A FIGHT THE Lord GORING beaten at COULCHESTER in ESSEX.
The Suburbs taken by the Lord Generall, part of it Fired.
Sir THOMAS HONYVVOOD taken Prisoner, and 20 killed.
Killed of the Enemy 100. and taken 500 Prisoners.
With the particulars of the said FIGHT.
ALSO A Declaration from the Gentlemen of SOVTH-WALES.
And the Proceedings of Lieutenant Generall Crumwell.
London Printed for Richard Smithurst, and are to be sold neer Hosier-Lane, 1648.
A Letter from the ARMIE NEERE COULCHESTER in ESSEX, WHERE The Lord Generall entred the Suburbs.
THe Lord Generall marched out this day to view Coulchester, with some Inhabitants that could descry the Towne, for the better ordering of the advance of the Army thither.
His Excellency had with him onely two Regiaments of horse, and one Regiament of foot, with whom he marched for this Designe.
The Lord Goring, Sir Charles Lucas, and their body of Horse and Foot, being quartered in and about the Town.
But the Cavaliers were secure, not dreaming of so suddain an approach of his Excellency, and the rather because our Artillery (they knew) could not bee yet come.
Upon his Excellencies approach, the Enemy in Coulchester took an Alarm, and all (so farre as they had supplies) rise in Armes, and some got upon the Walls, others upon the Steeple, and other places to view our Forces.
But the resolute party of Cavaliers, made a sally out of the Town, and faced our Regiaments.
Our Forces (hereupon) put themselves into a posture to receive them, which they did with much gallantry,
There was a hot dispute but short, some killed and taken on both sides.
But (at last) the Enemy was put to a retreat, into the Town, the Lord Generall pursuing them to the very Suburbs, doing execution.
His Excellency hath already entred the Suburbs, where some Houses neer the gate, are at this instant on fire.
Sir Thomm Honywood is with the Essex Forces, and a party from the Army, gone towards Suffolk borders, to prevent the Cavaliers from flying that way, and care is taken to prevent their marching Northward.
The Dispute doth still continue, for the Town. which is probable will ere long be ours, as secure [Page 3]as Maydstone, Rochester, or Canterbury in Kent.
But his Excellency had no intent at this time to engage, only to have viewed the Town, and ground. And to have marched up when the Artillery, and body of the Army were come up, then to have falne to the businesse.
Sir Alexander Ratcliffe is taken prisoner at Rumford, with some others, by some of the Country.
There are few that continue in Armes against us here, save such as were formerly in Armes against the Parliament. And some others of desperate fortunes, and discontented persons.
There are divers Inhabitants of this County, that spoke formerly well of them, that now none are more against them. The reason is, as they said, because they had assurance upon the faith and honour of divers of them, that they should be protected from all harme or dammage. And yet they are plundered by them as well as any others.
The civill Women and Mayds, where these men come are afraid to goe out of their Houses, by reason of some incivillitie offered to some of their Neighbours.
This County hath been already damnified by the rising of the Cavaliers (as is guest) at last 10000 li. already. Besides the sufferings of the Inhabitants for lack of Trade, The poore being ready to starve for want of imployment.
Dated in the Field, neer Coulchester, this 13 of June, 1648.
A Declaration by the well-affected Gentlemen of SOVTHWALES.
WHereas it was in the last weeks Diurnall, Viz. That Poyer holds to his first resolution of such and such things as he demanded, not at all having assisted the party that was commanded by Major Generall Laughorn, nor permitting any of those that fled from the Battaile, to come in to him.
Which particulars are very untrue, and purposely given in by some of Poyers agents here, to extenuate the foulenesse of his Rebellion, and that he may be received in upon advantagious conditions: But the truth is, and it is most certainly known, that Poyer sent up from Pembrookshire to Powel, then mustering of the County of Carmarthen, and before the Rout in Clamorganshire 400 Foot and Horse, and since their defeat in Glamorganshire, Poyer hath received Laughorn, with the remainder of the fugitives from Glamorganshire into the Town of Pembrook, and Poyer hath since declared to live and die with them, and spared [Page 5]them the provisions he had plundered from the well-affected of that County, and doth joyn with Laughorn, in opposing the Lieutenant Generalls Forces, now besieging the Town and Castle of Pembrook. And to ammuse the people of the Counties of Pembrook, Carmarthen, and Glamorgan, as instruments to raise an Army for Laughorn, against his going down from hence, they made severall Declarations to the said Counties.
In the County of Pembrook they declared for King, Parliament, Covenant, and against the Lord Generals Army.
In the County of Carmarthen, for King, Parliament, and against the Army.
In the County of Glamorgan, for the King, & against the Army. This their juggling with God and man, thrived accordingly.
Its hoped that Poyer having first appeared in Rebellion of any in the Kingdom, and having rejected those severall faire offers made him by the Lord Generall, touching payment of his Arrears, and Indempnity upon his surrendring the said Castle, and having plundered and ruined the well-affected Gentry [Page 6]of that County, who were forced by him to leave their Country, and to repair to Coll. Horton for safety, shall not receive conditions of Indempnity, or more mercy then a Councell of warre in Justice shall doe him.
June 10. 1648.
WE had last night a very hot dispute at our entring of these suburbs, the Enemy sallyed out of this Towne of Coulchester upon three Regiaments that came to view the place: wee fought them, and, through Gods mercy to us, are entred the Suburbs. They have two Drakes within, and have made many shot at us. There are all the grand Cavaliers within: the Lord Goring, the Lord Culpepper, Sir Charles Lucas, and their Cavalry, & wee hope can hardly escape us. In the fight last night we lost some 20 men, and have many wounded. We killed 100 of them, and wounded abundance as we heare. And we have taken 500 Prisoners, 400 of whom they kept out. And hope to give (God strengthening us) a speedy account of reducing all the rest, to which the Country comes in freely (by reason of the Cavalliers ill usage towards them) to give us assistance.
Coulchester Suburbs this 14 of June 1648.