Memorials of the Civil War in Cheshire and the Adjacent Counties.

Mr. Burghall, Vicar of Action, In Cheshire. [and others- see later entries.]

1628.

There was a remarkable Judgement light upon a wicked debauched Fellow in Bunbury, one Robinson a Bear-ward, who followed that unlawfull Calling, whereby God is much dishonoured, (especially at such Popish Festivals called Wakes,) was cruelly rent in Peices by a Bear, & soe died fearfully. It is a true Proverb, In quo quisque peccat, in eo punitur. That worthy Man Mr. Hind, then preach'd at Bunbury, had not without Cause much inveighed against those Disorders, which were usually at Bunbury Wakes, & had threatened God's Judgements against the same, but could not prevail utterly to remove them, tho' he endeavoured it to the uttermost. But in due Time God makes good his Word in the Mouth of his Ministers, to the Confusion of the Wicked. Oh! that Men would learn at last to be wise, before the heavy Wrath of God fall upon them.

The Hand of God was eminently remarkable upon a Usurer in Bunbury Parish, one J. Rawlison, who having a Living, being rich in Goods & Money, & daily encreasing his Estate by Usury, & making hard Bargains, a Moth, secretly & insensibly, entred into his Estate, which wained & wasted, & by Degrees consumed away, & within a While he began to be a very poor Man, though he had lived niggardly & sparingly enough; & soe that in Prov. 28, 22, was made good, He that hasteth to be rich hath &c. This Man was also given up to the great Sin of Whoredom, for which he did publick Pennance. Soll: saith, By Means of a whorish Woman a Man is brought to a Morsel of Bread.

This Year alsoe Mr. Lee of High-Lee in Cheshire, having been Abroad, & coming Home drunk, as he went to water his Horse, was drowned in his Mote.

About the same Time were divers Drunkards taken away suddenly by the just Hand of God, some being drowned; as one hard by Hampton Post; others by untimely Deaths.

This Year Dr. Lamb, the Conjurer, a debauched vile Wretch, coming from a Play House, was slain by certain Sailars & Apprentices in London.

This Year the D. of Buckingham was stabbed by John Felton at Plymouth [sic for Portsmouth]. Quod ab Hominibus injuste fieri solet, a Deo justo justissime fit. Luk: 1. 52,-Ps: 37. 35. 36.-Ps: 73. 19.20.

One Mr. Sandford, not far from Namptwich, died of a drunken Surfeit. Wm. Symme of Allpram, having the End of his Nose bitten off by John Astbrock of Bunbury in a drunken Frey, this Year lost alsoe one of his Eyes in a mad Quarrel, by Wm. Wittor of Torperly, who was alsoe an Adulterer.

19 Jun 1628. Mr. Hind, that worthy Minister of Bunbury departed this Life, after much Weakness. A great Loss of him; having been a greater [sic] Inveigher against the Wickedness of the Times: was buried 21 Jun 1628. Mr. Langley preacht on Prov. 14. 32.

1629. About this Time dy'd Mis Masterston, a Pattern of Piety.

A violent Sickness took many Families; especially the Family of Utkinton.

This Year there was great Dissention between K. Charles I. & the Lower House of Parl: The Reason was for denying Tondage & Poundage, & because they might not have Liberty to censure the Arminian Bps. Laud, Neyl [Neile], Montegue, Heuson [Howson]. The Speaker denying to read some Writing conmanded by the House, & seeking to go to the King (being by him conmanded,) was stayed by 2 of the House in his Chair, & after getting forth, was fetcht again, the Par: Door was lockt, & some that came from the King were denyed Admittance: The K. came himself, & broke it up speedily 9 Knights and Burgesses were conmitted to Prison.

One Rob. Betteley of Bunbury, an old Man, standing on a Ditch-bank, to crop a Bough from a Tree, the Bough falling into the Ditch, he striving to pull it up with his Bill, fell backward with violence, and broke his Neck.

1630. A Woman in Minshall, one Porter, dyed very suddenly: for coming Home from the Market in perfect Health, & eating her Supper well, she fell ill & dyed suddenly.

This Year was a Plague in London & Cambridge, & many other Places of the Kingdome: not so dangerous for the Greatness of the Infection, as for the strange dispersing of it: & the removing of the Students from Cambridge caused also a great Dearth.<tfn ref=º/>

A remarkable Judgement fell upon one Cooper, a Baker in Cambridge; who returning to the Town, after the Plague, instead of giving Thanks to God, fell to revelling, dancing, and drinking; but in the Midst of his Jollity, he fell down suddenly, & dyed; not of the Plague, but some other Stroke of God. Reported by Mr. Tho. Aldersea in a Letter to his Father.

This Year the Lord Audley, Earl of Castlehaven was conmitted to the Tower for horrible Uncleanness of Sodomy, unnaturall Adultery & Incest as hath not been heard in our Dayes. This Man was a Papist & so justly given over of God to corporall Filthiness for his spirituall Abomination of Idolatry.

1631. This Year many were taken away by Feavers, & other sore Diseases; among the Rest a hopefull yong Gentlewoman, Mis Elis: Mainwaring, Daughter to Mr. George Mainwaring of Bunbury: shee dyed of a Pleurisy somewhat suddenly. The said Mr. Mainwaring had a Maid-Servant who had had 4 Bastards, which he was informed of, yet because she was a good Work-Woman, kept her still. Now the Night before his Daughter dyed, he had a very strange Dream. Hee thought he saw a dead Corps, laide on a Bier, carried out of a little Chamber adjoyning to his own, & passing thro' it, he saw a round Circle all red like the Breadth of a Sheet, hovering to & fro, & when the Corps came into his own Chamber, out of the other, the red Circle pointed down, & fell right upon it, & so passt along into his Gallery. Such Dreams as these are not to be slighted. Its like he was waked by it to enquire further concerning his Servant: but I never heard that he did.

This Year there were 5 Aldermen of Maxfield, [Macclesfield] who meeting at a Tavern, & drinking excessively of Sack and Aqua Vitae, 3 of them dyed the next Day, & the other 2 were dangerously sick. Oh! that Drunkards at last would learn to be wise!

One J. B. of Buckley going to Chester, & drinking too liberally, came to one Mr. Collies House, his Unkle, & being taken in Bed with a Servant of his, his Uncle brake his Head. The Shame of which Act, & the Horror of Conscience wrought so upon him, that he was in a Kind of Distraction for a good Space of Time.

