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“We were soone enformed of that from Ireland by a small frigott that came into Padstow that was sent by my Lord of Woster, with letters to the Prince. The frigate came in w^th that confidence being assured the place was within the King’s quarters, theire men came on shore without asking anything of the Inhabytantes who was quartered theire by chance; some of o^r horsemen being in that towne examined the men and found them to be Ireish, w^ch presently confessed they came from Waterford in Ireland, they seized upon the seamen and got abord, the frigott being run aground there, the[y] tooke one Captain Allen w^ch had the command of the vessell, him with a packett was brought to Bodman to o^r Generall. By those letters we understood that there was noe daunger of any Foote coming out of Ireland, for in those letters was mencioned the want of Shipping and moneys before any Foote could be had from thence, then there was noe other feare then that of France and to prevent that daunger there was order sent to Admirall Batten to hover from the Land’s End to the Coast of Brittany; then o^r Generall resolved to advance towards Trurowe; in o^r march the first day from Bodman o^r forlorne of Horse encountred w^th a partie of the Enimies w^ch were commanded by Major Generall Web, both parties mett and fought nobly. At last the King’s partie being over numbred was forst to give ground and leave the field in some disorder; only the Major Generall himselfe charged w^th an undaunted curage through all our partie and in charging back agayne his horse was killed and himself wounded in severall piaces w^th all those that stuck to him either slayne or taken, he being at last after a long fight on foote forst to submitt. The second day we mett with theire Commissioners that came to treate which was very strange to us all, yet o^r Generall would not heare of a Treaty till he came to Trewrowe where the King’s Army then lay. First it was agreed that the King’s Army should draw back westward from Trurow and that o^rs should quarter there. Allsoe it was agreed that theire should be a seasasion of armes for six days, dureing w^ch tyme the Commissioners of both Armies were to sitt att Trurow to agree upon the Articles; for all this o^r Generall had noe greate confidence in this treaty feareing least the King’s Army should slip by them as they might easily doe, but to prevent that daunger he sent some horse and Dragoones back agayne to Bodman w^th an order that all the trees should be cut downe behind Bodman bridge and in all the Cuntry thereabouts to stopp the King’s horse if they came that way, in two or three dayes. That doubt was cleared, for o^r Commissioners and theires agreed thus: First that the King’s Army should disband and theire Souldiers leaveing theire horse should retourne to theire severall homes, and the Officers to march to theire severall homes w^th theire horses and armes. The King’s Army were to lay downe theire armes by Brigade on severall dayes till theire was a Regement of o^r horse that convoyed them away to theire severall cuntryes. When all the King’s Army was disbanded there was nothing more for o^r Army to doe in those partes; a Councell of Warr was called and it was thought fitt that the Army should march towards Exeter and that Collonel Fortesque should stay in that Cuntry with two Regements of Foote and 3 Troopes of horse for the takeing in of Pendenis and the Mount. O^r Generall with the rest of the Army came before Exetter, the Governor thereof, which was Sir John Berkley, seeing o^r Army come before it and knowing that the King’s Army was disbanded with all the nessecity he was reduced unto for want of provisions and with all that they had noe hopes of releefe, hee was forst to surrender the Citty upon honorable condicions; soe was Bastable deliver’d upon the same condicions; all o^r horse were sent towards Oxford under the command of Commissary Generall Ireton, our Generall with the Lieutenant Generall stay with all the foote at Exeter to refresh them awhile. The Commissary lay w^th all the horse round Oxford and continually on duty, for the Kinge was then in the Cytty with Prince Rupert w^th a considerable party of horse as we heard, who were resolved to fall out upon some of our quarters, w^ch made us all every night to expect their coming.

