I Have now lighted on a fair oppertunity to returne you kinde greetings by this Gentleman, who (I believe) is like to be one of the first that can give you a true information of what befell at Shirbourne on Saturday last, where (with griefe of heart) he beheld the sad worke of that day, which from his mouth I tooke as neere as I could possibly, least his short abode in London (as he telleth me) should not give him time to visit you himselfe, (his haste and businesse you may well guesse) not brooking any delay or losse of time.

Vpon Friday last (I take it the first day of September) the Earle of Bedford marched to Shirbourne, with about five thousand horse and foot under his command, unto whom fifteene hundred more from Dorchester (but came out of Devonshire) did joyne themselves, having in their march thither­ward, by their over carelesse looking to their powder, blowne up foure of their poore souldiers, and hurt ten more, which they sent backe againe to Dorchester. With this power of about six thousand men in all, the Lord Generall pitched his Campe within a mile and a halfe of Shirbourne, behinde a hill, in the evening upon friday sending out some sallyes of horse to scoure and view the coasts, that he might be secured from danger at his backe, while he wholly bent his forces upon the good worke in hand, that night some of his souldiers being weary of lying in the open field two nights together, and having eaten nothing upon Wedendsday, and on Thursday but one meale, and their provision being not so good al­together as was to be desired, did get away from him, but not any considerable number, upon satterday in the forenoon he marched with all his forces towards Shirbourne Townes-end, and in the way the ordinance from the Castle, being discharged against him somewhat endammaged him, some few of his horse being then lost, but no number considerable, then marching to the Towne, at the Townes-end divers Musketiers out of ditches and pits played very hotly upon his men upon all sides on a sudden, and annoied them very much, but not so much as some have reported, who report not alwayes according to truth, but according to their malignant wishes and desires, from which God deliver us, the truth is, that it was Gods pleasure to suffer some men on our side to be slayne, about two hundred, but not many above that number. The Cavalliers ha­ving hidden themselves for the most part in pits and ditches, whence they did this mischiefe, for had they ap­peared, I believe they had not carried it with so little losse as the hurt only of foure of their men, for they say they lost none, & this was the passage of that sorrowful day, which with grief of heart I have acquainted you with, least you should be deluded with other false relations more to our prejudice then the losse of that day. The night being come, very many souldiers got them away being weary, but we doubt not but they will re­turne speedily when they have poore soules a little refreshed themselves, then they will be better able and more serviceable then ever before; the next day being the sabboth, the Cavalliers in the Castle did not much stir that I heare of, but our men got them away apace, and crawled of all foure through the corne, at last the Generall caused the horse to encompasse them to keepe them in, and then the Cavalliers from the Castle did some hurt among the horse, but the next day my Lord finding his numbers much decreased, for he had but a thousand or lesse now left, resolved to returne to Dorchester where he is at this present, but he burnt two houses at the Townes end before he went, and a ricke of hay, which with the corne that is tramp­led will be a thousand pounds losse to the Cavalliers and their adherents, that ungodly Lunsford and his Brother is here among them, God deliver us from such bloody butchers, and send us peace if it be his will. This Marquesse is now three thousand strong, but I doubt not but the wisedome of the Parliament will soon rid us of him and his ungracious Cavalliers: I have no more to write, but shortly you shall heare from me, in the meane time be not disheartned, for I am confident my next letter will afford you more comfortable tidings, for we daily expect such strong supplies as will soon send these bloody Cavalliers packing from the rest.