ACcording to your desire I shall ac­quaint you with the passages in these parts, Lieut. Col. Kerle being com­manded from Chepstow by Col. Mor­gan to goe with a party of horse into Monmouth­shire to fall upon a party of 800 horse of Wash­ingtons, which hee pursued three daies and three nights, untill such time as he drove them over the River some fix miles above Hereford. Whereupon he returned to Chepstow and desired the Gover­nour of Gloucester and Sir Trevor Williams that they would draw all their forces together out of Chepstow, and the county of Monntouth, before Monmouth, and hee would engage his life, within three daies the Towne and Castle should be sur­rendred. Upon the 20 past they drew before it with horse and foot; a forlorne hope being drawn out of 600 Musketiers was commanded by Lieut. col. Kerle. The enemy seeing him come [Page 2]so strong upon them, and knowing that he com­manded the party left the Towne and fled into the Castle; whereupon the governour of Glou­cester and Sir Trevor Williams came instantly into the Town, called a councell of War, and did ad­vise with the rest of their Officers whether they should fall upon the Castle instantly or not; but taking into consideration that they had myners in the Forrest sent for them, put them to worke the same day, and on Thursday following they had made all things ready. The enemy within the Castle finding the mynors had made the mynes ready to spring, called a councell of War within, themselves the 23 received intelligence that the enemy had six mynes ready to be sprung and thought good upon good quarter to deliver up the castle, which they did on Friday, and on Saturday morning the Governour marched to Gloucester with all his foot, leaving onely 100 in the Castle under the command of Capt. Foster, and the Towne to Sir Trevor Williams charge, the countrey assisting him in that service. The Governour had no sooner gone for Gloucester, but the countrey (being instigated by some ma­lignants in the Towne) began to draw home­wards, and told Sir Trevor Williams plainly that [Page 3]they did not come to keepe garrisons, and they departed the same night every man to his owne home, leaving the Towne destitute of strength. Whereupon Sir Trevor Williams desired Captain Foster he might have the assistance of his men to keepe the Towne; but he having the charge of the castle thought it not his duty to forsake that, but resolved to keep it to the utmost hazzard of his life and fortune. Thereupon Sir Trevor Wil­lians seeing the danger he was in (Ragland castle being within seven miles of it) and the malig­nants gathering together, and giving out words that the Towne would be their owne by mor­ning sent a post to the Governour of Gloucester to acquaint him, and also to the Forest of Deane, for present supply, whereupon Lieut. col. Kerle and Cap. Gainsford came at 12 a clock that night with 200 men, and before 12 a clock next day with 500 more, who guarded the Towne till the Governour had sent 200 commanded men of Gloucester for the keeping thereof. The garri­son of Monmouth being put into a posture of defence and the malignants designe prevented Proclamation was made by Sir Trevor Williams and Lieut. col. Kerle, that upon Munday follow­ing those people that were suspected to be a­gainst [Page 4]the Parliament should depart the Towne, upon pain of death, whereupon divers families of malignants were put out. The Town thus secu­red Lieut. col. Kerle the same day marched with his Troop towards Hereford, and that night fell upon the enemies quarters within two miles of Hereford, tooke 8 prisoners and ten horse, with­out the losse of a man. And the Governour of Gloucester being commanded for Chester with his horse appointed the said Lieut. col. Kerle to be an assistant to Sir Trevor Williams, for the better security and safety thereof. And thus this despe­rate designe of the malignants, who would again have enslaved this Towne and countrey to the malice of the enemy, to the undoing of many wel-affected persons who had declared them­selves for the Parliament, was by Divine provi­dence discovered and prevented. Let God have the glory of all. So rests,

I Suppose you have a parti­cular relation of this daies service, but thus much from your friend: Wee assaulted Shelford house this day a­bout foure of the clocke, it was defen­ded galiantly, and disputed halfe an houre at Swords poynt after wee got to the top of the works, but our men growing faint, I dismounted, and be­ing assisted by some Troopers that dismounted with mee, stormed, and was one of the first that entred in. We kild about 140. and gave quarter [Page 6]to about 30. the Governour (sonne to the Earle of Chesterfield) received many wounds, and I believe some mortall, but I comming in gave him a longer time to repent (for he is not likely to live,) Wee are to morrow for VVorton, I trust God will goe along with us. The King is yet in Newarke, and cannot probably e­scape. The two Princes with their party about Belvoyr, & keep guards against Newarke, and doe hostile acts on the Kings party