THis morning about 4 or 5 of the clock, there happe­ned a great Fight within 14 miles of this town, oc­casioned by the sudden pursuit of Liecester horse, commanded by Col. Hacker, and the Lincolnshire Forces, commanded by col. Wait, who fell upon the Enemy at a lit­tle Village called Woodcroft early this morning, and entred into a very strong Engagement, and not dispute, the Enemy defending of themselvs very resolutely, col. Hudson charged Col. Hacker with a Forlorn of Horse, and disputed the case for about half an hour, but at the last were forced to retreat but Major Bisse drew up with a Reserve, and flamed colo­nell [Page 2] Hacker: whereupon he divided his Body into two Di­visions, and charged them both, exchanged ground, and put them to a rout. Col. Hudson and Major Bisse was slain up­on the last Onset, capt. Mercer, capt. Shaw, and capt. Hawkins in the pursuit. Lieut. Col. Green was also desperately woun­ded, with about 30. more, and hath taken prisoners Lieut. col. Shaw, Major Dalton, and neer upon 40. Captains, Lieu­nants, Ensignes, and other inferiour Officers, besides 200. common souldiers, the rest got over hedges and escaped: they lost also neer upon 300. armes.

These were Officers that were appointed to have raised two Regiments for the King, in Lincolnshire and other coun­ties adjacent. We are now putting our selves into a posture of defence, and to unite our selves together in a firme and u­nanimous association, to oppose all Forces whatsoever, ei­ther forraign or domestique, that shall obstruct or hinder the peace and tranquility of the Northern Associations.

Northampton 9. June, 1648.

THis morning about 8. of the clock in the forenoon, Cap­tain Beard (a Tanner, being exercising a Company of the Essex Foot, a party of Horse appeared within sight and on a sudden advanced, and gave fire on them, retreated and rallied again: whereupon the Captain perceiving that it was an Enemy, put his men into a posture to receive them, and upon their second-charge gave them a volley, which caused two of their Troopers to dismount, with the losse of one man on our side; insomuch, that at the last here began a desperate engage­ment, [Page 3]which continued in dispute for the space of half an houre, but at the last the said troop of Horse retreated, and as we sup­pose, are gone towards Goring, for since we are informed, that it was a troop raised by a great Delinquent, and formerly an actuall Enemy against the Parliament: it is supposed, there was some great person among them, by reason of the two Sumpture Horses, who (as we are informed since) were laden with great store of rich treasure.

There was slaine in this Conflict to the number of 8. sive of ours, and three of the Enemies, and one taken prisoner, who is since dead.

The Essex men are much incensed against Goring, and his party, and are resolved to oppose him, and to cleer the County of all his Confederates, most of the Inhabitants of this County ha­ving unanimously declared both against him and his procee­dings; for it is credibly reported, that he had a great designe a­gainst this Kingdome, and that his endeavours are, for the let­ting in of a forraign Enemy.

Eppington 9. June, 1648.

There is a great Rumour, that the Duke of York is land­ed at Yarmouth in Norfolk, with 2 or 3000. men; but I give you this not for any reall truth I suppose to be in it, but that you may see the various Rumours that are spread abroad; therefore you may take it rather for a report of those that would have it so, then for a certainty that it is so.

THe work goes on apace, touching the raising of new Forces, and putting of them in a Regimental way of Discipline, and our Forces have declared their una­nimous Resolutions to fight the Enemy. Col. Lilborn with M. Gen. Lambert, going to the quarters of, Sir Marmaduke Langdale, faced a considerable party of them, but they had no mind to ingage, Lancashire stands firm for the Parlia­ment Graydan L. Roxborows creature, and our English C. E­rington have brought two Troops of Scots horse on this side Tweed: our English Troops at Anwick, have fetched in Collonell Weldens Wheat, least the enemy at Bar­wick take it, as they did him; we are here in great fears both from Scotland and Langdale; and expect they come come with Armies into this Country within this week: the people see no help from Parliament, and therefore wisely for the other side, as likest to prevail and say, they perceive the Kings party is permitted to grow the better to make terms for the King Lord Argile is gon to a Castle which he is Captain of, not having a mind to trust a Parliament, the Parliament have summoned his return and if be comes not its like they will proceed against him, Langdale is still esti­mated 10000 he wants mony & begins to weary his friends which will put him upon a suddain remove.

Our affaires here are more and more distracting (which would not be) did you in South, as wee heare, beare up up gallantly against them who intend the distruction of all [Page 5]in both, that fear an oath, in Tindale was lately a great con­vention of persons of quality, as the Lord Lothian, Roxbo­row, Grainstone, and others, divers Knights and Barons, with most of the Gentry of Tindale and Marse, about raising men for England, at which appeared, out of sour Presbyteries, di­vers Ministers, and Elders, on behalf of the respective pa­rishes, who presented their Petitions, that the Parliament would give satisfactory answer to their eight Propositions, and untill that be done, to proceed no further in an ingage­ment; great disputes were, but at last the moderate party carried it, that they would Petition to the Parliament accor­ding to the Ministers desire, It was ordered that the Petiti­ons should be compared, whether they all tended to the same thing; and when two disaffected to the Church were named for that work, there arose a new debate, and upon the questi­on, they were forbidden, and two others appointed upon known integrity, which gave great content to the godly people, and so inraged the other, that in a deep melancholly, hanging down their heads, they rod out of town with a droo­ping company. The Lord Hume hath chosen all his Officers, but for men, he can get none; some few are taken up by Ma­jor Hume at Olnwick, and sent into Glendale, to quarter there: Kelsoe hath petitioned to the Committee, though a­gainst the Lord Roxborow: Fife and Angus will not raise a man, but by way of opposition, hath put themselves in a posture of defence; Argile and other shires, do the like, and this backwardnesse ariseth, as for other reasons, so chiefly because Duke Hamilton is Generall; it; believed the pre­sent force continued to this time, will not disband untill they have their Arrears. Nothing so much incourages rai­sing an Army here as that the Parliament of England sends none to the North, to suppresse Langdale, and those under his command, and those those that like not this War here, therefore think all is be come Cavaliers in the South; that no care is taken to regain Barwick and Carlisle; the Mini­sters [Page 6]preach here violently against the war, and say, that they that lead on this expedition are theeves, and companions of theeves, with other like expressiions: divers Ministers are chosen to go to Edinburgh, to Solicite their Petition.

The great differences in Scotl. doth retard yet is not like to hinder an Armies comming for England, and what more incouragement can be given, then that there comes not force enough from the Parla, to suppresse the English gathered under Langdale, that the design goes on, appears in that Bar­wick and Carlisle are supplied with Arms and other things from Scotland, Lotherdale sent lately 22 load in to Barwick its conceived they are well armed in Cumberland, a party from thence last Friday took Major Shafto, with 16 of his men he was raising a troop of horse about Beywell these were surprised by Collonel Carnaby, and others of the Country that knew the way to them: the Major is carryed to Carlisle this is a great discouragement to others that were arming. Langdale had musters about Hetursell, and Grindon, and others, and news is come, that his main body will quarter a Heman this night, or to morrow; they may come whither they will, or go whither they will, nothing comes to us therewith to oppose them: the Scots in Ireland are dayly expected, mony is sent to fetch them; the Parl ia­ment at Edinburgh sits again, great matters are expected.

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