A LETTER of the Gallant Victory obtained at S. Needs by Lieutenant Collonel Scroop, againſt the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Holland, the Lord of Pe­terborough, and between 4 and 500 horſe.

WE have again given the Duke of Buck­ingham, the Earl of Holland, and the reſt, a notable bruſh.

Since we gave them the former defeat at Kingſtone, they marched towards St. Albands, and ſo by Dunſta­ble, and Breckhilts.

It is ſuppoſed that they had a deſigne, to have gone towards Lincolnſhire, but the news of Coll. Roſsiters good ſucceſſe (as is ſuppoſed) hindred them.

They feared to draw nearer to Northamton, leaſt the Lord Grey ſhould way lay them from the Counties of Leiceſter, Nottingham, and Derby, as nimbly as his Lordſhip aſſiſted Col. Roſsiter.

Sir Michael Liveſey took care to ſtop all places, to hinder their marching back into Kent.

And Lieutenant Coll. Scroop, was ſent with ſeven Troops of Horſe to purſue them towards the Eaſtern aſſociation, leſt they ſhould attempt Lynne, or ſome o­ther3 dangerous place, that if they did ſtop, he might fall upon them.

The Lords with the Cavaliers were in number, then, between 4 and 500 all horſe, but, as they went, left di­vers tired by the way.

Their cuſtom was, that when they came into freſh quarters, they would declare to thoſe Towns where they came, and make ſpeeches to court the Magiſtrats and Inhabitants (at which the Earle of Holland had a better faculty then at the ſword).

I have ſent you herewith the ſubſtance of one of the ſpeeches made to the Inhabitants of the Towne, by the Duke of Buckingham, The Earl of Holland, and the Earl of Peterborough did the like.

But by that time they came hither, the Earl of Hol­land was ſo weary, and ſhaken in his joynts, that hee had a better will to his bed than his horſe, eſpecially not knowing the end of his diſtracted journey.

And yet for all their ſpeeches and Declarations, their manner was, upon removing of quarters (till when all was pretty faire) to leave their Carriages and meaneſt Souldiers to follow, and they both plun­dred horſes, and pillaged houſes, and did much harm, whereby they loſt the affections of the Country very much, ſo that they were ready to give any reaſonable aſſiſtance to our men that purſued them.

And the Earl of Hollands Innes were pretty well known, whereby they were the better traſed.

On the Lords day (at night) they took up their quar­ters in this place, but with a great deal of fear.

A councell of warre was called that night, by the Lords and Officers, at which they had ſome debates4 which way to march the next morning.

Quarter-maſter Generall Dolbier (who was an old Officer of the late Lord Generall the Earl of Eſſex,) had joyned with them, and was eſteemed an eminent Officer among them, to whoſe advice they much ad­hered.

And he ingaged to make good this Town of S. Needs, againſt any party that ſhould pur­ſue them, and that he would engage his life, which he would looſe rather then ſee them ſurprized there that night.

Dolbier watched (and drunk Sack ſtiffely) that night, and all was quiet.

But a little before Sun-riſing, this morning then came an alarum to this Town, which made the Cavaliers cry, all to Horſe, Horſe, The Lords, and chief Officers being moſt of them then in bed.

The Duke of Buckingham was not long be­fore he was up, dreſt, and mounted, and ſo o­thers. But the Earl of Holland took more De­liberation to dreſſe him.

About Sun-riſing Lieut. Col. Scroop came up to the Towns end, where he found ſome oppoſition, but both he and the reſt of the Officers and Souldiers were very reſolved.

Dolbier made ſome oppoſition, but in the charge was ſlain with ſome twelve more, and then they all began to retreat, and fled ſome one way, ſome another, the Duke went with nigh 200 towards Huntington, whether Lieu­tenant Coll. Scroop, is purſuing them. We have taken here almoſt 200 Horſe, and nigh 150 priſoners, amongſt whom the Earle of Hol­land, who was got out of his bed, but had not quite dreſſed him, to whom quarter was gi­ven, that he may turn round once again.