30 
I could wish I might heare how the city stands affected 
with our losse, for a little reliefe from them might much 
comfort many poore people which have lost all, and are left 
well nie naked and harbourlesse; it would much encourage 
all to stand out in the cause, that are but indifferent, a helpe 
to ease the better party of the burthen of the which will be 
otherwise too great for us. I would move some friends if 
you think fit I have allready put on the worke of contri- 
bution in this city.” 
It does not appear to whom either of the foregoing letters 
were written. They contain the accounts of the defeated 
party in this contest, in which the Royal party are called 
malignants, but ‘‘ Audi alteram partem,” and this appears 
in,— 
“A Letter written from Walshall, by a worthy Gentle- 
man, to his Friend in Oxford, concerning Burmingham.’ : 
Printed in the yeare MDCXLIII.” 
“‘ Sir,—Hearing of the approach of Prince Rupert, his 
Highnesse, and comming according to my duty to attend 
him, In my way I heard of the miserable destruction of 
Burmingham by fire, which I must confesse tooke the 
deepest apprehension with me of any one accident since the 
beginning of these unhappy distractions, as presenting to 
my view a Picture of the present estate of Germany, and 
as by a Prospective shewing me (not very farre off,) the 
Scene translated from thence hither. This sad thought 
drew me to a narrow enquiry of the causes of the burning 
of the Towne, and whether it was done by authority or no. 
And I found that the Inhabitants of the towne were they 
who first stirred up those of Coventry to resist the King, 
and that about 300 from thence went into Coventry to 
defend it against the King’s forces; that from thence they 
