The power of the Committee of the County of Somerset, etc. Or Captain Humphrey Wills his letter to the said Committee concerning their proceed in the Committee and there sending Capt Humphrey Wills, with a Guard to Waymouth, in the County of Dorset, there to be kept close Prisoner, in the black Rod Goal, without expressing the cause of their so sending him to Prison.  Acts 25.27. It s●●m● to me un●●●sonable to send a Prisoner, and not with all to signify the crimes laid against him. 
Contrary to the Scripture, Magna Carta, and the Petition of Right.  
July 18: 1646 
 GENTLEMEN,  
'tIS No Petition for liberty, no indeed: I am so fare from such a thought, that I deem myself much obliged, and therefore give you all thanks for the honour you have done me, in judging me not only worthy of banishment, but also of close imprisonment, for a good and an honest cause. Alas, 'tis but men have condemned me, and amongst all the Children of men, only the Committee of Somerset; and what's that? I hope it can prove no slander; or if it do among some few, it is not worth the caring for, having the Alknowing God, my Conscience, and I am sure all the honest-hearted of the County to witness for me, that I not only am, but have been, and I hope ever shall continue faithful to the State, and truly honest to my Country. Then let the Devil do his worst, and all his cursed Instruments, I cannot, I will not, nay I know not how to fear.  
If any of you do (though the now great and over-topping Pine do not) think me worthy of my Sword again, as truly I suppose, Gent. some of you do, at least as deserving, as the Marshal, which so uncivilly and rudely deprived me of it I shall look on it as a favour and endeavour when it lies in me to appear grateful, what? It may so fall out, we shall not be always Committee men, neither I hope will poor England long stand in need of such, but through the good endeavours of the Parliament, God's blessing continuing (as hitherto it hath) upon them: I hope we shall once more live under, and be steered by the ancient and fundamental Laws of the Kingdom. Gent. being honest, I cannot but use down right dealing, and therefore may very well be termed a Clubman; you may, if you please, smile at the homelynesse of the Title, but I'll assure you, do but consider a while, and you may easily find, they are not so odious as another sort of people in the Land are come, come though you despise us, and trample us as dung under your feet, yet if you would look off your (own too much admired) selves, you might apprehend that the Club (I mean of Somerset) hath done good and faithful service: First, in opposing goring Army, whereby they could impress no more men, nor he nor any of the King's Garrisons raise more monies for the maintenance of the Soldiers, no nor scarce (but where they were too strong for us) could they get provision or quarter for their men: next in opposing Wills and Dorsetshire in which two Counties ('tis well known) there was a combination (and a strong one too) of a knot of desperate Cavaliers for the seducing of the Clubmen from their first intentions (which was only an Association to stand together in defence of their good) and bringing them in wholly, yea at the Western parts, to have sided with the King's party, for proof of this, remember Catull. Hill, from whence they verily thought, to have drawn 10000 men, to have fallen upon Major General Massies quarters at Sturmister-Newton, in complying with the Parliaments Forces, as soon as ever they appeared. viz. at Knoll-Hill, where the ever famous General Sir Thomas Fairfax, came up (with near a thousand Horse) amongst them, demanding nothing, which we did not readily and cheerfully yield unto.  
And here with your leave) I will speak (because you have thought I deserve no better than a Prison) two or 3. words concerning my sel●e. The Country was pleased at this place to voice me so serviceable, that they did verily believe themselves to be forty thousand pounds the better for my endeavours and that there was not any man in the whole County, who had engaged himself more ●r run greater hazards in opposing the Cavaliers, Commissioners, as well as others, in all their designs, than myself, and that had I not been very active, the subtle pated Cavalier had undone them all, by drawing them (who were even as sheep going to the slaughter) into an engagement against the Parliament, and so contrary to their intentions, to have become enemies to those whom they did most of all honour, and rejoice exceedinly to see. I speak not this to vaunt myself: and yet I suppose in some cases (and this of mine is one of them) a man may relate truths of himself, to vindicate himself from the traducements of enemies without the danger of being looked on as Thrasonical. But I presume you think there's too much of this: therefore I'll turn to another subject.  
