S'

[No. 37.]

This relation was dated 12 at night this Monday.

Next to the waiting uppon you myselfe I am pleased with this employment being commaunded by the King to give you a relation of what hath passed at Maleborough. The delay of the Artilleryes coming up and the mistinesse of the morning made it neere 2 of the clocke before they could playe uppon the towne. It was assaulted on the Champion side and a regiment of horse sent to the forrest side to hinder there flight that way exspecting that much more then there resistance. At the first from a brest worke they had made acrosse the downe where the passage was and after from a rowe of thatcht houses they did gall our men whoe were not able to returne them any hurt by armes soe that they were necessitated to have recourse to fire which gave our men entry, whereuppon they of the towne fled but were taken in greate numbers by the regiment of horse on the other side, among which there was the principall Scotch officer one Ramsey and Francklins the towne Clarke a Prott man and a principall incendiary of all those parts, the prisoners that were taken came to about 100 besides Diggs and his Company whoe we tooke to be frends assuring us they would not shoote and in that kept there words, they were very usefull likewise in keeping

the other forces of the towne, out of my Ld Seymers house and mount that might have troubled us much. The fight lasted above 2 howres there were 20 or 30 ours hurt none of much note nor any killed, what slaughter was on the rebells side we know not, nor directly how many collors taken. After the entry of the towne the Lieut Gels cheefe care was to stoppe the fire for the which he caused some houses to be pulled downe and drew out the troopes and Dragoneers least they should have bin lost in the night by there disorder and Pillage, which was done and they quartered all rownd about the towne, the foote only left in it, and that condition they remaine in until his Matys pleasure be further knowne. This S' is the substance of that relation his Maty receaved from thence this morning and having noething else considerable at this time to accquaint you with I will begg this favor from you that I may esteemed by

I promised myselfe the honor to have waited uppon you before you went away which I was prevented in yet must not give that ill fortune leave to injure me soe much as to steale you into an ill opinion of my civility or duty but preserve both by your goodnesse and this letter which is to tell you I had an intention to have waited, uppon you this journey but my Ld Spencer bringing a packett of letters from the Queene and was engaged by her to waite uppon her to the King. There letters were dated the 2 and informe as of noe thing considerable but the Queenes preparation for her journey to which there was noe thing wanting but the comming about of some shipps that were daily expected soe that by circumstances we may guesse her landed by this time. There is one come from my Ld Newcastell this day whoe tells us my Ld Savill is prisoner at Newarke Castle and the Sheriffe of Lincolneshire did advertise the King that my Ld Newport was a prisoner to. Hastings hath receaved the enemy soe unkindly as they are retired but we heere S' R. Hoppton is pursued hottly and being weaker then the enemy retires, so soone as Prince Maurice marched away, the enemyes forces came thither, I can hope for noe excuse for this but my being

is

Your most humble Servant

HEN PERCY [Probably 21 Feb 1643]

[No. 39.]

21 Oxford.

According to your commaunds I accquainted his Mat' with the contents of your letter which he hath con

sulted with my La Gener1 whoe is of oppinion that it will be very inconvenient for your Highes to moove to Buckingham being to farre distant from Oxford which may cause some inconveniences to us heere, besides that, it appeeres not to be soe propper for that end you propose it for, there being no question but the Queene must for many reasons come by Worcester [both to avoide Essex and those forces at Coventree, Northampton, and Warwick as alsoe that she may finde a reasonable force there and a good resting place] and if we doe lye at Bister or thereabouts they cannot march to Worcester but you may be before them I shall enlarge there reasons when I have the honor to waite uppon you which I intend shall be tomorrowe if you come not to us, the same reason keepes the King from writing makes my letter much shorter that is my dispatch to the Queene. the King sent me this note just now I have obeyed you in all things but money, and the reason of my disobedience in that is because it is not in my power and other cause then that I will never have for not obeying you being resolved eternally to be

There is another expresse come from the Queene this day by whom we are assured she will begin her journey this day or tomorrowe she comes certainely to Ashby but from thence we know not as yet which way she will take but some designe they have by the way the lesse the better, 3000 foote and 30 troopes of horse and

dragons are all she marches with except such force as she may gett by the way, this I thought fitt to let you know and for want of this I shall suply it with making repetions to you how much satisfaction I have in telling you there is no creature in the world more yours than Your Hignes most humble

Oxford the 30 [April 1643]

6 of the clocke

and faithfull Servant

H. PERCY

I hope we shall not have reason to complaine of our quarters.

I could not possible put our traine in such a readinesse as to be able to march before 12 of the clocke and then the King receaved a letter from my Ld Generall by which he desired the Cannon should not march if they were not advanced already which hath staied me for the present so that now I doe 'attend what other orders I shall have, that being the cause I doe not waite uppon you as my inclinations doe invite me to having noe greater satisfaction then the giving you proofes that I am

Your Hignes most humble Servant

Oxford 8 June [1643]

HEN PERCY

The King will be extreamely glad to heere what you intend & as soone as I knowe the Cannon is not likely to marche I will presently waite uppon you

H