A
briefe
Relation
of
the
proceedings
in
Somersetshire
,
and
Bristoll
,
&c.
UPon
Munday
the
eighth
of
August
,
the
Marquesse
of
Hartford
,
wi●●
other
Lords
,
Knights
,
and
Gentlemen
,
lodged
altogether
at
Welt
,
and
had
gathered
together
about
500
horses
,
well
armed
,
and
upon
Wednesday
,
the
Gentlemen
,
viz.
Sir
Ralph
Hopton
,
and
others
with
all
their
horse
came
from
Wels
,
neere
Shepton
Mallet
,
upon
a
great
Hill
,
which
the
people
observing
Posts
were
sent
unto
Sir
Iohn
Horner
,
Master
Popham
,
and
others
,
certifying
that
these
Cavaleers
were
comming
to
destroy
them
,
whereupon
every
man
made
ready
for
their
comming
,
but
the
Cavaleers
returned
from
the
Hill
to
Shipton
,
and
broke
into
many
honest
mens
houses
,
and
plundered
them
,
and
then
the
Countrey
rising
being
in
feare
of
their
lives
,
they
stayed
not
,
but
went
again
to
Wells
.
And
on
Friday
morning
they
all
marched
to
a
great
Hill
foure
miles
from
Wells
,
being
the
place
appointed
for
that
days
meeting
whither
came
to
meet
them
all
that
quarter
of
the
Shire
,
very
well
armed
;
and
some
of
the
Committees
met
them
,
and
Sir
Ed.
Hungerford
lent
arms
unto
200
Volunteers
,
and
within
an
houre
there
came
in
of
the
Countrey
about
40000
to
oppose
the
Marquesse
with
the
hazard
of
their
lives
and
there
came
out
of
Wiltshire
about
300
horsmen
,
and
300
out
of
Bristoll
with
Pistols
and
Carbines
,
and
from
Gloncester
,
there
came
about
300
〈◊〉
of
Volunteers
.
These
with
the
rest
discovered
abundance
of
stoutnesse
,
and
resolution
and
there
was
two
wayne
load
of
powder
,
bullet
,
and
match
,
sent
from
Bristoll
,
and
foure
small
field-pieces
,
and
when
the
Souldiers
were
put
into
order
,
they
marched
within
sight
of
Wells
,
and
pitched
upon
a
great
Hill
,
and
the
day
being
neere
spent
,
and
no
victuals
to
be
had
for
the
present
,
yet
such
was
the
courage
and
resolution
of
the
people
that
they
would
not
depart
that
place
,
but
lay
all
night
upon
the
Hill
and
spent
the
time
in
prayer
and
singing
Psalmes
,
and
the
next
morning
the
Country
within
ten
miles
about
sent
in
provision
,
of
all
sorts
,
with
Wayns
and
Carts
;
that
there
was
sufficient
and
to
spare
,
After
breakfast
the
Souldiers
were
very
earnest
to
fall
upon
the
Towne
,
whereupon
the
Committee
and
Deputy
Lievtenants
sent
five
propositions
unto
them
,
which
if
they
did
not
presently
yield
into
the
Souldiers
,
would
fall
upon
them
,
and
they
desired
an
houre
or
two
time
to
consider
of
it
,
and
in
the
mean
time
the
Marquesse
,
Knights
,
G●ntlemen
and
Cavaleers
forsook
the
Town
,
and
rode
away
.
Upon
all
this
relation
you
may
cleerly
see
the
condition
and
stout
resolution
,
of
that
Countrey
.
A
COMPARISON
BETWEENE
The
late
troubles
in
Scotland
,
and
the
present
Distractions
in
England
;
compared
with
some
Antiquities
.
Written
by
a
private
Gentleman
.
IT
hath
beene
ever
held
a
rule
or
Maxime
amongst
all
Nations
to
make
the
defence
of
Religion
the
chiefe
ground
or
cause
of
their
War
;
sometimes
for
meere
politick
ends
and
by
respects
,
sometimes
to
plant
it
where
it
is
not
,
and
sometimes
to
regulate
it
where
it
is
;
Amongst
these
the
last
seems
most
dangerous
,
because
it
seldome
happens
,
but
within
the
Territories
of
one
and
the
same
Prince
,
and
so
produceth
the
miserable
effects
of
Civill
War
.
