IN my last I gave you an account of our affaires till ye­sterday morning, and then I left Goring with his whole Army at Lamport; since then be pleased to take notice of a short relation of our actions. Yesterday wee advanced to Sutton, drawing out that part of our Army, which we had, into Sutton fields, the rest being 4500 at the least, under the command of Major-Generall Massey, were on the other side of the river, and those eight Regiments of Foot which wee had at Naesby field, were also quartered at Martoke; Massey advanced with his Horse and Dragoons, having the Foot to back him to North-Carreg, being ordered to straiten the e­nemies quarters, and to hinder them from any plundring ex­ercises. It seems 1500 of them being upon a designe out, and having no intelligence of his being in motion, were surpri­zed in a carelesse posture; Major-Generall Massey fell on them, took (as I take it) nine Colours, 200 prisoners, and 250 Horse, slew about 30. Wee (in the meane time) were drawne up within a mile of Lamport, with those Horse the Generall had with him, not knowing of his engagement, and there being three rivers betweene him and us, and the way without 12 miles march. The last night we quartered at Sutton, and this morning by three a clock drew out into Sutton-fields, having with us but seven Regiments of horse, viz. The Generals, formerly called Lievtenant-Generall Cromwells, Whaley's, Vermudens, Graves, Rich, Fleetwood, Butlers, which were not in all 2800 Horse; of Foot, we had all but the Musketiers of three Regiments, having sent for [Page 2] them the last night from Martoke. Early this morning the e­nemy appeared in the field, and about 7. of the clock they made themselves Masters of a passe, which lay in the midst between our Body and theirs, had lined the hedges between us and them with at least 2000 Musketiers, so that the pas­sage to them was extraordinary dangerous, being so straight that foure horses could not passe a brest, and that up to the belly in water. They lying so prepared, both in Flanks and Front to receive us; in this posture they stood till nigh 11 of the clock, having in the interim sent away most of their Traine and Baggage, led Horses, and other Lumber, to Bridgewater, being resolved to make good their Retreat thither, which they conceived they could, having such an advantagious passe thither; we understanding their intenti­ons by some Spies, and other Countrey-men, resolved to charge them, and accordingly drew downe a commanded partie of Musketiers to beat them from the hedges, which was done with a gallant resolution; advancing the same time with two Regiments of Horse into the Lane, all that we could draw up in Front was but a single Troop, and that commanded by Major Bethell, the Enemy standing ready with three Bodies of Horse, of about a thousand to charge him. He with a single Troop charged, and routed two of their Divisions of about 400, received the charge of the third Division both in Front and Flank, was somewhat o­ver-borne at last, and enforced to retire to the Generals Re­giment, which was about an hundred yards behind him: C. Desborow with the Generalls Troope sheltred him by his Flank to rally, and charged up himselfe with about 200 Horse of the Generals Regiment, disperst the Enemy, and set them all a running, gained freedome by it for all our Horse and Foot to draw into Bodies, sent the Enemy run­ning, not being able to endure. In the charge the Generall, [Page] Lievtenant-Generall, and some other Officers upon the hill beholding the gallant charge, commended it for the most excellent peece of service that ever was in England, we had them in chace almost to Bridgewater, having put them to the cleerest Rout that ever an Enemy was put to: what the number of the slaine be I cannot tell you, being scarce come from the chace: The prisoners come in already are 900, and I beleeve there will come in as many as wil make 2000. 1200 Horse taken at least: For Colours I am uncertaine, I dare say at least 40, the Armes at least 4000, two peeces of Ordnance I saw, and divers carriages of Ammunition, and to make it a compleat victorie, wee pursued the Enemy thorow Lamport, having gained the Garrison, and then they fired the Towne just at the bridge to hinder the chace, yet we followed the victorie thorow the fire. The successe of this victorie must needs be ascribed next unto God, to the good conduct of the Generall and Cromwell, Cromwell following the chace thorow Lamport, where hee himselfe went thorow the fire flaming on both sides of him. The Enemy crie out they are utterly undone, and that the King must now go for Ireland. Sir, this victorie was the more opportune, that had they staid but three dayes longer, Go­ring would have had a re-inforcement of 6000 Horse and Foot from Greenvill and the King, they being transporting their Forces as fast as can be to Minehead, Watchead, and Uphill, there being 1500 that landed ad Uphill come to Bridgewater yesterday. Sir, this is all at present from

