COLONEL FIENNES His REPLY to a Pamphlet ENTITLED, AN ANSWER TO Colonel Nathaniel Fiennes RELATION concerning his Surrender of the City and Castle of Bristol by Clem. Walker. Which said Answer is here Reprinted verbatim. Ordered to be Printed. London, Printed for Thomas Vnderhill, 1643. The Epistle to the Reader. HAving taken notice of a printed Pamphlet (so the Author himself calleth it) set forth in answer to a Relation which I made in the House of Commons, concerning my surrender of the Castle and City of Bristol (which hath long walked in the dark, and now at length is peeped out, when the Author might have an excuse to say, that his witnesses that should justify it are gone away with Sir William Waller.) I earnestly desired the House that this business of Bristol might be heard at a Council of War, whereupon it was ordered accordingly, I having formerly desired the same of my L. General, who granted my request, but it could not be done till such time as his Army returned to a settled Quarter, but now I hope upon the return of his Excellency, the Order of the House of Commons, and a Petition of myself, and most of my chief Officers to that purpose, this matter shall be shortly heard at a Council of War, and therefore shall content myself with a few Marginal Notes, in answer to that lying Pamphlet, referring the full trial of the truth to a Council of War, till when, I doubt not but every wise man will suspend his judgement, and then he shall clearly see who hath been the liar, and who hath been the Coward. Nath: Fiennes. Die Sabbati 25o. September, 1643. IT is this day Ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That it be left to my L. General (at the Request and desire of Colonel Fiennes) to hear and examine the business concerning the Surrender of Bristol. H. Elsing. Cler. Parl. D. Com. Mr Walkers Epistle to the Reader. Reader, THough this Answer cost but few hours to compose it, yet was it a work of some days to collect the materials thereof out of the several Reports of many principal Gentlemen and Commanders present in Bristol, when it was besieged; And when this Pamphlet was ready for the Press, I found the Press obstructed, whereby I was enforced to keep it in a month before I could be delivered of this Birth, Some malicious juno sitting cross legged at the labour. This is a lie, if meant of Col. Fiennes or any of his friends to his knowledge. This is the reason it cometh out so late after the Relation, that it may seem to rub over an old sore, whose smart is almost past. But Truth is a sluggard that uses to lie long in bed, after her base sister Falsehood is up and stirring: Yet when Truth riseth, with her sober constant pace, she will soon overtake Falsehood, and tread on her heels. Reader, it is in thy discretion that Truth lose not her grace for want of novelty. Although she come forth with this further disadvantage, that almost all those Gentlemen and Commanders that should wait upon her justification, are going out of Town with Sir William Waller, yet let Truth be welcome without attendants, without ornaments, it being one of her most natural ornaments to be stark naked. Thine, Cle. Walker. An Answer to Col. Nathaniel Fiennes Relation concerning his Surrender of the City and Castle of Bristol. With Col. Fiennes his Reply to the said Pamphlet. SInce the heart of man is deceitful above all things, and none can know the issues thereof, we will not search over-curiously into the desires of the late Governor of that unhappy City of BRISTOL, Colonel NATHANIEL FIENNES, Whether he affected the Government or no? Yet seeing it is a point controverted by himself, in his Relation, pag. 3. we will be bold to say, FIrst, His undermining Col. Thomas Essex, whom he struck into the box, and laid himself in his room: In this manner Colonel Fiennes brought a letter to Bristol, from my Lord General, authorising him to seize on, and send up prisoner Colonel Essex, than Governor of that City, and this was so underhand carried, that the Deputy-Lieutenants and Committee of Parliament, then resident in Bristol, to assist Colonel Essex in the Government, were never consulted with to know what cause of suspicion they found in him: This was an affront put upon the Deputy-Lieutenants in point of integrity, or discretion and industry. A lie and scandal cast upon my Lo. General and his Order. Secondly, His putting Creatures of his own (neither Soldiers, nor men known in those parts) into Bristol Castle, to make the government more entirely his own, contrary to the desires both of the Town and Country, which were to have a Gentleman of honour and integrity, such as both the Town and Country could confide in, placed there. Two Lye. Thirdly, His many artifices, to lessen the Reputation and abridge the power of the Committees and Gentlemen of the Country (whereof more afterward.) A Lye. Fourthly, His underhand endeavours to draw a Territory of twenty mile's compass as annexed to that City, to be within his sole command, and to make it independent upon the rest of the adjacent counties, thereby to exclude Sir W. Waller and all others. A Lye. These considerations (we say) make us think he was as jealous of his Government