The Kings packet of letters taken by Colonell Rossiter, as they were carrying from Newark to Belvoyr, on Munday last, Octob. 6. 1645. With letters from the King to Sir Gervase Lucas, Governour of Belvoyr, from the Lord Byron, and from Oneale (in Ireland) to the King. Wherein is discovered the whole businesse of the Kings designes, and other matters of great importance to the whole kingdome: with some observations upon the said letters, for publike satisfaction. These letters were sent to the Parliament, and published according to order.

A Copie of Colonell Roſsiters Letter, who took the KINGS Packet. SIR,

I Have ſent (with theſe two Letters to the Speaker of the Houſe of Commons, and to the Committee of both Kingdomes) two intercepted Letters, going from Newarke to Belvoyr, which I ſend incloſed: The laſt night a party of the Kings horſe broke into Linſey, but I hope that our party there are ſtrong enough for them; being Major GIBS Regiment, and Captaine PEARTS Troup. The ſickneſſe is certainly in Newarke, and the increaſe of company there is like to increaſe it.

Your Servant, EDW. ROSSITER. Grantham Octob. 7. 1645. at five a clock at night.

The Copies of the Letters that were intercepted by Colonell Roſsiter coming from the King from Newark towards Belvoir.

To Sir Gervaſe Lucas the Governour of Belvoir Caſtle: Theſe haſte. [This Letter Hatton (an Officer) ſent by Gerhards order, after the Kings Letter was come to Gerhards hands, and with it was ſent the Kings Letter.] Deare Sir:

I Am commanded by the Lord Gerhard, to ſend you this order from the King, and withall to let you know he [Gerhard] intends to be with you himſelf to morrow (he ſaith) in the morning: You will have a great many troubleſome gheſts, and amongſt them, a moſt faithfull ſervant, called

Robert H ••••• .

A Copie of a Letter from the King. [By His Majeſties owne command, and ſubſcribed Edward Waller.] To Sir Gervaſe Lucas Governour of Belvoir. CHARLES R.

TRuſtie and well beloved, Wee greet you well: Whereas We have for the preſent thought fit to diſpoſe our Horſe in this [Newark,] and all other Garriſons in theſe parts, whereby they may be ready for any ſervice, [whether to lye ſtill, to march into York-ſhire, to breake into the Aſſociation, or releeve Cheſter, if the Iriſh come in time.] Our pleaſure and command to you therefore is, that you immediately provide in that your Garriſon [Belvoir] fit accommodation for Generall Gerhards Horſe, being about three hundred, beſides your owne; and that you aſſiſt them in levying, and bringing in proviſions for the ſupply, both of horſe and men, out of the ſeverall Towneſhips allotted for their proviſions, during their ſtay with you. Herein Wee expect you ſhall employ your beſt care and diligence. And ſo Wee bid you farewell.

From our Court at Newark, Octob. 6. 1645.

Here we ſee (by the Kings owne Letters) that he, and all the Councell about him, are ſo put to it, that they know not what to doe. It ſeemes the Kings deſigne is not then abſolutely reſolved on, and therefore the chiefeſt care they take, is to quarter them where the may be ready for any ſervice.

We may ſee what a ſad condition the King hath brought himſelf to, and that eſpecially in theſe five reſpects.

1 That he hath but one Army left in the field, and dare not himſelfe quarter within two hundred miles of them, and yet they retreat before further Weſt.

2 That all the aſſociate Counties are utterly againſt his coming amongſt them, and will allow him no releefe.

3 That the King ſhould blocke himſelf up in a place where the Plague is, and ſo many people there, (for Colonell Roſſiters Letter ſaith) the ſickneſſe is certainly in Newarke.

4 That the Forces, Moneyes, and Helps, which the King moſt builds upon, ſhould be from forraign Popiſh Kingdoms.

5 That yet he ſhould be ſo hardned, that he will not comply with the Parliament, to end the Warres.

You ſee here what the King commands in this Letter, fit accommodation for three hundred Horſe, beſides their owne, who are of themſelves ſuch a burden, that the Countrey is undone by them, Aſſeſſements muſt be made for horſe, and man, when as they have not only aſſeſſed, but plundered and robbed the Countrey moſt barbarouſly for their owne maintenance. And now Gerhards men (who are many of them Iriſh Rebells) muſt be further provided for alſo by them, the moſt abſolute theeviſh plunderers in the Kingdome, as it is well knowne in Wales, where they have had the wofull experience of them, and yet Lucas is commanded by the King to aſsiſt them.