After the generall had settled the businesse of the west he marched w^th all the foote towards Oxford. Before he came within three or fower dayes march of that Cytty the Kinge gott out privately in the night only w^th two or three persons w^th him.April 27th, 1646. It was told the Comissary generall that the Kinge was gone for London, and was invited thither by the Presbiterian party of the House and Cytty, and was encouraged to it by the Scotts army that lay then before Newarke. I knowe not whether that report was true or noe, but I am sure that was the first pretended cause of jelousey that was betwene the Independant and Presbyterian party, and to make the army the more assured of this report it was credibly said that the King came first to London and was conveyed from thence to the Scotts army. This bred noe small division betwixt the Presbiterian and Independant officers of the army. The generall came up with the foote before Oxford, and placed them as conveniently as hee could, as above the horse and Major Generall Massey’s Brigade was to lye about Farington. We continued soe for the space of a moneth and the foote entrencht Themselves a good distance from the Towne. Collonell Whaley w^th his regim^t of horse and 2 regm^ts of foote was sente to block up Woster w^th the assistance of Collonell Morgan the govern^r of Glossester. It was just at that tyme the black lyst was presented to the Len^t Generall, w^ch was the names of all those officers in the army that were Presbiterians. It was brought privately and presented by Lieuten^t generall Wattson, w^ch was a most pernitious factious fellow. He was backed by many of the cheefest of the Army and partly1 by the Comissary generall. The Generall was ignorant of it, and knew not what it meant when one Major Fincher Quarter M^r Generall of the Horse discovered it unto him, and told him of what daungerous consequence (sic) would be if this liste came to the knowledg of those officers whose names were written in it. The generall made answer that for his par^te he made noe differance of theire opinions but was confident that all his offic^rs were faythfull to the Parliam^t, and that the Lieu^t Generall as he conceived would not doe any thing to the prejudice of any man that wisht well to the Parliam^t or Army. The Q^r M^r Generall was noe way satisfied w^th this answer but was resolved to acquaint his frends in the Parliam^t House, w^th this liste and of the new order that was given out by the Leu^t Generall, w^ch was Liberty of Conscience as they caled it to all that pretend to have the guift of the spiritt in preaching or expounding. Both houses tooke this soe haynously that their was an order sente to o^r generall that none should preach or teach in the Army but those that are lawfully called to it by the Assembly of Divines. This order was no sooner come but executed, but to the greate greefe of the Leut. Generall and his faction; yet they desembled the matter soe well that they seemed to take noe notice of it at present. In the meane while the seige went on, and the towne being streightned for provisions yet obstinate would not surrender. There were not those wanting in o^r Army that spred abroade that the king w^th the Scots army would releeve that Cytty, and that the Presbiterian party of the Houses of Lords and Commons would invite him to it. Many papers to this purpose were spred abroade amongst the soldyers, but to noe effect, for the Presbiterians had much the stronger parte in the army; beside Major Generall Massie’s brigade would back them upon any ocasion to that purpose. Collonell Raynsburrow was sent w^th two regm^ts of horse and two of foote to strengthen the seige of Woster that was but slightly blockt up before by Collonell Whaley. Whaly was called back to the seige of Oxford, he being then accounted a Presbiterian. At last necessity compelled the Cytty to treate. Comisson^rs were ordered on both sides: after long debate they agreed and the Cytty was surrendred upon honorable condicions, soe was Woster, Farington and Wallingford, and allsoe Ragland that was beseiged by foote of ours sente from the seige of Oxford: our army having then noethinge to doe were sent to quarters, some to Wales, some to the Associate Countyes, another p^te were quartered about Wostershere, Oxfordshere, and Herifordshere. Major Generall Massie’s brigade were sente to Dorsetshere, Som^rs^tshere and Wiltshere to quarter. The first of Crumwell’s stratagems was to get the Major Generall’s brigade to disband under pretence to ease the Kingdom, though they offered theire service to Ireland and would willingly have gone w^th that moneys they had at theire disbanding, but Crumwell prevented theire desires and spoake openly in the House that he would carry as many of the new modled army to that Kingdom as the Parliam^t thought fitt and that he would disband the rest if they pleased. This motion of his tooke off all jealousey from Crumwell and the rest of the army: presently order was given for Massie’s men to disband, w^ch was presently done. Presently after happened the suddayne death of the Earle of Essex, w^ch Cromwell tooke soe much to hearte in his outward apperance that he was seene by some to cry and tear his hayre, though it was judged by many that hee contrived his death; at this tyme the King was at Newcastle w^th the Scotts, his frends dayly resorting thither, w^ch gave greate cause of suspition of the Scotts and credibly confirmed in ou^r army that the Scotts would declare for the Kinge. To prevent further danger there were two reg^mts of horse and Oakey’s dragoons sent to quarter all along upon the River Trent; and to examin all that came that way Northwards. At last we’re freed from