WHen our Army advanced to Not­tingham, we were desired by the Parliament to march to Worce­stershire; when we came there we were desired to pursue the ene­my in the Field, we have done accordingly; the King and Co­lonell Gerard had about foure thousand Horse and three thousand Foot, we have driven them out of Worcestershire, and by parties have pursued them [Page 2] from the one end of Herefordshire to the other, we put our great Ordnance into Gloucester that we might the better follow them; their Foot are now all dissipated so that we cannot heare of them, their Horse are out of Herefordshire and dispersed into se­verall Counties of Wales, some in Monmouth, some in Glamorganshire, some in Brecknock, others to­wards Ludlow, so that we have no considerable bo­dy of the enemy to follow; and I hope none will blame us that wee doe not fight with those that will never stay in our view, but runne to Rocks and Mountaines in divided and inconsiderable par­ties. We were also desired to hinder the enemies Recruits, and live in their Quarters; I hope we have done the first to good purpose; but concerning the last, we know not where they are; for we doe no sooner come to any place (though yesterday) all in the enemies possession, but within a day or two the Countrey calls it the Parliaments Quar­ters, and desire us to remove to some other place. If there be any part in England the Enemies Quar­ters, we are now in them, for there cannot be a more malignant people in Britaine; they give all the in­telligence and assistance they can to the enemy, and will afford us no manner of entertainment that they can withhold: Our Souldiers in a weeks time have scarce got three dayes provisions, and these eight dayes past, except once, have not seene bread. We sent to Glocester, but could get nothing there, but for ready money; and if Major Dobson (who hath [Page 3] been very kinde and active for us,) had not given his word in assurance thereof, we had been forced to ad­vance the Money before wee received the pro­visions.

Many promises were made for the care of our Ar­my, before our advance Southward; jf they had been performed, and that respect had to us, as to other Armies in the Kingdome, the Common Enemy had been in a lower condition, and our assistance of greater advantage to our friends; What the cause is that hath obstructed all our Supplies, or what the ends of it are, I will not take upon me to determine; but I doubt if any Age can parallel our condition. Wee have weakened our owne Kingdome, by bringing supplies to this, and have exposed it to the mercilesse fury of Irish Rebels, and unnaturall Countrymen, out of an earnest desire to quench the flames here: Our Souldiers have not weary­ed to march with hungry bellies both day and night, when occasion requires; yet we heare there be some Aegyptian Task-masters, who withhold the straw, and call for more brick, being never satisfied with what we doe; the worst I wish to such, is, that they were eye witnesses to our sufferings and acti­ons; I am sure (if they have any affection to the Cause) they would lend us more of their help, and speake lesse to our prejudice; If they be Enemies I regard not what they say: But to returne; The Generall sent a Convoy to the English Commissio-weake and a thin Army. But we blesse the Lord [Page 4] ners, and they came hither upon Munday; yester­day we had a meeting with them, where it was debated, whether we should pursue the Enemy in the Fields, or fall upon some other designe, but there being no considerable body of the enemy to­gether, the first was by all conceived no wayes for the publike advantage; there remained nothing but a siege; the Question was, whether Worcester or Hereford, at Worcester we could be more easily and better provi­ded of all necessaries, both for the siege and the enter­tainment of the Souldiers; the King had not another passe upon Severne, and it brought much trade to Lon­don, upon the other part Hereford was neerer the Ene­mies Quarters, we could be more able to annoy the Enemy, hinder his Recruits, and breake his Forces, the taking thereof gained the whole County where now the Parliament had no interest, and so inlarged their Quarters. Worcester also would thereby be in a man­ner blocked up, the Parliament having already three sides of it. These reasons were found the stronger and more for the advantage of the publike service, and this day the Army is marched toward Hereford, and are to lie downe before it. I trust care will be taken to furnish us with Materials for that purpose, wherein for the present we are unprovided; but our greatest feare is, for want of Victuals for the Souldiers, for they had never worse entertainment; and if they were not constant in their affections to the Cause, the difficulties and discouragements they have met with in these few dayes had made us a [Page 5] for his assistance, and though we should be yet more neglected by men, shall never bee wanting in the Cause of God, wherein we are confidentt he will ever inable us to dee what hee requires at our hands, I am