A more full relation of the continued successes of His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, at, and since the routing of the enemies forces at Torrington.: With a punctuall and perfect list of the names of the cheife commanders, officers and common souldiers, killed, wounded, and taken in the fight and pursuit. The taking of two ships, 10 peices of ordnance, 500 tun of salt, and other provisions, bound for Barnstable and intended for the reliefe of Exeter: with the resolution and proceedings of our army, for a present assault against Barnstable. Also intercepted letters from France, giving intelligence of 8000 foot, 1000 horse, three moneths pay, 10000 l. in bullion in readines to send over to assist the King ag[a]inst the Parliament. And the surprisall of Cardiffe by treachery of the townsmen, and beleaguring of our forces in the castle. Certified by letters to severall members of the Honourable House of Commons on Monday, Feb. 23. 1645. ...

SIR,

YEsterday I sent you an expresse of the successe which it pleased the Almighty to give our forces at Torrington against the strength of the Lord Hoptons, so that of 3000 foot or thereabouts which its credibly informed he brought thither, hee hath not above 400 in a Body, Colonell Hamond and divers Officers with him shewed much valour in that service, for (having the command of the Generalls Regiment his owne and Col. Harlowes) when the foote were beaten out of the Towne twice by the enemies horse, he brought them back, and repulsed the enemies. The providence of God in that passage of the blowing up of the Church is very remarkable, for although the Lead, Timber and Stones of the Church were cast severall wayes for halfe a mile from the Towne, yet not any Man, Woman or Child was hurt, besides those blown up in the Church, which now upon credibly information were certified to be neere 200 of the enemies which were prisoners there, every house in the Town was shaken and shattered with the blow, and falling of the Lead and Timber; The Lead fell thick in the streete when the Generall and Lieutenant Generall intered, and an horse neere the Generall was knockt on the head with a sheete of Lead, but through Gods mercies he nor any of his at∣tendants had any hurt. This was the Lords doing, and it is mer∣velous in our eyes, And truely Sir, I never saw more of God in any part of my life then I have since I came into this imployment, an Almighty hand still ordering all things to an unexpected ad∣vantage to this Army as it did, the weather and drawing the enemies

outgards to set forth this service, the particulars whereof I gave you in my former, and shall for further satisfaction refer you to the List inclosed.

Out of Cornewall we have intelligence from the e••em•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 to this effect, t•••••• on Tu••s•••••• last th•• ••emai••in•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the en••¦my tooke up guides to Holsworth••, 〈…〉〈…〉 ended 〈…〉〈…〉 and Lutcombe, and Putford, and to drive their Cattell into Corn∣wall. Hopton was then with them, but none of the foote then come up to them, they then resolved to stay at Holsworth to ga∣ther as many foot as they could, and the better to hinder our pur∣suite to pull downe Woodford Bridge over Touridge, betweene Newton and Milton where many of their horse were, many strag∣ling parties went towards Biddiford and Barnstable in great hast, and affrightment; The 400 foote which are all they have left (as before with Armes,) Tuesday by breake of day passed, over Beddiford bridge in the way to Kilhampton and Stratten ano∣ther party of their horse, with whom the Lord Capell was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the head, passed over at a Ford and went a blinde way for Stratton with his company, there were two considerable per∣sons carried in horse-litters growning and crying out for paine but not knowing, who they were: Those which came that day from Hetherley say, that they met many stragling foot by two or three in a company, who said they were going to their own homes, they likewise met many straglers of their horse which posted up and downe in great haste and feare; But the chiefe body of their horse are gone for Launceston, where the Lord Hopton is to meet them. They generally blame the Cornish foote, saying, that if they had stood to it, it had beene a more bloudy bout, and that the Cornish were glad we came against that Towne, that they might have an occasion to go into their owne Countrey. Hopton is certainly wounded and had his horse shot under him, staying with the last to bring up the Reere. He was extreamely enraged at the Cornish men, though he had little reason for it, for they maintained the Barracadoes, Lines and Hedges at Torrington with as much resolution as could be expected, and had not our men gone one with extraordinary courage they had bin repulsed, our horse dayly take some of theirs, and bring in Prisoners and

others with horses and armes come in dayly, and yelld themselves to the Generall. This defeate hath so discipated the enemies Ar∣my in these parts, that it is not probable they will stand to ano∣ther engagement if they can avoid it, and I hope through God•• blessing the cloud of feare, in regard of forraigne forces will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this meanes be dispersed and their landing here, or elsewhere prevented. The God of Peace at last restore such a Peace to our Borders that after all these conclusions, and confu∣sions amongst us, the desire of all Nations may come and esta∣blish his Kingdome of Truth, and Peace, amongst us, so prayes and rests

Sir

Your most humble servant. W.C.

18 Feb. 1645.