A Memorable matter was related to Mr. Aldersey of Spurstow, from one Mis Brown, a Woman of Credit, & good Esteem, living in Herefordshire: & it was thus. Her Husband having a Mare stollen, was advised by a Brother in Law of his, to go to a Wizzard, to know where his Mare was: but he would use no such unlawfull Meanes. Soon after, this Brother in Law had 2 Mares of his own stol'n, & went to the Wizzard to know where to find them. He told him, in such a Place he should find one of them in another Man's Team; & bad him take her & ride on her Home, but he must not alight off her Back for any Cause, before he came Home. The Man, as he rode homeward, thought hee met one riding on his other Mare, & forgetting the Wizzard's Conmand, presently leapt off the Mare he rode on, & went to the other, and catcht her about the Neck, to stay her, which, as he was doing, hee thought the Man, or rather the Devill, leapt on the Mare that hee had alighted from, & that Mare, which he thought he saw with the Man on her Back, vanisht away suddenly. Then he knew, that it was a Delusion of the Devill, & imediately fell mad upon it, & being within a Mile of his own House, knew not where he was, nor what he did: & when he was led Home, hee knew neither Wife nor Children, & so continued in this sad Condition for a good Space of Time: & tho' he came afterwards to have his understanding somewhat, yet he never had the perfect Use of it as formerly.

Another memorable Matter was related to me by Mrs. Crew of Utkinton: & it was thus. A Taylor in Manchester going abroad with his Yard in his Hand, on some Buisness [sic] was met in the way by a Man, as he thought, who having Cloth under his Arm, asked him to make a Suite of Clothes for him of that Cloth, which he assented to; & as he was taking Measure of him, he discovered something, that made him think that he was the Devill that appeared to him. Whereupon he was much troubled in his Mind, and went imediately to Mr. Bourn, a Minister in Manchester, who advised him, when he cut the Cloth, to lay a Sheet on the Table, that none of the Shreds might be lost: which he did accordingly: and having made the Clothes, Mr Brourn, [sic in MS.] (having kept a Day of Humiliation before) went with the man towards the place, where he was appointed to bring the Clothes, but stayed at a Distance, & bade the Man be of good Courage. The Devill, in the Likeness of a Man, came according to Promise, & the Taylor delivering him the Clothes, hee replyed thus: Oh! yonder is Brourn, thy holey Father, who hath instructed thee what to doe! & soe vanisht out of his Sight, without doing the Man any Harm at all. This Mrs. Crew had from a known & approved Witnesse.

The Judgment of God was very remarkable & fearful upon the Wife of Ric: Capper of Bunbury, who running away from her Husband, & marrying another who was married, having lived with him till his Death, shee then marryed another: but a secret Judgment of God befell her in her secret parts, which rotted away, & thus she lingered a long Time. Of her the Saying of the Ap: was verified, 1. Tim. 5. 6. Dead while she lives.

This Year, 30 Jul 1631 , being Saturday was terrible Thunder & Lightning, whereby much Hurt was done in many Places. In Warton a Windmill was torn in Peices. On Houghton Mosse 23 Sheep were killed with the Thunderbolt: & in many other Places much Hurt was done. With this Kind of Thunder came a strange Kind of Hail; & namely in Nantwich, where the Like hath not been seen.

This Year the Plague was dangerously dispersed in many Parts of the Kingdome: as in London, Yorke, Yorkshire, Lancashire, & especially in Preston, where it raged so that the Town was almost depopulated, & the Corn rotted on the Ground for want of Reapers. It was also in Shrewsbury, Wrexham & many other Parts of Wales: but Cheshire was graciously preserved, where were many publick Fasts kept for the turning away of God's Hand.

The Judgment of God was manifested upon one Rich: Hotchkis of Burwarhay, who having got a good Estate, grew so proud, that he disdained to own his own Father. At length falling into the Sin of Uncleannesse, had a Bastard by a poor Woman, which he forsware. Afterwards he sent for his own Sister, got her with Child, & kept other Women dishonestly. At last he was complained of to the Bp. & a Petition put up against him to the King, (whose Servant he was,) as guilty of great Misdemeanors, especially for the Murder of the Child hee had by his own sister: whereupon he fled, & so his Goods were seized on for the King.

John Massy, Son of Mr. Massy of Coddington, having been at Ridley, hee came from thence to Bunbury, with Mr. G. Spurstow, & divers others, who drunk so much Ale & Aqua vitae, that some of them could not go Home. But he returned next Day to his Father's House in Health, as they thought, supt well, & after Supper said he was sick, & intreated his Sister to bring him to Bed: but before he could get his Cloathes off, turning him on his Bed, hee said, My Heart is broken; Lord have mercy upon me; & so dy'd presently.

This year, one Tho: Tattenhall, Mr. Standley of Aldersey his Cook, coming into Bunbury Parish to visit his Friends, & especially one Ellen Wilbraham of Terton, who was reported to be married to him, though secretly (she herself said contracted) was slain by a Fall from his Horse. Hee had been up & down drinking hard & I was told, that hee was for certain then drunk.

About the same Time one Mr. Wyn of Whitechurch, being drunk, drew his Rapier, & run his own Sister through, because she would have had him from the Alehouse.

Another in Northwich, being drunk, fell down into the Channell of the Street, & in the Fall dasht his Head upon the Horn of a Tanner's Hide, & so killd himself.

Another in Cholmley, being drunk, dyed in his Vomiting. These Examples upon Drunkards fell out in 2 or 3 Dayes together.

1632. Also in Tattenhall a notorious Drunkard dy'd as he had lived, calling for his Pots, & naming his Hostesses imediately before his Death. Qualis Vita, Finis ita.

This Year one of Mr. Masterson's Tennants being drunk, fell of[f] his Horse, & broke his Neck.

In Manchester, one Mr. Baker, a Minister, being drunk, fell down into the water & was drowned.

Another was drowned at Congleton; & in London one of the Lord Crew's Men was drowned at Thames.

The Vice Chancellor of Cambridge hanged himself for some Displeasure the King had taken against him. Also a Man of Rob. Nanton's came to the same untimely End.

