A LETTER FROM HIS majesties COURT IN THE Isle of Wight: Wherein is declared, The Kings Majesties late Resolution touching colonel Hammond, and the manner how he should have been conveyed from Carisbrook Castle to the Kentish ARMY.  
With his Majesties Propositions touching the same, and three thousand pounds proffered to three Souldiers for the performance thereof.  
Also, a great Fight near Canterbury in Kent, divers slain, and one of the Kings Colonels, with 30. of his men taken taken prisoners. And another Fight near Rochester. with the number slain and taken.  
Likewise, the Kentish-mens Propositions to the Lord general, with his Excellencies Answer, and the Armies advance towards Rochester.  
June 2d London, Printed for R. W. MDCXLVIII.   

A LETTER FROM The Kings Majesties Court at Cariisbrock Castle, showing the manner how his Majesty should have been conveyed from the said iceland, to the Kentish ARMY.  
Honoured Sir,  
THis day our governor( colonel Hammond) received information of a new stratagem, for the conveying of his Majesty from this iceland, the manner thus; His Majesty having received intelligence of the proceedings and Engagement of the Kentish-men, began to think and study, how he might make his escape, and at the last, having an opportunity, resolved with himself, to declare his mind to three souldiers, which he supposed he might put confidence in, by promising them a great reward and gratuity, which accordingly He did, and  told them, that if they would do him that acceptable favour, as to use their endeavours for the restoring of Him to His liberty, and setting of him free from that Castle, they should each of them have 1000. l: whereupon they humbly thanked his Majesty, protesting that they would use their utmost endeavours for the obtaining of his Majesties liberty, and presently considered how they should accomplish the same, as the last resolved to buy a certain quantity of Aqua-fortis, and to apply it to the Iron-Bars of one of his Majesties Chamber windows, and so to eat the Bar asunder, which they did, and when the work was almost acoomplish'd, two of them began to repent of their former action, resolving to proceed no further therein, but to discover the same to the governor, which accordingly they did: Whereupon our governor used his utmost endeavours for the preventing thereof, and ordered, that all care and diligence should be used for the future, that no such thing should be acted. If this design had taken effect, his Majesty should have been conveyed first to Southampton, and from thence, either for the North or Kent.  
Carisbrook Castle 29. May, 1648.   

The further proceedings of the Kentish Army, and their choosing of Col. Washington general.  
SIR,  
THE Kentish Army is retreated as far as Rochester, Maidstone, and other towns adjacent, they consist of about 14000. but are divided into two Bodies, most of them being armed; but they cannot concord and agree about their Commanders in chief, some say, that they desire Col. Washington may be their general; others give out, that they will have the Lord Culpepper.  
This day the general had a Randezvouz upon the Heath beyond this town, where appeared of horse and foot 8000. The Kentish-men have sent Propositions to the General, touching a treaty, but the general returned answer, that he knew not of any order of Parliament directing him to treat, and whereas he finds the Gentlemen of Kent, and others 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, he cannot capitulate while they are so in arms, nor lose time in prosecution; but if they forthwith lay down, and go home, he doubts not but the Parliament will pardon the seduced, and punish the seducers for example to others.  
They Regiment, and are very numerous in horse, few men of quality to be seen, but as is apprehended, gathered in arms; some skirmishes have been, and at several times near 100. prisoners taken.  
A small party of Col. Riches horse sallying out, met with a party of the Kentish foot, fought with them, and put them to a rout, taking 36 prisoners, with the loss of one man, having but 7 in number.  
But on Wednesday last a party of the Kentish-men came up unto a Guard of the Parliaments Forces, they fought well, divers of them were slain, others taken, among the rest two young Gentlemen who were brave in Gold and Silver Lace, with whom the Souldiers changed. The general hath a party of horse in the wild of Kent, who desire to relieve Dover Castle besieged by them, to whom are joined some hundreds of the Kentish, who have made some spoil among the other Kentish, and have taken Col. Culpepper, and many others. They say there is with the Kentish-men one of the Gorings, and that they increase hourly.  
On friday last Vice-admiral Rainsborough came ashore at his own Castle at deal, the occasion was, because some of the Kentish men had endeavoured to get the possession of the Earl of Warwicks Castle of Sandon, the castle of Warbrough, and this Castle, which are all three within a mile and a half one of the other. And when the 'vice admiral had done his endeavour to secure them, he went in a small pinnace to his command again at Sea; and when he came to the ship which was under his immediate command, those which were in her forbade him to come aboard, saying they would obey him no longer, but would have the King brought to London, &c and  told him, if he came aboard, it was at his peril, but if he pleased, he might depart in the Vessel he was in.  
Then they sent to Capt. Penrose, desiring him to come in to join with them; but he replied he would not, and asked them, if they would become Enemies to their former cause and Engagements, and quiter cast of all subjection.  
To which they generally replied no, they were for King and Parliam. then said he, it were fit that you should make choice of some honourable person, that is true to both, for this is a place not fit for any other, &c. he had no sooner spoken this but one of them name the Earl of Warwick, and all the rest cried out presently, a Warwick, a Warwick: then they agreed to sand a Letter to his Lordship, & another to the Speaker of the house setting forth their proceedings, and that if the E. of Warwick came to them, they would live and dy with him, in defance of the cause for King and Parliament, according to the first principles; and they made choice of capt. Pentose to bring these Letters, & before his coming away, he  told them, that it might be when he was gone, they would make choice of some other; and to give satisfaction to the contrary, they all took an oath, not to receded from this choice until the E. of Warwick came to them, &c.  
On friday last the Kentish men took the Fort near Dover Castle, whereof capt. Bethel, a very deserving Gentleman, had the command, they shot many pieces against the Castle, but finding no probability of doing any good against it, they gave it over, But we hear that the general hath sent a party of Horse to relieve Dover, and re-possesse themselves of the Fort, which is all at present, from  
Deptford 30. May, 1648. Your assured friend, D. M.   

POSTSCRIPT.  
SIR, Since the writing of my last, we have received intelligence, that the party of horse that went to relieve Dover Castle, have had a great fight with the Kentish Horse near Canterbury, and have taken divers prisoners, and killed many, with the loss of two or three men, and have totally routed the whole party. They also skirmished with another party of the Kentish Horse, commanded by a Colonel formerly in the Kings Army, and after some short dispute, took the said colonel, and 30 of his men prisoners, The great Fort at Dover is re-taken, and now in possession of the Parliaments Forces.  
Deptford 31. May, 1648.   

Imprimatur  
Gilbert Mabbott.   
FINIS.