VPon the sixth of this moneth I writ to you by a speciall Messen­ger, which I hope is come to your hands; Presently after the dispatch of that Letter, the newes was brought me, that the Earle of Newcastle had possessed himselfe both of Rotheram and Sheffeld, the Forces in Rotheram held out two dayes siege, and yeelded up the Towne upon treaty, wherein it was agreed, that the Towne should not be plundered, and that all the Gentlemen, Commanders, and Souldiers, (six only excepted, that were specially named) leaving their Arms, should have free liberty to goe whether they pleased; But when the Enemy entred, contrary to their Articles, they have not only plundred the Towne, but have also made all the Commanders and Souldiers prisoners, and doe endeavour to constraine them to take up Arms on their party. The Commanders at Sheffeld, hearing of the losse of Rotheram, and seeing some of the Enemies Forces advanced in view of the Towne, they all presently disserted the place as not te­nible with so few, against so potent an Army, and fled away with their Arms, some to Chesterfield, and some to Manchester. The losse of these two places hath much elated the Enemy, and cast down the spirits of the people in these parts, who daily see the Enemy encrease in power, and to gaine ground, and no succors come to them from any part: The Earle of Newcastles Army doe now range over all the Southwest part of this Country, pillaging and cruelly using the wel-affected party; and the last weeke there is a Garrison of Horse and Foot layd at Knaresborough, where they begin to Fortifie the Town, and pillage and utterly ruine all the Religious people in those parts, and round about them: On Friday Seven night last, three Troopes and some other Forces, of which many were French came from that Garrison, and pillaged Otley, and there barbarously used some honest women of that Towne, and in their retreat to Kn [...]resborough, upon the open Forrest they tooke a man and a woman, the man they wounded and beat cruelly, and before his face ravished the woman. These particulars I repeat, that you may the more cleerly discerne the miseries which this Country groans under; and here about Leeds, [Page 4] Bradford and Hallifax, being a montainous barren Country, the peo­ple now begin to be sensible of want, their last yeare provisions be­ing spent, and the Enemies Garrisons stopping all provisions both of Corn and Flesh, and other necessaries that were wont to come from the more fruitfull Countries to them, their trade utterly taken a­way, their poore grow innumerable, and great scarcity of mea [...]es to relive them. And this Army which now lyes amongst them to defend them from the Enemy, cannot defend them from want, which cau­seth much murmure and lamentation amongst the people. And for the Army it selfe, it is so far in arreare, and no way appearing how they shall either be supplyed with money nor succors, as they grow very mutinous.

Yet upon Saturday last in the night, I caused to be drawne out of the Garrisons in Leeds, Bradford, Hallifax, and Howley, some horse, foot, and Dragooneers, in all about 1500 men, and sent them against Wakefield, commanded by my son, and assisted by Major Generall Gifford, sir Henry Fowles, and Sir William Fairfax, with divers other Commanders, they appeared before Wakefield about four a clock on Sunday in the morning, where they found the Enemies (who had in­telligence of their designe) ready to receive them; there was in the Towne Generall Goring, Serjeant Major Generall Mackworth, the Lord Goring, with many other principall Commanders, and eminent per­sons, with about 7. Troops of Horse, and six Regiments, containing 3000. Foot, the Towne well fortified with workes, and foure peeces of Ordnance; yet our men, both Commanders▪ and common Souldi­ers, went on with undanted courages, and notwithstanding the thick vollyes of small and great shot from the Enemies) charged up to their worke; which they entred, seized upon their Ordnance, and turned them upon themselves, and pursued the Enemy so close as they beat quite out of the Towne the most part of the Horse, and a great num­ber of the Foot, and made all the rest prisoners, and with them tooke 4. pieces of Ordnance, and all the Ammunition then in the Towne, and a great number of Arms, and amongst the prisoners Generall Goring himselfe, with divers other Commanders, and other common souldiers, in all about fifteene hundred men, and twenty seven Colours of Foot, three Cornets of Horse, of which I send a more particular list inclosed; the more exact and particular relation of this service, as it is testified to me under the hands of the principall Commanders, imployed in that designe; I send you inclosed for your better infor­mation, and truely for my part I doe rather account it a miracle, than [Page 5] a Victory, and the glory & praise to be ascribed to God that wrought it, in which I hope I derogate nothing from the merits of the Com­manders and souldiers, who every man in his place and duty, shewed as much courage and resolution as could be expected from men. When the Towne was thus taken, they found their number and strength too weake to keepe it and their prisoners, so they left the place and marcht away with their booty. In taking the Towne wee lost no man of no [...]e, and not above seven men in all, of which one was the Clerke of the store, and an Ensigne of the Foot, and one a Quartermaster of Horse, the rest common souldiers, but many of our men were shot and wounded; this overthrow hath much inraged the Enemies, who threaten a present revenge, and are drawing all their Forces this way to effect it. I perceive there are succors sent to Lincolnshire and other adjacent Countries, which if they were here, might be imployed to as much advantage for the publike safety, as in any place. I desire our condition may be seriously thought on by the House, and the Ayds often promised, may presently march away to us, and that Colonell Cromwell, with his horse and foot may also be orde­red to march to me, that being joyned together, I may be able to draw this Army into the Field and gaine fresh quarter for the souldiers, and furnish our selves with Powder, Arms, and Ammunition, which is now growne very scarse, and cannot be supplyed, untill the passage to Hull be forced open, which now is possessed by the Enemy. If such succors come not timely to us, we cannot long subsist, but must be forced to accept of dishonourable conditions; which besides the losse and ruine of this Country, will be a great disadvantage to the Gene­rall safety, and withall, some course must be thought on to furnish some large proportion of money to defray the Souldiers Ar [...]ears, which I beseech you endeavour for them and me, that am

I Saw what you wrote to H. Jermine, and finde that the businesse will be put on that way; But I am of opinion that your Generall wil never consent toi [...], the latter way of dividing his Force, unlesse it be in the County where he will abide himself, this will be tr [...]ed to mor­row at his returne hither, where the Queene expects him. In the in­trim, if it were possible to give [...]he Enemy any such knock, or consi­derable disturbance to the Country round about them, which hath not yet felt the miserie of their Neighbours. I would not doubt but the Treaty might be resumed againe, by which meanes and by no o­ther, your Army may be set at liberty to change your stations, and do something that may be of consequence indeed, I pray you think seriously hereof, and once in your life follow the advice of your best friend and dearely loving Father.

After I had sealed my Letter, I was advised to advertise you, that the Lord [...]aire­fax never believed you would looke into the Parts where you now are, but intended to draw back to the place from whence you came, which made him so lofty in his condi­tions, wherefore if you can (as my Authors propose) get betwixt Bradford and Leedes, you will so annoy, devert, and separate them in all their designes, as you may be sure to carry Hallifax and Bradford on that hand, or Leedes on the other. Take this to heart, and let Generall King, with my humble service know thus much, not as new to him and the rest of you, but as that which all the wisest and most knowing men in the Countrey advise and hope; This will so hare them, and satisfie this Countrey, and will give you such other advantages, as will render happy and glorious too, whereas on the contrary all will fall flat both in power and reputation past expression. And her Majesty, either unprovided of such a Convoy from thence, as is fit for hers and the Kings present occasi­ons or else leave this Countrey naked to the Tyranny of the mercilesse enemy, contrary to contract, and all due Iustice. This is the opinion of others, far better able to advise then he that so heartily prayes for you, and is