12 May 1632. Mr. Cole, School-master of Bunbury, departed this life, having been sick eight weeks before. One Ric: Houlse in Acton Parish, being drunk, fell off his Horse, and broke his Neck hard by Acton Church. Another Drunkard in Terton, one John Walley, fell off a Beam in a Pigeon House, & being drunk broke his Neck. Not long before he had said to a Neighbor, who had sown his Ground to parts, The Devill break my Neck, if thou reap that which thou hast sown, & it came to pass accordingly. One in Weverham killed himself.

A Woman in Over was drowned. James Wright of Northwich, being drunk, fell off his Horse, & broke his Neck. Mr. Tho: Booth, 2 Son of Sir Geo. Booth of Dunham, riding desperately, fell off his Horse and broke his Neck. Divers also came to untimely Ends about this Time.

Remarkable Judgments fell upon Eliz. Allen of Spurstow, who having a Daur. married to a poor Man against her Consent, was wont to curse them both on her Knees, for which being reproved, she sayd, She would curse the Man as long as shee lived. But God's Judgments light both upon herself & her Relations. She had an Ulcer on her Leg, occasioned by a little Scratch. A Surgeon was sent for to cut it off, but was prevented by Death. Her Daughter, whom shee had so cursed, became lame in her Back and Hips, & so continued to her dying Day. Another yonger Daur. had a lingring Distemper upon her, & at last married very uncomfortably: she had only one Son, a hopefull Youth & a fine Schollar, whom God took away in the Flower of his Age.

A great Man in this County, Sir H. C. going to Bed in Health & having conjugall Society with his Wife (as she afterwards confessed to a private Friend,) turned himself to the other Side of the Bed, & died presently.

[ 1632-3 ] This Year a Boy of one Cratchleys, a Parator in Acton, hanged himself very desperately. The Report was, that he was almost famished before, for Want of Meat, by a Step Mother.

There was a terrible Fire on London Bridge, that consumed & burnt down 50 Houses. The Loss was thought to be 100 Thousand Pound.

This Year one Mr. Sherwin, [Sherfield] Recorder of Salisbury, was questioned and fined in the Star Chamber for breaking a Glass Window, that had the Picture of God the Father in it, The Bps. of York & London were very severe against him, and defended the Lawfulness of Pictures for History, Memory and Devotion, & gave Instance in a Crucifix. The Temporall Lords, viz: Dorset, Privy Seal, & the Lord Keeper, defended the Act as lawfull, because it had been proved, that that picture had been worshipt by divers, but censured him for the Manner of doing it, and fined him 500£, but the other in a far greater sum.

"ABps. Laud and Neile."

02 Oct 1633. was such a Tempest of stormy Winds & Rain as of late hath not been seen: it did much Hurt in many Places shaking & overturning Trees & Houses, yea of starving & drowning many People. A Neighbor's Child, by Name, Tho: Oulton, a towardly Child, having been at Haughton, with his Sister, & coming Homewards towards Alpram, was starved to Death by the Extreamity of the Storm, notwithstanding that his Father met him in the Town Feild, & carried him on his Back, hoping to have brought him safe Home; but he dyed in his Arms. The Lord hath his Way in the storm. Nah: 1. 3.

01 Jan 1633-4. Between 2 & 3 of the Clock in the Morning was a great & terrible Earthquaque, whereupon there ensued that Month, & the Month following terrible Winds, & much wet & tempestuous Weather, whereby the Lord threatened Dearth & Famine.

This Year Mr. Pryn, a learned Lawyer, & a pious Man, was deeply censured in the Star Chamber, for a Book made against Stage Plays, wherein his Adversaries accused him of writing against the Queen's Majesty for dancing in a Mask. But he answered, that his Book was made before the Queen came into the Land: yet he was fined 5000., his Ears to be cut off, to be degraded, and to suffer perpetuall Imprisonment.

1634. Some 2 Miles from Wetnall a Woman killed her own Daughter, &, by the Help of her Son, buried her in a Pit.

14 Jun 1634. The Widdow Morrey, a Woman of an ill Name formerly, was found killed in an upper Room of her House, & laid under a Turnell, with 3 Flitches of Bacon upon it. Her own Son Phillip Morrey, was vehemently suspected, & shrewdly questioned at Chester Assise about it, being arraigned at the Bar: but he was quitted by the Judge, how justly God only knows.

In Beeston a poor Man had stoln a Jerkin of a Weaver's Shuttle from one Ric: Baily, was followed & accused of the Theft: but he denyed it, & curst himself upon his Knees if he had done it. The Lord struck him suddenly, according to his own Execration, & he there dyed presently.

About this Time a Woman in Chester, going upon the Walls to get Plums on the Lord's Day, fell down & brake her Neck.

One Phillip Cappur of Clutton being at a Bear bait in Carden, dy'd suddenly at that disordered Sport.

When the Woman before mentioned, who killed her Daur. was accused, together with her Son, there was so great a Blast of Wind, that the Judges durst not sit on the Bench, on Yosonon [sic, but?] a Tyle was blown of the House, hitt the Sheriff's Horse, & struck him down under him, as hee went to bring the Woman to Execution. Much Hurt was done by it in many Places. The Report then was, that this Woman was a Witch, & that by the Devill's Means, she raised this Tempest: for it rose suddenly, & was suddenly abated.

[ 1634-5 ] This Year in Jan 1634-5 and Feb 1634-5 was exceeding great Frost & Snow & grievous Tempests, so that many lost their Lives.

Mis Venables, Sister to the Baron of Kinderton, a religious Gentlewoman, as she was travelling with some of her Servants, was benighted, & so weather-beaten and masered with the Snow (the Way also being obstructed with Drifts,) that they were in Danger to be starved to Death. Addressing themselves to God by Prayer they met with a Farmer, who took them to his own House, where they lodged that Night.

A Multitude of People being set under the Church Yard Wall, of the South Side of the Church in Bunbury, at the Time of their Wakes, to see a Bearbait, the Wall suddenly fell down upon them, yet they were not hurt. They had the same Disorder the Year following & there happened the same Disaster, & the same Deliverance. Oh! the great Patience of Almighty God!

1635. One John Kerry going to Manchester, being in an Alehouse with his Companions drinking, the Hostess denyed to give him any more. Hee swore he would drink 10 Dozen that Night: so he went out of that Alehouse (far in the Night) to another, not far off, but falling into a Pitt by the Way Side, hee was drownd.

