I Know ere this time you have di­vers and severall relations of Prince Roberts encounter with the Earle of Essex Forces before Worcester the 23. of September. I could have written sooner, but stayed till I could have an exact Relation, which I now doe from men of honour, and present in the action. The King being infor­med of the Earle of Essex marching to Worcester, and knowing that towne not tenible against any considerable Forces, and desirous to put the best part of his Armie into one entire Body, sent to Sir Iohn Biron to quit the place, and joyne with Prince Robert, then at Bridgenorth. Prince Robert desirous to fetch off so gallant a man as Sir Iohn Biron, mar­ched through Worcester with his Troops, consist­ing of 700. accompanied onely with Sir Iohn Biron his Troops remaining behind in Worcester. When they were out of the Towne, Prince Robert being informed that the E. of Essex Troops of Horse and [Page] Dragooners were at hand, marched towards them, saying, We are now ingaged for the honour of God and your Countrey, fight valiantly: and im­mediately gave them a furious charge, which was stoutly answered by the Parliament Forces. This courage of theirs endured not long, for at the se­cond charge they as fiercely ran away, in pursuit were taken prisoners, slain, and drowned, above 400. divers of which betook themselves to the mercy of a River, wherein perished foure score, whereof the Lord Sayes son is said to be one, but that is yet uncertain, but for certain both of them accompanied with Captain Browne a Scotchman, at the first encounter ran away, leaving those men to be slaughtered, some Gentlemen (more sensible of honour then the rest) fought valiantly, as Ser­geant Major Douglas, Col: Sands, Cap: Austin, Cap: Burrill, Cap: Berrey, Coronett Hamon, Cor­nett West were slaine in the field; Cap: Sands and Douglas lived some few houres after: Prince Robert sent a Divine to Captain Sands, who told him the Prince was troubled so gallant a man should perish in so unworthy an action, he gave the Prince thanks and said, death did not so much trouble him as that he had endeavoured to defend so bad a cause, which he was drawne into as well by his own am­bition, as by perswasion of other men, he was not able to deny (he further said) the flower of their Army was in this conflict, and wished all their a­ctions hereafter might have the like successe, desi­ring that they would all pray for him, and especi­ally that God would forgive him this great sinne [Page] of rebellion, which troubled him the more, ha­ving dilucively perswaded others thereunto by telling them that they fought against those that advanced the rebellion in Ireland, and were now in the action, Col: Sands was encountered by Comi­sary Wilmot, but received his deaths wound by a Frenchman, he asked how Comisary Wilmot did, seeing him wounded, being told his hurt was not dangerous, said, he was glad he had not his blood to answer for: Douglas likewise died not suddainly, he was likewise sensible of his offence. I spake with a Gentleman that brought him out of the field, to whom he confessed this was the third re­bellion he had been in against the King, all which from his heart he hated, but was drawn unto them for gain and sinister ends, and being taken prisoner in the North he was discharged, & twenty pounds given him by the King: he was desirous to live, that he might discover to the King something that might in part expiate his former offences, which was prevented by his death. I have been the lon­ger in the relation of these two Gentlemens Con­fessions before their deaths, to make you sensible that the hearts of these men goe not along with their actions, (their blouds will lie heavy upon those boutefeux that have engaged them & others, and so many men to their ruine and destruction.)

There were taken in the Skirmish 50. or 60. pri­soners, but none of note, and quality, but Captaine Wingate, (a Parliament man) who is brought to Shrewsbery; The King was presented with 6. or 7. Colours, the bearers of them either slaine or taken [Page] Prisoners; Prince Maurice hath received two or three scarrs of Honour in his Head, but is abroad and merry; divers of our part hath received slight wounds, as Commissary Wilmot, Sir Lewis Dives, Captaine Byron, Sir Charles Lucas, and some o­thers: I dare not tell you they lost more Hun­dreds, then we single men, least the former part of my Letter may gaine the lesse beleife: But I as­sure you, it is confidently reported that there were slaine on our part not aboue three or foure; those Prisoners that were taken except Captaine Wingate are discharged, taking an Oath not to beare Armes against the King,; most of them were men of meane quality, and so raw Souldiers that they un­derstood not the word Quarter, but cryed for mer­cy; being demanded of what condition they were▪ some said, they were Taylors, some Embroyderers, and the like. By the latter end of this weeke, I as­sure you our number will exceed those of the Earl of Essex, of which we are now rightly informed by the severall Prisoners we have taken, And if God for great Sinnes, together with the slight e­steeme we have of Parliament Forces, have not Vengance instore for us, and the whole Nation: The King having no other Ambition, but the ad­vancement of the Protestant Religion, and esta­blishment of the Fundamental Lawes of this King­dome. We have publique thanks for this Vic­tory enjoyned by the King; I have all this while heard of, and seene the many lyes permitted and contrived by them; but I could never imagine men so irreligious, so impudent before God, as to [Page] give publicke thanks for the great Victory over the Cavaleers; which is as false as God is true: I know I can expresse my Duty in nothing more then intreating your Lordship not to beleeve those false reports, which do asmuch make Lon­don dishabitable, as the Plague wont to do.