Mercurius Somniosus COMMVNICATING His Packet of Intelligence from the several WATCHES of divers parts of the kingdom: CERTIFYING How the three mayor Generalls, with the loss of the Noble Sir WILLIAM FAIRFAX and others, raised the Siege at Montgomery Castle. Taken prisoners. The two Generalls of Foot and Horse. 12 colours Majors and Captaines: 23 pheasants. 33 ensigns. 57 Sergeants. 11 Drums. 1480 Common souldiers. slain. 5 colonels and Majors. Divers Captains and Officers. 300 Common Souldiers. 500 Wounded. 200 arms taken, and 12 barrels of powder. All their Bag and Baggage. Besides other news from the King Prince Rupert, the Lord Hopton: and Collections of Strange dreams, such as are not usually Committed to the press. LONDON, Printed by JANE COE. 1644. Mercurius Somniosus, Communicating his packet of intelligence From the several Watches of divers parts of the Kingdom: drowsy Morpheus, having seized on some men at broad noon day, and Brizo, taking the opportunity of the season sent forth his little CVPID. The unhappy Boy aspired sometimes to high thoughts; and when he pleased sported with meaner pleasures, still acting his delightful change in what he best liked? but always various in his effects; At his pleasure he bends his bow at Princes, and sometimes wounds persons of meaner faculties; but misseth none at whom his fancy invits him to shoot. First of all the wag turns Courtier: and misseth not the Kings chamberlain presenting him with a dream: that he thought he he saw in a Vision, The Lord Cottington, Digbey, and Ned hid the counsellor, carrying the crown to three prelates, that sate in a withdrawing room, who having worn it by turns, like a festival Garland,& lined it with the Lawn of an old pair of Bishops sleeves, and dansed the Canaries, themselves carry it in, and entreat his majesty to wear it, whilst they rest themselves, For which he gives his Peers and prelates thanks, Weares it, and begs their blessing to him, and his posterity, which the prelates promise him is conferred to perpetual future ages. Then comes in the queen, with a Spanish Lute, and she plays before him variety of Italian lessons, which Philips and the rest of her ghostly fathers had taught her, and invites the King to dance: The court Lords praise the music, and ●●●de the King in this sport; in which Jarmin out capers them all, and the Bishop of Armagh rounds the King in the ear and tells him privately, that in truth it is a sweet harmony; good to prevent melancholy; full of lustre to the crown; and prays long may wee see these dayes. Then presenly steps in a company of Irish Rebels, with their swords drawn; and they swear that if they may have but commission for it, that they will soon be the death of all the base roundheads that would hinder this sport: which being granted, they fall on, and murder man woman and child: and speedily return with whole Barrels of Protestant blood, for which sacred act, they beg some titles of honor to make them capable of doing more of that service. But the Boy being weary of that sport, leaves the court, and comes to Westminster, to visit the Parliament, and mounting a loft he gets first into the house of peers, where finding one in a slumber, he puts into his fancy the oppriession( in a dream) of an enemy Drawing nigh, which causeth fear, but awaking, it is nothing but a message from the house of commons. The mean while the Wag runs to the Lower House, and finding one of the Members asleep; shoots at him, hit● his fancy, and in a Dream presents him with a lion a Dragon, and dive●s wild beasts at the door, ready to enter with open mouth to devour them: the House full to prayers, the beasts roar, the Trained Band at the door of the guard run away, and presently Angels appear and muzzle those furious beasts, and lead them quiter away. CUPID then goes down into Westminster Hall, and there finding colonel No-Figh●, cast by Morpheus in a deep sleep in one of the seats; he fastens upon him and amongst some other uisions presseth him w●th this dream; that his couzen Self-Good, had brought him a commission to stay at home and receive pay, whilst his captain lieutenant lead on the Regiment: which did please his humour well, that he might sleep securely whilst others did his duty, he might walk Westminster Hall with gold jingling in his pockets, and every week make him a new suit of clothes, and every one Suteing with the fashion, and looking oftener on his Ordinance, and commission in Westminster Hall, then on his Ordnance, and Artillery in the field, and his heart is so light and merry, that in this rapture he is strooke with an amazement of himself. The poor lame soldier, sits upon another bench, and he dreams too, that he saw a cavalite coming to kill his coloneil, who being asleep, awakes him, and tells him of the danger; for which the Generous commander pulls out of his pocket four old farthing tokents to reward him with. An honest country fellow coming thither, to know how the business goes between the mayor general, and the committee of the county where he dwells; he lies him down upon a bench and having newly drunk his share of two or three pots of Ale after dinner begins to be sleepy; and CVPID strikes him into a deep slumber, and he dermes that he heard a Member of the House, relating some news which came that day to the Parliament, and what order the House hath taken to supply some forces with necessaries; and other business that was that morning debated in the House: and a popish priest( which the court-Martialls, Provost-Marshall that serve the city, and that court; and Westminster Hall too; can never be able to find out; came with a table book and writ down the heads of the Intelligence, and after with drew himseselfe to writ it fairer in a letter which he directed to Prince Rupert, which the country man by overlooking him, discovered; and for want of the Provost Marshals presence there, addressed himself to a sergeant at Armses man, and he being appreheanded and preached; there was found a whole Packet of secret intelligence about him. But the Boy being weary with staying so long at Westminster changes his station, and removes into the city of Lon●o●; and there whispers in a Malignant Citizens ea●e, and having soundly charmed him, he filled his ●ogitations with this dream, That the cavaliers were come to London, and had massakred the Members of the Parliament, and