A BRIEFE RELATION OF THE MOST REMARKEABLE FEATES AND PASSAGES Of what his most Gracious Majesties Commanders hath done in England against the Rebells, and of His severall glorious Victories over them, sithence Ianuary 1641. till December 1643. And from the first of May 1644. till the fifth of this present Iuly.
Collected out of severall papers printed at Oxford, 1644. And divers letters written from His Majesties Campe to Chester, Bristoll, &c.
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RESPICTE VOLATILIA COELI ET FVLLOS CORVORVM
Printed at Waterford by THOMAS BOV [...] 1644.
IANVARY.
VPon the tenth of this Moneth 1641 His Majesty, with the Queene, Prince, and Duke of Yorke, left White-Hall, & went to Hampton Court to avoid the danger of those frequent tumults, then hazarding the safety of his Royall Person.
Vpon the 19. of this Moneth, 1642. a great victory was obtained by the Lord Hopton neere Bodmin, in the County of Cornewall, where was slaine in the pursuit 200. of the Rebels, and 700. taken prisoners (amongst whom was Sir Shilston Colm [...] dee) and 8. Colours, good store of Ammunition, and five excellent brasse guns, and one of iron.
Vpon the 22. day following, the Lord Hopton assaulted Saltash, forced the Town, where he tooke ten pieces of Ordnance, seven hundred more Prisoners, foure thousand Armes, and a Ship with sixten pieces of Ordnance.
Vpon the 27. of this Moneth, 1642. certaine of the Rebels under the command, of Master Iohn Hampden, to the number of 1800. foot, & 7. or 8. Troops of Horse, with two pieces of Ordnance, came before Brill, and made an assault upon it: But were so bravely repulsed by His Majesties Forces there, under the command of Sir Gilbert Gerrald (the then Governour thereof) that they made all possible hast away, His Majesties horses having the pursuit of them for above 4. miles, about eighty of them being found dead, and betwixt forty and fifty men wounded, which they had left together in a private house.
FEBRVARY.
Vpon the second of this Moneth, 1642. Cyrencester, or Cycester) in Gloucestershire, was taken by his Highnesse Prince Rupert, with the losse of lesse then twenty men of his Army, there being above three hundred of the Rebels slaine, & above twelve hundred taken prisoners, of colours taken, one Coronet, two of Dragoons, and 14 foot Ensignes, together with all their Ordnance, Armes, and ammunition.
Vpon the 13. of this Moneth, 1642. the Queens Majesty left the Hague, and went to Sciveling. And on the 16. day Her Majesty imbarked againe in the Princesse Royall of Great Brittaine. And on the Sunday after came within sight of Flamborough-head.
On Monday, (being the twenty-of-this moneth) She cast Anchor in the Harbour of Burlington bay. And the two and twenty day following (upon sight of thousand of his Excellency the Earle of Newcastles Horse) landed at Burlington Key.
The 24. day in the morning, foure Ships and a Pinnace, in the Rebels service, (which came overnight into the Road) made above one hundred great shot at the houses in the Key, for two houres shooting Crosse-barre-shot, and bullets of twelve pound weight, all of them aiming so neere as they could, at the house where the Queene lay. Insomuch that Her Sacred Majesty was forced to make what hast. She could out of Her Bed, and to get under an hill to save Her life from the fury of these bloudy Rebels, who endevoured to murther Her. But God Almighty preserved Her Majesty both by Sea and Land.
MARCH.
On the eighteenth and nineteenth of this moneth 1642. was a great battell on [Page]Hopton-heath in Stafford shire, wherein Gell and Brereton (two cowardly Rebels) were routed by His Majesties Forces under the command of the Right Honorable Spencer, then Earle of Northampton, in which fight, above three huddred of the Rebels were taken and killed; at the least 500. more wounded; above 300. of their horse taken, eight pieces of Canon, with a great deale of their Ammunition; and the most Noble and valiant Earle of Northampton unfortunately slaine.
Vpon the 23. of this moneth, 1643. Gramham was taken in, by some of His Majesties Forces under the command of Colonell Charles Cavendish: wherein was taken three hundred and sixty prisoners withall the Captaines, and Officers, three foot Ensignes, two Cornets, together with three loads of armes & ammunition. And afterwards the works demolished.
