VVEE cannot yet send you that either Penbrook Town or Castle is taken, yet we hope within few dayes to be Masters thereof. We have made severall attempts a­gainst the town, and stormed the walls in two or three places, fought with the enemy in the towne, worsted [Page 2]them, and beat them up to the Castle Wals, doing great execution throughout the town and killing neer upon one hundred of the enemy in the pursuit. But a Major of Lieutenant General Cromwels not following with the Reserve of Pires and Musquetiers, according to or­der, Major Generall Laughorn came in the Reare of them with a party of Horse, and forced them to quit the town, out of which they were driven, and about 30 of our men killed, some few wounded, the rest made good their retreat.

Of the enemies side it is supposed their losse were as many more, as appears by the consession of divers who have since disserted that service, and come in to the Lieut. Generall.

In this conflict Col. Horton behaved himselfe with much gallantry, and Col. Okeyes Dragoones did excee­ding good service, who pursued the enemy almost to the very walls, and made good their retreat with very little losse.

Our Batteries are now finished, and our Ordnance planted against the Town and Castle, and have made severall Breache, and the Councell of War have re­solved to storm it again.

The reason why the siege continues so long is the want of some great Guns and Mortar-Pieces, which came not untill within these few dayes down Severne, the wind having been long opposite to them.

Capt. Flower of Col. Deanes Regiment was lately wounded upon a storme, and Major G [...]igs Lieutenant and Ensign slain, Captain Burges is wounded and very sick.

All the insurrections about you (I believe) will not [Page 3]make usyeeld any other conditions then mercy to those within, and in case before we have done, they chance to get never so great and impregnable an Army, they wil give us leave to have one bout with them before we be disbanded, wee that are here do not intend to give all lost.

The Lieutenant Generall is alive and in health, and willing to fight for the liberties of England, as ever he did formerly.

Tuesday last we gave the Town another strong al­larum, 120. of Poyers men laid down their Arms, vow­ing never to take them up again, but by the importuni­ty of Poyer and Laughorn, telling them, if reliefe came not within four days, they would yeild, and they should hang them; by which means they ingaged againe. We are informed, that they have not provisions for four­teen dayes: wee expect every day that most of them come to us through want: they only have a little rain water and Bisket left: But its still feared, that Poyer & Laughorn, when they can hold out the Town no longer will betake themselves to the Castle, and leave the rest to mercy: if we get the Town, we doubt not to carry the Castle suddenly.

Our Morter-pieces have plaid hard against the towne and done great execution, and hath batterd down many houses, and killed at the least 30. of the Enemy, as appeares by the confession of two of Poyers men who came over the walls to us.

From the Leaguer before Penbroke, July 4. 1648.

VPon Wednesday last, there hapned a desperate engagement betwixt the Parliaments Forces, and a party belonging to his Highnesse the Prince of Wales, at Walmer Castle, the manner thus.

The Prince having sent a party from France, under the command of Col. Fitz-Beal, with Armes and Am­munition for the relief of the two Castles of Deal and Sandown, and having effected the same, the said Colonel resolved for Walmer Castle, and thereupon hoysted sayl and steered towards Walmer, where they arrived towards the evening, accompanied with three other ships very well man'd, and when they were within half musket shot of the shore, they let fly a broad side at the Parliaments forces, who were intrenched upon the Breach neer the Castle; insomuch, that there began a very dangerous and hot dispute, the fight continuing for the space of an hour and a half; the Cavalry plaid very fast with their great and small shot all the time, the Parliamenteers answered them with the like Vol­leyes, and at the last beat them off from the shore, and foroed them to Sea, with the losse of six men, and nine wounded.

The Enemy fought resolutely, but (it is supposed) with a great deal of losse made their retreat, for it is said that divers were seen to fall upon the Decks of the ships.

This is a great dishearming to the besieged, to have relief attempted without successe, though as yet they slight any overture of surrender or treaty. Divers Gra­nadoes have been shot into the castle, yet are they within not brought thereby to the least complyance of disposition to yeeld.

We hear that the Royalists listed under the Duke of Buckingham, and others, are come into Sussex, and that they intend to randezvouz on the South side of London very speedily.

Divers resorts to them out of this County, and many great ones it is thought will ingage with them.

Their numbers increase dayly, and unlesse speedily prevented, will grow to a great head.

It is reported, that divers great ones are amongst them, as severall Earles and Lords, viz. the young Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Holland, and severall other Lords of eminency.

Some report, that if they be not suppressed within 2 or 3 dayes, their number will increase to many thou­fands.

Others again report, that so soon as they have gai­ned a considerable party, they are resolved to raise the siege at Colchester.

They seize upon all the Horse that possible they can light of, and many country Royalists come in unto them, they are gallantly mounted, and exceeding well armed, and gives out many reproachfull speeches a­gainst the Parliament.

They expect within 2 or 3 dayes to be in a Body of 4000. Horse and Foot, and when they are thus joyned, then they are (as it is said) to go to raise the siege at Colchester.

There is some speeches as if they had a design to at­tempt the surprizing of the Comittee at Derby-house, before they go to relieve Colchester. They pretend to rise to fetch the King home to the Parliament, &c. and use many faire pretences to draw in others amongst them.

But we hear, that there is a party of horse comming from the Lord Generall to suppresse them. Yet not­withstanding, many Royalists in this County have de­clared for them, and divers are already gone in to their assistance.

Maidstone, July 7. 1648.