PRince Robert came Sep. 23. about 9, or 10. of the clock into Wor­ceſter, as is thought to fetch away thoſe Forces that lay at Wor­ceſter much endangered by the Lord Generalls forces approa­ching neere the City: about ten Troops, under the command of Colonel Browne, with about two or three hundred Dragooners, drawn from an advantagious plot of ground, where they had pitched ſafely, to prevent (as is thought) the Cavaliers flight, were fiercely aſſaulted at great diſadvantage, with all P. Roberts Forces, ſuppoſed to be ſtrong 5000. horſe, they valiantly charged againſt the Cavaliers, had a cruell and bloody fight till it came to ſwords point; Col: Fines himſelfe rode up to their chiefe Commander, thruſt his Piſtoll to his belly, diſcharged and ſlew him out­right: Lord JOHN is thought to be ſlaine or deſperately wounded, and ſo carried away in a coach, Prince Robert is reported to be ſhot through the thigh, but it is not certain, the Parliaments Forces being farre too weake were forced to retreat: The Lo: Generall his Forces being not come in, and ſome of them retreated into Worceſter with the Cavaliers, and being diſcovered in the ſtreetes of that City, they had another bitter skirmiſh in the ſtreetes where divers were ſlaine. The Cavaliers came into the City wofully mangled and bloody, ſome having their eares cut off, ſome with the fleſh of their heads, ſome with their very skulls alſo hanging downe, their Piſtols and Carbines ſtocks being hacked away which they held up for the guard of their heads.

About 10. of the clock at night, all P. Roberts forces fled over the bridge towards Ludlow, with many malignants of the City with them, both men, women, and children, and made Captaine Wingate (whom they took pri­ſoner) to ride before them in their flight, naked.

This 24. day about 10. of the clock in the morning, his excellence poſſeſ­ſed himſelf of the City, which ere this, had moſt of it been laid in the duſt, had not the Rogues quitted the City, his Excel: being ready for a battery.

The Townſmen certainly affirme that 22. of our ſide are ſlaine, whom they have buried, have found no more for preſent dead, many are ſore woun­ded, Col: Sands and Col: Brown, wounded among others. Mauy of theirs are killed, but I cannot heare of a certaine number.

The Cavaliers ragged regiment dare not ſtand battaile upon any equall termes, they have left divers arms behind them, it is thought all they tooke frō Kiderminſter and Beudley or more, they diſarmed Worceſter before they ran away, but Worceſter ſet upon the rear of the Dragooners in the flight, & diſarmed them again.

The Cavaliers in Shropſhire and all other places where they come diſ­arme all Townes and families well affected to the Parliament, plundering their houſes moſt lamentablely, carrying away & ſpoyling all their goods, terrifying the inhabitants extreamely, & driving them to fly for their lives, taking many priſoners, and they have liſts of the names of all active per­ſons whom they ſeiſe upon, and do moſt miſchiefe unto; Papiſts and Ma­lignants houſes, generally ſcape their cruelty. If a running army be not rai­ſed to run as faſt as they, the whole Kingdome is in great danger ſuddain­ly to be run over.

Prince Roberts Army moſt part conſiſts of Papiſts, who deale moſt cru­elly with all good men and Miniſters, and all that have oppoſed the com­miſſion of Array.