APRILL.
Vpon Monday the third day of this moneth, one thousand six hundred forty three, Prince Rupert entred, & possessed that seditious Tower of Burmingham, wherein was three hundred foot, and two Troopes of Horse, who being gallantly charged by the Welsn-men, in lesse then halfe an houre, forsooke their Breast-works, and retired to their Barricadoes within the Towne, wherein they found such slender defence, that they tooke them to their heeles, and that so fast, that though they were pursued assoone as the Prince had possessed the Towne, yet few of their Horse were overtaken, onely about eighty of the Rebels were killed, and as many Prisoners taken; together with about one hundred and fifty muskets, and betwixt foure and five hundred swords, and three Colours.
Vpon the eleventh of this moneth 1643. there was a fight neere unto Ancaster in the County of Lincolne, betwixt the Kings Forces under the command of Colonell Cavendish, and the Rebels of that County, under young Hotham (their Generall; in which fight the most part of the Rebels were slaine, & taken prisoners, their Generall put to flight, & their whole body totally routed.
On the one and twentieth day (being Friday) the Close at Lichfield was yeelded up to Prince Rupert, together with the Ordnance & Ammunition, all sorts of armes (except the Horse-mens armes, and a certaine number of Musquets) and all such Treasure which had been formerly conveyed in thither & did not properly, belong to the Souldiers there. These souldiers were part of those Forces under the command of the late Lord Brooke (a great Leader in this Rebellion, and a malicious enemy to the Church) who was killed in his assaulting this Church by a shot into the eye, on Saint Chads day who was the first Bishop of this See, in memory of whom this Cathedrall was built, and called Saint Chads Church.
Vpon Sunday (the last of this moneth, 1643.) his Excellencie the Earle of Newcastles Forces, encountered with, and totally routed a whole Body of the Rebells (consisting of above three thousand men) which were going to relieve the Towne of Leedes, killed fifteen hundred of them in the place, tooke two hundred and fourty prisoners, three pieces of Ordnance, together with all their victuall and Ammunition.
MAY.
Vpon Saturday being the 6. of this moueth, 1643. Iames Earle of Northampton, the true heire of his fathers loyalty and valour, encountered with a Body of the [Page]Rebels in Middleton-Cheney, Towne field neere Banbury (consisting of [...] hundred foot, and five Troops of Horse) where he wholly routed their Foot [...] [...] two hundred and seventeen upon the plaine, tooke above three hundred prisoners, all their Ordnance, and Ammunition, 416 Musquets, 150. piques, and above 500. swords, pursued the fugitive horse, and killed, and tooke many of them: the rest made what hast they could to Northampton. In this fight his Lordship lost but three men, and those not of any note: Nor had above one Officer so much as hurt.
Vpon the 16. of this moneth, 1643. the Lord Hopton assaulted the great rebellious Body then intrenched neere Straton, on the borders of Devonshire, fought with them full ten houres; and having spent his ammunition, insomuch that he had not Powder left to serve one houre longer, fell upon the Rebels with Swords, Piques, and Musquet-stocks: And? with unexpressible valour) wholly routed the Rebels Army, killed many hundreds of them in the place, wounded many more; tooke 1700. prisoners, whereof above thirty Commanders, all their canon, being eleven pieces of brasse Ordnance, and foure of iron; two morter pieces; 75. barrels of powder, with shot and match proportionable; betwixt two & three thousand armes: and three thousand pound in money; there being not above 46. of the Kings Forces killed & hurt, & amongst those not any one Commander or Gentleman of quality.
Vpon the 20. of this moneth, 1642., it was voted by both Houses, That the King intended to levy warre against the Parliament: which they did on purpose to excuse themselves, for raising a Rebellion against His Majesty, as appeared within few dayes after.
IVNE.
