I Cannot vomit so fair an opportunity, but shall give you a word or two of intelligence of the State of our affaires here with us, On the five and twentith of this month the Generall marched in the after noone, from Wenton Bushel towards Powderam Castle, where Collonel Hammand was with his Regiment, and that day he sent in a summons to the Castle; they consented to it, and surrendred up the Castle upon these tearmes, to march every man to his one home, leaving all their Arms & Ammunition. Provisions they had but small store in the Castle. Now our next designe will be for Exeter, our forces are drawing thither very fast for the blocking of it up, and hindering Provisions from going into the City; I make no question but in a short time a good account will be given of that p [...]ace. From the West we have intelligence that Greenvill is clapt up in prison; for refusing to obey the Princes orders, and Hopton Commander in chiefe. Other news I have not but rest.

Chidley the 26. of Ianuarie 1646.

THe expectation I had of something worthy your perusall, occasioned my pretermission and writing at my first coming downe, yet that I may not seeme for­getfull of you, to whom I am so deepely ingaged; I have addressed these few lines unto you, wherein I shall give you as full a view of our proceedings as my short abode in the Army will furnish me withall. Y sterday being the Lords day Ian. the 25. the Generall and Lieutenant Generall, with a party of Horse marched from the Lady Reynolds house neere Newton Bushel to Chirly, where the Generall soone after his coming received intelligence of the surrender of Powtheram Castle within 3. miles of Exeter that afterno one to Collonel Hammond, the conditions were, that the Governor, Major Fletcher, and the Souldiers therein should march to their own homes: there were in it 120. Souldiers, we have taken there 120. Armes, 4. Horses, 5. Barrells of Powder; Match and Bullet proportionable, but no quantity at all of Provisi­on left: from thence Collonel Hammond, intends against Poutheram Fort a strong hold of the enemies upon the River neere Exeter, in which are severall peeces of Or­dinance (for there were none in the Castle) 150. men, whereof 50. got in out of Exeter on Saturday night; we understand by some that came out, that they have no great store of Provision; so that I doubt not but we [Page 3]shall be shortly in possession of that, and then for Exe­ter.

The intelligence yesterday from the enemy in Corn­wall was, that their head quarters and yet at Holsworthy, their Guards at Haintone Church, and Shepwash bridge as formerly, Munkligh, Frethelstoke, and Padstow are full of them; Their quarters are so eaten up that they are inforced to feede their labouring Cattel with Batley­straw.

The enemy say they must breake through to the King whatsoever hazard they run; the Towne of Holsworthy is almost ruined, by their plunder, quarter and fiering their Housholdstuffe, Collonel Finches Regiment is drawne Northward toward Bediford, and Barstable, as also those from Thornebery, Bradbery and Cookbery, there was a talke amongst them as though they should draw off their guard from Hoynton the 25. Instant, Bar­stable-Bridge; with the whole frame fallen downe, so that from the West there is no passage neerer then Brightley.

Yesterday there came a Drummer from Exeter to the Generall, about exchange of prisoners; he boasts very much of the strength of the City, That they are raising new Regiments, with five Knights in a Regiment, That a Regiment of Foot went lately out of Exeter to Oxford, and such like ridiculous stories; but upon the gaining of Powtherham Fort, which the Generall is now going to view: The next attempt will be upon Exeter, which can­not hold out long, salt was at fifteen shillings a bushell, and butter 16. d. a l. above a month a goe, and wood very scarce.

Our forces are quartered at Affington, at Mrs. Peters house, and at Mr. Tothills house at Plymouth, (2. Ga­risons which the enemy quit upon the approach of our forces) and other places within a mile or a mile and halfe of the City; we give the enemy Alarme every night and take their Horse as they offer to peepe out, our Guards at Stafferton (Sir Robert Pyes Troope as I take it) tooke 10. Horse on Saturday night last, and others tooke as many as made them 40 in all, the Generall will shortly summon the City, and then the issue will soone appeare, if they refuse a faire offer they are like to have no better conditions then those at Dartmouth that were most obstinate. Collonel Rouse is made Governor of Dartmouth, 500. Plymouth Foote are come thither, & Colonell Lamberts regiment of foot drawn forth and up­on their march, their quarters is appointed at Totnes, and Collonel Fortescues Regiment, (who are now there at Newton-Enshell, Collonel Ingoldesbyes at Chidley, in Hardresse, Waller still keepes his guards at Crediton. Iust now we heate for certaine, that Greenvill was on Thursday last apprehended at Lansdowne in Cornwall, by command from the Prince, and carried prisoner to Pendennis Castle; Hopton is now General of the West. Sir Thomas hath sent up to Mr. Speaker divers Letters of great concernment, which were intercepted going to his Maiestie from the Princes Commanders, the Go­ver [...]our of Exeter, and others; most of them are written in Ciphers, but the sence of them may be easily pickt out, the effect thus: To let them know that Exeter must of necessitie be relieved, or else, &c.

That the Prince (according to the Kings Command) is in the Head of an Armie for that purpose; relating also [Page 5]the state of Exeter, and other private resolutions concer­ning the Prince and his forces in the West.

At the meeting at Tornes on Satterday last, many Gentlemen of Devonshire, declared their willingnesse to raise Forces for the Parliament: upon which the Ge­nerall hath granted a Commission to one Mr. Vowell to be a Gollonel, to raise a Regiment, and the like to other Officers under him, till the Parliament shall take further order therein,

Sir, I cease to trouble you further with these rude and indigested lines; I shall hereafter acquaint you with pas­sages here, upon all occasions,

This day the Generall hath summoned Powderham Fort; some other Letters were this day intercepted from the Enemy: the Copy of one is thus,

To his honoured Friends Quartermaster Vpton, Captain Reymond, or either of them, at the Swan in Exon, these, &c.

Besides this, there was a Letter intercepted from the Lord Wentworth, to the like effect, and confirming much of the former Relations.