nasty, railing, rude, ill natured and swear by the bones of deceased
Hampden, and Pym, of living Pryn, and the rest of those secluded
Members, never to be reconciled to his Excellency Cromwell,
and the present ruling power; the Army in the North, under his
new Excellency is computed to consist of 14000. (which is the very
outside of his number) but they are not well composed, for they
mutiny still very much and say they will not fight without Fairfax:
It is said many of them are gone to the Scots, and some of
Prides Regiment were drowned in a River they were passing near
the Borders; something will be done presently: It is said the
King of Scots expects more forraign force but whether to be landed
in Scotland is a question: Its said Massey is gone for more
Swedes and German Horse, which may suddenly look into some
part of England. At White-hall they fear much tumults and insurrections
will be in severall parts of this Nation: The Scots
have and will out-wit them; and their new Generall hath much
discomposed all things in Army and State, and now they Court
Fairfax to go to appear but in the North at his own House, or to
put forth a Declaration, that he left his Charge of General, for infirmity
in body, not indisposition of mind, but his Lordship will do
neither: Thus things stand at present, my great respects and
service waits on your self, I am Sir, your most faithful servant.
July 17. 1650.
Ro. Bird.
If Letters miscarry, or be opened, let not Mr. Feltham own
them or me.
Is not this rare Intelligence (think ye) to catch gudgeons in
the Country, and hold up the hearts of a deluded Party? what
a world of Scotch, and Danes, and Swisses, and Swedes, and
German horse, are listed here in half a sheet, for the service
of his Scotish Majesty! But they can do as much as this comes
to over the Pint and the Pottle, in any Tavern in London.
And now (it seems) the Trade is like to be quite spoyled,
by a new Act which came abroad this day, cutting off the
power of justices of Peace, in giving license to Delinquents,
Papists, and Soldiers of Fortune, to make their abode here
in London, and banishing them twenty miles out of the City,
with a confinement within five miles of their Dwellings: And