Mercurius Academicus. The tenth week.  

MONDAY. February 16. 1645.  
YOu have heard of Mr Richard Browne, a man so called, and but for Civility could not be so called, having forfeited his Gentility and Christianity, and exchanged both into gentilism, by an Act as horrid as the devil could tempt him to, or himself consent to: That of the Moors comes short of it; they but laugh at the mischiefs they have done, to make themselves merry: but this man studies mischief, acts mischief▪ and glories in the act; yet he is a Branch sprung from that Root; a Chip hewn out of that block; an Englishman (I blush at my Country) extracted from a Moor; listen to the Act, and abhor the Actor: He was the cruel Ga●ler of many loyal Prisoners; not one but he hath used hardly enough, If burdens of Irons, Beds of Stone, and half meals of Bread and Water, be usage hard enough: we can name the men he hath so served, and some that by this usage he hath starved too; but all this may be borne: and therefore at last he hath outdone himself, by making his Tortures as near to those of Hell, as possible: For after he had by promise wooed one of his Prisoners to take the Covenant, and could not by that means win him to his Lure, and make him as ●ad as himself; he than frights him by Want, by blows, by Bol●● to swallow that Rateb●n●; And the poor man's patience being overcome by these Extremities, he takes the Covenant, the Covenant; he had no sooner so done, which left s●ing enough in his Conscience, but instantly says Mr Browne, so Sirrah, now you may go for a forsworn Rogue, what I could not do to your Body▪ I have done to your soul: now die and ●e D●●●ed; But soft Richard, this was no sin of wilfulness, no sin of malice, no sin of scorn or contempt● and therefore may be forgiven upon his Repentance, your Master may thank you for acting his part so well; yet our Revenge is not so high, but that we wish you as much Repentance as this man in Oxford testifies, for committing so great a sin i● Mr Richard Browne solicited him, scourged him to, in Abingdon, a little before he left his 〈…〉 Command there: and wherein colonel R●●●●borough scotned to succeed him▪ least after-Ages should say ●e ●●● such a Wood●●●gers Deputy, whose ●e●rt was a●●●●d as 〈…〉 and a great deal werse:   

TUESDAY. Feb. 17.  
Since whose departure three or four of our Oxford Cavalty knocked at Abingdon doors, to know how they did; and near Cullam Bridge, met with two Ca●ts loaden▪ the one with Cheese, the other with Bread and Oats, driving with such provision to that Garrison: They seize upon both; but finding the Horses too weak to draw another▪ way as fast as their occasions required, they turned both Teems into one, wherewith they persuaded the ●●aines to drive that Cart which was loaden with Mans-meat and Horse-meat into Oxford; And here you must take notice of the difference betwixt loyal Subjects and Rebels: For they have no sooner unloaden, but they return the Horses▪ and Cart to their owner, which that man, who of late told you he did not use to swear, would not have done upon his Faith▪ which is not so much his Oath, as his ●doll, because it is nothing, ●● nothing worth, being much a kin to the public Faith, which hath not yet repaid one Do●● of those 〈…〉 it stand● engaged for: which, how, or when those Patriots that love the commonwealth so well, (and truly I believe they love it very well, if wealth have his true and proper signification) will discharge, you may guess at by a 〈…〉 Command issued from the New High and mighty States of England, to the North, persuading all men, Malignants and all, to stand upon their Guard against the Scots: which gives some probability, that the German Prophecy may outdo Mr. Lilly's, when it is fulfilled in Britain; What Association begun, Diff●ciation will end.  
It hath commenced well in Scotland; For if you divide it into four parts, you will find (Montrosse Master of three, The Perfect Occurrences, Tuesday, Feb. 10. in his 7th N●m●▪ for the year● 1646. ●ells us, The Parliament was sitting at St Andrew's, when the lust Letters c●●e from thence, but may be risen since▪ (you may speak it indicatively) And that on Thursday last (when was that Thursday last●) there was a general day of Humiliation throughout all parts of Scotland, within the Parliaments power there▪ (it was well remembered) it being set a part for a solemn First, for the acknowledging of the sins of the Nations before Almighty God, and begging pardon for the sa●●: and particularly for that so many of their Nation (so many, pray mark it) do join with▪ and assist Montrosse in this Rebellion against the Church and People of God: (No man; They assist Montrosse and the Church and People of God against this Rebellion:) but how soever we thank you for so much truth.   