A Copie of a Letter ſent from the Lord Byron to the King, intercepted by the Cheſhire Forces. For the Right Honourable the Lord Digby, Principall Secretarie of State. My Lord:

I Received (together with your Lordſhips Letter) a double comfort, both the aſſurance of your Lordſhips recoverie from a dangerous ſickneſſe, and that I ſhall continue that place in your good opinion, wherewith I have ever thought my ſelfe ſo much honoured. To thoſe I may add another, which is the The Character deciphered is thus, Hope I have ſhortly to enjoy your Lordſhips (much longed for) converſation, where you may eaſe my oppreſſed thoughts of a burthen, which is almoſt grown too wieldy for them, any longer to beare. 68 17 53 30 6 9 33 50 52 26 37 25 53 4 3 54 7 3 63 40 6 9 63 7 58 4 5 9 53 4 27 37 33 9 38 62 31 52 42 33 59 53 6 82 66 27 19 63 4 35 63 6 52 66 4 62 43 3 40 53 6 1 33 6 4 5 7 9 31 43 7 66 43 62 26 31 7 53 30 38 14 26 37 60 27 3 17 63 28 82 33 21 57 63 19 50 80 50 14 3 33 26 6 40 35 33 9 37 50 54 31 53 37 82 14 58 36 15 26 29 63 20 26 59 34 7 10 5 3 4 21 33 60 31 43 23 2 59 53 15 49 66 22 21 53 65 26 43 60. For the preſent, I ſhall only informe your Lordſhip, and humbly deſire you to acquaint his Majeſtie with the condition of this place, and the ſtrong neceſſitie there is of a ſpeedy and powerfull releefe: I know it is uſuall for men to recommend the ſafety of thoſe places where their owne commands lye, as of higheſt concernment to his Majeſties ſervice, but truly I have wholly drawne my thoughts from any ſuch partiality, and only conſider this place now as really it ſtands to His Majeſties affaires, both in this Kingdome and Ireland, to this place, wherein it is inferiour to (none other that I know, drawing with it all Wales, Lanca-ſhire, with the North of England; and what ſupplies His Majeſtie can expect, either out of Ireland or Scotland. The two Princes when they had united their Forces and relieved Beeſton caſtle and Cheſter, were earneſtly intreated by me to cleare this Countrey, before they departed out of thoſe petty Garriſons that infected Cheſter, but other conſiderations (at that time) hindered the effecting of it, and therefore with a promiſe that the Army ſhould continue in diſtance till Cheſter were furniſhed with Victualls, and Ammunition, I was contented to returne and undertake the government of that Garriſon, but the buſineſſe of Hereford intervening, P. Rupert was ſuddenly called away before either Ammunition or Victualls could be brought into Cheſter, and (together with his Highneſſe) marched away the remainder of the old Iriſh Regiments, with ſome other Horſe and Foot, the number of at leaſt a 200. ſo that I was left in the Towne onely with a Garriſon of the Citizens, and mine owne, and Colonell Naſtons Regiment, which both together made not up above ſix hundred men, whereof the one halfe being Maſtons men, I was forced ſoone after to ſend out of Towne, finding them by reaſon of their Officers (who were but ignorant Welch Gentlemen, and unwilling to undergo any ſtrict only) farre more prejudiciall then uſefull. The Rebels finding the Prince retreated with his army, and the County emptied of all ſouldiers, but ſuch as was neceſſary for keeping the Garriſons, returned with all their Portes to blocke up Cheſter on all ſides, which ever ſince they have continued. The Welch (though they have men for member and Armes ſufficient to beat the Rebells out of Wales, yet) either they will not or durt not ſtirre, notwithſtanding the many orders I have ſent them: The ••• th is, ſo long as that curſed Commiſſion of Array, or (at leaſt) ſuch Commiſſioners as are put into it, have any power there, the King muſt expect no good out of North Wales, and I am confident were it not for the Caſtles which are well provided both with men, victualls, and ammunition, that countrey had long ſince taken part with Brereton & Middleton. Thus your Lord ſees I am left in a condition neither to offend others, nor to defend my ſelfe, preſſed by a conſiderable Army of the Enemy, to joyne with the Lanca ſhire Forces and Cheſhire, This character deciphered is thus: All is, if ſpeedy releefe come not: the want of powder will be ſufficient to blow mee up, there being not full eighteen barrels in the ſtore, nor any publike Magazine of victuall, nor any money for publike ſervice. 50 54 59 9 6 7 8 37 30 66 27 2 4 66 54 60 9 10 26 35 63 31 26 6 58 21 3 33 66 20 43 63 53 19 46 53 36 27 26 22 1 9 64 65 60 26 57 28 10 18 40 29 9 66 6 3 21 53 80 54 53 11 31 26 66 36 36 3 17 66 24 26 80 26 66 9 6 18 15 53 3 18 36 54 64 26 9 10 17 3 66 26 6 60 80 50 14 14 26 54 59 37 9 6 43 33 60 37 3 53 4 60 6 53 4 81 43 6 12 30 51 65 54 9 35 32 26 31 51 82 50 44 9 6 26 54 19 52 40 3 21 52 51 54 59 19 53 22 43 6 2 18 53 4 30 52 65 54 9 32 26 37 26 4 52 9 35 2. I have the more fully related my condition to your Lordſhip, to the end that if any misfortune ſhould befall me before releefe come, it may appeare how little acceſſarie I have been to it; and for thoſe poore meanes I have left to maintaine this place, your Lordſhip may be aſſured I ſhall improve them to the uttermoſt for his Majeſties ſervice; and how unfortunate ſoever I may be, I ſhall leave an account of my charge befitting an honeſt man, and one whom (I hope) your Lordſhip ſhall not bluſh for to own for your Lordſhips moſt humble and faithfull Servant,

