Lieutenant General Cromwel's LETTER Concerning The Total Routing OF THE SCOTS ARMY, The taking of Four thousand Arms, and almost all their Ammunition.  
WITH Another Letter written from Manchester to Sir Ralph Ashton, a Member of the Honourable House of Commons, concerning the said Victory.  

ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That these Letters be forthwith printed and published.  
H: Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.   
London, Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the Honourable House of Commons, August 22. 1648.   

To the Right Worshipful, and his most approved kind friend, Sir Ralph Ashton Baronet, a Member of the House of COMMONS.  
SIR,  
I Have sent you here enclosed a Copy of a Letter, written by Lieutenant General Cromwell from Preston, to the Committee sitting at Manchester, whereby you may perceive what salvation God hath wrought for this poor County, which not above a week ago in the judgement of many, nay of most men, was given up for lost, but God hath made man's extremity to be his opportunity, in saving a people designed by cruel men to ruin and destruction: I shall say no more of it, because I suppose you will have full and ample Intelligence from other hands, only I wish we may not be too much elevated by successes, or too much dejected or cast down in a low estate, but that we may so improve both mercies and judgements, that now at last through the various changes and chances which have happened, such use may be made of all Dispensations and Providences of God, that the Church of England may flourish in Doctrine and Discipline, and all Interests may enjoy their just and undoubted Rights in reference to the common good of the Nation, which shall be the constant prayer of him who desires to subscribe himself,  
Sir, Your most humble Servant, W. L. Manchester this 19 of August, 1648.   

Gentlemen,  
IT hath pleased God this day to show his great power, known by making the Army successful against the common Enemy: we lay the last night at Mr. Sherburns at Stonihurst, nine miles from Preston, which was within three miles of the Scots quarters; we advanced betimes next morning towards Preston, with a desire to engage the Enemy, and by that time our Forlorn had engaged the Enemy, we were about four miles from Preston: and thereupon we advanced with the whole Army; and the Enemy being drawn out upon a Moor betwixt us and the Town, the Armies on both sides engaged, and after a very sharp Dispute continuing for three or four hours, it pleased God to enable us to give them a Defeat; which I hope we shall improve by God's assistance, to their utter ruin; and in this service your countrymen had not the least share: we cannot be particular, having not time to take account of the slain and prisoners; but we can assure you we have many prisoners, and those of quality, and many slain, and the Army so dissipated, the principal part whereof with Duke Hamilton, is on the Southside Ribble and Darwain-bridge, and we lying with the greatest part of the Army close to them, nothing hindering the ruin of that part of the Enemy's Army but the night; it will be our care that they shall not pass over any Ford beneath the bridge to go Northward, or to come betwixt us and Whalley; we understand Col: Gen: ashton's are at Whalley: we have seven troops of Horse and Dragoons that we believe lie at or near Clithero, this night I have sent Orders expressly to them to march to Whalley to join to those companies, that so we may endeavour the ruin of this Enemy. You perceive by this Letter how things stand, that the Enemy is broken, and most of their Horses being gone Northward, and we having sent a considerable party at the very heels of them, and the Enemy having lost almost all his Ammunition, and near Four thousand Arms, so that the greatest part of the Foot are naked; and therefore in order to the perfecting of this work, we desire you to raise your county, and improve your Forces to the total ruin of that Enemy which way soever they go, and that you shall accordingly do your part, doubt not of their total ruin. We thought fit to speed this to you, to the end you may not be troubled if they shall march to you, but improve your interest as aforesaid, that you may give glory to God for his unspeakable mercy. This is all for present from  
Your very humble Servant, Oliver Cromwell. August 17. 1648.  
For the Honourable Committee of Lancashire, sitting at Manchester. I desire the Commander of those Forces to open this Letter, if it come not to their hands.  
FINIS.