UPon occasion of the great victory which Sir William Waller obtained this weeke against the L. Herbert (the Earl of Wor­cesters eldest son, a great Papist) and his Welch Cavaliers in the County of Gloucester, I shall not so much varie from the matter, as I should injure the worth of that noble Gentleman, if I should speak a word or two in the first place of the circuit which he hath gone, and how won­derfully God hath blessed him with good suc­cesse since his last setting forth, it being suffici­ently known to the world, what singular ser­vice he did before for the King and Parliament in the West Countrey.

Although at his advancing from Gilford in the County of Surrey, he was not accommoda­ted with such considerable Forces as was desi­red, yet such hath been the good successe of this worthy Knight, together with the affection of the Country People to the cause, that when he came to Salisbury, he was about 4000. strong, and from thence marching to Bristoll he was 5000. strong, which being a considerable force to f [...]l [...] [...]pon some good Design, he advanced with his forces from thence to Malmesbury, where he was ingaged in a hot service, he sate down before the place the 22. of this March, a little after Noon, and at his first comming, the Kings forces shewed themselves under the side of a wood, neer the Town, but upon the first proffer of a charge, they retired towards Cice­ster, whereupon he fell to worke of the Town, and in the skirts of the outward Town, where were Gardens walled in, from whence the E­nemy played upon the Parliaments Forces, but within halfe an houre they were beaten from thence, and Sir William Wallers forces entred the lovver tovvne, and kept possession thereof, driving the enemy into the upper tovvn, vvhich [Page 3]they had fortified; and falling upon the West part, in vvhich they had cast up a brest-vvorke, and planted a peece of Ordnance: vvherupon Sir William Waller advanced tvvo Drakes, and under that favour his Musketiers possessed themselves of some houses neer the port, from vvhence they galled the enemy very sore, and so continuing an hot fight for a vvhile, at last he vvas forced to give over for vvant of ammu­nition, the maine part vvhereof vvas unlucki­ly stayed behinde by a mischance of the cari­age, and could not come up till the next mor­ning,

But that the enemy might not perceive this defect of ammunition, tovvards morning he caused all the drums to beat, and trumpets to sound, dravving both horse and foot out into the street, as in preparation to an assault, vvhich gave the enemy such apprehension, that imme­diately they sent out a Drum, and craved a par­ley, yeelded upon quarter, and gave him en­trance about seven a clock in the morning: they vvere about 300. foot and a troup of horse, but the horse vvhich shevved themselves neer the tovvn at his first coming, shifted avvay, vvithout [Page 4]making any attempt against the Parliaments Forces. At this town Sir W. Waller took prison­ers Col. Herbert Lunsford, Col. Cook, Lievte­nant Colonell Dabridgecourt, Sergeant Major Finch, six Captains, six Lievtenants, six Ensigns, one Cornet and foure Quartermasters, besides the ordinary souldiers, part whereof were sent to Gloucester, and the rest to Bristoll.

Having setled this town in quiet, and left a considerable force to defend the same, he ad­vanced with his forces towards Cicester, where were 700. foot, and 300. horse and Dragoons of the Kings Forces, and whether he entred into the Town or no, I will not stand now to expo­stulate; for it is rather thought that he made no attempt against it, aiming at a greater victory, which he would not neglect for taking a town of so small importance: for it is reported for a truth that he onely faced the town; but whilest he looked on that town, he rowed towards the Forrest of Deane, where was the L. Herbert be­fore-mentioned with about 2000. Welchmen which came over the river of Severne at Rosse bridge, since they received that great defeat when they assaulted Gloucester.

And to make this intended victory (which was afterwards obtained) the more complete, Sir W. Waller gave notice of this designe to Col. Massey, who is governour of Gloucester, with directions for him at such a time to issue forth with a considerable party from thence on the other side of the river, being the time which he intended to fall upon the Welch forces: which businesse on both sides being pursued with effect (according to the most certain rela­tion fell out to be thus. Sir W. Waller sudden­ly returning from about Cicester, and with a speedy march coming to Deane, fell upon the Welchmen, who at the first seemed to make strange of running away, and therefore for a while fought very manfully till about six hun­dred of them were slain, and neer a thousand taken prisoners, so that very few could escape to the mountains to bring tidings of her coun­treys valour. They also lost all their arms and ammunition, with good store of horse: many Commanders were slain, and the rest were for the most part taken prisoners, and it is reported that the L. Herbert himself is slain. The priso­ners are disposed of as those which were taken [Page 6]at Malmesbury: for some were sent to Glou­cester, and the rest to Bristoll.

And it is further informed, that notwithstan­ding those great overthrows before-mentioned were not obtained without hazzard and diffi­culty, yet the said Sir William Waller hath not lost in all above 60. of his men since he first went forth, which is a thing very observable.

The sum of this Relation is received with much credit, though the particulars thereof as yet are not certainly known: for the party that brought this relation came away post as soone as the victory was obtained, before the particu­lar knowledge thereof could appeare to those that were in the Action, but within few dayes when Letters come out of those parts, there wil be a more full and exact Relation of this busi­nesse.