George Ormerod's Tracts relating to Military Proceedings in Lancashire during the Great Civil War includes A True and Perfect Diurnall of all the Chiefe Passages in Lancashire from 3 July to the 9 1642.
This Tract offers an interesting indication as to how Thomas Tyldesley 1612-1651 was regarded from an early stage in the Civil War by those hostile to the King's cause [FN1]:
Yesterday it was commonly reported M. Pym was run from Parliament, which gave great heartning to the malignant party, but by the Diurnall I see it is false. M. Tylsley yesterday night said unto Luke Hodgkinson in Sir Gilbert's buttery that he was told M. Major of Preston had thought to have cast him in Prison, which if he had he would this day have pulled downe the prison, and M. Major's house should have been set on fire, if he would not have released him. Truly it were well if the Parliament would send for this Tylsley, for he is a Captaine, one of the Commission of array, and doth more harme than any man I know. Yesternight when the Lord Strange was at supper he received a packet of letters from York, what they were I cannot tell. This day in the morning I spoke with the Serjeant, and he hath delivered the order from the Houses to the L. Strange, and he first told him he would return an answer by word of mouth by him, and afterwards he told him he would send an answer himselfe to Parliament. Five men gave one Roger Haddock of Chorley very sore strokes and broke his head to the very scull, because he went with the Serjeant as a messenger to shew him my Lord's house. The soldiers are all marched out of the Towne to the number of 4000, as I thinke, but the poste is in going, and what this day will bring forth I cannot tell, but they say they shout " for the King, and my Lord Strange," and the Sheriffe have set foure barrels of beere abroache at the high Crosse to make the soldiers drinke as they returne backe. The Serjeant is here to arrest the Sheriffe, but it is to no purpose till the company be gone. If the Lord Strange, the Sheriffe, Sir Geo. Middelton and Tylsley were with you, we should all be quiet. Here are many Papists; I beleeve a catalogue of the names of the cheefe of them are sent up. Tylsley's Lieutenant and one of his Serjeants are Papists. I shall write you more of this dayes proceeding, the next poste my Lord is with them over the moore. Read this letter be sure to M. W. my brother W provide for our safety: we are beset with Papists: I dare not go to the Moore, but my .... was there, and they told him he was a roundhead, and swore they would kill him. So he came from amongst them. I am in haste. Vale.
Friday the 8 of July1642.
1. Tracts relating to Military Proceedings in Lancashire during the Great Civil War, George Ormerod, Chetham Society 1844 Vol 2 at page 23
