A TRUE RELATION OF The prosperous success, and proceed of the Parliaments Forces in the Counties of Somerset and Devon, against the Malignant's Army in those parts:  
From the 19 of May to the 23. 1643.  
Sent in a Letter from M. Tho. Browne, a Gentleman in Cornwall, to a Gentleman a friend of his in LONDON.  
LONDON, Printed for Philip Smith. 1643.   

The Proceed of the Parliaments Forces in Somersetshire, Devonshire, and Cornwall, from the 19 of May to the 23.  
SIR, I received your letter and the printed paper ●ou sent me of the proceed of the Parliament, and other passages occurring at London, for which I return you thanks, and in part of recompense of your favour I sent you the proceed of both Armies in this part of the Kingdom, which you may report for certain to your friends, and cause thankfulness to God by all persons well-affected to the public good, for our happy success against the Delinquents Army, not doubting but if it please God to prosper our succeeding endeavours as hitherto, a period of these Western combustions will in short time be happily obtained.  
Friday Colonel Norcot in whose Regiment I serve, consisting of about 1200. horse and foot, sent about 500 horse and foot towards Ruberdowne, there to be quartered, to hinder the Cornish Forces at Saltash under the conduct of Sir Nicolas Slaning, who lieth there with about 1000 horse and foot, Sir William Courtney being Governor of the town, into Devonshire, but the forces sent thither by our Colonel being not sufficient to oppose the Malignants in those parts, he resolved himself with his whole Regiment to march thitherward, to give battle to Sir Nicholas Slaning: during the consideration of this matter, we were informed that our men had had some bickering with some of the Delinquents that were scattered in the Country, plundering the same, and driving away from divers villages about five or six miles from Saltash, many oxen and sheep, which were rescued by our men, and proved a good booty for them: about twenty of the malignants were slain, and the ringleader or chief of these robbers was taken, whose name was Bl●ght: we sent him and 15. of his company prisoners to Plymouth, where they remain, the said Blight being since offered to our Colonel in exchange for Sir Shilston Colemandy a worthy Gentleman and Commander under Sir George Ch●dleigh, who was taken in the late fight at Lanceston by the L. Hopton, but he would not be accepted, because the said Blight was the first that raised the rebellion in Corrwall by framing a seditious Petition to the King in behalf of the Malignants there.  
It being determined by our Colonel and the Captains and Officers under him for their march to Ruberdowne, we marehed away this evening towards Saltash, & came within two miles thereof on Saturday about eight of the clock in the morning, where having joined our whole forces together, and set them in good order of battle, we were charged by the Cornish men, and answered them again with like courage, the forces on each side being equalised, and the fight continuing most part of the day with like advantage, but at last the enemy's horses being not well exercised, disordered their own ranks, and bred much confusion amongst themselves, which was great advantage to us, and caused a speedy retreat, which we pursued with eagerness, and did great execution upon our adversaries, in this fight were slain of the Cornubians about four hundred men, whereof about twenty were men of note and Officers, Sir Nicolas Slaning himself is sorely wounded, if not mortally, of them that were slain were Serjeant-Maior Deroy, Captain Escot, Captain Cook, Capt. Smallacomb, and the rest inferior Officers: seven Colours taken, and 500 arms, with good store of powder: the rest escaped to the town, against which we intent, God willing, to lay siege as soon as we have refreshed our Army, we lost not above 40. men, whereof none of note, we expect more aid and assistance from Colonel Chudleigh, whose forces are quartered about Plymouth, Plimton, and Stoke, and then we doubt not but in short time to regain that town to the obedience of King and Parliament: many fall from the malignant party, and some men of eminency and command in the Army are weary of the service, and would feign shake of the employment if they could with safety be accepted by the Parliament, and though it were to the loss of most of their estates, being touched with remorse of conscience for their by past evil actions in defending so bad a cause.  
