CERTAIN INFORMATION FROM DEVON AND DORSET: CONCERNING THE COMMISSION OF ARRAY.  
August, 27. printed for H. Blunden. 1642..   

LOving Brother, I desire to relate unto you something from hence. The last week Master Ashford came to Town with Master Culm the sheriff, and by all probability to read the Commission of Array, for they brought it with them, and produced it, and made Warrants to send abroad, for the stopping of our Mustering this week, and sent for our Constable to publish them, and they had some clause of the Array in them, very strange ones they were, as ever were known▪ But our Constable, Walter Challis, would not read them: yet after many jeers, and proud and peremptory words of theirs, especially from Master Ashford, he took one of them, and by advice, sealed it up, and sent it to Lieutenant Bamfield. we expected an hot day, for here was present also Master Ickland of Culme-John, of the same party, and Master Willoughby of Pey-Hemby, but Master Willoughby would not set his hand to the Warrants by no means, but went away before them. And Master Saint-Hill sent hither his son in Law, Master Hankcock, a young man that lives in house with him, we suppose to carry back news of what was done, for he did the like at Exon assizes the week before, he sent this Gentleman out to meet the Lord of bath when he came to Exon with his Commission. Besides, we the more suspect Master Saint-Hill, for that he would have had in all the arms of his Parish into his own custody, being their captain: And hath in his house at this present, three Ladies come to his house the last week, with some two or four Cart loads of Provision, some say Munition too, besides much Cattle, they came out by Sherborne, and we suppose Master Coventry is at this house, for he sent privately to Master Sanders to be there, but he would not entertain him because of his Children, and we suppose him therefore either at Bradmuch, or at Master Canon's. we fearfully expected the Lord of bath here, with the Cavaliers, to second this project of Master Ashfords, and the sheriff: wherefore we had extraordinary Warding, and our town's men showed a great deal of undaunted courage, and opposed them very much, both in word and deed: and Master Prowse sh●wed excellent valour and wisdom herein, and is made captain, and incites the whole Parish mightily, and taketh care for the fencing of the town with Walls, and chains, and Ordnance: Thomas Sumpter also is a very great instrument of good. Hunnington men, and Arotry are exercised to day, and so are to pass away for Sherborne▪ Taunton men are gone already, and our men are to be mustered on Thursday next, Baronet Prideaux is our colonel, we are likely to have many volunteers out of this Parish. We are very sorrowful marquess Hartford is so great an enemy to us, my Brother can inform you of that at Sherborne better than myself, and of Somerset I believe you have heard, and I fear we may have too much to inform you of here, for this town is envied very much, both by Master Ashford now, the sheriff, and the confederate Papists thereabout them, we believe, but especially by a stranger's lodging here at Henry Skinners this quarter of this year for shelter, he answered the Justices, that he is a Darby Shire man, and Thornecombe he named himself▪ but (now I think on it) you know him▪ by all probabilities he should be a Jesuit, a rebel of Ireland, or a discontented cavalier, for he hath showed himself so, and the whole town and Parish do think so of him now▪ for the best affected at length questioning him, he began to be very ●…ffe, and told some at his going away, (which was at the beginning of the rising in the North) that he would remember them, when they did think he was dead and gone, and his own brother was in the head of the Rebels there, and indeed we doubt him to be chief of the troops hereabouts. Hemb-fort hath been watched day and night, fearing they should take that place, the whole Country by turn have done it: And Sir Tho: Drew is very much against this Array, grounding on that wise man's speech in Parliament against it, and says it is altogether illegal, and will die upon it, and when occasion serves, we believe he will show it, as about the Hill he hath declared his mind already, and he hath much Armour in his house, enough for 30. men at least.  
Master Saint-Hill says these Ladies are come for shelter, because of the troubles at Sherborne, but we doubt him, because of the arms which the Parish boldly oppugn him in, and resolved to set a Watch about his house when these came.  
Your very loving Brother, T. M. Collomptonii, Aug. 22. 1642.   

Dorset, August 22. 1642.  
THE marquess would fain remove to the King, but fears his intercepting, therefore offers the country to remove if they will afford him a Guard for his safe convoy, but it will not be granted by the Counties; they have been much pressed unto it by the Justices and Gentry, for the most part of our Gentry are for the King: Wherefore the marquess hath given out his Warrants this day to the Justices to bring in the train bands to him, or to have them in readiness to keep the peace, he standing upon his Guard in the Castle, where he makes great provision, being in fear that he may be soon set upon by the Earl of Bedford, and he hath but two pieces of Ordnance in the Castle, and about 400. very good Horse, and not above 100 Foot as yet come to him: I wish the marquess go not from thence, for that there is very great and hasty provision made and intended against him. We have 6. pieces of Ordnance in our town, besides 2. Morter pieces, and three small brass pieces, and to morrow is expected 2. great pieces more from Lyme, many Horse sent in hither, and a thousand men expected from Devonshire; and its thought that the Earl of Bedford will shortly be at Sherborne with near 20000 the marquess is said to expect the King very speedily for his assistance. Lime, wain, and pool do fortify themselves against the cavaliers.  
Your very loving Brother. H. L.   
FINIS.