I Need not tell the world what (to their cost) they know, That Souldiers by action, and Printers by promulgation, are the two great English Factors. I am content to lay by my Sword, and handle the Pen at this time, not to encroach upon anothers imployment, but that such as will, may know the truth of the passages concerning Liech­field Close, of which I was an eye-witnesse.

The Close of Liechfield hath a strong wall and buildings incompassing the Cathedrall Church, which all together make a very defensible Fort; This was gained from the Earle of Chesterfield, and divers other Commanders and [Page 2]Souldiers (by the forces raised by the Lord Brooke after his death) under the Conduct of Sir John Gell, then Com­mander in Chiefe, who afterwards by advise of the Com­mittee of the County, placed a Garrison in it, consisting of about two hundred souldiers, besides Captaines: This Garrison Prince Rupert (having drawn his forces into Staf­fordshire) summoned by a Trumpeter (the souldiers usuall Herauld) on April the sixth, to yeeld up the Close unto him, conditioning that the Captaines and Souldiers should be entertained to serve his Majesty in their respective pla­ces, or else march away; we returned a direct deniall, and told him we resolved to fight it out: Hereupon, on Satur­day, April the eighth, he advanced into Liechfield, the In­habitants petitioning him so to doe, his forces then were a­bout foure thousand: Sunday, the ninth of April, they well observed us, intrenching themselves, and in the night plant­ed their Ordnance on the East side of the Close, fitting their instruments, which on Munday, April the tenth, they plaid with in earnest, shooting about one hundred and fiftie bullets roundlie, most of which weighed nineteene pound, and not all in vaine, for they pierced our walls very fre­quentlie, which we repaired with stones and earth without any prejudice to our selves, this designe not answering their expectations, they removed their Ordnance thence, and planted them on the South side, in a garden of Sir Richard Dyets, This proved to them labour in vaine, and then be­cause we had leisure, we bravely mounted three or foure leather Buckets upon wheeles like a Morter-piece, which they let flie at furiously, and so spent the rest of that day, in playing while we danced, some of them that while having laid the great Pond drie, that lay between their Ordnance and us, in the night following endeavoured with Fagots [Page 3]to make a Bridge over the mud, and did halfe per­forme it before we could discerne it, after which we plaid them a sit with our muskets, to their losse, which yet did not deter them, for that designe (as much conducing to their advantage) they prosecu­ted divers nights, though we laid the man for the most part with the Fagot; and how ever they had a stocke sufficient, and might spare men yet was the service too hot, dead men and Fagots did not joyne hansomely together, neverthelesse the day follow­ing they shot from the Garden or backeside where they had pitched, by reason whereof they fired a house in the Town which they intended not, where­by eight or ten other houses were consumed, and that while we made way through the flames with our Bullets to meete our Adversaries, and there ma­ny of them fell. Upon Saturday, April 15. they planted their great Ordnance at the South Gate neere the Mill, which is within a few yards of the Close, and thence shot about sixtie times, thereby battering all the Wall over the Percullis, intending to make their entry there on Sunday morning, and therefore during the smoake of the shot, attempted to scale the Walls, which the Sentinell espying dis­charged, as did other of our souldiers upon his A­larum, who were exceeding ready and diligent, notwithstanding their continuall service day and night, for the space of sixteene dayes and nights, for so long the Siege continued, and so that Plot (as the rest) miscarried: In this assault we lost one man, and they (as wee conceive) about sixtie, yet so indefati­gable were they, that they caused the Colliers [Page 4]which they called to their assistance to under-mine us, which wee once or twice prevented by counter­mining and smoaking them out: Another Mine they had secreatly made from the Angell under one of our Towers, which wee suspected not; this being fully prepared, Prince Rupert did againe; viz. on Thursday morning, April 20. sound a Parly, and tendred us the former Conditions, which we againe refusing, they presently blew up our Tower, and there made a terrible wide breach, and entered it presently with much eagernesse and security as wee conceived, for many of their chiefe Commanders appeared first in it; about 40. of our Musketeers en­deavoured to make good the breach, the rest of our souldiers being imployed on the Walls, which they were also now indeavouring to scale; these fortie seeing little execution done by their shot, being lead on by that truely valiant Souldier, Leiute­nant Mydhope did fall upon their Adversaries (being betweene two or three hundred) pell mell, and with their Butt ends of their Muskets, their Swords, and Holbeards, did most bravely repell them, slew many, among which was Colonell Usher, Captaine Corbet (say some Sir John Corbets Son) and many other Officers, to the number of about 60. and wounded neare upon 100. others a­mongst which were the Lord Digbie who is snot in­to the knee, Colonell Wagstaff, Mortally wounded, Colonell Garret hurt, tooke Prisoners divers great Commanders, among which was Capt. Legge, and Prince Ruperts Chaplaine, one Askin a Scottish man, unto whom a Chirurgion was sent, Prince Rupert having before requested it, after this, while some [Page 5]of our souldiers made good the breach, we went presently to cleare the Close of those that rushed in, being about 150. who apprehending all their owne, as in probability they well might, fell on Plundering; divers of these wee tooke Prisoners, o­thers of them escaped downe the Ladders that were reared for their comming over unto us, a faire scape by Ladders.

We lost in this dreadfull commotion not above eight men, two were blowne up with the Tower, and some foure or six wounded, and in all the siege before not above three or foure men; when we had breathed a little, a Councell of War was called, and perceiving our danger, how destitute of all re­liefe from men, and which was worst of all, how very neere spent our Match and Powder were, not enough to make good another assault, we resolved on these Articles to present to Prince Rupert.

• 1. To leave the Close, and to march out with our Bag and Baggage, and all our souldiers armed, and Colours flying.
• 2. To have eleven Carts provided for us.
• 3. That all the prisoners that any of the Kings forces had taken in Staffordshire, since my Lord Brookes ar­rivall there, should be released.

Unto which we added, that if Prince Rupert re­fused these termes, we would put all our prisoners we then had to the Sword, and die our selves upon the walls.

Upon the receipt of the Articles, Col. Hastings came in to treate with us, and in a very short time consented to them, whereupon we marched forth orderly the next morning, being Friday, with our [Page]Colours displayed, being about 80. Musketiers, and as many Horsemen with their Horses and Armes, besides the Commanders, and so passed through Prince Rupert his Army, which was set guard wise about a mile in length, none of his Souldiers offer­ing any abuse to us, and so we came safe to Coven­try, some on Friday night, others on Saturday morning, and however we have cause to be humble, yet blessed be God, who hath not delivered us over unto death, but by us cut of many hundreds of our enemies.

That both our Commanders and Common soul­diers who kept Liechfield Close may have their due commendations, this may not be omitted, namely, their great faithfulnesse as well as courage, for al­though Prince Rupert and Hastings used all meanes [as by commending them for their valour, proffering them preferment and good pay, &c.] to cause them to desert the Parliament, and serve under them, yet they refused, although they had never received pen­ny pay in all that service.

• Capt. Edw. Leigh.
• Serjeant Major Russell.
• Capt. Greives.
• Capt. Henry Stone.
• Capt. Edward Foley.
• Capt. John Randolph.
• Capt. Spearing.
• Capt. Richard Smith.
• Capt. Holmes.

• Prince Rupert.
• Earle of Northampton.
• Lord Digby.
• Lord Capell.
• Col. Hastings, Stanhop, Wagstaffe, Usher, Garret, Harding, &c.