that feare, for the Scotts were resolved to deliver up the King as soone as they had received an hundred thousand pounds, and soe leave the kingdome. Theire money was conveyed downe to them by Colonell Graves; there went alsoe w^th him Commission^rs from both houses that went to receive the Kinge, and to pay the money to the Scotts. The King was dellivered to the custody of Collonell Graves: the Scotts marched for their owne cuntry, and the Kinge was brought to Holmeby, there kept w^th a strong guarde about him and none of his old frends suffered to come unto him except those that had leave from o^r Commission^rs. The Commission^rs made divers propositions to the King, but not pleaseing to him. Crumwell all this whille sate in the House, and both Houses ordered that the most parte of the army should disband or goe for Ireland except those that were to stay in the kingdome as a standing armie, w^ch was to be all Presbyterians. Crumwell seemed to be as forward for this as any in the House; o^r head Quarters was then at Nottingham. Commissary Ireton all this while was not ignorant what the Parliam^t was resolved to doe, and at councell of warr tooke ocasion to speake of this; how the Parliam^t had noe good intentions towards the army, and that it was a sad reward for we many yeares service to be cast of w^thout any reward for their service or security for their persons after they were disbanded: likewise that the Parliam^t was resolved to set upp the King agayne, that there would be noe liveing for any in that kingedome that had served in our army. All the offic^rs that were present were much moved at this and besought the Commissary to advise them what they were to doe. He answered there was noe way but one to prevent this, w^ch was that every officer should repayre to his respective command, and to send a trooper of each troope w^th the grievances of the severall troopes to Saffron Walden, where the Generall was then goeing to receive the Commission^rs of both Houses that were coming downe to disband the Army. The Parliament thought none soe fitt as Crumwell to be one of those Commission^rs. The Commission^rs came to Saffron Walden; all the offic^rs of the army were to meete there w^th the names of all those that will engage for the service of Ireland: there likewise came a trooper of each troope w^th theire severall greevances. When they were all come to towne, they were called privately together by Cap^t John Reynolds of Cromwell’s Regiment and one his greatest favorete: when the troope mett together the Cap^t made them a long and plesant speech, told them how they were like to be cast of w^thout any man^r of reward for theire greate services, and that they had noe courage nor hon^r that would be soe, and that for his p^te he and all his troope would sooner dye then disband w^thout the utmost farthing of theire arreares. This speech tooke soe well w^th these troopers that they highly comended his brave resolution and were all of his opinion. When the Cap^t. perceived that his speech found such good successe, desired them all to sitt downe and consider what they had to doe, and for his parte if they pleased he would sitt w^th them and doe nothing w^thout theire consent, w^ch they gladly accepted of, and gave theire Cap^t. the title of Chayreman. The first thing they did was to dispatch messengers to every regim^t and troope in the army to let thom know what the Parliament was resolved to doe and what they for theire p^te were resolved to propose to the Commisson^rs and further desired that every troope should owne what theire deputyes should propose to the Comission^rs to be theire sense and desire, w^ch was accordingly granted by allmost every troope in the army. Our generall comanded that all our office^rs should meete in the greate Church at Saffron Walden to heare what the Comisson^rs had to say unto us. The Generall w^th the Commisson^rs came to the Church, w^ch was allmost full; the General made a shorte speech, tould us how much the Parliam^t and Kingdom were obliged to us for our faythfull services, and desired them that would goe for Ireland to give in theire names: and that they first should have security for theire arreares. Then Crumwell stoode up and made a long grave speech in the behalf of the Parliam^t, first to give the army thanks for theire never to be forgotten services, as allsoe what a greate care the Parliament had to please each particular man according to his particuler meritt, and that the Parliam^t would in tyme pay the arreares of those that were to stay in the Kingdom, and give security for the payment of those that were to goe for Ireland, and protested for his parte that if the Parliam^t would command him he would gladly trayle a picke in that war of Ireland, therefore desired us all to consider what a holy war that was, and that it were a noble thing for all us that were young men to engage for that kingdom. Just whilst he was thus speaking he was interrupted by one of the troopers that was of Raynolds his Councell, w^ch had newly