there, as any man is of his wife, and that he would brook no rival therein; nor can his letters sent to his Father oversway our belief; Father, and son being Testes Domestici, in the nearest degree; But to take off this conceit (in his fourth page) he tells us he made certain Propositions to the Gentlemen of the adjacent Counties for the settling and maintaining a Garrison there, to which most of the Gentlemen consented; It is answered, he made a certain Proposition in general to that purpose, to the Gentlemen of Somerset and Gloucester, and the Letter dated the 20 of March, 1642. (published in the Governors' Relation, page 13.) was sent to the Lord Say, and the like to his Excellency the Lord General, to see how the said general Proposition would take: But when the said Gentlemen expected to be again advised withal for reducing the said general into particular Propositions, he having got the start of them, secretly sent up particulars of his own framing, (the same (it may be) which he hath published in his Relation, page 17. entitled, A draught of the Ordinance) whereby he endeavoured to weaken the power of the Deputy-Lieutenants and Committees, and to make Bristol, and the Country's adjacent for 20 miles compass his Territory, himself in all matters of moment, being of the Quorum: A Lie, As shall be proved under his own hand, and the hands of divers Gentlemen both of Somerset and Glocestershire. For example, in his said draught of the Ordinance, he projected, that First, the Garrison which should have consisted of 3 Foot Regiments (besides Horse) (whereof one to be raised in the County of Somerset, under the command of Colonel Alexander Popham, another in the County of Gloucester) should be raised by the Governor only. Secondly, the money raised in the Easterne-Division of Somerset, in Barkely-Division in Gloucester, and in the Cities of Bristol and Bath, upon the weekly Assessment, Twentieth part and Sequestration; nay and upon Excises and new Imposts, should be assigned only for the use of that Garrison, A Lie, If there was a surplissage it was to go to other uses. with further provision in the Ordinance, that if all this be not enough, it should be made up out of the said Counties respectively: and the Committees appointed to pay the charges of the said Garrison and fortifications being valued and made known to them by the said Governor of Bristol, whose Warrant and Receipt should be a sufficient discharge. Thirdly, The Treasurers of the said Divisions not to issue out any monies without the concurring warrant of Col: Fiennes Governor. A lie, Only such moneys at were to be employed upon the Garrison and Fortifications of Bristol. Fourthly, The Trained-Bands and Volunteers of the said Divisions not to be drawn forth upon service, either into the City of Bristol or Country, but by the like warrant. See now what power was left to the said Committees or Deputy Lieutenants even in their own Counties, and over their own men and monies, upon which Colonel Fiennes had not encroached in this his draught of an Ordinance; Again page 4. he complains that Sir William Waller drew forth Colonel Essex Regiment, and all the Troops of Horse: we conceive Sir William Waller drew forth only Col: Essex his Troop of Red Coats, being not above 30 or 40 and his foot Regiment being incompleate, the one half whereof never marched out of Town, and were entertained by the Governor still: page 5. 3 Lies, 1 Captain Lunges and Captain Coxes Troops were drawn out, and Major Laugrishes also commanded out. when Sir Ralph Hoptons' Army drew towards Somersetshire: Colonel Alexander Popham moved by letters from my Lord General, would have gone forth with his whole Regiment, to join with Wilts and Dorset, and the Western forces of Somersetshire, but was Countermanded by Colonel Fiennes, who then first produced a letter from my Lord General, whereby Colonel Popham and his Regiment were reduced under his command, which letter until then he had concealed and would not suffer Col: Popham to march with above six Companies: Sir William Waller told Col: Fiennes before Col: Popham, that he desired only 6 Companies. It is true that Col: Popham was rent through the default of Major Langrish and his horse; 2 Lies, Langrish was cleared by a Counsel of War at . but the foot Arms were not above half lost; In answer to his 1200 men, lent Sir William Waller, It is confessed, we all importuned him to enable Sir William Waller by an addition of 1200 foot, to take the field for preservation of the Country (which is no more than Col: Fiennes in his propositions to my Lord General and Parliament undertook, namely, * to defend the Country for 20 miles adjoining) * Not against an Army, though he had received the benefit of those propositions, which he never did, and that was one main cause of the loss of the Town. And Col: Fiennes himself when he gave consent to this motion, did declare that if the fortune of the Field went against Sir William Waller, yet with his forces remaining in the Town; and the men which would be recollected and rallied out of his defeated Companies, he made no doubt, but to make good the said City: And Col: Fiennes after the defeat of Sir William Waller did declare that he hoped to make good the Town with 2500 men, and that he hoped to make up that number, by arming those men, that fled from the defeat into the Town, and by taking Arms from the Townsmen, and putting them into other hands, page 6. 