Major General Laughorn's LETTER TO THE Honourable William Lenthall Esq Speaker of the Honourable House of Commons. Wherein is truly related the taking of Carmarthen Town and Castle, and the Reducing of that County to obedience of Parliament. Together with the several Articles, Declarations and Agreements BETWEEN The Major and Gentry of that County. ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That this Letter, Articles, Directions, and Agreements, be forthwith Printed and Published. H. Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com. LONDON: Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the Honourable House of Commons, Octob. 28. 1645. To the Honourable William Lenthall Esquire, Speaker to the Honourable House of Commons. Mr. Speaker, Sceva the taking of Picton Castle, and freeing the whole County of Pembroke from the power of the Enemy: The first action worthy your knowledge, God vouchsafed I should effect, was the taking of Carmarthen Town and Castle; it was performed this day; at nine of the clock in the morning, Fifteen hundred Clubmen of the County marched out at one Gate, and I entered at the other, the strength of the Clubmen in all the adjacent Counties since their last Association; my endeavouring for Recruit in the best measure I could, and the unsettledness of the Commissioners of Array, and other of the Gentry of Carmarthenshire, in their Treaty for Peace with us lost me some time, might have been more useful in Action: Their solicitations received birth before the taking of Carew Castle; but after their loss of Picton I discerned more frequency and importunity in the prosecution: It were impertinent to rehearse all particular passages, the Copies of the Letters and conditions between us, with my Declaration sent herewith (observing the order of them) will manifest the effect of what I would signify: their first Letter to me and the Committee, they sent to receive the King's approbation before they conveyed it to us, and all they did passed (though privately) by allowance of Major General straddling, and Lovelace Governor of Carmarthen, that breeds my doubt they have yet rotten coares, and I shall try before I overmuch trust them: On Friday the Commissioners drew Fifteen hundred Clubmen into Town, and with the Townsmen undertook the defence, dismissing the Governor and his Soldiers: Our Forces lying then at Saint Clears, six miles short of Carmarthen, staying for some Carriages that were not come up; the next day we appeared in several bodies, Six hundred Horse and Dragoons and Two thousand Foot before the Town, and spent the evening in interchange of Parlyes, at eleven at night we concluded, and this morning put it in execution, some of the manifestly criminous deserted the Town, and fled with the Enemy, some Troopers and Captains daily fall in to us, and the Clubmen in Cardiganshire resift the Enemy, detain their Contributions, and (in compliance with Colonel Lewes, who neglecteth no means to win them) as I here declare for King and Parliament. Our Horse shall advance to morrow to assist them, and in few days, I hope to give a very good account of be two Counties: Glamorganshire Gentlemen I desired (and I heard were ready) to appear upon the borders, to wait my actions against Carmarthen, if the surrender had not prevented them: The Town very spacious, but strongly Fortified, requiring no less than a thousand men in Garrison: If we could give pay we should not want men, and those we have with little encouragement, would deem no enterprise too hard: If it would please the State to afford some supply for money and clothing, I doubt not they should speedily reap the fruit of them. I restrain Plunder, and use the Country withal lenity; I shall not, I hope, repent it, or forget that I am, Sir Carmarthen 12. Octob. 1645. Your most humble Servant, ROWLAND LAUGHORNE. The Copy of a Letter from the Commissioners, and Gentry of the County of Carmarthen, to the General and Committee in Pembrokeshire. GEntlemen, We taking into consideration the unhappy effects that War (being continued) may produce between the county of Pembroke, and these neighbouring counties of Carmarthen and Cardigan and others; the unity whereof is requisite under many Relations, to the preservation of which you and we equally pretend, namely our Religion, Loyalty, and Laws, though we have been hitherto so unhappy, as to endeavour the preserving of these by destroying one another. To prevent therefore the continuance of these miseries we have formerly felt, and the fears of worse that may ensue (if possibly it may be) and that we may move towards these ends, we severally profess to be the same, with better assurance of obtaining them, and more piety towards ourselves; We conceive (that if your concurrence be had therein) that a Treaty between a certain number Commissioned out of these two Counties and yours, may produce a better effect to every of us, than the Hostility between us hath hitherto done, or (if continued) is like to do. In order to this (if you approve thereof) you may name your number of persons, with the time and place where to give meeting, sending likewise your safe conduct for the proportionable number Commissioned out of these Counties, and the like shall be sent to you from this: Thus desiring your speedy Answer, we remain Septemb. 