The full and Last RELATION, Of all things concerning BASING-HOUSE: WITH, Divers other Passages; represented to to Mr. SPEAKER, and divers Members in the House. By Mr. Peter's, who came from Lieutenant general CROMWELL. ALSO, How there are strange and hideous Cries, heard in the ground. Commanded to be Printed, and published according to Order. London Printed, by JANE COE. 1645. THE Rifeling of Basing: OR, Mr. Peter's report to Mr. Speaker, and other Members of the House of Commons. ON Wednesday the 15 of October 1645. Mr. peter's came from Bazing upon some special concernments of the Army, and upon Thursday morning early was in the House with the Speaker and divers Members, and according to their desi●e, gave a full relation of some things concerning B●zing, not mentioned in the Lieutenant general's Letters, which was to this purpose. That Mr. peter's came into the house of Bazing, some time after the storm: on Tuesday the 14 of October 1465. and took a view, first of the works which were many, though not finished, and of too great a compass, for so few men to keep. Sir Robert Peake the governor swearing to him that they had but 300 fighting men in all, the circomwallation being above a mile and a half-about, there were in both houses 16 cornyards great and small; the old house had stood as it is reported 2. or 300 years, a nest of idolatry, the new house surpassing that in beauty and stateliness: and either of them sit to make an Emperor's court. The rooms before the storm (it seems) in both houses were all completely furnished; provisions for some years rather than months, 400 quarters of wheat: Bacon's divers rooms full, hundreds of flitches of bacon, Cheese proportional, with oatmeal, beef, pork, bear divers sellers full, and that very good. A bead in one room furnished that cost 1300l. Popish books many, with Copies and such utensils that in truth, the house stood in its full pride, and the enemy was p●rswaded that it would be the last piece of ground that would be taken by the Parliament, because they had so often failed our forces, that had formerly appeared before it. In the several rooms, and about the house, there were slain, in view 74. and only one woman, the daghter of doctor Griffith, who came forth railing against our soldiers for their ruff carriages towards her father, who indeed did remember to him his former malignancy, there lay upon the ground slain by the hands of Major Harrison (that godly, and gallant Gentleman) Major Guffle a man of great account amongst them, and a notorious Papist, and Robinson the player, who a little before the storm, was known to be mocking, and scorning the Parliament, and our Army, 8. or 9 Gentlewomen of rank running forth together were entertained by the common soldiers somewhat coarsely, yet not uncivilly, they left them with some clothes upon them, their plunder continued till Tuesday night in this manner, 1 For the goods, the soldiers seized upon the first goods of which there were several sorts; one soldier had sixscore pieces in gold for his share, others plate, others jewels, amongst the rest one got 3. bags of silver; who (being not able to keep his own council) it grew to be common pillage amongst the rest, the fellow himself had but one half crown left for himself at last. There were some Cabinets of jewels, and other rich treasure next to that, the soldiers sold the wheat to the country people, and the p●ey held a while to the Country People, but afterwards the market fell, and there was some abatements for haste. After that they sold the household stuff, whereof there was good store, and they loaded away many Carts; and continued a great while fetching out all manner of household stuff till they had fetched out all the stools, chairs, and other lumber, all which they sold to the Country people, by piecemeal which was admirable: that in all these great houses there was not one Iron bar left in all the windows, save only what was in the fire before night. And the last work of all was the lead, and by Thursday morning, they had hardly left one gutter about all the house. 2. For the fire, what the soldiers left the fire took hold on, joy was more than ordinary, leaving nothing but bare walls and chimneys in less than 20 hours, and occasioned by the neglect of the enemy in quenching a fire ball of ours. We know not how to give a just account of all that was within, for we have not 200 Prisoners, and it may be 100 slain, whose bodies some being covered with rubbish, came not to our view, only riding to the house on Tuesday night, we heard divers crying in vaults for quarter, but our men could neither come to them, nor they to us. But amongst those that we saw slain one of their officers lying on the ground seeming so exceeding tall was measured: and from his great toe to his head cronw was 9 foot in length measured by a Gentleman of an ordinary size, who was then present, There was in all (in the house) about 500 besides some that before got out of the house. And it is reported there are some vaults that are far under ground for their popish priests, of which cattle there were divers, but none came to our hands, how many of them we killed we know not. 3. Mr. Peter's spent some time in conference with the Ma●ques of Winchester, and Sir Robert Peake the governor, one of Mr. Peter's neighbours when he lived in the parish of Sepulchers. The marquess being pressed by him, by way of argument, broke out and said that, if the King had no more ground in England but Bazing house; he would adventure as he did; and so maintain it to his uttermost; (meaning with those papists) and the marquess said himself that Bazing house was called Loyalty. But he was soon silenced in the question between the King, and Parliament, only hoping that the King might have a day again. 4. We see who are his majesty's dear friends, and trusty, and well beloved cousins, and councillors; the marquess being the Pope's devoted vassal. 5. And thus the Lord was pleased in a few hours to show us, what mortal seed all earthly glory grows upon, and how just and righteous the ways of God are, who takes sinners in their own snares; and lifteth up the heads of his despised people. 1. This is now the 20 garrison, that hath been taken in, by this Army this summer; and I believe most of them the answer of the prayers, and the trophies of the faith of some of God's servants. 2. The Commander of this Brigade, having spent much time with godly prayer, the night before the storm, and seldom fights without some Texts of Scripture to support him; And this time he rested upon that blessed Word of God written in the 115. Psalm, and the 8. verse. They that make them are like unto them, so is every one that trusteth in them. Which with some Verses going before was now accomplished. 3. Whereas the House had ordered, that the Country people should carry away those buildings, God Almighty had decreed that before hand, nothing remaining but a blast of wind, to blow down the tottering walls and chimneys. Doubtless this providence of God hath a double voice, the one unto the Enemy, the other unto us, the Lord h●lp us with skill to improve it. I hope by this time the State hath a penny worth for a penny, and I hope they will have full measure, and running over. I wish that the payment and recruiting of this Army, may not be slighted. It is an easy matter to grieve God in our neglests towards him, and not heard to weary one another. Quer. What if the poor soldier had some remembrance (though small) to leave as the acceptance of this service, which is already begun, by * Master Maynard. a worthy Member of the House, who hath appointed some Models to be made of gold, to be bestowed on those that ventured on the greatest difficulties. Mr. peter's presented the Marquesses own colours, which he brought from Basing; the Motto of which was: Donec pax reddit terris. The very same King Charles gave upon his Coronation money, when he came to the C●own. But our only God doth usually attemper such pleasant Cups unto us; for the close of this glorious Victory, the death of Major Bethel was brought unto us, shot at Bristol where he lost 8. ounces of blood, and tired through want of sleep, he is gone into the bosom of the Lord Jesus, whom he loved so dearly whilst he lived, I wish he may not go unlamented to his grave, who was so full of God, and the fairest flower of the city amongst us, lived without pride, and died full of faith. The Armies tears over Major Bethel. Thou (gallant Charger) dost thou wheel about To shable shades? or dost thou rather post. To Bethel (Bethel) there to make a shout, Of the great Triumphs of a scorned host. Or blessed soul, was it unworthy we, That made thee weary with such dust to be? Or tired with our new reforming pace, Tasting some sips of heaven, dost therefore haste, To fuller draughts, of that eternal grace, Fearing thy spirit might be here embraced. Farewell dear soul, thy great deserved arrears▪ We'll pay in others blood, or our own tears. Only let after Ages when they tell, The unexampled tale of forty five, Yea when these Records to their glory swell, And be completed by the Saints alive. When Naseby, Langport, Bristol named they hear. Let them all say sweet Bethel he was there. Bear a part in these lamants▪ Every soul that longs for peace, Truly who with God indents, Here to have thereof a lease, Enters with himself a war; Lean on things that truly are. FINIS.