THe Reducing of this Castle of Ruthin hath cost me more time and Ammuniti­on, then I expected when I first laid Siege to it: At last having a Mine almost in a readinesse to spring, and Batteries prepared for a Demi-Ganon and a Cul­verin to play upon it; It was this day agreed to be Sur­rendred upon the Conditions in the inclosed Articles, which I was willing to accept, having perfect Informa­tion by some that escaped out of the Castle, that there was in it Provision sufficient for two moneths longer; which now I finde to be true: And if I should have forced it, I must have hazarded many men, and made the place unserviceable, which is of very great use to the Reducement of this Country, it being the most con­venient place for a Garrison in all North Wales, as things now stands with us. Yesterday before the break of day, a party of the Enemy out of Denbigh Castle, being about sixscore, and thirty mounted fire-locks, fell upon Captain Richard Price his Quarters, within two miles of this Town; but he was vigilant, and his Scouts per­formed their duty so well, that they were drawn into the [Page 4] field before they came upon them, which gave him oppertunity to avoid them, and convey the Alarum to this Town; And thereupon Colonel Carter with a standing Horse-guard, which we are fain to keep in the field constantly to secure our Out quarters; and Captain Simkies with my own Troop, which was then upon the Guard in this Town, drew out and fell between them and Denbigh, and within half a mile of their Garrison met with them, and charged them so gallantly, that they broke in upon them, killed seven of them (as is said) upon the place; and in the pursuit, took four Captains, one Lieutenant, two Cornets, divers Troopers, and about fourty Horse, with the losse of one man of our side. The Siege at Hoult hath of late been of great difficulty and hazard to those few men I have there: For the draw­ing off of the Cheshire Fire-locks from that Service, without any privity, gave the Enemy an advantage to burn the Guard the Firelocks kept (which cost the Coun­trey much to fortifie) and above fourty dwelling Houses more in the Town, and exposed my men (who lay in open Quarters, and were fewer in number then the Ene­my within were) to their power, which necessitated my men to be upon continual duty. Upon the first of April the Enemy sallied out and fell upon Major Sadlers Quar­ters, resolving to put all my men in that House to the Sword, which they had been like to effect, had not a Guard which was placed in a Mount, erected by us three dayes before relieved them: In this storm I lost five men, and fourteen wounded; of the Enemy there were killed their Commander Captain Cottingham a Papist, a Lieutenant, and two more, and many wound­ed: There hath been never a day since, but they sallied out constantly twice or thrice a day, and as constantly [Page 5] beaten in. This service, and the furnishing of such Gar­risons which are reduced, occasions the expence of very much Powder and Match; and therefore, I humbly de­sire, that the Honorable House will be pleased to grant, that I may have a hundred Barrels of Powder, and four or five hundred Firelocks sent me, and that some course may be prescribed to convey it down speedily; the car­riage and Convoy of the last Powder I had, cost above half as much as the Powder was worth. And further, that they will be pleased to appoint a Governor for this Castle, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Mason, is a very faithful active and godly Gentleman, and the most know­ing man in his profession that we have in these parts, having been a Souldier above twenty yeers, and lost his command in Ireland, because he refused to bear Arms against the Parliament: And if this place were worthy of him, I should make bold to recommend him to their consideration. This neverthelesse, I leave to their Wis­doms to determine, and rest