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1655.]

CHARLES STUART.

143

a falter one hour in the payment, according to the time limited in the bills. If you dispose of the monies paid into your hands for profit, it is fit you acquaint us how that is, because it is a matter of great consequence. I have not written to Mr. Pell, forasmuch as there has not anything occurred that doth cause any alteration in the instructions given him in reference to business, and we have nothing of news here; all we have is in print.

I remain, your affectionate friend,

JO. THURLOE.

SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL.

SIR,-This week's letters are not yet come. I received all your former, whereby I do not see that your affairs with the people where you are do much advance. I suppose they do, as others, expect what settlement we shall come to here at home. I hope we are in the way to it now, notwithstanding the alarms we have of the coming of C. S.,* and of the great insurrections we are to look for all over England; but, blessed be God, we are all in peace, and although C. S. be come from Cologne, in order to prosecute his design, yet I do assure you, the

* Charles Stuart.

nation, upon the alarm and noise thereof, were much more ready to rise against him than for him. The city have raised a militia, by the authority of the Lord Protector, and put it under as trusty officers as are in England, and all the nation is ready to do the like. It is certain there hath been a design for a rising very industriously laid, and arms have been dispersed through the nation upon that account; but we have, through the goodness of God, discovered it, seized very many arms, and the persons concerned in them and the plot ; many are committed to the Tower and other prisons.

The French treaty is not yet concluded, but is, in truth, upon doubtful terms; a little time, I think, will let us see what issue it will be brought unto. The King of Portugal's ratification is come, but is not yet delivered: the agent who brought it is to have audience upon Monday. There is here a Poland agent come, but hath not yet appeared in public. They speak yet of the coming hither of a Spanish extraordinary ambassador, but he is not yet come. I think I wrote you word of the imprisoning of Colonel Harrison,* Colonel Rich, Mr. John Carew, Mr. Hugh Courtney; some few men

* Harrison and Carew were among the regicides who were afterwards executed.

1655.]

RISING OF THE CAVALIERS.

145

are displeased with this, but the generality of the nation is satisfied, as fearing their principles, which, indeed, are very dangerous, though some of the men mean well. The two great crowns are both preparing for the campaign; yet it is said, very privately, they are counselling a peace, and that the Venetian ambassador labours much in it. It is possible you may penetrate very much into it where you are, and therefore I pray take some pains in it. I pray commend me to Mr. J. D.,— when I write to one, I write to both.

I rest, yours assuredly,

ADRIAN PETERS.

(Received March 29, 1655.)

SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL.

16th March, 1654.

SIR,-The design which hath been talked of so much, and relied upon, for bringing the late king's son into England, broke out upon Thursday night last, which was the time they had prefixed for the execution thereof. The design was, to have a general insurrection in all the counties in England at one time; but very few of the counties did rise, and those that did, not answerable at all to their ex

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pectation. In Nottinghamshire* about three hundred horse were got together at a place called Rugford, who brought with them a cart-load of arms, to arm such others as should come in to them; but finding the country came not in, about twelve o'clock at night, they cried out in a fright they were betrayed, and so shifted every man for himself, leaving the cart to get away as it could; since which our horse have been ranging the county thereabouts, and have seized many of the chief of the persons that were present at that meeting.

There was likewise two rendezvous of them in Yorkshire, one of them upon Hestam, alias Marston Moort (the place where twenty-five thousand of them were heretofore soundly beaten); and here

* March 12.-" A messenger came out of Nottinghamshire, which brought information of a party of four or five hundred cavaliers' horse that were gotten together in the forest of Sherwood, in that county, at a private place in that forest, called Rufford they had with them a carriage and some arms. There they were consulting in a by-inn how to manage their business; but a sudden fear taking them, they cried out they were betrayed, and so dispersed themselves."-Mercurius Politicus.

† March 14.—“Letters came this day from Col. Lilburne, out of the north, certifying that in Northumberland there was another party up; but, being betrayed by their own fears and jealousies, they dispersed again of themselves. Also, that there was an endeavour in Yorkshire to form a party, many being met for that purpose upon Hessam Moor, with an intent to seize York for Charles Stuart. They had two cartfulls of arms and ammunitions with them, and divers of the gentry, among

1655.]

THE RISING IN YORKSHIRE.

147

was the Lord Wilmot,* whom they call Earl of Rochester, who had commission to command in chief the northern forces. Their intention was to have surprised York, and they expected for that purpose four thousand men to have come in to them there, and had with them four cart-loads of arms to have armed the men with; but all that the Lord Wilmot, Sir Henry Slingsby,† Sir Richard Maleverer, Mr.

whom were Sir Henry Slingsby and Sir Richard Maleverer; but they dispersed, perceiving no such appearance as they expected, and Sir Henry Slingsby is taken by Colonel Lilburne. Sir Richard Maleverer escaped home, took his leave of his lady, told her his condition, despaired of his estate, and is fled. Sir William Ingraham is also in hold. The Lord Darcy had sent in six horses, with his groom, who will also be secured."Mercurius Politicus.

From York, March 17.-" Upon Thursday, the 7th instant, all the gentlemen, or very many, in these parts, had appointed that night to meet at Marston Moor, within three miles of this city, who expected to have been four thousand there armed, but there came but three hundred to the place appointed, which when they perceived they were mightily struck with fear. Three men travelling on the moor chanced to lose their way, who holloing one unto another, and keeping a great noise, struck the others into a fear, so that they all dispersed themselves, bidding every one shift for himself, leaving many arms, which were since found thrown in the whins, and all up and down the moor.”—Mercurius Politicus, No. 249.

* Afterwards Lord Rochester, so notorious as the companion of Charles the Second's debaucheries.

Sir Henry Slingsby, of the Red House, Yorkshire, near Marston Moor. He had been created a baronet by Charles I. He was beheaded on Tower Hill, on the 8th of June.

Sir Richard Maleverer, bart., of Allerton Maleverer, in Yorkshire.

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