The L. Mohun with his Regiment is quartered as yet at Liscard, whitherward as we are informed, is marching Colonel Chudleigh with his forces, intending to give the said Lord battle, his forces consisting of about 1000 horse and foot at Liscard, the L. Hopton being joined as is reported, with him, the whole strength of the malignant's Army in those parts consists not of above 6000. horse and foot that receive pay, besides such of the countries as have no fortunes or means of subsistence, that follow the camp, and live only upon robbery & pillage, and what they cannot waste themselves, they bring to the common soldiers of the army.  
This day was sent to a town called Bridgerule, where Sir Francis Haley quartereth his Forces, Captain Tompson with his Troop, and a Foot-company of Captain Luttrels to keep the Malignants within their bounds, that they may not go out to plunder and ●illage, and to keep any provision from coming to them from the countrey-delinquents, there being many who privately have left their habitations, and joined themselves to the Hoptonians, and there to remain till convenient forces may be joined to them for subduing the town in obedience to the King and Parliament.  
We have certain information of a great division lately fallen out between the horse and foot under command of Sir Bevill Greenvile, which caused much mischief, many of them having slain each other in the quarrel, so that the said Sir Bevill is in a strait, and cannot safely trust himself amongst his own soldiers, by reason of their private jars and mutinies, and it is reported he is resolved to leave his soldiers, and join himself to the L. Hopton, or privately go to the King; for certain there gins to be great contentions among most of the Malignants forces in these parts, which will prove of great advantage to the Parliaments forces, and cause quick dispatch of the war here, which God grant.  
Monday we received certain information that Colonel Chudleigh and his Forces have joined battle with the Lord Mohun and his Forces near Liscard, and the same continued with great fury on either side about two hours, and then came in to assist the Malignants some of M. Trevanians Regiment which were quartered at Launceston, about 300 horse and foot, and upon the information thereof we sent two troops of horse and a Company of foot to the Assistance of Colonel Chudleigh, upon the joining of which Forces on either side the battle continued with great courage and doubtful success, the Malignants having the advantage of ground very much, yet it pleased God, for whose cause we fight, to give a great overthrow to our enemy in the end and make us victors of the field: in this fight was slain Captain Lambert and Captain Mannington, and about 14 inferior Officers, of the common soldiers about 600. were wounded and slain, Serjeant-Maîor Parrey, Captain Glyn, and about eightscore common soldiers were taken prisoners, which were committed to several goals in the County: The Lord Mohun and Sir Ralph Hopton retreated into the town for the safeguard of themselves and the rest of their soldiers. The Parliaments Eorces intent to beleagre that town, if convenient assistance of more men may in time be sent them, before the Delinquents Army recover their loss again: little ammunition was taken in this fight in respect it was so near the town, only one culverin piece, and one Drake. Of our side not above 150. were slain and wounded in this fight, most of which were Troupers and common soldiers.  
It was reported that provision of Ammunition was brought to Pendennis Castle from the island of Gersey, for the assistance of the Cornish Delinquents in those parts, but since we have certain intelligence that the same was not landed, but intercepted by two ships that went out from Dartsmouth, and is now to be employed for the use of King and Parliament, there was about 200 muskets and as many swords and pikes, two barrels of powder and twenty carbines, with some Pistols, a reasonable booty; for our forces and want ammunition: these passages you may report for truth, and the next Post I shall send you the further proceed at Saltash, and Liscard, they are the strongest garronized of any towns in these parts by the Malignants, Exeter we hear is well fortified for the Parliament, and no probability of any attempts that will be made against it by the Delinquents Army; but we hear that many Carriers are intercepted, their carriages taken away by the Cavaliers that pass to and fro from the Counties both of Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall to that City, which will we hope be suddenly remedied, and their free intercourse secured. And thus kind Sir having nought else worth your observation to present you with at this time, I take my leave.  
Ruberdown May 22. 1643. Yours in mutual and cordial affection, T. B.