very poor Village and this was done both for security to lye close together being so neer an Enemy and for expedition to be the readier for a martch the next morning Besides it was held much advantage for the Army to lye close this night whereby they might keep good Horse Guards the better to discover and check the Enemy if he should seek to break through A little before they took the Enemies Scouts Intelligence came that our Dragoons under Captaine Farmer and Captaine Woggan were engaged with the Enemy as they were martching from the House they possest to joyne with the Army whereupon a Party of two thousand Horse were commanded under the Lieutenant General to fetch off our Dragoons but before the Horse came up they had acquitted themselves well the Enemy was retired and they were comming on to the Army That Party of the Enemy was commanded by Sir James Smith and had they not taken the nick of time and gone away when they did they had been all taken in their retreat by our Horse which came so instantly after them that they had like to have gained the passe The Enemy retreating This night his Excellency had intelligence that the Enemy had quit Bodman about ten at night Horse and Foot retreating yet further West Whither Hopton went and that the Lord Hopton otherwise Sir Ralph Hopton brought up the Reare most of the men poore creatures being drunk when they went away to mend their hard fortune His Excellency advancing after them About this time Ashby-de-la-Zouch a Garrison in Northamptonshire surrendred to the Parliament Monday early in the morning the Army following them martched towards Bodman and had a Randezvouz on the Downes on this side Bodman from thence part of the Horse and Foot were commanded to Ware-Bridge being a passage that was suspected very convenient for the Enemy in case they intended to break Eastward likewise Guards were commanded to Padstow for caution lest there the Enemy should get over the River and also the better to countenance the Townes-men that stood upon their guard against the Enemy Two actions little lesse then miraculous This day four Troopers pursued a party of two and forty Musquetteers of the Enemy beyond Bodman with their Muskets laden and matches lighted and after the rate of a miracle brought them away prisoners such feare was upon them from Heaven certainly likewise six Troopers pursued the Enemy on the left hand as farre as Lestithel made them quit their Guards there and hearing that Ammunition was going to Foy in Wane loads pursued the Convoy thither forced them to leave the Ammunition and so brought back four Wane loads of Match Powder Bullet and barrels of Muskets and safely convoyed the same to the head Quarter in Bodman the Troopers that did this action were rewarded but who is able to acknowledge the goodnesse and power of that God by whom they did these exployts Moreover a Party of our Horse this day took Sir John Greenvils Lieutenant-Colonel and others Tuesday March 3. The Army rested at Bodman Consultation was had what course was to be taken to keep the Enemy still before the Army their head Quarters then being at Truro their neerest Quarters about Saint Columb Grampond and Tregny between which Townes and Truro they lay then quartered keeping their maine Guard of Horse at Castle ô Denisse All the passes from the North Sea to the South Sea were taken into consideration and Guards of Horse and Foot disposed unto them and the Country were enjoyned to barricadoe up the Lanes and keep men upon the Foards Prince Charles gone to Scilly Wednesday March 4. His Excellency had certaine intelligence that the Prince was imbarqued and set sale for Scilly with his Lords and Gentlemen giving all for lost and so evidently irrecoverable did their condition appeare to all that their refuge of lyes failed them and they did not stick to say in desperation at their departure That all was lost The discouragement it was to the Enemy The Prince his flying much disheartned the Enemy and what a work should it have upon us It might become us here to stay and pause a while I cannot but run upon that Scripture in my mind Isaiah 51. 12 13 14. verses Who art thou that thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall dye and of the son of man which shall be as grasse and forgettest the Lord thy Maker that hath stretched forth the Heavens and laid the foundations of the earth and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the Oppressor as if he were ready to destroy and where is the fury of the Oppressor The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed and that he should not dye in the pit or that his Bread should faile The poor Cornish like the captive exile hastened to be delivered lest they should dye in the pit and therefore took up Armes on any side to make an end of the Warre and restore a peace of any fashion for the fury of the Oppressor and where is the fury of the Oppressor A Ship hath embarqued them a strong wind hath carried them away Scilly hath opened her Armes and received them c. but I must remember my story The conditions for the surrender of Mount-Edgcomb a place of great strength and consideration were this day presented to the General by Master Coriton Master Lower Master Glanvile and Master Trevisa Gentlemen of the Country who were glad of the opportunity to present themselves to the General for his favour The Propositions were ratified by his Excellency and Letters of recommendation were agreed unto to be drawne and sent on their behalfe to the Parliament their seasonable comming in was a good service and Master Peter's industry in this Negotiation was