place to place as the fervice did require. The guide did bring us weft. ward of the river. I am no feaman, and profeffed my trouble at the thing, as I can prove, neither knew I any port or part of that coaft.When I went to general Penn I knew nothing but that our guide (as he told me) was on board the vice-admiral, to bring us to the river, till I was told we were past it. 6th.-Marching about, when major-general Haynes advifed a nearer way. My lord, we had not one man amongst us that knew one foot of the way from our landing place to the River Hine, and therefore no man can fay we went out of our way there; and when we came to the river there was a ford which we searched for, but found none. Colonel Buller (who was ordered by general Penn to ftay at the ford for us) marched away against order, and carried the guide with him, which put us ten or twelve miles out of the way; but major-general Haynes and captain Butler were earneft, notwithstanding our men were long fasting, to march to feek Buller, left he might be cut off; which we did, and no man knows but we went the nearest way, and I believe there was no other. My lord, I have briefly given your excellency an account, according as the fhortnefs of the time did fuggeft things to my thoughts, but I have fomething more to add when I have with more deliberation confidered the particulars, and therefore humbly defire that this may not be taken as the utmost can be pleaded by, my lord, Your excellency's very humble and obliged fervant, RICHARD VENABLES I COULD have fpoken more fully and more particularly, but I con ceived this general answer moft rational, and therefore referved for a trial, if called to it. After this Mr. Eaton came to me again, and defired me to draw a petition, and he would prefent it to his highness; and my lord Fleetwood did promise to assist him in it. Whereupon I drew the following petition, October 23, 1655: To his highness the lord protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland, THE HUMBLE PETITION OF RICHARD VENABLES. SHEWETH, THAT, upon the fignification of your highnesses displeasure, in his commitment to the tower, he made his humble addrefs by petition to your highness, that a confinement to his chamber might only have been inflicted for fometime; in regard of his prefent weakness and many occafions, which much preffed him; but not being delivered, as he humbly conceives, until after his commitment, he now most humbly imploreth, that your highnesses clemency may fo far commiferate his fad affliction as to grant him fo much of enlarge ment from his imprisonment, that he may be enabled to make use of fome means for his health, and may have an opportunity to lay before your highnefs the whole fervices of his behaviour, in the buhnefs he hath been fo unhappy in; wherein if he be not able to manifeft he hath behaved himself faithfully, though accompanied with cross providences, he is ready to abide with much more fatisfaction any further or other mark of your displeasure; and your highnefes favour herein fhall oblige your petitioner ever to pray. RICHARD VENABLES. SOME few days after, Mr. Eaton returned to me, and told me his highness was in great rage upon reading it; and caft it away, faying, I would caft the blame of all upon him. After this, Mr. Eaton came to me and told me, that there were fome further exceptions against me, to which I gave him my answers, which here followeth : Obječtion first.—A proclamation against pillage. Anfwer.-I did nothing in that but what was the commiffioners order, which by my inftructions I was bound to obferve; and therefore, though against my judgment, (which is before cleared), yet was conftrained to do it, left the neglect thould be charged upon me. Objection fecond.--Our landing to the weftward. where where the feamen would bring me. Myfelf and officers voted the River Hine; from which place, unless beat off, we refolved not to go, as the votes yet extant will declare; but our guide brought us elsewhere, which was not my fault; that part of the fervice belonging to the feamen over whom I had no command. Objection third.-Our retreat the first time after the enemy was beaten. Anfwer.-ft. Our men at that inftant were faiting forty-eight hours, and both men and horfe died of thirst. 2d. They wanted ammunition. 3d. Our guide was flain in the fight. 4th. It was fo dark we could not fee a place to aflault. 5th. If we could, we had no ladders. 6th. Had we marched up the river, it was five miles, through woods, no guide to lead us, and fubject to ambushes; and alfo the town would lie between us and our fleet. The retreat was voted for these reasons by a council of war. Objection fourth.The drawing off the mortar-piece. Anfwer. The army had a panick terror upon them, fo that the officers faid, as foldiers we were bound to go on, but as chriftians they would not advise it, seeing the foldiers had loft their hearts and always left their officers. The fire-mafter came in and offered to take the place with the mortar-piece; upon which the officers voted they would not draw off before the next day at funrise. The pioneers would not be drawn, nor any other, though myfelf and officers did, fo long as we could ftand on our legs, endeavour to procure men to work for money or any reward, but none would; and captain Hughes refused to play the piece without a breaftwork fo that he declining, and no workmen to be got, according to the council's vote, the army fainting for water, were forced to retreat. Objection fifth.