







 
   
     
       
         A letter from Sir Arthur Hesilrige, to the honorable committee of the Councel of State for Irish and Scotish affairs at White-Hall, concerning the Scots prisoners. Die Veneris, 8 Novembr. 1650. Ordered by the Parliament, that this letter be forthwith printed and published. Hen: Scobell, Cleric. Parliamenti.
         Hesilrige, Arthur, Sir, d. 1661.
      
       
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             A letter from Sir Arthur Hesilrige, to the honorable committee of the Councel of State for Irish and Scotish affairs at White-Hall, concerning the Scots prisoners. Die Veneris, 8 Novembr. 1650. Ordered by the Parliament, that this letter be forthwith printed and published. Hen: Scobell, Cleric. Parliamenti.
             Hesilrige, Arthur, Sir, d. 1661.
          
           7, [1] p.
           
             Printed by Edward Husband and John Field, printers to the Parliament of England,
             London :
             1650.
          
           
             Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Prisoners of war -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
       A86092  R206705  (Thomason E615_18).  civilwar no A letter from Sir Arthur Hesilrige,:  to the honorable committee of the Councel of State for Irish and Scotish affairs at White-Hall, concer Hesilrige, Arthur, Sir 1650    1579 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A This text  has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription.  
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           A
           LETTER
           From
           Sir
           
             Arthur
             Hesilrige
             ,
          
           To
           the
           Honorable
           Committee
           OF
           THE
           Councel
           of
           State
           FOR
           
             Irish
          
           and
           
             Scotish
          
           Affairs
           at
           
             White-Hall
             ,
          
           Concerning
           the
           Scots
           Prisoners
           .
        
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       Die
                       Veneris
                       ,
                       8
                       Novembr.
                       1650.
                       
                    
                  
                
                 
                   ORdered
                   by
                   the
                   Parliament
                   ,
                   That
                   this
                   Letter
                   be
                   forthwith
                   printed
                   and
                   published
                   .
                
                 
                   
                     Hen
                     :
                     Scobell
                     ,
                     Cleric
                     .
                     Parliamenti
                     .
                  
                
              
            
          
        
         
           
             London
             ,
          
           Printed
           by
           
             Edward
             Husband
          
           and
           
             John
             Field
             ,
          
           Printers
           to
           the
           Parliament
           of
           
             England
             ,
          
           1650.
           
        
      
    
     
       
       
       
         
           
             Gentlemen
             ,
          
        
         
           I
           Received
           your
           Letter
           dated
           the
           Twenty
           sixth
           of
           
             October
             ;
          
           in
           that
           you
           desire
           me
           ,
           That
           Two
           thousand
           three
           hundred
           of
           the
           
             Scotch
          
           Prisoners
           now
           at
           
             Durham
          
           or
           elswhere
           ,
           able
           and
           fit
           for
           Foot
           Service
           ,
           be
           selected
           ,
           and
           marched
           thence
           to
           
             Chester
          
           and
           
             Liverpool
             ,
          
           to
           be
           shipped
           for
           the
           South
           and
           West
           of
           
             Ireland
             ,
          
           and
           that
           I
           should
           take
           special
           care
           not
           to
           send
           any
           Highlanders
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           necessitated
           upon
           the
           receipt
           of
           this
           ,
           to
           give
           you
           a
           full
           accompt
           concerning
           the
           Prisoners
           :
           After
           the
           Battel
           at
           
             Dunbar
          
           in
           
             Scotland
             ,
          
           my
           Lord
           General
           writ
           to
           me
           ,
           That
           there
           was
           about
           Nine
           thousand
           Prisoners
           ,
           and
           that
           of
           them
           he
           had
           set
           at
           liberty
           all
           those
           that
           were
           wounded
           ,
           and
           ,
           as
           he
           thought
           ,
           disabled
           for
           future
           Service
           ,
           and
           their
           Number
           was
           ,
           as
           Mr.
           
