A Letter from Horsum in Sussex, Relating the present Estate of that County to his friend in London.  
SIR,  
I Received Yours of the 27 of June, and thank you for your Intelligence: You tell me that upon the request of colonel Morley, it was granted him of the House of Commons to raise our County of Sussex. Such are the sudden commotions of the Times, that it is done already; so that that noble colonel may now spare his pains, unless he make extreme haste into this divided County. The country is generally risen about Horsum, and protest they will fight for the King and the country. At Pulborough they are in the same condition, for the People there are much exasperated to hear some of their Neighbours are imprisoned by a Warrant from colonel Stapley and others, for daring to Petition the high and honourable Court of Parliament. With us at Horsum here are now 500 lusty men in arms, the occasion was this. Upon Friday June the sixteenth, the Magazine which was laid up at this town was commanded away by the Committee to Arundel, but our countrymen are generally so ill affected, that they rose, with one Consent, and two or three hundred appeared in an instant, leaving their Mattocks and ploughs to rescue the Swords and muskets: To the Market-house they come immediately, and cause George David (who thanks God he is well mended in these times) and the rest of the pious zealots, who had loaded the Carts with countrey-Armes, to carry them back into the Market-loft: Since that, these stout rustics have endured watching every night, and by turns have attended the arms some nights sixty at a time. On Tuesday night last at a full Assembly in the marketplace it was voted unseasonable, unreasonable (as Master Chatfell said of the Petition) to watch them any longer, and Resolved upon the Question, That the day following, being Wednesday, at the sound of Drum and ringing of the Bells, those men both in town and country who are resolved to fight for the King and the Liberties of the County, against the encroachments of one Freeman, and his Followers, should come in and take what arms they pleased. About eleven of the clock yesterday, there was a great appearance, two or three hundred at least, every one chose his musket and other arms▪ and then marched out to train in the Common. On this day, June 29, there came in as many more countrymen, expecting arms likewise; so that now there are five or six hundred well Armed, and many of them very good Horse. This we doubt will be but the beginning of sorrow to our distressed County, for all the well-affected begin to leave us, and then what can we expect but mischief? As soon as the Drum beat captain Shepheard felt himself not well his belly-ached, as if he feared the Egyptians would make a Drum of it, and he thought best to go to Lewis for some physic. Lieutenant Hunniwood that knocking agitator left his forge and went to London for some forces Mistress Chatfield advised her husband to withdraw for fear they should do him more mischief then with songs.  
The soldiers say had they known of their going they would have held their Styrrops. Their words and demands are very high; as yet they hurt no man, but threaten to disarm three or four which is the total number of us that are well-affected. But that was always the subtlety of our desperate Malignants to pretend they would do nobody any hurt; that they may gain the more love, but we have learned they are Egyptians and therefore may and must be plundered: But good Sir how shall we do it? Our Minister is gone and dares not stand to tell us; the well-affected are all fled: Master Dod and Penfold are trussing up their packets for Arundel again, and those who are accounted the godly; so that we fear the wicked will inherit the earth again. To conclude, our fears are great, the County is risen both here and at Pulborough and they pretend the bottom of the business to be, because their Petition was not answered: Bold varlets; had they been answered as their neighbours the Surry men were, perhaps they would have been as quiet as they. But the better we use them the worse they appear; their number is so great and likely to increase so much that unless a thousand be sent down presently they are like to be as high here as in Essex. For your coming down I know not what to advise you, if you come your person will be in danger, if you come not, your arms. Farewell.  
Your loving friend, R. T.