A DECLARATION FROM THE Isle of Wight, and County of Hampshire Concerning the KING: And the trial of Captain Burley, upon high Treason about the late Mutiny in the said ISLE.  
ALSO The Mayor and Alderman's Letter of the City of Rochester in Kent, to Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Ofcers, to keep their Forces from coming thither: And the Answer thereunto.  
Together with the burning of the Gates of Canterbury. A Regiament gone to Dover, and the Governors' Propositions concerning delivering up of the Castle to whom Sir Thomas Fairfax shall appoint.  

Janua. 23. 1647.  
Imprimatur  
Gilbert Mabbott.   
London, Printed by R. I. 1648.   

A LETTER FROM The Major and Aldermen of the City of Rochester, to Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Officers, to keep their Forces from coming thither.  
Sir,  
THE marching of some of Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Forces into this County is a great grief to the disaffected party whose designs thereby are like to be utterly frustrate. The last week Colonel Hewsons' Regiament of foot containing about fourteen hundred men, marched into Canterbury without any manner of opposition, neither indeed could there be any, for before their coming, upon appeasing of the late mutiny on the 24. of December last the gates of the City were burnt down, to prevent the design of those which endeavoured to bring the whole City into a confusion, and would have kept it by force against the Parliaments forces, For which Sir William Manwood. Mr. Norwood, J. Baker, Tho. Annis and above forty others were taken into custody and are since sent from Canterbury to Leeds Castle for better 〈…〉 th●●gs ●●●●…ue 〈◊〉 p●●c●●n 〈…〉, a●● the Shoulders behave themselves very civilly, most of them being quartered in Inns and Victualling houses. At nine of the clock at night a Drum is beaten through the City, and if afterwards any of the Soldiers are found out of their quarters or any way disordered they are committed to custody of the Marshal 〈◊〉 have punishment.  
On Saturday last Lieutenant Colonel 〈◊〉 (Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel 〈◊〉 with about five hundred of that Regi●ment marched from Canterbury to Sandwich, but before they came quite at the Town the Mayor and Aldermen met them and shown great respect to them, and the Mayor spoke to the Officers and declared the good affection of their Town in general to the Parliament, and the Army, and after some further discourse the Officers accompanied the Mayor and Aldermen into the 〈◊〉 and at their earnest request dined with them, in the mean while the private Soldiers and some of the inferior Officers stayed about half a mile from the town, to whom the Mayor caused to be sent two Hogsheads of strong beer, and great store of bread and cheese and other victuals, and towards night they were drawn to another place to quarter, and afterwards returned bacl again to Canterbury, where they 〈◊〉 but one nights stay, for although the rest of the ●●●●ent remain here, yet these five hundred men has Order not to stay but to march away again toward 〈◊〉 〈…〉 with a Letter to Lieutenant Colo. Jobs and the rest of the Officers, from the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Rochester, signifying unto them, That whereas they h〈…〉 what they 〈…〉 Their 〈…〉 Rochester It was not the intent of that City to show the least opposition thereunto, setting forth their good affection towards His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and the forces 〈…〉, but for that it had plea●ed God, the very day 〈◊〉, to lay his hand on 〈…〉 City they d●●…ed for prevention of any further infection in the City or the endangering the Army, that they would forbear to quarter in that Town. To which the Officers returned 〈…〉 to the Mayor and Aldermen 〈…〉 they could not 〈◊〉 from the orders they had, which were to come to Rochester, And on Thursday about four a clock in the afternoon they marched into the City where they were friendly ●●●●rtained and particular quarters appointed du 〈…〉 in which business the discreet care of the Officers of the Army and the Constables of the Town is observable, For as the poor were altogether eased for were not the rich over burdened, neither were there above four or five houses which had Tickets to billet above one Soldier in a house, so that when there came but one where they expected two or three, repining thoughts vanished, and the Shoulders were made welcome there, and nothing seemed to sad the hearts of the people but the dying of two of the town that night of the sickness, and some others infected therewith, which indeed proved to be such a terror to the Country people that the market was very small there on Friday last.  
There is one thing more which I had almost forgotten, and that is this, Colonel Rainsboroughs Regiament is marched to Dover, and we hear that the Governor of the Castle (Captain Boys) offers to resign His commission if His Excellency require it.  
In the mean while he supplicates for pay for the Soldiers under His command, and having done long service in that Castle, So I rest,  
Canterbury, the 22. Jan, 1647. Your assur●●●●iend Jo. Hewet.  
Postscript.  
THis evening as I was sealing up of my Letters came a Post to Town which brings news that Sir Lewis Dives is escaped out of the King's Bench, and is gone into France or the I'll of Jersey, & he reports further that he gave some great affront to his keepers▪ Here was also a great report that the King was coming from the I'll of Wight towards London, But by other intelligence from Westminster which seems to carry fare more weight, it is said that nothing of that nature hath hitherto been moved in the House, which gives me assurance that the other report is altogether groundless, and feigned and only raised by such as would have it so. This is all which he hath at present to accommodate his friend who still remains.  
Your faithful Friend Jo. Hewet.  
Die Lunae, 24 Januar. 1647.  
THE Commissioners which went down into Hampshire to try Captain Burley and others, which were chief Actors in the late mutiney in the 〈◊〉 of Wycke (and had a 〈…〉 〈…〉ments Commissioners came away, which carried the four Bills to his Majesty return to London 〈…〉 and this day report was made thereof to the House, to this effect.  
That the said 〈…〉 before the said Commissioners, and Indicted of high Treason, to which Indightment, he pleaded not guilty, and so putting himself upon the trial of the Country, he was found guilty by the Grand Jury, which are the representative body of the Isle of Wight. and County of Hampshire, and after verdict was brought in, the Judges gave sentence (according to Law) that the said Captain Burley should be hanged, drawn and quartered:  
Two others were also indicted, and were found guilty of a Riot, for which they were deeply fi●ed, some others which were more principal actors in the business have made an escape.  
There was also this day read in the House of Commo●● a Declaration from the Grand Jury of the Isle of Wight, and County of Hampshire, to this purpose:  
We the Grand-Jury men of the Country of Hampshire being called to give our Verdicts concerning Captain B●rley and others; do Declare according to our consciences, that the design to carry away the King, was with an intent to engage the Kingdom in a new war and to bring a general ruin and destruction on the same. And therefore we further declare that we do approve of the said Votes concerning the King, and their proceed against such as shall any ways oppose or disobey the Orders of Parliament, in settling the peace of the Kingdom and the rights and liberties of the Subject in persuance whereof we will live and die in defence and maintenance of both houses of Parliament.  
Signed by the Foreman, and the rest of the Jury.  
FINIS.   

This Declaration of the Grand-Jury is ordered forthwith to be printed and published.  
Im. G.M.