COlonell Morgan the Governour of Gloucester hearing that the enemy about Ragland had done so many mischiefes, and encreased so fast; and having consideration of the hard service of Monmouth Garison, so invironed with the Enemy of all sides, he ordered a Par­ty of two hundred foot, and one hundred Horse to set up a Garison at Lenath, Sir Philip Jones his house, which is about three miles from Ragland; notice whereof being brought to Ragland, Sir Charles Kemish he sent out Captaine Wastman with a party of Horse and Foot to obstruct them from Garisoning there, and the meane while others were sent to Alarme Mon­mouth; but we having notice of their designe deterred the businesse till a more fit opportunity. In the meane time the Enemy plundered the Country, and the Gorernour of Mon­mouth having lately escaped the danger of Trechery by dis­covering the designe in due time, tooke the like care to prevent the like now, in case any should be on foot, he caused the Pur­cullis to be let downe, and the Draw bridge to be pulled up; and the Country people on the borders of Brecknockshire, [Page 4] many of them were forced to ship away their goods, and make what speed they could for Bristoll, to preserve themselves and what they had; for the enemy carried away many well-affe­cted people Prisoner to Ragland, and the meane while Car [...] the high Sheriffe of Glamorganshire revolting was as barba­rous in those parts, plundering the Country, and forcing the inhabitants to serve him; and having possessed himselfe of Cardiffe Towne, which was not strong enough to oppose an Enemy, nor prepared for a Siege, yet the Castle was kept against them. For we had very honest, godly, and faithfull Officers there then, viz. the Governour, Colonell Prichard, Col. Leighton, sometimes of Plimouth Rigiment, and others, who apprehending the danger in time that they were in, they sto­red the Castle with what Provisions and Ammunition they had, and many honest men had the best of their goods carried in thither; some went in person, and thither the Governour and our Forces belonging to that Garison retreated, with a resolution to hold it out to the last man, rather then to yeeld to that Runnagado crew, to whom many Club-men was joyned, he having not Armes enough for them at first; but they sent to England for both Armes and Ammunition, and other Officers, from whence was speeded supply for him, and Sir Charles Kemish with a Party from thence marched to joyne with them; Major Generall Skippon speeded them what releife could be by Sea, both of Salt, Coles, and other Pro­visions, and he and Colonell Morgan raised what Forces they could, and sent all the Saylers they could get, the Vice Ad­mirall, with other Ships assisting herein; The meane while Major Generall Laughorne prepared all the Forces he could about the South-west of Wales, and drew off his men from Abarnstwitch, all being laborious to relieve those parts in time before the Enemy had rested there, and were growne too strong for us; Sir Trever Williams also drew up all the Forces he could make to assist in this so considerable a designe; which required the more haste, because we had certaine Intelligence that Sir Charles Kemish was joyned with them, and that they were of Horse and Foot nigh three thousand, and did daily [Page 5] increase, and so were still likely to did except we did speedily dissipate them.

On Munday the 16. of Feb. 1645. the Vice Admirall approached neere for giving notice to Colonell Pitchard of Re­liefe comming, and within sight of the Castle hanged out their Colours, to let them know for whom they were, and for what purpose they came, and shot of first one Peece of Ordnance, and then another, and so sixe Peeces were shot off to let them know in the Castle that Releife was then at hand; the sight of which Ship, and hearing of which Peeces our men gave a great shout, and were very glad; Colonell Pitchard the Governour, Colonell Leighton and the rest sate in Counsell, and ordered strict quarter, and encouraged the Souldiers to prepare for a storme which they might feare, upon the enemies understanding that releife was comming; and withall put them in minde how farre God had already then preserved them, encouraging them still to trust in that God who had so kept them, till he had perfected his Work, which they ho­ped would now suddenly be, being assured by those shot made to give them notice that Releife was then at hand; and the Souldiers expressed much resolution to the prosecution of the worke, crying out, they would never yeeld whilst they were able to withstand the Enemy, not doubting but to see them dissipated. Their resolutions were the stronger against them also, because there were many amongst the Enemies that were notorious Papists, some Jesuits, Popish Priests, and Fryers, and divers of their Officers supposed to to be such; one Father Morgan a Jesuit they had taken be­fore, who was sent over to (and is now in) Bristoll a Prisoner, a notorious Rogue, who vapoured much at his hearing of the Enemies gathering and strengthening themselves about Car­diffe for the King; now it so pleased God that the waters rose very high for the transporting of our men, and they rose very much at Oast the passage, which was as ill for the Enemy to hinder their flight from us.

But in the meane time Captaine Bowen and other Officers of Major Generall Skipons men, who had formerly been surpri­zed [Page 6] by the Ragland men, in their Quarters at Carlion, 200. Horse and 80. Foote falling upon them; about 100. of his men were most of them taken, and so cruell was the Enemy at that time, that they threw some of them into the water and drowned them. Captaine Bowen had been with Sir Charles So­merset, the Governour of Ragland, about their exchange, which they have reason so desire as speedily as they can, by reason of the hard usuage they finde, and they procured that some should go upon their peroll viz. Captaine Bowen, and a Lieutenant; and Sir Charles Somerset signed their Passes, Charles Somerset, Governour of Ragland who are to procure one Master Harbert, and Captaine Keitleby, two notable sticklers for the King, to be exchanged for them, or to return back againe Pri­soners to him; and they are gone to Major Generall Skippon to Bristoll, to procure the exchange accordingly. But all this while the designe went on for the relief of our friends in Car­diffe Castle, and the dissipating of the Forces in those parts, which tooke good effect. So soone as the Enemy had intelli­gence of the approaching of Major Generall Laughhorne, who marched with about 250. of his owne Horse and Foote, and some others of the Countrey, that rose and joyned with him: The Enemy drew off from before Cardiffe Castle, first sum­moning it, to which they had a deniall, they drew into a great Field to fight us, we marched up to them, and fell upon them with such gallantry, that we routed them, and made them flie severall waies, Carne himselfe stayed not to keepe them together, but like a Vagabond ranne up and downe bemoaning himselfe, and glad he was he had a good and a nimble Horse, not to charge, but flye with. Major Generall Laughhorne hath given so great a blow to Sir Charles Kemish, that of his Ragland Forces has killed and taken so many, that of above three thousand, there are not above sevenscore of them left upon Rally, nor those likely to get to Ragland; for Colonell Morgan and Sir Trever Williams came in both very seasonably, and are all pursuing. Colo­nell Morgan is got between Sir Charles Kemish and Ragland, It was a very bloody Fight, two thousand killed and ta­ken; [Page 7] A great number of Armes we have taken, and rescu­ed many Cattle which they had plundred from the Coun­trie people, and much of their Ammunition and Plunder; it being a very great Victory; And Major Generall Laugh­horne, Colonell Morgan, and Sir Trever Williams, are still in pursuit of the Enemy; And this action it is hoped will prove the preservation of South-Wales.