1646-7.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 171 



brother s forces in Glamorganshire spoken of. But 

 upon these considerations, how hazardous it will be to 

 send away a part of the army only. I humbly offer to 

 your Excellency, not speaking anything of a great dis 

 heartening and discouragement some take at a pretended 

 declaration of his Majesty against me, though I myself 

 value it so little, as that, could I, without shortening 

 much more advantage to his Majesty s service, go my 

 self in person with 6000 men, I should no ways boggle 

 thereat. And as it now stands, to give testimony that 

 my zeal is not lessened to his service, and that you may 

 have further assurance of my care to your person, I 

 make this offer, that if you please to join, and together 

 with the Supreme Council assure me, that against my 

 return I may have 10,000 men in readiness for his Ma 

 jesty s service, I will immediately go and bring back 

 with me twenty sail of good shipping at the least, well 

 furnished for men of war ; 40,000 ready money ; 

 10,000 musquets, 2,000 case of pistols, 800 barrels of 

 powder, and a gallant train of artillery.* For I shrink 

 not at this instant from pain and expenses out of dimi 

 nution of zeal to his Majesty s service, as by the present 

 difficulties propounded may perchance be surmised by 

 others, though not by your Excellency, who (I am 

 confident) will make a right construction, and how I 

 only would willingly retire myself from further present 

 charge, as a ram doth to take a greater vease. For I 

 am not so much frightened at the bugbear declaration, 

 but that, if I could go myself with a considerable force 



* This statement agrees pretty nearly with that occurring at page 160, and in 

 &quot; The Earl of Glamorgan s instructions to me, to be presented to your Majesty,&quot; 

 signed by Edward Bosden, 21st of March, 1644, viz. : 



&quot; That, God willing, by the end of May or beginning of June, he will land with 

 6000 Irish, &c. &c. 



&quot; That to advance these his undertakings, he hath 30,000 ready, 10,000 muskets, 

 2000 case of pistols, 800 barrels of powder, besides his own artillery ; and is ascer 

 tained of 30,000 more, which Avill be ready upon his return.&quot; See the &quot; King s 

 Cabinet opened,&quot; 4to. 1645. And Birch s Inquiry, 1756, p. 57. 



