The copie of a letter from the Lord Generall his quarters certifying, how the Lord Generalls horse brake through the Kings army, and how Major Generall Skippen fought like a lion and gained better conditions from the enemy then was expected, the Kings having before intended to put all our foot to the sword : also, a letter from the north of other proceedings in those parts.

THE COPPIE OF A LETTR From my Lord Generall his QUARTERS.

SIR,

ON Wednesday the 21. of August 1644. the Kings whole Armie: both his own brigade, Maurices and Green∣vils were all drawn into the field in a battalia, supposed to be about 30000. And the Lord Generalls Army being onely about, 10000. horse and foot, we likewise drew out into the field. The Kings Army appeared in a whole body in the forme of a halfe Moon, within a mile of Listlehall, the Kings forces with this great body marched up within Musket shot of the Lord Generalls Armie, about 4. of the Clocke in the morning, my Lord Generalls Army began to play their Ordnance against them, and it is cononceived did good execution: The fight held all that day between the Ordnance and the Muskettires, and is conceived our men did good execution: upon the Ene∣mie, and at night some shor on both sides were made by the Musquetiers. On Thur••day night the Enemie cast up an Halfe Moon upon the Beake hill, on which they planted two or three peece of or••nance and played all the next day being Friday upon our bodie.

On S••tt••rday August the 24. Sergeant Major Generall Whithcot with the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Regiment, and Collonel Wares of the White Regiment, and the blew ••••giment of the Lord Generals, taking into consideration that the gaining of ••••••••itheel River would be very advantagious to our Army, by stopping up of the water, to make a Dam to hinder provision from passing that way to the ••ing•• Army, drew out their men to ambuscado the hedges, and the souldiers themselves wrought the mean while to raise the Banks, and made a compleat D••m; which was finish••d by Tuesday following.

O•• ••unday the 25. of August, the Kings forces made some shot with small P••••c••s, and were answered again from ours; and that with great courage from Collonel Gower of the red Regiment, and divers others.

Major Generall Skippon was shot in the right hand, but onely a brush, and tore his Buffe coat on that on that side, but no great hurt God be praised, On the Kings party Colonell Chapernoone was shet in the head, and taken prisoner, supposed to be mortally wounded.

On Munday the 26. of August, both partees still played each upon other, but still we found that although my Lord Generall was fewer in number, yet my Lords forces made many more shot then the Kings, and especially my Lord Generals warning Piece, which played continually.

On Tuesday the 27. of August, the Enemy having drawn themselves off the day before about 3000. horse and foot, that partee marched towards a ••lace call••d Bl••z••y Bridge, about three miles from Lestitheel, which they did, to stop the passage of Provision from Milly-Billy Bay if they could, from comming, to my Lord Generall; for by taking it, my Lord could not have provisions, but by breaking through them. We had at that time not a∣bove ••0 or thereabouts to guard the Bridge, which they made good till relief came, against all the strength of the Enemy. There hath been great bic∣••ering about this Bridge, and indeed a good partee came up to assist our forces there, who then plaid upon the Enemy with great courage, and it is believed slew many.

My Lord Generall sent 1000. horse and 1000. foot of commanded men, to maintain Blazey bridge, the Enemy lying of one side the water, and ours of the other; on out part Sergeant Major Skippon commanded in chief, there was also Captain Cromwell of foot, and of horse Major Generall Berry, and others:

After our horse and soot had made good Blazey bridge many dayes, and the rest Defended themselues against so, numerous a companie of the Kings forc••s for almost 20 daies, in continuall skirmishing, and no forces

were come to relieve my Lord Generall, a great number of the kings forses fell upon four Regiments of ours, which caused three of them to retreat, and the fourth, which were Colonell Wares, new leavied forces ran away, but the London foot stood gallantly to it, Major Generall Skippon fought like a Lyon: My Lord Generall engaged himself so much all this while, of so many dayes skirmishing, that now his EXCELLENCI•• was constrained to remove his quarters, whereby hee gained an opportunity to go to Plimouth himself, where his Excellencie is safe with the Lord Roberts and others, from whence his Excellencie intends to come to Portchmouth. They then called a Counsell of War, and as it was by the said Counsell concluded, the horse brake through the Kings forces, and the Enemie ha∣ving incompasses 30. and odd of our foot, who cryed for quarter, the Enemie cryed out as with one voyce, Put all to the sword, all to the sword, and accordingly did they massacre all of them but two, who got away and c••me to the rest of our foot, and told them how the Kings forces were resolved to put all to the sword, our foot still standing out, and fighting with great cou∣rage: So that Major generall Skippon gained better Conditions from the Enemie, then was expected: And had succour, all this time been sent to my Lord Generall, he had not been with his Army in this condition, who was himselfe so carefull in the Defending of his Army: and stood out against the Enemie so long expecting relief: that had he not that night Changed his quarters he had been taken prisoner. But seeing that it hath pleased God that we have sustained this losse, (which I hope through Gods providence will turne to his honour, and our good) I hope those forces that are to march up to the West, will hasten the more, to prevent further mischief, by the Enemie.

We have had many experiences of Gods love, in all places of the King∣dome, and how the Lord hath done great things for us, when we have been very low, and although we have had these losses as we may apprehend it may be much to our hurt, but Gods waies are not our waies, the Lord can turne it to good: when Gods time of Deliverance is come I am confiden•• that all the Cavaliers in England, all the Rebels of Ireland, and all the Po∣pish priests, Fryers, Jesuites, and Papists in all their Armies, cannot be able to stand before him. God is all sufficien if we have but hearts to trust him, he will save us: Thus in hast I rest.

Your humble 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Servant.

Plimouth the 3. of Septem∣ber. 16••4.