2 Lies, He never declared any such thing. Sir Arthur Hazelrigg, Colonel Burghill, and divers gentlemen after Sir William waller's defeat, thought fit to withdraw themselves: these Gentlemen did not leave the Town upon apprehension it was not Tenable, It shall be proved that some did it upon that ground. but out of a desire to raise men else where to supply it, A lie, They went to fetch supplies round about by the Lands end. and out of a consideration it was not fit for them in time of war to stay under his command, who in time of peace had plundered some of them for not paying such taxes as he put upon the City of Bristol, not withstanding they paid in the Country, and resided in Town only to do public service, upon their own purses: and for lodging in the Castle it is confidently affirmed, that no lodgings there were ever offered to any of the Gentlemen, nor any former respects showed to them, could encourage them to hope for any, and so many mean fellows of the Town were suffered to shelter themselves and their goods there, that there was no room left for the Gentlemen, insomuch that when Colonel Stephens with his wife and family retreated into the Castle, they could not endure their bad entertainment, and the Prince's Trumpeter (than a prisoner) had better lodging than he and his whole family, whereupon he returned into the Town again. Page 6. Col: Steevens never acquainted Col: Fiennes, and his brother affirmeth that he bid him take his choice of any room in the Castle. He tells us he had but 700 men left in the Town, and never a penny of money to pay them: Col: Fiennes had left in the Town half his own foot Regiment, half Col: Pophams' Regiment, the new begun, though not yet complete Regiment of his brother john Fiennes, being about 300 or 400 men, besides 300 or 400 foot remaining of Sir William waller's, and 1000 or 1200 foot he newly (by his own confession) raised and Armed in the Town, so that he had near upon 2500 foot, besides his Regiment of horse, and his Company of dragoons, which is the number he undertook to keep the Town with as aforesaid, 3 Lies: There were only 3 Companies of Col: Fiennes his Regiment, not a man of Col: Pophams, and the 300 or 400 remaining of Sir William waller's were part of the 1000 If M. Walker that was a Sommersersetshire Gentleman, and constantly resided in the Town before, had not most valiantly run out of the Town when the enemy came before it. and many more men he might have had, if he had not as aforesaid so much lessened the Reputation of the Committees in the Country, that they, who by their Warrant had called in near upon a thousand men in February last, when Prince Rupert was before the Town, could not now call in a hundred, so much was the Country distasted with taking free Quarter, Horses, disorderly plundering even from the best affected, and all these abuses, A base lie all along. with many more, were imputed by the Country people unto the Committee and Deputy-Lieutenants resident in Bristol, because being in place they did not redress them, although it were not in their power so to do, being over-voted at the Council of War, by Captains purposely chosen and new made by the Governor, that he might have the sole power and countenance of that Council to serve his ends, and being likewise overborne by the Governors' access of power gotten from time to time by Commissions and Letters under hand from the Lord General, or the Parliament, which he kept sleeping by him, never showing his additional authority but upon special occasion, and then so cursorily and privately, as did easily declare he meant not to have his authority so well understood, as to draw it in danger to be examined and limited; A base lie, and scandalous to the Parliament and my L. General. Hereupon the Gentry forbore to intermeddle with affairs, and the whole Town and Country Were filled with jealousies and indignations; and where he affirms he had not one penny of money to pay his soldiers: This causeth admiration in all men, who have observed what strange and unheard of ways were used, and what number of sponges and horseleeches were continually employed to suck both from the Town and Country, some devices to raise moneys we will set down, all is impossible. 1. A tax of 500 l. or 600. pound a week upon the Town, which was afterwards drawn down to a far less sum, we know not upon what consideration, since it is apparent the Town was able to bear a far heavier burden. But he would bear no part of it himself. He doth not at all seem to deny it in that Letter, and this tax was laved and disburced by the Deputy-Lieutenants themselves, not a penny of it came to Col: Fiennes his hands, not of that of the twentieth part, he never received any within 20 miles, or within half a mile. 2. A tax upon Somerset and Glocestershires towards the fortifying of so much of Bristol as stood in these Counties, yet this Relator concealeth, and in his Letter the 17 of June, seems to deny that he had any special levy for his work, both from the Town and Country. 