27 
pilledgers, but especially the prison, made a difference 
betwixt those that feared God, and those that feare him 
not. But this is remarkeable in their vileness that all these 
houses saving two were fired in their cold blood, at their 
departure, wherein they endeavoured to fire all, and in 
the flames they would not suffer the people to carry out 
their goods, or to quench it, triumphantly with reproaches 
rejoyced that the wind stood right to consume the Towne, 
at which presently the Lord caused the wind to turn 
which was a token of his notice of their insultation. For 
pillage, I heare of but little I lost, having obscured the 
things I had of any value; and for fire, God did mar- 
vellously prevent, both to me and many others, whereat 
the malignants are so enraged that they have since pulled 
down my mill, and pretend that Prince Rupert so com- 
manded, and threaten to pull down my house and divers 
others, which I think they dare not, lest they build it up 
againe, the county having sent them admonition of their 
insolvency. . 
“Your loving Friend, R. P. 
“Coventry, April 8, 1643.” 
Another letter, published with the former, states as 
follows :— 
““Sir,—Being by my promise ingaged unto you, I am 
now to make relation of a most barbarous massacre of our 
townsmen of Bermingham, and of the inraged cruelty of 
Prince Rupert and his inhumane cavaliers: Sir, thus it 
was, about three of the clock one munday in the after- 
noone, he had with neere two thousand horse and foote, 
four “Drakes, and two Sakers, set against the Towne, 
playing with his ordnance and endeavouring to force 
his way, with foot and horse; were twice beaten 
