defrauders of the State, and deceivers, abusers of that trust put into you; and let these conceits speed how they will, yet go they shall. But to this we reply no further; but upon more certain evidence we suppose, if guesses fail us not, there are none of those that thus stand behind the door, or look through the Lettuce, and cry (We) but they are or should be Accomptants to the State for large sums of Money: 〈…〉 conclusion of this point, we wish, that those Gentlemen of ●●●●●● tie, who made the first entrance into the Affairs of the Mi●●●ia in this County, may as punctually reckon with the State as we; and when they have cleared themselves, they may the better charge us.  
And whereas the Pamphlet saith we affirm, that we receive not any pay, and this Examiner saith, that they are credibly informed, that very few, or none of us, but are chargeable with Money raised in the Country for the public service, and how we have disposed of it, they must leave it to the examination of those who are employed for that purpose: we answer, we also shall leave that to the examination of the Sub-Committee for Accounts, they having it in charge, and being men we, neither desire nor expect favour from. And whereas they say, that many of the Committee were Captains, and have received great sums of Money, yet seldom or never went out with their Troops, for the defence of the Country: we answer, that this Charge is most unjust; the greatest part of our Horse were engarrisoned abroad near the enemy, and were so active, that they kept the enemy's Garrisons in such awe, that they durst not stir out but like Thiefs, in the night. As for cashiering old soldiers, we say, we never cashiered any; neither know we any old soldier formerly employed at Leicester, above the degree of a Lieutenant in the Low-Countries, except Colonel Wardeloe, who was gone long before the last Ordinance for the Militia.  
And for Captain Temple, we know not that ever Captain Temple refused to go forth, declined an enemy, or lost opportunity: and for his going to London, he was High Sheriff of the County, and by reason of that Office, had business there; and that at his going not ten days after, we heard not any thing of the enemies approach; and for the rest of his charge, we hold it frivolous, and not worth the answering: And however he might persuade, upon report of the Kings advance towards Ashby, to secure the Ordnance in Rockingham-Castle, Leicester being unfortified, it was no very indiscreet advice, yet he never concurred in advice upon the approach of an enemy to strip Colours off the staff, and to put them into a Coach, & so to carry them away. And whereas they say, that of those that now sit in the Committee, not above two or three of them did appear, and join in the service with those Gentlemen that hazarded their lives and fortunes for the public in the beginning, and are now out of the Ordinance for the Militia, and that they did not appear till Leicester was near fortified, both Town & Country, in a good posture of defence: we say, there was more of the now Committee appeared, then there was of those Gentlemen of quality, mentioned to be the fortifyers of Leicester, But give us leave to ask one question; Wherefore did not those Gentlemen of quality appear at Oundle, to personate the affairs of the County there, when the well-affected Gentlemen of the eight Counties did meet, to consider what every County should contribute toward the raising an Army for the mutual defence one of another? Had they been active then, to have made an association, and gathered a suitable strength to those eight Counties, which were the best in the Kingdom of England for able horse and men, and means to maintain them: Leicestershire had seen no Garrison upon its own soil, nor had Newarke upon Trent taken so deep a root; no, these Counties had not known what Pillaging and Plundering had been, no more than the Associated Counties have done; nor was it hard to demonstrate, that the North of England had never undergone those heavy pressures by the Earl of New Castles Army: but the Major General had no more strength then poor Leicestershire maintained: had those Gentlemen of quality done this, it had not been to put Leicester only into a posture of defence, but the whole Association, and been a work much more proper, and extremely beneficial to the whole Kingdom.  
And whereas in our Narration we declare, that if Sir Edward Hartop Baronet, Sir Thomas Hartop, Sir Roger Smith Knights, John Saint-John, and Thomas Brudnell Esquires, were but commanded down to sit as Committees, they would give more satisfaction to the Country, and do the Parliament better service than those that are of less estates possible can do: whereunto they answer, the Committee well know, that all or most of those Gentlemen before mentioned, by reason of their age and infirmities (without prejudice to their healths) cannot attend to do service; as otherwise they willingly would. Whereunto we reply, we know well, but know no inabilities of body in them, such as may hinder them altogether from the service, divers of us being as aged and infirm as some of them.  
And whereas there are divers persons in the Pamphlet named to be added to the Commttiee, which certainly were unknown to Major Inns, (as if twenty & eight, besides Townsmen formerly approved of by the Parliament, were not enough, being the choicest Gentry in the Country, that were not in arms against the Parliament) amongst which are named all those who appeared upon the first Ordinance, and deserted not the service, and yet they spoke of a Petition preferred by the Country for addition: we say, that a Petition was presented in the name of the best affected of the County, but not set on foot by them; and to make the greater show, very many men's names were twice subscribed, many others Malignants, both Gentry and Clergy, divers Delinquents, others of mean quality, not capable of the sense of the Petition, others setting their hands to blank papers, and this business was formerly examined by a Committee of the House of Commons, apppointed for that purpose.  
The persons the Pamphleter (We) names to be added to the Committee, if occasion serve, and if we shall be thereunto called, we shall give in our reasons and exceptions against them, but we shall forbear to Print them: But because we desire the full satisfaction of all persons, both Town and Country, that the Gentry of best quality of Leicestershire have not been neglected, but put in to act as Committees for the Parliament; we have printed all the names contained both in the first and last Ordinance.  

