Englands Parliamentary Chronicle, Chronicle · Letter 15
SIR,
I Sent you (by an expreſſe which was carryed into Banbury) the relation of a great Victory,A brave defeat given to Prince Maurice his forces in Worceſterſhire. which God in mercy gave unto us againſt Prince Maurice his Horſe; And of my apprehenſion of a very happy opportunity for the reducing of that County to the obedience of the Parliament, were ſome wants of ours ſupplyed. All the Enemies horſe in Worceſterſhire, particularly Prince Maurice his Regiment, Sir John Knotsfords Regiment, with the County Troop, commanded by Captain Wilde; the Reformado Troop, commanded by Captain Pitchard; and the Hartlebury Troop, commanded by Captain Gunter; being all between 5 or 600 Horſe, drew up and faced Warwick, upon a hill about a mile diſtant from the Town, (Warwickeſhire horſe being a day before, drawn away towards Glouceſter) the remaining forces heer belonging to Warwick, as alſo thoſe of our Horſes remaining in Warwick, were immediately commanded forth; Viz. 20 horſe that appertained to Colonell Bridges, 2 Captains of our Committee, viz. Captain Milward with his Troop, and Captain Halford, with ſo many Horſe as could immediately bee got ready.
Alſo 2 Troopes conſiſting of about 80 Horſe, which came before from Newport Pagnell, marching towards Glouceſter. So that in all, wee drew out a party of about 150 Horſe, which Major Hawksworth commanded, and 200 Foot, commanded by Major Bridges.
It pleaſed God, that after ſome houres skirmiſhing with them, ours, twice charging them through and through with admirable courage, the Enemy giving ground, and retreating, till they came to a Lane and place of advantage, that our Horſe charged them again, Captain Pitchard was ſhot and taken priſoner by our Captain Halford, who expreſſed much courage, and ſingled out Major Pilkinton, and after they had each of them diſcharged their Piſt…ls, fell to it with their ſwords, Captain Halford ſtruck off his headpeice and perriwigge with the firſt blow, and with the next, gave him a wound on his head. Captain Halford ſeeing Major Hawksworth dangerouſly engaged amongſt the Enemies Horſe, made up to his releif, with his Cornet Parſons, and releived him, only his Cornet was ſhot through his neck, but the wound not mortall. The iſſue of all was this; the whole body of the Enemy utterly routed, about 60 priſoners taken; amongſt which, the great Philiſtine Pitchard (Captain of the Reformadoes) being ſhot in foure places, was taken priſoner. Alſo Captain George Action, Captain Souch Cartwright, Son to Sir Philip Cartwright, late Governo…r of Jerſey, Major Pilkinton ſlainwith other Officers and Gentlemen of quality. Amongſt others that were ſlain, beſides Major Pilkinton, who commanded in cheif, one of the Bar…ſleyes, a Gentleman of a good family in our County, and divers others not yet known.
Wee brought off at leaſt 140 Horſe taken from the Enemy, and the whole body of them ſcattered all to peices, by 8 miles ….
This great body of the Enemy being all their Horſe appertaining to them in our County, was thus broken by the gallantry of our men.
In this action, I give not any eminent or particular mark of bravery on any one, all doing ſo exceeding well. But the valour of Major Hawksworth was ſo much taken notice of by the Enemy, that they termed him, The Devill in Buffe.
Were wee able to follow the blow, and ſo keep down their now dejected ſpirits; Our friends here, of whom you have heard much, would doubtleſſe bee more bold and appear in our behalf, and of how great conſequence that may bee, I forbeare to expreſſe.
Guy Mouldſworth, Leivtenant Colonell to the Princes own Regiment, was taken, and engaged his honour to bee a true priſoner: Wee underſtand by the Trumpeter this day, that hee intends to come and reſigne up himſelf to us. This Captain Pitchard is a pernicious villain, who the day before hee was taken, pulled down the houſe of one Mr. Hunt, a Member of our Committee. I pray you bee a petitioner to the Parliament, that hee may not bee exchanged without us, hee being our priſoner; as alſo that wee may bee permitted to ſecure our priſoners in Warwick caſtle, which hitherto hath not been granted us, which, beſides the hazzard, hath occaſioned great expence, wee being neceſſitated to hire Keepers to look to them.
