PRince Robert came Sep. 23. about 9, or 10. of the clock into Wor­cester, as is thought to fetch away those Forces that lay at Wor­cester much endangered by the Lord Generalls forces approa­ching neere the City: about ten Troops, under the command of Colonel Browne, with about two or three hundred Dragooners, drawn from an advantagious plot of ground, where they had pitched safely, to prevent (as is thought) the Cavaliers flight, were fiercely assaulted at great disadvantage, with all P. Roberts Forces, supposed to be strong 5000. horse, they valiantly charged against the Cavaliers, had a cruell and bloody fight till it came to swords point; Col: Fines himselfe rode up to their chiefe Commander, thrust his Pistoll to his belly, discharged and slew him out­right: Lord JOHN is thought to be slaine or desperately wounded, and so carried away in a coach, Prince Robert is reported to be shot through the thigh, but it is not certain, the Parliaments Forces being farre too weake were forced to retreat: The Lo: Generall his Forces being not come in, and some of them retreated into Worcester with the Cavaliers, and being discovered in the streetes of that City, they had another bitter skirmish in the streetes where divers were slaine. The Cavaliers came into the City wofully mangled and bloody, some having their eares cut off, some with the flesh of their heads, some with their very skulls also hanging downe, their Pistols and Carbines stocks being hacked away which they held up for the guard of their heads.

About 10. of the clock at night, all P. Roberts forces fled over the bridge towards Ludlow, with many malignants of the City with them, both men, women, and children, and made Captaine Wingate (whom they took pri­soner) to ride before them in their flight, naked.

This 24. day about 10. of the clock in the morning, his excellence posses­sed himself of the City, which ere this, had most of it been laid in the dust, had not the Rogues quitted the City, his Excel: being ready for a battery.

The Townsmen certainly affirme that 22. of our side are slaine, whom they have buried, have found no more for present dead, many are sore woun­ded, Col: Sands and Col: Brown, wounded among others. Mauy of theirs are killed, but I cannot heare of a certaine number.

The Cavaliers ragged regiment dare not stand battaile upon any equall termes, they have left divers arms behind them, it is thought all they tooke frō Kiderminster and Beudley or more, they disarmed Worcester before they ran away, but Worcester set upon the rear of the Dragooners in the flight, & disarmed them again.

The Cavaliers in Shropshire and all other places where they come dis­arme all Townes and families well affected to the Parliament, plundering their houses most lamentablely, carrying away & spoyling all their goods, terrifying the inhabitants extreamely, & driving them to fly for their lives, taking many prisoners, and they have lists of the names of all active per­sons whom they seise upon, and do most mischiefe unto; Papists and Ma­lignants houses, generally scape their cruelty. If a running army be not rai­sed to run as fast as they, the whole Kingdome is in great danger suddain­ly to be run over.

Prince Roberts Army most part consists of Papists, who deale most cru­elly with all good men and Ministers, and all that have opposed the com­mission of Array.

The Commissioners of Aray in Cheshire, met upon munday last at an house on the Forrest of Delamere, and as we heare they com­bined together by an oath of secresie to plunder and disarme the town of Nampt witch, which they have done by the assistanc of about 1500. horse which came from Draiton to meet them, under the command of the Lord Grandison. The inhabitants of the town having cer­taine intelligence of what they intended against them, presently assembled, in consultation, to take a course, for securing of themselves, and immediatly sent messengers to the Gentry and towns abroad, to see what assistance they would send, who formerly had couenanted to assist the towne (as a place of great consequence) if necessitie required, and one messenger going to Sir Thomas Delues 3. miles from the town, to acquaint him with the state thereof, and intreating his aid formerly promised, he returned answer, he could not spare one man, for he must look to him self, and within two hours after he came by the towne ryding to Chester, but left his arms in his own house, which the next day after without any resistance were taken away by the Cavalires, Sir Richard Wilbraham was forward for our helpe in sending vs armes, and his men abroad to bring in the Countrie, which care had he exercised in due time, standing against the commissioners of Aray, when by the rest of the gentrie he was with all importunitie prest thereunto, the town and countie had never come to that deplorable con­dition. M. Vernon, a braue Gentelman, and a great patriot of our countrie, was the most forward man of all: had he come in half an hour sooner we had held it out against all that assailed us. Cap: Croxon was the greatest strength, and very resolute to defend the town. M. Clutton, an actiue Gent: was resolved to fight it out, and disarmed the undersherifes man, who came from [Page 4]the Cavaliers, who would not heare talke of any parlie, but gave expresse command to the townesmen of his own company to give fire as soon as the Caveliers should come within shot, and not to admit of any parlie, but other Gent. of the towne perswaded the contrarie, lest it should be fired: where upon they came to parley. The Lord Grandison, and the Lord Chol­moudelcy engaged their honors, that noe man should be hurt, nor any armes or goods taken from any man, but onely desired that the armes might be laid up in the church or the town hall till they heard further from the King: whereupon the towne was given up, but they dishonourably broake their engagement, seizing upon their armes so soone as they entred the town, searching up and down for armes, and men, threatning many, and pursue­ing them that fled, many tooke the river to escape them, they stopt the pas­sages of the town, to be revenged of them within it, rid up and down the gardens to finde them out and imprisoned many, then they plundred the towne, and all the countrie, which now lyes open for a prey to a perfidi­ous enemy, conducted and strengthned by them of the Aray to all such pla­ces, where they have bin most serviceable to King and Parliament, if speedie help come not, we shall be vtterly desolate. This intelligence is from many eye-witnesses.

