honour themselves in vindicating Colonell Massie, as to petition both houses of parliament for his continuance in the government, representing in expresse termes his noble disposition, constant and unwearied paines, blest by God with extraordinary successe, and his maine influence on the hearts of the people in generall, most of them being by him ingaged in armes for the parliament, and upon the whole souldiery, who were kept together to serve in this countrie, chiefely by the love and respect they beare to him. And this they acknowledged not with an intention of prescribing rules to the state, but out of their care and zeale to the common cause. They likewise importuned the lord mayor, aldermen, and commoncouncell of London, upon the mutuall bonds of former engagement, in defending and raising the late siege of Gloucester, to represent unto the parliament the sense of their feares, and the countrie's distraction at the removal of Colonell Massie: complaining of the sinister ends of some few persons who brought in a crosse petition, with articles in the name of the county of Gloucester, which no part of the county did ever acknowledge, and of which no corner thereof was conscious. The house of commons would not accept the charge against Colonell Massie, and that they might deale in the businesse without partiality, refused also the countrie's petition. Neverthelesse the speaker was directed in the name of the house, by way of answer to their requests, to let them know, that they were very sensible of the dangers that might attend an alteration in that kinde, but that the governour provided to succeed might speedily give such assurance against such dangers, that there will be no cause for them to continue, much lesse to encrease their feares. That the house was confident that their constant readinesse to comply with the publike, would also in this particular of Colonell Massie's removall make them rest content in the resolution of the parliament in that matter. Though Gloucester be a place they prize, and care for as much as any in the kingdome, yet for the present it was thought of greater necessitie to imploy him in that command of the westerne forces, and they cannot doubt of the concurrence and submission of those well-affected parts in whatsoever is judged to be of publike advantage. Hereupon it was ordered the third of June, 1645, by the lords and commons, that master Luke Nurse, mayor of Gloucester, Alderman Singleton, and Colonell Blunt, or any two of them, shall have the command of the garrison of Gloucester, and of the forces and garrison in Gloucestershire, in as ample manner as Colonell Massie had, till the appointed governour come downe to his charge there, or the houses take other order. Colonell Massie in the meane while labours to disingage the affections of the countrey, and to take off discontents and mutiny, and beseeches the parliament to send downe the succeeding governour that he might seeke to interest him in the hearts of the people, whom he never desired to indeare unto himselfe, but to those masters whom he served, which was a full testimony of a true servant to the state, upon the sole termes of conscience and honour. T. WHITE AND CO PRINTERS, FINIS. A TRUE RELATION OF THE LATE ATTEMPT MADE UPON THE TOWN OF CICETER, IN THE COUNTY OF GLOUC', THE SEVENTH DAY OF JANUARY, 1642, BY THE LORD MARQUESSE HARTFORD, LORD GENERAL OF THE CAVALIERS OF THE WESTERN PARTS, ASSISTED BY PRINCE ROBERT, PRINCE MAURICE, THE EARL OF CARNARVON, THE LORD CHANDOIS, AND DIVERS OTHERS: TOGETHER WITH THE ANSWER OF JO: GEORGES, ESQ. (AN INHABITANT THERE, AND ONE OF THE BURGESSES OF THE PARLIAMENT FOR THE SAID TOWN), TO THE SEVERALL MESSAGES SENT TO THEM BY THAT LO: GENERALL, AND PRINCE ROBERT; AS IT WAS SENT IN A LETTER to the riGHT HONORABle, the lord VISCOUNT SAY AND SEALE, LORD LIEUTENANT OF THAT COUNTY. PUBLISHED CHIEFLY THAT GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED, FOR THEIR HAPPY DELIVERANCE, AND TO PREVENT ALL FALSE AND SCANDALOUS REPORTS THEREOF. LONDON: PRINTED FOR I. T. 1642. (JAN: 19.) |