OUr Army consisting of 1500. Musquetiers, 200. Pikes, 5. Troops of Horse, under com­mand of Sergeant Major General Chudleigh, advanced out of Devon. into Cornwall, over Poulson bridge, neere Lancestone, Sunday moring last, and there fought with the whole force of Cornwal all that day, till neere midnight, and was in danger to have been cut off, the enemy being so many, and having hemm'd them round to stop their retreat into Devon. which they had done, had not Col: Merricks Regiment of Lond. Gray coats, under command of Lieutenant Col. Cal­mady, which went out of Plimouth the Saterday after noone, and rescued our Army, when the enemy had wel-nigh encompassed them round, the gray coats fal­ling on them bravely, so that our Army themselves killed and hurt them many men, some say 150. so as they made the enemy retreat, and so our men came freely off, making an honourable retreat, not losing any thing, onely having some eight or ten men killed at most.

By Munday morning all our Forces were safely ar­rived into Devonshire againe, and whatever the mat­ter [Page 2]was, I cannot learne, some difference there was, so as part of our Army disperst themselves, the rest being not above 600. Foot and 3. Troops of Horse, the Tues­day night quartered at Ockhampton, and about nine of the clock at night unthought on, one of the Quarter­masters riding out to get quarter to some village neere the towne for their Troopers, met three scouts of the enemies, who fired their Carbines at him, whereon he set spurs to his horse, discovered the enemies Armie, which we hear consisted of 4000. Foot and 400. horse and Dragoons marching towards Ockhampton to cut off our Forces there, who little expected them, the ene­mie as it seems intending to fall upon them in the dead of the night. But now mark and observe the providence of God, most wonderfully and miraculously, in delive­ring our Forces from these cruel enemies.

The Sergeant major Generall understanding of the enemies neere approach by the Quartermasters relati­on, calling a sudden counsell, presently commanded the Horse being but 108. in all, (who were going to their quarters before this news came) to divide themselves in squadrons, having speedly marched first to the brow of a hill where the enemy was to passe, and in that or­der to remaine till the enemy came home upon them, and upon paine of death no man to shew himself, till the enemy should march full upon them, and when they came, on whose quarter soever they should first light, those squadrons first to charge, and to charge them through and through, and to shout, crying, Fall on, fall on, They run, they run. This being thus brave­ly and speedily designed, was as resolvedly and vali­antly [Page 3]put in execution, for it so fell out, that the enemy first approached to Captaine Drakes quarter, who ha­ving divided those of his Troop, consisting but of 36. into tow squadrons of 18. each commanded them to follow him, and not to give fire till they see him give fire, and so put spurs to horse, and charged the enemies horse and Dragoons, giving the shout, Fall on, fall on, pistolled the first man he met, knockt out the brains of the next with his poll-axe, and so made way through for the rest of his squadron, who as bravely followed him, and after him his Lieutenant with the other 18. crying, Fall on, fall on, They run, they run, and on the other parts, Captain Gold, Captain Pym, Sergeant Major Chudleigh himselfe as bravely fell on the body of the foot, charging them through, making them throw down their Arms, and cry for quarter. This being done, all with 108. Troopers, the Foot remaining in the Town being but about 600. in all, who had command to make good the towne for retreat, where also their Ordnance and Ammunition was, after the first rout, againe about midnight our enemy faced about againe, when our Foot also came out upon 400. of them, and together with about 60. or 70. of the Horse so bravely charged them, that they disperst them in a shameful manner, make them turne back, and again to retreat for Cornwall. Our Horse had so far pursued them, that they had almost got their two brasse Ordnance, which they had in possession, but the Foot were not come up to bring them away: So not being of number suffici­ent, thought it not good to goe too far, but returned back to Ockhampton with honour, being so well im­ployed [Page 4]in the rout, took onely some 20. prisoners, killed some 20. more, and not a man of ours lost. They have taken upon 1000. mens Arms, and 100. in 150. of their horses.

We are now gathering a considerable army toge­ther, and intend by Gods help to march into Cornwall. Our men are now all couragious and hearty, seeing the wonderfull mercy of God, who gives the victory to few as well as to many, and fights the battles of his ser­vants, to whom be the glory and honour of his mercy and goodnesse ascribed forever.

