THere was drawn out of this Gar­rison by order from the Com­mittee, 500. foot, and 300. horse, viz. part of Col. Mackworths Regiment, and part of Colonel Lloyds Regiment, both of them marched along in the service, our forces marched within five miles of Ludlow; the de­sign being to reduce that part of this county, and to secure it, by placing some Garrisons there, to block up Ludlow; with a party of horse they viewed How­gate and Braincroft Castles, both of which the enemy had much demolished, notwithstanding they placed the Lord Calvine in Braincroft castle, and fell to re­pair & fortifie it, in the interim, they sent Liev. Col. Rivling to view Stokesay castle, a garrison of the ene­mies; the place was conceived considerable, there­fore the next morning wee drew up to it, and sum­moned [Page 2] it, but the Gorvernour, Captain Dauret, re­fused; thereupon wee prepared for a storme, being ready to fall on, gave a second summons, which was hearkened unto, a parley admitted, and the castle de­livered up, and is now garrisoned by us: One of these castles commands all Cordale, a rich and fertill part of the county; the other secures all Stretonsdale, so that Ludlow is blockt up on this side, and hath only Hereford to range in, continuing in these parts, for the securing these garrisons, Sir Mich. Woodhouse, Governour of Ludlow, one that came out of Ireland, procures all the Kings garrisons for above 20. miles compasse, to draw out for his reliefe: Col. Lunsford from Munmouth, Col. Sands from Worcester, Col. Skudamore from Hereford, Sir Mich. Woodhouse from Ludlow, forces from Hartelbury, and other garrisons, all which made a body of about 2000. horse and foot, which marched up neer Braincroft castle, wee being too weak to encounter with them, marched to Wi­stenstow, within a mile of Stook, the better to inforce our selves from Shrewsbury and Montgomerie, whither we sent for forces, but came not in time enough, the enemies, contrary to our expectation, judging Stook of more consequence, made hast thither, to besiege it, of whose approach, the Colonels having intelli­gence, with advice of the field-officers, drew out, re­solving to fight, our horse made what hast they could to come in, Captain Fouks troope, to which were joyned some reformado's, fell upon a body of the enemies horse, being 200. and routed them, the foot marched on with gallant resolution, beat up all their ambuscadoes in the hedges for a mile together, un­till they came to the main body, which after an [Page 3] hours fight, wee routed and dispersed. In this bu­sinesse Liev. Col. Rinking deserves much honour, in which he shewed as much valour as a man could do, and also the Colonels did very gallantly; wee slew neer 100. on the place, tooke above 300. common souldiers, about 60. officers and Gentlemen, all their Ordnance, bag and baggage, 4. barrels of powder, a good quantity of match and bullets, 100. horse, some Gentlemen of quality were slain; there being most of the Gallantry of Herefordshire. In the action Sir William Crofts the best head-piece, and activest man in that county was slain on the place, the Governour of Ludlow and Munmouth hardly escaped, Sir Mich. Woodhouse his horse being taken. The glory of this great action belongs only to God, who was plea­sed to make weak means instrumentall to do so great a work: Major Fenwick, who behaved himselfe gal­lantly is wounded, but we hope not mortally.

• Col. James Boughton.
• Capt. Walter Neale.
• Capt. George Wright.
• Capt. Tho. Statt.
• Capt. Liev. Joseph Singe.
• 2. Cornets.
• 3. Ensignes.
• 2. Lievtenants.
• 3. Sergeants.
• 9. Quartermasters.
• 7. Corporalls.
• 5. Waggoners.
• 3. Mountrosses.
• Gerrard Steele, Physician.
• Rich. Richardson, Chirur­geon, and many Gentle­men.

This fight was on the 9. of June, we returned to Salop on the 11^th, and marched out again on the 14^th [Page 4] early, with 13. colours of foot, and five troopes of horse towards Bridgenorth: on the 16^th there was sent hither 26. prisoners, most of them Officers, taken, as I understand, coming towards Bridgenorth, amongst these prisoners there are four Parsons, viz. Parson Avacham, and Parson Ambler, these two have been wicked Incendiaries, the other two I know not, this feat being done, out forces faced about, and before any of us knew of it, were set down before Cause-castle, within seven miles of this town, which is a strong garrison of the enemies; wee are close up to the walls already, if we be not disturbed by a grea­ter strength, I hope wee shall carry it, all the Gentle­men of the Committee but one, are in this service, and very active.