A LETTER Sent from The Lord FALKLAND, Principal secretary to His majesty.  
Unto the Right Honourable, HENRY Earl of Cumberland, at York. Sept. 30. 1642.  
Concerning the late Conflict before Worcester, with the state of His majesty's army now at Shrewsbury.  
Together with His majesty's Speech to the Gentry and Freeholders of the County of Salop, Septemb. 28. 1642.  
Printed at York, Octob. 1. and now reprinted at London for J. T. Octob. 7. 1642.   

A Letter sent from the Lo: Falkland, To the Right Honourable the E. of Cumberland.  
My Lord,  
I Know ere this time you have divers and several relations of Prince Robert's encounter with the Earl of Essex Forces before Worcester the 23. of September. I could have written sooner, but stayed till I could have an exact Relation, which I now do from men of honour, and present in the action. The King being informed of the Earl of Essex marching to Worcester, and knowing that town not tenible against any considerable Forces, and desirous to put the best part of his army into one entire Body, sent to Sir John Byron to quit the place, and join with Prince Robert, then at Bridgenorth. Prince Robert desirous to fetch off so gallant a man as Sir John Byron, marched through Worcester with his Troops, consisting of 700. accompanied only with Sir John Byron his Troops remaining behind in Worcester. When they were out of the town, Prince Robert being informed that the E. of Essex Troops of Horse and Dragooners were at hand, marched towards them, saying, We are now engaged for the honour of God and your country, fight valiantly: and immediately gave them a furious charge, which was stoutly answered by the Parliament Forces. This courage of theirs endured not long, for at the second charge they as fiercely ran away, in pursuit were taken prisoners, slain, and drowned, above 400. divers of which betook themselves to the mercy of a River, wherein perished four score, whereof the Lord says son is said to be one, but that is yet uncertain, but for certain both of them accompanied with Captain Browne a Scotchman, at the first encounter ran away, leaving those men to be slaughtered, some Gentlemen (more sensible of honour then the rest) fought valiantly, as Sergeant Major Douglas, Col: Sands, Cap: Austin, Cap: Burrill, Cap: Berrey, Coronett Hamon, Cornett West were slain in the field; Cap: Sands and Douglas lived some few hours after: Prince Robert sent a Divine to Captain Sands, who told him the Prince was troubled so gallant a man should perish in so unworthy an action, he gave the Prince thanks and said, death did not so much trouble him as that he had endeavoured to defend so bad a cause, which he was drawn into as well by his own ambition, as by persuasion of other men, he was not able to deny (he further said) the flower of their Army was in this conflict, and wished all their actions hereafter might have the like success, desiring that they would all pray for him, and especially that God would forgive him this great sin of rebellion, which troubled him the more, having dilucively persuaded others thereunto by telling them that they fought against those that advanced the rebellion in Ireland, and were now in the action, Col: Sands was encountered by Comisary Wilmot, but received his death's wound by a Frenchman, he asked how Comisary Wilmot did, seeing him wounded, being told his hurt was not dangerous, said, he was glad he had not his blood to answer for: Douglas likewise died not suddenly, he was likewise sensible of his offence. I spoke with a Gentleman that brought him out of the field, to whom he confessed this was the third rebellion he had been in against the King, all which from his heart he hated, but was drawn unto them for gain and sinister ends, and being taken prisoner in the North he was discharged, & twenty pounds given him by the King: he was desirous to live, that he might discover to the King something that might in part expiate his former offences, which was prevented by his death. I have been the longer in the relation of these two gentlemen's Confessions before their deaths, to make you sensible that the hearts of these men go not along with their actions, (their bloods will lie heavy upon those boutefeux that have engaged them & others, and so many men to their ruin and destruction.)  
There were taken in the Skirmish 50. or 60. prisoners, but none of note, and quality, but captain Wingate, (a Parliament man) who is brought to Shrewsbery; The King was presented with 6. or 7. Colours, the bearers of them either slain or taken Prisoners; Prince Maurice hath received two or three scars of Honour in his Head, but is abroad and merry; divers of our part hath received slight wounds, as Commissary Wilmot, Sir Lewis Dives, captain Byron, Sir Charles Lucas, and some others: I dare not tell you they lost more Hundreds, than we single men, lest the former part of my Letter may gain the less belief: But I assure you, it is confidently reported that there were slain on our part not above three or four; those Prisoners that were taken except captain Wingate are discharged, taking an Oath not to bear arms against the King,; most of them were men of mean quality, and so raw soldiers that they understood not the word Quarter, but cried for mercy; being demanded of what condition they were▪ some said, they were tailors, some embroiderers, and the like. By the latter end of this week, I assure you our number will exceed those of the Earl of Essex, of which we are now rightly informed by the several Prisoners we have taken, And if God for great sins, together with the slight esteem we have of Parliament Forces, have not vengeance instore for us, and the whole Nation: The King having no other Ambition, but the advancement of the Protestant Religion, and establishment of the Fundamental laws of this kingdom. We have public thanks for this Victory enjoined by the King; I have all this while heard of, and seen the many lies permitted and contrived by them; but I could never imagine men so irreligious, so impudent before God, as to give public thanks for the great Victory over the cavaliers; which is as false as God is true: I know I can express my Duty in nothing more than entreating your Lordship not to believe those false reports, which do as much make London dishabitable, as the Plague wont to do.  
Your lordships Infinitely Obedient and Humble Servant. FALKLAND. Shrewsbury, Sept. 27. 1642.   

HIS majesty's SPEECH at Shrewsburie, on Michaelmas Eve last, to the Gentry and Commons of the county of Salop, there Assembled.  
Gentlemen,  
IT is some benefit to me from the insolences, and misfortunes which have driven me about, that they have brought me to so good a part of my kingdom, and to so faithful a part of my people; I hope neither you nor I shall repent my coming hither, I will do my part that you may not: And of you, I was confident before I came; the residence of an army is not usually pleasant to any place, and mine may carry more fear with it, since it may be thought (being robbed and spoiled of all my own, and such terror used to fright and keep all men from supplying me) I must only live upon the aid and relief of my people; but be not afraid, I would to God my poor Subjects suffered no more by the insolence and violence of that ●●mie raised against me (though they have made the 〈◊〉 wanton even with plenty) than you shall do by mine, 〈◊〉 yet I fear I cannot prevent all disorders; I will do 〈◊〉 best; and this I'll promise you, no man shall be a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me if I can help it; I have sent hither for a Mint, and 〈◊〉 melt down all my own Plate, and expose my Land to 〈◊〉 or mortgage, that if it be possible I may bring the 〈◊〉 pressure upon you. In the mean time I have Summ●●●● you hither to invite you to do that for me and your sel●●●, for the maintenance of your Religion, the law of the L●●● (by which you enjoy all that you have) which other men do against us: do not suffer so good a cause to be lost for want of supplying Me with that, which will be taken from you, by those who pursue Me with this ●●●lence, And whilst these ill men sacrifice their M●●●●, Plate, and utmost industry to Destroy the commonwealth, be you no less liberal to preserve it. And assure yourselves, if it please God to bless Me with ●●●cesse, I shall remember the particular Assistance ev●●● man here gives Me, to his advantage: however, it will 〈◊〉 after (how furiously the minds of men are now possess●●) be Honour and comfort to you, that with some Charge and Trouble to yourselves, You did your part to support your King, and preserve the kingdom.  
I desire M. sheriff, and the rest of the Gentlemen, ●● distribute themselves in that Method, that they may 〈◊〉 receive the expressions which you shall make of your best Affections, the which I will have particularly presented to Me.  
FINIS.