Exceeding good newes from the Earle of Essex and the noble commander, Sergeant Major Skippon;: VVherein is declared how the said Sergeant-major Skippon, with 4000. horse and foote, met with Prince Robert [sic], with 5000. cavaliers, neere the city of Gloucester, on the twelfe of this instant December. Where they fought for the space of seven houres, and slew 800. of the cavaliers,, [sic] with the losse of 60. men, putting the rest to flight, and tooke foure pieces of ordnance, with store of other ammunition. Also Sergeant-major Skippons resolution concerning Prince Robert [sic].

A famous Victory obtained by Sergeant Major SKIPPON:

THe thrice noble and re∣nowned Earle of ESSEX, Lord Generall of the par∣liaments Forces, accompa∣nied with that noble and heroicke spirit Sergeant Major Skippon, whose very name doth now beginne to to terifie the Malignant Crew, and doth beginne to fall off, not daring to give him Battalle wheresoever he commeth, unlesse they have five to one, as it will appeare by this ensuing Relation.

Sergeant Major Skippon, that valiant &

prudent Souldier, and one that is wil∣ling to sacrafice his Life in this so good and just a cause, for the defence of his Majesty and both Houses of parliament having intelligence by a Gentleman that is very well affected, which came to his Excellencies Army, informing his highnes that prince Robert was come into Wiltshire with a resolution to pil lage all those that would not adhere to him, and that he did great spoyle in that County, taking much Armes and Ammunition from them, whereupon his Excellence after some debate upon the businesse, appointed that Sergeant Major Skippon to march towards them, with 4000. Horse and foot, whereof 2000. Draggooners, the Sergeant Ma∣jor was very willing to obey his com∣mand, and with a cheerefull resolution, drew out foure thousand men, and with valliant spirits they followed him, mar∣ching day and night, untill they came to the Enemy, and upon Munday last

each man had his desire Prince Robert hearing of his comming made all the hast he could to meete him, before he could get to Hungerford and there to give him battaile, but Prince Robert missed his ayme for before he could get some three miles on this side Marlow Sergeant Major Skippon was past Hunger ford which is about seven miles one this side Marleborough, and upon Sunday night they law two miles off each other and upon munday morning marched unto each other, whereafteer some Par∣ley Sergeant Major Skippon commanded his Ordnance which was in the front to be discharged, the Prince answering him in the same.

Sergent Major Skipton invading his Lest wing of Dragoners doeing speciall service Fighting as it weare in Rings, where not to be broken by the Prince Troope, though they endeavoured it withall their fury and violence for an houre at least remained the sight in equall scale, and the Cavaliers fell off

and on verry fiercely▪ but that well ex∣perienced Souldier Sergant Major Skip¦ton, fighting in a halfe moone battaile according to the swedish discipline, his men giveing fire all at one instant one their left wing they were no longer able to keepe ranck, but fell into appa∣rant rout▪ retreating as fast as they could, there Right wing was yet un∣broken, but Prince Robert did so vali∣antly behave himselfe and so desperate was the charging on of his Cavaliers, that had not a Colonell who comman∣ded our right Wing, beene an excellent Souldier, he had run the eminent haz∣ard of our defeat, but at last Sergeant Major Skipton with his left wing, brake into the Princes flanck himself with his battaileax beating downe many a Cava∣lier, Prince Robert seing this began to retreate, he and his Cavaliers to the number of some five thousand horse broke away through the end of our right Wing and fledtowards Shrewsbury.

All their Foot, to the number of three hundred; were cut off, and about five hundred of their Horse, but so great was Gods mercy to the forces raysed by the Parliament, for the defence of the Kings most excellent Majesty, the Religion Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdome, the just priviledges of Parliament, and the propriety of the Subject, that (not∣withstanding that they were so many in number, exceeding ours, namely five to one, yet so many of them were slaine, as is above mentioned, and Sergeant Major SKIPPON, lost but three∣score, besides he tooke foure pieces of Ordnance, five hundred pikes and mus∣quets, with an abundance of othei Am∣munition of all sorts.

Likewise after the Battaile he tooke great store of their Baggage, they being in such post hast, that they could not take it along with them, so great a vic∣tory with so little losse hath not beene obtained as yet.

And the said Sergeant Major is re∣solved to pursue these runaway Cavaliers to their destruction, and the Countries dayly come in to his assistance,

The Gentry and Commonalty of Huntington, Lincolne, Northampton, and Licestershire, have joyned themselves in association, and doe declare that they are resolved to hazard their lives in the defence of his Majesty, and both Hou∣ses of Parliament. and that they will ne∣ver leave fighting, till these malignants are quite destroyed.

FINIS.