Page:A century of Birmingham life- or, A chronicle of local events, from 1741 to 1841 (IA centuryofbirming01lang).pdf/35

 well affected Town of Birmingham was unworthily opposed, insolently invaded, notoriously robbed and plundered, and most cruelly fired in cold blood the next day by Prince Rupert's forces. Together with a number of Prince Rupert's forces, his considerable persons slaine or mortally wounded; their many and abominable carnages in and after the taking of the Towne. The small strength which Birmingham had to maintain their defence, the names of their men slaine, the number of houses burned, and persons thereby destitute of habitation; with divers other considerable passages. Published at the request of the Committee at Coventry, that the kingdom may timely take notice what is generally to be expected if the cavalier's insolences be not speedily crushed."

"A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."-Prov. xii, 10.

"London: Printed for Thomas Underhill, 1643.

"[May 1.)"

The Walsall gentleman ascribes the act to the disloyalty of the people. "I find," he says, "that the inhabitants of that 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 sent 15,000 Swords for the Earle of Essex his Forces, and the ayd of that Party, and not onely refused to supply the King's Forces with Swords for their imprisoned divers who bought Swords, upon suspicion that they money, but intended to supply the King's Forces with them." This authority tells us that the Prince intending to take up his quarters in this town, sent word that if he and his forces were received quietly, the inhabitants should "suffer no injury." They, however, opposed him in every way, fired upon his men, "and with opprobrious speeches reviled them, calling them Cursed doggs, develish Cavaliers, Popish Traytors."

The second tract consists of two letters, the first dated "Coventry, April 8, 1643." and signed "R. P." the other without date, and signed "R. G." The R. P. is clearly R. Porter, a sword blade manufacturer of the town, and one who had doubtless supplied the Parliamentary army with weapons. In his letter, after having described the assault upon and the burning of the town, he says, " For pillage but of little I lost, having obscured the things I had of any value; and for fire, God