The Lord General's LETTER In Answer to the MESSAGE of the Kentish-men, MAY 31. 1648.  
The Lord General's PROCLAMATION against Plundering, or taking any Horses or Goods from any of the Inhabitants in Kent, and for restoring what hath been taken.  
Also a perfect Relation of Relieving Dover Castle, driving the Kentish-men to Rochester, the taking of the Bidge near Norflet in Kent, the number killed and taken Prisoners.  
With the Names of the chief Actors in this Kentish Engagement.  

June 1. 1648.  
Imprimatur  
Gilbert Mabbot.   
London, Printed for Laurence Chapman, June 2. 1648.   

For Sir Thomas Peyton.  
SIR,  
I Received by a Trumpet a Message from you, whereby a Pass was desired for some Gentlemen to come to me as Commissioners from yourself or others, to Treat, according to an Order of Parliament; To which, not knowing of any such Order of Parliament to me, nor any Authority from Parliament to you or the rest with you, to appoint Commissioners for such a purpose, I could not make any Answer to any such Overture: But, it hath given me occasion to send this Bearer herewith unto you, desiring you to signify thus much to those Gentlemen and others your countrymen with you, That whereas I find them gathered together in Arms, and persisting therein without and against the Authority of Parliament, and doing many acts of Hostility, to the great damage of their neighbours in this County, and disturbance of the Peace thereof; I cannot admit of Treaty or capitulation with them, while so persisting in their Arms and Hostility, nor lose time in prosecution of them. But if they shall forthwith lay down their Arms, and disperse themselves to their several homes, I do not doubt but the mercy of the Parliament will be extended to the estates and lives of those many, who amongst them shall appear to have been abused and deluded into this Rebellion; and their Justice against such only as shall appear to have been the chief and most eminent Actors and Fomentors thereof, and that chief for example to others, and necessary reparation of the Damages already done.  
Black-Heath, 30 Maii, 1648. THO: FAIRFAX.   

A PROCLAMATION AGAINST PLUNDERING.  
WHereas I have had several-Complaints, That divers Soldiers going into several men's houses, under pretence of getting victuals and drink, have searched the rooms in their houses, and have taken , linen and other goods: For the prevention of the like evil for the future, I do hereby strictly require all Soldiers whatsoever under my command, That at their peril they do from henceforth forbear the like violences to the houses or goods of any. And all Officers, as they will answer the neglect at their perils, are strictly to look to those under their respective charges, to see that no such things be done, or if they be, that the offenders be brought to punishment: Which I do hereby declare shall be severely executed And for the supplying of the Soldiers with victuals and necessaries (while the Army shall keep the field, care shall be taken for bringing in and distributing the same in a public way, or (if that fail, the Commanders of the respective Regiments, Troops or companies, are to take care, That where there is a necessity of taking victuals for the Soldiers relief, some Officers to see it done orderly, and without further damage or prejudice to the Inhabitants. And what ever such goods hath been injuriously taken from any as aforesaid, I require that restitution be forthwith made, otherwise the persons with whom such goods shall be found, or those by whom they were taken shall be immediately proceeded against according to Martial Law. And whereas I have likewise had several Complaints, That divers Horses have been taken away by Soldiers out of men's houses or grounds, under pretence that the owners have gone or sent to the assistance of the Rebels in these parts, although the owners be not actually in arms; I do hereby strictly require, That all Horses so taken, be forthwith restored, and that none under my command do from henceforth presume to take any Horses in such manner from any country man, except such as are and shall (at the same time) continue actually engaged with the Rebels, nor from such without Order from a Field Officer, or superior Order, and that only for the Public use.  
Given under my Hand and Seal the One and thirtieth day of May, 1648. THO: FAIRFAX.   

