A DECLARATION Made by the Lord marquis of Hartford, and other Lords and chief Gentlemen of the County of SOMERSET. Showing their intention of coming into that County, to be (only) to settle Peace, and not to offer the least violence or disturbance to any His Majesty's loyal Subjects, either in their Persons or Estates, (contrary to what hath been falsely suggested) and which hath been manifested by all their actions ever since. And which doth farther appear, by the examination and confession of one Captain Preston, a principal Captain of the Trained Band of that County. Whereunto is added, A Letter from the Governor of Sherbourne Castle, to his worthy friend in London; truly relating what hath passed betwixt the marquis of Hartford and the Earl of Bedford, since he came before Sherbourne. LONDON, Printed for H. B. 1642. A DECLARATION of the Lo: marquis Hartford and other Lords and chief Gentlemen of the County of Somerset, being now at Sherbourn, made the 12th. of AUGUST, 1642. FInding our Countery in so great distraction, we have thought it necessary to communicate to our good friends and neighbours the cause of our present remove to this Town. We came some days since into the County of Somerset, with commission from His majesty to muster the trained bands of the County, wherein we have done nothing but according to the Law: but although such as were summoned to the muster yielded obedience or a lawful excuse, yet contrary to our expectation, we found that great multitudes of people were poisoned and enraged against that service by false and scandalous suggestions, as if the intent of the Commission were to enthrall the people and to take away great part of their estates, which we are confident never entered into His Majesty's thoughts, and are certain there was nothing tending that way in the Commission: So we pray all men to be assured, that it was impossible to have made us the instruments of so great an oppression. By which and other false reports of malignant & factious spirits. A great number of people were on friday last gathered against us near Wells in warlike manner, not only out of that, but out of other neighbouring Counties, and that as we are credibly informed, with promises of pillage of the Country, as rifling of the Palace of Wells doth make manifest: Where they threatening to force us in that Town, and we being willing to prevent as much as was possible all occasions of shedding blood, which they would have enforced. We retired to Sommerton, receiving yesterday advertisement from several parts, the Sheriff of the said County had issued out warrants to levy the power of their county upon us his Majesty's Commissioners, without any warrant at all from his Majesty, as we are very well assured, for seeing the mischiefs that would necessarily have followed upon our forced defence if we should have stayed there, we thought fit to retire out of that County, expecting that in time our Country men will be satisfied of our integrity, and reduced to the obedience they ought to yield to his Majesty and his Laws. Lo. Mar. Hartford, Lo. Pawlet, Lo. Seimer. Sir john Pawlet, Sir john Stowel, Sir Ralph Hopton, Sir Charles Berkley, Sir Hen. Berkley, Sir Ed. Berkley. Sir Ed. Rodney. S. Fran. Dodington, Sir Fran. Hawley. Ed. Windham, Esq Tho. Smith, Esq Ed. Kirton, Esq The examination of Cap. John Preston, who conducted some men out of the West Countery, was taken prisoner by some of my Lord Mar. HARTFORD his Company. JOhn Preston Esq said that he with others, by their approbation to the number of about 300. men came yesterday from the West part of the county with Arms, viz, muskets, pikes, powder, bullets, and match, and as he believeth, with an intent to lodge the said men in Glastenbury, that night, but whither to go farther he did not know, but thinks they intended to march next morning up to Mendip hill, and further said, that finding Sir John Stowel & Sir John Paulet in their way, received a message from the said Sir John Stowel & Sir John Pawlet, by M. Sanders of Petherton, which was in effect to desire them, to return as he hath heard it delivered to him, to which M. Pyne returned answer at first, that they should go on, but at last he held it convenient that they should return: but the people pressed to go forward, having received encouragement, from words uttered by some of their company, that they were but a few horse and would run away, but what particular persons spoke those words, he remembreth not: And he further saith that after the Skirmish was past, and the horse pursuing the foot, they running away. Sir John Paulet came up to them, whilst there were some with their swords drawn upon him, who straightly charged them that they should not kill him, nor offer to spill any blaod of the poor fellows, upon which they departed frm any further execution: This is the examination of M. john Preston Cap. taken the 5. of Aug. 1642, before two Justices of the peace. William Passet, Anthony Stocker. A Letter written by the Governor of Sherbourn Castle, to a worthy friend, of the proceed of Sherbourne and Yeavel since the beginning. I Send you the news of these parts, which have been very active; On Friday the 2. of Septemb. the E. of Bedford appeared before this Castle, (which I have the honour to be Governor of) and marched directly towards the town's end, which is large and accessable in many places; but our Horse, in number 240. appeared, (his Army consisting of 7000. men, and 600. Horse, with 14. Pieces of Canon) made a stand: some skirmishing was with the Horse, and we got the better, brought away divers prisoners from the face of their Army, and forced them to a colder lodging them the town, upon the hills; where that night we gave them a hasty alarm, and retreated, leaving them in Arms, shivering, and blowing their nails till morning. On Saturday they attempted again for lodging, and the convenience of the town, our Horst faced them: They marched towards us a good round pace with Horse, and a Regiment of Foot; we retreated back to a hedge side, from whence came a volley of shot, that sent many of them into the other world, and caused divers (which that night ran away) to enter into consideration of the calamities of war. Then they come with all their strength and Canon. We retreated into the town, lodged Musketeers in coverts, & behind barricadoes, and they with their Ordnance battered the town all that day, and skirmished ten hours, with great loss, and not one of our men lost: In the conclusion we dealt so hardly with them, that we returned them to the hills, where till Sunday following they wanted neither cold lodging nor hungry appetites. Sunday they bestowed partly in hearing rebellion fomented, and stealing of sheep and oxen, (which they never paid for) by Scripture, affirming it as lawful as for Christ to gather ears of corn with his Disciples, and not pay for it. This night they were kept in alarm, our horse falling in three place, into their quarters. Monday they battered our Castle out of shot, which not reaching, they came nearer, and fell to work upon a battery, which my little drakes soon beat them from, not one of my shots falling in vain. This night I gave three shot of Ordnance an midnight, which they conceived a signal, hearing that some Forces were upon the way to us with Squire Rogers: Whereupon 1000 of them ran away, and the next day they raised their siege. On Wednesday we followed them to Yeavel, where their whole Army lay: our whole number was but 150. horse, & 200. Foot. They came out upon us horse and foot: We skirmished awhile for the two passages, at last they got one, 1000 of their Musketeers beating off ours, Cap. Stowel charged their horse, which ran away: but another Troop supplied it, which Cap. Digbie and myself charged, beat it away, and chased it almost to the bridge. Now on the other passage was a cruel skirmish between the Musquetiers; at last we lost it; and Sir Walter Earles Troop (commanded by his Lieutenant) fell upon us; The Lieutenant was killed, & that Troop cut in pieces, not 16. of them returned, and Digbies men brought home 16. of their horses: but their Musket shot disordered our men, and some of our men ran hearty: but we stayed them at the top of the next hill, rallyed them, and marched home in good order, whilst their men likewise quitted the place in disorder, and pursued not a jot. But they lost 140. of their men dead upon the ground, buried 9 of their Commanders next day in the Church, and marched with a few men to Dorchester, and disbanded the rest of their Army, there being besides many of their men and Commanders which lie dangerously wounded at Yeavel. In all this we lost but twelve men. Sergeant Major Banfield is taken; Captain Hussey, Lieutenant Hall, and an Ensign were killed; and here we are fortifying this Castle, and now raising men, for all the Country is open to us. So with my love to you I rest, Sherbourne, Sep. 12. 1642. Your friend and servant, T. L. FINIS.