A SPEECH Spoken unto his Excellence the Earl Of Warwick, BY captain FARRES, in the behalf of the whole County of ESSEX.  
WITH His Excellence his gracious Answer thereunto giving all his soldiers general satisfaction not long before they marched forth from London towards Branford.  
As also A true relation of the last battle at Branford the 12. of November: betwixt his majesty's Army and the Parliaments forces, and how the cavaliers swore God dam them the devil was in their powder.  
London printed for Tho. Watson and John Fares. 1642.   

Captain FARRES Speech to the Earl of Warwick  
MY Lord, I must desire your pardon, if my words deliver too much truth, and thereby offend: You have withdrawn from you the hearts of the Essex soldiers, who came with willing minds to perform Noble service; but the change of their captains hath also changed their affections; neither will they be commanded by any other but those worthy Gentlemen in whose wisdom, courage and fidelity they dare boldly confide. My Lord, that action cannot thrive that is discouraged at the beginning; and soldiers do not (like the moon) decrease in honour, and afterward shine with full glory. Honour is a tender thing, and once lost, is lost for ever, and not to be restored. Though I complain unto your Honour in the name of the rest of the captains, I do but undergo the hazard to express their discontent, robbed of that they held so dear, their places being the reward of their own merit, and sealed unto them by the constant love of the people. Our Essex soldiers, my Lord, are all men of able estates, whose zealous affections to their King and country, hath thus led them forth, to give a clear testimony of love and valour in their perfect service. Unkindness doth wound desert deepest, and deserved honour is the reward of virtue, that doth create and confirm courage, and taken away, a soldier becomes a despised thing, Consider therefore my Lord, that a captain so well beloved of the people, can suffer no injury without mutinous repining, from whence doth spring the greatest danger of an Army. I am engaged my Lord, amongst the rest, and must speak the truth before I go to defend it, drawn thereunto by my friend's dishonour and my own, being discarded from those places which the people in their good affection had designed us. Lastly, my Lord, if my speech seem to be of a course and rugged thread, an injured soldier is far from flattery, and I must tell you, we scorn that our hearts should give place to any captains, in being right and true to our King and country, this honour we cannot lose, living or dying: therefore think it a high indignity to resign our Captainships.   

The Earl of Warwick his answer to captain Farres Speech.  
Captain, your words are so far from displeasing me, that I love your free Speech, it being comely in a soldier to deliver his thoughts without disguise of words, and to utter Truth in a plain and clear manner. If your Essex soldiers be offended at the election of other Capta●nes, let them consider that the present occasion doth require men bred in war, and experienced in those affairs; neither can the other captain's grudge, that the commonwealth should receive benefit by their service, since if this war may thrive in the prosecution thereof, it matters not who have been principal actors therein. Their love unto their country deserves highly to be commended, and their cheerful undertaking to assist this action, doth magnify their brave resolutions. But give me leave to say, that those other captains nursed at the breast of war, are grown exceeding quick-sighted in military discipline, and being long trained up in the school of war, deserve to be ranked in the chiefest File of Honour. In Holland they have hazarded their lives, and spent some blood to gain a perfect knowledge in all warlike Discipline; yet I prefer them not as men of greater ability, much less loyalty than the other captains; but antiquity of service ought to have some pre-eminence. You may inform the rest of the captains, whose minds you have delivered, that I believe them to be men not inferior to those in courage, but as knowing, as full of heroic Spirit, as the other captains, and would do as far in the defence of their country as the other; yet since they and the other cannot serve both in the same places, let them think it no dishonour in point of war, to suffer the commonwealth to be served by others as well as themselves: their free intent is as acceptable as the deed. There hath been always contentions about such matters, but without any disgrace: for I do not accuse their sufficiency, but think them as worthy in all degrees of valour, as the other which are elected. Persuade therefore the soldiers to be well affected to those captains: for you and all men ought to prefer the good of the commonwealth before private respect, or any particular places in the war, since all our actions should move to one end, which is the defence of our King and our country.   

The soldiers welcome to LONDON.  

WElcome as day, when after a long night  
Of fearful tempest, land appears in sight  
To the glad Mariner, whose ship doth bring  
Rich freight to shore, & his own land to him.  
Such is the joyful passion, or more sweet,  
When kindred friends, and dearest lovers meet  
After great dangers past, with welcome breath,  
To tie loves knot, which the pale hand of death  
Was thought to have untied; and now, though late,  
Welcome home soldiers that have scaped wars fate.  
The aged persons now cast off all fear,  
And have more joy than their weak age can bear,  
Stooping beneath it, while their sons do tell  
Of Renton battle, and what there befell,  
While tides of passion in their bosoms rise,  
Of all that hear what they behold with eyes.  
Great is war's horror, and the bare relation  
Doth stir the mind to wonder and compassion.  
Friends now salute, as if they meant to die  
Within their arms, whose loving company  
They wanted long, despairing that they were  
Living; for love is full of careful fear.  
Friends are so full of joy, that both while days  
And nights are spent in stories to the praise  
Of our brave Souddiers, that have done above  
The reach of Fancy, and do bind our love  
First to their merit, while for service they  
Shall have a kingdom's thanks besides their pay.   
ON Saturday the 12 of November, Prince Robert using the advantage of the mist, which was that morni●g e●treamly thick, brought up his Forces to Brainford, where he was most valiantly opposed by my Lord Robert's Regiment on the Bridge, who beat them off, and with great resolution maintained the Bridge till they had spent all their powder and shot, at which time it pleased God that Colonel Hampden and Colonel Hollis Regiments came in, who very manfully set upon them, and slew many of them, with the loss of a very few on our side. On Sunday the 13. of November no feat of war was done, only there came up two small ships to Branford, who hearing the Cavaliers were there, shot at them, who were answered again by the Cavaliers. This day also the ●●●ty sent 89. Carts and wagous' laden with all manner of provision, unto the Army. There were taken prisoners also, two of his majesty's Guard, whereof one was shot in the leg. Sir Kenhelme Digby was taken as a Spy in viewing the works at Mile-End. The Cavaliers in their fight on last Saturday, were not afraid to swear, God damn them, they believed the devil was in their Powder, their Bullets would not go half way,  
FINIS.