THose many and very great courtesies I have for­merly received from you, (especially your bounty in promoting my endeavour for Scholarship) commands me to watch all opportunities to do you ser­vice. But the substance of this ensuing Letter is such, that I know with you [...] will claim a fair acceptance, though I present you [...] with the plausible shew of a Preamble. Briefly the [...] [...]us:

SIR, By Gods bles [...]ing I can tell you I am alive, and so are you, and by Go [...] victorious arme, the Church of God: Last night he she [...]d us what the fury of its e­nemies could do, which w [...] [...]o powerfull and performed with so much resolution and audacity, noyse and terrour, that you could not but have thought they now at last had moved even Hell gates. But to proceed orderly, (for now I am recollected, having brushd off the dust and fury of warre, and fallen into a calm of gratitude to my Prote­ctour, and desiring you and all like your selfe, to shewe your selves also such to him that hath saved you and the [Page]Commonwealth) After many assaults upon the citie of York performed with great courage, and also the often receiving the resolute sallies of a strong enemy, we heard by our Scouts on Friday last, being the 28. of June, that behinde us their Goliath had made his neare approach, with men not to be numbred; a vast body indeed it was: this being considered by a Counsel of Warre, it was de­termined to raise the Siege with all convenient speed, which beginning the next morning, it was fully com­pleated before Munday at noon, the Enemy making small skirmishes all the while with us, and we with our forlorn hope of Horse drawn up for that purpose still repulsing them.

On Tuesday the second of July we pitcht in Hesham. Moore, where no sooner looking about us, but the enemy with displayed colours entered the same place, bending to­wards the left hand, by reason of some advantage they perceived there; which we striving to prevent, made for it, before they should possesse themselves of it; in the meane time the main body of their pitched in that very place and neare unto it which we left.

Our Army consisting of three Generalls, had a Generall for every part to conduct it: The main body was the Scots led on by General Lesley, the right wing by the Lord Fair­fax, and the left wing by the Earl of Manchester. They drew up their battalie likewise with much gallantry, some­thing larger then ours in appearance, commanded by the Prince, the Marquesse of Newcastle, Sir Charles Lu­cas. Thus the Moore commonly called Hesham Moore being six miles long, and generally a mile broad, was be­spread [Page]and covered with the two battailions. We began a­bout two of the clock in the afternoon with our great guns, which continued till between 7 and 8 with equall suc­cesse, then the main bodies joyning, made such a noise with shot and clamour of shouts that we lost our eares, and the smoke of powder was so thick that we saw no light but what proceeded from the mouth of gunnes. For the first; their brave Chivalry in the left wing gave such a Cavalier-like assault that presently they routed our right, consisting of my Lord Fairfaxes men, made up with some regiments of commanded Scots, who by the help of good horses ran so farre before they lookt about, that this morning I passing towards Hull-ward for releife of my wearisomenesse I found all places possest with the noise of the totall overthrow of the Parliament forces. But nothing so, God be thanked, for the right wing being fled & eagerly persued, in the mean time we under the command of my Lord of Manchester and Collonel Crumwell then leading up our Brigade of horse, gave them so brave an onset, that God seconding it with his blessing, in lesse then an houre we had totally routed their foot on the right wing. In the mean time it was hotly disputed between the two main bodies, ours consisting of the Scots led up by Generall Lesley, theirs by Prince Ru­pert: but theirs at last perceiving their friends thus flying, began likewise for their own safety to betake themselves to their heeles. Thus the field was totally cleared, their right wing and main body beaten out by fine strength, their left wing leaving it in persuit of their victory. We followed the chase of them almost as farre as York (which is foure miles distant from the Moore) whether the most part of [Page]their forces fled for shelter, and had not night prevented us our execution on them had been farre g [...]eater. Thus re­turning and totall masters of the field, we possest our selves of all their Cannon, match, Powder, Carriages, being very many and well furnisht. As for the number of the slain I cannot give you a just account, but upon our first veiw on both sides they seemed to be foure thousand, of which I verily beleive nigh [...] were theirs. The Arms of the fields being gathered made in show 5000. Besides we heare the souldiers have since gathered up many at divers places cast away by them in their flight. As for prisoners taken they are many, but the just number or any man of notice in particular as yet I cannot inform you.

If you should expect the commendation or valour of any particuler man your friendor mine, by displaying of that I should seem to take off from others, who all did so gallantly this day, that the commendations of one may justly seem the wrong of another. And as for the enemy the truth is they behaved themselves with more valour and resolu­tion then ever man saw coincident with so bad a cause. Whose eyes I pray God to open, and our victories shalbe of as great a value with lesse blood: In a word we were hard­ly put to it, partly by the power of our enemies, but most by our own wants, all provisions being at that time very scarce amongst us: and our souldiers hungry and tired with a lingring siege. But you see Gods power is above mans want.

NOw as I am writing we heare the Prince is rallying his shatte­red forces some twelve miles off to­wards Scarbrough, where he expects the conjunction of some help from those parts to make up a body again, which we hope to prevent.