“P.S.” There is no care taken how to maintain that Force of Horse and Foot raised and a-raising for my Lord of Manchester. He hath not one able to put-on “that business.” The Force will fall if some help not. Weak counsels and weak actings undo all!—[two words crossed out]:—all will be lost, if God help not! Remember who tells you.[1]
In Lynn Regis there arose ‘distractions,’ last Spring; distractions ripening into open treason, and the seizure of Lynn by Malignant forces,—Roger L’Estrange, known afterwards as Sir Roger the busy Pamphleteer, being very active in it. Lynn lies strong amid its marshes; a gangrene in the heart of the Association itself. My Lord of Manchester is now, with all the regular Foot, and what utmost effort of volunteers the Country can make, besieging Lynn, does get it, at last, in a week hence. Ten days hence the Battle of Newbury is got; and much joy for Gloucester and it. But here in the Association, with such a weight of enemies upon us, and such a stagnancy and staggering want of pith within us, things still look extremely questionable!—
Monday, 25th September. The House of Commons and the Assembly of Divines take the Covenant, the old Scotch Covenant, slightly modified now into a ‘Solemn League and Covenant’; in St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster.[2] They lifted up their hands seriatim, and then ‘stept into the chancel to sign.’ The List yet remains in Rushworth,—incorrect in some places. There sign in all about 220 Honourable Members that day. The whole Parliamentary Party, down to the lowest constable or drummer in their pay, gradually signed. It was the condition of assistance from the Scotch; who are now calling out ‘all fencible men from sixteen to sixty,’ for a third expedition into England. A very solemn
