Sir John Lucas and M. Newcomin a Minister , barbarously used by the Brownists and Anabaptists of Colchester : Sir Johns house plundered , his Mother , Lady , and Sister abused , and committed to the common Ga●le . The inhumane usage of Sir William Boteler in Kent , his house plundered , and his servants tortured , &c.

ON Monday Aug. 22. 1642. Sir John Lucas intended with some Horse and Armes , to begin his journy towards the North to wait upon the King ; which purpose of his being on Saturday by a treacherous servant discovered to Joh Langley of Colchester Grocer , and Captain of the Train Band ; He , with Henry Barrington Brewer , and Alderman of the Town , spent the next day being Sunday , in riding to Coggeshall , Bocking , Bayntree , Halsteed , & other Towns of their own Faction , to communicate to them the knowledge of it , and invite them with strong guards of muskets , to beset the wayes , & intercept him in his journey , & did also ( by the assistance of the Major ) set a guard of Colchester Train-band , on Sunday night about his house . Sir Ioh. Lucas intended to begin his journey carely by one or two a clocke on Monday morning , supposing he might so passe with most privacy and no opposition , but the backe gate at which he thought to issue out was no sooner opened , but a strong guard from under a hedge present themselves , and one of them discharg'd his musket as a Warning-piece to the Towne , where the Alarme is presently taken , the Drum strooke up and the whole Towne raysed , The Voluntiers ( of which there were 400 or 500 then in Towne gathered to serve under the Earle of Essex and Lord Say ) brought up the Beacon , by direction of Dan. Cole Alderman , fired , & ●orsemen into all parts sent forth to call in the Country against the Cavaliers in Sir Iohn Lucas house .

The house is presently beset with at least 2000 people , and two pieces of Ordnance are brought to make a Battery ; at last they rushed into the house , and the first man they seize upon is M. Newcomin , Parson of S. Trinitie Parish in Colchester ; they teare his clothes off his back , beat him with their Cudgels and Halberts , and with infinite exclamations , carry him in triumph through the chief streets of the Towne ; by the way entring into a wild but very serious consideration , not whether he should dye ( for that they had resolved at first ) but to what death to put him ; one votes drowning , another stoning , another bids beat out his braines . At length having consulted with Alderman Cole , they carry him to the common Gaole , commanding the Gaoler to put him in the strong hold , ( a place provided for the most desperate Malefactors ) affirming they would soone returne to take further order with him . There he remained till one a clock , being then removed to another chamber . They now return to their fellows who were searching Sir Iohn Lucas's house , some twentie of them rusht into the Ladies Chamber , laid hands upon her , set a sword to her breast , requiring her to tell where the Armes and Cavaliers were . The Horse and Arms are soon found and seized on by the Major , who sends the Armes to the Towne-hall , the Horse to an lane to be there kept on Sir Iohn Lucas's cost , till they could be sent to the Parliament . The people lay hands on Sir Iohn Lucas his Lady and Sister , & carry them attended with Swords , Guns , & Halberts to the common Gaole . Last of all , they bring forth his Mother with the like or greater insolency , who being saint and breathlesse , hardly obtained leave to rest her selfe in a Shop by the way ; yet this leave was no sooner obtained , but the rest of that rude rabble threatened to pull down the house , unlesse they thrust her out , being by this meanes forced to depart from thence . A Countryman ( whom the Alarme had summoned to this worke ) espyes her , and pres●ing with his Horse through the crowd , struck at her head with his Sword so heartily , that if an Halbert had not crossed the blow , both her sorrowes & her journey had there found an end . Two Gentlewomen ( one of which had long been sick ) by flight escaped their fury , but their most wel-wishing neighbours dared not to be knowne to receive them into their house , the people threatning to burne that house that gave them entertainment . Having secured the Master , they now begin to Plunder the house , all is prize that comes to hand , ●oney , Plate , Jewels , Linnen , Woollen , Brasse , Pewter , &c. A few houres dis-robe the house of that rich furniture that had adorned it many years . The Major & Aldermen standing by all this while , but either not able or not willing to conjure downe the devil which themselves had raised up . All the servants they could meet with they bring to prison , they laid hands on I. Brown ( one who had bin a servant to the family from the time of Sir Iohn Lucas's Grandfather ) they bind him to a tree , set a Musket to his breast , & a sword to his throat , and tye lighted matches between his fingers , and Io. Furley ( a yong pragmaticall boy ) examins him concerning his Masters Intentions , Horses , Money , &c , but especially concerning M. Newcomin , whether he had not given an Oath of secrecy : Whether he were not to ride a great Horse ? whether he were not habited in a Buffe jerkin & velvet coat ? &c. Feare easily prompts the old man to answer what he thought would give content . Out of his Examination the Major frams an Information against Sir John & M Newcomin , not forgetting to relate the good service he had done , the Horse and Armes he had taken , but withall implying , how miserably the house was plundered by the zealous people , adding in his Letters ( & that very truely ) That he could doe no more then a child among them , with these Letters he presently dispatcheth a Post to the House of Commons .

