A True RELATION OF His Majesty's Coming to the Town of Shrewsbury, on the 20 of this instant September, and His passage from thence the 23 day, to the City of Chester, with the manner of His entetainment there.  
Together with the L: grandison's Surprising NANTWICH, And the plundering of divers houses in the Town and Country thereabouts, of such as stood well-affected to the King and Parliament.  
Collected out of several Letters from Men of good credit to their Friends in London.  
London, Printed for R. R. Septem. 29. 1642.   

HIs Majesty came to Salop on Tuesday last, with great strength both of men and Arms, where he stayed till Friday, and then came to Whitchurch, and went to Chester; I was one that was appointed to attend him thither, which I did, with divers more Gentlemen and Freeholders': His Majesty and the Prince dined in Whitchurch, and so went for Chester: when we came to Miltongreen, there was M. Richard Edgerton of Ridley, with some 600 Musketriers, and then when we came to Hetton-heath, there was the Lord Rivers with all his Forces, and my Lord Chomley with horse and Foot, very complete beyond the other; so they having displayed their Colours, gave his Majesty a valley of Shot; which being done, his Majesty having ridden once or twice about the Army, taken notice of the Sheriff and his Company, with divers other Gentlemen which were, than came to Routten-heath, where was Sir T●o. Aston with that Company he had, which did show themselves as the other had done. Then his Majesty see forwards for Chester; at Boughton, where the Liberty of the City beginneth, the two Sheriffs of Chester, with all their company attended: Then coming to the Bars, there attended the Mayor and Aldermen, where the Mayor delivered both Mace and Sword into his Majesty's hand, who received them, and gave them to him again, and so he marched before the King, with all the Aldermen and Sheriff, with all the Companies in Town with their Gowns, and all the Trained Bands of the City, with volunteers set on each side of the Street, who discharged just as his Majesty passed by. Thus was his Majesty attended to the Court with all the Bells ringing, Drums and Trumpets sounding.  
Thus for His Majesty's going to Chester.   

Chester, Septemb. 24. 1642.  
YEsternight, about 4 or 5 a clock, the King came into the City, attended with two Troops of Horse that came with him; and after his Majesty, came Sir Thomas Aston with his Troop: The Mayor and Aldermen standing on a Scaffold in Eastgate Street, before Tho Parnels door; Sergeant Brerewood the Recorder made a Speech; but there was such great shouting for joy, that I think his Majesty scarce heard him: and all the Companies standing with their Arms in the Eastgate street, to entertain his Majesty; and the Sheriffs, and 
* Sheriff peers are such as have been Sheriffs.  Sheriffs peers, and such as have been 
* Leave Looker's is an office one degree under the Sheriff.  Leave-lookers', rid out of Town in Scarlet (as they use to ride out at Midsummer) to meet his Majesty, with all our Trained Bands: The Mayor rid before his Majesty, carrying the Sword, from the Scaffold to the Bishop's Palace, as I am told for truth by them that saw them. The Lord Dillon, and another Irish Lord▪ a great Rebel, came with his Majesty into the City: Sir Richard Wilbraham met his Majesty, and fell down on his knees to him, but his Majesty would not take notice of him; he and Sir Tho. Delves are committed to the Sheriff, both those Knights declared themselves for the Ordinance of the Militia: It is thought there are Warrants out for the apprehending of many other Gentlemen.  
Yesterday, about two hours before his Majesty came, there came about a Troop of the Lord Strange his horse, and 80 horse loads of Muskets and Bandeliers, and such like Provision, which were laid in our common Hall; and there are 200 more at the Lord Strange his house, that came from Newcastle. The Lord Strange hath delivered those Arms that were taken from papists in Lancashire, to them again, and threatened the Mayor of Leverpool to batter down the Town if he would not deliver them, it is said there are 5000 coming thorough Lancashire, which came out of the North for his Majesty. Yesternight, at 9 a clock, the Lord Strange came into this City with one or two Troops of Horse. This day all betwixt the age of 16 and 60 years, of the Trained Bands of the County, are summoned to appear before his Majesty at Hoo-heath, two miles from Chester.  
Upon Wednesday last the Town of Nantwich were in some fear lest they should be disarmed, and stood upon their Guard, and some aid came to help them; but that night following about 1000 horse came thither; the Lord Cholmley came with them, with the Commission for the Array; they were to have a parley, the Town would have been delivered, so that they might have their Arm, and Liberties; this while the other side got in at back Gardens, and disarmed all, and plundered some houses: The day following they went to Sir Richard Wilbrahams, and Sir Tho. Delues, and disarmed them, took their horses, and three Care load of Armour from them, and do further proceed, doing much harm at many other places and houses. It is thought our Mayor and Aldermen intent to give the King a sum of money.   

