A true And Perfect Relation of a great and bloody Skirmish lately fought before the City of Worcester Between ten Troops of our side consisting of about 500 Horse, and the Troops of the Cavaliers consisting of 1800. Horse. Decemb. 8.  
With the names of the captains, and other Officers and Troopers, that were slain, wounded and taken prisoners on both sides.  
Decemb. 13. Printed for J. Horton, 1642.   

A true relation of a great battle fought before the City of Worcester.  
TO give you some Testimony of my abilities to do you Service, for your many favours conferred upon me, I cannot otherwise for the present, then by the relation of some exceeding true and remarkable passages, which after a tedious march) happened between 10. Troops of our Horse, consisting of about 500 which went before to the town a day before the Army: And the Cavaliers troop consisting of about one thousand eight hundred Horse. The Skirmish began between them, on Friday being the nine and twentieth day of November, about four of the clock in the afternoon; within a mile of the City of Worcester, and within a flightshot of the River Severne: The reason that our ten Troops (being but a handful to the Cavaliers) fell on, was because that Cavaliers had very cunningly sent a report to those ten Troops, pretending that it came from the Lord general, the Earl of Essex, that his excellency was within a mile of the other side of the town, and would fall on presently, and wished them to fall on likewise● which was a plot and a mere invention of the cavaliers, for those ten troops to fall on, where by they with all their Forces intended to cut of these ten troops: His excellency's Army being at that time (which the Cevaleers knew very well) five miles distant from WORCESTER, and had Marched exceeding hard that day to come so ne'er, for had our army been then within a mile of the town, we had taken all the cavaliers.  
But to give a perfect and true relation of this Fight, and what Commanders we lost, I shall give you a perticualr of their names, which I had from some Officers that were then in the Skirmish, and are very much wounded, and therefore you may boldly take it for a true relation, colonel Sunds troop fell on first, where the Colenell himself was dangerously wounded in three places, his Cornet slain, his lieutenant dangerously wounded, Sergeant Major Douglas a brave soldier was slain, captain Bery slain, his Cornet wounded, captain Astons lieutenant slain, his Quarter master dangerously wounded, six of troopers slain, his quartermaster dangerously wounded, his Corporall slain, Two of Alderman Soames. men which were troopers, in this Skirmish, one where of viz. Master Low was slain, and the other viz. master Tin, taken prisoner, and carried away by Prince Robert's Forces. Captain Burrell, captain Heale, and captain Fynes were also in this Skirmish, but are come off well with the loss only of some troopers. As for the number of our Common Horse or troopers, which were that Evening slain, i cannot hear but of twenty three and for the cavaliers, it is credibly reported, that they lost some Commanders, for they were seen to carry away four dead corpse, and it is reported for certain, that Prince Maurice brother to Prince Robert was dangerously hurt, and for all the odds of the Caveleers. who having encompassed our men. as it were in a half moon, yet our Troops charged through their whole body, and forced their passage, only with the loss of what is above mentioned, and so made their retreat good.  
And then the Cavaliers marched into the town, and about twelve of the clock at night, ran quite away, and are gone to Ludlow, not daring to stay the coming of our Army the next morning  
For upon report of this Skirmish to his excellency the Earl of Essex, the Army being quartered in the fields for that night, having Marched that day about fourteen miles, and for fiveteene days together Exceeding hard, gave Order to the whole Army to march the next morning by the break of Day.  
Whereupon the whole Army gave a gr●at shout being overjoyed to hear that they should Encounter with the cavaliers; Insomuch that the sound of the Drums, at that time could not be heard.  
The Commanders encouraging the soldiers, And the soldiers Vowing to follow their Commanders, Although a Report came into our camp, that Prince Robert would give us battle the next Morning, which was but a bravado of theirs,  
Yet our men were no whit daunted, but rather Encouraged and stronger in their former resolution.  
And then every regiment returning to their quarters, and passing on their Duty wishing every minute the morning star to appear.  
But before the time appointed for our Army to march, we were prevented of our long hoped wishes, by reason of a Petition which was sent from the Major, and Aldermen, of the City of Worcester, (by one Master Ray, one of the captains of the Trained Bands of Worcester) to our general the Earl of ESSEX, certifying him that the Cavaliers were all gone out of Worcester, at twelve of that night, desiring also in their Petition that the Earl would not be offended with the town, for what they did was merely through compulsion, and fear of the Cavaliers, who had done the town great injuries, as likewise most places wheresoever they came.  
Thereupon our general taking into consideration their Petition, committed the bearer Master Ray to the custody of one Capraine Mathews a captain of his own Regiment, till his excellency might be further satisfied concerning the truth of this Petition, lest it had, or might be some plot to ensnare the Army, but within an hour after we found Master Ray's Relation, and the Petition to be very true, and so we marched peaceably into Worcester, where as yet we remain until we hear from his Majesty: His Excellence our general having sent a Post with some Letters to desire his Majesty to return to his Parliament, and to leave those Delinquents to the Justice of the Law.  
So for the present i can send you no other Relation, but when any further occasion happens i shall take the boldness to present my service.  
It is this day Ordered by the Lords and Commons assemled in Parliament, that Richard Wright and Nathaniel Hall, shall be authorized by both Houses to search in London, and the Suburbs and towns adjacent, for arms lent by the City, and to seize the same, and to appoint Deduties for that purpose.  
Joh. Browne, Cler. Parliamentorum.  
FINIS.