             Downing
          
           writ
           ,
           Five
           thousand
           one
           hundred
           ;
           the
           rest
           the
           General
           sent
           towards
           
             Newcastle
             ,
          
           conducted
           to
           
             Berwick
          
           by
           Major
           
             Hobson
             ,
          
           and
           from
           
             Berwick
          
           to
           
             Newcastle
          
           by
           some
           Foot
           out
           of
           that
           Garison
           ,
           and
           the
           Troop
           of
           Horse
           ;
           when
           they
           came
           to
           
             Morpeth
             ,
          
           the
           Prisoners
           being
           put
           into
           a
           large
           walled
           Garden
           ,
           they
           eat
           up
           raw
           Cabages
           ,
           Leaves
           and
           Roots
           ,
           so
           many
           ,
           as
           the
           very
           seed
           and
           the
           labor
           ,
           at
           Four
           pence
           a
           day
           ,
           was
           valued
           by
           sufficient
           men
           at
           Nine
           pounds
           ;
           which
           Cabage
           ,
           as
           I
           conceive
           ,
           they
           having
           fasted
           ,
           as
           they
           themselves
           said
           ,
           near
           eight
           days
           ,
           poysoned
           their
           Bodies
           ;
           for
           as
           they
           were
           coming
           from
           thence
           to
           
           
             Newcastle
             ,
          
           some
           dyed
           by
           the
           way-side
           ,
           and
           when
           they
           came
           to
           
             Newcastle
             ,
          
           I
           put
           them
           into
           the
           greatest
           Church
           in
           the
           Town
           ,
           and
           the
           next
           morning
           when
           I
           sent
           them
           to
           
             Durham
             ,
          
           about
           Sevenscore
           were
           sick
           ,
           and
           not
           able
           to
           march
           ,
           and
           three
           dyed
           that
           night
           ,
           and
           some
           fell
           down
           in
           their
           march
           from
           
             Newcastle
          
           to
           
             Durham
             ,
          
           and
           dyed
           ;
           and
           when
           they
           came
           to
           
             Durham
             ,
          
           I
           having
           sent
           my
           Lieutenant
           Colonel
           and
           my
           Major
           ,
           with
           a
           strong
           Guard
           both
           of
           Horse
           and
           Foot
           ,
           and
           they
           being
           there
           told
           into
           the
           great
           Cathedral
           Church
           ,
           they
           could
           not
           count
           them
           to
           more
           then
           Three
           thousand
           ;
           although
           Colonel
           
             Fenwick
          
           writ
           to
           me
           ,
           That
           there
           were
           about
           Three
           thousand
           five
           hundred
           ,
           but
           I
           believe
           they
           were
           not
           told
           at
           
             Berwick
             ,
          
           and
           most
           of
           those
           that
           were
           lost
           ,
           it
           was
           in
           
             Scotland
             ;
          
           for
           I
           heard
           ,
           That
           the
           Officers
           that
           marched
           with
           them
           to
           
             Berwick
             ,
          
           were
           necessitated
           to
           kill
           about
           Thirty
           ,
           fearing
           the
           loss
           of
           them
           all
           ,
           for
           they
           fell
           down
           in
           great
           Numbers
           ,
           and
           said
           ,
           They
           were
           not
           able
           to
           march
           ;
           and
           they
           brought
           them
           far
           in
           the
           night
           ,
           so
           that
           doubtless
           many
           ran
           away
           .
           When
           I
           sent
           them
           first
           to
           
             Durham
             ,
          
           I
           writ
           to
           the
           Major
           ,
           and
           desired
           him
           to
           take
           care
           ,
           that
           they
           wanted
           not
           any
           thing
           that
           was
           fit
           for
           Prisoners
           ,
           and
           what
           he
           should
           disburse
           for
           them
           ,
           I
           would
           repay
           it
           .
           I
           also
           sent
           them
           a
           daily
           supply
           of
           bread
           from
           
             Newcastle
             ,
          
           and
           an
           allowance
           equal
           to
           what
           had
           been
           given
           to
           former
           Prisoners
           :
           But
           their
           Bodies
           being
           infected
           ,
           the
           Flux
           encreased
           amongst
           them
           .
           I
           sent
           many
           Officers
           to
           look
           to
           them
           ,
           &
           appointed
           that
           those
           that
           were
           sick
           should
           be
           removed
           out
           the
           Cathedral
           Church
           into
           the
           Bishops
           Castle
           ,
           which
           belongs
           to
           Mistris
           