John Byran. C. A. 1645.

Here you may ſee who beares the ſway? popiſh Digby and his ſmiles are the beſt comfort at Court; and that they may ſtand in his good opinion, a great honour, Digby being (by the Queenes means) the Kings right hand and you ſee how his thoughts burthen him, in which condition he has no comfort but what his hopes are in Digby, a ſad condition for England to have a companie of Papiſts that ſway all with the King, and are not thoſe exceeding blind buzzards that will follow them up and down, like ſo many tantany piggs, to be fed like the ould London Apes: but mark the deſigne: for that is the meanest thing to be looked after.

1. Cheſter hath been kept againſt the Parliament for the conveying of ſupplyes to his Majeſty out of Ireland and Scotland. From Oneale and from Montroſſe and you ſo that he gave an accompt of ſome Iriſh that Rupert when he was at Cheſter tooke out of that Gariſon and ſaith that which his highneſſe marched away to the remainder of the ould Iriſh Regiments? the Iriſh rebels have come over thither ſeverall times.

2. The Parliaments forces he calls Rebells; becauſe they come againſt thoſe Iriſh; If they ſhould prevaile, all Proteſtants ſhould be uſed by them no better.

3. The proteſtants that are of the Kings Commiſſion in Wales he would faine have removed: that they may be all papiſts, and ſuch as will comply with the Iriſh rebells, and obey his orders in Ioyning with them againſt the Parliament.

A COPY OF A LETTER Sent from Daniel Oneal from Dmblin in Jreland. This Daniel Oneal was once a a priſoner in the Tower, a Iriſh rebell Who brake out and ran to the King. For the Honourable the Lord DIGBY, principall Secretary to his MAjESTY. My Lord,

THere lately landed here Mr. O Bryan though a native Iriſh, yet being o Proteſtant, & ſeeing how the King complyed with the Popiſh rebels, diſerted the King ſince, and is now priſoner in Dublin by the Kings anthority. O Bryan, ſent with a diſpatch from the Thoſe Iriſh agents were at Oxford then with the King. agents to their Councell, with the manner how he loſt ſome letters which came to my Lord Marqueſſe his view, I ſend you: the man (Mr. Martin, and Mr. Plunket bid their councell beware of, I am told by a falſe brother) is I: by their finding out what my Lord Marqueſſe wrot to you cencerning their pardons, I imagine they found out what you writ to me concerning it, and the ſeverall diſpatches I made from hence, have a care hereafter whom you truſt, for I need not tell you how prejudiciall ſuch Traitors are to preſſe you to be induſtrious to find them our.

By my Lord Marqueſſe former diſpatch as well as this, you

By my Lord Marqueſſe former diſpath as well as this, you will find you are to expect no more from the The meanes that at the King could not parvaile with Generall Leſley and the King in England which was laboured for, ſo neither could Ormond prevail with any of the Scots in Ireland, ſo come over, and joyns with the King. new and old Scots here, then from thoſe with Leſly in England. By my The great Oneale is his Vncle. Vncles meanes I have got the moſt refractory part of the ſupreame Councell that were againſt the Marqueſſe (which is the Clergy) to conſent to 6000 foot and 1000 horſe, beſides my Vncles Army in Vlſter, defigned by the Iriſh for the ſuppreſsion of the Scots; be put under the Marqueſſes command. His Lordſhip I muſt confeſſe finds ſome difficulties which I doe not, as that it would be prejudidiciall to his Majeſty, unſafe for himſelfe, before there were a peace, or a command to joyne with the Iriſh, this nicity is too well knowne unto them, for they force the Covenant upon all the Engliſh. Theſe few townes the Engliſh poſſeſſe, threatned to be plundered. That of Arthur Chicheſter married Digbies ſiſter. your brother Chicheſter, if your valiant ſiſter had not prevented it, had been gone laſt week. If there none wiſer then I his Majeſty ſhould ſend another Sir P. Commanding him to accept that Army, and root out thoſe Rebeles, whoſe being here, diſtracts all our deſignes.