One Collie's Wife in Audelm Parish, having some Writing of Consequence taken out of her Coffer, prayd in a Rage, that the Hands that had taken it might rott off: thinking her Daur in Law had taken it. Her Daur in Law said Amen to it: who indeed had opened the Coffer, & directed a little Boy of her's to take it: but within a While after, the poor Child began to have sore Hands, which could not be cured, but rotted off by Degrees, according to her fearfull Execration.

08 Sep 1635 17 Dec 1635 [Sic.] One Coughen, a Taylor, a debauched man, slew one Tho: Shenton, who was then Constable of Stoke in Acton, who being sent for to apprehend Coughen, who was brabling & disordered: & he, out of Civility, took him not to the Stocks, but to his own House, & shut him up in his Parlor; but the Villain, continuing his Disorders, brake the Door; & as Shenton was coming in upon him to p'suade him to be quiet, he stabbed him mortally in 3 Places. As soon as he had done this he offered to do the Like to another Neighbour, one John Stockton; but he proved too strong, & broke his Knife.

29 Dec 1635 One Hatton, a Servant to the Baron of Kinderton, a lewd & wicked Man, who kept a Whore publickly, tho' a married Man, having been at Sanbich, [Sandbach] & drunk with that head-strong Ale, as he returned homeward, was drown'd in a little Ditch, where was scarce Water enough to run over his Head.

In Apr 1636 , a Man of Mr. Dod's of Edge, in Malpas Parish, being at a Bearbait, & staying at an Alehouse till late at Night, & then being drunk, & going forth of Doors, fell into a Ditch hard by, & there was drown'd.

One Ric: Betteley of Spurstow was suddenly slain by a Fall off a running Horse, near Beeston-Wood, being drunk.

A Woman living in Aston Green, by the Instigation of the Devill, drown'd her Child in Weever, which was, by the Violence of the River, carried down to Minshall Mill, and there caught in the Wyll [wheel]. Quis talia fando temperet a Lachrymis?

1637. Mr. Pryn, Mr. Burton & Mr. Bastwick were censured in the Star Chamber to loose their Ears: and many in Chester were complained of for coming to visit Mr. Pryn, & having Conference with him, as he past thro' the City.

One Ralph Leech, being a notorious Whoremaster, was met by the Devill in the Likenesse of a Woman in the Night Time, who offered to kiss him, & then drew him towards a Pit in a Feild near Woodhey; whereupon he was much affrighted, fell sick, & languish'd a long Time. Oh! that Whoremasters would at last take Warning!

1638. On May Day, a Maid Servant going to a May Game in Peckforten, where she, with others, spent her Time in Dancing as shee came homeward was struck suddenly, so that she could not go, but was carried Home by 2 men, and the next Day dyed.

The Plague broke out in London, Cambridge, and Worcester: Variety of Judgments were upon us, & Variety of Mercy: for there was Abundance of Corn of all Sorts, most comfortable Seasons both to sow & reap in, so that it may well be called, Annus plene fertilissimus. Ps. 65.11.

This Year great Dissention grew between the King, & his Subjects of Scotland: the Occasion was, his sending to them, & urging upon them The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, wherein they disliked many Things, & at last gave an utter Denyal to receive & use it. Upon which Refusall, the King being exasperated, sent straighter Comands to them; whereupon they grew to a Resolution to fortify themselves; & after invaded England. Here (so far as I can understand) was the first Rise of that unhappy War, that continued so long amongst us: & the Bps of England (especially Laud ABp. of Canterbury) were (not without Cause) thought to have a cheif Hand in it.

1639. This Year great Preparation was made against the Scots. The King in his own Person went to York, in the Begining of the Spring, with a great Company of Souldiers, & daily from all Parts of the Kingdome Men were presst, and sent after him.

In the mean While the Scots had Intelligence that preparation was made against them, & fortified themselves exceedingly. But the Lord, who is the God of Peace, heard the Prayers of his poor People in both Kingdomes at this Time, & prevented a bloody War which had like to have ensued. For the King was graciously pleased to accept the Scots Petition, & to grant them a Parliament, which (as the Report then was) had ended their Greivances, by restrayning, if not quelling the Power of their Bps whose Revenues, either in Whole, or in Part, were given to the King's second Son, James Duke of York.

In Jul 1639 one Lawrence Smith of Peckforton, a proud & profane Man, & a Hater of good Men, especially Mr. Hind, having been at an Alehouse near Malpas, & staying late till he was drunk, as he was riding towards Malpas after a Brother in Law, one Bartington, he fell off his Horse, and dasht out his Brains on a Stepping Stone.

26 Jul 1639 One Roger Hughes of Bunbury, as he was seeing others bowl on Haughton Green, was suddenly Smitten by the Hand of God, fell down suddenly in the Sight of many Persons, & being carry'd Home, died that Night. This Man had a good Estate in Money, which he encreast by Usury, but would never be brought to make his Will, & so dy'd intestate: his Wife's Relations sued one another about the Estate.

This Year 13 Apr 1640. The King called a Parliament beyond the Expectation of most of his Subjects. Wee had none for the Space of eleven Years before: the cheef Cause (as was then said) was to have Subsidies to maintain Warr against the Scots, who now again began to stirr.

The Parliament was dissolved suddenly & unexpectedly dissolved, & in great Displeasure on all Hands. The King demanded Subsidies: the Comons desired to have their Greivances redressed, which were many, before they would yeald to give Subsidies. Soon after this, the King sent for the Lord Mayor of London, & demanded to borrow of the City 200 Thousand Pound, which the Lord Mayor not yeilding to, because, (as he said) the City was poor, the King took his Sword from him: but by the Mediation of the Lord Chamberlain, it was sent after him ere he came to London.

The King imprisoned 4 Aldermen for refusing to give him Intelligence, who were of best Ability to lend him Money: which was so ill taken, that the Apprentices made an Insurrection, pull'd down the Prisons, & set the Prisoners at Liberty: they assaulted Lambeth, threatened to kill the ABp. of Canterbury, the Bp. of Elye, the Lord Wentworth Deputy of Ireland, & the Queen Mother who not long before was come out of France into England, because these Persons especially were thought to do ill Offices to the King against the Kingdom.