             Blakiston
             ,
          
           and
           provided
           
           Cooks
           ,
           and
           they
           had
           Pottage
           made
           with
           Oatmeal
           ,
           and
           Beef
           and
           Cabages
           ,
           a
           full
           Quart
           at
           a
           Meal
           for
           every
           Prisoner
           :
           They
           had
           also
           coals
           daily
           brought
           to
           them
           ,
           as
           many
           as
           made
           about
           a
           hundred
           Fires
           both
           day
           and
           night
           ,
           and
           Straw
           to
           lie
           upon
           ;
           and
           I
           appointed
           the
           Marshal
           to
           see
           all
           these
           things
           orderly
           done
           ,
           and
           he
           was
           allowed
           Eight
           men
           to
           help
           him
           to
           divide
           the
           coals
           ,
           and
           their
           Meat
           ,
           Bread
           and
           Pottage
           equally
           :
           They
           were
           so
           unruly
           ,
           sluttish
           and
           nasty
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           believed
           ;
           they
           acted
           rather
           like
           Beasts
           then
           Men
           ,
           so
           that
           the
           Marshal
           was
           allowed
           Forty
           men
           to
           cleanse
           and
           sweep
           them
           every
           day
           :
           But
           those
           men
           were
           of
           the
           lustiest
           Prisoners
           ,
           that
           had
           some
           small
           thing
           given
           them
           extraordinary
           :
           And
           these
           provisions
           were
           for
           those
           that
           were
           in
           health
           ;
           and
           for
           those
           that
           were
           sick
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           Castle
           ,
           they
           had
           very
           good
           Mutton
           Broth
           ,
           and
           sometimes
           Veal
           Broth
           ,
           and
           Beef
           and
           Mutton
           boild
           together
           ,
           and
           old
           Women
           appointed
           to
           look
           to
           them
           in
           the
           several
           Rooms
           :
           There
           was
           also
           a
           Physitian
           which
           let
           them
           Blood
           ,
           and
           dressed
           such
           as
           were
           wounded
           ,
           and
           gave
           the
           sick
           Physick
           ,
           and
           I
           dare
           confidently
           say
           ,
           There
           was
           never
           the
           like
           care
           taken
           for
           any
           such
           Number
           of
           prisoners
           that
           ever
           were
           in
           
             England
             .
          
           Notwithstanding
           all
           this
           ,
           many
           of
           them
           dyed
           ,
           and
           few
           of
           any
           other
           Disease
           but
           the
           Flux
           ;
           some
           were
           killed
           by
           themselves
           ,
           for
           they
           were
           exceeding
           cruel
           one
           towards
           another
           :
           If
           a
           man
           was
           perceived
           to
           have
           any
           Money
           ,
           it
           was
           two
           to
           one
           but
           he
           was
           killed
           before
           morning
           ,
           and
           Robbed
           ;
           and
           if
           any
           had
           good
           clothes
           ,
           he
           that
           wanted
           ,
           if
           he
           was
           able
           ,
           would
           strangle
           him
           ,
           and
           put
           on
           his
           clothes
           :
           And
           the
           Disease
           of
           the
           Flux
           still
           encreasing
           amongst
           
           them
           ,
           I
           was
           then
           forced
           ,
           for
           their
           preservation
           ,
           if
           possible
           it
           might
           be
           ,
           to
           send
           to
           all
           the
           next
           Towns
           to
           
             Durham
             ,
          
           within
           four
           or
           five
           miles
           ,
           to
           command
           them
           to
           bring
           in
           their
           Milk
           ,
           for
           that
           was
           conceived
           to
           be
           the
           best
           Remedy
           for
           stopping
           of
           their
           Flux
           ,
           and
           I
           promised
           them
           what
           Rates
           they
           usually
           sold
           it
           for
           at
           the
           Markets
           ,
           which
           was
           accordingly
           performed
           by
           about
           Threescore
           Towns
           and
           places
           ,
           and
           Twenty
           of
           the
           next
           Towns
           to
           
             Durham
          
           continue
           still
           to
           send
           daily
           in
           their
           Milk
           ,
           which
           is
           boiled
           ,
           some
           with
           Water
           ,
           and
           some
           with
           Bean
           flower
           ,
           the
           Physitians
           holding
           it
           exceeding
           good
           for
           recovery
           of
           their
           health
           .
        
