A glorious victorie obtained by Sir William Waller, and Sir William Balfoure, against the Lord Hoptons forces, neere Alsford, on Fryday last March 29 beeing an exact relation of the whole manner of the fight ... wherein the Lord Hoptons forces were routed ... : with the names of severall commanders and officers of note, which were then taken prisoners / sent in a letter from an intelligent officer in the armie to his friend in London ; with a true coppie of the thanksgiving for the same, appointed to bee read in all churches about London on the Lords day, March 31.

A glorious Victory obtained by Sir William VValler, and Sir VVilliam Belfour, against the Lord Hoptons forces neare Alsford, on Friday last, March 29.

HAving so fit an opportunity to tender my re∣spects unto you, I should have been very un∣grateful, if I had omitted it, besides the great mercy of God in prospering the pro∣ceedings, and giving successe unto our Armies, could not but be pressing motives to ingage me to acquaint your self and the rest of my good friends (to whom I desire you to shew this Letter) of his gracious dea∣lings towards us. On Monday last, March 25. we were drawn forth from a Town called Traford, into a heath appointed by Sir William Waller for the meeting of all his forces, where we appeared a considerable army of above 10000. horse and foot; Major Generall Brown with the London Regiments were designed to quarter that night at Westmeane, whereupon our Quarter-ma∣ster advanced thither with a party of horse, beat the

enemy out of the Town, took the Officer that com∣manded the enemies forces, and some common soul∣diers prisoners, besides a good booty.

On Tuesday, March 26. part of one of our Troopes (under Captain Bosvile) commanded by his Cornet, advanced within half a mile of the ford where the E∣nemy quartered, and took away 2 fat Beeves, divers Swine, Calves, and other provisions ready drest, and carrying to the enemy, with a horse loaded with o∣ther provision, and brought them to us. The same day also, five of Sir VVilliam Waller's horse which were scouting forth, chased 16. of the enemy, and took 3. of them prisoners: such a spirit of feare had the Lord put into the enemy, according to that promise of his, Deut. 28. 7. VVednesday and Thurday nights, we lay in the open field, about 3 miles from Alsford, where the enemy kept a garrison. The day wee marched from VVestmeane, they faced us all the way in our march w^th a great body of theirs, and wee quartered within a mile of each other on VVednesday night.

On Thursday March 28. wee skirmished all day long with severall partees, wherein we slew divers of the Enemy, and tooke some Prisoners.

This morning Fryday March 29. we drew forth into the Field, the London Regiments, viz. the white and yellow Regiments were first drawne forth

against the Enemies forlorne hope, which was a∣bout 8 of the clock, who came off bravely at last▪ though at first they were put to some streights, and a Captaine of our Forces missing; then Sir VVilliam Belfour came into our ayd with 4000. horse about one of the clock in the after-noone; After which the maine Bodies were ingaged, & had a sharp Bickering, it was a great while doubtfull to which side the Vi∣ctory would happen; But at length (through the assistance of the Almighty) our Forces caused the Enemy to retreat, and routed them with small losse on our side. Wee tooke in the fight above 100. Pri∣soners, with all their Ordnance, Amm〈7 letters〉〈7 letters〉 Bag & Baggage (the names of the most Eminent whereof I have hereafter expressed) besides those which were taken in the chase (whereof I have not yet intelli∣gence) we pursued them, ••and had the slaughter of them for 5 or 6 miles, continuing our pursuit till after 6 that night, their Body of Foot dispersed 4 or 5 severall waies, wee hope not to be rallied againe possibly. We are assured by a Captain of theirs now in hold, that the Lord John (Brother to the Duke of Lenox) is slaine, and was carried off in a coach, and buried here at Alsford; and I hear also by good hands that the E▪ of Forth Generall of his Majesties Forces was also slain in this encounter; and that not a Cap∣taine

of the L. Hopt. forces but are either taken, woū¦ded, or slain, I cannot as yet tel the certain numb••••that were slaine, & therefore I will not trouble you with uncetainties, yet I viewed the Field, which was full of dead bodies, besides what must needs be slaine in the pursuit, which as yet we have no certaine in∣telligence of; In their flight they set fire on divers houses in Alsford, and intended to have fired the whole Towne, had we not prevented them; They cried out as they ran away, The Kingdom is lost, and the truth is, God was seene most miraculously in the car∣riage of this action, especially towards the conclusi∣on thereof. Our Commanders carried themselves with an undaunted resolution and courage during the fight, and amongst the rest, our ever honoured Generall Sir William Waller, and the renowned Major Browne, ingaged themselves all the time both with the Horse and Foot, using many incouragements to animate the Souldiers. In all the fight we lost not, that we know of, above twenty men, and I hear Ser∣jeant Major Thomson had his legg shot off, whereof he is not likely to recover, and some 20 prisoners at most, and but few wounded; The Enemy had the greatest strength they could make in the Field, ha∣ving drawne forth most of their Garrisons from Ban∣bury,

Oxford, Wallingford, and Abington, which addes much to the glory of the Victory.

We intend to march to morrow morning for VVin∣chester, resolving to clear the way forthwith in pursuit of the enemy. The Lord Hopton himselfe wee heare is fled to Basing house, and the rcst is dispersed to Salis∣bury & other places. Let God alone have all the glo∣ry of this, and all other successes which he vouchsafes unto his people against the implacable enemies of his Truth, and let us say with David, Blessed be God who hath taught our hands to war, and our fingers to fight. Sir, I have nothing else to enforme you at present, but rest.

Alsford, Friday night. March 29. 1644.

Yours to command, H. T.