About one a clocke a new Alarm is raised , that 200 armed Horsemen are discovered in a vault at Sir J. Lucas's , That they had killed nine men already , and were issuing forth to destroy the Towne . The shops are shut up in an instant , and the multitude throng downe thither to take or kill these Cavaliers . And because they find none there , they now spend their rage upon the house , they batter down the doores & wals , beat down the windows , teare his Evidences , deface his Walks and Gardens , doe any thing that may doe mischiefe . From thence they go to his Park , pull down his Pales , kill his Deere , drive away his Cattell . And to shew that their rage will know no bounds , & that nothing is so sacred or venerable which they dare not to violate , they breake into Saint Giles his Church , open the Vault where his Ancestours were buried , and with Pistols , Swords , and Halberts , transfixe the Coffins of the dead .

And now the Majors care begins to shew it selfe , he sets a Guard upon the house that no hurt should be done unto it , yet that Guard suffered 100 l. worth of corn , ( which at first was neglected as contemptible luggage ) to be carried out , and the most of it to their owne houses . Another guard he sets upon the Prison , left the Prisoners should be assaulted by the people who were so much incensed against them , though it had bin sit to set some honest men to guard them from those guardians , who were as forward as the people to drinke their blood .

On Thursday comes down Sir Thomas Barrington and M. Grimston , as a Committee from the House , who comming into the market place before the Prison-doore ( the Town-Hall not able to receive the least part of the multitude ) there published two Orders from the House , one wherein Sir John Lucas and his adherents were proclaimed guilty of high Treason for intending to assist the King . Another , wherein thankes were given the people for the good service they had done , yet they were told withall , that their act of Plundering was against the sense of the House . Some of the agents in that work , produced a Printed Order of Parliament ( not heard of before among honest men ) by which they justified what they had done ; Sir Thomas Barrington replyed that it was a false and faigned Order , contrived by the malignant party to render the House odious , and very lovingly besought the people to do so no more . And indeed the next weeks Diurnall tels us , that upon occasion of the outragious plundering in Essex , It was Ordered that thence forward none should Plunder but those that were authorized by the House to doe it .

Friday was designed for the carrying up of the Traytors ( Sir . Iohn Lucas and Newcomin ) for whom there was one Messenger come from the Black-Rodde , and another from the Serjeant at Armes , ( for the Ladies were declared no prisoners after they had lyen in the common Gaole foure dayes . ) When the time of their departure was come , many thousands of people were gathered together ( both of Towne and Countrey ) a Drumme being struck up to give them warning . The Coaches are come , and the Prisoners called forth ; onely M. Newcomin they dared not carry forth as yet , because the people threatened to teare him in pieces ; as assuredly they had done , had not M. Grimston's care beene very great , who placing a Court of Guard on each side of Sir Thomas Barringtons Coach from the prison doore , brought him forth unexpectedly and put him into the Coach , the people then not daring to strike or stone him , least mischiefe intended him should light on Sir Thomas Barrington .