-My breaking up the commiffion alone. Anfwer.fent for the commiffioners, and, when no man expected my continuance in this life for twenty-four hours, they delayed two days; and then only captain Butler came: fo that unlefs I fhould have fuffered his highneffes fervice to be prejudiced, the inftructions being in my hand, if loft, as poffibly they might all have been in confufion; and therefore the neceffity of his highnelles fervice requiring it, I hoped I did that which another neglected for the good of his fervice. Mr. Mr. Eaton told me alfo he had fpoken to his highnefs concerning me, who faid to him, bring a paper from him, and I will get the business of his liberty effected; which Mr. Eaton told me, and faid that he thought his highhefs intended the laft paper I gave him, containing my anfwer to the laft objections. Whereupon I drew one for him, which he delivered to his highnefs; which his highness, when he had read it, was difpleafed with, caft it from him again, faying it was not the paper; and that he obferved that time, and ever after, his countenance was changed against me; for he expected a petition acknowledging an error. Mr. Eaton went to my lord Fleetwood, and fhewed him a copy of my petition beforementioned; who told him that would not please, for it defired a trial, and my lord expected a fubmiffion. Whereupon Mr. Eaton came to me and told me all upon which he concluded I muft die in prifon, except I acknowledged a fault, and earnestly preffed me to try what I could fay. I replied I would never be a knave upon record under my own hand, being innocent. If I had offended, why was I not queftoned? He faid it would never be used to my prejudice. Upon which I writ to his excellency the lord Fleetwood as followeth: MY LORD, MR. EATON came to me this morning, and gave me a fad account of the diflike conceived against my petition. The reafon of my drawing of it in that form (having none to advise me) was, because I thought his highness and council did defire to fee me cleared of fuch afperfions as were by others caft upon me, especially in a printed paper which they were pleafed to fupprefs, and imprifon the printers befides I hear fome others do intend a charge againft me, and, fhould I acknowledge myfelf guilty of what that paper or they fay, I thould wrong my confcience and caufe, and also exclude myself from all other plea in my own defence; but though it has difgufted, yet it was not fo intended, and I am not a little forry that it was conftrued otherwise than what was my aim and end. But what is charged upon me as a fault, viz. my return home, I thall in that particular throw myself at his highneffes feet, fo far as I act not against confcience (which I hope is not defired), and wave all argu ments which I alledge in my own behalf. I do confefs I do confefs my heart did run homewards, in regard that, after near four months trial, I grew daily worke worfe and nearer death. 2ndly. The great wants of the army, and my unusefulness there, yet judged I might do more good here. 3dly, The great diforder and wickednefs in the army, which, though I endeavoured by all means to fupprefs, yet, 4thly, The officers were fo far from affifting, that they rather indulged the foldiers, never punishing swearing nor drunkennefs, but admonishing. Am moft heartily grieved that I thould do no better service there, and have offended his highness by my return, whofe fervice your excellency knoweth I defire to promote, though restrained; and whofe profperity with fuccefs to the caufe of God in his management is by none more unfeignedly prayed for than, my lord, Your excellency's very humble obliged servant, RICHARD VENABLES. Tower, October 26, 1655. To his highness the lord protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland. THE HUMBLE PETITION OF RICHARD VENABLES. SHEWETH, THAT your petitioner, being made fenfible of your highneffes difpleasure, conceived against him for his return home without your highneffes licence (his diftemper depriving him of ability fo maturely to confider the thing as the weight of the matter did require), he cannot in confcience but endeavour to remove the great prejudice your highnefs hath contracted against him for that inconfiderate act, but most humbly implores that your highness in clemency would be pleafed to commiferate his fad weak condition and fufferings, and to wave your highnesses indignation (occafioned by that indifcreet act) against him, and grant him enlargement from his fad confinement; and, as in duty bound, he fhall not only endeavour, but ever pray, &c. RICHARD VENABLES, IT is evident this petition owns no fault, fave the hand of God upon me, depriving me of my fenfes, and that I came away in thrat condition; but |