COLONEL POYERS FORCES IN WALES TOTALLY ROUTED. By the Parliaments Forces commanded by Colonel Horton, who took Prisoners, Major Gen. straddling. Colonel Philips. Colonel Bulls. Their Quartermaster General. 2 Lieutenant Colonels. 3 Majors. 140 Captains, and other Officers. Many Country Gentlemen. 3000 Common soldiers. 4000 Arms. 1200 Horse. Many slain. All their Colours, Ammunition, Bag and Baggage taken. Major Gen. Laughorn, and some other Officers escaped, but all that got away were so dispiersed, that there is not 10 to be found together. Certified by Letters to the Parliament, ordered to be printed; and confirmed by the Relation of Major Bethel, and others which were actually in the service. May 11. 1648. Imprimatur Gilb. Mabbott. London, Printed by B.A. MDCXLVIII. A LETTER Concerning the proceed ngs in WALES Honoured Sir, ON Monday the 8. of this instant May, Lieut. Gen. Cromwell had a Randezvouz of those Regments which are designed for him against Poyer, near Glouces●er, and although at the first there was some discontent for want of money, yet after some satisfaction given that way, both Horse and Foot were unanimously for this expedition. The Lieut. Gen, and the rest of the Field-Officers passed from Regiment to Regiment, and made a speech, Declaring to the whole Briggade, the grounds and reasons of their present march, and necessity of joining together as one man, to suppress that party under Poyer and Powel, who endeavoured to begin a new war, and disturb the peace of the whole Kingdom. There being at this time present in the field 6500. and odd, horse and foot, they echoed forth with loud voice, & elevated spirit that they would all with readiness & cheerfulness march forwards on this design, and adventure their lives for the Parliament, and preservation of the Kingdom against all oppo●ers, under the command and conduct of their respective Officers. All things thus secretly composed in love and readiness, to give obedience to commands, the whole Briggard was drawn to several quarters that n g●t, having order given to meet again at 6 of the clock the next morning and so to march forwards by Monmouth to join w●th col. Horton, & so to engage the enemy to fight, or drive them into corners. This week Letters came hither out of North-Wales, setting forth the good affections of the Gentry in those parts to the Parliament, and inviting his Excellency's Forces that way, assuring them, that they will be aiding and assisting them for the reducing of Poyer, and those that are joined with him. Lieut. Gen. Cromwell its thought will be joined with col. Horton within 3 or 4 days; by the ●ext we home to hear good news from thence ●nd at present I hope this is sufficient to stop the mouths of those which have raised a Report that the Lieut. Gen. was either in London, or come back wounded to Windsor. This by way of d gression, from the Intelligence I was writing, but I shall here return again to that of Wales, wherein this is further to be observed, hat as Noth-Wales are generally affected to the Parliament and Army (as I said before) yet South-Wales for the most part seem to be quite other way, and a Declaration is drawn up and published amongst them, to t is effect. A Declaration of the Knights, Gentry, and Yeomen of the Principality of Wales. THat we his Majesty's true and loyal subjects for reasons before set forth, do hereby declare, that we will effectually endeavour to restore the King's Majesty and his Royal Posterity to all their rights & privileges, and the Book of Common-prayer, and the setting of Religion, as it was established in the time of Queen Elizabeth, King James, and the beginning of his now Majesty's Reign, against all that do, or shall oppose the same. The 9 or this instant May divers Gentlemen of the town of Reading came to the Head quarters at Windsor, and acquainted the General, that the malignant party of that town beat up drums for God and King Charles, that their party was like to increase, unless some speedy, cours●● were taken to suppress them, etc. Whereupon ●is Excellency ordered some horse to go thither, and appease that tumult, which was done accordingly. The General is now preparing for the North, from whenc we hear of very sad complaints. This is all for the present, from Your assured friend, T. M. Windsor 10 of May, 1648. The Copy of a Letter from Newcastle. Worthy Sir, Since the taking of Barwick, sir Marmad. Langdale writ a complimental Letter to Capt. Batten. Governor of the Holy-Island, desiring him to keep the Castle for the King; the Captain immediately sent a copy thereof to sir Arthur Hasterigg, who immediately thereupon sent 30 more Soldiers to the Captain, for better securing of the Fort: the Frigate which was sent to Barwick upon her coming into the Harbour, discharged two broad sides against the town, which made them within think all was not like to be well with them; our Governor likewise on the first instant, mounted a considerable number of musketeers on horseback, & sent them to secure the Warkworth castle, a strong hold that belongeth to the Earl of Northumberland situate near the Sea, upon the mouth of the River of Coquet, which runneth thorough the middle of Northumberland. The popish and malignant party flock apace forth of these Counties, to Barwick, no doubt Royal Presbyter, where those that hold the town are very active, sending forth summons, to be at a Randezvouz upon Hedgley Moor, 4 or 5 miles from Alewich, to be there listed for the service of the King Colonel Grey having also summoned all my Lord Grey of Walk his tenants to join with them. The High Sheriff of Northumberland and many Justices of peace, are enforced to fly to Newcastle for the safe●y of their persons, leaving their houses and goods exposed to the danger of the enemy. At the meeting last week of the several Northern Counties at Richmond, it is agreed that some of Colonel Lambert's troops of horse stay in Yorkshire, and the rest about a thousand to be drawn down to Northumberland and Cumberland. This town being at a general meeting, desired to declare, whether they would stand for the Parliament, etc. Newcastle 6. of May, 1648. Letters came to the House from Col. Horton, dated May 9 brought by Major Bethel, certifying that the said colonel Horton and the forces under his command, had obtained a great Victory against the Enemy in Wales; and after the letters were read, Major Bethel was called into the house. & made a full relation of the whole business, which in brief was thus. Major Gen. Laughorn being come down into those parts, and joining with col. Horton powel, who had the command of the field forces which were gathered to Poyer; they drew their forces together into a body, and marched down this way through the Country toward Col. Horton at Cardiff, which is about 50. or. 60 miles on this side Pembroke, and on the last Lord's day they began to beat up Colonel Hortons' quarters and gave fire on his Sentinels; and although the intended aid under the command of L G. Cromwell was not come up to them, yet the Officers and Soldiers appeared full of resolution and valour. Whereupon Col. Horton was resolved to fight with them (though far more in number than he) and on Monday morning the 8 of this instant May, both sides met, and engaged in a field fight at St. Thego, three miles from Cardiff, where Maj. Gen. Laughorn commanded in chief the Welsh Forces, and Col. Horton the Parliaments Forces. And after a sharp conflict (by the providence of God, and the gallantry of the Officers and Soldiers, Major Gen. Laughorn, and Col. Poyer were totally routed, and Col. Horton took as followeth Major Gen. straddling. Col. Philip's. Col. Bars. Their Quartermaster Gen. Two Lieutenant Colonels. 3 Majors. 140 Captains, and other Officers. Many Country Gentlemen. 3000. Common soldiers. 4000 Arms. 1200. Horse. Many slain. All their Callers, Ammunition, Bagg, and Baggage taken. M. Gen. Laughorn and some other Officers escaped, but all that got away were so dispiersed, that there is not ten to be found together. This business is of very great concernment, and for that it is of hard digest on to many, which doubtless will endeavour to extenuate the truth of this Relation. Let such have only patience to hear for the present, and they will experimentally subscribe hereto within few days, and acknowledge that in all this action we lost not one Officer of quality. FINIS.