But
to
come
to
my
present
purpose
,
wherein
I
intend
in
a
comparative
manner
briefly
to
discourse
of
the
late
troubles
that
have
hapned
in
Scotland
,
and
in
England
.
And
because
my
Needle
hath
not
beene
toucht
(
being
the
first
that
hath
written
upon
this
subject
)
If
I
vary
in
the
Compasse
,
or
meet
with
a
Rocke
,
I
shall
expect
some
favour
,
although
I
will
not
s●e
for
any
speciall
passon
as
not
worthy
of
it
:
for
hee
that
follows
himselfe
follows
the
worst
Master
,
that
is
.
The
cause
of
all
those
troubles
in
Scotland
,
was
innovation
in
their
Religion
and
violation
of
the
ancient
Laws
and
Statutes
of
the
Kingdome
,
as
did
sufficiently
appeare
by
their
severall
declarations
.
The
chiefe
plotters
and
contrivers
of
those
distractions
and
distempers
were
Bishops
,
Papists
,
and
a
malignant
par●y
of
others
,
that
were
ill
affected
to
the
Protestant
Religion
,
who
had
a
malicious
and
wicked
intent
to
inthrall
and
bring
into
bondage
both
the
souls
,
persons
,
and
estates
of
three
Kingdoms
at
once
.
And
by
making
use
of
the
great
favour
,
power
,
and
authority
of
the
Archbishop
of
Canterbury
,
the
Clergy
began
to
fail
after
a
Cynosure
,
which
was
elevated
to
the
thirty
sixt
degree
,
and
began
to
follow
the
steps
of
Thomas
Becket
,
Archbishop
of
Canterbury
in
the
time
of
Hen.
2.
who
forswore
himselfe
(
by
denying
the
power
of
the
King
)
to
inlarge
the
power
of
the
Pope
and
to
bring
the
Canon
Law
into
this
Land
,
In
the
passage
whereof
Hen.
2.
playd
Adrestus
part
,
and
stabbed
himself
.
In
England
(
as
in
Scotland
)
our
grievances
are
of
two
kinds
,
either
such
as
concern
the
innovation
of
our
Religion
,
or
such
as
concern
our
Laws
and
Liberties
as
hath
been
often
declared
both
by
Petitions
and
Declarations
.
The
fountain
from
whence
these
our
evils
have
sprung
hath
(
by
too
much
experience
)
been
found
to
arise
from
the
before
named
Incendiaries
of
mischief
,
the
Papists
and
Popish
affected
Clergy
,
with
other
of
that
malignant
party
.
The
Papists
who
are
never
wanting
to
use
their
utmost
power
and
best
skill
to
stir
up
Wars
and
dissentions
betweene
Kingdomes
joyned
themselves
in
their
plotting
and
contriving
with
the
Archbishop
,
as
finding
him
a
fit
Instrument
to
work
upon
,
being
the
darling
of
the
time
,
as
Mounford
was
in
the
time
of
Hen.
3.
the
Clergy
were
gotten
to
that
height
that
they
commanded
both
persons
and
causes
,
their
authority
was
advanced
to
that
Supremacy
and
Greatnesse
,
that
none
might
so
much
as
question
their
doings
.
No
doubt
,
but
these
men
now
thought
themselves
as
great
as
Anselme
Archbishop
of
Canterbury
,
did
in
the
time
of
Edw.
1.
who
took
on
him
to
be
equall
with
the
King
,
saying
in
one
of
his
Epistles
to
the
Pope
,
that
the
Plough
of
the
holy
Church
is
drawn
by
two
Oxen.
of
equall
strength
and
beauty
,
the
King
and
himselfe
.
Now
they
intended
to
make
their
Cannons
and
Decrees
of
that
force
,
that
none
should
dare
presume
to
dispute
on
the
lawfulnesse
of
them
,
like
that
learned
Synod
in
the
Reigne
of
Rich.
2.
when
Thomas
Arundel
was
Archbishop
of
Canterbury
,
where
they
decreed
,
that
none
should
dispute
upon
the
Articles
,
determined
in
the
Church
nor
doubt
of
the
authority
of
those
Decrees
:
the
offenders
to
the
contrary
should
be
pronounced
Hereticks
.
