A Letter to the Lord Mayor of London
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A48137.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
A LETTER Sent from A worthy Divine, To the Right Honorable, The Lord Mayor of the City of LONDON.
Being a true Relation of the battle fought between His Majesty, and his Excellence The Earl of ESSEX.
From Warwick Castle the 24. of October 1642. at two a clock in the morning.
Together with a Prayer for the happy uniting of the King and Parliament, fit to be used by all good Christians, daily in their houses.
LONDON, Octob. 27. Printed for Robert Wood.
1642.
A LETTER SENT FROM A Worthy Divine, to the Right Honorable the Lord Major of the City of LONDON.
SIR,
Y Esterday, being the Lord's day, His Excellencie intending to march from Kinton a little Village in Warwick-shire, towards Banbury to relieve it, unexpectedly an Alarm came about eight a clock in the morning, that the Enemy was advancing within two or three miles, which accordingly proved so; and it pleased God to make myself the first Instrument of giving a certain discovery of it, by the help of a prospective Glass from the top of an Hill, when the two Armies were drawn into Battalia; about two a clock in the afternoon, a very sore and fierce Battail began, which continued about four hours in mine own sight and hearing, much blood was shed, and a gallant spirit expressed by our Infantry, even to such a degree of Valiantnesse, as may crown every common soldier with the honor of a Commander. But the left Wing of our Horse being charged by the Kings right Wing, was suddenly put to flight, so that the right Wing in which your Son was placed, did the best service for the Cheualty. Where your Son is (or any of the rest of my Lord's Guard) I know not, I hope they are safe, because upon diligent enquiry, I yet hear no hurt of any of them. However; if you have consecrated a Son to so Noble a Service, I doubt not but you will endeavor to bear it cheerfully, if you should hear that he is either slain or wounded. We have lost none of our Commanders (as we can yet understand) except Colonel Charles Essex, and Sir James Ramsey, who is either killed or taken; We have taken Prisoners from the Kings side, the Lord of Lindsey General of the Field, with his Son Colonel Vavasor, who was Commander of the Kings Guard and Standard, which likewise we have taken: As also Colonel Lunsfords, who are now both at Wirwick Castle, we did beat the enemy out of the Field, and gained four peeof Ordnance. This morning it is expected that 3. or 4. fresh Regiments on our side, as namely Colonel Hampdens, Colonel Granthams, Colonel Barkhams, and the Lord Rochfords Regiments should join with the rest. The residue of our Army to fall on the remainder of the Kings Forces, hoping for as glorious success as before. Colonel Vavasor assures us, that the King himself for some time was in the Army, we hear no certainty yet concerning Prince Rupert, some say he is slain. A few of our Waggons were burned and plundered by the Enemy, who wheeled about into our Rear, but our Musquetiers played bravely upon them in the mean time, and recovered our Waggons again, and six pieces of Ordnance which we had lost, our Enemy had the wind more with them, but we had more of the Hill, we had but twelve Regiments in the Field, about fifty troops of Horse (I think) at the most, and some 2. Regim. of Dragoons. His Excell. maintained the fight most gallantly. And our Noble Lord's, as the L. Wharton, Willoughty of Parham, Roberts, &c. did as bravely. All this hath God enabled our Army to perform, though from wedensday till this moment of my writing, the Commonsoldiers have not come into a bed, but lodged in the open field, in the wet and cold nights, and most of them scarce eat or drank at all for 24. hours together, nay, I may say for 48. except fresh water where they could get it; Mr. Ash was marvelously preserved from the cruelty of four Cavaliers which set upon him, one of them cut off his hat and raised his hair with his sword, but never touched his skin, God hath brought most of our Ministers this night to Warwick, Mr. Ash amongst the rest, and Mr. Marshall, whose danger was no less: For my own part, after I had discharged my duty as far as I was enabled, by passing from Regiment to Regiment, and Troop to Troop to encourage them, at the latter end of the fight, not knowing what the issue of things might be, in the darksome Evening; while it was yet light, I rid to Warwick amongst hundreds of drawn swords, and yet was saved from the least touch of a blood thirsty hand. The Cavaliers some of them pursuing our Horsemen, which as I said before, forsook their ground in the left Wing of the Army, and fled to Warwick. Thus much I made bold to enform your Honor, that you may be able to speak confidently, and stop the mouth of false rumors: You shall do me a favor if you please to let my noble friend Sergeant-Major Skippon read this Letter, because it is news proper for his element; I desire Mr. Case (next to my humble respect to your good Lady) may know that I love him and his. If you shall think it fit to print this Relation, perhaps it may be useful, if done speedily: You need not doubt of the truth of any part of it.
A Prayer for the King and Parliament, fit to be used by all good Christians daily in their Houses.
O God, the great Protector and guider of all Kings and Kiugdomes, mercifully look with thy favonrable eyes of mercy, upon this distressed Kingdom, and so inspire the heart of our Royal King Charles, whom thou hast called to the state and government of this Kingdom, and who through thy mercy, hath taken upon him the same, that he may effect all things to the honor and glory of thy name, and that he may receive the increase of all virtues, wherewith being decently adorned, he may both be able to avoid the monstrousnesse of vices, as also to come unto thee right gracious: and grant O merciful God, that there may be a true peace, and unity between Him and His Parliament and that thou O God, so inspire him with thy holy spirit, that he may hearken to his Parliament, and be ruled by them in all things that may be for the good of His sacred Person? and for His whole Kingdom; and with the same holy spirit so inspire the hearts of this Parliament, whom it bath pleased thee to call together from several parts of this Kingdom, for the general good of the same, that they may do nothing but what may be to thy honor and glory, and that they may grow and persevere in all manner of virtue, setting all things in due order for the good of the kingdom; and that thy true Religion may here again be thoroughly settled amongst all men: Thou wouldest O God that none should perish, favourably look upon the souls deceived by devilish deceit of heretical Popish Sectaries and impiety, and remove from their hearts all such foulness, that they may be united to thy holy Church; and that all manner of wars or diffentions amongst thy people may be purged, and that thy servants earnestly craving thy mercy, the cruelty of their enemies be dispersed, thy Church truly settled, our king and Parliament faithfully united, we may evermore praise thee with inceasant thankfulness, who livest and raignest one true and living God, world without end, Amen.
Laus Deo in aeternum.