WEDNESDAY. Feb. 18.  
And shall requite you with as sad a truth; our Oxford horse yesterday returned safe home, having dispatched the business they went for, and somewhat more: For meeting with a Party of colonel Pyle's new raised Regiment, they took eight and twenty of their Horse, arms, and men, and lodged them safe at Faringdon; where they had no sooner taken their leave, but they were faced by some hundreds of Rebels, who upon the taking of eight of their fellows, prisoners, thought it their best course to face about, and so away: which eight waited upon our Horse to this City; and from one of them, we received several Letters of Intelligence: one of which, Robert Gough by name, seems to give intelligence to the Moderate Intelligencer; For in one of his Letters he relates the whole business (but not the whole truth) of Marleborough, as he hath printed it, Jan. 31. Num. 48. where he says, The Oxford Horse returned with their Plunder, having lost a hundred Horse: whereas the very truth is, (as we told you Thursday, Jan. 22.) they lost but two Officers; no Common soldiers: and as we are since informed, one Mr Johnson a Chi●urgeon: and therefore we desire the Moderate Intelligencer, not to give too much Credence to this Robert Gough: who in another of his Letters dated at Verulam▪ and directed to London, says Interminis; The Parliament would not grant a Treaty by Lords, and therefore the King sent again that He would come to London himself, upon their ●a●e Conduct that He should return again to Oxford, if they could not agree, whereof the Parliament accepted, but would not consent He should come into London, but appointed Zion house for Him to come to, to which place they will send to Him: so they ordained a Committee to bethink them how He should be entertained, and to bring the Parliaments resolutions to Him; After this, with a great deal such stuff he concludes, only altering the Scene from Zion; The King came to St Jame's house last night for certain, and all the Coaches in the City met Him two miles out— The Posts brought the news to Newbury even now to Dalbier, and another Post went to the King's Garrison as Dennington with the same news; whereat the Ordinance in both places answered one another. I need not give any observations upon this Letter, but we shall go on with truth;   

THURSDAY. Feb. 19  
And assure you that three of the Rebels belonging to Gaunt-house, were taken napping at their Trade (Plunder) by 3 of our Oxford Gentry, and committed Tuesday night to the marshal's care; all well clad, well armed, well lined, yet had nothing taken from them but their Armour; it was to let them know, they met with better and honester men than themselves: These three were no good Omen to the 500 that came to Plunder Wood-stock on Tuseday night last, the manner thus: toward the evening, (at day they durst not have been so bold) they came to the town with White Colours▪ in their hatt●; but the sentry, knowing full well that often times the black devil, transforms himself into an angel of light, would not be fooled or frighted from his duty, and therefore gave the alarm, but before the Gentlemen in the Garrison could march up, the Rebels got into the town, and out of several stables took ten Horses, eight of which being past service were destined to the dogs, (much good may they do them) and out of several houses got some Plunder● but they did not make haste enough away; for by our muskets and a Drake, they were so well paid, that a lieutenant colonel, and nine others lay in the dirt, and promised upon their death never to bear arms again, against a gracious King, five others being taken prisoners, and five Horses of service exchanged for our two, the rest took their flight, whether as yet we hear not; it may be to Banbury for as much more the loyal governor there, with his choice and tried Infantry, no more fearing the Rebels under colonel Whaley, and all those additionals shall come to him, than they did colonel Nathaniel Fines the last year; only the mischief is, he hath no Father Lord Say, to send his weeping Letters to, for Recruites; which in very good time he may need as much as▪ the Rebels do in South-Wales, where the Lord Charles 〈…〉 goes on successfully, and so will, with God's blessing, in spite of opposition, until that Country be reduced; which promises very fair: if you will not believe our report, you will yet give some credit to an express, which as it came to our hands this day▪   

