The true Copy of a LETTER sent from an Inhabitant of BRIDGEWATER In the County of Somerset, which is now under the command of his Majesty's Forces, unto a Quartermaster of a Troop of Horse belonging to the Western Brigade.  
Wherein is set forth the certainty of the landing of 1000 Irish Rebels at Mynehead in the said County, and of divers others landed at BRISTOL.  
TOGETHER With the Governor of Bridgewater his Speech to restrain the garrison Soldiers from going to Mynehead to suppress the Progress of the Rebels.  
London, printed for Richard Lownes, and are to be sold at his Shop near Ludgate. 1643.   

The true Copy of a LETTER sent from an Inhabitant of Bridgewater, in the County of Somerset, which is now under the comm●nd of his Majesty's Force●, unto a Quartermaster of a troop of Horse belonging to the Western Brigade.  
Noble Quartermaster,  
HAving so fit an opportunity, and such variety of news afforded me, I could not pass you by unsaluted, with a full and true Narration of the Affairs in these your native parts. Upon Tuesday last, Lieutenant Jones (who sometimes belonged to the worthy Colonel Edward Popham) came to our Town, with Letters from Oxford, directed to our Governor Master Edmund Wyndeham, the contents whereof we know not, but do believe it was for the sending the Garrison Soldiers towards Oxford; for the day after his coming to us, all the Soldiers in the Town were drawn forth, being in number 300 Musquetiers, and they marched about two miles; but upon a sudden the Governor sent to command the said Soldiers bacl again. The occasion was this: On Monday night last, Noah Rendall came from Mynehead, and brought certain news that there were landed in that place about a thousand Irish Rebels, which so amazed the poor Soldiers, that they all with an unanimous voice cried, away to Min●●e●d, le● us cut those Papish Dog's throats. This noy●e continued about two hours; when at last Windham (th●t old principle Patriot of P●pists and Monopolist) came to the Soldiers and used this learned Oration.  
Gentlemen Soldiers, you have hitherto quitted you ●ravely, so that no interior Soldiers deserve better of his sacred Majesty than yourselves do, for which I do not only render you many thanks, but do also promise you as I am a Gentleman, to give you as much satisfaction as your hearts can desire. But to give you true notice what those are which you call Rebels at Minehead, know for certain, that they are no more Rebels than I, or yourselves are: No, they are our friends, our brethren, whose zeal for our Religion, Laws and King's Monarchy, have brought them hither, to suppress the insolences of those true Rebels, the pretended Parliament, and the Roundheads; these are those that come to ●oyne with you (and 8000 more are upon coming) to establish our Sovereign in his glorious throne, and to make the almost extinct flames of the Protestant Religion shine in his former lustre. Therefore (brave Gentlemen) take your rest this night, and I beseech you make no mutinies, for the time will not be long ere the work will be ended, and then instead of being commanded, you yourselves shall be Commanders of the several estates which the Roundheads have enjoyed.  
