I Have sent you here inclosed a Co­py of a Letter, written by Lieute­nant General Cromwel from Preston, to the Committee sitting at Manche­ster, whereby you may perceive what salvation God hath wrought for this poor County, which not above a week ago in the judgement of many, nay of most men, was given up for lost, but God hath made mans extremity to be his opportunity, in saving a people de­signed by cruel men to ruine and de­struction: I shall say no more of it, be­cause I suppose you will have full and [Page 4]ample Intelligence from other hands, onely I wish we may not be too much elevated by successes, or too much de­jected or cast down in a low estate, but that we may so improve both mercies and judgements, that now at last through the various changes and chances which have hapned, such use may be made of all Dispensations and Providences of God, that the Church of England may flourish in Doctrine and Discipline, and all Interests may enjoy their just and undoubted Rights in reference to the common good of the Nation, which shall be the con­stant prayer of him who desires to sub­scribe himself,

IT hath pleased God this day to shew his great power, known by making the Army successful against the com­mon Enemy: we lay the last night at Mr. Sherburns at Stonihurst, nine miles from Preston, which was within three miles of the Scots quarters; we advan­ced betimes next morning towards Preston, with a desire to ingage the Enemy, and by that time our Forlorn had ingaged the Enemy, we were a­bout four miles from Preston: and therupon we advanc'd with the whole Army; and the Enemy being drawn out upon a Moor betwixt us and the Town, the Armies on both sides inga­ged, [Page 6]and after a very sharp Dispute continuing for three or four hours, it pleased God to inable us to give them a Defeat; which I hope we shall im­prove by Gods assistance, to their ut­ter ruine; and in this service your coun­try-men had not the least share: wee cannot be particular, having not time to take accompt of the slain and priso­ners; but we can assure you we have many prisoners, and those of quality, and many slain, and the Army so dis­sipated, the principal part vvhereof with Duke Hamilton, is on the South­side Ribble and Darwain-bridge, and we lying with the greatest part of the Army close to them, nothing hindring the ruine of that part of the Enemies Army but the night; it will be our care that they shall not pass over any Ford [Page 7]beneath the bridge to go Northward, or to come betwixt us and VVhalley; we understand Col: Gen: Ashtons are at VVhalley: we have seven troops of Horse and Dragoons that we believe lie at or near Clithero, this night I have sent Orders expresly to them to march to VVhalley to joyn to those compa­nies, that so we may endeavor the ruine of this Enemy. You perceive by this Letter how things stand, that the Ene­my is broken, and most of their Horses being gone Northward, and we ha­ving sent a considerable party at the very heels of them, and the Enemy ha­ving lost almost all his Ammunition, and near Four thousand Arms, so that the greatest part of the Foot are naked; and therefore in order to the perfecting of this work, we desire you to raise [Page 8]your county, and improve your Forces to the total ruine of that Enemy which way soever they go, and that you shall accordingly do your part, doubt not of their total ruine. VVe thought fit to speed this to you, to the end you may not be troubled if they shall march to you, but improve your interest as a­foresaid, that you may give glory to God for his unspeakable mercy. This is all for present from

For the Honorable Committee of Lancashire, sitting at Manchester. I desire the Com­mander of those Forces to open this Letter, if it come not to their hands.