3. The weekly assessment, and the 20 parts within his verge of 20 miles, which though they were not duly razed, amounted to a considerable sum, if an account had been kept thereof. 4. The plundering of S. Thomas Bridges, S. Maurice Berckley, and many other men's estates in the Country, without any warrant from the Council of War, or the Deputy-Lieutenants, contrary to an express Order made by the said Council, all which were carried into the Castle without account; A Lye. And when complaints were made for undue plundering, they were never heard by a Council of War, but privately referred to Langrish or his equals, and the complainants just request choked with delays, as in Mistress Miller's case and others. A Lye. 5. The letting and setting, or the stocking with plundered Cattle, the said Delinquents and other men's estates, and sequestering their Rents with account, and without the concurrence or privity of the Deputy-Lieutenants. 6. The confiscated estates of the Conspirators in Bristol, and the secret compositions made with many of them, are thought to be very considerable, ᵃ the rather, because when it was move d, that all compositions might be made openly at a full Council, and entered into the Council book, it would not be harkened unto: a A Lye. All these shall be proved to be Lies at a Councell of War. Yet Colonel Fiennes in his Letter to his Father, dated June 17. 1643. (see Relation, pag. 25.) saith, he shall never make 3000. l. of the Conspirators estates: It may be he meant upon compositions besides their plunder, which he could set no probable value upon. 7. Divers loans upon the public faith to a great value, estimated ᵇ at 7000. l. b A Lie by 6500. 8. Divers supplies from Parliament, which were always ᶜ concealed from the Committee; c What had the Committee of Sommersetshiere to do with it. he had received 4000 l. before the 12. of May, 1643. by his own confession, (Relation p. 23.) and we hear he hath received at the least 3000. l. or 4000 l. since, quaere whether he hath received any money from Sir Gilbert Gerrard? 9 Licences to trade with the Enemy (d even contrary to his Excellency's Ordinances of War) not granted for nothing. d A base Lye. 10. ᵉ Custom money 1700. l. e Another Lye. Col: Fiennes hath received together with the 1700. l. of custom money, in all 6688, and shall give a very good account of that, and all other receipts that this Pamphletter or any other can charge him withal. 11. If we may believe common fame, many Tradesmen (with whom we formerly told you the Castle was cumbered) ᶠ were drawn to give 10. l. a man, to have themselves and their goods secured there, f Another Lye. g and yet no sufficient caution is made in the Articles of Surrender, g The 9th Article of the agreement was framed purposely for it. to restore the said goods to them again, many of them not being to be found, and the poor men are put to compound with the enemy for getting them out, as formerly they did with their friends to get them in; Besides, whereas his horse were to have 2. s. 6. d. a day pay, Colonel Fiennes gave them free quarter in the Country, and but 1. s. the day pay; ᵍ quaere what became of the rest. g It was discounted to the State, as may appear by the Captains accounts given in before this Pamphlet came forth. This we set down to show how good an Oecononist our Governor was, and how able to raise money, having so rich a shop as the Town of Bristol to work in; ʰ certainly, it was very possible f●r such a thriving Governor to maintain the Garrison out of so rich a Town, without the assistance of the adjacent Counties, (contrary to his tenet, page 4.) h How doth this agree with what was said before of the many and unheard of devices to get money? How many pounds or pence did his Governor Col: Essex to whom he was assistant raise out of that rich City. and this we demonstrate by the present practice of the King's Forces, who make that Town, not only maintain their whole Garrison, but man forth and maintain a good sleet of Ships, find Gunpowder, and pay a great fine besides. If Co. Fiennes had been a Comm ander of the King's Forces, or that the Parliament world let their officers do what they do, he could have raised as much money as they, and yet sure this demonstrator is mistaken in the hypothesis of his demonstration And for the better understanding of this money business, know that Colonel Pophams' Regiment of Foot, and Colonel Coles Regiment of horse and Dragoones, resident in Town, were not paid by the Governor, but by the Country; and the Governors whole charge estimated by himself, (in a Letter to his Father dated June 17. 