Good and true Intelligence FROM READING  
BEING A true Relation of two late Fights between the Parliaments Forces and the Malignants:  
The one near Wallingford, where the Parliaments Forces under the command of Serjeant-Major Holford slew three hundred of the Malignants, whereof two Captains were slain, and took 600. arms, one piece of Ordnance, four Ensigns, and 80. prisoners, two Captains, and seven Lieutenants and Sergeants.  
The other near a town called Slow, with all the proceed of his Excellency's Army about Reading, from the 18. of May to the 24.  
Sent in a Letter from Lieutenant Bennet under the command of Serjeant-Major Helford, (in the Regiment of the Right Honourable the Lord Grey) to his brother in London.  
LONDON, Printed for P H. SMITH. 1643.   

True Intelligence from Reading.  
Loving Brother,  
MY kind love remembered unto you, wishing your welfare. I was sorry I could have no longer time with you when I was at London, to declare unto you my resolution to adventure myself with others in defence of the cause undertaken by the Parliament, not only in my estate, but person, knowing no cause undertaken can be more acceptable to God, than the defence of his true religion, and nothing is more available to the advancement of peace and tranquillity than the preservation of the Privileges of Parliament, lives and liberties of the freeborn Subjects of this kingdom, I have well informed my conscience of the justness of the cause undertaken by the Parliament, and the illegality and impiety that is daily practised in the contrary party, and shall count my life a good sacrifice, if it be offered up for the defence of that cause for which they have now taken up arms: I adventure myself, not for hopes of preferment, or lucre of gain to be obtained by the same, for my own estate you know is sufficient for my maintenance, and I could employ myself and it in another way for my particular profit, but my only aim is to advance the public to the uttermost of my power: my Brother Jonathan came with me to Reading the same evening I parted from you, and having made my intentions known, I was accepted of by Serjeant-Major Holford, who is under the command of the Lord Grace, and had the place of a Lieutenant assigned unto me under Captain Audley. You desired me to write you the weekly proceed of the Army, which I shall gladly do to pleasure you: you shall receive from me a letter (God willing) on Monday next of what shall occur in that time and afterwards weekly. I could wish you would com● yourself, and I will endeavour to procure you a place. Pray brother remember my kind love to my friends in Essex when you writ thither, and send them the news you have from me, which shallbe certain and true.  
Thursday the 18. of May about two of the clock in the afternoon, we received information in the army that part of P. rupert's Forces about two thousand horse and foot intended to assault some of our soldiers that quartered about Wallingford, upon which Warrants were sent out in the Lord General's name for the forces in those parts to gather themselves into a body for their own defence; and that in respect his Excellency had not substitute a General, or left Instructions at his return to London for the leading forth of the Army in the whole body from Reading against the Malignants, but only granted out Warrants for the raising of the Country if violence should be offered by the opposite Army, and to defend themselves if they should see cause, by which means the Country delinquents had good opportunity to have recourse to the King's Army, and as many as would join their persons with it might, and they that would not, might contribute of their estates as themselves pleased, and if his Excellency had not returned speedily, great damage would have fallen on the well-affected. These beginnings in his Lordship's absence made the Commanders of the several Regiments in the Army take consideration what was fit to be done to prevent future mischief, at length the Lord Grace sent the said Serjeant-Major Holford with two Troops of horse and 100 Dragoons to Wallingford, where was 800. horse and foot of the Parliaments Forces quartered, to aid and assist them against the Malignants.  
Friday Captain Audley under whom I serve went from Reading with about 100 Dragoons & 200. foot, accompanied with Captain Spurling, into the country adjacen, upon report of a mischief done by treachery at a town called Slow, riding through the town, the same having many illaffected persons therein, and are secretly for the Malignants, as two Captains, viz. Captain Welch and an other marched through the town with their companies, the said Captains were shot out of a house, and slain in the street as they road, I was an eyewitness of the same being at their burying: our Captain upon this accident marched to that town too, to prevent future accidents of mishap, and in our march we were met by two troops of horse of the Malignants, who presently discharged upon us, and we again answered them, with whom we bickered about half an hour, and then they thought it better to run away then stay. We took about 20. prisoners & their horses, a Colour, and one Cap. Snag, whom we sent with a guard to Reading, about 30. more of them were slain & mortally wounded: we lost two men and a Dragoon, but none hurt; then we came to Slow, and took an oath of them for their fidelity to the service of the King and Parliament, settling the town in peace, and disarming all the malignants that were discovered therein, & those that refused to take the said oath, were committed to safe custody till opportunity served to proceed against them: of the persons which we disarmed we took 150. arms, and about the estimate of 6. barrels of powder in private houses, kept for the service of the King, and to act private treacheries against any persons of eminency that are for the Parliament, and should pass through the town.  
We have it reported for certain, that a great skirmish was fought this morning near Wallingford between the Parliaments forces and the Malignants, to which bickering Serjeant-Major Holford came with his Company; the fight continued about two hours very hot; we had the news during the fight, and I was resolved to have gone to it, but before we could come at them, we received information that the skirmish was ended, and that the Parliaments Forces had chased the Malignants, and a friend of mine who was in the fight assured me by a letter for certain, that the Parliaments Forces took at least 600 arms, one piece of ordnance, and slew above 300 of them, took 4. colours and 80 prisoners, of them that were slain was Colonel Higgs, Captain Washington, Captain Rosse, and Captain Young, Captain Midleston and seven Lieutenants and Sergeants taken prisoners: the Malignants Forces of this Army consisted of about 2000 horse and Foot, and the Parliaments forces consisted of 600. horse and foot, and not above ten of our side slain, and about 15 slightly wounded.  
Saturday information was brought to the encouragement of our Army of the valiant deeds of Sir William Waller, and that he is in great hopes of subduing the Welshmen, & reducing them into obedience to the King and Parliament.  
It is rumoured by some in the Army, that upon the return of his Excellency some Forces shall go against P. rupert's forces in Northamtonshire, to relieus that County, but others conceive that His Excellency with his whole Army will be for Oxford, and that with all speed.  
It is also reported that the Earl Rivers is come to the King out of the North part of the Kingdom, being driven from thence by the parliaments Forces, and that the said Earl narrowly escaped in the private habit of a common soldier from being apprehended by the Parliaments soldiers within twenty miles of Oxford, he coming only alone into Oxford this morning, the Kings decreaseth, and it is credibly informed they daily shrink away from the service: hereafter I shall send you the proceed weekly, and if any things with tongue or pen in a right and honest way may do you good, it shall not in me be wanting. I would have sent you a token of my love, but not knowing how the same may be safely delivered, I forbear till I hear from you that you receive the letters I send you; Thus having no other news of consequence to write to you at this time, praying for your health, with my love commended to my sister, and your little one. And so I rest,  
From Reading May 21, 1643. Your loving Brother, ISAAC BENNET.