ACcording to our dutie and trust reposed in us, we have used our best endeavour for the pre­servation of this Coun­tie: And although lit­tle Assistance hath beene offered us by the people here (to what wee ex­pected) yet God that never faileth those that goe on in his way, and rest upon his power and goodnesse, hath so blessed us now in this time of Streights, that hee hath done great things for us by small meanes, to him alone be the glory and praise.

[Page]Upon Tuesday the 29. of November, Cap­taine Thompson, and Captaine Pym, by command of Colonell Ruthyen, went to Plymton, to keepe the Towne with their Troopes, and about 70. Dragoneers and 200. Foot, if they saw it might have beene kept without great hazard. But the next day hearing the Enemy was marching from Tavistock, with (as was related to us) 3000. Horse and Foot, and about 8. peeces of Ordi­nance, and finding the Towne of Plymton not to be kept without as great a Force as should come against it, by reason the Towne lyes so scatte [...] ­ring, and severall Villages so neere it; And least the Enemy should come betwixt them and Ply­mouth, they drew forth towards the Enemy, but night comming on, they could not come to give them a charge, without hazard of the damaging of one another in the darke, they then went to Plymouth.

The next day being Thursday, Colonell Ru­thyen, with 4. Troopes of Horse and the afore­said Dragoneers, went to Plymton to revive the Towne and to see the motion of the Enemy, and found the Towne as was related to him. Then drew towards Plymouth, and stood upon the La­rie for the space of three houre, facing the Ene­my, who attempted one charge to have drawne us to their Ambascadoes, but fled presently, and durst not withall then force, which we judge was at least 2500. Horse and Foot (then left, for [Page] many ranne away the night before) give us a charge upon faire ground, but that night, they went to Plymton where they continued.

Wednesday the 7. of this present moneth, Colonell Ruthyen with the aforesaid 4. Troopes of Horse, and aboute 100. Dragoneers, about three of the clocke in the morning, marched from Plymouth, over Ruberdowne, being a by way to Modbery, where were gathered together by the Sheriffs command, 3. or 4000. Men, some with Armes, and some without, and we came so privately, that they did not discover us, untill we came within a mile of the Towne, which did so amaze them, that after Sir Ralph Hopton had drew up the Force he could presently get, hee with Sir Nicholas Slaning ranne away and esca­ped, and after a small skirmish with those that stood to it, with the losse of one man and two hurt, and 3. or 4. Horses, we tooke Prisoners the Sheriffe, Sir Edmund Foscue, and his Brother, Sir Edward Seymore and his sonne, Master Bassett, Captaine Glomery, Master Shopcut, Captaine Wood, Captaine Bidlock, Barnes of Exeter, Lieutenant Penrose, Master Short, &c,

From thence we marched that day with our Prisoners to Dartmouth to the gladding of the hearts of the good people there (having had a long march sixteene houres on horsebacke,) for while we were vpon our march towards Modbery, one Master Thomas Lee was in Treaty with Sir [Page] Ralph Hopton, about the delivery up of the Town as we are informed, and by his confession he had got a warrant to free his house from Plun­dering, which Master Lee wee have also taken, and with the rest of the Prisoners, have sent to Plymouth this morning in a Frigot called the Cresset, by one Cap. Plunket; we ran a great hazard in this service, as your Honours may judge, for the Enemy lay on both sides with all their force, part at Plymton, and part at Totnesse, but the Lord carryed us along in our way, and deluded the Enemies of his Truth, and our Liberties into our hands, and made many more to flee before us. The Prisoners, Colonell Ruthyen hath orde­red to be sent from Plymouth, with the first faire wind to London, and we now lye here expecting some Force from Exeter to joyne with us, which if we can have but a 1000. Dragoneers, we hope to doe the Enemy much damage.

Wee here this day, that since our comming hither, the Enemy is come with the greatest part of their Force to Totnesse, what are left at Plymton we know not, If speedy supplyes come not of Men, Money, and Armes, we feare they will plunder most of the good Townes, of this County, and what it may grow to, if God doth not mightily worke for us, we know not, your Honours know of what concernement the kee­ping of this Countie is, and wee doubt not but [Page] the great need of assistance will bee sufficient to move your Honours to take into consideration the premises, which that your Honours would please to doe, is the humble desire of