great and worthy all acceptation and acknowledgment A Sūmons was this day sent unto some few Hundreds of the Country to appeare on Friday following upon the Downes at Bodman and strong Parties were sent out to see if they could meet with the Enemy who meeting with some of their Guards forced them to retreat beyond Saint Collomb This night the General had intelligence that a Ship was come into Padstow from Ireland that the Townes people seized on 't and stood on their guard against the Enemy and sent to our Dragoons who quartered neer them for their assistance Thursday 5. The Dragoons comming to their assistance boarded the Vessell some of the men were put to the sword others sore wounded Captaine Allen of Waterford an Irish Rebel had his life spared to the intent to make use of his Confession the Townes people were violent against them the Packet-Letters they brought were throwne over Board yet by the diligence of the Officers of Dragoons were found floating upon the water which being brought to the General there was found amonst them Letters from the Earle of Glamorgan that six thousand Irish were ready to be transported and four
putting his Army in order either there to receive us or to come to us to engage us upon the ground we stood whilst the General was thus observing the countenance of the Enemy directions were given to put the Army into such a posture as that if the Enemy came on we might take the advantage of our ground and be in readinesse to receive him or if not that we might advance towards him And whilest these things were in consultation and action the Enemies Army which before was the greatest part of it out of our view by reason of the Hill that interposed we saw plainly advancing in order towards us and the winde blowing somewhat Westwardly by the Enemies advance so much on their right hand it was evident that he designed to get the winde of us which occasioned the General to draw down into a large fallow field on the Northwest side of Naseby flanked on the left hand with a hedge which was a convenient place for us to fight the Enemy in And indeed seeing his resolution to advance upon us we took the best advantage we could of the ground possessing the ledge of a Hill running from East to West upon which our Army being drawn up fronted towards the Enemy But considering it might be of advantage to us to draw up our Army out of sight of the Enemy who marched upon a plain ground towards us we retreated about an 100 paces from the ledge of the Hill that so the Enemy might not perceive in what form our battell was drawn nor see any confusion therein and yet we to see the form of their battell to which we could conform our selves for advantages and recover the advantage of the Hill when we pleased which accordingly we did The Enemy perceiving this retreat thought as since they have confessed we were drawing off to avoid fighting and just then it was brought to the King that our Army was flying to Northhampton which did occasion them the more to precipitate for they made so much haste that they left many of their Ordnance behinde them The General together with the Major-General put the severall Brigades of Foot into order having committed the Ordering of the Horse to Lieutenant-General Cromwel who did obtain from the General That seeing the Horse were neere 6000. and were to bee fought in two wings His Excellency would please to make Col. Ireton Commissary gen of horse and appoint him to command the Left wing that day the command of the Right wing being as much as the Lieutenant-General could apply himself unto Which being granted by the General the Lieutenant-General assigned him five Regiments of Horse a Division of 200 Horse of the Association for that Wing and the Dragoons to line the forementioned hedge to prevent the enemy from annoying the Left flank of the Army In the mean time the Lieutenant-General having sixe Regiments of Horse with him for the Right wing disposed them according as the place gave leave And the form of the whole Battail you have here inserted Upon the Enemies approach the Parliaments army marcht up to the brow of the hill having placed a Forlorn of Foot musquetiers consisting of about 300. down the steep of the hill towards the enemy somewhat more then Carbine shot from the Main battail who were ordered to retreat to the battail whensoever they should be hard pressed upon by the Enemy The Enemy this while marched up in good order a swift march with a great deal of gallantry and resolution according to the form here inserted It is hard to say whether Wing of our Horse charged first But the Lieutenant-General not thinking it fit to stand and receive the Enemies charge advanced forward with the Right wing of the Horse in the same order wherein it was placed Our Word that day was God our strength Their Word was Queen Mary Colonel Whaley being the left hand on the right wing charged first two Divisions of Langdales Horse who made a very gallant resistance and firing at a very close charge they came to the sword wherein Col. Whaley's Divisions routed those two Divisions of Langdales driving them back to Prince Ruperts Regiment being the Reserve of the enemies Foot whither indeed they fled for shelter and rallied the Reserves to Colonel Whaley were ordered to second him which they performed with a great deal of resolution In the mean time the rest of the Divisions of the Right wing being straightned by Furzes on the right hand advanced with great difficulty as also by reason of the uneavennesse of the ground and a Cony-warren over which they were to march which put them somewhat out of their