Letters from Sir William Brereton Sir Thomas Middleton, Sir John Meldrum, of the great victory (by Gods providence) given them, in raising the siege from before Mountgomery-castle And, how they routed, and totally dispersed His Majesties forces, under the command of the Lord Byron; where they tooke all their carriages, armes, and ammunition, and made them flie to Shrewsbury and Chester. With a list of the names of all the commanders and officers taken and kild in the said service. Die Lunæ, 23 Septemb. 1644. Ordered by the Lords in Parliament assembled, that these letters be forthwith printed and published. J. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum. Brereton, William, Sir, 1604-1661. 1644 Approx. 20 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2011-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A77322 Wing B4369A ESTC R232646 99898025 99898025 171025

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A77322) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 171025) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2550:11) Letters from Sir William Brereton Sir Thomas Middleton, Sir John Meldrum, of the great victory (by Gods providence) given them, in raising the siege from before Mountgomery-castle And, how they routed, and totally dispersed His Majesties forces, under the command of the Lord Byron; where they tooke all their carriages, armes, and ammunition, and made them flie to Shrewsbury and Chester. With a list of the names of all the commanders and officers taken and kild in the said service. Die Lunæ, 23 Septemb. 1644. Ordered by the Lords in Parliament assembled, that these letters be forthwith printed and published. J. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum. Brereton, William, Sir, 1604-1661. Middleton, Thomas, Sir, 1586-1666. aut Meldrum, John, Sir, d. 1645. aut England and Wales. Parliament. House of Lords. Proceedings. 1644-09-23. aut [2], 10 p. printed for Iohn Wright in the Old-baily, London : Septemb. 23. 1644. Reproduction of original in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England.

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eng Great Britain -- History -- Civil War, 1642-1649 -- Early works to 1800. Montgomeryshire (Wales) -- History -- Siege, 1644 -- Early works to 1800. 2020-09-21 Content of 'availability' element changed when EEBO Phase 2 texts came into the public domain 2010-07 Assigned for keying and markup 2010-07 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2010-10 Sampled and proofread 2010-10 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2011-06 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

LETTERS FROM Sir WILLIAM BRERETON Sir THOMAS MIDDLETON, Sir JOHN MELDRUM, Of the great Victory (by Gods providence) given them, in raiſing the ſiege from before Mountgomery-caſtle.

AND, How they routed, and totally diſperſed His MAjESTIES Forces, under the command of the Lord Byron; where they tooke all their Carriages, Armes, and Ammunition, and made them flie to Shrewsbury and Cheſter.

With a Liſt of the names of all the Commanders and Officers taken and kild in the ſaid ſervice.

Die Lunae, 23 Septemb. 1644.

ORdered by the Lords in Parliament aſſembled, That theſe Letters be forthwith printed and publiſhed.

J. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.

LONDON, Printed for Iohn Wright in the Old-baily, Septemb. 23. 1644.

To the Right Honourable, the LORDS, and others of the Committee of both Kingdomes, ſitting at Darby-houſe in Weſtminſter. Right Honourable,

THat God who is moſt glorified by working by the weakeſt and unworthieſt inſtruments, hath this day given a moſt glorious victory, and as much manifeſted his power therein, as in any day I have been engaged ſince the beginning of theſe warres.

We have relieved Mountgomery-caſtle, wher in there was cloſely beſieged, and much diſt eſſed the L. Herbert of Cherbury, Col. Price, and moſt of Sir Tho. Middletons Officers, and neere 500 Souldiers.

We were ſo very hard tasked by the multitude of our enemies, (who did much exceed us in number) as that, if the Commanders and Souldiers had not engaged, and behaved themſelves very gallantly; or if we had wanted any part of our forces, it might have hazzarded our Army, for it was very dubious and uncertaine which way the Lord would incline the victory: it came to puſh of Pike, wherein 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 they were much too hard for us, having many more Pikes Our horſe alſo at the beginning of the battell were worſted, & retreated; but there was, I doe believe an unanimous reſolution both in horſe and foot to fight it out to the laſt man. Indeed there could be no other hope nor expectation of ſafety or eſcape, there remaining no way of retreat, all paſſages being entirely in the enemies power (if maſters of the field;) and truly if God had not infatuated, they might eaſily have interrupted our paſſage, and made good diven paſſes againſt us. But our extremity was Gods opportunity to magniſie his power; for when it was moſt dubio •• the Lord ſo guided and encouraged our men: that wi •• one freſh valiant charge we routed and put to retreat and flight their whole Army, purſued them many miles, eve in the Mountaines, and did perform great execution up •• them; ſlew (I doe believe) 500. wounded many more tooke neere 1500 priſoners, and amongſt them Colon •• Broughton, and Col. Tilſley, who they report to be Genera majors; there were alſo taken Lieutenant-colonels, Majo •• and Captaines, more then twenty; and all their Carriage and neere 20 barrels of Powder, wherein they were f •• niſhed the night before the battell; We tooke alſo (as w •• conceived) neere 1500. or 2000. Armes, moſt for fo •… Moſt of their horſe eſcaped towards Shrewsbury an Cheſter.

