HAving so fit an opportunity , and such variety of newes afforded me , I could not passe you by unsaluted , with a full and true Narration of the Affaires in these your native parts . Upon Tuesday last , Lieutenant Jones ( who sometimes belonged to the worthy Colonell Edward Popham ) came to our Town , with Letters from Oxford , directed to our Governour Master Edmund Wyndeham , the contents whereof we know not , but doe beleeve it was for the sending the Garrison Souldiers towards Oxford ; for the day after his comming to us , all the Souldiers in the Towne were drawne forth , being in number 300 Musquetiers , and they marched about two miles ; but upon a sodaine the Governour sent to command the said Souldiers backe againe . The occasion was this : On Munday night last , Noah Rendall came from Mynehead , and brought certaine newes that there were landed in that place about a thousand Irish Rebels , which so amazed the poore Souldiers , that they all with an unanimous voyce cried , away to Min●●e●d , le● us cut those Papish Dogges throats . This noy●e continued about two houres ; when at last Windham ( th●t old principle Patriot of P●pists and Monopolist ) came to the Souldiers and used this learned Oration .

Gentlemen Souldiers , you have hitherto quitted you ●ravely , so that no interiour Souldiers deserve better of his sacred Ma●esly then your selves doe , for which I doe not onely render you many thankes , but doe also promise you as I am a Gentleman , to give you as much satisfaction as your hearts can desire . But to give you true notice what those are which you call Rebels at Minehead , know for certaine , that they are no more Rebels then I , or your selves are : No , they are our friends , our brethren , whose zeale for our Religion , Lawes and Kings Monarchy , have brought them hither , to suppresse the insolencies of those true Rebels , the pretended Parliament , and the Round-heads ; these are those that come to ●oyne with you ( and 8000 more are upon comming ) to establish our Soveraigne in his glorious throne , and to make the almost extinct flames of the Protestant Religion shine in his former lustre . Therefore ( brave Gentlemen ) take your rest this night , and I beseech you make no mutinies , for the time will not be long ere the worke will be ended , and then instead of being commanded , you your selves shall be Commanders of the severall estates which the Round-heads have enjoyed .

No sooner had this Tertullus ended his insinuating Oration , but one of the Souldiers swore with a great oath , saying , we have now brought our Hogges to a fair Market ; what be there not Protestants enough in England to fight for our Religion , but the King must send for the Irish Papists ? ( I see I must not call them Rebells ) He never hold with Papists as long as I breath , and presently all the Souldiers cryed no Papists should joyn with them . So that there was a terrible Mutiny till the Masters of the Towne came and appeased them . Now these Souldiers were very glad that they had an opportunity offered them the next day to runne away ( which they had done if they had recovered two miles farther ) that so they might have passed the danger of Wyndehams sonnes Troopes : Of which plot Wyndeham being advertised , demanded them backe againe . You will not beleeve how the comming over of the Rebels at Minehead and at Bristoll ( for we heare for certaine that there are 2000 landed there ) hath wrought upon the heart● of Master Hill , Master B●●kin , Master Pits , and generally on all the crew of M●lignants : They now being awakened , doe reason among themselves , whether their Governour be right ; that is , whether he be a P●pist or no ? And whether this Warre be not a great d●ale worse then the Scots War , for that was but to set up Episcopacy , this to establish Papacy . And the result of all their reasoning is , that certainly the Parliament is in the right way , and they desire God to pardon them , that they have yeelded no better obedience to the Ordinances of the Parliament . We have here a very great Market upon Thursdayes , but I beleeve with some confidence , that there are 40 buyers to one seller , for people are afraid to bring provision to market , in regard Captaine Harvey ( that murtherous Rascall ) and some of his creatures , issue forth and robs the poore Country people of their monies . We are squeezed like wax in our weekly payments , still mounting ; but I trust in God it will not be to establish the purpose of the Kings Councell . I pay weekly ( besides a hundred pounds which I was first fined at ) 15. s. 6. d. besides , I biller at free quarter five Troops . It is a lamentable thing to consider ; but yet it is not onely my case , but hundreds more of my fellows and therefore I many times solace my selfe with the words of the Poet , Solamen miseris socios babuisse delore ; Although we pay such Taxes , yet the foot Souldies are not paid above 14. d. a moneth , and some of them nothing at all , so that here are quotidian fits of Mu●inies . The Governour being assaulted on Saturd●y last , as he was walking on the Corn-hill , by ten sturdy fellowes , who shewed him their ragged cloaths , and torne shooes , and told him they must have better cloathes , or else he should have never a Coat to his backe another ( laying his hand on his sword ) told the Governour plainly , that he was a Papist , and that it was evident to all men that it was true , for he had almost undone the Country by great Taxations , and had almost starved the poore Souldiers , and that he kept all for the dam'd dogges the Irish Rebels . Whereupon the distressed Governour was faine to run into Master Edward Sealyes house , and there he commanded the Club-men of the Towne to come and assist him ; unto whose command they shewed a very briefe and tedious obedience ; so that if Captaine Wyndehams Troop had not then accidentally come to the Towne , I am confident they had puld the house obout the Governours eares : But that Troop stild the tumult , and then the Governour came forth and commanded the said ten men to be clapt in the Bilboes . But as soone as the Troopers were dismounted , their Comrades released them : And now these Mutineers , are to be imbarqued for Bristoll ; but I know whatever comes of them , they will never fight against the Parliament .

Here you may see that place confirmed , The wisdome of this world is foolishnesse with God . For the falesharted Achitophels about the King thought they had given wise Counsel I to have the Rebells brought over to subdue his M●jesties true Subjects , and subvert their Religion , Lawes , and Liberties , but I beleeve it will prove the foolishest Councell ( though bloody ) that they have yet given ; for there is not a man in these parts , but have waxed cold in his former malignancy , since the Bruto that the Rebels were landed in our County . So that if there were but an Army on foot againe in these parts , I am confident it would increase like a show-ball , for there is nothing more talked of and feared , than that those blood-thirsty Saint murthering Rogues will make this County an Aceldama . But I hope the Lord of Hosts is yet with us , and that the God of Jacob will so protect u● , that the end of these Rebels coming into England shall be to save our English men a labour , to confound those Helhounds here , that were so marchlesse in their owne Countrey , for I assure you they will want their Fennes and Quagmires to retreat unto here in England . I heare his Majesties Army doth encrease with such as runne from your Army , which , if true , I wish he may have no abler men than that valiant runaway Atheisticall turne-coat Jones , whom I before ment●oned , for you k●ow he is very able with a wench in a Barly-close but m ghty apt to runne at the sight of the enemy . Our Organs toot it out to the purpose six times on a Lords day ; for preaching we have commonly as good as was usuall in Wels Cathedrall . I hope our sufferings are almost at the highest , we hope of a westerne Army , but if we should speake of any preparation or likelyhood of it , we should presently be clapt into prison . I have bin the more tedious , because I would set forth the truth at large , and also beleeving it will not be troublesome to you to read it , in regard ( as I heare ) you want imployment , which I hartily wish you to your content ; and so I commit you to the protection of the Almighty , desiring him to blesse , protect and guide you .