1643. and printed with his Relation, pag. 23.) was between a 1000 l. 1200. l. and 1300. l. a week, reckoning as we conceive his weekly disbursement for fortifying, which was none of his charge.) And for the 15. Regiments of foot and 12. Regiments of horse, wherewith the Relator (pag. 6.) saith, the enemy besieged the Town; It is confidently affirmed they were not half Regiments, and that many of their Colours were no other than such as the enemy had taken from Sir William Waller, and were now set up like scarecrows, or penal statutes against Recusants in terrorem only: Let Soldiers judge of their number that saw them. But he relateth (pag. 7.) that there was one place where the works were not perfect, the ditch not made on the outside, nor the foot-banck on the inside, where was but a weak guard, * This seemeth strange to those that knew how much money was raised to perfect the works, how long time was spent in perfecting, and how suddenly so small a defect would have been remedied, unless it had been purposely left as a postern for the enemy; * A base supposition, as if he that would have betrayed the Town, would first have killed so many of their men and officers of quality, in testimony of his correspondency with them. All these particulars shall be fully cleared at a Council of War. and that there should be but a weak guard left in the weakest place, and Major Langrish with his Troops of horse left there to second the Foot, soundeth not well; i Had the several complaints formerly made to the Governor against Langrish for his cowardice at Wells, Muncton Forly, Landsdowne, and the Devises, i For the business of Welles Langrish was not only cleared at a Council of War, but also commended. At Muncton Forly he was not present, being sent to Bristol by S. W. Waller, and in the other a places he run away no otherwise then Sir W. Waller, and all the rest did. or the present advice of Col. Stephens, Lieutenant Col. Clifton, and many others been heard, he had not been set there to betray the trust reposed in him now: A Lye. Co. Stephē● and L. Col. Cliston gave no such advice. wherefore we must set Langrishes faults upon Col. Fiennes score. But it stood not with the Governors' conveniency to hear any complaints against so ᵏ profitable an instrument, he knew much, and could discover much, Delicta fuere nexus amicitiae, (p. 8.) k A base & groundless slander. the Relator continues his History of the enemies entering the Line of communication which proved the loss of the Town. To avoid interruption we will set down the counter-relation, according to the information received from ˡ divers Gentlemen of quality, commanding in that service. l But nameless. When the enemies first viewed the Town, a great Officer of that Army declared his opinion, that he thought it not fit to be attempted, alleging it was not where assaultable, but in the hollow way, between Brandon hill Fort, and Windmill hill Fort, (the only place where the enemy afterwards found entrance upon an assault given) the works being imperfect, and a weak guard kept there, as abovesaid, by the Relators own confession, (page 7.) It was much the place most obnoxious should be least regarded, yet so it happened, and upon the first entrance ᵐ for an hour together, there were not above 100 of the enemies, within the Line, m A Lie the foe was so wary in seconding those that entered, that he gave them for lost ⁿ And those that entered afterwards as seconds were but such scattered soldiers as had been beaten off elsewhere from the Works, between Wind mill hill Fort and Pegor hill Fort: n How doth this agree with the former clause that the enemy should fall on with so few men in the main place intended for the assault. How easily might any man but Langrish have done good service there? as appears by the good service done by Captain Lieutenant Nevil (whom for honour's sake I name, see the Relation, page 8.) who had but 40. horse, and yet if he had been seconded by some Musketeers, he had cut off all that were then entered, and for about ᵒ 2. hours more, there were not above 300. of the Enemies entered, (so unapt they were to believe so unexpected a good fortune) o A Lye. p But the Governor presently upon the first entrance of the assailants, sent his Lieutenant Col: to call his soldiers off from the Line, p A Lie as shall be made to appear at a Council of War. who affirmed that if our soldiers did not speedily retreat, they would be all cutoff: q Lieutenant Col. Davison with other Officers, earnestly advising that a sally might be made out of the Town upon them, q A Lie Lieuten. Col: Davison gave no such advice to the Governeur, was not called off his guard till the enemy was possessed of all those places, was not out in the sally, as almost all the rest of the held Officers were. and that the ʳ Soldiers yet remaining at the line, might keep it, and fall upon the rear of them, which he could not obtain until 3. hours after the assailants had entered the line, when it was too late, and the Enemy had possessed himself of Essex fort, the Redlodge Sir Ferdinando George's house, and the College Tower, places of advantage in the Suburbs, r Whence should the Governor have had the soldiers to have sallied out with, if he had not called them off the line, out of the supplies those Gentlemen should have sent him that went about by the lands end Major Lewes (an old Soldier) was of the same mind with Davison, and being at the Line, would not quit it in an hour and half, although he received many commands to that purpose: At last his soldiers taking notice they were commanded away, and Lewes receiving a command in writing under the