The Commiſſioners of Aray in Cheſhire, met upon munday laſt at an houſe on the Forreſt of Delamere, and as we heare they com­bined together by an oath of ſecreſie to plunder and diſarme the town of Nampt witch, which they have done by the aſſiſtanc of about 1500. horſe which came from Draiton to meet them, under the command of the Lord Grandiſon. The inhabitants of the town having cer­taine intelligence of what they intended againſt them, preſently aſſembled, in conſultation, to take a courſe, for ſecuring of themſelves, and immediatly ſent meſſengers to the Gentry and towns abroad, to ſee what aſſiſtance they would ſend, who formerly had couenanted to aſſiſt the towne (as a place of great conſequence) if neceſſitie required, and one meſſenger going to Sir Thomas Delues 3. miles from the town, to acquaint him with the ſtate thereof, and intreating his aid formerly promiſed, he returned anſwer, he could not ſpare one man, for he muſt look to him ſelf, and within two hours after he came by the towne ryding to Cheſter, but left his arms in his own houſe, which the next day after without any reſiſtance were taken away by the Cavalires, Sir Richard Wilbraham was forward for our helpe in ſending vs armes, and his men abroad to bring in the Countrie, which care had he exerciſed in due time, ſtanding againſt the commiſſioners of Aray, when by the reſt of the gentrie he was with all importunitie preſt thereunto, the town and countie had never come to that deplorable con­dition. M. Vernon, a braue Gentelman, and a great patriot of our countrie, was the moſt forward man of all: had he come in half an hour ſooner we had held it out againſt all that aſſailed us. Cap: Croxon was the greateſt ſtrength, and very reſolute to defend the town. M. Clutton, an actiue Gent: was reſolved to fight it out, and diſarmed the underſherifes man, who came from4 the Cavaliers, who would not heare talke of any parlie, but gave expreſſe command to the towneſmen of his own company to give fire as ſoon as the Caveliers ſhould come within ſhot, and not to admit of any parlie, but other Gent. of the towne perſwaded the contrarie, leſt it ſhould be fired: where upon they came to parley. The Lord Grandiſon, and the Lord Chol­moudelcy engaged their honors, that noe man ſhould be hurt, nor any armes or goods taken from any man, but onely deſired that the armes might be laid up in the church or the town hall till they heard further from the King: whereupon the towne was given up, but they diſhonourably broake their engagement, ſeizing upon their armes ſo ſoone as they entred the town, ſearching up and down for armes, and men, threatning many, and purſue­ing them that fled, many tooke the river to eſcape them, they ſtopt the paſ­ſages of the town, to be revenged of them within it, rid up and down the gardens to finde them out and impriſoned many, then they plundred the towne, and all the countrie, which now lyes open for a prey to a perfidi­ous enemy, conducted and ſtrengthned by them of the Aray to all ſuch pla­ces, where they have bin moſt ſerviceable to King and Parliament, if ſpeedie help come not, we ſhall be vtterly deſolate. This intelligence is from many eye-witneſſes.

THe beginning of this weeke the E. of Bath was in Devonſhire about the Commiſſion of Array; the firſt Town wee came to (the name whereof I have forgot) he (not daring to go in) ſent a brave Cavalier to the Towne to finde how it ſtood, where the women ſo paid him for his paines, that he ſcarce returned with any skin on his face. The ſecond Town he went to was Moulton, where he ſent ſtore of venizon, pretending his comming was to feaſt and make merry, but his intentions being diſ­covered, the women beſet his houſe and forced him with much adoe to make an eſcape and leave his roſt. On munday laſt the Marqueſſe and Ca­valiers left Sherbourne and are gone to Minyard a ſea Town neere Wales, and the next paſſage from thence to Ireland, they troubled all the Coun­treyes in their paſſages, in ſo much that on tueſday night all the ſhop­windowes5 here were ſhut, every man Armd and the Towne guarded.

Yeſterday the E. of Bedford came with about 500. horſe, ſome troopes went towards Minyard the laſt night at 12. of the clock, the reſt goe to day with divers Dragooners and Foot from other parts, and here are pre­parations for war, all this countrey over, as if it were to be the ſeat of war. I could not conveniently write unto you ſooner, having been very buſie in all the late ſervice about Sherbourne, in which God hath graciouſly preſer­ved me, though I was imployed in the Front of our Army, when we gave them the firſt onſet. I have here ſent you the Lord Paulets unparallel'd bloody ſpeech to his ſouldiers, which you may publiſh if you pleaſe. Thus praying God to bleſſe you, and be a wall of fire about you, and that good great City, the Magazine of our Kingdom, I reſt, Your truly loving friend.

