JOYFULL NEVVES FROM THE Prince of Wales, AND A GREAT FIGHT BETWEEN His Highneſſes Forces, and the Parliaments, ſince the late Overthrow, Captai•. Batters joyning with his Highneſſe with 5000. men, &c.
MY kind love preſented to you, &c. I would not have you think that I any way neglected the performance of what promiſed but the truth is, I had the laſt week writ to you, but could not tell how to ſend it, which I was very ſory for. The newes now is,2 the Ships or divers of them have attempted to fetch water by their Boates in the Iſle of Thanet, but as yet could not, and have been beaten back again, upon which they have threatned to ſhoute down Marget, we underſtand that Captain Batten is come with 6. Sayle of Ships from Holland, and that there cannot be leſſe then 5000. men abord the ſhips, The laſt Thurſday morning the enemy ſallied out of Sandown Caſtle upon our Guard, who not being many retreated ſome ſm•ll matter from the houſe where they kept Guard, ſo that the enemy poſſeſſed themſelves of the houſe a while, and after fired it, after this our forces (being very inconſiderable) drew up and charged them, but the diſpute held not long, the enemy ran away and made what haſt they could into the Caſtle, which our horſe, there then upon the Guard ſeeing, purſued them, and wounded moſt of them, have taken and killed above 20. with the loſſe of one Trooper, and one Foote, as alſo 6. or 7. wounded, which we hope will do well, they have been verie quiet ever ſince for ought we ſee, it is certainly known by a Drummer that came out of the Caſtle that day, that the man that fired the houſe then, and he that fired the new houſe of Sir Math: Mennis a fortnight ſince, were both killed this time, and it is further reported by a woman that was in a houſe near the place where they fought, that ſome of the enemy as they ran away ſaid one to another, who would have thought the rogues would have fought ſo, after which skirmiſh the Ships landed about 300. men, and with them 3. Colours, who kept a while by the Sea ſide, and after took their Boats, and went aboard again, The laſt Saturday there came about 20. out of the Caſtle, but when there was a party dr•wn to fight, they retreated and ran all into the Caſtle; this day being Monday, we had intelligence by two men that came out of the Ships laſt night, there3 was near 600. landed, moſt Seamen, and did intend to fall on the leagure about 12. a Clock, which they did accordingly, but came ſhort off, there was near 700. of the enemy engaged and came to Deale Towns end, and had a hot diſpute, near 400. ſlain, wounded, and taken priſoners; whereof Sir John Boys is one who is ſhot as moſt of them are, I do believe that you will hear more fully ſuddainly from Col. Rich.
Upon Friday morning laſt, being the 18. of this inſtant, about 5. a Clock in the morning, the enemy made another ſally, which allarmed our men, their number conſiſted of 400. 200. being Seamen, who had 4. Colours which they brought from aboard the Princes Ship, with this Motto, For Religion, King, and Kingdom, and making their approach near our Guards, our Musketiers fired, they anſwered them ag•in; but the enemy coming on ſo faſt, and ſuch fury, our men were forced to quit two Guards, the Princes forces ſet fire on them, and purſued our men; whereupon, the horſe having received this Allarm, immediately mounted, and advanced towards the ſaid forces; the enemies foot attended their motion, and prepared to receive them, who upon the end of each Pike, had a Ball of Wild-fire faſtned thereunto, each Pikeman having his match lighted, ready to fire, and upon the advance of our horſ to charge them, they diſplayed their Balls of Wild-fire, which much amazed our men; inſomuch, that they were put to a very diſorderly retreat, the enemy purſuing not, our horſe rallied, but before they could gain their loſt ground, to make good their Charge, they were retreated into the Caſtle; they purſued within a quarter of a mile of the Caſtle. In this action we loſt 9. men, & ſome wounded, the Enemies number is not known. We have lately received advertiſements from the Downs, that a great accident hath befallen his Highneſſe the P. of Wales, by Gunpowder, and endangered the loſſe of both his eyes, but (praiſed be God) there is great hopes of his recovery.