         
           
             Gentlemen
             ,
          
           You
           cannot
           but
           think
           strange
           this
           long
           preamble
           ,
           and
           to
           wonder
           what
           the
           matter
           will
           be
           ;
           in
           short
           its
           this
           ,
           Of
           the
           Three
           thousand
           prisoners
           that
           my
           Officers
           told
           into
           the
           Cathedral
           Church
           at
           
             Durham
             ,
          
           Three
           hundred
           from
           thence
           ,
           and
           Fifty
           from
           
             Newcastle
          
           of
           the
           Sevenscore
           left
           behinde
           ,
           were
           delivered
           to
           Major
           
             Clerk
          
           by
           Order
           from
           the
           Councel
           ,
           and
           there
           are
           about
           Five
           hundred
           sick
           in
           the
           Castle
           ,
           and
           about
           Six
           hundred
           yet
           in
           health
           in
           the
           Cathedral
           ,
           the
           most
           of
           which
           are
           in
           probability
           Highlanders
           ,
           they
           being
           hardier
           then
           the
           rest
           ,
           and
           other
           means
           to
           distinguish
           them
           we
           have
           not
           ,
           and
           about
           Sixteen
           hundred
           are
           dead
           and
           buried
           ,
           and
           Officers
           about
           Sixty
           ,
           that
           are
           at
           the
           Marshals
           in
           
             Newcastle
             .
          
           My
           Lord
           General
           having
           released
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Officers
           ,
           and
           the
           Councel
           having
           given
           me
           power
           to
           take
           out
           what
           I
           thought
           fit
           ,
           I
           have
           granted
           to
           several
           well-affected
           persons
           that
           have
           Salt-works
           at
           
             Sheels
             ,
          
           and
           want
           Servants
           ,
           Forty
           ,
           and
           they
           have
           engaged
           to
           keep
           them
           to
           work
           at
           their
           Salt-pans
           ;
           and
           I
           have
           taken
           out
           more
           
           about
           Twelve
           Weavers
           ,
           to
           begin
           a
           Trade
           of
           Linnen
           cloth
           like
           unto
           the
           Scotch-cloth
           ,
           and
           about
           Forty
           Laborers
           .
           I
           cannot
           give
           you
           on
           this
           sudden
           a
           more
           exact
           Accompt
           of
           the
           Prisoners
           ,
           neither
           can
           any
           Accompt
           hold
           true
           long
           ,
           because
           they
           still
           dye
           daily
           ,
           and
           doubtless
           so
           they
           will
           ,
           so
           long
           as
           any
           remain
           in
           Prison
           .
           And
           for
           those
           that
           are
           well
           ,
           if
           Major
           
             Clerk
          
           could
           have
           believed
           that
           they
           had
           been
           able
           to
           have
           marched
           on
           foot
           ,
           he
           would
           have
           marched
           them
           by
           Land
           ;
           for
           we
           perceive
           that
           divers
           that
           are
           seemingly
           healthy
           ,
           and
           have
           not
           at
           all
           been
           sick
           ,
           suddenly
           dye
           ,
           and
           we
           cannot
           give
           any
           reason
           of
           it
           ,
           onely
           we
           apprehend
           they
           are
           all
           infected
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           strength
           of
           some
           holds
           it
           out
           till
           it
           seize
           upon
           their
           very
           hearts
           .
           Now
           you
           fully
           understand
           the
           condition
           and
           the
           number
           of
           the
           Prisoners
           ,
           what
           you
           please
           to
           direct
           ,
           I
           shall
           observe
           ,
           and
           intend
           not
           to
           proceed
           further
           upon
           this
           Letter
           ,
           until
           I
           have
           your
           Answer
           upon
           what
           I
           have
           now
           written
           .
           I
           am
           ,
        
         
           
             Gentlemen
             ,
          
           
             Your
             affectionate
             Servant
             ,
             
               Art
               :
               Hesilrige
               .
            
          
           
             
               Octob.
            
             31.
             1650.
             
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
    