The enemies Army was reported, (and I doe believe 〈◊〉 was no leſſe then 4000. the Foot being the old Iriſh w •• came out of Ireland with Col. Broughton, Warren, Tyll •• and ſome of Col. Ellis, and ſome of Col. Sir Michael Wo •• houſes, and Sir Michael Ernlys Regiment, from Shrewsbur Cheſter, and Ludlow. Our Army conſiſted of about 15 •• Foot, and 1500 horſe. We loſt not 0 men ſlaine, and I d believe, there was not 60 wounded. Our greateſt lo •• was of Sir Wil. Fairfax, and Major Fitz-Simons, moſt gallant men. Sir John Meldrum did with much judgement order and command theſe forces, and therefore deſerves a large ſhare in the honour of this daies ſucceſſe. But indeed the whole honour and glory is to be given and aſcribed to God the giver of victories, and who is moſt deſervedly ſtiled the Lord of Hoſts.

What remaines further to be done in proſecution of this victory ſhall not be omitted; and if it pleaſe God that Newcaſtle be delivered, and ſome Scottiſh Forces aſſigned to aſſiſt to the taking in of Cheſter, I hope through Gods mercy there may be a good account given of all theſe parts of the Kingdome. To effect which, no man ſhall ſerve you with more faithfulneſſe then

Mountgomery, Septemb. 18. 1644. Your humble ſervant. WILLIAM BRERETON.

We know not how to diſpoſe of theſe common priſoners, unleſſe it would pleaſe you to order ſome of them that will take the Covenant to be ſhipped (if God give us Leverpoole) and tranſported over into Ireland, to ſerve you there.

VVe have left Sir Tho. Middleton in a good condition in Mountgomery-caſtle, and the Gentlemen of the Country begin to come in unto him; Sir Iohn Price is already come unto him, before I came thence. The L. Herbert is come away with us towards Oſweſtry.

For the Right Honourable, the Committee for both Kingdomes, at Darby-houſe in Weſtminſter. My Lords, and Gentlemen,

I Formerly acquainted you of our comming hither and of our proceedings in theſ parts; and alſo of the good ſucceſſe it pleaſed God to beſtow upon us. Since which time the enemy haſtned to come upon us, before we could bring in proviſions for our Garriſon; by reaſon whereof I was enforced to retreat with my Horſe unto Oſweſtry, with ſome ſmall loſse, onely of ſtraglers that lay loytering behind, leaving all my Foot in the Caſtle, and haſtned into Cheſhire to procure reliefe, and likewiſe into L ncaſhire to Sir John Meldrum, from whom I found a great deale of readin ſſe to relieve us in our diſtreſſe, and to preſerve what we had gotten from the enemy, being 37 barrels of Powder, and twelve of Brimſtone, both which they exceedingly wanted. Sir Iohn Meldrum, with Sir William Brereton, and Sir William Fairfax marched with 3000 Horſe and Foot towards Mountgomery, and came thither on the 17 of this inſtant September, where we lay that night in the field that was moſt advantagious for us, which the enemy had poſſeſt themſelves of before, and diſerted at our comming thither, placing themſelves upon the mountaine above the Caſtle, a place of great advantage for them; we reſolved not to goe to them, but to endeavour the victualling of the Caſtle; whereupon we ſent out parties for the bringing in of proviſions; which the enemy perceiving, they marched downe in a body both Horſe and Foot, being in number about 5000. and came up to our ground, and gave us battell; wherein, after an houres fight, it pleaſed God we obtained a glorious victory, having taken many Officers, 1400 common Souldiers, ſlaine 400, and taken their Ammunition, with a great part of their Armes, and ſome few horſe, the reſt all flying away; the Lord Byron commanded in chiefe the enemies forces, and Sir Iohn Meldrum the Parliaments forces, who behaved himſelfe moſt bravely and gallantly; and Sir William Fairfax, who had the command of the horſe did moſt valiantly ſet upon their horſe, and engaged himſelfe ſo farre that he was taken priſoner, but preſently fetcht off by the valour of our men, but ſore wounded; our men iſſued alſo out of the Caſtle, and fell upon the enemies in their trenches, and tooke divers of their Officers, and Souldiers, which they had leſt to keepe their Workes; Sir William Brereton with the Cheſhire foot did moſt bravely behave themſelves that day, and did beat the beſt Foot in England, as they the very enemies confeſſe, being all Prince Ruperts foot, and the choſen foot out of all their Garriſons. I ſhall make it ſtill my humble ſuite, that you will pleaſe to afford me ſome ſpeedie courſe for preſent money, for the payment of my Souldiers, for without that I ſhall not be able to keepe them together. And for the preſent I ſhall take upon me the boldneſſe to ſubſcribe my ſelfe

