THe occasion of this trouble, is to prevent or alter any mis-reports which may be or have beene raised upon me, because I heard it was reported even at my owne home, that I was routed, and my selfe taken or killed; the occasion of this I shall relate unto you: when the enemy marched toward Sir William Waller, though I could not spare men to his assistance as he desired, I [Page 2]marched after them with about 130 horse on Saturday last, that I might see their march and be ready to helpe him what was in my power. I marched farre before I could get knowledge where the enemy was, and at last by reason of the extreame soule weather I tooke up my Quarters at a place within a mile of the enemies body, where they were upon a hill undiscovered; I had not beene long in my quarters, but my Scouts brought me in word of a party drawing towards us; we immediately drew out, and stood so long facing them, that (they still increa­sing from their body) I saw it was not probable for us to escape if we should en­gage our selves with them; upon this consideration I caused the reare to face about and march towards Chichester, which they did, and I stayed with some 50 of my owne Troope to secure their march. The enemy either seeing them, or suspecting we would goe that way, made all the haste they could possibly to intercept us in our [Page 3]passage; upon this I marched after the rest, but truely the enemy made such haste that I feared they would get in betweene us, and then another party get behind me; so I made a stand, and was faine to retreat, that I might get my men into some order upon a Heath which was hard by; the enemy, it seemes, thought they had been forward enough to have intercepted us, came about, and came short of my men that went first away, and they followed me very fiercely; I faced about upon the Heath, and then they stood, but I saw (though peradventure I might have been able to have fought with that party) that they increased so fast that I durst not in­gage my men,) but I wheeled about, and made haste away, lest the narrow passage should have proved prejudiciall to me, if they should have followed me too close. I had nor quite escaped this danger, but just in my way, at the entring of a Towne called Havant, I met with two Regiments [Page 4](as they say) of Dragoones under the com­mand of my Lord Craford, and Colonell Ennis, there was then a necessity of going forward, what ever the danger was, which (I confesse) I apprehended to be farre greater then it pleased God to suffer it to be; they stood and faced us with some of them while the rest marched by; for they were comming out of a crosse Lane, they stood till we came within half Pistoll shot of them, and when they saw that we were resolved to fall on them, they fairely (trusting it seemes more to their Horses then their Armes) runne away; we fell upon them, I thinke, with the more an­ger, having beene crossed before: and truely we spoiled (me thought) too many of them, they were most in red Coats, but they were quickly all of a die: I thinke there were not many killed, but I thinke there escaped few without broken pates. I heare, of quality, they lost but a Captaine and Captaine-Lieutenant; we brought [Page 5]away some prisoners, and left the rest in the Towne, into which the enemy fol­lowed us; I hope I have not lost above two or three men; I doe not yet know certainely: those I have are safe at Chi­chester, and I am here at Portsmouth this second of January,