Vpon the eighteenth of this moneth, 1643. His Highnesse Prince Rupert beat up the Quarters of the Rebels at Postcomhe and Chinner in Oxford-shire, killed some fifty of the Rebels there Quartered, tooke about 120. prisoners, almost all their horses and armes, and three of Sir Samuel Lukes Dragoon-Cornets: obtained a great victory in Chalgrove field, and utterly defeated the Rebels horse-men and dragooners, slew divers of their Commanders, especially Colonell Iohn Hampden (one of their five Members accused of High Treason) who in this fight received his mortall wound in this very Chalgrove field, where hee first mustered, and drew up men in armes to put in execution the Rebellious Ordinance for the Militia.
On Friday the last day of this moneth, 1643. his Excellency the Marquesse of Newcastle obtained a great Victory against the Northerne rebels, under the Lord Fairefax, upon Aderton heath, within the County of Yorke. In which fight, my Lord, soone put the rebels into such confusion, that they could not bee reduced againe into any Order; untill he had gained all their five pieces of Canon; which he presently turned against them; the sight whereof did so terrify them, that they made what hast they could towards Leedes. But finding that his Excellencies Horses had intercepted that passage; their last shift was to recover Bradford, which was done in such a disorderly manner, that his Excellency in the pursuit of them killed and tooke above two thousand, whereof above fiften hundred prisoners. As for their Generall Fairefax, he with much adoe made shift with one poore Troope of Horse to get (at night) into Leedes, leaving the rest to the mercy of the Victor.
IVLY.
Vpon the first of this moneth 1643. the Marquesse of Newcastle besieged Bradford, [Page] [...] upon it above fourty shot from his great Artillery; and the morrow after [...] himselfe master of the Towne. In which he tooke [...]000. prisoners, with all the horse, armes, and ammunition, which either the Rebels found in the Towne, or brought thither with them.
Hereupon the Rebels deserted the Towne of Halifax, and presently after Sir Hugh Cholmley fell upon Beverley, and tooke it for His Majesty.
Vpon the second of Iuly 1642. the Kings ship called the Providence, landed in the Creeke of Kenningham, till which time His Majesty had not a barrell of powder, nor any armes, or ammunition whatsoever.
Iuly the fifth 1643 there was a fight on Landsdowne-hill, betwixt His Majesties Forces under the command of the Marquesse of Hertford, and the Rebels under Sir VVilliam VValler; who (after eleven houres fight) stucke their lighted matches in the hedges, and ran quite away; leaving behind them above five hundred musquets, fourteen barrells of powder, a whole Stand of Piques, with good store of all sorts of armes. Their Foote were absolutely routed, and all dispersed: his losse of Officers and Horse very great, many hundreds of his men killed; His Majesties Forces having the Pillage of the Field. And here was that most valiant Knight Sir Bev [...]ll Greenvill unfortunately slaine in the Front of his men.
Iuly the twelfth 1642 the pretended two Houses Voted, That the Earle of Essex should be Generall of their Army, & that they would live & dye with him.
The thirteenth of this moneth, 1643 about foure of the clocke in the after-noone the King and Queenes Majesty met at Edge-hill, where the Rebels had received their maine overthrow: and the same day & houre His Majesties Forces under the command of the Lord VVilmot Lieutenant Generall of the Horse, the Earle of Carnarvon, the Earle of Craford, and the Lord Byron obtained another great and strange Victory upon Round way-downe, with fifteen hundred Horse, & two small pieces of Canon only: wherewith they totally routed the Rebels army under the Command of that old-beaten Souldier Sir VVilliam VValler, consisting of above 2500. Foot. and 2000. Horse, besides 500. Dragoners, with eight pieces of brasse Ordnance: slew six hundred of them in the place, tooke above nine hundred prisoners, all their canon armes, ammunition, waggons, baggage, and victuall 28. foot-ensignes, nine Coronets, and left not one Rebell, but what was either killed, taken prisoners, or narrowly escaped.
Vpon the fourteenth day of this moneth, 1643. his Highnesse Prince Rupert having joyned his Forces to his Brothers, & the whole body of their strength being brought together, they sate downe before, Bristol, and began their Batteries. And the 26. day (with unexpressible valour) they gained the Out-works. And the 27. day following the City and Castle were delivered up to His Sacred Majesty, with all the Ordnance, armes and ammunition.
AVGVST.