Now again great Preparations were made every where against the Scots, who had again incensed the King; so that the War hastened on apace in both Kingdoms: the sad Effects whereof the Subjects quickly felt in a lamentable Manner, & these especially as pray'd & practis'd for Peace, who were made a Prey to proud & plundering Souldiers.

The Souldiers flockt apace from all Parts of the Kingdom towards Scotland, & in the going thither, comitted many Outrages in every Place (almost) whither they came; pilfring & stealing what they could get; robbing Men by the Highwaies; killing some of their Captains; pulling down Houses, & ravishing Women.

A Minister riding near London, with his Wife behind him, was pull'd off his Horse, bound Hand & Foot, & his Wife ravished by divers of the Souldiers before his Face. O Scelus nefandum! facinus horrendum!

In Jul 1640 was great Thunder & Lightning in Cheshire. One Burst of Thunder was more terrible than all the Rest, & one Flash of Lightning did set on Fire their Clothes, burnt their Faces. A Woman having a glass of Ale in her Hand, & reddy to drink it, the Lightning emptied the Ale out of the Glass, yet broke it not, nor hurt the Woman, but left a horrible Stink of Brimstone behind it.

A Convocation was held of Bps. & other Divines, sumoned first by the King's Writ, when the Parliament was called, & continued when the Parliament was dissolved by another Writ. They made 17 Canons or Ecclesiasticall Constitutions, some against Papists, some against Socinians, Sectaries & Schismaticks, & others for other Matters, with an Oath to be imposed on all Ministers & School Masters, to establish the present Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England, as then it stood, & also the Order & Jurisdiction of ABps., & Bps. Archdeacons, Deans et cætera; which et cætera was much talkt of; because a Man must swear to he knew not what. Many took it, & many refused it, tho' otherwaise conformable Men, but within a while it was condemned by the Parliament.

18 Jul 1640. A publick Fast was solemnized thro' the Land by the King's Proclamation, for the turning away of the Plague, then begun in London, & the preventing the Sword & other Judgments hovering over our Heads.

In Whitchurch a Servant of John Curbichley, a Tanner, having been drinking 2 or 3 Daies together; his Master came to fetch him Home, & blaming him for his debauched Courses, the Fellow dyed suddenly of this drunken Fit.

04 Aug 1640 was terrible Thunder, much Rain with it, & Hail Stones found in some Places 3 or 4 Inches about.

27 Aug 1640. being Thursday, the Scots invaded the Land, came with an Army of 30,000 Foot & 3000 Horse, & pitched their Tents on a Hill, over against Sir Tho: Tempest his House in Northumberland, & sent a Drumer with 2 Letters to Newcastle upon Thyne, the one directed to the Mayor, the other to the Comander in cheif; which Sir Jacob Ashley the Governor returned without opening them. That Night 1500 Horse, 3000 Foot of the English watched the River, lest the Scots should pass it. On Friday they continued defending the River, a 1000 of the Foot in Trenches, close to the River, the rest on the Bankside. The English Horse stood in a Meadow of Sir Tho: Tempest's, in 8 Squadrons near to the Trenches. The Scots came down the Hill to Newburn within Musket Shot of our Trenches. About Noon, one of the English in a blew Coat shot a Scotch Comander on the other Side the Water, & kild him: whereupon the Scotch gave the English a Volley of Shot; thus it continued till 4 of the Clock in the Afternoon, when the Scots playing fiercely with their Ordinances upon our uppermost Trenches, at the first Shot kild 7 of our Men: after some few Shots more, our Men were forct to leave their Trenches, & in their Flight the Cannon made Scale among them; whereupon the Scots Horse got thorow the Water, & pursued the Foot: then our Horse went to releeve them; but the Thundering of the Canon made them retreat: The Scots pursued up the Hill a Mile, took Comissary Wilmot, Sir John Digby kild Serjeant Major O Neal, and Sir John Suckling's Lieutenant Endymion Porter's Son was slain at the first Onset. The Scots got 1500 Arms, killd 100 of our Men, others say more, & lost, as it was thought, as many more. Next Day they sent to Newcastle a Trumpet & 21 Troops of Horse, & enforct the Mayor to open the Gates.

There dyed of the plague in London towards the latter End of Sumer, 1000 some Weeks, & some Weeks 1200 or more; So that God this Year punished the Land with 3 of his sore Judgments, Sword, Plague, & unseasonable Weather, which threatened Famine.

Upon the Occasion of the Invasion of the Scotts, a Parley was held at York by the King and his Nobles, and upon Petition to the King by divers Lords well affected, for a Parliament, it was granted there should be one; which was fulfilld accordingly. It began 03 Nov 1640 Many excellent Speeches were made at first with Boldness & Freedom.

The Lord Deputy of Ireland was questioned for Treason, & many other Misdemeanors: also Sir George Ratcliffe, Dr. Cosins, & other Episcopall Men for Innovations, & other illegal Proceedings.

One Mr. Heywood, a Justice of Peace in Westminster, was stab'd by a Papist, as he went to present a Catalogue of Papists to the House.

Mr. Pryn, Mr. Burton & Dr. Bastwick were sent for from Banishment, & had the Liberty to petition the House, & were fetcht in with a great Concourse of People.

A publick Fast was solemnized through the Kingdom 08 Dec 1641 , and not without Cause: for our Divisions grew very high, & threatened great Misery and Mischief to the Nation.

1641. This Year the ABp. of Canterbury was accused of High Treason in many Particulars, found guilty, & suffred.

The Deputy of Ireland [Strafford] was in Examination 3 Weeks, or more. The House of Lords favour'd him: the House of Comons were sore against him: so that in Apr 1641 a hot Contention & Jar had like to befal'n them because of him: at last he was condemn'd, & beheaded on Tower Hill 12 May 1641.

The Bps. were petitioned against from many Countryes; some of them severely proceeded against, & at last quite extirpated. Some Judges also were accused of Treason, others of Capital Offences. The Ship-Money was the great Matter that was laid to the Charge of most of them.

07 Sep 1641 was a publick Thanksgiving through the Land, by Act of Parliament, for the happy Peace concluded between us & the Scots, the Armies being now disbanded on both Sides.

