The Princes firſt Fruits: OR, A Full and Perfect RELATION OF TWO VICTORIES Obtained by Col. Rich his Brigade, together with the Forces under the Command of Sir Michael Leveſey, over ſome forces landed out of the Revolted ſhips neer Sandown Caſtle, in the County of KENT, Auguſt 10. & 14.
TOGETHER WITH A Perfect Liſt of the Commanders, and Officers taken Priſoners, and the number of ſlain on both ſides.
To the three Sons of their Father the D.
Printed in the yeer 1648.
THE Prince (whom ſo many of our Pulpits flattered, with the Title of The pledge of our enſuing happineſſe) hath given us a taſte of that ſweet fruit, which the Kingdome is likely to gather from his Government, if the Lord in wrath permit him to rule over us: The yong man hath begun a health to Englands happineſs, and the peoples liberty, in a cup of blood. Upon Thurſday the 10 of this preſent, his Highneſs, as they call him, (for my part I know not how tall he is) landed a party of ſome 80 of his men, under the Command of one Aldredge, a Cheeſe-monger, who lived ſometime in Bread-ſtreet, and was Apprentice with Mr. Rob. Smith; there might be a kinde of illfavoured policy, in ſending out theſe Water-Rats at the Heels of this Cheeſe-monger, the ſmell of his old profeſſion might engage them farther with him, then their perſonall valour could carry them on; and indeed it proved ſo, for being landed, they fell upon a ſmall party of Sir Michaell Lev•ſeys foot who were upon the guard, (at the two houſes, which we call the Half-way houſes, between Sandwich and Sandown,) beat them off, and took poſſeſſion of the houſes; Sir Michaels horſe taking the Alarm, charged the enemy with abundance of Gallantry, routed the Party, wounded many, killed 8. or 9. upon the place, and put the reſt (they having firſt fired the Warriners houſe) to flight. Among the priſoners taken, Aldredge was one, who knew me well, and told me he went aboard at Yarmouth with Cap. Iohnſon: this poor man was miſerably wounded in the back, ſhoulder, and arm, cut in the head, and both hands; yet that party, with whom he unhappily engaged, refuſed to affoard him any ſuccour or means (if2 poſſible) to cure his wounds. Sir Michael ſent a Trumpet to Sandown Caſtle, acquainting them with his condition, and permitting them, if they pleaſe, to take him in, but they (whoſe mercies are cruelties) would not. This Aldredge told me, that Prince Rupert and the Lord Gerard promiſed him to follow, but whether they did or not, he could not ſay: and for valiant Captain Iohnſon, if you enquire of him, take it merrily:
Had it been a drinking match on ſhoar, the High Admirall himſelf, could not have kept his new Col. aboard; but I am perſwaded the Gentleman is ſick of fighting, and wiſheth himſelf in his Landladies Chimney-corner, at the ſpread Eagle in Gratious-ſtreet.
I have no more at preſent, but to pray God to open the eyes of the Prince, his Right, Truſty, and Welbeloved at London, whether they be Lords, or Common Councel men, that (before it be too late) they may ſee God in the greatneſſe of his power, coming out againſt that party, and breaking them in pieces, ſo as if he did point out with his finger (as he doth to Babylons daughter,) that they and their adherents are to be deſtroyed. Farewell.
SInce you and I have wept together, and poured out our ſoules to God in the behalfe of the daughter of our people, I could not but in the day of Ieruſalems rejoycing, call you to rejoyce and be glad with her. It is the ſong of the faithfull in theſe parts, (and I hope it will be ſaid in this day with you alſo) for this is our God, we have waited for him, & he will ſave us: this is the Lord, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoyce in his ſalvation. Truly friend, God hath appeared for us from his holy heaven, and our God from the mountaine of his power; clouds and darknes were round about us, even a ſad expectation of a ſecond inſurrection by the ſons of violence amongſt us, and behold light hath appeared to us, & joy to the Tabernacle of the upright. God (though in the wiſdome of his providence, he hath not yet broken and ſcattered the ſhips of our enemies by the eaſt wind) hath wonderfully appeared for us. Yeſterday (being the 14 of this preſent moneth) the Kings Son (the darknes of his Fathers image) landed about 5 or 600 armed men (fit inſtruments as any in Colcheſter, or Hamiltons Army, to eſtabliſh the happines of this Kingdome) neer Sandowne Caſtle, this morning they ſallied out of the Caſtle (where they ſecured themſelves the laſt night,) & intended to have fallen upon our friends in their quarters at upper Deale, and to have ſwallowed them up for breakfaſt. But God (who ordained the earth to help the woman againſt the Dragon) ſent a man before, a Seaman, who coming out of the ſhip, liſted himſelfe under Col. Rich, and furniſhed them with intelligence of this deſign;4 this cauſed our friends to draw down al, or the greateſt part of their forces both horſe and foot to lower Deale (who elſe had layn ſcattered about the Country 4 or 5 miles in compaſs) it is a ſad truth that our honoured Friends in the L. Gen. his Army, are ſo few, and they ſo weak by reaſon of ſicknes, that ſome companies do not affoard above 40 fighting men; yet the L. (who uſeth to appear then moſt when his power ſhall not be darkened by the ſhadow of an arme of fleſh) put ſuch courage into their hearts, and cloathed their arme with ſuch ſinews, & ſtrength, that they gave them ſuch a blow, as was beyond their own, contrary to their enemies, and above their Friends expectation, the manner briefly thus.
Major Husbands led the horſe, Lieut. Col. Axted the foot, Sir. Michael Leveſey charged gallantly with them, before I can tell you they fought, they ran. In the charge Col. Riches Quarter Mr. and 3 troopers of ours were ſlaine, 18 private ſouldiers wounded: Major Husbands had the heel of his hoot ſhot off, the Lieut. Col. horſe kild under him, but he was ſoon furniſhed with another for the chaſe, in which 180 of the enemy fell (never to riſe more) upon the ſands. Gibſon their Major Gen. with 20 more Commanders and Officers, and 73 private ſouldiers taken priſoners, 300 armes, with abundance of brave pillage; the Commanders ſo much gold and ſilver in their pockets, as if they had no need of the Cities 20000 li.
I cannot heare that Capt. Iohnſon, that famous turne-coat was in this ſervice, as it is ſuppoſed, he is gone (with Battens Knight errantry) a ſheep hunting into Rumney Park; this defeat may probably coole the courage of thoſe mutton mungers; and (we hope) be a ſtandard lifted up againſt the violence of your London deſigne. I pray informe me by the bea•er how you perceive the Adamites5 affected with this ſignall victory: preſent my love and reſpects to all our cordiall Friends, and be aſſured I am,
MAjor General Gibſon, Commander in chief.
Sir Iohn Boyce, the old Rob Carrier of Dunington Caſtle, ſhot in the belly, pricked in the neck, and wounded in the head with the But end of a musket.
With 180 killed on the place, 73 private ſouldiers taken priſoners, and 300 Arms.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A87114)
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