I have omitted one thing, which is the wonder of the mercy, that in all this ſervice, which laſted many houres, wee loſt not one man, only our Cornet Parſons wounded. The enemy had plundered the Country of 200 beaſts, and had robbed ſome Carriers of their Cloath; all which wee reſcued and reſtored.
Wee have had 2 Trumpeters from Worceſter to know what priſoners wee have, their Letters ask not after any particulars, but wee know they miſſe many.
There are hitherto of all the Enemies Horſe, not above 50 returned to Worceſter, which dropt in by two or three at a time, and being rid ſo exceeding hard, it is beleived are made unſerviceable.
Your affectionate Servant, N. L.
About the 22 of this inſtant Aprill, wee received certain intelligence by Letters from about Oxford, both from renowned Leivtenant Generall Cromwell, from valiant and active Major Generall duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page Brown, and others of credit and repute in their Armies, of divers memorable victories and brave defeats given to the Enemy,Divers brave victories & defeats given to the Enemy about Oxford. Sir Tho Fairfax advanced into the field, & ſet down before Oxford. at the (then) ſiege of Oxford, by ever to bee honoured Sir Thomas Fairfax, Generall of the Parliaments Armies over the whole Kingdom and now thus farre advanced into the field, and ſet down before Oxford, which victories being all exactly ſet forth in their Letters to the Parliament; and to ſeverall friends in London, I ſhall heer for the Readers better content and ſatisfaction ſet down the moſt materiall things extracted and faithfully collected out of their ſeverall Letters; which were as followeth:
Upon the 23 of this inſtant Aprill, there were quartered between 2 and 3000 horſe about Oxford, to ſtop the Kings Artillery and Carriages from paſſing out, which were ready in Oxford (with a Convoy) to march (as intelligence was given) toward Rupert. An extract out of Letters of Leivtenant Gen. Cromwels victory at Oxford.And Leivtenant Generall Cromwell, having intelligence that they intended to paſſe through Shotover-Wood, hee drew toward Woodſtock, and ſo thereabout toward Iſlip, to bee ready to attend their motion, in caſe they came that way. At laſt, hee had intelligence that about 100 horſe and foot were marching toward him; wherupon ſome of our men ſhewed themſelves in a ſmall party, which drew the Enemy neer, and Command was given by Leivtenant Generall Cromwell, that all our Forces ſhould bee in a readineſſe, and upon their watch all the night, for fear of the Enemy, which was carefully done, the Leivtenant Generall himſelf, being in his own perſon (to encourage them) all the while with them, for, there came intelligence that the Enemy intended to watch an opportunity to take our Forces at an advantage, and ſo to ſet ſuddenly upon them, of which our ſecurity they much preſumed, but found our men too vigilant for them:A brave victory obtained by Leivten. Gen. Cromwell neer Iſlip by Oxford. For, ere ours were looked for by the Enemy, Leivtenant Generall Cromwell fell upon them neer Iſlip (where, proved to bee a Brigade of above a 1000. under the command of the Earl of Northampton, and were part of the Queens Regiment, part of the Lord Wilmots, and part of the Earles own Regiments) and bravely beat them at their own game; fighting with them moſt valiantly (though the beſt horſe the King had) and at the ſecond charge entred their whole body or ſquadron of the Enemy, and greatly diſordered them, following this advantage with ſo much courage and gallantry,The Enemy is totally routed. that in a ſhort time they totally routed them, following them in hot purſuit above 3 miles, killed and took above 200. enforcing at the leaſt 60 of them to drown themſelves, by making too much ſpeed to get over a water. In which fight wee alſo took 400 horſe, 3 Colours, whereof one was the Queens, richly embroydered with a Crown in the midſt, and 18 Flower de Luces wrought in gold, with a golden croſſe on the top, wee took alſo about 20 Officers, and divers arms, wounded many who fled into Oxford, and ſome into Blechington-Houſe. Whereupon renowned Leivtenant Generall Cromwell, ſent away his priſoners and marched againſt the ſaid Blechington, Blechington-houſe ſummoned & ſurrendredbeſet it, and ſummoned Colonell Windebank to ſurrender that Garriſon unto him, which after ſome diſpute about it (it being a ſtrong Garriſon, and now as ſtrongly ſurrounded) was ſurrendred to Leivtenant Generall Cromwell, upon condition for the Souldiers to march away with their lives. The Leivtenant Generall took there 250 Muskets, 70 Horſe, a 100 Pikes and other Armes, 3 barrels of powder with Match and other Ammunition.