23 Oct 1641 a damnable Plot was design'd to be put in Execution by the bloody Papists in Ireland, who had design'd the said Day to have murthered the Lord Chief Justices, & the Rest of the Councel, to have seized on all the King's Forts, Castles & Holds in the Kingdom of Ireland, to have slain all the Protestants, & utterly to have rooted out the English from among them: but it pleased the Lord to discover it the very Night before it should have been put in Execution: so that Dublin, the cheif City, was preserved & many other Places in the Kingdom; yet the Insurrection was very great & generall: the Cruelties and Outrages of the Rebells were unparrelled, in burning Houses, killing, robbing, spoiling, stripping naked, drowning, & destroying the poor Protestants. Therefore a publick Fast was conmanded to be kept the last Wednesday in every Month. Forces were sent out of England against the Rebels in Ireland: but the Wind stood contrary a long Time, so that neither Horse nor Foot could pass over; which gave the Rebels great Advantage.

Great Dissentions grew between the King & the House of Conmons concerning many Matters, but especially a Remonstrance set out by the House, shewing the State of the Kingdom, the Maledies both of Church & State, with the Causes of them; for which the King was much displeased, & caused an Answer to be printed. He came also to the House, and accused 5 of their Members of Treason, viz., Pym, Hollis, Hamden, Haselrig, and Strode, & of the House of Lords, the Lord Kimbolton.

1642. Sir John Hotham being sent by the Parliament to Kingston upon Hull, to govern the Town, & denying Entrance to the King, who came thither with 400 Horse, & demanded it from him, was by the King proclaymed Traytor, complained of to the Parliament, who justified his Deniall, & gave Order for the putting of the Kingdom into a Posture of Warr.

Good News came out of Ireland of many Defeats given to the Rebels in Mar 1642 , Apr 1642 , & May 1642 , tho' intermixed with the Loss of some Noble Conmanders, as Simon Harcourt,<tfn ref=º/> Sir Charles Coot.

One Eliz. Hill of Peckforton, having receaved the Sacrament on Good Friday, went to an Alehouse in the Afternoon, & there was drunk, & staying late, as she was going Home, shee fell, & broke her Head upon a Stone, was carried back to the Alehouse, and dyed next Day.

A Conmission of Array was granted by the King, then at York, to many Lords, Knights, & Gentlemen, throughout the Kingdom, & was now put in Execution here in Cheshire, as in other Countries; but declared to be illegall by the Parliament, & so opposed: the Militia of the Kingdom being exercised in each County by the Lieutenants, & Deputy Lieutenants, appointed by the Parliament so far as their Power could then extend.

Upon this Occasion it was, that there was one slain, & many hurt in Manchester: for the Lord Strange being put out by the Parliament, but again restored by the King to be Lieutenant of Cheshire & Lancashire, having been training with 400 Men (as the Report then was) was invited by some in the Town to a Feast; but ere it was done, one Captain Holcroft, & Capt. Birch with their Companyes, struck up a Drum, and ordered Souldiers, that they had in the Town, in Battle array: whereupon 50 Horse of the Lord Strange's made Head against them, and over matcht them.

About this Time the King beseiged Hull; but Sir John Hotham puld up the Sluices, & so, with the Inundation of the Water, made him & his Forces retire.

In Somersetshire 20 Men, or thereabouts were, some of them wounded, others slain, by the Forces of the Conmissioners of Array: whereupon, the Country rising, pursued the Conmissioners to Wells, whither they had taken a Captain: & some, imployed by the Parliament, demanded them, with those also, that had shed Blood.

Bureghall's Providence Improved. (Continueddeom before) (Jan. 1648-9 -- 1663.)

This Year 19 Jan 1648-9. King Charles was brought the last Time to Westminster Hall, to be Tryed for his Life, where a Scaffold was purposely built, & Serjeant Bradshaw in his Scarlet Robes sate as Lord President, with many other Comissioners: where, after some Time spent, hee had his Judgment to have his Head cutt off from his Body, which was afterwards performed over against Whitehall, 30 Jan 1648-9 , next ensuing, where his Head was cutt off at one Blow, about 2 of the Clock in the Afternoon; & the Body & Head put together in a Coffin, which was there reddy for that Purpose. A strange Act, & the Like never seen, or known off in England before.

A little after this, Duke Hamilton, (under the Title of the Earle of Cambridge:) Earle of Holland, & Lord Capell, were also tryed for their Lives, by Serj. Bradshaw, as Ld President, with other Comissioners, in Westminster Hall: & 09 Mar 1648-9 following, they were beheaded in the Pallace Yard at Westminster. At the same Time the Lord Goring, & Sir John Owen were condemned but were reprieved.

1649. This Year, 02 Aug 1649. Coll: Jones obtained a great Victory against the Marquis of Ormond, who coming to beseige Dublin, with an Army of 19000 Men, was utterly routed. Coll: Jones his Forces were not above 5000, (as the Report was) & yet not the 3d Part of his Foot came to fight. There were slain & taken of the Enemy 7000, and about 40 of the Parliament Side.

11 Sep 1649. General Cromwell, being in Ireland, stormed Tredagh, & at the first Assault, he was repulsed & lost many Men, but at the 2d he took it, & put them all to the Sword.

The English Forces prospered & prevailed very much in Ireland, & the Irish were subdued exceedingly! The Lord now avenged the innocent Blood that was shed in the Massacre A:D: 1641.

1650. Great Preparations were made against the Scots. A strong Army under Cromwell was sent against them, for adhering to Charles the 2d their new King, whom the Parliament of England, (such as it then was) had, by their Acts & Ordinances cashiered, with all the Royall Progeny.

In September Gen: Cromwell obtained a great Victory over them at Dunbar, where were slain 4000 private Souldiers, taken Prisoners 1000, all their Horse kill'd, taken, or made unserviceable, about 2000; Comission Officers as Collonells, Lieut: Collonells taken, 299. Comissioners of State 2, viz: Libberton, & Sir James Lunsdon, Lieut: Gen: of their Foot: Foot Arms 1500, 32 Peices of Ordinance, with all their Amunition. The Scots Word was The Covenant: The English, The Lord of Hosts.

1651. This Year the King of Scots came into England, with an Army of 16000 or thereabouts, which was wholly routed by Cromwell at Worcester. Yet the King himself escaped, & got safe into France, in a strange & wonderfull Manner.

This Year was great Draught in Mar 1651 , Apr 1651 , May 1651 , & Jun 1651 : but upon seeking God by Prayer & Fasting, wee had Supply of Rain in due Time.