The Coach being guarded thus a mile out of Towne , they passed on , suffering no other strokes but those of the tongue ( bitter Curses and revilings ) and those they met withall abundantly , at Chelmesford , Ronford , and in all the Townes whither the newes of their Treason had gone before them , Sir Iohn Lucas's captive Horses being carryed in triumph with the Coach all the way ; at London Sir Thomas Barrington sent the Horses to the Red Lyon , the Prisoners to the Serjeant at Armes , where they remained all Sunday , not permitted to goe to Church with their Keeper : on Monday they were sent for to the House , and committed Sir Iohn Lucas to the Gate-house , M. Newcomin to the Fleet. Immediately issued out a Declaration of both Houses to the whole Kingdome , but especially to the Countie of Essex , ordered to be read in all Churches and Chappels ; wherein for the better encouragement of good people ( so runne the words ) it is told them that Sir Iohn Lucas's Horse and Armes are imployed for the service of His Excellency , that Sir Iohn , and M. Newcomin are committed to severall Prisons , and shall speedily be brought to their tryall , to receive condigne punishment according to their demerits .

Sir Iohn Lucas was afterward enlarged , giving 40000 l. bayle to appear upon summons , and not to depart London and the Suburbs without leave . M Newcomin remained in the Fleet from Aug. 29. to Sept. 24. being never called for , and at length discharged .