The first of August, 1642. the Earle of Essex caused all the men then raised (being in number about 10000 to be committed to Officers, and divided into Regiments, which men had been raising ever since the 12. of Iuly 1642. at which time hee was made Generall of the Rebels.
Vpon the third of August 1643. Corf-Castle in the Isle of Purbecke (which had been so often before besieged by Sir VValter Earle) but had alwayes beaten off the [Page]Rebels, and killed their Canoniers, was once more fallen upon by the rebels, who were so bravely received by Captaine Laurence, that sixty of them were killed in the place: the rest hearing of the most valiant Earle of Carnarvons approach, ran away.
Soone after, the Earle of Carnarvon summoned Dorchester, which was thereupon delivered up to his Lordship, with all the armes, ammunition, and canon: which were disposed of, for his Majesties use.
About the ninth of this moneth, 1643. the Castle and Isle of Portland were reduced againe under His Majesties command; And the Towne and Haven of Weymouth, and Melcombe, submitted to His Majesty.
August 20. 1643. Colonell Iohn Digby defeated the Rebels of Biddeford and Barnstable, killed 100. of their Foot, tooke 211. Officers and common Souldiers Prisoners, (most of which were miserably wounded) two pieces of Ordnance, six barrels of powder, 400. weight of bullet, 200. and a halfe of match, and above 300. armes; besides all the Foot-Officers horses: Pursued their Horse to the very works of Biddeford, and returned victoriously, without the losse of more then one man, not one of the rest of his Souldiers being so much as hurt all that day.
August 22. 1642. The King set up his Standard Royall at Nottingham, for raising of Forces to suppresse the Rebels then marching against him.
About the latter end of this moneth, 1643. The Inhabitants of Tenby in Pembrook-shire, having but newly made an agreement amongst themselves, in which they declared their loyaltie to His Majestie, and that they would submit to His Majesties Authority, placed in, the Earle of Carberie, &c. Eight Ships rode before the Towne, and made at least 100. shot thereat: whereupon one of the Haven-Canon was fired, which shot one of the best of the eight through and through, and so set the rest a packing; whereby the good people of Tenby received no harme. And soone after the whole County was reduced, so as all Wales is absolutely in subjection to His Sacred Majesty.
SEPTEMBER.
Vpon the second of this moneth 1643. the Townes of Biddeford and Appleford delivered up their severall Garrisons to His Majesties Forces, under the command of that Noble Colonell Iohn Digby▪ And about the same time the Garrison of Barnstaple submitted themselves unto His Majesty, and dismissed all their Forces formerly raised for the defence of that place.
Vpon the third of this moneth, 1643. his Highnesse Prince Maurice gave a very not assault upon the City of Excheter, battered the walls, & fired a great part of the Suburbs, whereupon the Rebels desired Parley in which the Prince offered them such Conditions, as had beene given before to Bristoll, which they denyed. The assault was afterwards eagerly pursued, and the next day after won the great Sconce, [...]urned the Ordnance there against the Towne. Whereupon the Rebels craved to be admitted to those Conditions which before they rejected, & obtained the same, delivered up the Towne & Castle to the Prince his Highnesse, with all the Ordnance, Armes, and Ammunition.
upon the 17. of this moneth, 1643. The rebels Army (stealing out of Gloucestershire towards London) were overtaken by Prince Rupert with his Majesties Horse, neere Auburne in Wilt-shire, where he gave them two charges, the one by a commanded party under Colonell Vrrey, the other by the Queenes Regiment, commanded [Page]by the Lord Iermyn, who performed it so well on the Rebels whole Army, that many great bodies of Foot were routed, and many of them slaine in the place without any losse to His Majesties Forces, save two common Souldiers killed, & the Marquesse de la Vieu-ville taken prisoner, (who was afterwards murdered by the Rebels in cold blood) and the Lord Digby and Lord Iermyn lightly wounded: by which two charges the Rebels Army was so retarded, that His Majesty had time to overtake them with his Foote. And on Wednesday after (the 20. of this moneth) upon an Hill neere Newbury and Enborne heath) His Majesty fought with the Rebels who were seated in the most advantageous place imaginable: yet in despight of [...] their Canon, Foote, and Horse, His Majesty beat them from their ground; gained the hill, and one piece of their brasse Ordnance, and quickly routed all their Horse upon the Heath. The most that were killed in this fight of His Majesties Forces exceeded not the number of 300. though aboue 600. of the Rebels were slaine, & a very great number wounded. In this fight were slaine the most Noble and Valiant Earle of Carnarvon, the Earle of Sunderland, the Lord Viscount Faulkland, with divers other Gentlemen and Commanders. After this fight the Rebels were further pursued, and routed againe, so as they fled into Reading, where they durst not stay but left the Towne for His Majesty, in whose possession it is.
