YOur gallantry in reſolution and action during that fierce and furious Siedge of Colcheſter, hath already confirm'd in us that noble opinion which we ever retain'd of you in all your undertakings, both for ſpirit and knowledge. Valour acquits it ſelfe beſt in extreames: Of this your loyall proweſſe hath given an ample teſtimony. We here, who truly love and honour you, and who with ſome of our beſt and choiceſt Forces hope in a very ſhort time to Relieve you; could not retain leſſe then a deep reſentment of the diverſion of thoſe nobly-diſpoſed Royaliſts, who ingaged their Perſons for your Succour: with the pre-mature fall of that active Sparke of true Native Honour, the Lord Francis Villers: upon whoſe Surprized and diſ-armed Body, report informs us, that ſuch inhumanity by a Mechanick hand was committed; as Barbariſme it ſelf would conceive Horror to be an Actor in a Subject of ſuch cruelty. But what ſhall either you or we collect from theſe tragick overtures, but the implacable hate and heat of an odious perfidious Foe, flaming from a furious deſire of imbruing his treacherous hands in the bloud of all Such as profeſſe themſelves faithfull Servants in defence of their Princes honour, ſafety of their Country, her juſt and auntient Liberties! for which we Fight: and for preſervation of which, we ſhall ever hold it a devotionall loyalty to ingage our perſons, fortunes, with whatſoever is moſt dear unto us. The cruelty they ſhew to ours, might preſcribe us a Rule what to do, when it ſhall pleaſe God that we be (which we hope ere long to be) Maſters of the field. But revenge in actions of cruelty ſhall ever be as far eſtranged from our thoughts: as theirs, ſince firſt theſe Civill unnaturall Wars were broached, have been from harbouring loyalty or compaſſion. Mean time, theſe mens deſignes, who puſh at nothing lower then Crowns, may afford both you and us, who ſtand in defence of a juſt Cauſe, and no private Intereſt, as God is our witneſſe) this uſefull Leſſon, Rather to ſacrifice our Lives to a noble and memorable fate; then to ſubmit to an imperious mercileſſe Foe.

Hold out, brave Sir; continue your reſolution; purſue your Sallies: let not their numerous Recruits amate you, (give me leave for the true zeale I beare to your Cauſe, and love to your perſon, to inforce this needleſſe advice:) you need little doubt, but if Skippon's power of inliſting men be abridg'd, as we hear it is: that theſe recruits or freſh ſupplies cannot continue long. Sedition, have it never ſo ſpecious pretences, nor powerfull Favourites; it will at one time or other be unmask'd, and ſhew its own deformity; which ſhown, thoſe who followed her, and fooliſhly fawned on her, will become much aſham'd that their miſ-guided judgments ſhould be ever taken with ſo deceiving a beauty.

Now to enliven the hopes of all that brave and honourable Cavalry there with you; Think every Evening, how we are one daies March neerer you then we were in th' Morning: and that our heartieſt wiſhes go along with you; as we are very confident within few daies, with our hands to aſſiſt you. And to confirm the apparancy of theſe hopes, you may be pleaſed herewith to receive an Abſtract of our proceedings, together with the Order we obſerve, and Succeſſe we receive in our March towards you; which you may with aſſurance communicate to my L. Goring, my L. Capell; to whom, I beſeech you preſent my affectionateſt Service, with all others of concern.

Having divided our Army into two ſeverall Bodies, both for accommodation of Quarter, as alſo to reduce ſuch Neutrall Counties in either Diviſion, as upon appearance of a viſible Force were eaſily to be made Ours: it was my Charge with ſundry other Engliſh Cōmanders of eminent quality and under my Conduct, to march Northweſt; His Excellence, High Lord Generall of the Scotiſh Forces, North-eaſt. In our March we found an oppoſing, but no conſiderable Party ready to incounter us near Appleby; but they were quickly driven to a ſpeedy retreat, and in ſuch confuſion, as their fear inforc'd them to make choice of ſuch a place for their Quarter, as of all others, was moſt incommodious for relieving Souldiers. Their retreat to that part of the Country made was for their ruine; being to incounter afreſh with the Scots, by whom they were, though not totally routed, fearfully diſtreſſed.

Since which time, Scarborough a Port-town of main conſequence; with the Caſtle, a Fort of impregnable ſtrength, have declared for the King.

In our addreſſe to Kendall, we found the Town generally wel-affected: Such as had been before Officers and active Inſtruments for the Publique; upon remove of ſome principall Fomenters of Sedition in thoſe parts, becauſe wholly Ours. Theſe we receiv'd, and conferr'd Places of imployment and Cōmand upon them according to their qualities, and capacities of managing them.

We apparently found, during our ſhort abode there; that nothing had ſo much infected the affections of the people, as the ſeditious doctrine of ſundry Sectaries and Non-conformatiſts in thoſe parts, who beſtowed their oyle in laying adulterate colours upon the face of Rebellion.

But their feare of danger has cauſed them to leave their paſture: By whoſe abſence & apprehenſion of their own errours, their deluded Flock is now brought back to the fold of Loyalty. So clear we left that part, or angle rather, of the County.

In our March to Lancaſter, we met with no oppoſition. For the Town, it is rather Neutrall then cordially Loyall; howbeit, the Inhabitants pretended themſelves Ours: for theſe, much like the popular affections of moſt men in thoſe parts, move and remove juſt as they ſee our Forces move. Some will wonder why we made it not our work in our March, to take in the Caſtle, being a place of ſuch ſtrength and conveniency for receiving and entertaining Garriſons to keep thoſe parts in awe and ſubjection; which otherwiſe, by the factious advice and practice of Incendiaries, (of which number there is no County but it has one corner or other ſufficiently ſtored) might break out into open Rebellion; or ſuch dangerous innovation, as it might highly trench upon the ſafety and welfare of thoſe adjacent parts. But my Anſwer is, as there is at this time no conſiderable Force within the Caſtle; which concludes it leſſe formidable: So our times of Speedy marching are no convenient ſeaſons for beſieging. Let us firſt doe the work we came for in the County, and all theſe Forts will find hands to open their Gates to us cheerfully. There was no report which we receiv'd with more acceptance then the reduction of ſome Commanders in thoſe parts; who, weary of ingaging their lives, eſtates, and liberties, in ſo unjuſt and diſloyal a quarrel, became firme and faithful Cavaliers: and being perſons of quality, drew others by their example, to the like practice of obedience and loyalty. I ſhall not need to inſtance them; their perſonall imployments will witneſſe ſo much for them.

In this our March towards Preſton, we feare no overtures. Heavy taxes and grievous quarterings have made many already ſhake off the inſupportable yoak of their ſlavery. The father we go, the more confident we are. Cheſhire hears of our advance with much cheerfulneſſe. The like ſucceſs we receive by Letters from his Excellence.

Dear Sir, hold out but a little, a very little ſpace; your friends will viſit you, and bring you off with honour: and with joynt imbraces congratulate you, for making loyalty your object of valour.