HIs Majeſty advancing into Staffordſhire, ſent two or three troops of horſe, came to Killing worth Caſtle to conduct thoſe ſouldiers that were there, (under the command of Serjant major Willis) unto His Maje­ſties other Forces: Our Coventry Soldiers having notice hereof made haſte to give them an onſet, but the rogues were got paſt Coleſ I ere they could reach them, and then ſuch as could go faſteſt on horſeback, which were not above 30. rid amain, overwent their foot, and adventured ſtoutly, ile not ſay deſperately, to aſſault the other army. Serjeant Major Willis, ſeeing the force ſo ſmall that came to encounter them, gave order that the Carriages and foote ſhould march forward, and they with their horſe (though well wea­ried) would give battaile to Coventry horſe, as indeede they did to our griefe, for beſides the priſoners they took, which were three or four, and men they wounded which were two, (one whereof lies at Curdworth, yet I thinke alive,) our men were forced to retreat, which made the adverſe party inſult notably, and unleſſe men did by miraculous faith beleeve that God would deſtroy their adverſaries with Rams hornes, I know not what7 ſhould put ſuch boldneſſe into them. They got two or three horſes from their adverſaries, ſome ſay alſo a priſoner or two, but the major body of the Killingworth Army with their Carriage which was in foure wagons came ſafe to Tamworth, and after one dayes reſt went from thence, in one of which Cap: Scudamore lay, (ſuch ſtate his friends put upon him) he was wounded at Coventry ſiege, and is very like to periſh therewith.

MAſter Comberford of Tamworth ſent three or foure cart loads of goods and Ammunition, with many cattle lately towards Dud­ly Caſtle for ſafety, but Birmingham men having notice hereof ſeiſed upon them: This Comberford is a great malignant, this and other things makes Birmingham extreamely threatned. Some Cavaliers were lately apprehen­ded here at Walfall for indeavouring to levie ſouldiers, for which dread­full menaces are denounced againſt us alſo. The Rebels have taken and plundered Namptwich, Sir Wil: Brerton, that worthy patriot of his Country, his houſe is pillaged and ſeven or eight horſes taken from him. So is the Lady Bromlyes reverend Parſon Fiſhers, Mr. Charlton an excellent Gent: Mr. Rawley of Rawley by P. Robert, and divers others, which makes good people fly apace.

THe Commiſſioners of Array are ready here to put their Commiſſion in execution, but dare not for fear of the Country, for our Country ſtands cloſe to their Petition and Proteſtation.

THere came under command of Cap: Legs brother 3000. Muſquetiers of horſeback, and much powder and ſhot from New-Caſtle through this County to go to Cheſter, which the Countrey was not able to make ſtay of, having no forces. The Lord Strange hath drawne his Forces to Waringdon, being about 2500. and intends to go and pillage Mancheſter, he hath compelled his tenants to pay 3. yeares rent beforehand, for to ſup­port the King in this ſervice, inſomuch that poore men are forced to ſell their Cattaile and goods to pay it. Mancheſter keepes a ſtrong watch night and day, ſome places being plundered neere them by Sir Francis Wortley, and other Cavaliers as Knutsford, Oldham, &c. The Lo: Strange drawes along with him the traine bands, but ſore againſt their wills.

THe King having left his Army, bilited about Shrewsbury, came to White church upon Friday, and was welcommed into the County of Cheſter, by the Lo: Rivers, L. Chamley, and Sir Thomas Aſton, and then8 went towards Cheſter with two Troops, being his guard, beſides Sir Tho: Aſtons Troop, and the Mayor, Aldermen, and Recorder Brerewood, received him into Cheſter in great pomp, preſenting him ith 200. l. and the Prince with 100. l. The Court is kept at the Biſhops houſe. The next Tueſday His Majeſty intends to depart from this City towards Rixam, thence to Elſ­more, and ſo back to Shrewsbury. He hath impriſoned ſome of our Noble Gent: for obeying the Parliament. Before the King came out of Shrop­ſhire, he ſent downe the River Severne 6. peeces of Ordnance to Bridge­north to ſecure that place, but it is hoped that the Lord Generall will in good time take that place, and thoſe Peeces, and Shrewsbury to boot.

THe honeſt part of our Gentry and Commonalty now begin to pluck up their ſpirits, make head againſt the Parliaments Forces, have re­ceived many men and Armes from Sir Iohn Hotham, whoſe ſon commands them: They have choſe the Lord Fairefax their chiefe Commander, and their Army daily increaſeth: They have taken ſome very ſtrong holds al­ready for the ſervice of the Parliament, and reſolve to ſeize upon all the Parliaments enemies in all the Countie, whereupon Sir William Savile and many other malignants are fled to Pomfret Caſtle for refuge.

In Lincolneſhire alſo the Lord Willoughby of Parham, the Earle of Lin­colne, and many others, make head, joyne their Troops together, and intend to joyne with Yorkeſhire, whereby it is hoped through Gods great goodnes all the North part of England will be ſhortly ſecured for the King and Parliament.