OCTOBER.
Vpon the 18. of this moneth, 1643. the Prince of Harcourt Lord Ambassadour Extraordinary from the French King and Queene Regent, (after he had been most barbarously used in his Passage by the rebels) came safe into Oxford, where he had entertainment more suitable to the worth of so great a personage.
The 21. day following (being Saturday) His Majesty attended by the Prime Nobility of England) gave him Audience in Christ-Church-Hall.
Vpon the 23. day of this moneth, 1641. was that signall great battell fought betweene Keynton and Edge-Hill by His Majesties Army, and that of the rebels led by the Earle of Essex: wherein the rebels lost above 70. Colours of Coronets and Ensignes, & His Majesty but only 16. Ensignes, and not one Coronet. The exact number that were slaine on both sides in this Battaile is not knowne: But it is certaine that the rebels lost above three for one. Men of eminency, of his Majesties Forces, who were slaine in the battaile were the two Noble and Valiant Lords, Rober [...] Earle of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlaine of England, and George Lord d'Aubigney brother to the Duke of Richmond and Lenox, Sir Edmund Verney Knigt Marshall to His Majesty, with some other worthy Gentlemen and Souldiers, but besides these three named, there was not one Noble man or Knight killed, which was an extraordinary mercy of Almighty God, considering what a glorious sight of Princes Dukes Marquesses, Earles, Viscounts, Barons Knights and Gentlemen of all Orders, were not onely present, but engaged themselves against the Rebels as much or more then Common Souldiers, which they most cheerefully did by example of His Sacred Majesty, whose Royall undaunted courage put life into every man, exposing His Sacred Person to so much danger as all good men doe tremble to remember. His Royal Sonnes CHARLES Prince of Wales, and IAMES Duke of Yorke, being also in the field in very much danger, if God (whose cause it was) had not covered their heads in the day of battaile. The Rebells as they had few men of quality to lose, so [Page]those they had, were sensible of their guilt which then they expressed by their slight some sculking into holes and Saw pits, and others running out before they were well in the field.
NOVEMBER.
Vpon the 12. of November, 1642. His Majesty after 4. houres fight forced the Towne of Brainceford, killed and tooke prisoners all the Rebels Forces, which were there lodged in Works, Ditches, Houses and Hedges, to hinder the passage of His Majesties Army.
The morrow morning after (being Sunday) certaine of the Rebels had come downe the Thames from Kingston, with 13. pieces of Ordnance which (so soone as they could see) they fired against Sion house, & His Majesties Traine of Artillerie; but did little or no harme. Whereupon Order was presently given for drawing down some Pieces into the Meadow, and to the River-side against them; which was accordingly done: and likewise a Demi-canon planted neere the South end of the Towne. All which were so judiciously plyed, that they shot through their Boats & Barges, and at last fired the Powder in one of them, which blew up divers of the Rebels. Those Rebels which escaped, tooke them to their heeles, leaving behind them their mangled Boats and Barges, with all their Ordnance, and the remainder of their Ammunition, on which His Majesty presently seized, and afterwards made an honourable and safe retreat to the City of Oxford.
DECEMBER.
On monday the 5. of this moneth, 1642. His Majesties Forces, under the command of the Lieutenant Generall VVilmot, having his owne Regiment of Horse, with the Lord Grandisons, and Lord Digbeys, & Sir VVilliam Pennymans, and Colonell Blagues Regiments of Foot, and Colonell Vshers, and Colonell Grays, of Dragoones, tooke the Towns of Marlborough, defended by Robert Ramsey (a Scottish man) and about 500. Foot; Ramsey and divers of the chiefe Rebels brought Prisoners to Oxford; all their Armes taken, and foure Colours.
