NEWS FROM SOUTHAMPTON, OR The copy of a letter to Captain Thomas Harrison in London from Mr. Peter Murford, Serjeant Major to Colonel Norton, DISCOVERING A late Plot of the Cavaleering Hoptonians against the said town of Southampton: But by the mercy of God (and the fidelity of the said Major) prevented.  
Also herein is related the distressed condition of that County as it now stands.  
Published according to Order.  
LONDON, Printed for Henry Overton in Popes-head Alley. 1644.   

The Discovery of a new plot against the Town of Southampton by the CAVALIERS.  
SIR,  
YOur Letter is come to my hands, which I take kindly from you: I should desire to exchange lines oftener with you; I thank you for your news. I had Letters this day from my Lord Admiral for the Maria Pinnace to ride before this Town. We are yet in safety (blessed be God) but daily braved by the enemy, yet hitherto they have not dared to fasten upon this Town: And I have observed, that they have never come before this place, or near it, but we have still worsted them, we have always taken prisoners, Horses, Arms, wounded or slain some of them. On Thursday last we took six men and horse, whereof one was a Cornet. On Saturday we took two men, Horses and Arms, shot a Captain, who lies languishing at Ramsey, and wounded three men more. The Lord be still our defence and refuge, and give us thankful hearts for his preservation over us. This poor County of Hampshire having had its share of blood and misery in this sad tragedy of our Nation, that there is hardly left any thing for man or beast therein.  
I perceive you have received knowledge of a treacherous practice for the delivery of this Town, but lest you should be misinformed therein, I will give you a brief account thereof. Some few days before Christide last, the Lord Hopton marched with his Army from Winchester, towards Southampton, with a purpose to face it, (as we were informed,) but he came not within two Miles thereof, to out face it, but marched to Redbridge, (the way into the new forest) break it down to hinder us of provision from thence after so horrible an Act, he faced about and marched to his old quarters again, without attempting any further achievement.  
The next day here arrived a letter from one Mr. jasper Cornelius some times an Attorney of this Town, but run away before my coming hither for Malignancy) directed to Mr R. Mason, a merchant of this town, intimating that this Cornelius was the day before with the Lord Hopton before this Town, and was the means of diverting the Lord Hoptons' intent of attempting this place, and ●ells Mr. Mason he had made choice of him to deliver an enclosed letter to me with all secrecy, which I received (yet the said Cornelius was an unknown man to me,) by his Letter he insinuates that then was a fit time for me to do his Majesty good service, and that I was not the man I was formerly, meaning (as I conceived) that the government of this Town was imposed upon my honoured friend Colo ell Norton (which I long sued to be eased thereof) and by it he thought I was a discontented person, and so fit to be wrought upon; but he was deceived, I being never better pleased then to be eased of so great a burden, which I had born long enough, (though it pleased his Excellency to requite my service with a more suitable command to my disposition, made me Sergeant Major to Colonel Norton, which pleases me fare better) after the receipt of this letter, I instantly acquainted my Colonel and Master Major therewith, we all agreed I should show a seeming complying the better to bottom their design, and to find out what malignant party they had made in this town. I forthwith gave him a copy of a character to explain his mind more fully. To which he replied, That by the command of his superiors, he did in the name of his Majesty and his country, and two Lords (which he named) offer me a thousand pounds in money, a present employment of more value and honour then at present I had, his Majesty's pardon under the great Seal, and his favour, if I would be a means to reduce the town of Hampton to his Majesty; I returned a seeming complying answer, and demanded the 1000 l. in hand, or the moiety thereof, and assurance given me for the residue, the employment named, and the pardon sent me; this performed, he should soon see what I would say to it. In the interim my Colonel acquainted my L. General and Sir Will. Waller, with the offer made by Cornelius; wherein I continued the treaty to gain time, until Sir W. Waller had finished his business at Arundel, and drawn his Army this way, and then to have drawn the enemy hither in hope of gaining this place, whilst Sir William might have fallen behind them in this place of advantage, and so to have deceived such treacherous corrupters.  
I continued the Treaty until I had his Majesty's Sign Manual for a pardon sent me, and afterwards the pardon itself; but I could get no money, but strong engagements of honour to perform with me when the work desired was effected. I whiled out a month's time with them to the exchange of eight letters, Mr. Robert Mason being still the man they employed to bring their and receive my letters, whom they had bound to secrecy by an oath, before I knew thereof, who brought me the copy thereof, hoping to have gained me to the like, saying he had no engagement all this time on me, neither by protestation nor promise, to perform with them; and which I still delayed (which put the projectors to a jealousy that I was not real to them) yet to draw them still on, I framed some offers, in the nature of Articles, for myself and this Town (to which the Lord Hopton subscribed, that upon his honour he would perform them:) but I still pressed for the money, but could not obtain it, they fearing I would Craford them as Poole did; yet Mr. Mason offered me to become bound for it, which I accepted of: but before he would perform, on Friday last was seven-night he earnestly pressed me to declare my reality in the design. I saw the man in a distracted ecstasy, by his over zealousness and rashness for them, having no assurance of me, my bowels pitied him, his wife and many children, told him plainly I never intended to be a villain and traitor, to betray a trust committed to me, and the lives and goods of so many innocent people to be made a prey to cruelty, and told him I have revealed it from the beginning to my Colonel.  
Then he begged I would conceal his name; I told him I could not, but in campassion of his condition gave him leave to go to his house (being but three houses from mine,) in which time I went forthwith to acquaint my Colonel with what had happened between Mr. Mason and myself, we concluded instantly to seize his person, and causcd all the gates to be secured; but yet he escaped from us and could not be found, although we searched carefully for him, since we here he is at Winchester, and shall be preferred, and employed in matter of trust. In all the time of our treaty, I could not discover that he had any confederates of any Townsmen with him, but had undertaken it, to carry it alone. But I was grieved that I was conceived by the adverse part, to be a fit Instrument for them. But now they have tried me, I am confident, they will never do the like, but to revenge themselves on me: But I will to all the world declare and maintain my faithfulness to my Country and cause I have undertaken, and clear my unfeigned reputation.  
Thus much I thought good to say unto you, that you may give a satisfactory testimony of that design in my behalf, if you here it falsely reported. And I shall be ready to requite you in vindicating of truth, and acknowledge myself.  
Southampton Feb. 5. 1643. Your real friend, Pet. Murford.  
FINIS.