XXXVII. To the QUEEN.
Daintry, Sunday, 9. June.
DEAR Heart, Oxford being free, I hope this will come sooner to Thee than other∣wise I could have expected, which makes Me believe that My good news will not be very stale, which in short is this: Since the taking of Leicester, My marching down hither to relieve Oxford made the Rebels raise their siege before I could come near them, ha∣ving had their Quarters once or twice beaten up by that Garrison, and lost four hundred men at an assault before Bostol-House. At first I thought they would have fought with Me, being marched as far as Brackly, but they are since gone aside to Brickhill, so as I believe they are weaker than they are thought to be; whether by their distractions, (which are certainly very great, Fairfax and Brown having been at Cudgels, and his men and Crom∣well's likewise at blows together, where a Captain was slain) or wasting their men, I will not say. Besides Goring hath given a great defeat to the Western Rebels, but I do not yet know the particulars. Wherefore I may (without being too much sanguine) affirm, that (since this Rebellion) My Affairs were never in so fair and hopeful a way; though among our selves we want not our own follies, which is needless, and I am sure tedious, to tell Thee, but such as I am confident shall do no harm, nor much trouble Me. Yet I must tell Thee, that it is Thy Letter by Fitz-Williams, assuring Me of Thy perfect recovery, with Thy wonted kindness, which makes Me capable of taking contentment in these good suc∣cesses: