I Had not an opportunity to send my Let­ters formorly written, and now God hath afforded an occasion to speed away this Messenger on purpose, to let you know, that the last night the enemy drew out of Oxford with a strong party of 1000 horse, and all the strength they could make of foot, and notwithstanding all our parties abroad, and our horse-guard, they came betweene Thrupp and Norcot to Barton-house, and kept covert till day-light, and lay still after the Ravaly was beaten, and our out-Centinels called in, and then suddenly arising out of their Ambushment, taking the advantage our workes (being caued out) at the Spurr, and other places, forced our guards, beat them all from the workes, entered above 300 men, possest themselves of Abby-guard, Spurr-guard, Wayne-guard, and Barne, pressed hard towards the prison, where three of their men were slaine between M. Dues house and the prison; by which [Page 2] time we had well taken the Alarm, and our men gotten to­gether, made good the passage, and then fearing least they should possesse themselves of Bore-bridge and let in their horse, (which they had in great numbers about our workes) I commanded a party towards the Bridge, and lodged them in the old Redoubt at Bore-lane end, which was of very good use for us, for by keeping that we kept the Towne. I sent an­other party which did very good service at Wayneyard. In the mean time our horse did gallantly, charged their foot, routed their Musketiers, and we had doubtlesse taken most of them that were over the workes, but that they were preserved by a strong body of the enemies Pikes. Major Blundell and Colonell Washburne came in good time, charged gallantly through the thickest of them, which so terrified them, that being on all sides beset, they quit their ground, tumbled over the workes (besides them they carried away) we tooke 13 prison [...]rs. There was slaine on our party two common Soul­diers; Capt. Taylor, Capt. Maddocks, Quartermaster Cox dangerously wounded, Major Blundell sl [...]ightly wounded with a Halb [...]rd on the thigh, Cap. Keeling shot in the hand, Col. Washburne had his great bay horse slaine under him Quar­termaster Arnott, and Major Blundels Cornets horses s [...]aine, many of our men sorely wounded, the dispute was sharpe for the time, but God gave our men such spirits, that scorning death they resolved rather to lose their lives then the Towne; our horse-guard that lay without Ockbridge runne all away, whether for feare of the enemy, or for feare of being call'd to account for their neglect, I know not; They were part of the Sussex Troope.

I desire you will be pleased to order the Officers of Colonell Rainsborowes Regiment to come downe to looke to their charge, there being here but foure of ten Commanders.

[Page 3] I am informed that the King hath sworne He will have Abingdon, and will fire it, and that this night againe we shall be assaulted with 2500 men. I doubt not but to be better provided for them. Sir, I beseech you be pleased to hasten downe some money for the reliefe of our poore men, whose ne­cessities are great, and deserve encouragement.

Sir, I shall desire to the utmost of my power to approve my selfe your Honours most humble servant,

THe happy deliverance it hath pleased God to give us from the cruell enemy, is I am confident, the onely news all Letters are now fild with, yet I Presume to give you such an account as I take my selfe obliged to, that is The Enemy about six of the clock this morning (as soone as the Ravally had beate) appeared in a full body, both horse and foot, from Barton house, where it is conceived they were long before lodged, and fire being given by our Centries at the Abby guard, they presently fell on, before our men could make any the least resistance, and got over the workes and drove our men from Abby-guard, and Barton bulwarke up to the maine guard, where Captaine Bagnall commanded as Captaine of the watch, (Col. Rainsboroughes Regiment being upon duty that night.) He upon their arrivall made them draw up and brought the enemy to a stand under the Abby-gate, where two of them were slaine that endeavored to break open the prison. The alarum being generally given and received, our horse drew out, as also the foot. But by this time the enemy had possest himselfe of all the works and line from Barne-guard to the water side at the Abby, as also our magazine which I am confident they had fired h [...]d they not thought all their owne. Whereupon our [Page] foot made severall charges upon them, sallying through the houses in the street, and by the Abby, and some of the Major Generalls Regiment threw themselves into the little old fort over against the Major Generalls quarters by the high way, and from thence playd upon the enemy that were in Barne-bulwarke and at Ty-harris: some they slue, and forc't the rest off the ground, in the mean time Major Blundell advanced with the horse, and the Enemy drew themselves into a compleate order, making good the passe, which was by a ditch with a good stand of Pikes, and in the meane time their musquetiers fired from their flankes. Major Blundell endeavoured to have forc't them, but was beat off three times, at the fourth, he Routed the whole party, who never came in so fast as now they ran out: Three of our peices they had turned upon us and fired them, and then overthrew them, not having time either to cloy or nayle them. In the meane time our Officers did their parts. Major Blundell not on­ly being dry beaten and brused, with the butt end of their muskets, but wounded in the externall part of the thigh with a Pike or Halberd something largely: our Of­ficers of the foot did for the most part gallantly, and not one Captaine of Major Generalls own Regiment, but re­ceived a shot, though Captaine Presson, and Bagnall with­out danger. The field Officers did most gallantly. Of ours are wounded Major Blundall, who notwithstanding never dismounted till he had pursued the enemy within two miles of Oxford. Captaine Taylor shot through the body. Captaine Kellings hand all torne, Captaine Clerk shot in the side, Captaine Madox through the belly, three Lieutenants, two Quartermasters, and some store of Souldiers. The enemy left within and upon the workes eleven men dead, besides what they carried off and what [Page 6] were wounded. The reason why they had no greater losse, was our want of ammunition upon the guards, for though we had store in the Towne, there was scarce to be found three charges upon each guard, which much dicouraged the poore Souldiers. We took 12 or 14 prisoners, most of them wounded.

I should have told you that the enemies horse as Major Blandell came up, Began to come through a breach they had made by the Barton-bulwarke, but by his comming were timely prevented, as also, that had they bin so wise as to have attempted the drawbridge they might easily have left in their horse, being a great body attending with­out, for the Governours man as the alarme was giving, came to open the port, and either for hast or feare so left it: but it pleased God to direct otherwise, to whom be all the glory and praise, had not our horse charged so gallantly it is doubted by all what the successe had bin.

There were of the enemy a thousand foote, 500 wher­of entred the Towne. Their horse were about a thou­sand. The Townesmen came forth and resolutely assisted the Souldiers, by which it appeares that the Nationall Covenant which they all tooke, and the paines the Ma­jor Generall hath taken among them wrought effectually. Tis great pity these poore lads should have their courage abated by delaying their necessary supplies,