Much about the aforesaid time also , The rising of the Kentish Malignants . namely , in the said July , 1643. came certain information to London , that the Kentish Malignants perceiving the firm resolution of the Parliament and Citie of London , not to desert but closely to adhere to the cause of Religion and liberties of the Kingdome , and being extremely vexed with a spirit of malignity and rage to hear of the constant preparations of the pious and well-affected Parliamentarians ( especially I say , in the Citie of London ) to raise a considerable strength of horse to make a flying Armie ( a design , at that time , very hotly on foot ) to pursue the Kings Cormorants or devouring Cavaliers , and thus to force them from their wicked trade of plundering and pillaging the Country . The new oath or Covenant is pretended to be the cause of this insurrection . They therefore , in Kent , upon a pretence of rising against a new Oath or Covenant , begun at this time to be taken by the Parliament , and Cities of London and Westminster , and intended to be ordered to be taken over the whole Kingdome , which they declared they had no minde to take ; and yet this Oath or Covenant was not as yet imposed upon them , The main end of imposing this Oath . nor any penaltie on the refusers thereof , onely the names of such as refused it were to be taken and returned , thus , to distinguish the well-affected from the ill-affected , and to disarm them , and to keep a more vigilant eye over their persons , The main plot of the Ke●tish Malignants . as just causes were administred . Whereas their main plot was to make a generall insurrection and seditious disturbance of the whole Countie , and thus to make way for Sir John Culpepper , Sir Edward Deering , and a strong partie of the Kings Oxonian Cormorants to joyn with them , and thereby to disturb the Parliaments and Cities foresaid preparations , and for the farther endangering of this royall Metropolis or chief Citie of the whole Kingdome , and therein to work the ruthfull ruine of Church and State . Therefore , I say , these Kentish Jack-Cades , under colour ( forsooth ) of resisting and rejecting of that Oath and Covenant , seditiously assembled themselves first at Seven-Oakes in Kent , Seven-Oakes is their Rendevouz . which they intended to be their chief Rendevouz , and where they quickly increased ( for as our Proverb is , Ill weeds grow apace ) into a body of about 2 or 3000 desperately minded Malignants , or Atheists , which you please ; their chief Ring-leaders being Sir Edward Bathurst , Their chief Ringleaders . Captain Stanley , and one Mr. Leigh , with some others of those parts . They being thus audaciously assembled together , about 200 of them attempted to have seized on the Magazine at Dartford , but a troop of horse appearing there prevented them therein ; yet some of them meeting with Sir Thomas Walsingham , a most worthy patriot of his Country and member of the Parliament , as he was riding with two servants onely to Dartford , boldly laid hands on him and carried him prisoner to their Rende●ouz ; Sir The. ●●lsingham , and Captain Rolf taken prisoners by these Rebells . And in great danger of their lives . and about the same time also , they forced Captain Rolf ( a very worthy and religious young Gentleman of Arpington in Kent ) out of his bed about 100 ▪ 11 of the clock at night , who never suspected any such rising , or sodain surprisall , and with no little danger of his life carried him also prisoner with them to Sir Thomas W●●singham , and there kept them together in prison , and a little before these Rebells were subdued , they were both in great danger to have been slain or put to death in prison , had not God graciously prevented it .

Now the Parliament understanding of this sodain mutinie , presently sent a Declaration among these mutiners by Sir Henry Vane the younger , Sir Hen. V●●e sent into Kent by the Parliament with a Declaration of pardon to appeale them . who took great paines by all fair meanes to pacifie them , proffering them pardon if they would instantly lay down their armes and peaceably submit to the Parliament ; if not , the bloud that must be spilt would lie on their own heads . And withall to reduce them by force in case of disobedience , Colonell Brown was presently dispatcht into Kent , Col. Brown sent also into Kent with forces both horse and foot from London . with a 1000 London-Red●oates , and about 800 more after them , together with two troops of horse from London ; divers Voluntieres also of the well-affected of Kent , rose against those seditious and joyned with Colonell Brownes forces . And that no opportunitie might be omitted for the taming of these insolencies , the Parliament gave power to the Committee for the Militia in London to raise Dragooneers and to use what other meanes they thought fit to suppresse them . This Kentish insurrection was a part of Tompkins and Challenors conspiracie . The Cities great care and providence . And in regard the Parliament had had former information that this rising was a part or branch of treacherous Tompkins and Challenors designe ( who had appointed Blackheath to be the place of Rendevouz , if that plot against the Citie had then taken effect ) they appointed strict watches and guards to be kept in the Citie and Out-workes therof , and that a strength of horse should be sent into Surrey toward Rigate and other parts thereabout , to suppress insurrections , if any should happen to be there also . Now these Kentish Rebells being thus assembled at Senock , as aforesaid , and hearing of the approach of Colonell Brownes forces toward them , The Rebells flie from Senock to Tunbridge . they deserted this Town and fled thence to Tunbridge , and from thence sent a Messenger with a submissive Petition to the Commanders of the Parliaments forces to be presented to the Parliament , that they were willing to lay down armes , The Rebells Petition the Parliament . if the Parliament would forgive their offences ; but the Parliament most prudently , and like themselves indeed , utterly rejected any Petition from them , Their Petition rejected , whiles they were armed . whiles armes were in their hands , but , if they would lay them down , first , and then Petition , they might finde grace and favour from them . Now Colonell Brown having thus pursued them to