I have recommended another thing to you very often, which was a poſture command for my Lord Marqueſſe to commit the Thoſe foure are Sir William Parſons, Sir Adam Loftus, Sir Iohn Temple, Sir Robert Meridith, who are all preſent in Dublin caſtle; and them kept very ſtrictly upon the inſtigation of the Iriſh Rebels, and ſo commanded to bee by antherity from the King. 4 impeached members. As yet, his Lordſhips heares nothing matteriall from you, I will only adde this to what I have ſaid before, if your Lordſhip knew the hurt their lible doth to his Majeſty, you would not neglect theſe things as you doe. It is here ſaid publikely, and by ſome of their own friends, that the Duke of Richmond hath had great ſummes of mony from them, and Maſter Web hath undertaken their potection. But I beſeech, let not his Majeſty be ſold to preſerve any but The Dutchos of Richmond is caled Pap. by a Nickname. Pap. and not her neither, if ſhe be not better diſpoſed.

The men with their proviſions and Armes, for 105. will God willing be at 42. 20. 186. 79. 14. 16. 60. 205. 202. 26. 32. 36. 38. 53 17. 4. 5. 11. 12. 62 72. 80. 92. 86. 76 44. 206. 27. 28, this is by advice rom 30. 81. 14. 300. 174. 160. 70. 10. 1. 2. 13. 24. 12. 82. 81 41. 73 90. 19. 16. 87. 66. 22. 33. 54. 203. 39. 102 34. 84. 52. 58. 10. 6. 6. 164. 172, you told me ſhould waite on the journey, diſpatch them away, we want them extreamly, this letter of An honeſt man for the Parliament, ſome letters of her were intercepted. Major Royden, will informe you much of the ſtate of that part of the Kingdome, this other of Shells who is a merchant imployed about Arms, I have ſent you, that if you like of the meanes, you may ſend the Lord Marqueſſe word, to what part of the Kingdome you would have them tranſported.

In caſe his Majeſty agrees with the Iriſh Rebels Agents, let this eſpeciall care be to condition that the chooſing of the ten thouſand men, they profer to aide his Majeſty withall, be left to my Lord Marqueſſe. So the 6000 now levied for the ſuppreſsion of the Scots ſhall not be any part of the 10000, as the Councell now imagine they ſhall. Beſides, it will draine them of their Armes; ſo as it will diſinable them to attempt ſoon any other miſchief, let it be conditioned likewiſe that they furniſh them with Armes, Artillery, Carriagecloathes, I muſt confeſſe I would have them 14 dayes pay after landing;

Her Majeſty hath recommended ſome one that ſhe names, for the Vice-Treaſurers place to my Lord Marqueſſe, which makes me think ſhe is not ingaged to Maſter Spencer as I beleived ſhe was, I gather ſome hopes now, that your Lordſhips interceſsion for Sir Adam Loftus his place, one of them whom they have impriſoned, who is the true Vice Treaſurer of Ireland. me, will not be as fruitleſſe as I imagined. The Marqueſſe ſhewed me a letter from Arthur Trever, which ſaith, P. Rupert hath his old diſtructive deſigne for Norfolke on foot again, I feare his neceſsitous Counſell ſtudies more freſh countries, then to play a ſure game for his Majeſtie. If you doe not cleare the Coaſts of Lancaſhire and Cheſhire, before any thing elſe be done; never credit me if you doe not render this Country wholly, unſerviceable to that. And his Highneſſe ſent to deſire that his inſtructions might hereafter iſſue by my Lord Iarmin, in which hee hath done you a ſpeciall curteſie. I am my deareſt Lord, Your moſt affectionate friend.

October 9. 1645. DANIEL ONEALE.

This letter is from Collonel Daniel Oneale a Popiſh prieſt, and an Iriſh rebell, who was protected in the Kings Army when he broke out of the tower, and hath ſince beene a great agent for the King in Jreland, this Generall Oneale is neer alied in blood to Philome-Oneale, to the great Okconeale. and moſt of the cheefe of the plotters that firſt raiſed the rebellion in Ireland, and he is the only man made choyſe of the act for the King with the Marques of Ormond, in Jreland: and there is very ſecre tintercourſe betwene Digby and this Daniel Oneale, as you may ſee by their private carrestors, nay you may ſee that he is a man highly eſteemed on, for he tels Digby of miſcarriages, and bids him have a care hereafter whom he doth truſt.