Governors own hand to retire into the Town ˢ under pain of hanging, he obeyed: s He deserved to be hanged if he had not come off as at a Council of War shall be made to appear. After the sally unseasonably made, and beaten back again, spoken of, (pag. 8.) the assailants possessed the Suburbs as far as Froome gate, t yet was there no danger of the enemies wading over at the Key, the depth of the mud and disadvantageous landing places, would have made them liable to great execution, even by stones and clubs, wherein the Townsmen would not have been backwards. t How did our own soldiers run over without sticking in the mud. The Defendants both Townsmen and Soldiers were disheartened and displeased at their retreat from the Line, into the Town, and to add more discouragement to them, the Governor instead of making his last retreat into the Castle, according to his first resolution, neglected to make so much as a show of further defence, but presently resolved upon a Treaty with the enemy; whether he called his own creatures, his officers to join with him in this resolution, is uncertain; But the Committee and Gentlemen of the Country (who had most to lose there) viz. ᵘ Sir John Horner, Master Stephens, his son the Colonel, and divers other Officers do deny he ever put the question to them, whether they would treat or no? u A gross Lie, most, if not all the Gentlemen were there, the question was put to them, and no man dissented. But after he had sent a Drum to the enemy for a Treaty, and gave Langrish and Captain Thomas Hippesly for Hostages, he then called the Gentlemen to Counsel, to know what Articles he should propound in their behalf. This Treaty slackened all men's courages, and made them lay by all thought of saving themselves, by fight, but by Treaty only. x Now, and not till now, (whatsoever the Relator saith, pag. 8.) the Soldiers began to drop from their Colours and Guards, and many of them ran to the Enemy, x Another gross Lie, of 1200, 12. foot could not he get to their colours, before any Treaty was thought on or spoken off. and discovered the amazedness and disorders of the Defendants: Had the Governor retreated to the Castle, and set a good face upon the matter, it would have bettered his conditions, both for the good of his Soldiers and Townsmen, who were so far from a design to fall upon the Garrison, that they had showed great love in victualling the soldiers, and great courage in fight for them. Is that to set a good face upon the matter, to run and hid his head in a Castle whilst hundreds of his Soldiers and friends were butchering in the Town. We will not argue how tenable the Town and Castle, or the Castle, after the Town lost, was, but certainly the Governor and all his Council (until that very moment) thought it tenable: otherwise to what purpose served, First, his great cost in fortifying, continued to that day? Secondly, his victualling the Castle? Thirdly, his desire to Sir William Waller to withdraw with his Horse, for fear of cunsuming his provisions, proved by the testimony of Col: Cook, whom Col: Fiennes employed to carry a Message to that purpose, and by a writing under Col: Fiennes hand herewith printed; A Lye. All those particulars shall be answered at a Councell of War, how all this may be reconciled. And how could Sir Wil: Waller make such haste to Exeter or to Gloucester, as to raise forces to rescue Col: Fiennes that was so hasty as to deliver up the Town and Castle in three or four days to the enemy? Fourthly, his former resolution at a council of War was, if they were beaten from the Line, to fire the Suburbs and retreat into the Town and at last to fire the Town and retreat into the Castle, to which purpose Orders were given out; At what Council of War? Who gave out those orders? and yet when we consider how he had pestered the Castle with unnecessary people, and thereby disabled himself to draw in his Soldiers to keep it, we cannot but conclude his resolution to lose that and save himself was of an ancienter date than his deeds and words formerly made show of, A lie, He gave a Warrant to Captain Birck and others, to rid the Castle of all such. How to save himself by keeping at the Line, and most usually in the places of greatest danger, and going to the Koy and marsh to appoint the guards, when the enemy played thick upon him from the Colledge-tower and the houses open S. Augustine's back, having a good mark to know him by, by the horse that usually accompanied him, sure he might have been safer in the Castle. but we are sorry to hear this Relator (page 9) make it so clear a point that if the place had been Tenable, he could not have hoped for any relief in 6 or 8 weeks: what a discouragement will this be to that stout and faithful Commander Col: Massy, and other Governors of Towns, who have not such a powerful solicitor with the Parliament as Col: Fiennes Father. We have seen 3 of the Governors' reasons why he could not keep the Castle. The first was, he had too many men to keep the Castle, though too few to make good the Town. The second was, a doubt least the City should fall upon him in his retreat thither. Third was, the weakness of the Castle not fully fortified: And