A Great Over-throw given to Sir Ralph Hopton's: whole Army, by Sir William Waller, &c.
ON Tueſday laſt, being the 28th. of November, one thouſand ſixe hundred forty three, Sir William Waller having ſtated his Army in ſeverall4 Quarters, to prevent the paſſage of Sir Ralph Hopton into Surry and Kent, which he hath much laboured for ever ſince he came to thoſe parts; Sir Ralph Hopton marched with the whole body of his Army towards Farnham, where Sir William Waller then was, having onely ſixe troops of his Horſe then preſent with him, beſides the Foot, the reſt were quartered at other places; but Sir VVilliam VValler having a watchfull eye about him, had ſome Scouts which firſt diſcovered this great Army of the Cavalliers marching towards him, the which cauſed Sir VVilliam VValler to addreſſe himſelfe to fight, and accordingly ordered the ſtation of his Army. Sir VVilliam let the Cavalliers march up very cloſe to him before hee5 would take notice that he had diſcryed them, and then let fly a peece of Ordnance againſt them, which did good execution, and after that another; the Cavalliers let not many bullets fly againſt our Army before they began to retreat, and as they retreated, Sir VVilliam Waller marched uppon them; but through the loſſe of many men in few houres the Cavalliers began to retreat in great diſorder, ſo long that Sir William VValler marched up to their dead Corps, where many horſe lay dead, and the Riders by their countenance and habit ſeemed to be of worth; but by this time, which was about two of the clocke in the after noone the Cavalliers began to fly, ſome one way, ſome another, but the greateſt part of them towards6 Baſing; Sir VVilliam VValler having no more but ſixe troopes to purſue them, which did notwithſtanding follow on as full of vallour and tourage as ever; and the ſervice which his horſe did in the purſuite of them was moſt wonderfull, and the Fight moſt deſperate, yet did nothing daunt their reſolutions; Sir VVilliam purſued them five miles, and is ſtill in the purſuite of them. Sir VVilliam Waller hath ſlain in this fight many hundreds of the Cavalliers, amongſt which it is thought there are many Commanders; and by the Priſoners that Sir VVilliam VValler hath taken; It is reputed that they ſaw Sir Ralph Hopton carried away as if he had beene dangerouſly wounded: there is but one man yet misſing in our Army, and7 very few hurt. Sir VVilliam Waller is ſtill in Purſuit of them, and is reſolved with his whole Army not to leave them, although they be already routed, but followes the Execution againſt them ſo cloſe, that he will not permit them (if it be posſible) any time to gather to an Head againe in any place.
Newes beeing come by a Letter from Sir William Waller to the Speaker of the Houſe of Commons on Wedneſday the 29 of November 1643. the Parliament then being at St. Margarets Weſtminſter hearing Maſter Bridges to preach the Faſt Sermon in the afternoone; which Letter certifying that Sir William Waller had routed Sir Ralph Hopton, and given him ſo great an Overthrow with ſo ſmall a ſtrength, there8 was great rejoycing; and after the Sermon was done, the Houſe of Commons went to the Parliament Houſe, and there ſate very late.
One thing very remarkable is this; That as Maſter Bridges was preaching unto them this Doctrine. viz. Though God doe ſuffer the Enemies of his Church to be Great and exceeding many, yet God will raiſe up a Power to withſtand and Over-power them. Euen at that very inſtant this Meſſage came in a Letter from Sir William VValler to the Speaker, as if God was pleaſed to ſend our Senators a ſigne from Heaven of the certainty of the fullfilling of his promiſes.