Sir William Boteler of Kent , returning about the beginning of April 16●2 , from his attendance , ( being then Gon Genleman Pentioner ) on the King at York , then celebrating Saint Georges feast , was by the earnest solicitation of the Gentry of Kent , ingaged to joyne with them in presenting the most honest and famous Petition of theirs to the House of Commons , delivered by Captaine Richard Lovelace , for which service , the Captaine was committed Prisoner to the Gate-house , and Sir William Boteler to the Fleet , from whence after seven weeks close imprisonment , no Impeachment in all that time brought in against him , many Petitions being delivered and read in the House for his inlargement , he was at last upon bayle of 20000 l. remitted to his House in London , to attend de die in diem , the pleasure of the House . And having thus danced attendance six weekes more , at last he obtained leave for his healths sake to go to his own house in Kent , called Barrhams Place in Teston , and from thence , for recovery of his health much impaired by long Imprisonment , he visited the Wells neare Tunbridge , leaving with his servants both in London & in the Country a strict charge as of his house , so to give him speedy information , if Serjeant Hunt should summon him to make his appearance : while Sir William Boteler remained thus a Prisoner to the House , resolving to yeeld obedience according to the condition of his bond , 500 Horse & Dragoones under the command of Colonel Edwine Sandes , Sir Iohn Seaton , and Dowglas , accompanied by severall Gentlemen his Neighbours ; as Sir William Brookes , Sir Michael Lucy . M. Richard Lea Burgesse for Rochester , M. Blunt , and others , on the 24. of August , between eight and nine of the clock at night , beset his house : The servants were within and the doores shut , onely William Nelson , Sir William's Groom comming from the Stables pressed through the middest of them to the Hall doore , where Sandes and Seaton stood : They demand of him whether he belonged to Sir William ? who answering that he did , Thou Rogue , sayes Sandes , open the doore ; the poore Groome tryed , but could not , but assured them that there should bee no resistance made : and withall told them , that his Master was at the Wells , but had lest order to give them the best welcome the house could afford , and upon notice given would be ready ( if they had such Order ) to render himselfe up to the House of Commons , whose Prisoner hee acknowledged himselfe to be : and withall offered that if they would have patience but while hee went to the back doore , the House should open unto them . This so reasonable an answer could not satisfie unreasonable men , who it seemes were resolved to force the doore , rather then have it opened , to give a peaceable admittance : Therefore they revile the Groome , call him Rogue , and threaten to kill him , not because he would not , but because he could not give them entrance . And to make good their threats , Sandes and Seaton commanded some of their Rout to hold him up against his Masters Hall doore , and bade some twelve or more Dragooners to give fire on him , which was done accordingly : on the word given , they that held him withdrew , not trusting to the undistinguishing bullet , and presently the Groome fell downe , by which meanes hee escaped the fury of the shot , which tooke effect onely on the doore , and beat it downe . The entrance that was offered , thus forced , the house is instantly filled by the Commanders , the Gentlemen , their abettors , and the Souldiers . The first man they meet with is Ben. wiand , Sir Williams Steward , who being demanded by Sandes where his Master was , returned answer , the same in effect which before they received from the Groome : Sandes was as courteous to the Steward as the Groome , calls him Rogue , and tells him that he would have his Master alive or dead , commands him to bring him to the Chamber where Sir William did lodge , their drawne Sword and Musquets bent upon him extort obedience . Being brought into the Bed-chamber , Sandes demands whether there were no private Out-let or Closet ? to lay all naked before him , the Steward solds backe the Hangings , by which meanes the Colonel discovers a close-stole , which at worst could not be so loathsome , as hee was before hee dyed : This sight inraged him , not onely to revile the Steward , calling him Rogue , but cruelly to beat him with his Pole-axe ; and having thus prepared him , he commands him upon no lesse paine then the losse of his life , to reveale his Masters Plate and Money ; and to inforce the discovery from him , with drawne Swords they prick him , and force him from one roome to another . At last being come to the Dining Chamber , Colonel Sandes causes a dozen of Candles to be lighted , and so to be held to and under the Stewards hands , and lighted Match to be applyed betweene his fingers , for the space of a quarter of an houre , Sandes himselfe all the while looking on , commanded both Candle and Match to be renewed , as often as either went out , or burnt dull . In this Torment they continued the poore soule , untill both his hands were shamefully burnt , not being able to relieve himselfe by that discovery for which they tortured him . Nor was their barbarous cruelty thus practised on the Steward only , from him they descend to the rest of the servants , whom they prick with their swords , beat with their Pole-axes to the indangering their lives , and all this to extort a Confession where their Masters Money and Plate were : but when this inhumanitie produced not the effect they looked for , they broke up every doore , plundred every Trunk and Chest , and examined every darke place from the Closet and Cabinet to the Powdring-Tub and Oven . Nay , the Cellar escaped not their fury ; What they could not drinke , either Wine or Beere , they let out and poured upon the ground . In this search they found and carryed away five hundred pounds in money , and some store of Armes . And because the great adventures of valiant Knights must not bee forgotten , To the Eternall same of Sir Will . Brookes we are to tell you , that when the Ladies Closet was broken open , besides the charitable provision of Medicinall ●yrupes and Salves for the poore and the needy neighbours , all which were trampled under foot and spoiled . There were some hospitable provisions for Entertainments , as divers sorts of Preserves and other sweet-meats , and in these this doughty Knight had his finger as deep as any , except a common souldier , who seeing him feed greedily on a Gally-pot , and presuming his judgement to be good in the choice , ( for the Proverbe is true which end soever you put foremost , A liquo●ish layle hath a liquorish tooth ) rudely thust his whole fist all begrimed and besmeared in bloud and powder , into the pot with him : which as it turned his Worships stomack for the time , so it may serve as a sure Prognosticke , That it these distractions goe on , where the Gentleman hath his finger , the Clown will be sure to have his fist . But to leave him to his sweet-meats , which perchance may have a sowre sawce , and returne to the Colonell and his plundring Regiment . Being Masters of the House , they plundered and pillaged not onely Sir William Boteler , but all his servants , men and maids , not only their chests , but their very pockets . Newes of this being brought to Sir William Boteler the next morning early by three of the clock , and finding by their threats , that his life was in danger , he resolved to flye for protection to the King at Nottingham : In his way thither at Pinkeny M●wlton in Northampton-shire , he was seized on by the Countrey people , and by about 150 Horse conveyed first to Northampton , and from thence to London . About the beginning of September he was brought before the House of Commons , and there in a full House was examined twice ; to whom he gave a full and cleare satisfaction in every particular . And being unimpeached , the whole House being utterly unable to accuse him of any the least kind of offence or Delinquencie , Sir William Boteler did th●n and there in the publique House make his complaint of this intollerable oppression and injustice , charging by name before the House , Colonel Edwine Sandes , Sir Iohn Staton , Sir Michael Livysey , M. Richard Lea , who then was present fitting in the house , and Sir William Brookes with Felony and Burglary , for breaking up his house in the night , and stealing and carrying away his Money and Goods : and implored the justice of the House against them . And now behold their great zeale of Justice , their care of the Subjects Propertie , and the freedome of their persons from illegall imprisonment , in stead of harkning to his just complaint , and relieving him in his losses , to keepe Magna Charta inviolable , they Remand Sir William Boteler againe Prisoner to the Gate-house , where he remained for six months longer : at last being certainly informed , that it was really intended if not ordered by the House to send him to I●switch , he indeavoured and effected an escape from the Gate-house , and got safe to Oxford , where he attested all these particulars .