were firing the city of London, and putting men women and children, all to the sword, and considering with himself, that he had alwies been very active, both to do and speak at all times for the King, and his forces, prayed for them more, then for his own soul, and cursed the puritan Dogs that ever spake the least word of hurt concerning them: therefore he hasted to tell them how he always destred that they might have the better of it, and shows them their letter of correspondency, and desired that favour to be shewed to him, and his wife and children, which he deserved for his faithful services,( But the cavaliers regarded none of his compliments.) but went on in a resolute manner, sparing neither the one nor other, nor taking notice of friends, or foes; or any thing that was past, took his wife and ravished her, abused his daughter to death before his face, dashed out the brains of his children, and fired his house about his ears, and as they were going to cut his throat he awaked. CVPID goes then to the tower, and finding the Archbishop of Canterbury upon his Couch filled his head full of Proclamations, amongst the rest he Dreamed, That a grim fellow that appeared like bones wrapped in a sheet, came with a warrant to fetch him to purgatory: and therefore bade him make his will presently. The Bishop of Canterb●ry his will, ready drawn for him to seal. IMprimis, I give my soul to the Popes Charity to be redeemee by all the Derges, Masses, and indulgences that can be procured to redeem it of out Purgatory. My body I commit to the hands of the Executioner to see Justice done, and not permit me to be pulled to pieces before he hath perfected his office. My head I return to Rome that sent me the Cardinals Hat, for it to wear. My heart to the English Papists, and my conscience to those Gates where Bensteds quarters shear, that was hanged drawn and quartered for me. My square cap I leave to my Secretary to wear in his chamber, and my silk skarfes for my Gentlemen to mourn in; for my gowns I bequeath to my counsellors, and my cloaks to their clerks, to cover my infirmities. My Hood and Tippe● I desire may may be hanged up in Redding for a monument to be perpetually remembered by my country men; and my lawn sleeves I give to the Kings Souldiers to make them knapsacks on; And all that I have besides I give to the Irish Rebels. But to laeve the Arch-Bishop; And it( by this time beginning to draw towards night; Cupid returns to Westminster, and finds a drowsy fellow at Hell, partend from his company, and laid down to sleep after supper, he loads him with dreams: amongst which he thought that he saw one whispering with a clergy man, desiring him in his next sermon to rail against those that were at the beggars feast, and he would take it for a gaeat favour, for quoth he, there was a Great Earl there one that I Cannot endure, and this is a brave opportunity for me: and therefore speak to the purpose, bring them in one way or other to make them as odious as ever you can; Then he wondering to see such doings there asked the Tapster what place that was Called, why quath he; it is called Hell, I thought so quoth the man? because there is such spirits in it, well this clergy man( thought he) may rail against them as he pleaseth; but methinks it is no point of divinity, For beggars are Christians as well as Lords, and receive the Sac●ments with Lords too and Christ allows it, and why not dine with Lords, but it is an offence to the state( it may be he will say) well but he is no states man? And whilst he was thus controverting the point in his thoughts the rest of his Company awaked him, away went little Cupid to his mistress; who fell in a discourse as followeth. A Diologue between Brizo and Cupid. Brizo: How now Boy where hast thou been, all this day: tell me quickly for I must sand thee▪ abroad again, this night to do great business for me. But first give me an account of the day past, tell me then what news in England? Cupid. Why they are still altogether by the ears. Brizo: What is the matter there, what are they fallen out about? Cupid. The King and the queen fight against the Parliament and the Commons. Brizo. But is their difference likely to continue? Will they not hear of peace? Cupid. They both say they would have peace, but they cannot agree about it, The Kings army which they call Cavalies, would yield to peoce if the Parliament and the City of London would let them come quietly and take away all that they have from th●m and the Parliaments army they call roundheads would yield to peace if Popery might be utterly extinguished, and iustice executed on offenders. Brizo. But what news from their Armies: how do they go on of both sides, what hath been done lately. Cupid. There came a Post the last night; which certifieth as followeth. THe King I hear is coming from Exi●er, and in 〈…〉 if he can break through to Oxford again to set up h 〈…〉ter quarters there, whilst his horse try if they can break into 〈…〉 Associated Counties. The Parliament are close about Propositions for Peace, to ●● sent to the King. Rupert is recru●ing, and Hopton is Plundering. But there is a notable Victory obtained by, Sir Thomas Middleton, Sir William Brereton, and Sir John Meldrum, at the raising o● the siege at Mountgomery Castle, which was thus. The earl of Cherbery having delivered up Monutgo 〈…〉 castle to Sir Thomas Middleton, and placing a Garrison there, the Enemy Beseidged them September 7 the siege continued 10 dayes. Tuesday the 27 of August. the Enemy being between four and five thousand, the four mayor Generalls aforesaid, with about the like number, of between four and five thousand, raised the siege and had a great Victory. A List of the particulars of this great Victory. Taken Prisoners of the Kings forces. Sir Thomas Tinsley mayor general of the horse. colonel Broughton mayor general of the foot. lieutenant colonel Bladwin. 1 sergeant mayor. 10 captaines. 23 lieutenants. 33 ensigns. 57 sergeants. 11 Drumes. 4 Trumpeters. And other Officers. 1480 common Souldiers. slain of the Kings forces. A Dutch colonel. 2 lieutenant colonels. 2 sergeant Majors. Divers captaines and Officers. 300 common Souldiers. 500 Wounded. Taken besides. 200 arms. 12 Barrels of Powdar. All their carriages bag& baggage. Slain of the Parliament Forces. Sir William Fairfax, sergeant mayor Fitz Simonds. 18 others, and many wounded.