HAving received so many favours from you in this kinde, I have thought it requisite to informe you what hath happened here at Bridgenorth, since my last Letter. His Excellence his Quarter-master generall came hither on [Page 4]Sunday the second of October, and by ver­tue of a Commission from his Excellence, provided billeting for tenne Regiments of Horse, and neere sixe thousand Foot, with us and our neighbour Villages. Now by the way I must enform you that a great many Having-beene latly oppressed by his Majesties forces, seemed some what unwilling to give entertainment to any more soldiers, but to be short they must do it or else deservedly suffer under the censure of a malignant party; and so be indanger of Having their houes plun­dred by souldiers, who take upon them to excecute Iustice with out or feare or Law or Religion, esteeming all those papists, or favou­rers of Papists, that doe not only disist from Countenancing such uncivel Actions, but deny to be assistant in the performance, where. fore after the necessity was well examined they were resolved, rather to put all into the hands of Almighty God, then any way to seem a verse which would not onely bring ruine to the estate but person to.

On tuesday at night we expected His Ex­cellence would have made Bridgenorth His quarters, but before noone we heard the E­choing notes of the shrill trumpet, which cau­sed us to think his Excellence had been neere, but Having sent out scouts to descry the truth and give us notice, they brought us word that [Page 5]Duke Maurice, the Lord Strange, Marquesse Hartford, the Lord Paulet, M. Hastings of Lices­ter shire, S. John Biron, with a very consider­able Army were upon march to our towne which newes began to startle us, instantly an Alarum was given, every man from sixteene to fifty and upwards got himself into such arms, as they could presently attaine or could im­magine to be conduceable for the defence of the towne.

Likewise we had five field pieces and three troups of Horse which came to guard them from worcester in our town, being come the night before, these we mounted some upon the Church and the rest in the best places where we could conceive we might preiudice the enemy, our troops of Horse made good a passage where they were to passe over before they could attain to the towne, our foote made good severall other breaches and en­trances according to our ut most skill and best endeavours.

The Lord Strange, seeing himself thus de­feated and having beene gauled twice or thrice with our pieces from the top of the Church, made a stand and drew up some Com­panies of foote under the Covert of a grove of willow, who with their muskets played up­on [Page 6]our troops of Horse and beat them from their passage wounding neere twenty, inso­much that they began to wade the foard which being descried we with our Bowes and Arrowes sent to them which did so gaule them, being unarmed men (only offenfive Armes) that with their utmost speed they did retreat, striving to recover the shelter of the grove to hide them from us.

During this conflict, his Excellence with severall Regiments of horse drew neere the Town, which caused the Lord STRANGE to draw into a Champain field betweene our Towne and him, endeavouring to intercept his passage, having got intelligence that his grosse body was above three houres march behind.

Notwithstanding the Lord Strange his Ar­mie was very considerable both of horse and foote, yet the Forces under the command of the Earle of Essex, were so eager to fall on that maugre all perswasions they would not stay till that the foote marcht up to second them, but having received directions from the Earle, they charged them boldly with their Carbine shot, deviding so their Troopes that at one onset both Van and Reare were changed so fiercely, that spight of all the Cavaliers discretion they lost their order, and in a confused manner retreated basely.

[Page 7] In this confusion many men were lost and hurt on both sides, but which side most is not yet apparantly knowne, onely wee tooke seven prisoners Gentlemen of worth, and a­mongst them my Lord Paulet was noosed, who as it was reported made a wise speech in the head of the Army before the skirmish, animating them on to bloody Crueltie, and we doubt not but that he shall in some mea­sure taste of the same dish hee hath provided for others.

The next day a Messenger was sent to Shrewsbury, to desire that Captain Wingat who was taken prisoner before Worcester might be exchanged for one of the other, but what returne wee shall have is not yet known.

It is conceived there was about 80. killed, and 45. wounded on both sides, but which side lost most I cannot say; onely we ought to give God thankes that during the space of five houres bickering no more blood should be shed. This is the truth of our proceedings. at my next opertunity I shall send to you, farewell,