AMongst the many wonderfull wayes and workes of Gods providence of late for the incouragement of his Servants, daunting the adversaries, and carrying on his own great Worke against the malice and mul­titude of the Enemies, it should se­cure none of the least, but rather most remarkable, which hath been done of late in North-Wales by that poore, and two much neglected and despised power, under that valient, active, and selfe-de­nying Gentleman, Collonel Thomas Mytton, Major Ge­nerall for those Counties; who as hee was by the wise­dome of the Parliament thought fit and chosen out, and designed to that Service, so do many singuler qualifications and indeede all the passages of Gods providence in his Service seeme to proclame him a man appointed by God himselfe also for that imployment, and to have your Joshuas promise made him, hat no Enemy shall be able to stand before him; to instance onely in this late businesse of Carnarven concerning which (that God may have his due prayse) these perticulors seeme remarkable.

[Page] 1. The discouragements which might have hindre his advance, if he had consulted with flesh and blood, as namely the great work he had newly undertaken at Denbigh, the besieging whereof required his full strength that might be sparred for his other Sieges.

2. The Regiments being neere to Carnarven 30. miles from any place of Retraite, and Conway a Garrison of the enemies in the mid-way betwixt him and his mayne Body.

3. The number of the Enemies against whom he was to march being 250. Foote, and 50. Horse, beside Gentle­men as was reported.

4. The quality of their Souldiers being Lathamites Beestoniers, and such expert and active Souldiers as the L. Byron could procure, or England, or Ireland would af­ford

5. The desperate condition of their Feild Marshall Ge­neral the Lord Byron, who therefore being by the Honou­rable Parliament exempted in all lykelihood would fight it out to the last man.

6. The want of pay for his poore Souldiers who (notwithstanding) the voate of the Honourable Houses, and divers Letters from the Committee of the Kingdoms have received little pay for many Moneths by-gone, the good hand of God carrying him above all difficulties, and making way for his march raysing up the Spirit both of frineds and foes, in a wonderfull manner to contribute ayd unto his enterprize, for God had preserved one princi­pall Instrument. viz. Mr. Thomas Glyn who in all these tryalls appeared Parliament prooffe, who having great power, in those parts did by his invitation prevaile much for the Generalls advance. 2 God incline the hearts of some who had been Commissioners of Array, and ac­cordingly yeeld to promise assistance to his work. 3. But principally the confidence the Generall had of helpe from [Page 3]Heaven, & this assurance gayned out of former experien­ces which causeth him cheerefully to set upon the worke as followeth.

He drew out his Leagure at Denbigh a party of about 300. Horse and Foote, and led them in his own person advancing neere Conway a strong hold of the Enemies, neere which place they tooke 11. prisoners marching, &c.

Yea my Lord of Yorke, was very zealous to promote this worke, keepeing his house Penryne a Garison against the Lord Byron for which he suffered many bitter inve­ctives from the said Lord, Sir William Williams also was very forward to afford to afford the Generall all accom­modations fortifying also his house against the Lord By­ron, marching from Abarystwidd with a passe to Carnar­ven but falsifying the same they went for Conway, two whereof were Irish which the Generall caused to be hanged immediatly according to the Ordinance in that kinde.

From thence they advanced towards Penrin, where the Generall and Officers were kindley entertained and feasted, (being Wednesday the 29. of Aprill) where the enemy was ready to entertaine them, having lined their hedges, ditches, to obstruct their passage, and furnished the Subburbs with a great strength both of Horse, and Foote, the General having viewed their condition, di­vided his Body into a parts, leading one of them himselfe towards the high Rock, and the Subburbs on the North-side of the Towne, where the chief strength of the enemy lay, but the dispute continved not long; for though the enemy came out furiously, yet the gallant be­haviour of that small party which the General (wherein the Lancashire forces under Captain Aspin [...]al and captain Birch must not lose their due praise) speedily forced them from the hedges to the houses, and from the houses with­out [Page 4]out the walls to the Town within, not permitting them to finish their Fire-works, about which they very busily set themselves in their retreat, viz. to fire all the houses with­out the walls.

