ALL THE PROCEED OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE EARL OF ESSEX, From the 1. of October to the 14.  
BEING A true Relation of divers Skirmishes which happened between the Earl of Essex his Forces and the Cavaliers in the foresaid time.  
Also a true Relation of the taking of divers Forts and Castles by the said Earl. Likewise a true Relation of the taking of nine Boats laden with Ammunition by the Parliaments Forces upon the river Severne as it was going to Shrewsbury.  
LONDON, Printed for Th. Tompson. October 14. 1642.   

All the Proceed of his Excellency, the Earl of ESSEX, From the 1. of October to the 12.  
Worthy Sir,  
THe cause of my writing to you is, that because the time is so troublesome, I will only certify you what hath happened here these 11. days last passed. This day there was great preparation made for His Majesty's welcome to Shrewsbury: the lodgings are all bespoke and taken up already: for here are now 4500. soldiers in and near adjoining, where they are billeted. His Majesty stayed here but one night, but went towards Chester to a place called Whitchurch, and was welcomed by the Lord Chomley, Lord Rivers, and Sir Thomas Aston, and went towards Chester with 10. troops, for his guard, besides Sir Thomas aston's troop, the Mayor, Aldermen and Recorder received him very lovingly; but Sir Thomas aston's troup coming after His Majesty, met with a troop of the Parliaments Forces, that was marching towards Shrewsbury, where there was a battle fought between them, the manner whereof was as followeth. The Earl of Essex marching towards Shrewsbury with his Army by the side of a wood, and the brow of an hill, when he came at the bottom of the hill he saw a great army of men, coming against him, and the first they met was a Welsh Commander, who cried aloud and said, Sir Thomas, here are the Parliaments Forces, therefore stand, stand, stand brave soldiers and be valiant. The Earl of Essex hearing this, went on most valiantly, they being on the top of an hill, and had the advantage of us, so that we could not pass, whereupon the Earl made on towards them, but they resisted him and shot at him, and that with a great advantage, they being on the top, & we on the bottom of the hill, so we marched up towards them, shooting at them with great courage and valour, that we routed them from the top of the hill in a strange manner; for the Noble Earl first sent up 1400. horse, and they made such work, that Sir Thomas Aston was fain to fly with all his company, but they could not fly fast enough, by reason of a pair of gates at the bottom of the hill, so that they could not pass, except a few that fled through the wood with Sir Thomas Aston, who lost 75. men, and but 9 on our side, we took most of their horses and arms, yea Sir Thomas aston's horse that was left on the wood side, which we call by the name of great Aston, which goes along with us, and our General saith, it shallbe for the next man that he takes to ride on, the saddle on his back was almost worn out: as we went towards Shrewsbury we met 8. Regiments of horse and Foot under the command of divers Commissioners of Array, who fell upon us so fiercely, that at first we thought they would have got the better, but God prevented them: for they met at a heath where the battle begun, they having the wind of us, and the higher ground, yet we discharged so stoutly against them, that they could not keep their ground, but came in upon us, and we defended ourselves as well as we could, and drew out our swords, but they came so violently in, that we were one among another in such a confused manner as is hard to be reported. At last our trumpeter rid forth, and sounded his trumpet with a cheerful and shrill wind, and we all repaired to the trumpet, and there were scarce any but cried out, A parley, A parley; so at last not finding themselves able to resist us, yielded to our demands and followed us. There were slain about 100 men on their side, and about 30. on ours; so that now we have 8. Regiments more to stand for us against the Cavaliers, so that we hope to settle the peace of the Kingdom; for we molest none but those who trouble and set upon us, for we want nothing, the countrypeople give us good victuals and beer for nothing. As we passed along, we came near to the river Severne, where we saw 9 boats going towards Shrewsbury, so we rid toward them, as near as we could, ask what they were laden with, they said, that they had most of the ammunition that came from the Papists in Ireland, and that they were going with all speed towards Shrewsbury with it, for they thought we had been Cavaliers; so we desired to see what it was, and they very honestly came and brought it to Severn side, where we entered, and found 3. laden with powder, 2. with bullets, 1. with pikes, 2. with muskets, 1. with engines to shoot fire-balls, and we stopped them all from their journey, and landed them at a village within three miles of Shrewsbury, where we keep our rendezvous, because the weather is wet, and the waters are up, so that we cannot march. The Earl of Essex hath not yet delivered his Petition to His Majesty, but he hopes ere long to do it, and now the King is gone from Chester towards Shrewsbury, where it is thought he intends to stay.  
The 2. of this month we marched with our army to a place called Pomfret Castle, and when we came within a mile of it, we heard a Piece of Ordnance from the Castle that flew over our heads, being amazed at the report thereof, knowing no cause thereof; whereupon our Captain said he would go to it, but coming near it, we found it strongly fortified, and the gates shut: whereupon our Captain demanded the Castle, but they refused, and said, they could keep the Castle as well as we, and except we would be gone, they would send us going, and that we were unwise to come thither: whereupon our Captain told them, that unless they would deliver up the Castle upon fair demands, they would have it by force; but they derided his request, bidding him do his worst; so we came and entrenched ourselves against the Castle, shooting at it and assaying to scale the walls for the space of two hours, but all in vain, wherefore being almost night we kept ourselves in our trenches: betwixt one and two a clock at night a Post was sent from the castle, who was discovered by six of our men which pursued after him, took him, & brought him back, and one of our men spoke to the Captain, ask him what he would give him to obtain the Castle before the next day at noon, who answered, that he should have five Marks; whereupon he desired the Captain that he might have the Posts , and he would warrant him the castle, or lose his life: then the Captain desired the Post to shift his , and so he did, and this man put the  on his back, getting upon the Posts horse with his horn by his side, rid towards the castle and blue his horn, they being all a-bed, only the Porter sat up to wait the Posts coming, and being joyful he was come so soon, risen from the fire to let him in: as soon as the Post was within the gate, he struck up the Porter's heels, saying, hold thy tongue if thou love thy life, the Porter for fear durst not speak a word; then he took the keys from him, and bid the Porter go and call in the soldiers which were without, which he did; so when the soldiers came, some of them kept the gates, and others went up into the castle, and the men that were within said, if they would be pleased to save their lives, they would serve them, which our Captain willingly accepted of, and told them, if that they would serve him, they should presently enter into pay, and those that would not, he desired to departed; so some entered into pay, and others went away unarmed. In the morning our Captain asked them, who was their chief Commander, they said, Sir William Savill, who fled hither for shelter and refuge, but he was one that went away. So in the morning we began to search the Castle, where we found many places furnished for war, with several sorts of Ammunition: upon the walls we found 15. Pieces of Ordnance, 500 Pikes, 700. Muskets, 6. barrels of powder, and 600. head-pieces, as many Corslets, 550. Carbines, with a great yard full of bullets, pickaxes, wheelbarrows, wagons, abundance of swords, and 4. quarters of wheat with other come, 3. powdering tubs full of beef, 5. hogsheads of beer, 3. of wine, 1. of sack, with many other things of good worth, which are now in the hands of our noble Captain, who hath left a garrison of his soldiers to secure the Castle.   
FINIS.