18 May 1652 was a great Sea Fight between the English & the Dutch, in the Downs, which lasted 4 Hours. Much Hurt was there done on both Sides. Also many other Skirmishes happened between us, & the Hollanders: the Events were divers, but for the most Part we had the better.

20 Jun 1652 in Lawton Church, as the Minister was preaching, 11 yong Men were slain instantly by the Lightning that was then. The Minister's Text next Day, being their Funerall, was Luke 13, 4.

1653. Generall Cromwell & his Officers dissolved the Parliament, & sent out his Writts into all Cities & Counties to sumon others, whom hee thought fitt; who met at Westminster 04 Jul 1653 voted themselves a Parliament, & acted accordingly.

In August there was a cruell Sea Fight between England & Holland, the Victory fell to the English. Van Trump the Dutch Admiral was slain, & De Witt was stabb'd as soon as he came to Land, by one of their own Men.

Among other Things the New Parliament made an Act, that no Persons must be married but by a Justice of Peace, Ministers having Nothing to do in it. [ 24 Aug 1653 ]

Upon Munday 12 Dec 1653 the New Parliament dissolved themselves & resigned all their Power to Generall Cromwell, who, the Day following was proclaimed Lord Protector of England, Scotland, & Ireland, who took an Oath to the State to be true to 21 Articles for the Good of the People. The Occasion of the Parliaments dissolving was the voting down of Tythes & Ministry.

03 Sep 1654. the Protector called another Parliament: but a Clash fell among them at the very Beginning, & none were admitted to it, but those that took the Engagement to be true to the Protector.

22 Jan 1654-5 after, the Protector dissolved the Parliament, before any thing was done: tho' the same Day they intended to have presented to him the Acts they had made for his Confirmation.

This Year 4 cheif Men of the Army, viz: Harrison, Rich, Carew & Courtney, were imprisoned for speaking against the Protector, & the present Government, & for refusing to come at the Protectors Call.

1655. Besides our great Navy under Blake and Penn, which forraged as far as Tunis, Algiers & Tripolis, another was sent forth under Coll: Venables, with 1000 Men, for the Western Islands of America; which assaulting Hispaniola, were there defeated, with a great Loss of Men: tho' afterwards, those that were left there, took an Iland called Jamaica, & planted there.

1655. The Quakers, a giddy & absurd Sort of Heretics, holding partly with Papists, partly with Anabaptists, partly with Antinomians, began lately to start up amongst us, & this Year they multiplied in many Places.

Their religion consists cheifly in censuring others, & railing upon them, especially Ministers, whom they despised, & counted as the Dung of the Earth; making it their ordinary Practice to disturb them in their Sermons. They denyed the Trinity; they denyed the Scriptures to be the Word of God; they said, that they had no Sin.

John Burroughs of Calvely, in Bunbury Parish having been ever given to Drunkeness, on the Lord's Day, as well as on other, was found dead in his Chamber on a Munday morning, of a surfeit taken the Lord's Day before.

17 Sep 1656. the Protector called a Parliament. Many Members were excepted against: some in the Country before they went up; others after they came thither.

The English got a great Victory of the Spaniard by Sea, for which a publick Thanksgiving Day was kept. 05 Nov 1656

1657. A great Feaver raged in the Kingdom.

Margaret Hutchinson of Acton Parish, being questioned for slandering my eldest Son, she took Drink & drunk it, wishing it might be her last, if ever shee wronged him. It pleased God shee sickened that very Day of a Feaver, which grew so violent, that, according to her own Execration, she never drunk more, but what was on Posset.

20 Jan 1657-8 the Parliament began to sit again; but was quickly dissolved by the Ld Protector: and so the great Expectation of crowning him King, was frustrated, many Great ones in the Army being against it.

08 Jun 1658. Sir Henry Slingsby, & Dr. Hewit were beheaded on Tower Hill, for attempting to bring in the King, in a hostile Way. Many others were discovered, & found guilty by an High Court of Justice, authorized by the Protector for that Purpose.

03 Jun 1658 a Whale was killed near Greenwich, 58 Foot long, 12 Foot high, 14 Foot broad, 2 Foot between the Eyes.

The Protector being in League with France, sent over a considerable Company of Souldiers, both Horse & Foot, who afforded great Assistance to the French King. They took in Mardike; & afterwards helped much to the taking of Dunkirk, which, by Composition, fell to the English, & was, till of late, in their Possession. 03 Sep 1658 The Lord Protector dyed, being the same Day of the Month on which he won those 2 famous Battles, Dunbarr & Worcester. Before his Death hee nominated his eldest Son Richard to be Protector after him.

A Parliament was called by the new Protector, & sate 27 Jan 1658

1659. The Parliament was dissolved by the Ld Protector 29 Apr 1659 the Army overawing both it, & him, because they had voted some Things to the infringing of the Power of the Army & their present Meetings in London, in Opposition to the Parliament, Whereupon some of the Long Parliament (being then in & about London,) were called by the Army to Westminster; & sate & voted as a Parliament.

This year Sir George Booth, with many other Cheshire Gentlemen, Sir Tho: Middleton, with many in Wales, & Coll: Holland with many in Lancashire, raised Forces against the Parliament, & Army, but were defeated by Lambert at Winnington Bridge, near Northwich 19 Aug 1659 Many were taken Prisoners, but few slain. After which Defeat many were Sequestrated.

The Army again dissolved the Parliament imediately after Lambert came up to London, after his Victory in Cheshire, because they refused to make more Head-Comission Officers, at the Demand of the Army, & had threatened to imprison Lambert. Whereupon the Army drew up to Westminster, & besieged the Parliament, which was guarded by Coll: Morley's & Coll: Walton's Regiments. They stood in Battalio a good Part of the Day: at last, upon Comand of the Counsell of State, the 2 Regiments drew off, & the Parliament had Leave to play.

