A Fuller RELATION Of the GREAT VICTORY obtained (through God's Providence) at Alsford, on Friday the 28. of March, 1644.  
By the Parliaments Forces, under the Command of Sir William Waller, Sir William Balfore, and Maior general Browne, against the forces commanded by the Earl of Forth, the L. Hopton, Commissary Wilmot, and others.  
Together with the Names of the chief Commanders slain and taken prisoners on both sides.  
Also a Relation of the Death of the Earl of Forth the King's general. As it was presented to the Right Honourable the Lord Major and the Committee of the Militia for the City of London, by an eye witness.  
Published by Authority.  
London, Printed for Laurance Blaiklock. 1644.   

GENTLEMEN,  
BEing employed in the service of the City and State, to attend the London-Brigade, now joined with Sir William Waller, and at that time entrusted to acquaint you with our proceedings the last week; I am bold, after my humble service, to present to you a brief Relation of the most remarkable Passages between us and the Enemy, not only in duty to you, but also in love to all those that long to be truly informed in the particular.  
May it please your Honour; Upon Thursday the 21. of this instant March (our Brigade being quartered at Midhurst) our Major general received Orders from Sir William Waller, to advance towards Winchester to a Town called Traford, which accordingly he did with incredible speed, almost at an hours warning, and that night arrived there, which we found to be a small Village, not above seven or eight houses to quarter all our men, there we met with much hardship, staying for Orders till the Lord's day following; Upon Monday the 25, we Marched forwards to join with Sir William Waller's main body, which accordingly we did, and that night were appointed to quarter at Westmean, three miles distant from the main body, where we found a party of the enemy's horse when our Quartermasters entered the Town, which occasioned some action, though not much considerable, we only took a Quartermaster prisoner; the next day, which was Tuesday, we lay still, only our Scouts brought in some prisoners, 6 Troops encountering with 16 of the Enemies, put them to flight▪ and brought away 3. of them prisoners; The day following we discovered the Enemy, who took some few of our men that were straggling from their colours, and soon after appeared in a great body upon the hill on the left hand the town, intending (as some prisoners confessed) to take us at Church, it being the Fast day; but it pleased God, who foresaw the Plot, to prevent the danger, directing us to keep the Fast the Wednesday before, when we lay still at Midhurst, so that we were provided to entertain them, and drew our men into a body near the town, which done, Orders came to march away, which accordingly we did, in the Forlorn-Hope, expecting the Enemy every hour to fall upon us, so that we were forced to make a stand a mile or more from the town in extreme danger, till Sir William Waller's forces came up from Eastmean to join with us, than we Marched along till we came near to Cheriton, to a place called by some, Lamborough-field, where we quartered all night, the Enemy lying upon Sutton Common, and some part of them nearer to us, so near that the Sentinels could hear one another talk: Upon Thursday morning a commanded party was sent to view the enemy, which they did, and encountered with a forlorn hope of the Enemies, and behaved themselves very bravely, so that day was spent in skirmishes, where much gallantry and true valour was showed by our horse, especially two men whose names I do not well remember, to the perpetual honour of the actors, and great admiration of the spectators; by whose means a considerable party was once engaged, and the enemy came on with a great body, which appearing, we discharged one▪ gun, which did such execution in our sight, that they all fled.  
This day a counsel of War was called by both parties, both by us and the enemy, as since we are informed, and the engagement was such, that of necessity they must give battle or retreat with much dishonour, the next morning we prepared for the work, and having sought to God for assistance, we did address ourselves to the service; in the first place, a forlorn hope was drawn out of our brigade, four files out of a company, led on by Captain Tompson, a stout man, who were sent to take possession of a wood which lay on the right hand between us and the enemy, which they obtained with ease in the enemy's sight; but such was their policy, that they foreseeing the necessity of our gaining the wood, if ever we gave battle to them in that place, planted their Drakes on the further side of the wood, which they discharged upon our men so thick, that the place was not tenible, though the greatest part of our musketeers, and some others, were drawn up to them, so that they were forced to retreat in one hours' space, which gave great encouragement to the enemy, who presently came on with their main body of horse, very powerfully, and were met as courageously, yet being of the greater number (for our whole body was not then together) forced ours to a disorderly retreat, at which time the day was doubtful, if not desperate, our foot all the while was engaged on the left wing, to drive the Enemy from the hodges, where our men played their parts gallantly, and drove them from hedge to hedge by degrees, till they had forced them to the top of the hill, our horse doing little for the space of an hour after their retreat, only some parties encountering with each other, at which time our Noble Major general Brown (who was ever known to be a valiant man, and must be looked upon as a special instrument in the work, Drew off 100 men from the hedges, and in his own person led them on to charge the horse, which they did most gladly and courageously, and forced the enemy's horse to wheel about, whereupon our body of horse came on again, and that very manfully, at which time they charghed quice thorough the enemy's body and put them to a rout, so that they were forced to retreat to the top of the hill, where they first appeared, this was about two of the clock in the afternoon, at which time they began to retreat, and sent their Carriages away, their body of foot followed after, the horse and some few foot only being left to face and to fight with us, at the the last it pleased God to raise up the spirits of some few, not above 300. and to put such courage into them, as to adventure out of the closings, to charge the main body upon the plain, which they did so resolutely that they put them all to flight, our horse pursued them two miles at the least, till the enemy's horse overtook their own foot, who cried out (as the country people say) Face them, face them, once more face them; which they did, but to small purpose; our horse came up, and at the first charge they were all routed and fled, our horse pursued them till they overtook the foot, routed them likewise, and dispersed them several ways, some fled to Basing, some to Alton, and some to Winchester, and by the way they cried out, the Kingdoms lost, the Kingdoms lost, &c. and when they left Alsford where they had long quartered, they set the town on fire at both ends, which doubtless had burnt to the ground, but that our men came in and put it out, there was only four or five houses burnt.  