THe beginning of this weeke the E. of Bath was in Devonshire about the Commission of Array; the first Town wee came to (the name whereof I have forgot) he (not daring to go in) sent a brave Cavalier to the Towne to finde how it stood, where the women so paid him for his paines, that he scarce returned with any skin on his face. The second Town he went to was Moulton, where he sent store of venizon, pretending his comming was to feast and make merry, but his intentions being dis­covered , the women beset his house and forced him with much adoe to make an escape and leave his rost. On munday last the Marquesse and Ca­valiers left Sherbourne and are gone to Minyard a sea Town neere Wales, and the next passage from thence to Ireland, they troubled all the Coun­treyes in their passages, in so much that on tuesday night all the shop­windowes [Page 5]here were shut, every man Armd and the Towne guarded.

Yesterday the E. of Bedford came with about 500. horse, some troopes went towards Minyard the last night at 12. of the clock, the rest goe to day with divers Dragooners and Foot from other parts, and here are pre­parations for war, all this countrey over, as if it were to be the seat of war. I could not conveniently write unto you sooner, having been very busie in all the late service about Sherbourne, in which God hath graciously preser­ved me, though I was imployed in the Front of our Army, when we gave them the first onset. I have here sent you the Lord Paulets unparallel'd bloody speech to his souldiers, which you may publish if you please. Thus praying God to blesse you, and be a wall of fire about you, and that good great City, the Magazine of our Kingdom, I rest, Your truly loving friend.

HIs Majesty advancing into Staffordshire, sent two or three troops of horse, came to Killing worth Castle to conduct those souldiers that were there, (under the command of Serjant major Willis) unto His Maje­sties other Forces: Our Coventry Soldiers having notice hereof made haste to give them an onset, but the rogues were got past Coles I ere they could reach them, and then such as could go fastest on horseback, which were not above 30. rid amain, overwent their foot, and adventured stoutly, ile not say desperately, to assault the other army. Serjeant Major Willis, seeing the force so small that came to encounter them, gave order that the Carriages and foote should march forward, and they with their horse (though well wea­ried) would give battaile to Coventry horse, as indeede they did to our griefe, for besides the prisoners they took, which were three or four, and men they wounded which were two, (one whereof lies at Curdworth, yet I thinke alive,) our men were forced to retreat, which made the adverse party insult notably, and unlesse men did by miraculous faith beleeve that God would destroy their adversaries with Rams hornes, I know not what [Page 7]should put such boldnesse into them. They got two or three horses from their adversaries, some say also a prisoner or two, but the major body of the Killingworth Army with their Carriage which was in foure wagons came safe to Tamworth, and after one dayes rest went from thence, in one of which Cap: Scudamore lay, (such state his friends put upon him) he was wounded at Coventry siege, and is very like to perish therewith.

MAster Comberford of Tamworth sent three or foure cart loads of goods and Ammunition, with many cattle lately towards Dud­ly Castle for safety, but Birmingham men having notice hereof seised upon them: This Comberford is a great malignant, this and other things makes Birmingham extreamely threatned. Some Cavaliers were lately apprehen­ded here at Walfall for indeavouring to levie souldiers, for which dread­full menaces are denounced against us also. The Rebels have taken and plundered Namptwich, Sir Wil: Brerton, that worthy patriot of his Country, his house is pillaged and seven or eight horses taken from him. So is the Lady Bromlyes reverend Parson Fishers, Mr. Charlton an excellent Gent: Mr. Rawley of Rawley by P. Robert, and divers others, which makes good people fly apace.

THe Commissioners of Array are ready here to put their Commission in execution, but dare not for fear of the Country, for our Country stands close to their Petition and Protestation.

THere came under command of Cap: Legs brother 3000. Musquetiers of horseback, and much powder and shot from New-Castle through this County to go to Chester, which the Countrey was not able to make stay of, having no forces. The Lord Strange hath drawne his Forces to Waringdon, being about 2500. and intends to go and pillage Manchester, he hath compelled his tenants to pay 3. yeares rent beforehand, for to sup­port the King in this service, insomuch that poore men are forced to sell their Cattaile and goods to pay it. Manchester keepes a strong watch night and day, some places being plundered neere them by Sir Francis Wortley, and other Cavaliers as Knutsford, Oldham, &c. The Lo: Strange drawes along with him the traine bands, but sore against their wills.

THe King having left his Army, bilited about Shrewsbury, came to White church upon Friday, and was welcommed into the County of Chester, by the Lo: Rivers, L. Chamley, and Sir Thomas Aston, and then [Page 8]went towards Chester with two Troops, being his guard, besides Sir Tho: Astons Troop, and the Mayor, Aldermen, and Recorder Brerewood, received him into Chester in great pomp, presenting him ith 200. l. and the Prince with 100. l. The Court is kept at the Bishops house. The next Tuesday His Majesty intends to depart from this City towards Rixam, thence to Els­more, and so back to Shrewsbury. He hath imprisoned some of our Noble Gent: for obeying the Parliament. Before the King came out of Shrop­shire, he sent downe the River Severne 6. peeces of Ordnance to Bridge­north to secure that place, but it is hoped that the Lord Generall will in good time take that place, and those Peeces, and Shrewsbury to boot.

THe honest part of our Gentry and Commonalty now begin to pluck up their spirits, make head against the Parliaments Forces, have re­ceived many men and Armes from Sir Iohn Hotham, whose son commands them: They have chose the Lord Fairefax their chiefe Commander, and their Army daily increaseth: They have taken some very strong holds al­ready for the service of the Parliament, and resolve to seize upon all the Parliaments enemies in all the Countie, whereupon Sir William Savile and many other malignants are fled to Pomfret Castle for refuge.

In Lincolneshire also the Lord Willoughby of Parham, the Earle of Lin­colne, and many others, make head, joyne their Troops together, and intend to joyne with Yorkeshire, whereby it is hoped through Gods great goodnes all the North part of England will be shortly secured for the King and Parliament.