This day af­ter our drawing into the field within two miles of Lamport, a pretty strong Garrison of the enemies. Our Army was ranged into a Battalia, and the Forlorn Hopes on each wing being drawne out and marched, the whole Army presently advanced, the enemy having secured a passage, which was the onely way for us to make through to fall on them; where we could not march above foure horse a brest, in which place the enemy did front, and flank us also on both sides: when our Forlorns marched nigh them, (the Hill they stood on, they divided themselves on, in severall divisions and squadrons of Horse and Foot) our Foot fired in Volleyes, and our Ordnance played so quick and sure, that presently the enemy were put to a rout, and were as in a maze, not knowing what way to avoid the Cannon; yet all this while maintained the passage, which was in hot dispute betweene them and us; yet at last, within an houre or thereabouts, we gained it, and sent Horse to second our Foot. One Major Bethell with his Troupe went on in the first place, and was to go up a steepe hill to charge (and but his own Troupe) by the time he came neere: the Enemy came on in a vast Body of Horse against them, and laid Musketiers in a hedge, which did flank him, and somwhat front him also, yet with such gallantry he mannaged the charge, that they put the enemy to the rout, (all in that place) but presently a great fresh sup­ply came, that caused our first party to retreat to the passage to our men, who played on the enemy, and caused them to retreat, and then our Horse and Foot marched on furiously, [Page] and at the second charge beat the enemy out of the field, put them to a rout, we killed on the severall hils we stood on, and valleyes we fought in, not above 20. but in the pursuit very many. There are already brought in nigh 1000. prison­ers, two Carriages of Ammunition, and two small pieces, which were all they had in the field. They forsooke their Garrison of Lamporne, and are gone towards Bridgewater. Yesterday Major-Generall Massey went with about 7000. Horse, Dragoons, and Foot, on the other side of Lamport, skirmished with the enemy, and took about 500. horse, thir­ty slain, and 200. taken, whereof two Majors, 6. Captaines, and nine Colours. I am in health, and all our friends, for ought I heare; I cannot particularize yet, for our men are not all returned from the pursuit. The Kings partie here is quite routed, and I hope we shall suddenly drive them from having an Army in the field, and visit their Garrisons. God hath wonderfully appeared with his people who first char­ged, that scarce ever any such Charge was seen in England heretofore. The Generall and honest Cromwell behaved themselves most gallantly. I am in hast, and rest,

MY love to you and my sister, hoping you are in health as I am at writing hereof; I give the Lord praise for it, yesterday about two in the afternoon, Major Gen. Massey fell upon 2000. of Gorings Horse in Ilmore, and assoone as wee came in sight they ran a way, and we pursued them almost to their Garrison of Lamport, we took neer 500. Horse and 200. Prisoners, and slew about twentie: Then Sir Thomas Fairfax was at Long-Sutton within two miles of Lamport, this morning he drew forth into the Field, and Goring likewise drew forth of Lamport and tooke a passe and lined the hedges with Mus­ketiers near 2000. and drew up a great Bodie of Horse, our Generall drew down towards him, and came up and charged him, and we were ingaged about two houres by parties, at last put the Enemie to a retreat into Lamport, and we fell on and the enemy ran out at the other end of the towne, and set both sides of the streets on fire, and burnt down about 20. houses, and ran away to Bridgewater, and sent this morning and last night all their Carriages and Baggage, ex­cept two pieces of Ordnance, and two Carriages of Ammunition in the Town which we now possesse, we chased them six miles, tooke about 1000. prisoners in the flight, and are now in pursuit of them: The Lord follow us with successe and give us grace to returne glorie to God, for all his mercies extended towards us.

Lamport, July 10.

The Messenger who staied in the the Army two houres after the date of these Letters, relates that our men brought in Prisoners and Horse all the while he was there: so that he beheves there were not lesse then 2500. Horse taken, and 2000. Foot prisoners: that the Sommersetshire Club-men brought in divers of the enemies straglers prisoners, that he heard, that Lievtenant Generall Porter was taken.