Upon this the Army appointed a new Kind of Government, called a Comittee of Safety. Whereupon sending to Monk, Generall of the Forces in Scotland, to desire his Concurrence with them, in this new Way, hee refused, & stood upon his own Defence, against the English Army, who, under the Conduct of Lambert, imediately marcht down into the North, Monk being in Reddiness, with great Forces to oppose them. But a Treaty was held at Westminster, & an Agreement was made between them: Coll: Wilks, Coll: Clobery, & Major Knight being sent from Monk about that Buisness. But this Agreement came to Nothing: for the People every where were discontented. The Lord Mayor of London stood upon his Guard against Fleetwood: & many Places revolted, & shook off the Army's Yoke: as Portsmouth, Colchester, the Isle of Wight, Coventry, Stafford. Dublin Castle was surprized, & taken & most of Ireland revolted. The Lord Fairfax, with many other Gentlemen in Yorkshire, opposed Lambert's Forces, & seized upon York, & secured it for the Parliament. Lambert's Army leaves him, & hee is forct to submit to the Parliament, for which Monk & Fairfax declare; & to that End write their Letters.

Yet the People were discontented everywhere: because the old secluded Members, who were forcibly driven out [in] 1648 by the Army, being by far the greater Number, were not admitted to sit; & because an Oath must be taken of all the Members to renounce utterly the Family of the Stuarts. Hereupon Generall Monk, at the Instigation of the Parliament (called by way of Derision the Rump) entered London, breaking down their Gates, removing their Posts & chains, taking divers cheif Men Prisoners, besides Apprentices, who were stript & hardly used; to the great Distaste both of the City, & the whole Nation: but soon after, viz: Tuesday, Febr: 2, were brought in the Secluded Members into the House, who voted down, what the Rump had done formerly, & made Monk Generall of the Forces in all the 3 Nations, Waller Lieutenant Generall, & Rosciter Major Generall. Whereupon divers of the Rump departed the House in great Discontent: among whom was Sir Arthur Haslerig.

The Cheshire Gentlemen that were imprisoned for the late Insurrection were released, Lambert proclaimed Traitor, endeavouring to raise new Troubles, was defeated by Ingoldsby, brought Prisoner to London, broke out of the Tower, but was again taken, & comitted to close Prison.

1660. Things continuing in this distracted Condition, an Agreement was made between Charles the 2d then at Breda, & the Parliament, which began to sit at Westminster, 25 Apr 1660. The King was called in, & proclaimed with great Joy through all the three Nations.

About the latter End of September dyed the King's Brother, Henry Duke of Glocester, a very hopefull Prince. In the December after, the Princess of Orange dyed here in England, coming over to see the King her Brother.

06 Jan 1660-1 being Sabbath Day, at Midnight, the Phanaticks, (as they were called,) 5th Monarchy Men, Anabaptists, & such Like rose in a tumultuous Manner, tho' but a few in Number, & being armed on Horseback, kill'd & wounded many in London: but they were beaten back & disperst by the Lord Mayor. And on Wednesday & Thursday they made new Assaults, but were defeated.

Great Storms & Winds which wafted over two little Children from Ireland to Leverpool, in a small Boat, without any Harm: whereas many other greater Vessels were cast away.

16 Mar 1660-1 Two Quakers came to disturb me in the publick Congregation. God so ordered my Studies, that the Sermon was pat against them. They had Liberty to speak, & were answered: at last, one of them denyed the S. S. to be the Word of God: whereupon they were, with Shame, thrust out of the Congregation.

The King was crowned 28 Apr 1661 , with such Pomp & Magnificence, as can hardly be expressed.

He called a Parliament, which began to sit about 28 May 1661. He caused them to confirm his Act of Grace, or free Pardon. Bishops are now restored. The Covenant burnt by the Hands of the Comon Hangman, & made the Matter of Reproach & Scorn in many Places.

09 Jun 1661 Two Quakers came into the Church with Lanthorn & Candle, while I was preaching. Their Design was, as they confesst to have lighted a Sheet of Paper, which they had, as a Sign of God's Anger burning against us.

Some remarkable Passages happened in the Coming down of Bp. Walton from London to Chester, & while he was there.

First, his Coach was overturned by the Way, & his Wife's Face sore bruised by a Fall out of it.

2. Two of those Troops of Horse that came to conduct him (viz: Sir John Booth's & Philip Egerton's) upon Tilston Heath, fell at Odds about Precedency, & were reddy for Blows.

3. Coming thro' Torporley, & the Bells ringing for him, a Man was almost kill'd with the Stroke of a Bell.

4. Capn Cholmly's Wife going to visit him with a Present, fell & broke her Arm.

5. A Man coming to Chester to congratulate him, &, as was reported, to complain of some Body, fell down before him suddenly, & dyed: which much amazed, & affrighted him.

6. Dr. Winter, a learned & pious Divine, being silenced by him, told him to his Face, He would have no Comfort for so doing, when he must appear before Christ: which was not long after. Within a While his Chaplain dyed also.

30 Jul 1662. great Thunder & lightninge & a great Storm of Hail. Some Hailstones were 6 or 7 Inches about. Ralph Witney of Bartomley, (as was reported by one that heard him speak it,) took up one 11 Inches about. Some had the Resemblance of Men & Women upon them; some of other Things.

The self same Day, Dr. Hall, Bp. of Chester, came into the City, & a great Clap of Thunder happened to be just at his Entrance into the Pallace.

24 Aug 1662 The severe Act of Uniformity was put in Execution. Many Ministers were outed every where, through the Kingdom, that would not conform: & among the Rest myself. I preacht that Day two Sermons, one at Wrenbury, t'other at Acton, 2 Cor: 13.11, Finally Brethren, Farewell.

03 Oct 1662 There came an Order from the ABp. of York to suspend mee utterly from the Vicarage of Acton: & 26 Oct 1662 Mr. Kirks, who had been Chaplain at Woodhey, was presented, and had Institution & Induction from the Bp. of Chester, which would not serve: but hee had it again from the ABp. of York. He took Possession of the Church 10 Nov 1662 , the Day before Martinmas, when all the Tythe Calves in Wrenbury & Acton (which was the Substance of my Means) were due to mee & were wont to be gathered at that Time: & yet I had but one-Half of the Calves in Acton: he had all the Rest, tho' I had taken the Pains the whole Year before. This Year there were many strange Prodigies.

In Jan 1662 : came forth a Declaration from the King, promising some Liberty to tender Consciences next Sessions of Parliament. But it came to Nothing.

1663. Not long after the Queen's Coming to London, she fell dangerously sick, insomuch that it was reported in divers Parts of the Kingdom, that she was dead. But she recovered.

Written by Edward Burghall Minister of Acton.

[End of Burghall's "Providence Improved."]

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