Englands Worthies, Brereton
Sir William Brereton Major Generall of Cheshire, &c.
THis most valiant and successefull Patriot of his Country was blessed by God with many memorable and famous Victories over his Countries enemies, as first, in the yeere 1642. In notably beating that Arch Malignant enemy of those parts, Sir Thomas Aston neere Namptwich utterly …outing all his forces, taking about 100 of his souldiers prisoners, with many horse and Armes, and making Sir Vincent Corbet fly in a pannick feare for his life.
2. Hee beat him againe most soundly at Middlewich, where he took prisoners, Sir Edward Mosely, Colonell Ellis, d…vers Lievtenant Colonels and Majors, 11 Captaines, most of all his field Officers, about 600 souldiers, 2 peeces of Ordnance, many Arms, all his bag and baggage, his Army wholly routed, and Middlewich firmely possessed by this noble and Victorious Commander.
3. He also obtained a most famous Victory over the Earle of Northampton, who was slain in the fight, and divers other Commanders & Officers slain & taken prisners.
4. He also bravely beat the E. of Darby at Stockton heath; And Sir Vincent Corbet also a second time at Draighton in Shropshire, and took from him many prisoners, horse and Armes.
5. And in the yeere 1643, he took Wolverhampton, and Whitchurch in Shropshire, by a terrible storme, Stafford Town and Castle also, and Ecoleshall Castle, with all the Ordnance, Armes, and Ammunition in them and much other rich prize and booty.
6. He bravely beat the cowardly L. Capell at Lappington, and at Leighbridge, where he put him twice to retreat and rout, slew many of his men, and forced him to fly into Shrewsbury for shelter; hee also took Holt bridge by storm, a strong Garrison of the enemies; with his taking of Wrexham, in Wales, Hawarden Castle, and Gusanna house a strong Garrison of the enemies in Wales.
7. He won a most famous Victory of the Lord Capell and the Lord Byron at Namptwich Siege; and Sir Thomas Aston also, where he routed all Byrons Irish forces, took Major Generall Gibson, Sir Francis Butler, and divers other eminent Commanders prisoners, together with 2000 common souldiers, and bloody Irish women, 6 peeces of Ordnance, above 20 carriages, all their bag and baggage, and where were slain in the fight about, 300 of the enemie and Byron himselfe forced to fly into Ch…ster.
8. He also beat the enemy … poole in Montgomeryshire, together with Sir Marmaduke Langdale at Malpasse in Cheshire, in August 1644, where he slew and took many eminent Commanders and Officers, and brought them prisoners to Namptwich.
9. At Tarvin also he most magnanimously beat the enemy▪ and slew Col. Marrow, a most pestilent Atheisticall Royalist; and drove the enemy also out of Worrall Iland, and setled firmly many Garrisons in those parts.
10. This most renowned Commander obtained a most glorious Victory over his enemies at Montgomery Castle, at the relieving of noble Sir Th…mas M…ddletous forces besieged therein, where he put the enemy being then very strong, to a totall rout and flight, took prisoners Major Gen. Sir Thomvs Tildsley Major Gen. Broughton, Lievtenant Col. Broughton, Major Williams, 19 Captaines, 23 Knights and Gentlemen, 33 Cornets and Ensignes, 57 Serjeants, 61 Corporals, 11 Drums, 5 Trumpets, 1480 common souldiers; slew two Lievtenant Colonels, 7 Captaines with many other Officers, 500 common souldiers, and took their Armes and Ammunition bag and baggage.
11. Hee also took the Town and Castle of Leverpoole, with all the Ordnance, Arms and Ammunition therein; and had singular good successe in preventing a dangerous designe of Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice to have passed their forces through Cheshire into Lancashire▪ against our Brethren of Scotland in the North.
12. Hee also took the brave and strong Town and Castle of Shrewsbury, with all the Ordnance, Armes and Ammunition therein▪ with very many riches, prisoners and prizes.
13. Hee also routed the Kings forces at Denbigh, in Anno 1645, and tooke 400 of the enemies prisoners about 600 horse, and many of the enemies slain in the fight.
14. He also took the strong Castle of Beeston with all the Ordnance, Armes and Ammunition therein; and also took the strong and considerable Town and Castle of Westchester, by composition or treaty, with all the Ordnance, Armes and Ammunition therein, which were very many and much other rich prize.
15. He also took the Town of Leichfield, And obtained a most glorious Victory over the Lord Ashley, the last and greatest prop of the Kings party at Stow in the Would… where he routed the said Sir Iacob Ashley… whole Army, took the Lord Ashley him…selfe prisoner, with divers other eminen… Commanders, about 1800 common souldi…ers, with all their Armes, Ammunition… bag and baggage.
16. After this hee took Titbury Castle… with all the Ordnance, Armes and Ammu…nition therin; together with Dudley Castle… also (a most strong and almost impregna…ble Castle, in the yeere 1646) with all th… Ordnance, Armes and Ammunition there…in also.
17. And at last after a long Siege, his va…liant and Victorious forces took Leichfiel… strong Close, where hee took prisoners▪ Colonels, 6 Commissioners of Array, tw… Lievtenant Colonels, 8 Majors, 32 Cap…taines, 15 Lievtenants, 8 Cornets, 9 Ensign… 21 Esquires and Gentlemen of quality, 70 common souldiers, and all the Armes an… Ammmunition therein; And thus was … speciall instrument of ending Victorious… these our unhappy and unholy Civill War…