called themselves Agitato^rs; the fellow spoake boldly to the Leu^t Generall and told him that he was employed thither by the Army to acquaynt the Generall and the Comiss^rs of theire agreevance, and to that purpose p^rsented a remonstrance in the behalfe of the Army, w^ch startled the Commisson^rs and the Generall himselfe, and Crumwell tooke on like a madman, and declared openly in the Church that all those that had a hand in that remonstrance were enimies to the Parliam^t. Many of o^r Officers were surprised at his saying, but not the Chayreman of the Agitators, w^ch was Cap^t Raynolds. He seemed to be the more confident in his request. The remonstrance was soe unreasonable that the Comisson^rs would not grant anything that was desired in it: the offic^rs were all dismist to theire severall comands. Crumwell and the rest of the Comiss^rs retorned to London to give the Parliam^t an account. Crumwell in his pretended fury protested the ruen of all those that had a hand in that remonstrance. Ireton seemed to be a neuter and would not openly owne the remonstrance, nor seeme to contest w^th the Parliam^t. The Chayreman of the Agitators was not idle, but sent allwayes to the Troop[e]s to let them know what a sad condicion they were if they did not owne that remonstrance, and the proceedings of the Agitators. The Generall was ignorant of these contrivances and certaynely persuaded by Ireton that these that were called Agitators intended nothing to his prejudice nor to the dishon^r of the army, yet the General, the Comissary Generall, and all the Offic^rs of the Army disavowed the proceedings of the Agitators. Ireton designed the matter, what he would have the army to doe, and privately would send it to London to Crumwell Crumwell would with as much privacie send it back agayne to his Capt. Reynolds, the Chayreman Raynolds would present it to the Agitat^rs as the greevance of the Army, they would declare it to the Parliament as the desire of the Army, soe that all things were done and acted in that Councell of what concerned the Army w^thout the Generalls order or any other Offic^rs of the army. The Parliament was much ofended at this and writt to the generall to appease that mutinie as they called it, and to apprehend such offic^rs as had a hand in that mutinie, that the Generall would be pleased to send up Cap^t Reynolds to them, he being, as they conceived, the cheefe instrument of what was past. The Generall tooke this letter with consideracion and advised w^th Ireton about it. Whilst the matter was in debate whether Reynolds should be sent or noe, the Kinge was taken away from Holmebey by a partie of five hundred horse under the comand of Cornet Joyce. Those that had the guarde of the King condecended to his takeing away, I meane all the comon sould^rs. Collonell Graves that had the comand of the King at that tyme was forst to fly away privately, for all his whole regm^t mutined ag^t him. He and S^r Robert Pye came post to London to advertise the Parliam^t of what was happened, then o^r Generall sent to the Parlem^t to let them know how parte of the army tooke away the Kinge he then knew not where, and that the rest of the army would mutinie, and protested his inocency in the proceedings of the army and taking away the king. This put both Houses into a strange feare soe that they knew not what to doe or say in the matter. Now Crumwell foamed and stormed, vowed that if the Parliament would comand him he doubted not but in a shorte tyme he would destroy all the mutiners there. He protested before God openly before the Houses that he would never leave them nor forsake them whilst he lived. The House seemed much satisfied w^th Crumwell’s solemne protestation and began to consider how he might appease this mutiny. Crumwell, that very afternoone stole out of Towne and posted downe to the army. As soone as he came, the first thing he did was to owne what the Agitat^rs had done and the takeing away of the king to be his design. Our Generall was amased at his sayings, but Crumwell and Ireton perswaded him that there was a nessesity for it, and that it was for theire owne safety. First they made it app^e to him that the Parliam^t had a designe to ruen the army, and that they would close with the King and leave the army in the lurch to theire greate dishon^r and utter ruen: by much adoe they perswaded the Generall to be of theire opinion and moreover perswaded him to send his declaracion to that purpose to the Parliam^t, which accordingly he did. The Parliament was astonished at it, and had they not been encouraged by the Cytty of London that assured them they would live and dye with them.1 The Parliam^t set forth theire declaration against the army and declared all those to be traitors that had a hand in takeing away of the Kinge. They further declared that all those offic^rs and sold^rs that would come of from the army to London should have six moneths’ pay in hand and security for theire arrers, and that they should continue in the standing army that should be in the