A true and exact RELATION OF THE Proceedings of His majesty's ARMY IN Cheshire, Shropshire and Worstershire,  
Together With what hath happened to the late Lord Strange now Earl of Derby, before MANCHESTER.  
WITH The Resolution of the Town to oppose him; and the number of Men which were slain.  
LONDON, Printed for M. Batt. Octob. 5 1642.   


Bridgenorth, Octob. 1. 1642.  
OUr country is in a most miserable condition, there is nothing can be expected but a total ruin thereof, except God do miraculously help us with assistance from the Parliament. The King's soldiers are altogether bent on mischief, taking, wasting, and spoiling those things we should live by: they do take our Corn unthresht to litter their horses, spoiling that which many a poor creature wants; if any one speak, be it man or woman, either a pistol or a Sword is straight set to the party, with many grievous oaths; They know what they do, they are the King's servants, and will not be limited of their will: you may judge by this what a case we are in; and for any thing we can perceive, like to be worse; for as long as these outrages are permitted, no question but the King's Army will increase: What with Papists, Atheists, and all desperate Russians, they have made Shrewsbury strong, as it is reported to us; many Pieces of Ordnance, 300 C●rts laden with Ammunition; and our County of Shropshire is very much a wed, many well-affected people withdraw themselves; The Sheriff here hath lately seized certain thousands of pounds at our Town of Bridgenorth, intended to be sent down Severn lately to Bristol, by M. Charlton of Aylcy, M. Baker of Hamond, and others: We have many brags here of the Cavaliers, ● what victories they have had at Worcester, though we know for certain they are notorious lies; yet we dare not contradict them; it grieves the soul of every good Christian, to see how His majesty is misled. We are glad to hear of your constancy to the King and Parliament; our affections are the same, though we dare not show it▪ for all the reports you have heard, you may perhaps understand by the next, that Shropshire is not altogether so malignant as it is reported; fear makes us yield to many things. I am in haste.  
Yours, T. C.   

Chester; Octob. 1. 1642.  
WE are here in great fears; 260 horse loads of Arms are come hither out of the North, & they tell us of 5000 men that will come out of Lancashire, and the parts adjacent, besides what Cheshire and these parts of Wales will afford: The Lord Cholmley sets out 200 Foot, and 20 Horse. The Lord Grandison, with 200 Horse, hath possessed himself of 〈◊〉 for the King, and hath billeted his Troops in the Town; who have since their entrance, plundered divers houses of well-affected men in the Town and Country, which hath put the people round about into such a fear, that many fly from the country to the city, & take houses, and carry their best goods thither; I myself am come this last week to live in Chester, and have left my servants to look to business in the Country. Since my coming hither, there were 200 soldiers billeted in our little village, and 13 of them appointed to my house, who, I thank God, departed without doing any more hurt, than what victuals they eat, which they took in an orderly manner: His Majesty departed Chester on Tuesday, and went hence by Wregham to Shrewsbury, whence he came: At his departure from us, he put 100 men for a Garrison into the Castle, and commanded Sir Thomas Delves, Sir Richard Wilbraham, M. Philip Manwaring of Badely, and M. Berkind the Pronotary, and his son, to wait upon His Majesty, and to be confined to Court. The same day the King went, Captain Salisbury and his men did burn Sir William bruerton's Decoy; and the King's soldiers in all places where they come, grow very insolent, and do much spoil and mischief; the Commissioners of Array by the Kings coming hither are much strengthened in these parts, for the aforesaid men which the King hath taken away with him; were the chief of those that attempted to put the Militia in execution. The report is here, that the King likes the City so well, he intends shortly to return and winter with us. My Lord Strange, now Earl of Derby (for on Monday last his father died here in Chester) is gone with great Forces against Manchester, who have fortified themselves, and resolve to keep him out with all the might they can; they have three Pieces of Ordnance; my Lord Strange hath six Pieces; Bullets have been exchanged on both sides, and two of my Lords men slain, and some Commanders; which hath so far incensed him, that he is resolved to have the Town, or to die before it. The times are like to be miserable, God grant a happy Reconcilement.   

Worcester, September 29. 1642.  
ON Monday last we set forward with his excellency, accompanied with six Regiments of foot, and 26 or 27 troops of horse purposing for Coventry, but News near Coventry reaching us, that the Enemy being at Worcester, his excellency commanded our march thither, where within 8 miles upon Friday last in the morning we attained, from whence Sir William Belford Lieutenant general of the horse with 10 commanded troops and 600 Musquetiers, were commanded to make good the passage to the City, that our Army might march in safety from the Enemy: Upon our passage we found little or no Intelligence of what strength the other party was; and drawing near the City, we found the Enemy engaged on the other side the bridge, and in fight with some of our troops, so that it was impossible for us to make good our purposes, being not able to pass the River, we laid several Ambuscadoes about the City, and the horse showed themselves, but all in vain, for the Enemy durst not make the least ●●lly upon us; but they after the skirmish, and about one of the clock at night still and silently with their loss departed the City, and made good their retreat towards Bewdley, and no living soul would give us the least notice of the same. It is certainly reported, that Prince Robert came in with 11 Troops and 500 Dragooneers. Next morning was found dead 24. but all not known when they were viewed; Prince Maurice is certainly reported to be shot through the jaws, and Prince Robert in the heel: Some two more of the great ones amongst them were buried the same Friday evening ere they departed: Wilmot is certainly run through the body, and it is said divers of them died upon the way, but certain it is that their loss was full as great as ours, which had been more, could we have had any Intelligence out of the City, which is desperately Malignant, and the Country also. Of our side only of principal Officers, Sargeant Major Douglas was slain, and colonel Sands sore wounded. Our next march will be towards Ludlow, where Prince Robert is.   
FINIS.