Such
was
the
misery
that
began
to
overtake
us
by
the
potent
greatnesse
of
these
aspring
spirits
,
that
they
incroached
temporall
Jurisdiction
,
and
would
have
had
the
whole
sway
in
their
own
hands
:
but
as
Suidas
saith
,
for
Priests
to
be
temporall
Judge
,
is
to
knit
,
that
which
will
never
be
twisted
,
and
for
a
Divine
to
meddle
in
Secular
affaires
is
as
if
a
bird
in
the
Ayre
should
with
the
Mouldwarp
worke
in
the
earth
.
To
season
this
lump
of
matter
every
Kingdome
hath
many
distinct
and
particular
Laws
or
Customes
after
a
government
once
setled
not
before
:
as
a
batch
of
bread
consists
of
many
distinct
loafs
after
the
distinction
which
before
is
contained
undistinguished
under
one
lump
.
A
man
consists
of
many
distinct
members
,
which
at
the
first
conception
was
not
distinct
.
In
the
next
place
I
will
give
a
touch
of
the
effects
that
have
hapned
by
the
plots
,
counsels
,
and
endeavours
of
these
croaking
Frogs
,
or
rather
Spiders
of
the
Common-wealth
,
who
by
issuing
forth
their
deadly
poyson
,
have
crackt
the
Venice
glasse
of
our
peace
and
tranquillity
.
When
Scotland
perceived
their
Religion
betrayed
,
and
their
liberties
inthralled
,
and
by
the
power
and
policie
of
these
Instruments
their
Sovereignes
eare
stopped
from
their
just
complaints
they
openly
declared
their
grievances
and
desired
justice
against
the
Infringers
of
their
peace
;
whereupon
their
Enemies
,
perceiving
the
ends
were
not
only
likely
to
be
frustrate
,
but
their
lives
and
fortunes
questioned
,
they
turned
their
invective
counsels
to
advise
his
Majesty
,
that
their
Declarations
were
libellous
their
Petitions
and
behaviour
rebellious
.
And
so
began
to
inforce
by
the
terrour
of
an
Army
,
that
which
policy
could
not
accomplish
.
And
like
Guido
Godfrey
and
others
in
the
Reign
of
Hen.
3.
began
to
act
the
part
of
their
lawlesse
rage
by
seeking
utterly
to
destroy
all
those
,
that
withstood
their
malicious
and
wicked
enterprises
,
and
by
projects
,
and
many
heavy
taxes
oppressing
the
people
at
home
,
hoping
by
force
to
overthrow
and
cut
off
one
Nation
at
a
blow
,
and
so
to
dreane
the
purses
,
and
poll
the
estates
of
the
other
,
that
there
should
be
no
ability
to
gain-say
them
.
And
although
at
this
instant
there
was
no
present
Levies
of
Arms
against
the
Subject
in
England
,
yet
the
danger
and
successe
both
of
an
offensive
or
a
defensive
war
do
oftentimes
prove
to
be
of
equall
hazard
,
from
which
I
conclude
,
that
the
designe
against
England
at
that
time
was
the
same
,
and
as
great
if
not
greater
,
then
against
Scotland
.
I
will
not
crush
out
my
notes
in
this
behalfe
in
any
new
division
,
and
the
portion
I
shall
allow
will
not
be
large
:
therefore
in
this
place
I
will
come
to
give
a
touch
,
that
when
things
were
brought
to
this
head
,
the
Jesuits
and
Papists
(
who
are
alwayes
thirsty
after
bloud
)
now
plot
and
contrive
by
all
meanes
the
forwarding
of
these
Wars
as
the
only
way
to
promote
the
Catholike
cause
.
And
perceiving
that
the
want
of
money
was
likely
to
prove
a
great
hindrance
to
their
designe
,
they
began
to
make
great
proffers
,
they
will
now
be
deemed
his
Majesties
best
Subjects
.
And
as
if
the
taxes
under
which
the
Protestants
were
too
light
a
burthen
,
they
will
lay
greater
upon
themselves
:
an
hired
servant
that
received
not
above
forty
shillings
per
annum
,
must
pay
five
shillings
towards
the
promotion
of
this
cause
.