And upon the 26 of this inſtant Aprill, Major Generall Brown having notice that Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Horſe were ſo neer him, hee drew a party out of Abbington to march that way, to bee in a readineſſe,Major Generall Browns brave defeat given to the Enemy about Oxford. (if occaſion were) who marching toward Longworth, had notice of a party of the Enemy to bee about Buckland, ſo they marched that way, but the Enemy was gone toward Farringdon; But Major Generall Brownes forces followed them ſo cloſe, that they overtook them, and fell upon them, took a Captain 3 other Officers, and 10 priſoners, with which they intended preſently to have returned toward Abbington, but having intelligence of another party of the Enemies, that were comming from the Devizes, intended (as was ſuppoſed) for Oxford, Scouts were ſent to finde them out, and having diſcovered them, Major Generall Brownes forces fell upon them, and preſently put them to the rout, took a Colonell, a Sergeant Major, 3 Captains, 3 Leivtenants, and divers other priſoners, beſides horſe and armes, and carryed them all ſafe to Abbington.
And the very ſame day toward Evening,Colonell Feins gives the Enemy a brave defeat. Colonell Feines, with his Regiment, having intelligence of a party of the Enemies that were come neer Witney, hee drew toward them, and with much gallantry fell upon them, and in the fight and flight of the Enemy, took from them a 120 horſe, 3 Colours, 40 priſoners, and 50 Armes.
About the 28 inſtant, Leivtenant Generall Cromwell had intelligence that a party of the Enemies Foot, (under the Command of Sir Henry Vaughan, formerly a Member of the Houſe of Commons, but, ſince, one of the Oxford Juncto) were alſo about Witney, toward Farringdon; wherefore hee drew that way, intending to fall upon them the next morning,Another brave victory obtained by Leivtenant Generall Cromwell, at Bampton-Buſh, over Sir Henry Vaughan and his forces. if hee could reach them; and ſending forth Scouts to diſcover the motions of Colonell Vaughan, and receiving advertiſement that hee quartered neer Bampton-Buſh, hee marched on that way, parting his Body into ſeverall Squadrons, and with valiant courage marched up cloſe unto them, the Enemy having little courage to fight (ſo terrible was the very name of Cromwell to them) inſtantly begged quarter for their lives, which was granted them; and ſo Leivtenant Generall Cromwell took their Colonell Sir Henry Vaughan, A brave prize taken.who was their Commander in Cheif, 2 Leivtenant Colonells, 1 Sergeant Major, 5 Captains, 8 Leivtenants, 8 Enſignes, 1 Doctor, who was Chaplain to them, whoſe name was Dunſe; 20 Sergeants, and other inferiour Officers, 230 priſoners, and about 200 Armes, ſome powder, match, and Ammunition, with ſuch proviſions as they had with them; And the reſt of the day was ſpent in publike worſhip of God, and giving thanks to the Lord (through-out thoſe our Armies, which were within the hearing and knowledge of theſe great Victories) for the ſame.
Finally, about the latter end of this MonethMonth of Aprill, wee had certain intelligence of the ſingular good agreement and ſweet harmony of affections in renowned Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Army,The ſingular good eſtate of our Army at Oxford, under the noble Generall Sir Tho. Fairfax. and that the Souldiers expreſſed very much love, affection, and cheerfull obedience to their ſaid noble Generall Sir Thomas, and to one another in all their ſeverall relations in the Army, and that many of thoſe that were thought to bee diſcontented men, and had been Officers under the moſt noble Earl of Eſſex, had now cheerfully liſted themſelves under Sir Thomas Fairfax, Our Army at this time was 4000 horſe & 13000 foot.as common Souldiers, both Horſe and foot. And that the laſt muſter of the Horſe and Foot of his whole Army, at that time, was 4000 Horſe, and 13000 Foot, and that ſome Regiments of horſe and foot were then advanced toward diſtreſſed (yet courageous) Tauntons releif, wherof more in its proper place.