Here thou hast the first fruites of my endeavours, expect the pursuance shortly. For a close, I desire all his Maiesties most loyall Subiects to take notice, that the Rebels having given Order to counterfeyte the GREAT SEALE OF ENGLAND, did on Friday the 29. of September last, cause this forged Seale to be brought into their House of Commons, at which time it was approved by them, and caused to be put into a purse, and left with the Mace, till they could get their Lords to passe it, who no doubt ere long (by the Lord Sayes diligence) will Vote it in their House also. For since they have expressed their impudence to accuse Her Sacred Majesty of no lesse then high Treason, onely for endeavouring to preserve the Kings Majesty, whom they laboured to Murther, we cannot imagine they will sticke at any thing. But that all good people may know this counterfeit Seale, they may please to take notice, that though it hath His Majesties Image & superscription, yet it hath the yeare 1643. which figures doe distinguish it from the true Seale now with His Sacred Majestie at Oxford.
And he said unto them, whose is this Image and superscription? They say unto him Caesars. Then saith he unto them, Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesars.
A CONTINVANCE OF THE ENGLISH NEWES, And especially what noble exploits hath beene acted by His Majesties Army, but chiefly in the moneths of May and Iune, 1644. taken out of se verall letters written from Chester, the eighteenth of Iune, 1644.
Sheusburys Rendezvous.
On the 16. of May, Prince Rupert advanced with his Army towards Lancashire, consisting of 2000. horse and 6000. foot, or above (as is supposed) drawne out of the Covnties, of Hereford, Worster, Stafford, Shrop shire and Chester; After ten dayes march, by reason of the roughnesse of the wayes and weather, wee came to Stopford a large village in the confines of Lancashire, manned with the enemie, with fortifications, saving a river with bankes and a bridge deviding Cheshire from Lancashire, there the Prince intended to quarter that night, which after a little dispute from hedges and ditches upon an universall assault was abandoned by the enemy, who fled towards Manchester some six miles distant, and by rea son the Sunne was downe the night made way to their escape, though they were pursued a great way and as was belieeved no man lost of either side, the goods of the Towne was the Souldiers reward. Vpon the 28. of May, the Army marched towards Bolton, a large Countrey Towne in Lancashire some 16. miles from Stopford as wee marched, manned Likewise with 4000. men (as was informed) there the Prince intended to quarter that night onely; gates and high-wayes fortified lightly; the raine was so immoderate that it cost an houre or two to dispute, but [Page]being [...], it was taken with the [...] a thousand men of the enemy, in the streetes and fields, above twenty Coulors, six hundred prisoners, fifty Officers, twenty barrells of Powder; March and Armes a great quantity; the Towne, the Souldiers reward. As we lay in the Countrey about Bolton Generall Goring with his Northerne Army partly from the Marquesse of Newcastle, partly from Newarke consisting of five hundred horse, and eight hundred foot, not so well appointed as was expected, with a great drove of Cattell out of the enemies quarters, as they marched; all this while great number of horse and foote resorted to the Prince, brought in by the Earle of Darbie's meanes, and Sir Thomas Tinsley, but unarmed most of them. Wigin a large towne some twenty miles from Bolton received the Prince and his Armie with great tokens of joy; the streets being strowed with rushes, flowers and boughs of trees.
Iune 7. We pitched before Leverpoole with our whole Armie, having beleaguered it with our horse the day before, it had made walls with barres and gates; foureten pieces of Ordinance, a thousand Souldiers (as was supposed) the matter was disputed very hotly untill the tenth of Iune, with musket and great shot without measure out of the towne, and from the shipps, upon whch day our line approached within a quoites cast of the gate, where our great shot had almost filled the ditch with the ruins of the sodd wales, and about noone a furious assault was made by our men where a terrible fight was on both sides about the space of an houre upon the workes, the enemie resolute, ours not seconded retreated with some losse, the enemy whether dispairing of reliefe or of their owne strength against so great power, at mid night shipped themselves, the chiefe of their men and goods and left twelve Collours on the works, hoised saile and rod within halfe a league of the towne, which Colonell Tiller perceiving, having the guard next the sea, supposing the enemy to bee gone, entred the Towne with little or no resistance, found about 400. of the meaner sort of men whereof most were killed, some had quarter: foureten pieces of Ordnance left upon their carriages at their batteries, whatsoever was desirable was the Souldiers right for their hard service: twenty and six vessells without tacklings were left in the harbour.