order in their advance Notwithstanding which difficulty they came up to the engaging the residue of the Enemies horse on the left wing whom they routed and put into great confusion not one body of the enemies horse which they charged but they routed and forced to flie beyond all their Foot except some that were for a time sheltred by the Brigade of Foot before mentioned Colonel Rossiter who with his Regiment was just come into the field as the Armies were ready to close was edg'd in upon the right flank of the right wing of horse time not permitting a more fitting and equal disposal of him whose timely comming according to his Orders gave him opportunity of such gallant performance in the battel as deserves an honourable mentioning The Horse of the enemies Left wing being thus beaten from their Foot retreated back about a quarter of a mile beyond the place where the battail was fought The successe of our Main battail was not answerably The right hand of the Foot being the Generals Regiment stood not being much pressed upon Almost all the rest of the main Battail being overpressed gave ground and went off in some disorder falling behinde the Reserves But the Colonels and Officers doing the duty of very gallant Men in endeavouring to keep their men from disorder and finding their attempt fruitless therein fell into the Reserves with their Colours choosing rather there to fight and die then to quit the ground they stood on The Reserves advancing commanded by Col. Rainsborough Col. Hammond and Lieut. col Pride repelled the Enemy forcing them to a disorderly retreat Thus much being said of the Right wing and the main battail it comes next in order that an account be given of the Left wing of our Horse Upon the approach of the Enemies Right wing of Horse our Left wing drawing down the brow of the hill to meet them the Enemy comming on fast suddenly made a stand as if they had not expected us in so ready a posture Ours seeing them stand made a little stand also partly by reason of some disadvantage of the ground and untill the rest of the Divisions of Horse might recover their stations Upon that the Enemy advanced again whereupon our Left wing sounded a Charge and fell upon them The three right hand Divisions of our Left
wing made the first onset and those Divisions of the enemy opposite to them received the Charge thetwo left hand Divisions of the Left wing did not advance equally but being more backward the opposite Divisions of the Enemy advanced upon them Of the three right hand Divisions before mentioned which advanced the middlemost charged not home the other two coâ—…ing to a close Charge routed the two opposite Divisions of the Enemy And the Commissary Generall seeing one of the enemies Brigades of Foot on his right hand pressing sore upon our Foot commanded the Division that was with him to charge that Body of Foot and for their better encouragement he himself with great resolution fell in amongst the Musquetiers where his horse being shot under him and himself run through the thigh with a Pike and into the face with an Halbert was taken prisoner by the enemy untill afterwards when the battell turning and the enemy in great distraction he had an happy opportunity to offer his Keeper his liberty if he would carry him off which was performed on both parts accordingly That Division of the enemies which was between which the other Division of ours should have charged was carried away in the disorder of the other two the one of those right hand Divisions of our Left wing that did rout the front of the enemy charged the Reserve too and broke them the other Reserves of the enemy came on and broke those Divisions of ours that charged them the Divisions of the left hand of the right wing were likewise overborn having much disadvantage by reason of pits of water and other pieces of ditches that they expected not which hindred them in their order to Charge The enemy having thus worsted our left wing pursued their advantage and Prince Rupert himself having prosecuted his successe upon the left wing almost to Naseby town in his return summoned the Train offering them quarter which being well defended with the Fire-locks and a Rear-guard left for that purpose who fired with admirable courage on the Princes horse refusing to hearken to his offer and the Prince probably perceiving by that time the successe of our Right wing of Horse he retreated in great haste to the rescue of the Kings Army which he found in such a general distresse that instead of attempting any thing in the rescue of them being close followed in the Rear by some of Commissary Generals Col. Riches Col. Fleetwoods Major Huntingtons and Col. Butlers horse he made up further untill he came to the ground where the King was rallying the broken horse of his Left wing and there joyned with them and made a stand To return again to our right wing which prosecuting their success by this time had beaten all the enemies horse quite behinde their foot which when they had accomplished the remaining business was with part to keep the enemies horse from coming to the rescue of their foot which were now all at mercy except one Tertia which with the other part of the horse we endeavoured to break but could not they standing with incredible courage resolution although we attempted them in the Flanks Front and Rear untill such time as the General called up his own Regiment of foot the Lieut. General being likewise hastening of them which immediately fell in with them with But-end of Muskets the General charging them at the same time with horse and so broke them The enemy had now