Mountgomery-caſtle, Septemb. 19. 1644. My Lords, and Gentlemen, your humble ſervant, THOMAS MIDDLETON.

Since the writing of this Letter it hath pleaſe God to take to his mercy Sir W. Fairfax, who is even now dead

For the Right Honourable, the LORDS, and others, of the Committee of ſafety for both KINGDOMES. My Lords,

I Have thought fit to give your Lordſhips a briefe account of ſome paſſages of buſineſſes here in Wales, forbearing a larger relation till I ſhall have a further time, and larger ſubject, which in all probability, by Gods aſſiſtance, may offer it ſelfe within a ſhort time. I was by the earneſt invitations of Sir William Brereton, and Sir Thomas Middleton eaſily perſwaded to concurre with them for the reliefe of Mountgomerycaſtle, beſieged by the Kings forces; I reſolved to contribute my beſt endeavours in that expedition, as well in regard of the importance of the ſervice, as that Leverpoole was not to be attempted ſuddenly by ſuch forces as I had, (being in number inferiour to the forces within the Towne,) whereupon I went along with the Yorkſhire, Lancaſhire, Cheſhire, and Staffordſhire forces (amounting to 3000. horſe and foote,) and marched to Mountgomery-caſtle in Wales, which was by a great deale of induſtrie and reſolution, taken in by Sir Thomas Middleton, together with a great deale of powder, match and brimſtone, which (coming from Briſtoll) was prepared for the relief of Shrewsbury, Cheſter, and Leverpoole: upon our approach towards the Caſtle, the Enemie did withdraw themſelves in ſome diſorder, the next day after being the 18. of September, they did take the advantage of the weakneſſe of our Quarters, the third part of our Horſe being imployed abroad for victualls and forrage; their Horſe and Foot came on, with great courage, reſolving to breake through our Forces, and to make themſelves Maſters of a Bridge we had gained, the night before: which would have cut off the paſſage of our retreat: It pleaſed God to diſpoſe ſo of the iſſue of the buſineſſe, that (by the reſolution of the Officers, and Souldiers, of Horſe and Foot) the Enemy did looſe the advantage they had in the beginning, and were ſhamefully routed, by the purſuit of the victorie, which continued for the ſpace of three miles: there are found dead upon the place five hundred, beſides many Officers of quallity killed and wounded, and twelve hundred Priſoners: Sir William Fairfax, and Major Fitſimons (who caried themſelves moſt bravly) are deadly wounded, without great hope of recovery, with ſome other Captains and Officers of our Horſe: the Cheſhire Foot with their Officers, carried themſelves more like Lyons, then men, eſpecially Major Lowthian who commanded as Major Generall: The Caſtle is releeved with victualls, Sir Thomas Middletons Souldiers who were before as Priſoners, are made free together with the Lord Herbert of Cherberie: amongſt the Priſoners Major Generall Tilliſeley, Colonell Broughton, and divers Lievtenant-Colonells and Majors, with many Captains and Lievtenants, ſo that by the blow given here, the beſt of their Foot are taken away, Shrewsburie, Cheſter, and Leverpoole, unfurniſhed with Ammunition; and North Wales (which formerly hath been the nurſerie for the Kings Armies) in all likelihood, 〈◊〉 ſhake of that yoke of ſervitude which formerly did lie •… their necks, and wilbe reduced to the obedience of King •… Parliament, by the example of Montgomery Caſtle, 〈◊〉 is one of the goodlieſt and ſtrongeſt places that ever I lo •… upon. The perſonall carriage and indeavours of Sir W •… Brereton and Sir Thomas Middleton hath been exceeding 〈◊〉 in the advancement of this ſervice. There is good hope Leverpoole by famine wilbe ſoone rendered, and 〈◊〉 Shrewsbury, and Cheſter will be at the laſt gaſpe, wh •… by Gods aſſiſtance there ſhalbe a ſhort triall made. So •… ving no further for the preſent to impart to your Lordſh •… I ſhall cheriſh all occaſions wherein I may approve my 〈◊〉