Tunb●idge , and summoned the Town , upon the summons they desired a parley , which was presently granted ; but it produced nothing in effect but meer delays , they still refusing to lay down their armes , Colo. Brown charges the rebells . and submit themselves to the Parliament . Whereupon the brave Colonell gave order to charge them , which was done presently by our active London-Red●oates , and the Rebells in a confused manner , answered their charge , A hot skirmish for at least three houres space . Col. Browns most valiant and resolute courage . and so continued skirmishing with our men , for at least three houres together , they having closely and sorely lined their hedges and sculking behinde the trees in the lane by which our men were to enter the Town . At length Colonell Brown , like a brave Commander indeed , most resolutely was one of the first men that adventured through the thickest of danger to enter the Town , his brave London Ped●oates following close and paying them home with their Musket-shot , which these Mutineers perceiving and feeling , they presently betook themselves to flight , The Rebells are put to f●●ght . Prisoners taken . and strugled every man to shift for himself ; but our forces pursuing them , took about 200 prisoners of them , amongst whom were Captain Ligh and Captain Stanley , and two malignant hedge-Priests , desperate and atheisticall fomenters and encouragers of this seditious insurrection , and some others of no●e . The slain on both sides . About twelve of their men were found dead in the place , besides what they had secretly ●●nveyed away , and many of them sorely hurt , and not above 6 or 8 of our men slain in this whole Service , though the advantage they had against us in our assaulting the Town was very great . They complained ( being now put to it ) pitifully , Their Priests were the principali fomenters to this rebellion . that they had been 〈◊〉 and drawn into this insurrection , principally by their wicked Clergie-men , as they called them , who assured them they should have had a 1000 horse from Oxford to joyn with them ●t their first rising , and that the Parliaments forces were so far engaged els-where in other services , that they were not able to send any considerable partie against them . Upon the Saturday before there were ( as was credibly informed ) about 5000 that had joyned together in this Sedition ; About 5000 of them were assembled at Tunbridge . but being come to Tunbridge ( and perceiving how things went from the Citie of London , clean contrary to their hopes and expectation ) they sl●ly and secretly slipt away , except about 5 or 600 , and these also had laid down their armes , when they came into Tunbridge , had they not been animated to the contrary by the inhabitants thereof , The Inhabitants of Tunbridge desperate Malignants . who were most of them most desperate Malignants against the Parliament ; but they were now soundly paid their just demerits by our Souldiers ; who after the victory pillaged and spoyled them to purpose ere they left the Town . Sir Michael Levesey also a most worthy patriot and discreet Knight of this Countie , Sir Michael Levesey , also at Yawlding , his good service against those rebells . who had the care and oversight of the Wilde of Kent committed most worthily unto him , understanding that a great body of Kentish rebells was gathered together at a Town called Yawlding in those parts , presently drew forth such forces of horse and foot as he had thereabout in readiness , and marched thither ; whither being come , he planted his Ordnance for battery against the Town , Sir Michael plants his Ordnance against the Town , yet endeavours by treatie to appease them . which were indeed so planted as that he might have beaten it down upon the enemies heads if he would ; but he being very tender of the effusion of bloud , resolved rather , if it might be , by treatie to overcome them , and to win them to obedience , and therefore summoned the Town peaceably to yeeld , promising them that they should enjoy the benefit of the Parliaments Declaration , if they would submit and lay down armes . The Town very much sleights Sir Michael . But they were at the first very avers , slighting the Parliaments Declaration exceedingly : So that then Sir Michael began to play upon the Town with his Ordnance , which so affrighted them that some of them would have fled out of the Town , but it had pleased God so to order it , A remarkable passage of Gods providence against the rebells in Yawlding . that by reason of a great floud of water upon one side of them ( occasioned by much rain fallen at that time ) and Sir Michaels Souldiers on the other side , there was no passage out of the Town but by swimming , drowning , & dying ; And Sir Michael giving them such fierce and restless alarms , so distracted them , that Sir Michael most discreetly observing their frighted condition , sent to two of the heads of their rout very fair conditions by one Mr Godfrey , Master Godfrey in Sir Michael his name fairly appeaseth the rebells . who read the Parliaments Declaration to them again , and used therein such patheticall and compassionate expressions to them in Sir Michaels name , that they being on a sodain much affected therewith , presently laid down their armes , dismounted one piece of their Ordnance in his presence ; and Sir Michael on this their reall submission , The prize found in the Town . entred the Town with all his forces of horse and foot , where he found a great quantitie of Muskets , guilt swords , pistolls , pikes and Calivers , enough to arm 5 or 600 men , besides about 30 pieces of Ordnance , some of them mounted , the rest dismounted , many barrells of gunpowder and foot Colours ; he took there also an 150 good horse , the prisoners , both Gentlemen , Commanders , and others , were for the present sent to the Church , Yawlding set in good order and quiet . and in the interim the Town was set in good order , which was so sodainly and throughly done , as was admired and much wondred at . The prisoners also all crying for mercie , had it presently granted to them , but on condition never more to attempt the like disturbance and insurrection . Colonell Springests Regiment and Captain Westrow did very good service in this business : and thus was this mutinie most happily appeased in those parts .