nothing left in the Field but his horse with whom was the King himself which they had put again into as good order as the shortnesse of their time and our near pressing upon them would permit Charging in person the Blew Regimt. which kept to their Armes so stoutly The Generall whom God preserved in many hazardous ingagements of his person that day seeing them in that order and our whole Army saving some Bodies of horse which faced the enemy being busied in the execution upon the foot and taking and securing prisoners endeavoured to put the Army again into as good order as they could receive to the perfecting of the work that remained Our foot were somewhat more then a quarter of a mile behinde the horse and although there wanted no courage nor resolution in the horse themselves alone to have charged the enemy yet forasmuch as it was not judged fit to put any thing to hazard the businesse being brought through the goodnesse of God to so hopefull an issue It was ordered our horse should not charge the enemy untill the foot were come up for by this time our foot that were disordered upon the first Charge being in shorter time then is well imaginable rallyed again were comming up upon a fast march to joyn with our horse who were again put into two wings within Carbine shot of the enemy leaving a wide space for the battail of foot to fall in whereby there was framed as it were in a trice a second good Batalia at the latter end of the day which the enemy perceiving and that if they stood they must expect a second Charge from our Horse Foot and Artillery they having lost all their Foot and Guns before and our Dragoons having already begun to fire upon their horse they not willing to abide a second shock upon so great disadvantage as this was like to be immediatly ran away both Fronts and Reserves without standing one stroke more Our horse had the Chase of them from that place within two miles of Leicester being the space of fourteen miles took many prisoners and had the execution of them all that way The number of the slain we had not a certain account of by reason of the prosecution of our Victory and speedy advance to the reducing of Leicester the prisoners taken in the field were about five thousand whereof were six Colonels eight Lieut. Colonels eighteen Majors seventy Captains eighty Leiutenants eighty Ensignes two hundred other inferiour Officers besides the Kings Footmen and houshold servants the rest common Souldiers four thousand five hundred The enemy lost very gallant men and indeed their foot commanded by the Lord Astley were not wanting in courage the whole booty of the Field fell to the Souldier which was very rich and considerable there being amongst it besides the riches of the Court and Officers the rich plunder of Leicester Their Train of Artillery was taken all their Ordnance being brasse Guns whereof two were Demi-Canon besides two Morter-pieces the enemy got away not one Carriage eight thousand Arms and more forty Barrels of powder two hundred horse with their riders the Kings Colours the Duke of Yorks Standard and six of his Colours four of the Queens white Colours with double Crosses on each of them and near one hundred other Colours both of horse and foot the Kings Cabinet the Kings Sumpter many Coaches with store of wealth in them It was not the least mercy in this Victory that the Cabinet Letters which discover so much to satisfie
a second consideration it was over-ruled for a Storm which no sooner concluded but difficulties were removed and all things seemed to favour the designe And truly there hath been seldome the like cheerfulnesse to any work like to this after it was once resolved on The day and houre of our storm was appointed to be Wednesday morning the 10th about one of the clock We chose to act it so early because we hoped thereby to surprise the Enemy with this resolution also to avoid confusion and falling foul one upon another that when we had recovered the Line and Forts upon it we could not advance further untill day The Generals signal unto storm was the firing of straw and discharging four peece of canon at Priors-hill-fort the signal was very well perceived of all and truly the men went on with great resolution and very presently recovered the Line making way for the Horse to enter Colonel Montague and Colonel Pickering who stormed at Lawfords-gate where was a Double-work well filled with men and canon presently entred and with great resolution beat the Enemy from their works and possessed their canon their expedition was such that they forced the Enemy from their advantages without any considerable loss to themselves They laid down the bridges for the horse to enter Major Desborough commanding the horse who very gallantly seconded the Foot then our Foot advanced to the city wals where they possessed the Gate against the castlestreet whereinto were put an hundred men who made it good Sir Hardresse Waller with his and the Generals Regiment with no lesse resolution entred on the other side of Lawfords-gate towards Avon river and put themselves into an immediate conjunction with the rest of the Brigade During this Colonel Rainsborough and Colonel Hamond attempted Priors-hill-fort and the Line downward towards Froom and the Major-Generals Regiment being to storm towards Froom river Colonel Hamond possessed the Line immediately and beating the Enemy from it made way for the horse to enter Colonel Rainsborough who had the hardest task of all at Priors-hill-fort attempted it and fought neer three houres for it and indeed there was great despair of carrying the place it being exceeding high a