Iune the eight, Colonell Goring and Colonell Marrow cut off a partie coming from Warrington to Leverpoole [...]wo Scotts Majors taken, many killed.
Chester the second of Iune, 1644.
The first letter from the Governour assured us of the Princes taking Stopford, where he disperst two thousand of the Rebells forces being Cheshire and Lancashire men, and gave the plunder to his Souldiers, sleighted their works, and the next day marched into Lancashire without any opposition, the other letter Dicke Greene brought who came from Latham yesterday wherein the Goveruour assured us of the Princes taking Bolton, wherein were three thousand, which upon the Princes coming into Lancashire raised from Latham, and came thither under the Command of Righy, His Highnesse sent to summon it and they basely put to the sword his messenger, whereupon he charged into the towne himselfe with his [Page] [...] of some sixty men, the greatest of any quality being a Captaiue Lieutenant to Robin Ellis, tooke the towne, killed dead upon the place above twelve hundred, tooke seven hundred Prisoners, and two thousand Armes, it being a very rainy day the Souldiers went up to their very works, and beat them off with their swords and their but-ends of muskets, the Foote behaved themselves very well, having beene beaten off twice, and tooke it the third time, we tooke two and twenty Collors from the Rogues, Sir Thomas Tyldesly the very day after his coming into Lancashire recruited his Regiment from three hundred foote to twelve hundred, which came unto him well armed. My Lord of Derby upon Friday had a muster at Ormes-Church, wherein came above three thousand men, and most of them Armed, and tendred their services to live and dye with him. Sir Gilbert Haughton being high Sheriffe of the County, the County comes in great numbers to him. My Lord Mullineux daily recruites his Regiment about Leverpoole.
Sir Thomas Tyldesley got leave of his Highnesse to go to Preston with 2000. Foote and five hundred Horse where he doth not doubt but to cut off the File where his owne and great many other that are Roman Catholicks have estates uppon Friday the Prince received an expresse from my Lord Marquesse of Newcastle intimating that he sallied out of Yorke, beat up a Quarter of the Scotts, killed and tooke many and amongst the rest the chiefe officer next in Command to Leasly and farther assured his Highnesse that he had execution of them for some miles, and had so scattered their whole body that there was not a thousand to be seene in a place. Hull stands neuter, they will neither deliver up their towne to the Lord Marquesse of Newcastle, nor to the Scots, these two are onely Dicke Greenes newes, and that the Prince intends to stay till he reduceth Lancashire, being my Lord Newcastle hath no present occasion for his Highnesse that may countervaile the service he may doe His Majestie in Lancashire; I should have been very glad the Governor had but touched on it in his letter, but howsoever take it as I have it, and his oath and credit that it is true.
From Oxford, Essex is at Abington with 10000. horse and foote, and VValler at Farrington in Barkshire with 7000. horse and foote, they come up to the very walls of Oxford, and skirmishes daily, yet it is conject [...]ed they will have nothing to doe with Oxford, but intend for Bristoll and the Welt, whether my Lord Hopton is gone. Denbigh is before Rushon-house and all our forces in Namptwitch are drawne out to him, they say he intend, either to fall on, Sherewsbury or Bridge-North, Wemn Forces th'other day tooke all Sir Foulkes Hunckes carriages, upon the Prince declaring Sir Abram Shipman Governor of Osestery, Colonell Loyde and all the forces quited the Towne and disbanded, whereupon the Towns-men & Wemn forces were upon some tearmes, and certainly wee had lost the Towne, had not Colonell Marrow marched thither as he did, foure hundred foote and horse of the enemies being three miles of Wemn & the Towns-men stood above an houre considering whether to let Marrow in or no, but at the last received him, he stayed some three dayes there, and hath setled Sir Abraham Shipman & his Regiment, & brought yesterday two Lievtenants, and about fourty common Souldiers prisoners which he tooke of Wemn since he went, besides many that he killed.
