A MORE TRUE AND An exacter Relation Of the Battle of KEYNTON, Then any formerly.  
Written by T. C. One of the Chaplains in the Army, and sent to a friend of his, a learned Divine in this City, and by him published for the satisfaction of all such as are desirous to be informed in the truth.  
Printed for Edward Blackmore, at the Angel in Paul's Churchyard. Novem. 26. 1642.   

An Exacter RELATION Of the battle of KEYNTON, than any formerly.  
Reverend brother,  
I Know (as you writ to me) there are several and sundry relations of that bloody battle near Kynton, some speaking after one manner, and some after another, respecting their own particular oblig●tions and engagements more than the truth, or to satisfy the world of the truth. And therefore according to your desire I have sent you although a short yet an exact and a true relation of that battle. Upon the twenty third of October a day dedicated to the honour of Ignatius Lyola the father and founder of that cruel and cursed order of the jesuits, the jesuited Papists, the last year Kindled that horrid and horrible rebellion in Ireland, rist, robbing, burning, and murdering all the British Protestants they could cease upon Affirming (as hath been often deposed) that like the sufferings were that day allotted & destinated to all the Protestants in England, and that they did nothing but what they had commission to do from England, under the great seal. And now this year upon the same day of that month they have by their facinating Charms, clothed with the Specious garments of maintaining the Protestant Religion, removed his Majesty, hinc illae lachrymae, to engage himself in a bloody battle against the Protestants, the true professors of the Gospel and their Religion, which began on that day, being Sunday, (a goodly Sabbath days work) about two of the clock, and lasted until dark night. A crueler battle was never fought in the Christian world for the time.  
The King's Army had the advantage both of the ground and wind: and besides those at Windsor, and Worcester, we wanted the assistance of ten Troops of Horse, six Companies of Dragooners, four Regiments of Foot, eight Pieces of Canon, with great store of Ammunition, which came not unto us till Sunday at night, and Monday, lying the nights before at Stratford upon Aven, and in several other parts thereabouts: which in all probability, and so it was confessed amongst them, the Enemy had notice of by Sir Faithful Fortescue, who broke faith, and treacherously fled the next day unto them.  
Their Army was about twenty four thousand, Horse and Foot, and we had but thirteen Regiments of Foot, thirty eight Troops of Horse, and about a thousand Dragooners.  
The Enemy came down Edge-hill, where was fought a bloody battle in the reign of Edward the fourth, and there they set in order their battle, in a fair Plain at the foot of the Hill, leaving the Hill for a retiring place for their Army, as indeed it was, and much befriended them.  
Our Army was cast into three Brigades, the two wings being slanked with our Horse, and placed upon a little round rising hill betwixt them and Keynton. In the left wing were five Regiments under the several commands of the Lord Wharton, the Lord Mandevill, Colonel Cholmley, Colonel Essex, and Colonel Fairfax, who brought up the rear, our horse that flanked us were encountered by Prince Robert's troops of Cavaliers as they wheeled about the hill to get to our wagons, so that they fled disorderly upon our Foot in the left wing, routing and making four Regiments of them to run away, to wit, my Lord wharton's, my Lord Mandevil's, Colonel Cholmleys, and Colonel Essexes Regiments: some few Commanders retiring into the main Body, Colonel Fairfax his Regiment then being the only Regiment remaining of that wing, and most of his common soldiers also took example by their fellows, trod out their footsteps, and ran too.  
And although their Colonel Sir William Fairfax, Lieutenant Colonel Moyneines, Sergeant Major Pane, with Captain Willshire, Captain Bland, Captain Rogers, Captain Laiton, and the rest of his Captains and chief Commanders did their utmost endeavour to have stayed them, yet they could not stay above an hundred of them, with whom Colonel Fairfax, his Lieutenant Colonel, Major, and the Captains with their Officers marched very courageously with their Colours in the face of the enemy to our Canons, and fetched them all off but one, and so had done that also, had they had horses.  
This Brigade then being thus shattered and routed, the first cause being more the cowardice of our Horse, than the valour of the enemies. The Lord of Hosts shown his power for our deliverance; for then Prince Robert, instead of falling upon our right wing, fell to plundering our Wagons, killing our Waggoners, and murdering of poor Country women and children: So that those which came to be spectators of other men's tragedies, acted their own.  
At which time, the several Regiments under the command of the Lord General, the Lord Brooks, Lord Roberts, Colonel Hollis, and Sir john Meldrome, seconded by the several Troops of Horse that flanked that Brigade, fell on resolutely, and made way by dint of sword through the main Body of the King's Army, where every Commander, especially the noble General, the Earl of Essex, shown the part not only of a valiant General, but of a resolute and courageous soldier, riding from place to place, and encouraging his Army on every side, when bullets flew about his ears as thick as hail; so that in a short time the Lord General of the King's Army, the Lord Willouhby, the Lord Aubigny, Sir Edward Varney the Standard-bearer, Colonel Lunsford, Colonel Vavasor, Colonel straddling, Colonel Rodney, Colonel john Munroe, with many other great Commanders and resolute Soldiers, were either killed or taken prisoners, their whole Regiments consisting of many valiant Soldiers, most being Papists, fight for their Religion, which their Commanders told them was now at the stake, were cut off, very few escaping to bring news to their Country of the rest.  
Which the Welsh and Northern men that should have made good this breach perceiving, they all fled, without any command, showing very good footmanship, and verifying the Proverb, that One pair of heels is worth two pair of hands: And although His Majesty himself road after them, persuading them not to dishonour their Country, but to stand to it bravely; yet they would not so much as look back, but said, they were come not to fight, but to convey His Majesty to London, for which their Captains promised them the riches of that City, and if he would go with them, they would make good their promise: so that now all the Enemy's Troops and Foot were dispersed, two Regiments only excepted, and some of those Troops which had been plundering our Wagons with Prince Robert, who returned through byways, and retired unto Edgehills.  
Then our Army possessed themselves of the ground the enemies had at the first to fight in, stood there all night, & drew back some of the Ordnance the enemy had taken before, with some of theirs.  
The next morning very early we drew up our men in order of battle, and prepared for another onset: which they perceiving, flourished upon the hills with some Troops of Horse, until they had gotten their Foot, Canon, and Carriages away, and then they all went towards Banbury, miserably rifling and pillaging the Countrry as they went, and we towards night retired to Warwick to refresh ourselves, the most of us having had neither meat nor lodging for two days and two nights before.  
Thus have you a true relation of that battle of Kynton, where were slain above 3000. and what ever may be said, yet the King lost four for one, for upon Tuesday myself, with some friends and neighbours of Kynton and Welsborn, viewed the dead then unburied, and where there was one in our quarters, there were four in the enemies. I pray God to send peace amongst us, that I may never see the like again.  
T. C.  
FINIS.