Nantwich, Septemb. 24. 1642. 
 Good Cousin,  
I Presume you hear of the passages at Nantwich on Wednesday last: The Town, after some preparation for resistance, received the Lord Grandison, and 1100 horse, fearing if they had by force of Arms driven them back, his Majesty being in those parts, would have revenged the same in a severe way: Being suffered to come in, he presently disarmed the Town, and Countrymen there; I for company lost my Repier.  
The day follwoing, they took Arms from Crew hall for 20 men, but did no other violence; Sir Thomas Delues left his house empty, and much Arms on the hall Table for them; They dealt more hardly at M. Vernons, taking many other things besides Arms; No violence that I could hear of was offered to any man's person in Nantwich on Wednesday, but to one Radcliff, an honest man, about Wistaston, who was shot into the hand and shoulder, because he was slow in delivering his Musket: They have also been in divers other houses in Bartomley Parish, the Parsons for one; and what they have done on the other side of the Town I know not. The Gentlemen and Trained Bands are to attend his Majesty this day at Hatton heath.  
The Earl of Essex is expected in Cheshire to morrow or on Monday: The face of things in Cheshire is strangely altered; we did not make our due returns when we had got more quiet times, God in his mercy prevent the effusion of innocent blood: If you have not already bought that little military provision I bespoke, I think its best to make a stay thereof, for I fear no such thing can be either safely sent hither or kept here, our Arms must be prayers and tears, for we have not so much as a sword to defend us, God of his mercy keep you, pray for us I beseech you good Sir, as he will do for you, who is your most obliged friend and Cousin,  
W: R.   

September 23. 1642 
 Good Sir,  
THe latter end of your Letter is somewhat comfortable, in that you writ there are some Dragons coming into Cheshire for our relief, but surely they are not come, and now will come too late for we are all plundered and undone; Nantwich is taken by My Lord grandison's Army, and the Town disarmed, and many houses plundered who stood for the Parl ament and Militia, the owners of them driven to run away for safety of their lives, for they have threatened them much, and after they had disarmed the Town, they came into the Country ●●d disarmed all the great houses: First Sir Thomas Delves, than my Lord Crews, than Sir Richard Wilbrahams, and so all the other Gentlemen round about us, and plundered their houses, they belong forced not only to leave their own houses, but also the Town of Nantwich, and their poor Tenants and Country men, to the mercy of those merciless Villains who will have what they list, nay th●y will have wh●t we have not for them, or else they will set a Pistol to ●ur throats and sw●are God damn them they will make us swallow a Bullet, some of them are not content to take what Arms they can find, but also Money, Plate, Linens, , Writings, Meat, Drink, and not therewith content, but stea●e our horses and maers, drive our women and children into such fear that they over run their houses, lie in the fields, ditches and woods, I do not hear of the like cruelty that hath been used any where but in that miserable and bleeding Kingdom of Ireland, we are like to be worse yet, for this day though King is at Chester, and all the whole County from 16 years to 60. is to meet and attend His Majesty, and the Commissioners of Array within half a mile of Chester with all their Arms which they have left, none dare refuse to come, the malignant party will inform against them, and then they are threatened to be all carried away with my Lord grandison's Army, the best of it is, if we stay at home we are now their slaves, being naked they will have of us what they list, and do with us what they list, however, I believe we shall be made the seat of War, and so be utterly ruined and undone, for want of help in time and true hearts amongst ourselves, I thank God hitherto I have escaped; yet with much fear and danger, but I must confess it is more of the goodness and mercy of my good God, then of any desert in me, God grant I may make a good use of it and give him the glory; The secondary means was, I having acquaintance with some of the Cavaliers, who formerly were something beholding unto me, I now find it to be something better with me and some friends of mine than I or they expected, and yet our fears are great when houses night unto us have been plundered twice over, and the owners thereof watched for, as the Cat watcheth for the Mouse, what they would do with them, or how they would use them, God knows, I pray you pardon my errors in writing, for my fears and distractions are great; I only desire you to pray for us, and let us hear from you; God knows how long or short a time we shall hear one from another, the Lord fit us for these ill times, and worse which I much fear. So prayeth your much obliged friend, etc.  
To hear the pitiful scriking, weeping, and howling of women and children, did more trouble me then any thing else; God grant I never hear the like.   
FINIS.