they were in presently turned back again over Trent, and dispersed
sundry ways. Col. Hacker hath sent a party into Derbishire to hunt
after them. The Cart-load of Arms which was taken in Nottinghamshire
came in hither this day, and divers prisoners which were at the
Rendevouz at Rufford Abby, are sent to Coventry: Sir, that you might
see what course we take to finde out the Arms of such as are disaffected,
I have here inclosed sent you a Copy of one of our Commissioners
Warrants sent to every cheif Constable. After this serutiny is made,
where-ever we finde any Arms not discovered, we shall take them as
guilty persons, in whose hands they are. I could wish the like course
were taken throughout the Nation.
By the Commissioners appointed by his Highness, the Lord Protector,
and his Council, for the settling and ordering the Militia of the
County of Leicester, the 19 day of March 1654.
IN pursuance of the Orders and Instructions from his Highness, the
Lord Protector, by the advice of his Council. You are hereby required
and ordered upon sight hereof, to direct your Warrants to each
Petti-Constable within your Division Respectively, That he require
an accompt in writing from every Housholder, in behalf of himself, and
his wholle Family, of all Arms, either defensive, as Back, Brest,
Head-peece, Gauntlet, Buff-coat; as also offensive (viz.) Swords,
Rapiers, Tucks, Falchins, Pistols, Musket, Carbines, Birding and
Fowling Guns, and all Acculterments for War, either for Horse or
Man. And the persons in whose custody they are to give it under
their hands that they have such Arms. And such as pretend they have
no Arms, to give it under their hands they have none. And you are
to require each of the said Petti-Constables speedily after the Receipt
of your Warrant, to return you a List, finely written, of every such
Inhabitant, and how many, and what Arms, and who have no Arms.
And you are to make return of such accompt fairly written to us, or
any three of us, at the Red-Lion in Leicester, the 28 of March instant.
And you are in your Warrant to express, That whosoever shall
either conceal from the said Constable, or after the accompt taken
shall imbezzle any the said Arms, upon discovery thereof, the persons
so offending, shall be adjudged, and persecuted as enemies to the
Peace of the Nation. And every Housholder to be accomptable for
the Arms of all in his Family.
To one of the chief Constables of the
Hundred of
Whitehal, March 22 and 23.
We had an account, that the Amity, the Assurance, the Briar, and
another of our Friggots, riding before Brest in Bretaign, that Nest of
Pirates, met with some of them, took one, and ran another ashore.
Those Friggots ride there still on purpose to keep them in, and secure
our Western Trade. It appeared dubious, whether our former
Intelligence, touching the Fleet under General Pen, were true, or not.
March 24. There was a Rumor very strong of Charls Stuarts being