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1655.]

DEFEAT OF THE REBELS.

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voluntarily declared and engaged in writing, whereunto they set their hands, that they would adhere to be faithful to his highness the Lord Protector, and his commonwealth under his government, against Charles Stuart, and all cavaliers, levellers, and others that would disturb the state.

Since my writing, the Protector has received a letter from a captain of the troops in the west,* that he hearing the enemy was marched into Devonshire, and intending to go for Cornwall, did march with his single troop of fifty horse to stop them, hearing their number was but two hundred, and they somewhat tired, and thought to have found them at Collumpton; but they were gone thence, before he came there, to Tiverton, whither he pursued them, but missed them there also, but overtook them at a place called Southmoulton, twelve miles further, and he broke them all to pieces, took fifty prisoners, amongst them Penruddock, Jones, and Grove, three of their captains; Wagstaffe he had not, but hoped to find him when it was light; in the meantime, he has got most of their horses, so that there is an end of that business also.

*This was Colonel Unton Crook, who defeated the insurgents at Southmoulton, and took Penruddock, Groves, and Jones. Wagstaffe escaped out of England. The latter had served in the civil wars under Charles I., and had now been sent secretly into England, with Lord Wilmot, by Charles II., to head the insurrection.

I have received yours of the 24th of February, and also Mr. Dury's of the 19th of February, from Berne, neither of which need any present answer; besides, we are here so very busy, that all I could get time to do was, to give you the foregoing account of this important business.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

SIR,-In yours of Feb. 23, I find sufficient reasons for the commitment of H., C., R., and C.* The people of this place are now and then troubled with men of the like principles, but they soon shut them up, that they may not seduce others.

I hear not any further news this week concerning the exiles of Piedmont. The places mentioned in my last letters, you may find in the west side of any map of Piedmont, near the latitude of 44 gr. 10 m., and about twenty-five miles from Turin.

other places they write thus :

From

From Vienna, March 10.-The persecution here is now abated again. They meddle not with merchants that are strangers, but they that were born in this country are still troubled. Many revolt to popery for fear. We say here that the German Princes will keep the peace this summer, being assured that the King of Swedes will not trouble them. We believe that the crown of Hungary will be soon set upon the head of the Archduke, for, by apparent satisfactions and great promises, his

* Harrison, Carew, Rich, and Courtney. See before, p. 144.

1655.]

KING CHARLES IN HOLLAND.

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father, the Emperor, hath gained the greater number of votes. The Emperor keeps his chamber: something is amiss. The physicians are much with him. The Spaniards gather soldiers here, and everywhere, to send to Milan and Naples. Out of Transylvania I hear nothing considerable.

From Cologne, March 4-14.-The English in this city say, that they hope to see King Charles on his throne shortly. They shewed us letters, said to be written at Antwerp, concerning his landing at Hull; that thereupon the Protector was gone from Whitehall into the army; that some thousands of soldiers (I know not from whence) are landed in England to serve King Charles, who had written to his chancellor at Dunkirk, that Fairfax and Harrison had declared for him, with a great part of the army, and many of the chiefest towns in England; that at Dunkirk they heard the continual thundering of the London cannons. But now we doubt that none of all this is true, because other letters assure us, that the king is not yet gone out of the low countries.*

Paris, March 9.—The Queen of England hath been with the French Queen to complain, that in the treaty with England they promise that she shall quit Paris; and all the English of her party shall leave France. To which the French Queen answered, "We must comply with the times."

From Berne, March 11.-Here we have news that the L. Protector is now in the army, not daring to tarry any longer at Whitehall; though this, and a great deal more like it, came from Cologne and Constance, yet we have a great many here that seem to believe it.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

March 17 or 18, 1655.

SIR,-In yours of Feb. 23, I find an account of the reasons of the commitment of those stiff men, Ha., Ca., Ri., Co. ; but where shall I find the reasons

*It seems, therefore, that at Cologne, contrary to Clarendon's assertion, it was well known where the king was.

why their securing displeaseth some that would be thought wise; or where will those that are displeased find a country where a mere imprisonment would be thought a sufficient punishment for men of such behaviour and principles, especially leading and eminent men? For I am apt to believe that many of their followers know not what they do, and perceive not what monstrous inconveniences will arise out of such maxims. And, therefore, I hope that, if they were drawn out of England into colonies, the business of plantation would put them upon better employment, and take away their inclinations to mutiny and seditions. Men variously impoverished by the long troubles, full of discontents, and tired by long expectation of amendment, must needs have great propensions to hearken to those that proclaim times of refreshing-a golden age at hand, &c. Nor is it a wonder that some should willingly listen to those that publish such glad tidings, under the name of the kingdom of Christ and of the saints; especially when so many prophecies are cited and applied to these times. Some that have heard that the end of Paganism is placed in the year 395, and that then there was not one heathen temple left standing in the Roman empire, will easily be induced to believe that the famous number, 1260, ought to be added to it; and then this year, 1655, must needs be pointed out for an apocalyptical epocha. Others pitch upon the year 1656, because, having summed up the lives of

1655.]

FALSE PROPHECIES.

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the patriarchs in the fifth chapter of Genesis, they find 1656 years from the creation to the flood, and thence infer, that the coming of Christ will be the next year, because it must be as in the days of Noah. Others will wait three or four years more, hoping that the 1260 years must be reckoned from the death of Theodosius, and the division of the Roman empire between his sons. Nor need we wonder, if we find some confident that eleven years hence we shall see the fatal change, because of the number 666.

So that for some years to come, we must look to have some unquiet spirits make use of these expectations of many well-meaning men, till time shew them such changes in the world as they never imagined; and those brought to pass by instruments better fitted to serve God's providence than the hypocritical or fanatical spirits which of late have been so busy and troublesome.

In the meantime, all those who have not been carried away by the same stream of extravagancy shall do well by their prayers, examples, and other endeavours, to cool the distempers of their seduced brethren, and to render themselves serviceable to those that sit at the stern in such tempestuous weather, which I desire may be the constant resolution of, Sir, your most humble servant.

* "To 325 (the Council of Nice was in) add 1332, that is, twice 666, the sum will be 1657." Note in the original.

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