THe Generall having (as I acquainted you in my last) left Col. Cooke with a thousand Horse and 500. Foot to block up Barnsta­ble, according to the unanimous resoluti­on of the Counsell of Warre, advanced Tuesday last with the Army from Bier­ford, Torrington, and Stevenston towards Holsworthy; In the way there was a Generall Randezvouz of Horse and Foot on Stebber-downe: all this day no Parties of the Enemy appeared, the day was very rainy, which fell all the time of the March without intermission, and the waies extraordinary deep and bad; at the comming of the Army into Holsworthy the Townesmen shewed much cheerful­nesse, as being glad they should be rid of the enemy, who had absolutely impoverished that poore Towne, and left neither mans meat nor Horse meat; here we understood that Captaine Huggins, who was sent forth upon a Party the night before, had falne into the Enemies Quarters a mile and halfe in Cornwall, taken 24. Horse and severall Prisoners; Wednesday February 25. in the morning the Army advan [...]ed from Holsworthy towards Launceston, a generall Randezvouz upon Hornecute Downe, where we had advertisement that Col. Butler who was sent forth [Page 4] with a Party of 1000. Horse (the night before) and 400 Dragoons to beate up the Enemies Quarters, had done it effectually neare Shatton; first passing the River Tama [...], (where the Enemy had raised a Breast-work, and likewise pulled downe the Bridge to stop our passage) afterwards forst both Horse and Foot to retreat to their Guards, and from thence to the place appointed in case of Alarm, where after severall charges the Enemy were put to flight, neare 300. Horse, and 80. Prisoners taken, and about 40. slaine on the place; most of the men escap't by reason of the darke­nesse of the night, and eagernesse of our men after Booty. The Enemies Horse being about 800. were commanded by Major Gen. Webb, who with the rest of his Commanders and Horse were put to a disorderly retreat, and likewise an Alarm given them on the North side of Cornwall▪ which made them draw their Horse back. In our m [...]ch on W [...]d­nesday the inclosed Proclamation was read in the head of every Regiment, being an addition to that I sent you for­merly; when we came within two miles of Launceston our forces took divers of the Enemies Scouts, and some strag­ling Parties, who were most of them drunk; those who were best able to expresse themselves boasted, That Col. Basset was [...]esolved to maintaine the Town against our Forces; whereupon our forlorn hopes of Horse and Foot were sent to enforce entrance, the Enemy having shut the Gate, and the Towne very strong, made some opposition, but Sir Tho­mas Basset Generall of the Horse, and Col. Blits Governour of the Towne, with Col. Srevaticans Regiment of Foot, in all about 500. Horse and Foot, having quitted the Towne about an houre before we came, and left it onely to some few of the Trained Bands, they after some resistance re­treated; our men entred, tooke some Prisoners, and killed onely two, it being now dark the rest escaped: we seized [Page 5] upon the Armes and Magazine in the Towne, the inhabi­tants seemed generally to be much revived at our com­ming, being sensible that they were formerly but deluded with the blandishments of the Kings Party, pretending what they did was in defence of the King, when indeed it was chiefly to the destruction of the Subject. Our Sould [...]ers notwithstanding the opposition they received at the en­trance, did not then nor since plunder any one house that I know of, but demeaned themselves very civilly, so that our courtesie is likely to have a more powerfull influence upon the Cornish then the Enemies cruelty; besides, the Enemies talke much of the landing of Irish and French Forces, which the inhabitants cannot endure to heare of. The Gentlemen of this County that were sent unto to Plimouth are to mor­row at night to meet the Generall in this Towne, where it will be necessary to refresh both Horse and Foot with that small pittance which is to be had, yesterdayes march being about 13. long miles was as tedious (respecting the badnesse of the waies and weather) as any they had. The Prince is in Bodman, where most of the Horse and Foot he hath are quartered, or neer about it. The Generall will lose no time to clear the County of the Enemy, having had so good and prosperous a beginning, and to use all meanes possible to prevent their breaking through, which (in point of policy) is probable will be their chiefe endeavour. The Lord of Hosts, the Great Counsellour direct your Counsells, and this Armies undertakings, that the issue may be the settle­ment of Truth and Peace to this distracted Kingdom. Sir, I remaine

U [...]on Tuesday the Generall began his march with the Army from Bierford, and part from Torrington, and quartered that night at Holsworthy, being 12 miles from one place, and 15 miles from the other, an extraordinary rainy day, and waies extraordinary deepe. Wednesday the 25 we advanced from Holsworthy to Launceston, being ten long miles, that the Enemy might be the more amazed at the Armies entring of Cornwall; Colonell Butler was sent from Holsworthy, with a party of 1000 Horse and 400 Dra­goones, on Tuesday night as far as Stratton in Cornwall, to beate up the Enemies Quarters, and accordingly that night he passed the River, where the Enemy had raised up a Brest Work at Tamarton bridge, and broke downe the Bridge to hinder our passage over, but presently quit the passage, wher­upon he forced the Horse as well as Foot, that kept Guard, to retreate to their other Guards, and from thence to the place appointed for their drawing together upon an Alarm, where he charged their Horse severall times: at last it plea­sed God to put the Enemy to the flight, he took about 300. Horse and 80. Prisoners, he had more prisoners and some of quality, but the Souldiers minding their prey and booty in Horses, many of the prisoners escaped, this party of Horse of the Enemies being about 800. that lay to keep Guard upon the River Tamar, was commanded by Major Gene­rall Webb, who with the rest of the Commanders, were put to a disorderly Retreate, with the rest of their Horse; which gave them such an Alarm towards the North parts of Corn­wall, that it forced them to draw their Horse back, the rest [Page 7] of the Army marching to Launc [...]ston, which amazed them likewise on the left hand, that if their intentions were for breaking through, they could not tell what resolutions to take. When we came within two miles of Launceston, we met with their Scouts, having taken severall of them, we understood that Colonell Basset with Horse and Foote was resolved to keep Launceston, and not to permit our entrance into the same; whereupon the Forlorn Hope of Horse and Foot were sent to force entrance into the Towne; the Ene­my shut the Gates, made some opposition, but at last quit the Town, and that disorderly; we took some Prisoners and killed some two of them; night being come on, the rest escaped in the dark; the Arms and Magazine in the Town we seized upon; we finde the Country, and particularly the place, to expresse much joy at our coming, though they were made believe by the Enemy, that the Army would give no Quarter to any Cornishman or woman, which they did for the most part believe, and was the cause of a great terrour upon them: but our Souldiers, notwithstanding the opposition they had at their entring of Launceston, did not so much as plunder any one house, nor do any other preju­dice to the Towne, that we can heare of, but I hope will so demean themselves in pursuance of the Generals Proclama­tion, as we shall conquer the Cornish sooner by our civility then by the Sword. Thus far into Cornwall it pleaseth God to prosper things with us; and I hope when we come more into the heart of the Country, we shall not finde so many Enemies as friends. Very speedily you shall receive a ful­ler accompt from