The
Bishops
and
other
of
the
Clergy
who
desired
to
goe
hand
in
hand
with
them
under
colour
of
an
Ayd
,
grant
large
Subsidies
in
their
Synod
.
And
therein
shewed
such
forwardnesse
that
no
doubt
to
advance
those
Wars
they
would
have
imitated
the
Clergy
in
Hen.
2.
time
which
(
although
for
another
purpose
)
sold
their
Chalices
to
advance
their
own
ends
:
And
it
is
to
be
observed
,
that
the
before-mentioned
persons
that
were
(
as
I
have
said
)
the
chiefe
Agents
and
promoters
of
the
Wars
and
difference
between
the
two
Nations
England
and
Scotland
,
are
the
only
Incendiaries
and
causers
of
the
present
difference
betweene
the
King
and
the
Parliament
.
These
persons
when
they
were
in
the
height
of
their
glory
,
might
justly
have
most
cause
to
question
their
own
strength
;
Christ
all
that
fairly
glistereth
doth
quickly
break
,
and
as
the
ascent
of
usurped
Royalty
is
slippery
,
so
the
top
is
shaking
and
the
fall
great
.
A
Parliament
was
now
called
in
Scotland
,
and
likewise
another
in
England
,
his
Majesty
being
gratiously
pleased
to
make
sweetnesse
and
clemency
the
entrance
to
settle
these
distempered
States
,
and
(
though
it
be
a
matter
much
questioned
by
those
that
observe
the
successe
and
event
of
things
,
whether
his
Majesty
did
it
by
compulsion
and
politick
counsell
rather
then
out
of
affection
to
his
Subjects
,
or
desire
and
intent
to
settle
the
distempers
of
both
Kingdoms
)
he
begins
first
with
Scotland
,
heares
their
Petitions
,
grants
their
desires
,
and
settles
all
their
grievances
.
Here
the
current
began
to
run
smooth
and
cleere
,
now
all
rough
waves
seem
to
be
gone
and
past
,
the
Sun
shines
bright
and
cleere
,
and
the
strength
of
our
hopes
gave
us
almost
full
assurance
of
the
like
happy
successe
.
His
Majesty
hastens
his
return
from
Scotland
,
declares
his
hearty
desire
to
effect
the
like
work
in
England
,
he
is
received
with
exceeding
great
acclamations
of
joy
;
some
assurance
is
now
given
to
our
thirsty
hopes
;
the
Parliament
begins
to
move
in
its
proper
Orbe
.
But
here
(
me
thinks
)
my
discourse
wants
one
of
the
three
dimensions
.
It
is
long
and
broad
enough
,
yet
it
wants
depth
to
shew
the
occasion
or
reason
of
this
sudden
change
.
Great
things
wee
know
are
seldom
effected
without
much
difficulty
(
especially
when
they
meet
with
strong
opposition
.
)
The
malignant
faction
begin
again
to
muster
their
forces
,
they
perceive
that
if
the
Parliament
should
be
suffered
to
goe
on
prosperously
,
their
present
plots
and
enterprises
would
not
only
be
made
stustrate
and
void
but
the
knot
so
broken
and
their
wings
so
clipt
,
that
they
should
never
be
able
to
put
in
practice
any
more
notorious
Acts
sutable
to
their
desires
.
The
Devill
in
acting
of
his
plots
never
wants
Instruments
.
Now
they
renew
the
former
pernitious
counsels
,
and
consider
that
their
ends
will
not
stand
in
competition
with
a
Parliament
,
and
therefore
endeavour
to
overthrow
not
only
some
Members
of
both
Houses
,
but
also
the
very
essence
and
being
thereof
,
so
that
herein
will
appeare
the
disparity
of
the
subject
of
my
discourse
,
that
the
Parliament
in
Scotland
,
did
finish
that
in
three
moneths
that
the
Parliament
in
England
,
hath
laboured
after
above
twelve
moneths
,
and
yet
cannot
accomplish
.
Here
(
me
thinks
)
this
Skeen
in
my
hand
is
so
twisted
by
reason
of
the
ensuing
lines
of
my
discourse
,
that
I
cannot
without
entangling
winde
it
upon
a
proper
bottom
.
