A RELATION OF THE RARE exploits of the London Souldiers, and Gentlemen prentices, lately gone out of the city for the designs of the KING AND PARLIAMENT.  
Hen. elsing clear. Parl. D. come.  
 woodcut of tent with table  
Printed for William Smith. 1642.   

A RELATION OF The rare exploits of the London Souldiers, and Gentlemen prentices lately gone out of the City for the designs of the King, and Parliament.  
THe miseries and Calamities which of late have happened in this confused place of England are so many, that they furnish the discourse both of this and of other nations, who notwithstanding are not able to express them all; I shall now relate you onely two, befalling within these few dayes, and to this end that by the true report of these which by men of sundry passions may be prevented) others of the like natare, if it please God may be prevented, of the one I have certain information, of the other I myself was an eye witness. The first happened at action, some six miles distant from London, where lived a Gentleman; reported and believed to be different in Religion( as too many now a dayes are which we know to be the cause of all our evils) from the Church of England; but in the voice of most of his neighbours a sober moderate and charitable minded man. This Gentleman having in his house no more but one ancient Gentlewoman his kinswoman, whom he entrusted as his house keeper, with one serving man and maid. Had his house beset with divers Companies of Souldiers, who had listed themselves for the service of the King and Parliament and were in pay, and command, under Officers, where after they had forced him to open the gates by threatening words they entred the house, and so strangely despoiled him, that they left him not a bed, bedstead, table, door, or glassewindow, chest, trunk, or the smallest utensill, but sold all for very small prizes before his servants faces, some of them having forced him before on foot to London, and for his bills, bonds, letters, and other writings, the most part they tore in pieces, and strewed them about the house, others some they sent up to London, he hath with much industry, and long time rarley furnished a plot of Ground with the choicest flowers and outlandish trees which he could procure, which they plucked up by the roots as many as they could, and the rest left so desolate that whereas it was thought the finest and most curious gardens in all those part, there is now left nothing but the ruins of art and nature.  
The other outrage which with grief I saw was committed in Radcliffe highway, upon Tuseday last being the 23 of this instant August, where lived an aged Gentleman in good fashion, love and credit amongst his neighbours for many yeares space. I was informed and might likewise guess by his aspect that he was above fourscore, and his wife not much distant from his time. This poor man was like manner assaulted by another company of Souldiers, who are billated thereabouts, until the Drum commands them to do service: where having approached his door, they drew out a paper which they red, whether a pretence of Authority or what else I cannot easily conjecture. And thereupon they rushed into the House, rifled him of all that was in the House, breaking and battering many of the goods, and having brought them out, sold them to such persons as would buy them at any rates, and this at nooneday and in the sight of 1000 people; one Featherbed I saw sold for four shillings, and one Flockbed for one shilling,& many other things at I know not what prizes, leaving him nothing but naked wales and one stool which the old man sate upon, he being lame and decrepit with old age. she Headborough of that place endeavoured to ●… escue some of the goods, which were af●… terwards violently taken again out of his house After the riot was thus ended, they marched away with a drum; and then I made bold to go into this distressed mans house, where I found him sitting upon his only stool, and with the tears falling down his hoary beard; from whence having administered the best comfort that I could I departed.  
I will now leave the Reader to judge of these strange inhumanities they being in this respect the more monstrous in that they are practised amongst Christians against Christians, and amongst men that pretend and indeed should maintain and defend Religion, the laws of the Land, and privileges of the subject; to the scandal of the true sincere Protastant Religion, destruction of the laws of the kingdom, and the utter violation of all privilege.  
If it be heer objected unto me that they were Papists, I demand if there be not many wholesome laws, made against them, and desired both by the Kings Majesty by the Parliament to be put in execution, nay, were they Iewes or Aethists, it is a stain to the Government of the Kingdom amongst many other distempers, and may teach foreign Princes to use the same rigour towards Protestants beyond the Seas; whose Religion in purity, truth, and decency let us pray God for ever to maintain and defend. The Lords and Commons in Parliament declares, that all such persons as shall, upon any pretence whatsoever, assist his majesty in this war, with Horse, arms, Plate or money, are Traytors to His majesty, the Parliament, and kingdom, and shall be brought to condign punishment for so high an offence.  

Ordered to be forthwith Printed and published.  
H. elsing clear. Parl. D. come.   
FINIS.