What shall I say? All my desire is, that you would be charitably conceited of the honest Club: And that I may the sooner gain upon you, will you favour us so much as to remember, Bristol, Dunster Castle Bainton, and many other places in the West, and Major General Massies lying in the West so long, with only one Brigade of horse, so near the enemies whole Army which had been impossible to be made good in security, had not the club stood sound and come in roundly unto him upon all occasions. Though he be as gallant a man, and as daring as the world hath any, yet I have hard him divers time confess, that had not the Country been honest to him, he would never have advertured at such a rate: His reasons were (and his sufficiency that way is sufficiently known) that the Country where he then quartered, being full of narrow, and hedged lanes, his horse (though as he could wish) was not considerable for the facing of such an Army, had not the Country men been faithful in giving him certain intelligence of every the least motion of the Enemy. And Gentlemen, you must consider as their faithfulness to him was a great encouragement, so it must needs to the adverse party, prove a great disheartening. This being undoubtedly so, me thinks you should look upon the Club of Somersetshire, as friends and not at such a distance, much less with such a cruel eye as now you do, I may very well say. cruel: because no County that I can understand, hath had such a hard measure afforded it by their Committee as we that deserve best have had from you. Take it not amiss Gentlemen, that I say so, or if you do, I care not; for I am sure, I do you no wrong, your fame being flown London high already; yea for this particular, if I say heaven high, I say but truth: therefore 'tis high time to look about, for you cannot avoid the giving an account of your Stewardship now which thing once done, I am (yet) so much your friend, that I do but wish you all according to your merit: And then truly (I am persuaded) there is scarce a man that knows you, will once look on you with an envious or a commiserating eye. I confess I know little, yet this I know, you had many friends in the Country once, but if they be now taken off from that affection, you may impute it not only to your severe, but so your unequal carriage. What I speak i'll maintain, though I make a forfeiture of myself, as well as of my liberty.  
Why do such known Enemies, Arch Malignants, and gross opposers of the Parliament, live at home free and untouched (as if they were as innocent as the best) when others which were never active, but are men of honest conversation having the whole Country's testimony for their fair demeanour, must have no favour at all shown them, but be sequestered, Imprisoned, and in an instant all they have is grubbed up and taken away which it may be cost them many years sweat of him and his Family to gather together. Now if there be any Justice or equal dealing in such courses as these, I appeal to any man's conscience, a Committee man excepted. And as for your rigour, who knows not, if a Country man reported rich be once seized on, what a hard thing it is for such a one to scape your lime twigs, as if the only business of the peace in a reduced County were to spoil the poor Subject, of that little which the wasting War hath spared, shall I to this complain of the difficulty that such a man hath in obtaining leave to have but his friends admitted with him especially if it be once known that they can come to speak something for his advantage. Well, but suppose he hath gained their admittance, (which is,) (I can tell you on every day's savour) what a fair Carriage, and catching kind of language do you then use to discountedance that man, who but offers to have courage for the truth, in justification of his Neighbour, or it may be a Brother, that is at Stakes, Oh how unquiet and disturbed do you then appear to witnesses of that nature how do you swell and bluster out, especially upon such a man is is able to speak sense and truth both together, as if you would blast him for being honest. Then gins nothing but, what are you, who sent for you, Is this any business of yours; What made you hear. But if the man will not be daunted for this, then, who knows this fellow here, where doth he dwell, Ha, speak man. And if this fail too then did he never take up Arms against the Parliament. How stands he affected? Sirrah, you are a peremptory Jack, but we'll take a course with you well enough, ere you go, have you taken the Oath yet, reach hither the Book, come you hither Sirrah, will you take it.  