5. 1645. Your Servants, Ed: Vauhgan. Jo: Vaughan. Rowland Gwyn. Robert Birt. Francis Lloyde. John Vaughan. john Vaughan. George Gwyn. John Harr. Carbery. Rice Rudde. Henry Middleton. john Lewes. Thomas Lloyde. The Copy of the Answer from the Major General Laughorne and the Committee to the Commissioners and Gentry of the several Counties of Carmarthen and Cardigan. GEntlemen, Your Letter of the 5. of Sept. we received this 25. of the same, if your desires be answerable to your expressions for Peace, we shall upon what terms may be warrantable admit a Treaty, conditioned you make full Declaration of your obedience to the Authority of King and Parliament, and testify your resolution therein, by present seizing, delivering to us, or detaining in your own power those scattered Horse of the Enemy yet in your Country, with these limitations, we hereby engage for the safety of any four gentlemen among you, (so they consist not of any Members that deserted the Parliament) to repair to this Town within the next three days, & to return with their necessary Attendants, & we shall be ready, upon your compliance, to protect the Common people, & such of the Gentry as we shall find Capable of protection, and refer the exempted to superior judicatures, In the interim, in suspense of our expectation; we are Haverfordwest, 25. Sept. 1645. Your Servants Rowland Laughorne, Tho: Bowen, Lewis Barlowe, john Lort, Sampson Lorr. Tho: jones. The Copy of a Letter from the Commissioners of Carmarthenshire, to Major General Laughorne, and the Committee. GEntlemen, expecting this day to have understood the full sense of the Inhabitants of this County, that thereby we might have been Armed with power to have treated as was in your Letter mentioned; you may understand the Country met not (as we expected) therefore we conceive ourselves not in condition to send unto you according to our undertake: This we thought fit to write unto you who are October 2. 1645. Your humble Servants, Rice Rudde. john Vaughan. Ed: Vaughan. john Vaughan. Henry Middleton. George Gwynne. SIr, we hear you are advanced into this County, which makes us send this bearer to receive your command which shall be performed by us, who profess and declare ourselves to be for the King and Parliament, and will with the best assistance we can, aid you with our lives and fortunes, in any thing that may conduce to the Parliaments service, Llangendyscen, Octob. 10. 1645. Sir, we are your humble Servants, Edward Vaughan. john Vaughan. Henry Middleton. john Vaughan. For our Honoured friend Major Gen: Laughorn these. GEntlemen, in Answer to your Letter, I rest satisfied of your good intentions, And for the better and sooner expediting the service intended, I wish two of you would give me the meeting at St. Clears this night, where I am advanced with my whole Army, and shall be ready upon warrantable grounds, to do you service, St. Clears October 10. 1645. I am Gentlemen your servant, Rowland Laughorne. For his worthy friends, Edward Vaughan Knight, john Vaughan, Henry Middleton, and john Vaughan, Esq these. A Declaration to the Commissioners, Gentry, and Inhabitants of Carmarthenshire, set forth by Major General Laughorne, at St. Clears the 10. day of October, 1645. GEntlemen, although your credulity (to the greatest Instruments of your Ruin,) heretofore (to your dear experience) possessed you with an opinion, the King and Parliaments forces designed nothing less, then reducing you to obedience and settlement of your Peace, and I (with compunction) confess at my last advance into these parts of your County, the licentiousness of my unpaid Soldiers, might add some settledness to that injurious conceit; I praise God and the Parliaments providence, my men upon the present advance, rest well satisfied with the pay they received, and are become liable to Discipline, of that I shall not forbear the strictest execution upon apparent offenders. My earnest wishes are, you will now at length be undeceived, and pretend not rescue of your Estates, to colour obstinate resistance of the Authority whereto you own all you call yours, but make present submission to the power of King and Parliament, and join (against the common Enemy) with the Forces by their Commission under my conduct, whose principal endeavour it is, to assert your Religion, your Laws, your Liberties. You so doing, in exchange of your imaginary fears, I tender my Reputation in the presence of Heaven and Earth (for gaining your confidence,) I will not dread