MY kind love ſalute you &c. I have received your letter, for the which I give you many thanks, Sir Michael Liueſey thanks you for your care in the delivery of his letters. Now for Intelligence, I wiſh I had more to furniſh you with, then now I have, but I deſire you to take notice, that here hath been a wicked D•ſign and Pl•t diſcovered of ſome that ſhould have betrayed this Town t•the enemy, viz. That they ſhould riſe one night about••. of the Clock, whether the time be paſt or yet to come, it is not known, (but I hope they are diſmiſſed of their intentions) with Shovells, Spades, Mattocks Felling-Axes, Spits, Pitchforks, and ſuch other helliſh Inſtruments, to have cut off ſome of the Guards, and to have let an enemy in, and for to have ſeized on the Town for the King, (as ſaid) all which one William Clark a Maſon of this Town, related to one who he ſuppoſed to be his Friend, by whoſe meanes it came to light, and Clark is impriſoned about it, I doubt not but God in his due time will bring it further to light, and fruſtrate the intentions & plottings of ſuch as would deſtry his people, The reaſon I have not other newes to furniſh you with is, for that Sir Michael Liueſey hath been from Sandwich from Monday to Saturday laſt week, The Revolted Ships are yet in the Downs, and ſtay all Veſſells that come near, The Caſtles hold out ſtill, but its confidently reported, Deale Caſtle will be ſuddainly ſurrendred, for it is ſaid, there are many ſick in it, and the Granadoes make work amongſt them, the ſurrendring of which, as alſo of the other, is much wiſhed.
The laſt News from the two Armies of England and Scotland, communicating the near engagement of both Armies, and the Reſolution and proceedings of the Scots.
To their honoured friends the Committee of the County of Lanc•ſter, now at Mancheſter, theſe.
IN ours to Sir Richard Hoghton we gave you a ſhort Character of the Scots Army now quartered all along the borders of our County, both on the Lancaſhire and Weſtmerland fide, Truly what we ſaid of them yeſterday was but the expresſing their Delineaments of Hercules by the foot; We ſpare to ſpake the worſt of them, leaſt we ſhould forfeit that cresence you have towards us, and not be beleived; but aſſure your ſelves, they by their daily incurſions into our poor Country, between this and their quarters have left nothing in all the World that is portable.
In divers places ſome whole families have not left them wherewith to ſubſiſt a day, but are glad•o come hether fo•meer ſubſiſtance, they have taken forth of di•ers fami•i••all, the very rackencrocks and pothooks; they have d••ven away all the Beaſts, Sheep and Horſes in divers Townſhips, all without redem•tion ſave ſome poore milch-kine: They tell the people th•y muſt have their houſes too, and we verily beleive it muſt be ſo, becauſe Duke Hamilton hath told them it ſhould be ſo, Their uſage of ſome women is extreamly abominable, and of men very barberous, wherein we apprehend, nevertheleſſe ſomthing of Gods Juſtice towards very many, who have abundantly deſired and rejoyced at their advance hither: Old extream Cavaliers, whom they have moſt oppreſſed in their acts of violence and plunder to our great admiration.
They raile without meaſure againſt our Miniſters, and threaten the deſtruction of ſo many as they can get; many Cavaliers have ſent into Furneſs, and Cartmel to Sir Thomas Tilſley for Protections, but the Scots weigh not their pro•ections a ruſh, and Tilſley himſelf tells the Cavaliers he can do them no good, but wiſhes them to uſe their beſt ſhifts in putting their goods out of the way; they ſay they'le not leave the County worth any thing: they make no account of Lambert, they ſay he is run away: They are yet in quarters at Burton, Kirby, Whittington, &c. and the Engliſh at Encroſs and Furneſs; they have driven away above 600 Cattel, and above 1500 ſheep they have given ſuch earneſt of their conditions that the Countrie have wholly driven away their cattel of all ſorts towards Yorkſhire, and the bottom of Lancaſhire; forty great droves at leaſt are gone from us, and through this Towne this day. But we hope this ſad diſtraction will ſhortly cleer up by the timely conjunction of our forces, and by the cheerfull riſing of our Countrie; whereof we are aſſured they never ſtood in half ſo much need, for all the ſufferings they have endured. We pray you let us know the buſineſſe of the North and we ſhall give you an account of what we daily learn, concerning the enemies motion or deſign, wherein we ſhall deſire to be,
- Hen. Porter.
- W. Weſt