A True and Perfect RELATION OF The Manner and Proceeding, held by the sheriff for the County of Berk: at Redding, upon the 20th. of Aug. last 1656. being the Day upon which five Knights to serve in Parliament for the said County, should have been Elected.  
With some preceding Passages.  
Published by an Eye-Witnesse, and one who can produce many Unquestionable Oaths and Testimonies for every particular therein contained.  
LONDON, Printed 1656.   

A true and perfect relation of the manner and proceeding, held by the sheriff for the County of Berk: at Redding, upon the 20. of Aug. last, 1656. being the day upon which five Knights to serve in Parliament, for the said County, should have been elected.  
With some preceding passages  Published by an Eye-Witnesse, and one who can produce many unquestionable Oaths and Testimonies for every particular therein Contained. 
OF how near and sublime a Concernment the choice of Parliaments is unto this Nation, doth not require any farther proof then this, that it is( as things are yet Constituted) in the power of any such Assembly,( how strangely called, how ill qualified soever,) to assert, or to give up, in the pronouncing of one Syllable, the Lives, Liberties, & Estates of this whole People: the Consideration of which did prevail upon many of those, who from the beginning of our contest for Liberty, have adhered to the honest cause and party, in this County of Berks; to cast our thoughts about, what persons were most likely to answer the great trust to be committed to them; as also the hungry expectations of our freedom in this approaching Parliament and not having any in our eye whom we conceived better qualified for those end, or of greater interest in the affections of his Country men than Mr. nevil whose Carriage in the Parliament of the Common-Wealth, was, for ought could be known, unblamable, to say no more, the relator to these passages was addvised, as soon as it was confessed that the Shrieffe had received his writ, to sand his servant up to London to the gentleman before mentioned, to entreat of him that he would offer himself for the Choice of his County for this trust: but he, being absent from the town, the messenger, not knowing where to learn news of him, returned without effecting any thing. To be short, the time growing near for the Election and divers cabals being held, throughout the County, by persons, whom wee conceive to have distinct interest, and affections from those public ends, for which we had engaged, and who( at that time) endeavoured to promote the Choice of persons little relating to our County, and who were to have a greater share in the receiving then in the paying of our money. We took that liberty( without further communicating with Mr. Nevil,) to publish our design of endeavouring to have him chosen: which we had no sooner done, but we found in the people, so unexpected a joy and a lacrity and so unanimous an inclination towards him, that it far exceeded the measure of our hopes, and put immediately our adversaries( I mean the Soldiers, the corrupt and flattering Ministers, and other engaged persons,) upon new counsels; who leaving immediately their list of mayor Gen. Captains and Governours which( we are credibly informed) they had first framed( after twice seeking the Lord by fasting and prayer, at Ildeslely first, and then at Newbury,) they united themselves wholly in the list of Gentlemen of the County, who are since returned by the sheriff. In which business although we have many things to Complain of, as will appear by the following narration, yet we desire to be understood, that it is not our intention to cast the least reslexion much less aspersion upon any of those five gentlemen: they being some of them absent, and those present( for ought we could perceive) not partaking, in the least, in the unjust proceedings of that day, most of them being persons unto whom we should possibly all have given our Voices if they had been presented to us by any other way then a Combination or in opposition to any other person then Mr. nevil. But, to go on, we had no sooner notice of the premises, but we immediately, finding our strength sufficient to contest with them all united, dispatched an express to Mr. nevil, who was by this returned to London, acquainting him what we had done in this behalf, which he exceedingly disliked, and writ back to us, earnestly conjuring us not to enterrain any further thoughts of him in that business, alleging divers reasons too long to be inserted here, in which we, not at all acquiescing, divers messages to and fro were produced in which he was very p●… inely dealt with by this narrator, and others, it being  told him that his obstinate refusal to appear de●… rous to serve his Country in this season of danger would not onely argue want of courage and affection in him, and so make him be rejected in times of greater claim and Safety, but