SIR,  
I Gave you an Account of the marches and proceed of that part of the Army under his Excellency the Lord Fairfax now in Kent, on Monday and Tuesday last, I shall now present you with a continuation of the same.  
On Wednesday May 31. His Excellency with four Regiments of Horse and three of Foot, with some lose Companies of Col: Ingoldsby's Regiment, marched from Eitham (where they lay in the fields thereabouts the night before) to Craford Heath, where the said Forces were drawn up to a Rendezvouz, and after that marched through Dartford, and then drew up on an Heath two miles from that Town, where his Excellency had Intelligence, That a party of the Kentish Rebels (not brown's Rebels) had fortified and barricadoed a Bridge which led towards Gravesend; a commanded party was sent forth under the conduct of Major Husbands, and Capt. Evansons' Troop, in all about 300 horse, who mounted about an hundred foot behind them: when they drew towards the Bridge, the enemy fired thick upon them; our men notwithstanding fell on, and the horse swum through the water, and so got over; by this time the enemy perceiving in what danger they were, fled: Major Child who commanded them and was very active, hardly escaped, having his Horse shot, whereupon he forsook it; his Son was shot in the back, and taken. There were about twenty slain in the place, divers wounded, and thirty Prisoners taken, many escaped, byhiding themselves in the Corn fields and houses. The enemy's party consisted of the Countrymen thereabouts, the Seamen, and some London Apprentices: One Mr. Phips was very active in setting on the Countrymen.  
When we came to Norflet, half a mile beyond the Bridge, we understood the enemy were gone thence this morning by five of the clock, and not three men to be seen in the whole Town; their wives and friends left behind, pretend they were forced out. One of our men in his passage over the River, had his horse killed by falling upon an Harrow, which the enemy had laid in the water, so that his very guts came out (I went out with this party, and saw the whole business.)  
After this Major Husband advanced with a party two or three miles beyond Gravesend, and had afterwards Orders to march to Maulin, towards which the Army marches this morning from Mapham, a very small village (where the Lord General quartered last night, and his Forces about it in the field) and will make an Hall near Maulin, where Orders will be given out. At the ending of this service, Capt. Freeman's and Capt. barrington's Troops of Dragoons, who were ordered out of Wiltshire, came up, and joined with that party that lay towards Rochester, where the enemy's greatest body now is. His Excellency hath sent forth a Proclamation for the prevention of disorders in Soldiers, a copy of which I have sent you enclosed; as also of the Letter sent from his Excellency to Sir Tho: Peyton, in answer to the Message sent by Capt: Hackers Trumpeter to him. There are very few men to be seen in the Towns through which we march, but only the women making sad moan, fearing the ill success their husbands are like to have. The one my are very numerous, given out to be ten thousand at least, amongst which a thousand Cavaliers. Their principal Ringleaders are, Sir Gamaliel Dudley, Sir Robert Tracy, Col: Leigh, Sir john Many, Sir Tho: Peyton, Sir Tho: Palmer, Squire Hales reported to be General, Sir james Hales, Sir William Many, Sir john Dorrel, Sir Tho: Godfrey, Sir Richad Hardress, Col: Washington, Col: Hamond, Col: L'estrange, Col: Culpepper, Col: Hacker, Mr. james Dorrel, Mr. George Newman, once a Colonel for the Parliament, and Mr. Whelton Treasurer for the Parliament. Sir Michael Livesay sent word last night, That he had recruited his Troop, and that the country came apace to the Deputy Lieutenant's; they desired to have Orders from His Excellency, and accordingly had to join with the Army. I had almost forgot one passage, Some of our Scouts meeting this day with a party of theirs near Cobham, being asked Who they were for, made answer, For the Devil and King Charles: Our men replied, That they had taken King Charles, and hoped ere long to take the Devil too. Our men took yesterday two Black coats Prisoners, amongst others, the one of their names is Heydon.  
Major Gibbons hath raised the enemy's siege before Dover-Castle, dispersed them, and cleared the County between Dover and Sittinburn. I am  
Mapham, 1 June, 1648.   
FINIS.