ladder of thirty rounds scarce reaching the top thereof but his resolution was such that notwithstanding the inaccessiblenesse and difficulty he would not give it over The Enemy had four peece of canon upon it which they plyed with round and case-shot upon our men his Lieut. colonel Bowen and others were two houres at Push of pike standing upon the Palizadoes but could not enter Colonel Hamond being entred the Line and captain Ireton with a Forlorn of col Rich his Regiment interposing with his horse between the Enemies horse and col Hamond received a shot with two Pistol bullets which brake his arm by which means the entrance of col Hamond did storm the Fort on that part which was inward by which means col Rainsborough and col Hamonds men entred the Fort and immediately put almost all the men in it to the sword And as this was the place of most difficulty so of most losse to us on that side and of very great honour to the undertaker The Horse did second them with great resolution Both these Colonels do acknowledge that their interposition between the enemies Horse and their Foot was a great means of obtaining of this strong Fort without which all the rest of the Line to Froom river would have done us little good And indeed neither Horse nor Foot would have stood in all that way in any manner of security had not the Fort been taken Major Bethels were the first horse that entred the Line who did behave himself gallantly and was shot in the thigh had one or two shot more and had his horse shot under him Colonel Birch with his men and the Major-Generals Regiment entred with very good resolution where their Post was possessing the Enemies guns and turning them upon them By this all the Line from Priors-hill-fort to Avon which was a full mile with all the Forts Ordnance and Bulwarks were possessed by us but one wherein there were about an hundred and twenty men of the Enemy which the General summoned and all the men submitted The success on Colonel Weldens side did not answer with this And although the Colonels and other the Officers and Souldiers both horse and foot testified much resolution as could be expected Col. Welden Col. Inglesby Col. Herbert and the rest of the Colonels and Officers both of horse and foot doing what could be well looked for from men of honour Yet what by reason of the height of the Works which proved higher then report made them and the shortnes of the Ladders they were repulsed with the losse of about an hundred men Col. Fortescue's Lieutenant col was killed Major Cromwel dangerously shot and two of Col. Inglesbies brothers hurt with some Officers Being possessed of thus much as hath been related the Town was fired in three places by the Enemy which we could not put out which begat a great trouble in the General and us all fearing to see so famous a City burnt to ashes before our faces Whilst we were viewing so sad a spectacle and consulting which way to make further advantage of our successe the Prince sent a Trumpet to the General to desire a Treaty for the surrender of the town to which the General agreed and deputed Col. Montague Col. Rainsborough and Col. Pickering for that service authorising them with instructions to treat and conclude the Articles which are these inclosed for performance whereof Hostages were mutually given On Thursday about two of the clock in the afternoon the Prince marched out having a convoy of two Regiments of horse from us and making election of Oxford for the place he would go to which he had liberty to do by his Articles The Canon which we have taken are about 140. mounted about 100 barrels of Powder already come to our hands with a good quantity of Shot Ammunition and Arms we have found already between two and three thousand Muskets The Royal Fort had Victuals in it for one hundred and fifty men for 320 dayes the Castle victualled for neer half so long The Prince had Foot of the garrison as the Major of the city informed me 2500. and about 1000 Horse besides the Trained bands of the town and Auxiliaries 1000. some say 1500. I heare but of one man that hath died of the Plague in all our army although we have quartered amongst and in the midst of infected persons and places We had not killed of ours in this storm nor all this siege two hundred men Thus I have given you a true but not a full account of this great busines wherein he that runs may reade that all this is none other than the work of GOD he must be a very Atheist that doth not acknowledge it It may be thought that some praises are due to
by some advantage surprising our guards and knowing the country well by an obscure and unusuall way passed our Out-guards the extreme darknes of the night favouring them and got between the Main guard and our Quarters and falling into some of the Dragoon and Foot quarters took about 40 Foot and 20 Dragoons and returned immediately fearing lest the Army should have taken the alarm but so nimble were they in that action that they were gone before the alarm was received section 5 Our Army lying in the field to prevent the Enemy breaking through Tuesday the 14. The General and the Army marched from Chard to Hunniton by the way of Axminster and that night our Horse and much of the Foot lay in the field about Hunniton lest the Enemy should break through we pressing so hard upon them to joyn with the King which was in the opinion of the General and all understanding men the best game they had to play and most disadvantagious to our proceedings as that that would have enabled the King to make incursions into the Eastern Association and divert a great part of this Army who desired