Thus it pleased God (who alone is the giver of all Victory) to vouchsafe us not only a deliverance (which we should have owned as a mercy) but a glorious conquest. As for the instruments, I dare not challenge any of neglect in this day's service, to speak the truth, both Horse and foot quit themselves bravely.  
We took prisoners in the fight; Sir Edward or Sir John Stowell, Major Gener: of a Brigade, a man of a great estate: Col: Beard, colonel of a Regiment of Horse, and of a Regiment of Foot, who was employed in Ireland: Lieut. Col: Kingston, Captain Price, Captain Chidleigh, Captain Jackson, Captain Seamer, ensign Cowper, Lieuten: 〈◊〉 ensign Mellis, ensign Marsh; ensign Midley, Cornet Constable, Cornet Ducket, John Morsey physician; Together with many other Captains and Commanders, besides common Soldiers, the certain number I know not▪ whereas we have not lost 40 men that we know of; one of our men that was taken prisoner (but left behind by reason of his wounds) told me himself, they had not taken 20 prisoners in all; and, I know not of 20 slain; the most considerable loss on our part, is the Col: Tompson (a brave man) is shot with a Drake, and his Leg is cut off, we are in great hopes of his recovery; Major Boswell is desperately wounded, Captain Melton is taken prisoner, some few are wounded, but I hope not mortally, the certain number of the slain I cannot report; they told us in Alsford, that they fetched off cartloads of dead men, and some they buried, and some they carried with them, the Lord John the Duke of Richmond's brother is slain, and general Ruthen as we are informed, though the Malignants are loath to part with such a soldier, or to hear of his death, some say, he was not there; others say, he is escaped safe to Re●ding; give me leave to tell the truth, I myself was at the house where he quartered at Alsford, the Master of the house testifies that he was there, and being troubled with the gout, went not into the field; in the morning, news was sent to him (doubtless it went to Oxford too, we may chance hear of a Thanksgiving for it) that the Londoners were routed, a thousand taken prisoners, the rest fled, and were then in the pursuit, welcome News no doubt; for presently he calls for a deck of Cards, and follows his sport, till at last a messenger in all haste tells him the tide was turned, their horse were routed, and his presence required; away he goes into the field, and was saluted there by lieutenant colonel Bump, and so the game was ended, our great gun cut him off, and he was brought dead to town: I could tell you of some others; 〈◊〉 Captain left behind in Alsford sorely wounded, doth ●●●●r the Devil is in the roundheads they are such Fire-men; they have slain, wounded, and taken Prisoners, all their Commanders of any note▪ if it be an untruth, or any Malignant please to give it a grosser title, consider out of whose mouth it came; this for Friday. On Saturday morning I spoke with the Messenger, who came from Sir William Waller to our Major general with Orders, for we stayed at Alsford, 14 miles behind Sir William Waller, who affirmed that the Horse and Foot were totally routed, not a body of 200 Foot to be found, of the great Army, consisting in all of twelve thousand, that we had taken seven pieces of Ordnance, many carriages, and that Sir William would set upon Winchester immediately, being within a mile and a half of it then, I trust in God he is by this time possessed of it. Many passages I am forced to omit for brevity's sake, both in and after the fight: we had both the same word, God with us: but see what it is to dissemble with a God of truth. Our next word was, Jesus help us; so he did: and then the last was, Glory be to God. Give me leave to end here, and let this day be ever in our thoughts, and the word be ever in our mouths, a day wherein God was seen in the high places of the field, a wise, mighty wonder working God, there is not an Atheist that can own thee, and not acknowledge it to be digitus Dei; 'tis God alone that hath done the work, to him alone be all the praise; The rest is this,  
March 30. 1644. Gentlemen, I am your humble servant, E. A.  
The Queen's Regiment being there, and Prince Maurices forces; most of the Irish neither giving nor taking quarter.  
FINIS.