The first Committee for the Militia, 16 Jan. 1642.  
Thomas Lord Grace.  
0 Sir Edw. Hartop Sen. Baronet.  
Sir Arthur Hesilrige, Baronet.  
Sir Martin Lister, Knight.  
0 Sir Thomas Hartop, Knight.  
0 Sir Edward Hartop, Knight.  
0 John Saint-Iohn, Esquire.  
0 William Roberts, Esquire.  
Peter Temple, Esquire.  
0 William Jervise, Esquire.  
Thomas Hesilrige, Esquire.  
† Richard Bend, Esquire.  
† William Danvers, Esquire.  
John Goodman, Esquire.  
0 Simon Ridgley, Esquire.  
William Bembridge, Esquire.  
0 Thomas Brudnell, Esquire.  
Thomas Babington, Esquire.  
0 Thomas Merry, Esquire.  
0 Thomas Beaumond, Esquire.  
Arthur Stavely, Esquire.  
† Thomas Cotton, Esquire.  
William Hewit, Esquire.  
Richard Ludlam, and  
William Stanley.   

The Committee as now it is.  
Thomas Lord Grace of Grooby.  
Theophilus Grace, Esquire.  
Sir Arthur Hesilrige, Baronet.  
Sir Martin Lister, Knight.  
Sir Edward Hartop Jun. Knight.  
Sir George Villers, Baronet.  
Sir Edward Hartop, Baronet.  
Sir Thomas Hartop, Knight.  
Sir Roger Smith, Knight.  
John Saint-John, Esquire.  
Thomas Babington Sen. Esquire,  
William Bembridge, Esquire.  
Thomas Brudnell, Esquire.  
John Whatton, Esquire.  
Archdale Palmer, Esquire.  
Peter Temple, Esquire.  
Arthur Stavely, Esquire.  
Henry Smith, Esquire.  
Thomas Hesilrige, Esquire.  
Francis Hacker, Esquire.  
John Stafford, Esquire.  
John Browne, Esquire.  
William Hewit, Esquire.  
John Goodman, Esquire.  
Francis Smalley, Gentleman.  
John Swynfen, Gentleman.  
Valentine Goodman, Gentleman.  
John Prat, Gentleman.  
Richard Ludlam, Aldermen of Leicester.  
William Stanley, aldermans of Leicester.  
Edmund Cradock, Aldermen of Leicester.   
Those who are marked with Ciphers in the first Ordinance, appeared not; those who are crossed, went away and forsook the service: and gentle Reader, judge if this last be a Committee of Gentlemen of the meanest quality and estates in Leicestershire: doth not this Pamphleter deserve punishment for his slander? shall we be all blamed, if Gentlemen of the best quality will not act for the Parliament?  
And now to wind up all, the Author draws to his conclusion, saying, upon these considerations, how much those Gentlemen of the Committee, who have had the power of the Militia in their hands these ten month's last passed, deserve to be rewarded for their service; let the world judge, and we also appeal to the honest impartial Reader in this behalf, if there be in all this frivolous Pamphlet, one error charged upon us, and not fully answered, as acting at the Committee, much less a crime: he charges us with committing heinous offences against the State, he hath not so much as suggested, much less proved one; we have served the Parliament faithfully and honestly, and do justify our whole proceed, and do make our challenge even to malice itself, who is a good accuser, to come forth and prove but one offence, though much below heinous: we are not such fools to expect reward, nor to have our services confined within ten months; what we have done from the beginning of this Parliament, was in obedience to God, & in duty to our native Country and this Kingdom: what we expected, that we have; that because we could not serve other men's, turns they would hate and reproach us; our innocent sufferings are our encouragements, and for rewards we have enough, the Parliament prospers: If ever this be replied unto, it will not be by men of honour, for the Author concludes, they are ashamed of ignoble actions, amongst which we number slanders and splenative aspersions & we resolve to trouble ourselves no further till some one thing be proved against us; and thus gentle Reader, we take a civil leave, and bid thee farewell.  


Peter Temple, Vic.  
Thomas Hesilrige.  
john Browne.  
Henry Smith.  
William Hewet.  
Francis Smalley.  
William Standley.    
FINIS.   

Printed at London for J. W. J. dwelling in the Old-Bayley: