THE DECLARATION AND RESOLUTION OF Col. John Poyer, CONCERNING Lieutenant Gen. Cromwell, and the particular Relation of another great Fight in South-wales. WITH, A Declaration of the King's majesty's loyal Subjects in the Isle of wight, concerning the Proceedings of Sir Thomas Glemham, colonel John Poyer, and the Scottish Army, for the reinvesting of the King in his royal Palace at White-Hall, and settling of the kingdom. LIKEWISE, A Letter from CARISBROOKE, concerning the playing of a great Game by the King's Majesty, and Sir Oliver Cromwell, and the particulars touching colonel Hammond. LONDON: Printed for I. G. MDCXLVIII. A DECLARATION OF The King's majesty's loyal Subjects, in the Isle of wight, concerning the proceedings of Sir Thomas Glemham, Col. Poyer, and the Scottish Army, touching the Parliament of England, Army, and Kingdom. SIR, YOur last I received, Dated April the 25. 1648. I shall endeavour to communicate unto you, the most remarkable passages, that are more extant. As for the state and condition of this Island, wherein we are now resident, we find them to be (for the Major part) very real and well-affected, and willing to obey the power and Authority of Parliament, and extraordinary obedient to the Commands of those entrusted by them, as may appear by their late unanimous expressions, both to our governor and his Officers; who having received intelligence of the proceedings of Col. Poyer and his confederates, and their declaring for the King, and (most Judas-like and traterously) betraying the trust reposed in them by the Parliament of England, resolved with one unanimous consent to adhere, & stand firm to the supreme Power and Representatives of England, and to hazard lives, fortunes, and estates, for the defence & preservation thereof, (notwithstanding many invitations lately sent for their engagements to the contrary.) And they further declared to our governor, Col. Hammond, their unanimous and real resolutions, to adhere unto him (according to the power and authority of the supreme council and Representatives of England) and to stand or fall, live or die, and to use their utmost endeavours to aid and assist him against all opposition whatsoever, that shall endeavour to attempt, or disturb the Peace of the said Island, under any pretence whatsoever. Thus much I can assure you of the present proceedings of the Inhabitants of Weight; yet notwithstanding, they have received many false and various reports from several parts of the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, to dissuade them to the contrary. And for the proceedings of Poyer, Powel, and their Adherents, they utterly detest and declare against them, being confident, (as indeed it may well and apparently appear) that their present D●sign and Engagement, tends to no other end or principle; but a mere self-end, for the advancement of their own wretched & mechanic ambition, rather than the preferment of the public good of England's Commonalty. And for the Scots, they declare (according to the ancient rule and proverb) that they dare not, nor will not, put confidence in a blue Bonnet; for say they, Trust a Scot & hang him, although they pretend fair towards Religion, Crown, and Kingdom, and for the reinstablishing of the King's Majesty, in his Throne at Westminster. But indeed, here is some few persons, who expects great matters from Poyer, and the Scots, who at the first arising of the Cloud in Wales, gave out very high speeches, &c. Sir, as for the state and condition of the King's Majesty, I can assure you thus much, that He is in health and merry; but at the arrival of the news that the Duke of York was escaped and gone, His Majesty seemed to be very solentary. His Majesty takes much delight in the company of Sir Oliver Cromwell, and makes choice of him to be his second, for the playing of the Game, (I mean at bowls) against colonel Hammond, or any other two. Thus, having communicated unto you, that which is (at present) most observable; I remain, Your most affectionate friend to serve you, Thomas Hill, Cornet. Carisbrooke may the 2. 1642. Another great fight in Wales. SIR, Colonel Poyer, Powel, and the rest of the Malignants begin to be very fearful, and it is thought, repent their undertakings, Col. Powel being lately at Carmarthen, Col. Horton marched towards him; but the Welsh having notice thereof, pulled and broke down all the Bridg●s, and endeavoured to stop the passages, so that when Colonel Horton came to Portragorthy, he found the Bridge down, and Poyers' men at the passage, Col. Horton made towards another passage, and the rebels in a fear retreated to several holds, the Parl. forces being joined, followed them: some slight skirmishes have happened, but nothing of great consequence done as yet. The Welsh people being more afraid than hurt, conceited that they should receive strange cruelties from the soldiers of the Parl. whereupon they quite lest their dwellings, and drove all their cattle into the Mountains, Col. Horton is very diligent in his service, and with all possibility endeavours to straightened them, because Malignants fl●ck unto him daily, and also to hinder his getting provisions and mustering the country, as they had done in several places; where, at one time appeared about 4000 in another place, 3000. and in another place 2000 many of them being armed, and Powell the better to engage the people, declared himself for the King. Here are divers Porters, Butchers, and such like rascally fellows come hither from London, the Welsh endeavoured to make good their ground against the Parl. forces, and encamped near the River Towry, about 20. miles from Pembroke; but when Col. Horton came, they all retreated, Embleden Castle is fortifying, and 2. Companies of Col. Langhornes men under the Command of Captain Cosens, and Captain airs are to keep it, they had an intent to have put a garrison in the Castle of Aburustwith in Cardiganshire; but I hear they have deserted it. Monmouthshire is quiet, in Herefordshire Major Sanders hath quelled the Malignants there, and taken Col. Sherington Talbot prisoner, Poyer makes away from the presence of Col. Horton. Col. Horton hath had another great fight with Poyer, and divers men slain on both sides; but the number thereof, I cannot justly give an account of, it is said, that Captain Powel (of the enemy's party, hath received a mortal wound, and divers other Commanders of note; And indeed, divers fell on our side, but that which terrifies us the most, is the fall of a great soldier, (a man endued both with valour and Resolution). Both parties draweth nearer and nearer, and it is said, Poyer is resolved to fight, so is Col. Horton; but Poyer is more in number then the party now against him: therefore high time it is, that the rest of the forces designed for this service, be forthwith disp●tched thither, which we hope will soon be effected; for Poyer gives out high speeches, and says that he fears neither Fairfax, Cromwell, nor Ireton, but is resolved to fight it out to the last man, we hear that Lieut. Gen. Cromwell is designed for this service, and that he is upon his march thither, with several Regiments of Horse and foot: the Cavalry hath also received the same tidings, and Poyer gives out, that they will give him a field, and show him fair play, and that he will be the first man that shall charge against Iron-sides, saying, that if he had a back of steel, and breast of Iron, he durst and would encounter with him. Most of the Inhabitants in these parts are fled to the Mountains, being troubled with too much malignancy, and Mr. Vulcan hath shown himself a great enemy to our proceedings; for divers Smiths in several towns, have cut up their bellows, broke down their Stithies, and made all their materials unserviceable, so that we cannot get a Horse shod not in 20. or 30. miles riding. This is all for the present from, Your obliged friend, T. Sands. Carmarthen the 3. of May 1648. Imprimatur GILBERT MABBOT. FINIS.