The document now first published contains an account of events in which the person therein described acted a more or less conspicuous part. The period it involves is comprised between the years 1642 and 1645; a time during which England became the scene of violent political and military agitation. In all cases of this nature, in which the talents and passions of men are exercised with unusual force, there will ever be some whose powers will raise them t o eminence. Colonel John Birch, in the sphere in which he moved, was among the remarkable personages of the time; by no means inferior to many whose names have been better known, though not more deserving of being recorded. He attained to considerable distinction in the field and in the senate, and after a long share of personal exertion and sufferings survived the troubles and dangers of a stormy and eventful struggle, and ended his days in retirement and peace.

No sooner had the war broken out between the King and the Parliament but its influence was felt along the whole line of the River Severn, through its adjoining counties, and the places situated on its banks from Shrewsbury to the sea. Other places had their share in the effects of the disturbance, and much internal distress ensued.

Before the battle of Edge-hill Charles I. had secured Shrewsbury, and selected Colonel, afterwards Sir Francis, Ottley, governor. Considerable intercourse that had long existed by water between this town and Bristol began to be interrupted by the state of affairs. Ottley had hardly been invested with his appointment when the following letter reached him:

[The text is given with the corrections, additions, and alterations of Colonel Birch, printed in italic type: the original reading being subjoined at the foot of the page. Where there is no mark of reference, the italic word or passage is inserted by him.

There seems reason to snrmise that the MS. now printed is not the autograph of Roe, and that it may possibly hare been transcribed after his departure for Ireland. Blanks occur from time to time, as though the copyist had failed to decipher the original—perhaps very illegibly written—and had no opportunity of referring to the author; and mistakes may be found in punctuation, which could hardly have arisen except in the process of somewhat unintelligent transcription. The more remarkable of these have been indicated in the foot-notes.]

Confusion prevailed in the city of Bristol on March 7, 1643. The appearance of so many armed men in the neighbourhood of course excited great ferment among the population. Fiennes, who had openly declared himself by other actions, kept his counsel and was not unprepared. He had been opposed to the Cavaliers in fight at Powick Bridge, Edgehill, and elsewhere, and now took his stand, in defiance of Royal authority, as governor for the Parliament. He had under him sufficient force to suppress a rising: his own regiment of cavalry at least, with such soldiers as Essex had left behind him, and volunteers who had placed themselves under him. We have seen Birch as their captain. Fro m the beginning of October many of the youths of the place, under the Parliamentary plea of acting for the King, were already expert in arms, the defences had been made up, and evidently there was no access but by the gates. Fiennes was therefore ready: and, as he had secret instructions from the Parliament, he skilfully anticipated the place and the time. Five in the morning was the appointed hour. There was an ancient bridge over the Avon, connecting the northern and southern parts; it stood upon four arches, and, like that at London over the Thames, was covered with houses.

“Volunteers,” p. 38.—The origin of the volunteer system was not at Bristol. It was in the pleasant environs of the town of Shrewsbury that volunteers first came forward in favour of the King and Parliament, and they were immediately sanctioned by an ordinance of the two Houses. This seems to have been the earliest notice that was taken of them, although Messieurs Blake way and Owen appear not to have met with it. The example was followed in several other places. In some they were suppressed by the Royalist authorities: in others they were established by Parliamentary influence: Bristol was one of these. At first there was only one company there; and, considering the population of the city, it is an intimation that a great part of them were Royalists. The captain of the first company was appointed by the celebrated Mr. Denzil Holies, who was Lieutenant of the county of Bristol; but it is uncertain whether the lot fell upon Birch. A second was afterwards appointed, as will appear. The preamble of the ordinance in question, the first and basis of many others, is conceived in a mild and soothing style. “Whereas divers well-affected Persons, of the Town of Shrewsbury, in the county of Salop, have of themselves, as Volunteers, under the Leading of Thomas Hunt, Esquire, one of the Aldermen of the said Town, exercised themselves in the Use of their Arms, by peaceable Training and Marching in the Fields, near the said Town, the better to enable and prepare themselves for the Service and Defence of his Majesty and the Kingdom, when they shall be lawfully called thereunto;” then follows the approbation and the permissive authority of both Houses of Parliament.

The two following letters will perhaps be amusing, as they expose the different dispositions of persons employed on the same side. All accounts concur in the dispersion of great numbers of those who had fought at Edge-hill and suffered in the diseased camp at Beading. The writer of the first letter shews the coolness or ease with which his object was accomplished, in spite of his having subjected himself to military law and to the punishment of death. He had served for a while as a dragoon under Captain Baynes, and when he found his commanding officer was ordered into the West, he turns his back upon him and sends this excuse.