Kingdom. This declaracion wrought soe much in the army that it brought of many both offic^rs and sould^rs, first Coll. Graves, Coll. Herbert, Coll. Fortescue, S^r Rob^t Pye, Coll. Sheffield, Coll. Buttler, Quarter M^r Generall Fincher, the Generall’s Leu^t Collonell of foot and many Cap^ts and other Offic^rs and sould^rs came away upon this declaration to London; without doubt all the rest would have followed, had it not bene for Crumwells subtilty, w^ch was his outward good carriage to the King w^ch was then in the army. It was given out in the army by Crumwell’s permission that as the Parliam^t would reinthrowne the King w^thout making condicions for the sould^rs soe would the army reinthrowne the King w^thout makeing condicions for the Parliament. It was at that very tyme the Presbiterians lost all theire interest in the army, by reason all those offic^rs they had most confidence in had now deserted the army and were gone to London, w^ch had they not done, Crumwell and Ireton could never have brought theire designe to passe, nor ever have gayned soe much interest in the army as presently after they had, by reason that all those that deserted the army their comands were voyd and given to the most factious that could be found. The Parliam^t were preparing of an army, the caviler party in London were joyneing w^th them. On the other side Crumwell endevored to oblige all the Kings frends and thought it the nearest way first to make the King his frende, w^ch he did by his great protestacions and oathes upon his knees privately before the Kinge that he and the whole army would declare for him; and to give the greater assurance of his faythfulnesse gave order that all those that were the King’s old frends might freely com to him without any kinde of examining, that his old servants might attend him, that there should be noe distinctive mark betwene the army and those that were formerly of the King’s and comanded all the offic^rs to entertayne as many of them as came to o^r army: the King was likewise without any guarde of the army, and suffered to goe for his pleasure wheresoever he desired. The King’s frends at London could not well tell w^ch side to take: for the Parliam^t profest as much for the King as the Army could doe, but they haveing not much confidence in the Parliam^t sent downe a gen^t of quallity to the King to receive his comands. The gen^t that came to the Kinge, as I take it, was S^r Marmiduke Langdon, who was sent back to London, w^th command to those of the King’s frends not to medle nor engage w^th the Parliam^t in London. The Presbiterians in London were quite dishartened when they saw the Kings’ party leave them. The Cyty would not advance any money for the levying of a new army. The Parliament at that tyme had noe money in their treasury; our army came towards London and sent theire propositions to the Parliament, first to demaund eleven of theire members to put into the hands of the army; next that the Parliam^t should own all the proceedings of the army. The Parliament thought themselves soe much undervalued in these unreasonable demaunds that they would by noe meanes condescend to anythinge that the army desired. Still the army came on, and the Parliam^t not being provided to defend themselves, the Cytty not willing to engage in a new warr, as they conceived that to be, being much discouraged at the Speaker’s stealeing away w^th thirty Lords and Commons; presently after the Speaker of the House of Lords went away allsoe to the army, with divers of the principall cyttezens of London. Those of the Parliam^t that stayd behind were all in a confusion, and knew not well what to doe by reason the Cytty gave them quite over, and would have noething to doe w^th them, nor would not doe soe much as maynetayne theire lyne to make condicions for themselves, but suffered the army to march through the Cyty without any maner of opposition. When we came on the other side of the Cytty o^r Generall demaunded the Tower w^ch was presently given him. O^r army marched to Croyden, the King was sent to Hampton Court w^th a small guarde. When Crumwell was possest of the Tower, Guildehall and Whitehall, the first thinge he did was to command the Cyttyzens to pull downe all the lyne and fortefications about the Cytty, w^ch was accordingly done w^th greate humillity and reverence. Then the Parliam^t sate agayne, I meane those members that came downe to the Army. The first thing they did after they sate was to owne all that the Parliam^t did this tyme past, and ordered that the Army should have six moneths’ pay payd them out of hand, w^ch was borrowed of the Cytty, and presently payd to the sold^rs. The army was then sent to quarters w^th an order to disband all those amongst us that were of the King’s party. Coll. Whaley was sent w^th his Regim^t to guarde the Kinge at Hampton Court. The Generall removed his quarters to Puttney where he stayed till the Kinge was cuningly jugled away to the Isle of Wight, and soe presently after I marcht away into Scotland w^th my troope.