Montgomerie Caſtle Septemb. 19. 1644. Your Lordſhips moſt humb •• Servant, John Meldrum. My Lords,

THe intelligence I have had ſince the cloſing of 〈◊〉 Letter, of a body of Horſe, and Colonell Hunks •• giment of Foot that are marched to Shrewsbury, and 〈◊〉 the Lords Biron and Mullinax are gone backe to Cheſt •… have altered my reſolution touching Shrewsbury, whic the beſt had no other inducement, but the hope of a p •… tie within the Towne, and the ſcarcitie of Souldiers the •… I am

Your Lordſhips moſt humble Servant, John Meldrum.
A Liſt of the Priſoners taken and ſlaine at the Battell neere Mountgomery, upon the eighteenth of September. 1644. ol. Broghton r Th. Tilſley Col. evt. Col. Bladwell ajor Williams apt. Boulton apt. Edgerton apt. Bellamy apt. Floyd apt. Dolebin apt. Congrave apt. Bowman apt. Right apt. Morgan evt. Scidney evt. Rowes evt. Griffith evt. Morgan evt. Thurland evt. Wilſon evt. Floyd evt. Lewis evt. Bowen evt. Brickam evt. Hager evt. Minchle evt. Floyd evt. Olliver evt. Cavanogh Lievt. Perkins Lievt. Alderſay Quart. Mr. Snelling Cornet Perſons Cornet Hachkiſſon Cornet Stagge Enſigne Wallis Enſigne Williams Enſ. Dutten Enſ. Lampley Enſ. Parr Enſ. Edwards Enſ. Clackſtone Enſ. Harriſon Enſ. Contry Enſ. Heſt Enſ. Lagden Enſ. Jones Enſ. Barker Enſ. Price Enſ. Roberts Enſ. Richardſon Enſ. Prichard Enſ. Winn Enſ. Johnſon Enſ. Roe Enſ. Right Enſ. Erwin Serjeants, Simeon Day Francis Weſt Richard Watſon Francis Gough Jo. Morgan Jo. Sprigman Will. Hughs Jo. Davies Tho. Ward Ja. Newin Edward Badcocke Richard Etty Morris Jones Rand. Griffith Ralph Smith Will. Jackſon Ralph Herley Jam. Jefferies Rich. Morgan Griffith Loyd Samuel Day Will. Williams Jo. Davies Peter Lee Will. Manning Ed. Philips Jo. Hin Ralph Aſton Roger Stanton Griffith Davis John Smith John Paſter Wil. Paſley Thomas Colflow Rob. Stanford Iſaac Guy Tho. Latham John Browne John Knowles Robert Barber Sam. Rode Rob. Teade Roger Pyer Nath. Dale Will. Compton Ralph Williams Rob. Baccott John Hunſton Rob. Jones Cornelius Sedgel Edward Jones Edw. Sulbourne Corporalls. George Groeyer Henry Care Tho. Hall Tho. Cheadle John Hughs Andrew Clift John Huſſey Evan Price Henry Barrow Roger Houlton Law. Ward Henry Harway Rice Lewis Griffith Jones Edward Wills Evan ap Humphrey Andrew Powell John Eleney Rob. Price Robert Petts Tho. Taylor James Moore John Wolfe John Deley Rich. Barker Edw. Hayden Tho. Mullenex Griffith Thomas John Greene Antho. Carr Gilbert Sorby Rich Key John Hughs John Jude Will. Madders Tho. Lee Joſeph Barford John Dillen Rich. Salmon Tho. Crooke Tho. Albott John Williams Peter Lloyd Chriſtopher Pl •… Hen. Neneley John Chilton John Simpſon Roger Morris John Franke Humphrey Bo •… John Thomas John Sarley Patricke Role William Gilber Rich. Walten Antho. Cornett Rich. Leadbea •… Drummers. Will. Grynes Will. Guy John Collyer John Perrey Tho. Heyes Robert Trehan Edward Wa •… James Lawſt •… Tho. Deckes Rich. Moore Tho. Hyde. FINIS.