to compleat the service of reducing the West before they returned But the Enemy attempted it not that night and had they not upon advertisement that our Forces were come to Hunniton removed their quarters from St. Mary Autree Poultimour and those parts beyond the river Ex as they did they had certainly been beaten up Parties being sent out for that purpose section 6 Our army advancing and the Enemy giving way Wednesday 15. The General and the Army marched from Hunniton to Colampton where the Lord Miller was with 300 Dragoons and some Horse who upon our approach quit their Barracadoes and the Town left their Turn-pikes standing strong Parties pursued them and took some prisoners who confessed their Party were gone towards Tiverton Whereupon a Councel of war was that night called Major gen Massey sent to besiege Triverton-castle and Major-General Massey was desired to go with his Horse and the Brigade of Foot under the command of Colonel Welden to possesse the Town of Tiverton and besiege the Castle which accordingly he did section 7 About this time Pr. Rupert and Maurice as they were going from Banbury those parts with a convoy of Banbury horse to the King at Newark in the mood to take their leave of him were set upon by Col. Rossiter and sore put to it Thursday Octob. 16. There came in some Officers from the Enemy a Lieutenant-colonel and two Captains who declared their unhappiness to be engaged on that side desiring a Passe to go to the Lord Inchequine to serve in Ireland against the Rebels The enemy quitting Broadnix upon the approach of our army The General went this day to Broadnix where the Enemy kept a guard with a Commanded party of foot and some horse but upon the approach of our forces they quit the town and the General returned back to Columpton The enemies notorious brags to keep up their reputation comming to nothing where information was given by the Inhabitants of good repute that the Enemy had boasted the day before our comming into the town That Goring had cut Fairfax in peeces neer Chard and routed his whole Army took drink upon it and wished it might be their poyson if it were not true This course the Enemy took to make their party believe they were great conquerours whereas indeed what they did was very inconsiderable and as to the reducing their affairs into any tolerable condition scarce worth the mentioning And on this occasion may be noted though it might be mentioned in a more fit place afterward that this small businesse neer Chard was the only affront the Enemy put upon us during the Armies being in the West of England But with what iterated affronts our Forces have recompenced them in their quarters the action at Bovy-Tracy and divers other places hereafter mentioned will manifest Friday Octob. 17. A Councel of war was called for advise whether to march towards Excester and so towards Plimouth or to take in Tiverton in regard it lay upon a Passe and might much annoy the Army to leave it behind them unreduced or at least unblockt up and if once taken might be a Magazine and place of strength and conveniency encie either to secure any thing in or to retreat unto upon occasion Tiverton resolved upon a Councel of war to be attempted Memorand That Col. Fryes regiment was before this sent to secure Tiverton whilst the Gen. marched Westward whereupon it was resolved to make it their work to take in that place and the rather to inforce Gorings horse to keep to the other side of Ex for the Army being once possessed of that Passe would be the better able to keep the Enemy before them from breaking through The General with some forces marching to Tiverton Whereupon this day towards noon the General marched towards Tiverton with a great part of the Army leaving some Horse and Foot at Broadnix Silverton and Columb-Iohn within 4 miles of Excester and accordingly as was desired it succeeded in that the Enemy was inforced to draw all over Ex. section 8 The relation of the storming taking of 〈◊〉 house by Lieut. gen Cromwel But before I proceed in this story I must give you a Relation of the taking of Basing a place of great concernment and which had been a great annoyance unto the Country and the City of London in hindering Trade This business as it was managed by Lieutenant gen Cromwel who in person Commanded in the reducing of that place and Winchester and managed the same with much prudence and resolution so I shall give you the particulars of the action in the words of his own Letter and Mr. Peters his Relation Lieutenant-General Cromwels Letter to the Honourable William Lenthal Esq Speaker to the honourable House of Commons SIR The Lieut. generals letter of that businesse I thank God I can give you a good accompt of Basing After our Batteries placed we setled the severall Posts for the Storm Colonel Dalbier was to be on the North side of the House next the Grange Colonel Pickering on his left hand and Sir Hardresse Waller's and Colonel Montague's Regiments next him We stormed this morning after six of the clock the signal for falling on was the firing four of our canon which being done our men fell on with great resolution and cheerfulnesse we took the two Houses without any considerable losse to our selves Col. Pickering stormed the New house passed through and got the Gate of the Old House whereupon they summoned a Parley which our men would not heare In the mean time Col. Montague's and Sir Hardresse Wallers Regiments assaulted the strongest Works where the Enemy kept his Court of guard which with great resolution they recovered beating the Enemy from a Whole-Culverin and from that Work which having