FRIDAY. Febr. 20.  
We shall communicate without alteration of word or syllable; it is a confirmation of our last, and somewhat more: If you please read it.  
My Lord,  
I Cannot omit to give your Lordship an account of the proceedings in these parts, and how advantagions it is like to be to His majesty's Service: the taking of Carlion with 140 Prisoners, besides those killed and drowned, which were not few in number, I gave your Lordship knowledge in my Letter by a Servant of Sir— But since the Forces engaged themselves upon Newport, Where 600 good men killed near ●00▪ took 120 Prisoners, with the town, and a●● Ammunition and Arms, without the loss of one man, only we had some 20 men searched by firing of three barrels of Powder, our men falling so violently on their main Guard, where their Ammunition 〈…〉 And upon this good success the well affected of Glamo●gan-shire have taken the advantage of the time, Mr— of Weany, and Sir— being their Cheifes to raise an Army of 3000 men, have taken Swan●ie, and all the Shipping there, with much Ammunition and arms; are now before Cardiff, have cut off their water, blocked it up, and if they have not relief from Sea, doubt not but to be Masters of it within these few days: My Lord's Forces are at Newport and Carlion, and have daily correspondence with them, and are ready upon all occasions to join: The Country in both Counties cometh into my Lord with a pretty deal of forwardness, and march, and do duty.  
There is somewhat more, and of more concernment in the express, and will it may be, becommunicated hereafter: In the mean time, we thought fit to give the Rebels thus much to chew upon, and our friends as much to cheer themselves withal. M. lily guest very unhappyly in his Februaries Observations▪ [methinks we are sorrowful on a sudden.] And so did his neighbour of the Starry Region▪ ●●hn Booker, in his Poetry upon this month.  
Venus and Saturn in Conjunction,  
Will much displease, who e'er it lights upon.  
Pray Coelicus tell us, did this Conjunction light upon these in South-Wales, or upon those in the West of England▪ For you will not deny but those of Gallantry in Corfe-Castle did light upon those Horse that lie so close before Corse-Castle, that if other occasions ca●● them not off▪ it is hoped they will take the Castle in short time, says the Perfect Occuryences▪ Number 7. 1646. Thursday, Feb. 1●. If he had but added, or in short time the Castle would take them, he had spoke truth in spite of his teeth; For of one whole Troop consisting of ●●▪ but six escaped, the rest both men and horse are killed and taken● or did this Conjunction light upon them before Dunstar-Castle, which the Lord●oring●Horse▪ says the Moderate Intelligenter, (if we had no other authority, we will acknowledge at this time to be true) have releived and ●●● therein 25 cows, 40 Sheep▪ and four barrels of Powder, and spoiled our Mine in their retreat: Yes, so they did, and in stead of ●●●sing 53 as he says after, Tuesday▪ Feb. 10. they have took 35. or did this Conjunction light upon them at 〈…〉 The Moderate Intelligencer, Saturday▪ Febr. 7▪ ●ells us▪ It is taken by the Lord Loughborough; which we are willing to believe from him, but do not yet persuade any man to believe it from us; But this we would have you believe from us, that captain Dayrell went with a commanded party of 〈…〉 Horse, to Stonystratford▪ and there met with a party of Newport-Pagnell Horse, took six prisoners, ten Horses, so that four went home on foot, and three horses laden with very good provisions, but are better disposed of at Borstall amongst honest men, than elsewhere. Howsoever it lighted upon some of them in those places before mentioned, and in a smaller, but very fine proportion, somewhere else, as   

SATURDAY. Febr. 21.  
We receive it this day; that upon Friday Febr. 20. Captain Maisters (who Commands colonel Welter's Troop) understanding that a party of the Enemies were abroad plundering the Market folks, took with him a party of fourteen, and coming too late at the place where they had been, he took eight of his fourteen and advanced to a place called Balden, where he met with Eleven Rebels, and their Companions, six plundered Calves, so that in the whole there were 17 Heads, whom he no sooner charges, but they fly, and put themselves into two boats at Sandford, to ferry for Abingdon; the captain and his men; loath to go back again with nothing, swom their Horses, recovered one of their Boats, and therein took three of the men prisoners with their horses and Arms, and brought them into Oxford; The Calves indeed were had safe to Abingdon; and there we leave them. And now desire the world to take notice of the cold zeal of the reformers at Westminster; before whom was brought one Paul Best, and accused of some peccadilloes, blasphemy and heresy, denying the Trinity of Persons, and the Deity of Christ, and of the holy Ghost: The Perfect diurnal told us a fortnight since, and more, that they had committed him close Prisoner, but yet we hear not of any other punishment: we hope they will deal otherwise with him, then Mr Richard Browne dealt with a Blasphemer at Abingdon, one Haunch by name, who by this blasphemy became M. Browne's favourite; when the prisoners are called before general Brown, he places some on his right hand like Sheep, and some on his left hand like Goats; I dare not repeat more of it; nor do I say more of it then to tell M. Richard, that his great Sire for such a kind of sin was devoured by Lice: it may be he is destined to another end.   
FINIS.