YOur health wished, &c. I received your Letter by the Post, and doe thanke you for your intelligence, our forces being not above 1500. lay on Friday last 10. miles from Lancestone, but on saterday they advanced to Liston within 3. miles of Lance­stone, and yet in Devon where they thought to have met with 3. or 4. regiments of trayners those being all Sea-men and Volun­teeres, but there was no aid came thither as was promised by the Lieutenants: Sergeant Major Chudleigh commanding in chiefe. Of these 1500. on Sunday morning at 10. of the clock marched over Poulson-bridge into Cornewall, upon this ground hearing that there was not above 1000. men and that of Sir Bevel Greenvils Regiment, so that he thought to have set upon Lance­stone, but before they came neere the Town the Cavaliers came out and lay halfe a mile off the Towne in hedges, and shot upon our men from 10 til 3. or 4. of the clock but our men beate them [Page 4]from hedge to hedge till they were come neere home to the Towne; and then about 5. or 6. of the clock there was 2. or 3. Regiments came in to the helpe of the Cavaliers, but we held two or three small brasse peeces which did great execution among them, but their number being so much increased they were like to have begirt our men round, and had sent a great number to the bridge, but by the providence of God 500. of the E. of Stamp­fords men came in from Plymoth and cleered the bridge, and our men made a faire retreate about 9. of the clock at night on Sunday and marched to Southhampton, but I must tell you that our men killed above 20. for one, we lost but 8. men, and they lost above 200. and some say for certain 240. whereof M. Basset their high Sheriffe was one shot in two by our brasse peeces, blessed be God for this mercie. Well, our men on Munday came to Southhamp­ton 15. miles from Lanson in the way to Exeter: The Cavaliers on Tuesday advanced from Lanson into Devon, Sir Ralph came hut with 4000. almost starved poore Cornish and 500. horse, our men by their Scouts sent out, brought newes to Major Chudleigh that the Cornish Armie was within 4. miles of the Towne, they sent out 3. Troopes of Horse, Major Chudleigh, Captaine Gould and Cap. Drake which in all made but 108. horse, who lay close under a hill where the enemie was to come, who just in the edge of the evening came to the place, our horse possessed, our men presently charged the Van very furiously, got their word, and fell in among them pel mel: Cap: Drake slew 12. or 13. with his battel axe and sword, and one of his Corporals the like number, he charged through and through the midst of the Armie, and had the foote come up had gotten their guns, being 3. they had possession of them but wanted foote to carry them away: It is thought the Cavaliers kild one another, seeing they saw them kill their fellows that had the worde, there was no difference but our men in the moonelight knew every one by his skarfe and colours, our men killed above 120. of them, tooke 6. or 700. Arms, buffe coats and scarlet coates store, 12. drums, 3. Ensines. 11. prisoners, swans feathers and much other pillage, and beate them back to Lancestone where they shamefully arived wednes­day [Page 6]the fast day, but we must not ascribe it to man but to God, that they had this great successe, being above 45. to one man. One thing is remarkable, that as soon our horse charged them being on a great downe; it grew darke and it thundered and lightned in a very terrible manner, and the thunderclap brake just over their heads and then raine extraordinary, and it was a very great winde and hard weather all that day and night, and they were amazed at our suddain charge, that they ran amain to save their lives, so let all our enimies perish.

There was a Letter intercepted which came from the King, go­ing to Sir Ralph Hopton 3. or 4. dayes since neere Exon wherein he wrote that he should come away to his helpe speedily, and it is thought that if he could have cut off that little force wee had in Southhampton then hee would have plundered the Countrey where he had gone, and so gon away to the King, but he is gone to his corner with weeping crosse: Lord Major lost his, scarlet coate and Sir Straning his skarfe and many beaver hats found cut and hewed, it is thought is 5000. hurt of them, hee lost in the last fight 5. or 6. horses but not one man, and 3. or 4. hurt, Gods name be glorisied. Pray let us heare what newes, you I hope this weeke will produce great newes, God send it to be good, under God this war dothly much on the E. of Essex his Army if well or ill, there­fore it concernes London to afford him all the helpe you possible can, your true friend for Jerusalems peace, I rest,

I heare the Letter from the King was written upon white sattin and found in a clokebag, wherein was many papers, and will disco­ver all our Malignants of Devon.