But we may here ſee how their wheles have been going: and what they have ſecretly plotted for the ruine of the proteſtants, and the Parliament, and the Kingdome.

1. Generall Leſhly and the Scots with him were largely offered if they would come in to the King, but that would not prevale here. The like was here to entiſe the Scots that were in Ireland, to perſwade them to come over into England, to joyn with the King againſt the proteſtants here, but that would not prevaile there neither, and when more Scots came over into Ireland they were tryed too, but ſtill in vain.

2. Then the Marques of Ormond he does what he can do, with the Iriſh Rebells, to perſwade them to ſend over ſome ayd to the King, and he could not prevaile of himſelfe, and therefore this Daniell Oneale he muſt help in the buſineſſe, and you ſee what accompt he gives of his prevailing. The words are thus. J have got the moſt refractory part of the ſupreame councell that were againſt the Marques, (that is thoſe who hindred the going on of the treaty) and who are they? they are the Clergy (he ſaith) that is the prieſts, and Ieſuits and Fryers, of Ireland for a party to conquer us here, whilſt Oneale himſelf ſubdues them that the proteſtants in Viſter, with his Army there.

3. The Marques, and the Iriſh Rebels had ſo plotted the buſineſſe, that in the firſt place a peace muſt be had with the Iriſh Rebels elſe it will be prejuditiall to his Majeſty.

4. In the next place the moſt eminent proteſtants in all Ireland they muſt be ſtrictly looked to, and ſecured for feare of acting any thing againſt the Papiſts, Sir William Parſons Sir Adam Loftus, Sir John Temple, and Sir Robert Meridith, although they had been perſecuted before, and each of them bound in ten thouſand pound bonds a peece, not to depart the Kingdomes: and to be ready when they ſhall be called for at ten dayes warning, yet that would not ſerve their tu • ne • they muſt be kept cloſe priſoners, becauſe (being true hearted honeſt proteſtants,) their liberty doth his Maieſty much hurt; and he chargeth the Duke of Richmond and Web his ſecretary to be the cauſe of it, though very unlikely and he beſeecheth Digby that he will not let his Maieſty be ſould to preſerve any but the dutches of Richmond, & ſhee muſt be palpably diſpoſed to, now you muſt underſtand that if it be for ſuch as are diſpoſed for the good of the Catholique Religion, they care not how the King is bought, and ſould for ſuch.

5. There is a great unity in the Church but we have not the key to unlock it, but it is about haſting the Iriſh Rebels to the King, and trading with forraigne papiſts for Armes, and Ammunition,

6. All this while there is a correſpondency betweene the Marques of Ormond, and the Queene; and ſhee muſt ſtrike the ſtroke in placeing the cheefe officers in Ireland, as well as in England; and perticulerly the vize treaſurers place of Ireland, which is Sir Adam Loftus his right, though the Queen be reſolved to have him out becauſe he is a proteſtant, and to put ſome Iriſh Papiſts in, in his roome, it ſeemes Spencer looked for it, but Oncale here you ſee hopes to get 〈◊〉 from him, and therefore knowing well, that Digby will do his utmoſt in the behalfe of ſuch an active Papiſt he tels him thus, I have ſome hopes now (ſaith he) that your Lordſhips interſeſſion for me will not be as fruitleſse as I immagined. And thus the papiſts are one for another all they can to have the greateſt places of truſt and power in their hands, and have prevailed much in it.

7. In the laſt place he tells Digby that if the King durſt cleer Cheſhire, and Lancaſhire before any thing elſe be done, then the Iriſh will be wholly unſerviſable to him for England: And (the truth is) if we take Cheſter, as is hoped the Iriſh wil hardly land in Ingland for the future.

Now if we way theſe things well, we may ſee how blind malignants are, who will not ſee what a ſnare the Papiſts have layd for us, and how much it concernes us to riſe all as one man to Ioyne with the Parliament, and with our perſons lives eſtates, goods, and all we have, adde and affect them till this popiſh party be totally ſubdued.

There are other letters which the Lord Digby ſent to the Lord Byron from the King taken by Sir Iohn Gell, which letters are to encourage him to hold out Cheſter, that be ſhall be made field martiall, Governour of Conway and Commander in cheefe of all the forces in Wales, with directions what to do in caſe that he be put to ſtraites, much is written in Ciphers, and divers perticulars of great conſequence are diſcovered therein.

Subſcribed. DIGBY. FINIS.