now newly discovered by the enemy's manner of storming, and the execution his pieces of battery had lately done upon our Parapetts of earth; Together with the provision he had made of close decked boats, and galleries; which provision is gainsaid by all men: If it was not before, sure now it is a very clear point, Col: Fiennes was not much out in judging he could not have succour in less than six weeks, and it was beyond expectation that Gloucester had it so soene. Let us now weigh the rest of his arguments (page 9 and 10) upon that subject; first he wanted powder and match, he confesseth he found 45 barrels, when he first undertook the charge of the Town, that he received 30 barrels from London, and 126 barrels from France, in all 201 barrels; besides what powder was made in the Town, being about 6 or 7 barrels weekly for 30 weeks together, A lie. by half the barrels, and well near hal●e the weeks. and what was and might have been gotten out of ships, shops and Merchants sellars, a large quantity surely, had they been well searched; but to find Gunpowder had been to lose a good excuse; Quaere, how many of these were double barrels, and what became of the overplus (granting that Sir William Waller had 60 barrels out of this said sum) Besides when Captain Birck heard that the Castle would be rendered, he came to the chief Gunner, desiring the Keys of him, for that he would defend the Castle himself; the Gunner answered him, it was impossible, for that he had but 10 barrels of powder left, and afterwards in further talk, the said Gunner confessed he had about 60 barrels, but alleged that Colonel Fiennes bid him say, that he had but 10 barrels left; Sure neither was Captain Birck such a fool, nor the Master gunner such a liar. And for Match Colonel Fiennes might have made enough there. A brave Sould●er to maintain a Castle against a Royal Army, with Match that was to be made every day in the Castle. Secondly, he saith he should have lost all his Horse, being 300, and all the foot which would not be contained in the Castle; wherefore it was concluded by the Council of War to treat and accept of conditions which might preserve 300 horse and 1500 foot to the Parliament: what Council of War this was appears not. The Committee and Gentlemen of the Country and most Officers deny, they were called to any such Council of War, or any such conclusion agreed on to their knowledge (as I have above said) As you have above lied. And he might have sent his Horse away by night to Gloucester, and drawn all his foot into the Castle, had he not so stuffed it with unserviceable people; Sir you were not the first inventour of that expedient for the Horse, and if you could have faggotted all the foot one upon another in the Castle, what should have become of your friends in the Town between whom and you there was a joint protestation and oath of mutual defence. But it should seem by his actions subsequent to the conclusion of the Treaty, he took little care to preserve the said body of men for service of the Parliament: for presently upon the Articles agreed on; First, He suffered his men to fall off from their Colours, Guards and Watches, A false lie. Col: Fiennes both by his commands, & by all ways and means endeavoured to keep the Soldiers to their colours and Guards, whereby the Common soldiers of the Enemy entering the Town, before the time appointed came for the defendants to march out, and mingling with our Soldiers, gave the Enemy advantage in the mixture, to plunder houses, strip and rifle our Soldiers, dismount our horse, to allure, entice and enforce from the Parl: service many of them; and so to break and dissolve almost all that body foot and horse: who thereupon scattered and dispersed themselves about the Country into harvest-work for their present relief; Nor could the Commanders on the Enemy's part remedy this evil which the Governors own folly had drawn upon him; and this is a better justification of the two Armies, then that wherewith the Governor by way of compliance tickleth them, (in his 11 page) All these particulars shall be cleared at a Councell of War, and for the point of powder, mentioned in the precedent page, that had not Col: Fiennes got some from beyond-seas, and otherwise by his endeavours, the West had been lost long since, and the 10 barrels he helped Gloucester with saved it. Nor did the Governor beat his Drum or call his foot Soldiers again to the Colours when he went out of Town, whereby they might march away with him in one entire body; and be kept together for the service of their Country; Secondly, Presently upon the Articles agreed upon, the Governor set all the prisoners in the Town and Castle, at liberty, 2 Gross lies. Those that advised this, thought neither Town or Castle very safe and tenable. these forthwith grew insolent and fell to plunder both Town and Castle, before the enemy entered to take orderly possession of them; these prisoners were many in number, and divers of them men of good quality taken by Sir William Waller; the Governor often complaining he was made Sir William waller's Goale-keeper, A base & groundless slander upon a Nobleman. He remembers no such answer, but conceives