A Gallant way Gentlemen I profess, and very commendable to fright a man off from an honest duty but every man I conceive will not be so baffooned as to fall off, or to decline their friends for such juggling as this, what way have you then? you have (to your eternal praise be it spoken) a trick (if you meet with a Stubborn Gamester) that never failed at a dead lift, and that is to Command him absent. Good Mr. Sanders, do not you remember this, truly if you do not, I do. Now Gentl. if this be not harshness, I know not what to call so, or if these courses be not able to dissaffect even a well affected people, I understand not a provocation: I profess unto you the more I think or consider them the more vile and odious they appear to me, and so I am persuaded they do to all honest men that know what government is, and believe that liberty is a reality.  
Neither do I know with what example to parallel it, except with that of Tiberius, who had a custom and a cruel one, that when ever he caused any to be put to death, he would forbid all their friends and kindred to weep, and to pay the tribute due either to their relation or their merit. And what's the difference now between yourselves, and this sweet natured Emperor? all that I see in it is, that he forbade to weep for a dead friend, and you to speak or plead for a living. But what say you, Gentlemen, is't not enough of this? If you think we will here, because it hath been something a hard Chapter, turn down a leaf, and breathe a while. The next shall be why I was committed, and we ●…e talk a little of the civil carriage to me assoon as I was your prisoner.  
And here in the first place I must tell you (God can witness for me) when I took my last journey to you and that voluntarily and freely out of the care I had of the public good, (as it well appears to be no otherwise, when it was only to inform you of matters of dangerous consequence) I thought I should have been looked upon with the eyes of such affection and love as a man that had performed a rate piece of service, and not have found such a contrary and cruel entertainment, as I encountered a screwing, (and nothing else but screwing) and wresting my honest meaning, (with a design to ruin me) into a contrary sense. Alas Gentlemen, what was the fault, if any that made me worthy of a punishment of this high extremity; Did I any thing more, then advertise you, that there were like to be great tumults and uproars in the Country unless you did pay the Soldiers better, especially those of the Garrison, whereby they might be enabled to pay for their quarter; And to make you the fit to apprehend the danger I told you the Clubmen had risen twice already below Bridgwater, and beaten the Soldiers out of their quarters and that they were fairly drawing onward to the same posture about Poulden Hi●l and other parts Eastward. Upon this you brak forth into a rage upon me and told me I was the incendiary in the business. But you know my answer was, that if it did appear so, I desired no favour, but punishment to the uttermost. And very well I might stand upon mine integrity in this particular: for I can prove I have laboured to beat down and repel such thoughts or motions in the Country with more bitter reproofs than was fit for me to use, and that, when they have (as sometimes they would) come to me to entreat me to appear amongst them or march with them; I have reproved them so sharply for it, that they have oftentimes gone away much enraged at me. Therefore if I have no wrong, there is no man in the world ever suffered wrongfully. But what was the conclusion of my discourse? was it not with a request, that seeing you were now the only Justiciaries we had, it did behoove you having so fair a warning to endeavour with al● the possible care that might be to prevent murder and bloodshed in our Country, which in all probability, without some better courses taken were inevitably like to happen amongst us. And what was there in all this, that could merit your hate, nay rather that did not deserve from you thanks, & a courteous acceptance? But you say there was a letter sent in, that did inform you that I one day met with some Soldiers, and among other discourse, told them, that in case I going to the Committee for money for them should happen to be committed, I did hope they would help to fetch me off. But this was but a sequestrators report, and as for that sort of Cattle, I have heard some of yourselves say, that you did not think you had three honest of them in the whole pack, of which small number, you thought one or two lived in the Parish where I did. And yet though you know this, let but one of these (though the veriest knave of all) come and swear any thing against a ma●, though never so honest and known to be so, his Oath must carry it, though 20 creditable men, that are Parliament proof come to prove and maintain the contrary, such a sad and miserable condition are we poor Country men in.  