must also even leave this whole County without a witness in the behalf of Liberty and the old cause it being plain, that the persons who framed this union to oppose him, were all visibly engaged and hired in a new one, cle●ne Contrary thereunto; in which it seems they had belief,( though we hope in vain) that tho●e Gentlemen would be serviceable unto them, or, at least, not so great opposers thereof as Mr nevil was like to prove. These Considerations, at length, made him condescend, although, not till the Saturday before the day appointed for Elections, at which time, he writ word to his bailiff to entertain the Company at Redding, for which, finding them like to be numerous, he was nessitated to take up seven inns: notwithstanding all this, or any thing which could be alleged, he did peremptorily refuse to be present in person at the choice, till one of us, by advice of the rest, took post on Tuesday morning, the day immediately preceding the choice, who finding him about noon in his lodging was so importunate with him that he resolved at last to go down that night to Maidenhead, and to appear the morning following at Rodding, which he did accordingly; in the midst of a Numerous Company of his Friends and Countrymen, although his late declaring, and later resolution to appear, had lessened his party by some hundreds: amongst this Company, there was so considerable a number of the most godly, honest, and quiet Ministers of the County, and those so well affencted towards the liberty of the Nation that it was reported that Captain Thornhill would exclude all Ministers from giving their voices; which was onely given out( I suppose) to fright them, for that never any such thing was attempted by him. Mr. Neville was no sooner arrived, but we found their union a little shaking, by reason of the multitude of his party, and one Mr. Draper, a Gentleman of good account in those parts, came to Sir John Thorowgood to propose a Conjunction of Mr. Trumball with Mr. Nevills party, which he himself understanding, uttrely refused, and professed openly that he had rather never sit in Parliament, then be chosen by any, the least, shadow of a Combination, only he Voluntarily declared, at that same time, that neither he nor any with whom he could prevail, should frame any opposition to Mr. Southby; as being one, who had faithfully served the interest of the Nation in the last Parliament: which resolution was accordingly observed by him, as will appear hereafter, his being the onely choice amongst the five which was unquestionable. It was not till about eleven of the Clock, that the Company could be gotten together below, and the Sherift with the rest of the Gentlemen, Soudiers and Ministers, upon the Scaffold, when the Writ being red, and Silence proclaimed, some from above cried for Mr. Trumball, and some for Mr. nevil, which taking amongst the people, nothing was heard for some time, but those two names: at which the whole Assembly gave it for granted that they had been both chosen, and so composed themselves for the three remaining Elections, when the Sheriff ordered that those who were for Mr. nevil should retire to the one side of the yard, and those of Mr. Trumballs party, to the other; which being done it was so easy to perceive which number was the greater, that I only apepal to Mr. Trumball himself, who being on horseback in the midst of his own friends, cried out to them, I yield it, I yield it, Mr. nevil hath it. Notwithstanding which, the Sheriff declared his judgement to the Contrary, and yet, the po●e being demanded in the behalf of M. Neville, did not( for that time) think fit to deny it, but ordered Mr. Nevills party to betake themselves to the Church, & that which followed Mr. Trumball to the Kings mead, and notwithstanding al the remonstrances which could be made unto him, of the manifest injustice, the Church not being able to contain( at least without great inconvenience) the whole party, and also a desire expressed that Mr. Nevill's friends might withdraw into the Abbey-Court, and there be poled, he yet persisted in his obstinate partiality, and said Am not I judge here? go into the Church, or I declare Mr. Trumball chosen, which they were at length forced to accept; and in this Carriage we have these things further to Complain of.  
First the whole Company, which were to go into the Church, were forced to stay half an hour before the keys could be gotten, and then but one door suffered to be unlocked, the sheriff himself standing, as door-keeper to hinder that door, which was next to the place of Election, from being opened, till even the Gentlemen of the adverse party, were ashamed, and forced him away: by which time, at least four hundred, as near as could be guessed, were gone to dinner, which afterwards were refused to be admitted when they returned. As also some seven score, which came from Sunning after the reading of the Writ.  