1 Gods powerfull presence in the disposition and pre­servation of the Leagure, for the Scituation of the Castle was such, as forced the division of the Generals small strength, viz. The Land forces on the North side the water in the Suburbs, and the Generals men on the other side the River at Godallen, by which means there was neere two miles (the ordinary way) to each others Guard, & [...]herfore could admit no reliefe in case either parties should be en­gaged.

2 Though the Enemy took the advantage of this dis­union, and made two desperate sallyes upon the Generals men: the former the 2. of May: the latter the 7. yet was then God seen in the Mount, for in the former toward day break they issued out at a low water (for that was their only opportunity) 80 Foot, and 40 Horse; but such was the vigilancie of the Officers, or rather the care of Is­raels Watch-men, that they were ready to entertain them forced them back, took three Souldiers, and one Captaine Birkit, being Captain-Lieutenant to the Lord Byron, and the considerablest Captain in his Garaison. In the second fall Horse in the day time, with a resolution to cut off all that small party but God so strengthned the hearts and hands of his Servants Captaine Evans and Cornet Toung with their men that within the space of halfe an houre they forced their retraite having 5. slaine on the ground, whereof one was a Lieutenant, and another an Ensigne, and 16. prisoners, among whom were 3. Irish, & therefore hanged according to the Ordinance.

[Page 5] 3. That although (for prevention of their reliefe by fresh water, or other provision by Sea) the Generall was forced to erect a Sconce upon the Sea Banke, and draw trenches down to the Sea, out of which his men might fire securely; yet God did so wonderfully guard his men that neither Souldier nor Pioneer (though working night and day for divers weeks together) lost a drop of blood.

4. God marvellously changing the hearts of the Peo­ple in those parts, where was wont to be the Kings re­cruiting place, but now a marvellous compliance of the Countrey with the Generall, whose affections he hath gained by his faire deportment towards them, and his ten­der care over them, least violence should be offered to their persons or goods; of which complyance the Enemy in the Castle took special notice, and scornfully stiled them Bumpkins, and many times would (from the walls) rayle against the Bumpkins, and damme themselves, saying, if the Bumpkins had been as true to them, as they proved to Mitton, he had never come to besiege them.

Their affections further are observed by their raising a compleat Company of able men, and presenting them to the Generall, and are now under the Command of Cap­tain Dawson, with addition to his Forces, gave liberty to some of his own to draw off from the Leagure, and lye a­bout Abber to restrain the insolency of the Conway youths who did raven and spoyle all the Countrey over; and this occasioneth an Expresse of Gods goodnesse further to the Generals forces, there being about 30 horse commanded by Cornet Graunt, belonging to Colonell Michael Iones, the noble Governour of Chester. On Thursday the Fourth of this instant June, about one of the clock in the morning the principall strength of Horse and Foot out of Convay were discovered to have gathered all the Cattell and hor­ses about Abber, and hasting with them towards their Den, which the Cornet having notice of, be [...]urred himself [Page 6]very faithfully and gallantly, fell so fiercely on the Ene­mies horse, that he put them to a retreat, and pursued them to the walls of Conway, and in his return rescued the Cat­tell and Goods, and 42 Souldiers, and brought them pri­soner to Bangor.

Herein lastly God was seen in this work that although the town and castle were impregnable, the Enemy therein so considerable, having store of Provision and ammuniti­on for 3 Months longer, yet God forced them to stoop & yeeld up the town and castle to the hands of the Generall for the service of the Parliament upon Saturday the 6 of this instant Iune, upon the Articles for that purpose. Where in the Castle or Towne were found two Demi­culverins, two murthering Pieces. 200. Armes, and great storo of Ammunition, and Provision as above said, and a­mongst their booties we must not misse the Lancashire Bear-ward and his great beare who had a Petition from the Lord Byron and little for free puarter for himself and his beast, very forme [...] drawne in Parchment.