But now Gentlemen, let me ask you one question. Why did you, whiles I was talking with you (and at a great distance, as you had been honourable indeed) snarl at me, and grin upon me so, snatching up pen and ink, and catching at my words, as if you would have extracted something out of me in spite of my teeth, that should undo me? B●t if you will not tell me why, I give God the praise he hath discovered it to me, and hath given me the courage to tell you of it to your faces. The height of your malice, and cause of my imprisonment hath its rise from certain words, I should let fall concerning Col. Strods: and this some of your own troop confessed, as they carried me to prison, that I should (forsooth say) in Ilchester, that I was of the opinion, that Strood was an honest man, and a good Commonwealth's man, and that if he stood to be Knight of the shire, he should not only have my voice, but 500 more of my procuring. This, this was it. Master Pine, that made you so fierce, that sent me to Weymouth: and so much for your committing me.  
But now after the dreadful sentence was pronounced, which (thanks be to God) was not like to that of the Medes and Persians, how was your demeanour then? Why, truly so like that of Gentlemen, that I may question whether there were a one amongst you, or no. To prove this: first No Bail would be taken, though I offered 10000 l. deep. Next my friends were forbid to speak with me, and by your Marshal threatened with imprisonment, if they came where I was. Then, as if I had been an open or absolute Enemy to the Parliament, a good sword, and because it was so, taken from me. I must not write to any, no not to my wife, not so much as to acquaint her with my condition, or to send for my accommodations. I must be banished my Country. As if all this were not enough, I must have a Letter sent along with me to the Governor of Weymouth to clap me up close prisoner under the ●lacke Rod, which is a Goyle in the Town, where a company of miserable wretches and poor creatures lie, that the very sent of the place, together with the hot season of the year is able to stifle or poison a man. This is a truth, you cannot be ignorant of, and remembered, me thinks should set colours in your faces, if you be not beyond a blush. Had you handled that Philip White whom I took near Bruton the last Winter, at this rate, it might have sounded something to your praise, but to take such great care of securing and wedging me fast, and to let him go upon such easy terms, such a plundering desperate bloody rogue as he was, is a piece of Justice very agreeable to all the rest.  
Therefore seeing the Counties affairs are so preposterously and unworthily managed by you, methinks you do ill, yea aggravate the ill of your lives, by labouring to justify, your unjust courses the way you so commonly do, for when something by you is done, which strikes wonder and terror to the hearts of the hearers by reason of the unreasonableness, and barbarousenesse thereof, when any take upon them (as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sometime have done) to question you for it, what's your answer, but. T●is could not be by you avoided, The Ordinance of Parliament will have it so, you confess it hard dealing, but you dare not budge an inch from that Rule. And what is this I pray, but to cast an asperation on the Parliament of England, which the whole Kingdom hath ever cause to bless God for, and honour. And thus much I will say being persuaded so i● my very soul, that you have acted such a distance from their comm●n●, and intentions, that when they have once the notice of it, they will be so far from justifying you, that you will be looked on as a Generation worthy of nothing else but contempt and punishmen. And now Gentlemen my paper is almost spent, and I am stated with this matter, I conceive my discourse hath been something troublesome, but there is no remedy, I 〈◊〉 prefer the discharge of a good Conscience before your friendship, ●●d will, yea though I were sure to rivette myself aldayes of my life is a Dungeon. But I know, and this I am sure of, you are all in a Chain, for your Father 〈◊〉 so, and you can do no more than my God doth permit you, and that is my comfort. In that judge of right, and reliever of the oppressed is my only trust, therefore I now dare your worst, knowing assuredly, that the word will so order and bring about things by his providence, that my sufferings will tend as surely to your shame and infamy, as to his Glory and my good, so deferring a second part for a London Tune, I now leave you to your meditations.  
July 6. 1646. from the Black-Rodde in Weymouth. Humphrey Wills.  
For the Committee of Somerset sitting at ILCHESTER.  
FINIS.