Secondly, that after the Pole was began, a little door out of the chancel was opened, at which every man was to go out, as he caused his name to be set down; but the Church was so hot, and the crowd so great that three were thrust out, for one name which could be taken, and every man thought himself happy when he could get out.  
Thirdly, yet many names were torn by the Captain of the County Troop, after those who gave them were gone out, upon pretence, that the sheriff was absent at the taking thereof, being gone to keep the door; whereas the sheriff was not present, at the taking of one name for Mr. Trumball.  
Fourthly, that the sheriff, Captain Thornill, and divers of the Souldiers, did give insolent language, to some of the best Gentlemen of the County who stood for Mr. nevil, with threatening speeches to some of them namely to Mr. Miller of Swallowfield and Mr. angel of Binfield that they should be decimated, and the sheriff Strook one Mr. Bonlt of Warfield divers blows, with his staff, for pressing into the Church, to give his voice.  
Fifthly, that divers men were put by, under pretence that they were not worth two hundred pounds, most of which had Estates visible amounting to at least a Thousand pounds & few or none under five hundred, and those of Mr. Nevills party. Whereas on Mr. Trumballs, not ten were rejected for any thing could be alleged against them, though very many justly excepted against.  
Sixthly, that when Mr. Nevils Company was locked into the Church; the Bell-man was sent about the town to warn in, by proclamation, all that would come to give their votes for Mr. Trumball. By these, and the like Arts, it came to pass that Mr. Nevils party which was clearly so much the greater, came but to amount to 580. and Mr. Trumbals made to swell to 800. upon which the sheriff declared that Mr. Trumball onely was elected, which caused a great murmuring in both parties, for that they did firmly believe that they had polled but for the first place. Mr. Trumbals party, which came out of the foreste, being as much for Mr. Nevil as they were for him, as they did afterwards manifest themselves.  
In the second place Mr. Southby was proposed, who had no opposition but all furtherance from Mr. Nevil, and although some of his party from below began to cry a nevil, yet the pole not being demanded, we conceive itis an unquestionable Choice.  
In the third place Mr. Edward Duch being proposed, Mr. Nevils party cried him up again, and he going down from the Scaffold amongst them, the crier made Proclamation, by command of the sheriff, that those who were for Mr. Nevil should( now) go into the mead, which being performed accordingly, it was then so visible that they carried full three quarters of the whole assembly with them; that the Souldiers, & Ministers their assistants, had no other way left now but to be very instant with the sheriff to refuse the Pole, which he did, when it was publicly demanded of him, in Mr. Nevills behalf, by Sir John Thorowgood and Mr. Draper, upon which refusal, he declared Mr. Edward Dunoh chosen, and immediately whilst the whole party which divided with Mr. nevil, was withdrawn at least a quarter of a mile off, to the further end of the Meadow, he proposed to the remaining electors, Mr. John Dunch and Mr. hid, both in a breath, and having declared them chosen, before Proclamation could be made, Mr. nevil rod out of the mead and came on Horseback, as near as he could to the Scaffold, and demanded the pole of Mr. Edward Dunch; the sheriff answered, he was already chosen, but that, if he would Pole against Mr. hid, he should: supposing that( as it seemed in the case of Mr. Trumball) many of the forest men had been indifferent which had been chosen Mr. hid or he; they being all three inhabitants of the Division, and so hoping to have divided that party, which could not be in the Competition with Mr. Dunch, his interest lying in the Vale.  
The sheriff, after he had made this proposal, retired back upon the Scaffold behind the Company and did no more show his face that day; but the Souldiers prest upon the Scaffold, advised Mr. nevil to pole with Mr. hid, for that he was sure to carry it,( which was indeed visible.)  
