Good news from South-hampton, AND BASINGSTOKE, in Hampshire. As it was related in a Letter from thence by one Master Goter, to a Merchant of good quality, in Lumbardstreet. With the Copy of a Letter sent by captain Swanly, captain of one of the King's Ships, to the Major and communality of the said town. As also another Letter to the same Merchant from Basingstoke, relating the passages there. LONDON, Printed for Tho. Bates, and are to be sold at his shop in the Old Bayly. 1642. Decem. 9 1642. Sir, MY service unto you remembered; we received yours, and the things by the Post: It is true that you heard of our town. Captain Swanly, captain of one of the King's ships, on Saturday last sent a letter to our town, the copy of which, I have here enclosed; whereupon our Major summoned all the inhabitants to appear at our council-house on Monday, where the captain's letter was read divers times, whereupon a letter was returned to him how that they would obey the Parliament, yet every man underwit it not: it was thought that Swanly would have come up the River with his ships, and bear the town about our ears: This day one of our Parliament men an Alderman of our town, with divers of our Townsmen, are gone to the Committee at Portsmouth, to make their peace with them; this stir need not have been, but that our Major, and some of the richer sort that are counted for malignant's, for most of our Commoners held fast for the Parliament. Thus having no more at present, I take my leave, and rest yours to serve, John Goter. Captain Swanlies' Letter to the town of Southampton. Mr. Major, and the rest of your Corporation, YOu well know in what distractions this kingdom is in now, and is at this time. I am placed here by authority of Parliament, for the peace of that part of the kingdom, which I shall endeavour to maintain as far as my ability of life and fortune may extend: your town is a considerable place of Merchandising, and by reason thereof, there are men amongst you of very good fortune and estates, to preserve their estates and so in general through the kingdom with their Religion and liberties, is the only aim of the Parliament; and no question those that shall oppose either of these, are unfit to enjoy either, but to be branded with baseness: there are divers reports in the Country of your forwardness in opposing the Parliament; but I hope you wish your own peace herein better than so, if you should not, there can nothing befall you but ruin and destruction; to know the truth of this, I have sent my letter unto you, as likewise whether you will submit yourselves obedient to the commands of Parliament, and consequently to the directions and commands of the governor of Portsmouth, and the Committee there authorised by both Houses of Parliament: for the peace of this part of this kingdom, I have seized on Cashot Castle, and disabled Saint Andrew's Castle, and Nutly Castle; I have seized also upon all the boats of Hieth and thereabouts, I have given order to stop all provisions from coming out of the Isle of Wight unto you, all which I have done by the commands of the Committee of Portsmouth; I have also authority to summon you, and that town to your obedience, to the grand council of England; to which I desire answer, and if no answer, I shall take it as a denial; then if unhappy things befall, thank yourselves, for I shall to my uttermost endeavour and power bring you thereunto. I pray you let this letter be known to all the Commoners as to yourselves: thus expecting an answer by this messenger, I rest Yours, as you use yourselves, Richard Swanly. Decem. 3. 1642. Basingstoke this tenth of December, 1642. Sir, HEre lay my Lord Grandisons troop of Horse, and colonel Greyes' Dragooners eleven days: we had employment enough to dress the meat, and provide drink for them, but last Friday they went away, and as we heard, are gone to Marlborough, and many say they heard the Guns go off very fiercely. The KING was expected to be in this town this day: here were many Gentlemen came thirty miles to meet him, but returned presently, hearing the contrary. It hath been a great charge to our town; they demanded two thousand yards of woollen cloth, and five hundred yards of linen, at fourteen pence the yard; so the linen Drapers brought theirs in, but the Clothiers, and woollen Drapers made no great haste, so they served themselves some at one shop, and a greater quantity at another. If you see master Lamy, tell him he saved his purse in going away, but they made bold with his house, he may come down safely now, and see what is done: pray God send peace, or else I see what will come to this Land quickly. I hope you at London desire peace, as well as we, though perhaps you are not so much in danger as we are, yet enough, I believe you are not quite out of it: and thus with my love I rest yours, H. W. FINIS.