Berwick men, and other Gentlemen went thither
about their business; where they were no sooner
come, but they were seised upon, their Horses
taken away, and themselves stript both of their
clothes, monies, and other things, and then let
loose again to shift for themselves.
Another party of them seized likewise on two
Soldiers that were bound towards the same
Town to assist the Collectors in gathering in the
Assessments, whom they disarmed, and then released.
Those Horsmen who play Rex thus, are
very well mounted, and have stoln away many
good Horses out of the Marshes. Their Commander
is said to be one Meldrum.
There are also about 140 Horse in the Marsh,
and in Tividale, under Sir Arthur Forbes, raising
both men and money.
Paris December 20. 1653.
The main work to do now at court and in this
city, is only in making great preparations for the
keeping of their great Feast of the Nativity of
our Savior, which beginneth the next Thursday;
The King since his return with his councell, hath
bin employed in the setling of Winter Quarters
for the Army, which is not to Quarter in Villages
as formerly, thereby to become burthen som
to the people, but they are to be quartered in the
Frontier Towns, where some allowance will be
made monthly for their Lodgings and Firings,
and care taken that the Souldiers might receive
their pay to buy Provisions for their subsistence.
The Marshall de Foneauld and others, who lately
are returned into the Kings obedience, came to