to engage my life with my power and fortunes, in protection of your persons and Estates, as well against those of mine own Command, as the notorious adversaries of our Religion, Liberties, Peace, and Prosperity, Rowland Laughorne. SIr, we received your Letter, and rest your servants for the affection you express: Our late coming into Town, prevents our waiting on you this night, we are 1500. men in Town, which are resolved for King and Parliament, to morrow four of us will not fail to wait on you, we desire you not to march till then. The Castle we have not as yet, but it is promised us to morrow; which with the hazard of our lives, we will defend and keep for the Parliament service; Your Declaration shallbe published to the people, and if they declare not as we do, their forced obedience shall make them rue their obstinacy: The particulars of our proceed we refer to this bearers Relation, and Rest Carmarthen, 10 Octobr. 1645. Your Servants, Edward Vaughan. John Vaughan. John Vaughan. Charles Gwyn. Henry Midleton. For our honoured Friend, Major Gen. Laughorne. IT is agreed by the Town and County of Carmarthen, and Major Gen. Laughorne, That the works and all fortification about the Town and Castle, be utterly demolished, and all other Garrisons within the said County. It is likewise agreed, that no free quarter be imposed upon the Inhabitants of the said Town and County, except one night upon a march, And that the Army may not march through the Town. It is desired and agreed, that all other matters and business of consequence, may be referred to King and Parliament at Westminster, And that all the Ammunition and Arms, within the said Town and County, may be left for their own defence and safety. It is likewise agreed, that the Army march out of this County, within the space of two days and two nights, next ensuing. These Articles being granted, the whole Inhabitants of the Town and County, do declare themselves for King and Parliament. It is agreed, that no pressed men be required from the said Town and County, until there be a general press within all the Associated Counties adjacent. It is also agreed, that the Covenant be not pressed on the Inhabitants of neither Town nor County. This was brought without subscriptions, and delivered Saturday evening, 11 Octob. By Sir Edward Vaughan. john Vanghan of Llanelly. Thomas Williams. And Robert Toy, And George Joanes Of the Town. In Answer to the six particulars, desired of me by the Town and County of Carmarthen, to obtain their Declaration for King and Parliament. FOr the first, I should agree to the demolishing of all the Garrisons in the County, so there might be other means for securing the Country and places of retreat upon necessary occasions ascertained. To the second, Soldiers cannot be maintained without free quarter, or Contributions for pay, and without men the Country cannot be defended. To the third, by the rearm (King) it is not evident, whether the King's personal residence at Westminster be intended, and other matters of consequence must be all the difference, for here nothing of moment is offered, and by circuit, we are where we begun. To the fourth, the marching of the Army out of the County, and no other power settled, for its preservation is inconsistent with my trust. To the fifth, the special emergent occasions may require pressed men here, when other places may be void of danger, and not positively to be granted. To the sixth, A profession against the Covenant or willing declining of it, is an open profession of enmity to King and Parliament, and the desire of exemption manifesteth the Treaty on that part to be illusory, and superficial. If upon my Declaration the Gates be opened, and the Town delivered, I shall make good what I have undertaken; otherwise I shall leave the wealth of it, to the dispose of the Soldier, and not make contracts for the price of their blood. WE whose names are subscribed, in the name of ourselves, and all the Inhabitants of this Town and County, do absolutely declare for King and Parliament, and will with our lives and fortunes, assist the forces raised by the Parliament against any other whatsoever as shall seek to invade these Countries, and do desire to be received into King and Parliaments protection, according to the Declaration of Major Gen. Laughorne, and for Contribution we willingly submit proportionably to out Neighbouring Counties, 11 October, 1645. Tho. Griffith Mayor, David Bevan. Robert Lewes. Thomas Woodford. Robert joy.. vic. Come john David. vic. Com. john David. Robert Brand. Robert Griffith. Richard Thomas. Edward jones. john Hughes. Walter Chapman. Edward Vaughan john Vaughan. Henry Vaughan. Henry Midleton. George Gwyn. john Vaughan. john Harrys. Thomas Williams. Francis Howell. Henry Vaughan. Samuel Hughes. Thomas Howell. john Auberry. Anthony Morgan. john Gwyn. john Lloyd. Edward Vaughan. William Lloyd. john Newskay. FINIS.