And about this time, our moſt prudent and provident State-Promethei of Both Houſes of Parliament, The buſineſſe of the Admiralty & Sea-affairs is taken into conſideration.having ſo well Ordered their Land-affaires, now, alſo took into their ſerious conſideration the buſineſſe of the Admiralty and Sea-affaires, how they might bee beſt ordered and managed for the beſt good and moſt conſiderable advantage and improvement every way of the welfare of our republick; The moſt noble and renowned Earl of Warwick (then, before, Lord Admirall) being called from that publick imployment by the late Selfe-denying-Ordinance; and they looking upon this buſineſſe as a matter of no leſſe weighty concernment than the ſafety, under God, of 3 Kingdomes: Wherefore, at laſt, they came to this reſolution, that the buſineſſe of the Admiralty ſhould bee managed by Commiſſioners of Both Houſes, to continue for 6 moneths,Commiſſioners for the Admiralty nominated and ſo proceeded to nominate them who were to bee imployed in this great truſt; Viz. The Earl of Warwick, for the Houſe of Peeres; and Mr. Bence, and Mr. Peregrin… Pelham, of the Houſe of Commons; the proſperous managing of which ſo weighty truſt and employment, by which foreſaid Parliamentary Worthies, wee ſhall have occaſion to make farther mention in its proper place.
And now, good Reader, let mee heer again deſire thee with godly and gratefull patience, to make a little ſtay, and to take a ſhort ſurvey and ſweete review of all the rich and rare mercies of this MonethMonth alſo;The Burning-Buſh not conſumed. And therein to ſee and admire how graciouſly and gloriouſly the Lord hath dwelt in his Parliamentary Burning-Buſh, and hitherto kept it Ʋnconſumed, both, In the moſt ſweet and ſingular harmony and good agreement between Both Houſes of Parliament, revived by the Houſe of Peeres, for the faſter binding of the mutuall affections of Both Houſes together; And the good ſervices of Major Generall Browns forces about Abbington. In the ſingular good ſervice alſo of prudent and pious Major Generall Skippon, in ſo fully and fairly reducing the Officers and Souldiers of the former old Army, to ſerve under Sir Thomas Fairfax, in his New-Modelled-Armie, a buſineſſe of high concernment, as things then ſtood. In the brave victory which the Lord gave to our loving and loyall Brethren of Scotland, by Major Generall Ʋ …rey againſt Montroſſe; And the honourable encouragement of Literature in the Univerſity of Cambridge, by our pious and prudent Parliament. In the ſeaſonable and ſucceſſefull appeaſing of that Second Rebellion in Kent; And the brave defeat given to the Enemy by valiant Colonell Norton, at Rumſey. In the happy reduction of divers both Earles and Lords from Oxford to the Parliaments party: Together with that brave defeat given to Prince Mau…ices forces in Worceſterſhire. And laſtly, In thoſe famous defeates and brave Victories obtained by renowned Major Generall Brown, and Leivtenant Generall Cromwell, againſt the Enemies forces about Oxford; The ſingular good eſtate and happy harmony of Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Army, now, in the field and advanced to Oxford; And the provident and prudent ſetling of the Sea-affaires, as well as Land-affaires, in managing the Admiralty of the Seas, by moſt wiſe and loyall Commiſſioners, All which rare mercies and prudent paſſages of State, ſeriouſly conſidered, and (as they ought) moſt gratefully recogitated, has not England, ſinfull England moſt juſt cauſe, ſtill, to expoſtulate with it ſelf, and cordially to confeſſe with holy David,Pſal 30 11, 12. Thou, O Lord, haſt turned, for us, our mourning into dauncing; Thou haſt put off our ſack-cloth, and girded us with gladneſſe, for this very end, that our glory (even our hearts, tongues, and lives) may ſtill ſing praiſes to thee our God. Therefore, O Lord, our God, to thee alone wee will give thanks and praiſes for ever and ever. And now to proceed.
May. 1645.ANd heer now I ſhall begin this MonethMonth of Mayes memorable mercies with that moſt remarkable deliverance from imminent danger, which the Lord moſt graciouſly wrought for that famous, faithfull, and ever to bee honoured gallant Commander, Colonell Maſſie, which was certified by his own Letter to London, May the 4. whereof, becauſe our foule-mouthed Malignants had with full-mouthed falſe boaſts and bragges vapoured ſo much, and vaunted of a mighty defeat given by the Enemy, to that famous and fortunate Commander. I therefore have heer thought fit to give the Reader (for his farther ſatisfaction and fuller content) a ſight of the true Copy of the ſaid Letter, which was as followeth.