Sir Hen. Audley's house plundered : Varietie of insolencies committed by the Rabble of Essex , upon M. Laud , M. Honifold , M. Stevens , and M. Simmons , Ministers . The Countesse of Rivers is plundered to the value of 100000 pounds , &c.

THe last weekes Mercurius told you of the Plundring of Sir Iobn Lucas his house in Essex , and the barbarous insolencies practiced on him and his . The Tumult thus raysed , and made confident by successe , they go on in ●riumph , and like a violent Torrent swelling above its Channell , carry all before them , and fearing no opposition , they divide themselves into several companies , every place where they come ●asts of their fury & madnesse : Some goe to Sir Henry Audlyes at Beere-Church , whose house they Plundered of its furniture , and his Grounds and Pastures of his Cattle .

Others goe to M Erasmus Land a poore Minister of Little Try , whose very name with these men was a Crime and reason enough to expose him to their rage : guilty he was of nothing but a good & honest name , yet they spoyle him of his goods , drive away his Cattle , robbe him of 20 li. in Monies , his owne and his Wives Clothes , all except those upon their backs : M. Land knowing diverse of them , and knowing them to be Colchester men , repaired thither to the Major for Justice , and by chance found him wel circumstanced for an action of that nature , both in respect of place and company , for he found him at the Moote-hall , and the Aldermen his Brethren with him : Being come thither , he was so farre from finding what he sought for , Justice , that he was not permitted to make his complaint , M. Cole one of the Aldermen , telling him openly , that they knew him and his Cause , he was the Minister of Try that was Plundred the day before , but they had other businesse in hand and he must be gone , for they could not heare him .

Others of them went to M. Honifold a Batchelor in Divinit●e , and near 70 yeares of age dwelling in Colchester , there they rifle his house of all its furniture , take away his Bonds , Bills , and Evidences , leave not a shelfe behind them , nor a pin to hang a hat on . The good old man , thinking that spoyle and Robbery had been as punishable now as when he was a young man , & not knowing that the pretending defenders of the Law had banished all Law out of the Kingdom , went to crave the Majors assistance , to restore his goods and punish the offenders . Alderman Cole the Fulk of Colchester being present , told him , That he wondred he would offer to come abroad being a man so much hated , and so rated him away . In his returne , a multitude of boyes & rude people throng about him , and prosecute him throngh the streets with exclamations and out-cryes : nor do they stay here , their hands second their tongues , throwing stones and dirt at him . So little did either the hoary head and venerable old age , or the Priviledge of his sacred function afford him protection from the inraged multitude : Many see him , some pitty him , but none dare owne him or take him into protection , least they should divert this swelling tide of popular fury from the good old man , and draw it on themselves ; at last bowels of compassion yearn on him , a kinsman of his emboldned , what by the urgency of Nature , and the constraint of Charitie , opens his doores to afford him shelter from this storm , but all in vain ; like so many Beares robbed of their Whelps , they double their rage , the multitude threaten to pull down the house unlesse the prey be delivered up unto them : the good old man seeing the inexorablenes of his prosecutors , to make a full return of the kindnesse which he found , resolves rather to expose his owne person as the subject of his fury , then his kinsmans house : and so he did , for out he goes unto them ; and now having retrived the game , they pursue him with a high advanced dinne and confused clamour : At last , when all other meanes to escape their fury failed , he made a voluntary captivitie his safetie , and took the Common Gaole for his Sanctuary .