The
Parliament
in
England
(
which
hath
always
been
held
the
sovereigne
cure
to
heal
the
distempers
of
the
Kingdome
,
and
the
safest
and
most
faithfull
Counsell
of
the
Kings
of
this
Land
,
without
whose
advise
in
the
most
flourishing
times
of
this
Kingdome
,
the
Kings
thereof
would
not
undertake
any
great
designe
:
which
was
the
reason
that
Ed.
3.
being
animated
to
goe
with
the
King
of
France
,
to
the
holy
Wars
refused
to
goe
without
the
consent
of
his
Parliament
,
and
caused
a
Parliament
to
be
called
for
that
purpose
.
But
through
the
unheard
of
opposition
that
hath
beene
from
time
to
time
made
against
the
Parliament
,
and
their
proceedings
either
by
increase
and
multiplicity
of
businesse
,
or
new
plots
and
devices
continually
framed
and
contrived
by
the
malignant
party
which
have
often
endevoured
the
ruine
and
destruction
of
the
whole
Kingdom
,
that
during
all
this
space
of
time
(
without
most
eminent
danger
to
the
whole
State
)
they
have
had
no
leisure
to
render
to
offenders
the
just
reward
of
their
merits
,
no
means
(
his
Majesty
being
seduced
by
wicked
Counsell
)
to
redresse
all
our
grievances
having
sufficient
labour
and
toyle
with
all
their
might
to
underprop
,
and
uphold
the
tottering
fabrick
of
this
distempered
Kingdom
,
so
that
although
there
appeare
some
disparity
between
the
happinesse
of
the
successe
of
the
Parliament
in
England
and
Scotland
,
yet
herein
(
me
thinks
)
my
notes
have
the
vertue
of
a
Look
ingglasse
to
shew
and
represent
that
which
is
before
,
as
wel
as
that
which
is
behind
.
In
this
behalf
this
short
discourse
being
fully
lookt
upon
as
in
a
glasse
,
may
shew
the
apparity
of
the
the
cause
as
it
stood
lately
betwixt
the
two
Nations
England
and
Scotland
and
as
it
now
stands
betweene
his
Majesty
and
the
Parliament
,
the
causes
and
the
Agents
being
still
the
same
▪
the
Papists
and
Popish
affected
Clergy
still
joyning
together
,
and
doe
at
this
present
proffer
great
summes
of
money
,
and
other
assistance
for
the
advancing
of
Civill
Wars
in
England
.
And
although
this
that
I
have
said
be
sufficient
for
my
present
purpose
,
yet
(
mee
thinks
)
I
heare
Tilbury
speak
.
It
cannot
fall
within
the
compasse
of
mans
knowledge
to
utter
the
malicious
intents
and
purposes
of
these
persons
.
And
as
Pliny
sheweth
that
all
Homers
Iliads
were
written
in
a
Nutshell
,
the
whole
matter
of
my
discourse
,
it
may
be
you
shall
judge
it
all
shell
and
no
kernell
,
but
my
metall
is
moulten
,
and
my
bellows
by
often
blowing
have
let
out
all
their
breath
.
The
Earle
of
Essexs
Resolution
.
ON
Thursday
the
eleventh
of
August
,
a
Proclamation
was
sent
from
the
King
to
the
Parliament
,
proclayming
the
Earle
of
Essex
,
and
all
that
serve
under
his
command
,
or
adhere
to
him
,
Traitours
,
which
being
read
in
the
House
of
Commons
,
they
desired
a
conference
with
the
Lords
,
at
which
conference
it
was
declared
by
the
House
of
Commons
that
they
had
considered
of
the
reasons
of
their
taking
up
of
Arms
,
which
was
for
defence
of
the
Kingdom
,
the
Laws
of
the
Land
the
Priviledges
of
Parliament
,
and
the
Liberty
of
the
Subject
,
and
therefore
resolved
that
all
those
terrifying
threatnings
in
the
Proclamation
should
not
make
them
desist
from
going
on
in
the
defence
of
so
just
a
cause
.
Whereupon
the
Earle
of
Essex
said
that
hee
would
use
his
best
skill
and
utmost
endeavour
,
even
to
the
losse
of
his
dearest
bloud
in
the
place
they
had
conferred
on
him
in
mayntaining
the
said
cause
.
FINIS
.