Alisbury August the 16th 1642
Worthy Sir
on Munday August the 8th we marched to Acton but beinge the 6th company we were belated and many of our soildiers were constrained to lodge in beds whose feathers were above a yard longe
Tuesday early in the morninge severall of our soildiers inhabitinge the out parts of the towne sallied out unto the house of one Penrudduck a papist and beinge basely affronted by him and his dogge entred his house and pilladged him to the purpose this day also the soildiers got into the Church defaced the auntient and sacred glased picturs and Burned the holy railes
Wensday Master Love gave us a famous sermon this day also the soildiers brought the holy railes from Chissick and burned them in our towne at chissick they also intended to pillage the Lord of Portlands house and also Doctor Ducke but by our Commanders they were prevented This day our soldiers generally manifested their dislike of our Leiftenant Colonell who is a Godamme blade and doubtlesse hatch in Hell and wee all desire that ether the Parlaiment would depose him or God convert him or the Divill fetch him a way quick This day Towards even our Regiment marched to Uxbridge but I was left behind to bringe up 30 men with ammunition the next morning
Thursday I marched towards Uxbridge and at Hillington one mile from Uxbridge the railes beinge gone wee got the surplasse to make us handcherchers and one of our soildiers ware it to uxbridge this day the Railes of Uxbridge formerly removed was with the service boock burned this even Master Hardinge gave us a werthy sermon
Fryday I with 3 other commaunders were sent with 100 Musqetteres to bringe the ammunition to Amersam in Buckinham shire which is the sweetest Country that ever I saw and as is the cuntrey so also is the people but wantinge roome for the Regiment comminge after us we were constrained to march 4 miles further unto greate Missenden where we had noble entertainment from the whole towne but espetially from Sir Brian Ireson and the minister of the towne
Satturday morninge our companies overtoke us and we marched together unto Alsberry and after we had marched a longe mile For so they are all in this Cuntrey wee came to Wendever where wee refresshed ourselves burnt the railes and accidentally one of Captaine Francis his men forgettinge he was charged with a bullet shot a maide through the head and she immediately died from hence wee marched very sadly 2 miles wher Colonell Hamden accompanied with many Gentlemen well horsed met us and with greate Joy saluted and welcomed us and conducted us unto Alsbury where we have a Regiment of foote and severall Troopes of horse to joyne with us in this towne our welcome is such that wee want nothinge but a good Leiftenant Colonell
Sabath day August the 14 in this towne a pulpit was built in the market place where wee heard 2 worthy sermons this eveninge our ungodley Leiftenant Colonel upon an ungrounded whimsey commaunded 2 of our Captaines namely Captaine Francis and Captaine Beacon with their companies to march out of the towne but they went not every day our soildiers by stealth doe visit papists houses and constraine from them both meate and money they give them whole greate loves and Chesses which they triumphantly carry away upon the points of their swords
I humbly intreate you as you desire the successe of our Just and honorable cause that you would indeavor to Roote out our Leiftenant Colonell for if wee march further under his commaund we feare upon suffitient grounds wee are all but dead men
Munday August the 15th Colonell Hamden marched out of Alisbury with 400 musquetters and about an hundred Horse towards wattleton in Oxfordshire where the Commission of aray was this day to be setled but they hearinge of the aproch of our troopes fled and our horse persued them so close that Sir John Cursam was taken and the lord of Barkes was Constrained to take Asgate hous sometime the Lord of Carnarvans where our companies have at this present beset him and thus much for the present:
touchinge Leiftenant Colonell Biddeman formentioned I once more humbly beseech you and not I alone but many others both commaunders officers and common soildiers that you would indevor to Rout him There are several other circumstances which I want time to expresse for the office assigned mee is very troublesome and Continually takes up my whole time and therfore for the present let these satisfie. to conclude I present you ... and mistris with my humble service and doe give you humble and harty thankes for all your former and late favors and doe intreate you to remember my humble service to Master Molloyne and wife my service also to Elizabeth Anna John and sammuell which I often thinke upon. and also my love to all my fellow servants In extreame hast I rest
Your poore auntient humble and affectionate servant to commaund
Nehemiah Wharton
To the worthy and his much Honored Frend Master George Willingham merchant at the golden Anchor in Saint Swethins Lane