The present state of the Armies in England.
PRince Ruport hath in Lancashire besides the taking of Bolton and Leverpoole, taken Colonell Shutlerworth prisoner with him, and defeated about 1000. men who followed the reare of his Army as it marcht, he is now at Sheffield expecting the coming of Sir Philip Musgrove with the Cumberland men. The Marquesse of New-Castle is drawne out of Yorke into the field, and Goring is gone with 3000. horse, to joyne with him till the Princes coming up; The Scots are admitted to Hull, and the losse which was of men fell onely upon Fairefax, and Manchester, the Robells have taken Oswaldstree, and the Castle there, but the Kings Forces are come before it with 2500. men, and more are drawing against it daily: the Lord Denby is in it with about 1000. men they sent away the plunder with a Convoy to Wenm which was intercepted by Colonell Marrow and the convoy cut off, and the newes goes they having discovered the word by some of the prisoners, marcht thither, and passing the sentinell, forced the guard, and have taken the towne of Wenm which they have burned.
The King is now at Oxford: in his returne to Oxford he was set upon by VValler at Burham on wednesday the 20. of Iune he having about 5000 horse and dragooners Sir Arthur Ashion was drawne thither with about 3000. foote to assist His Majesty, and there fighting with VValler, they have routed him and killed 1000 upon the place, VValler and the rest retreated to Glocester VValler had before that time attempted Worchester and stayed before it two dayes, but was beaten off, with losse only, gave occasion by his sitting downe there to the Governour to burne the suburbs of the Citie where many faire buildings were.
Essex is drawne downe towards the West with the foote and canon where we heare for certaine my Lord Hopton is ready to receive him with a good Army, and Prince Maurice who is yet before Line is ready to joyne with him, but we hearing nothing as yet of their proceedings: Colonell Gerret hath beat the Rebells out of Carmarthenshire, and Pembrockeshire into the the Townes, of Pembrocke and Denby.
Sir Thomas Lunsford, and Colonell Gage, wh [...]en the King was at Worcester marcht into Bukinghamshire plundered all the County, and have driven all the cattell to Oxford, Sir Iohn Mences is drawing out all the forces of the Counties of Anglesy, Carnarvon, and meaneth to march and joyne with Marrow, for the regaining of Oswaldstree.
Iuly the third, We heare since by certaine intelligence, that Colonell Shutlerworth is killed and was not taken prisoner, that the Scotts are not admitted to Hull, and that Colonell Marrow hath taken the Church of Oswaldstree, but the Rebells hold the Towne, and Castle yet, and that the Earle of Denby is not there. Brereton, and the other Rebells about Cheshire, Staffordshire are drawing all into a body, but for what designe is not yet knowne, unlesse it be for the reliefe of Oswaldstree, the last newes saith, that Marrow hath 6000. men before it.
The King is with an Army at Bedford, and from thence is marching towards Norfolke and Suffolke. VValler is with his forces about Husham & these parts. A great Treason was discovered in Bristoll for the yeelding of the Towne to the Parliament which caused Essex and VValler to draw out of London a month sooner then they intended: there are 25, of the principall men there committed, for being privy thereunto.
Essex is with his Army at Dorchester and Colonell Apernam hath quited Weymouth with the Ship and Garison upon what reason is yet unknown considering that little Warham-close by it, holds out still and hath repulsed the enemy. Prince Maurice is risen from before Line, hath a good Army and is drawne neere Bristoll, to joyne with the Lord Hopton, and so to fight with Essex, but he they say is called backe, and is highly displeased with his masters at London, but is not like to bring up all his Army with him for that one whole Regiments of Kentish-men have left him, and are come over to the Lord Hopton.
Iuly the fifth, Sir Lewys Dives is come from Court, who left the King the 21. of the last at Dunstable and marching to S. Albans, from whence hee intends to summon the City in the absence of their trained bands, and their two Generalls, Oswaldstree is relieved by the Rebells, and our siege raised.