No sooner had this Tertullus ended his insinuating Oration, but one of the Soldiers swore with a great oath, saying, we have now brought our Hogs to a fair Market; what be there not Protestant's enough in England to fight for our Religion, but the King must send for the Irish Papists? (I see I must not call them Rebels) He never hold with Papists as long as I breath, and presently all the Soldiers cried not Papists should join with them. So that there was a terrible Mutiny till the Masters of the Town came and appeased them. Now these Soldiers were very glad that they had an opportunity offered them the next day to run away (which they had done if they had recovered two miles farther) that so they might have passed the danger of Wyndehams' son's Troops: Of which plot Wyndeham being advertised, demanded them bacl again. You will not believe how the coming over of the Rebels at Minehead and at Bristol (for we hear for certain that there are 2000 landed there) hath wrought upon the heart● of Master Hill, Master B●●kin, Master Pits, and generally on all the crew of Malignants: They now being awakened, do reason among themselves, whether their Governor be right; that is, whether he be a P●pist or no? And whether this War be not a great d●ale worse than the Scots War, for that was but to set up Episcopacy, this to establish Papacy. And the result of all their reasoning is, that certainly the Parliament is in the right way, and they desire God to pardon them, that they have yielded no better obedience to the Ordinances of the Parliament. We have here a very great Market upon Thursdays, but I believe with some confidence, that there are 40 buyers to one seller, for people are afraid to bring provision to market, in regard Captain Harvey (that murderous Rascal) and some of his creatures, issue forth and robs the poor Country people of their moneys. We are squeezed like wax in our weekly payments, still mounting; but I trust in God it will not be to establish the purpose of the King's Council. I pay weekly (besides a hundred pounds which I was first fined at) 15. s. 6. d. besides, I biller at free quarter five Troops. It is a lamentable thing to consider; but yet it is not only my case, but hundreds more of my fellows and therefore I many times solace myself with the words of the Poet, Solamen miseris socios babuisse delore; Although we pay such Taxes, yet the foot Soldiers are not paid above 14. d. a month, and some of them nothing at all, so that here are quotidian fits of Mutinies. The Governor being assaulted on Saturd●y last, as he was walking on the Cornhill, by ten sturdy fellows, who shown him their ragged , and torn shoes, and told him they must have better , or else he should have never a Coat to his back another (laying his hand on his sword) told the Governor plainly, that he was a Papist, and that it was evident to all men that it was true, for he had almost undone the Country by great Taxations, and had almost starved the poor Soldiers, and that he kept all for the dam'd dogs the Irish Rebels. Whereupon the distressed Governor was feign to run into Master Edward Sealyes house, and there he commanded the Clubmen of the Town to come and assist him; unto whose command they shown a very brief and tedious obedience; so that if Captain Wyndehams' Troop had not then accidentally come to the Town, I am confident they had pulled the house obout the Governors' ears: But that Troop styled the tumult, and then the Governor came forth and commanded the said ten men to be clapped in the Bilboes. But as soon as the Troopers were dismounted, their Comrades released them: And now these Mutineers, are to be embarked for Bristol; but I know whatever comes of them, they will never fight against the Parliament.  
Here you may see that place confirmed, The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For the falesharted Achitophel's about the King thought they had given wise Counsel I to have the Rebels brought over to subdue his Majesty's true Subjects, and subvert their Religion, Laws, and Liberties, but I believe it will prove the foolishest Council (though bloody) that they have yet given; for there is not a man in these parts, but have waxed cold in his former malignancy, since the Bruto that the Rebels were landed in our County. So that if there were but an Army on foot again in these parts, I am confident it would increase like a show-ball, for there is nothing more talked of and feared, than that those bloodthirsty Saint murdering Rogues will make this County an Aceldama. But I hope the Lord of Hosts is yet with us, and that the God of Jacob will so protect u●, that the end of these Rebels coming into England shall be to save our English men a labour, to confound those Hellhounds here, that were so marchlesse in their own Country, for I assure you they will want their Fens and Quagmires to retreat unto here in England. I hear his Majesty's Army doth increase with such as run from your Army, which, if true, I wish he may have no abler men than that valiant runaway Atheistical turncoat Jones, whom I before mentioned, for you know he is very able with a wench in a Barly-close but m ghty apt to run at the sight of the enemy. Our Organs to't it out to the purpose six times on a Lord's day; for preaching we have commonly as good as was usual in Wells Cathedral. I hope our sufferings are almost at the highest, we hope of a western Army, but if we should speak of any preparation or likelihood of it, we should presently be clapped into prison. I have been the more tedious, because I would set forth the truth at large, and also believing it will not be troublesome to you to read it, in regard (as I hear) you want employment, which I heartily wish you to your content; and so I commit you to the protection of the Almighty, desiring him to bless, protect and guide you.  
Bridgewater October 27. 1643. Your assured loving friend and Schoolefellow Hen. Davy.   

This is Licenced and Entered according to Order.