But he answered that he was not in so much necessity of being a Parliament man, as to attain it by so Sinister means as the dividing with one man, and the poling with another, and if he had been contented to be elected by way of bargain, he needed not to have stood alone against the Souldiers, Ministers & five of the most considerable Gentlemen of the County: he therefore demanded the pole of Mr. Edward Dunch, and entreated Captain Bifield to do him the courtesy to ask the sheriff his last resolution, who accordingly withdrawing behind the Company, to him, returned immediately & brought word that the sheriff, would give him no other answer, and at the same time, Proclamation was made, by the crier,( the sheriff not appearing any more) that these three Gentlemen, viz. Mr. Edward Dunch, Mr. John Dunch, & Mr. hid were chosen, against which Mr. nevil protested in the behalf of his party, and the whole County, and took witness thereof. And really the whole remainder of the Assembly( though for Mr. Dunch) could not express a greater dislike then they did of the Carriage of the sheriff, Soldiers, and turbulent Ministers.  
Mr. nevil, seeing no remedy, went back to the meadow acquainting the Electors that were withdrawn thither, how things went, they appointed four Gentlemen to take the number of them, as they passed over a foot bridge, and by Comparing this number with the pole in the morning or with the number which remained near the Scaffold( in which we dare appeal to any unbiased person of the adverse party) it will plainly appear that three quartters of the whole number of Electors were withdrawn into the mead for Mr. nevil, and that by proclamation of the crier: so that I believe it is a business reasonably free from dispute, that three Elections, made after the Role was refused, and almost all the Company returned beyond apossibility of hearing, or seeing what was done, at the Scaffold, and so, from having vote in it, and that not of their own accord, but by order, as was said, must be voided; and Contrary both to the laws of the Land and fundamental Constitution of Parliaments, and also to the Liberties of the whole Nation and People; To all which we all resolved to do right( as far as in us lies,) by petitioning the Parliament when it meets; and prosecuting the sheriff at the Law; in which we will not spare the utmost of our endeavour that we may leave succeeding ages an example, and so deliver our posterity, by the horror of it from the like oppression and injustice.  
In the mean time we receive satisfaction in these two things; first that we have( by the blessing of God) disappointed the Souldiers list, and so( as much as in us lies) delivered this County from them, who would divide and choose, both, and be their own carvers out of our Estates, for we are fully persuaded, that these five Gentlemen, who are returned, as well as the three which are not chosen( while they sit,) as the two which are, will exceedingly delude the expectation of those Souldiers and Ministers who hope that they shall support any Interest which shall set itself up against that of their Country, though otherwise possibly they may be well inclined towards Monarchy or a single person.  
In the second place we do exceedingly bless and magnify the Lord, that he hath been pleased to give our County hearts to make so clear a demonstation of their inclination to a Common wealth or Popular Covernment, as that this cause alone, though but supported by a younger Brother, who never kept house, or lived scarce a month together in the County, should be able to Contend with the united Interest of five of the prime Gentlemen and house keepers, in the shire; together with that of all the Factious Ministers and their blinded followers, as also of all the Souldiers and other persons in present power, within the County; and yet to carry so clear and so undeniable an advantage in point of number over all them.  
This gives us firm hopes and Confidence that the good seed of Liberty sown in the field of this Nation and watered( as I may so say) with so much blood, will at length( and that suddenly,) Spring up, and soon overtop those tares which are since sown, and that the day from on high shall visit us, that is, the Light and appearance of the Lord Jesus, whose power shall break every yoke, and who shall blast with the breath of his mouth all Ministers and Ministry, which claiming from man and not from him, joins with the oppressive powers of the World, against him, and the people which he hath purchased and made free: It will be then, that we the poor, deluded, oppressed, Inhabitants of this land, being delivered from the hand of our enemies and those who hate us, shall serve him without fear, in holinesse and righteousness before him, all the dayes of our life.  
FINIS.