it a justifiable answer if he had said it. and repining at the charge of keeping them, he was often advised to remove them to a place of more safety, where they might be kept as pledges for our friends in captivity: London and the Lord Says Isle of Lundy were propounded. But for the first, the voyage was too chargeable, and for the last (it is since conceived) the Governor was unwilling to send any company to that place, whereby the mysteries of that Island, might be discovered; and observation made what was carried in and out there: A malicious lie. He knows that Col: Fiennes did what he could to suppress such disorders which were occasioned by the connivance of other Commanders. and when Sir William Waller moved Col: Fiennes to send away the said prisoners by Sea before the enemy came before the Town, he answered he would not, for that he would keep them to make his own conditions the better; For the Prisoners, Col: Fiennes wished Captain Birck, to see if there could be means found to send them away by sea, but he could not, and he desired also Sir Arthur Hazelrigg to take some of them with him, but he would have none of them. his own Counsels were always the best, I mean for his own ends; to make good which, the Council of War was well furnished with suffragan Captains, purposely made to vote for him. Much more might be said upon this Subject, especially for abuses done in Churches, etc. whereby the love of the Town and Country was much alienated. But enough hath been said of a bad matter, let us resort to God for mercy, and to man for justice to be done in a fitting way, (that is openly and by man uninteressed,) lest for want of due rewards and due punishments (the two Poles upon which the frame of Government turns) the reforming part of the Commonwealth, become 〈◊〉 corrupt as the part to be reform, which God of his mercy forbid. If liars and slanderers be not punished and Pillored, no men of honour will be able to live and do service, as Col: Fiennes doth not doubt to make it appear at a Council of War, that he made as good a defence of that place, as any hath been made of any place since this war, though not so long nor so successful, through other men's faults and the weak condition of the place. THere hath lately come to my view a Letter written by Col: Nath: Fiennes to my L. General, with no date to it, wherein (among … other matters already confuted in the answer to his relation) he te … you he armed 3000 foot, and 300 horse, and paid constantly 2000 foot and a Regiment of horse for 4 of 5 months together; This we deny, Col. Pophams' Regiment of foot being armed and paid by the Country, and where he will find 2000 foot, those excepted, we know not, unless they lay hid in Prince rupert's imaginary close decked boats: he further saith, he was always ready to furnish Sir William Waller with arms, money, etc. It is denied for both, especially for money, the money Sir Widow lliam Waller had from Bristol being taken up upon the private security of divers Genelemen, Deputy-Lieutenants, and Committees of Parliament and others, Col: Fiennes always repining thereat, and complaining they would draw dry the spring and starve the Garrison in the Town by those courses; this letter seems to be attested under the hands of divers men, some whereof deny they ever subscribed it. Sure they will not deny their hands when they see them, and Col. Fiennes will bring better proof of all that you deny, even of that which he said concerning close decked boats, than you can prove Major Langrishes cowardice at Muncton Forly when he was 10 miles off. The true Copies of a Certificate under Col. Fiennes own hand, dated july 17▪ 1643. As also of an Order of a Counsel of War held in Bristol the same day, expressing the true causes why Sir W. Waller left the City of Bristol. THE CERTIFICATE. I do conceive that Sir W. Waller having only horse, they would be of little us● unto us for the defence of this City, and may be rather a burden unto us in the consumption of our provisions, and therefore I do approve of Sir William's resolution to march out of the Town with them, and to dispose of them as he shall think most advantageous to the Cause. Bristol, July 17, 1643. Nath: Fiennes. THE ORDER. It was Ordered at a Council of War held in Bristol, July 17, 1643. That (according to the importunity of the Governor and his Officers) Sir Wil: waller's departure from Bristol, will be of fare greater consequence for the advancing of this present service, than his remaining there. And after debate, it was concluded most convenient, That Sir Will: Waller speedily march towards His Excellency the Earl of Essex, or to London. Edward Hungersord. Alexander Popham. James Keir. Francis Dowet. Arthur Haselrig. William Carr. Edward Cook. Ionas Van-drusch. I know not what he means by printing that certificate, and that Order of S Wil: waller's Council. of War (whereof I deny the parenthesis to be true to my best remembrance) and for the Certificate, I am still of the same judgement under the favour of this great Soldier, especially if Sir Wil: waller's words were true concerning his horse, that they were such rascals as he could never rule them. Finis.