A LETTER From the Lord General CROMWELL, Dated September the Fourth, 1651.  
To the Right Honourable William Lenthal Esq; Speaker of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of ENGLAND.  
Touching the taking of the City of WORCESTER; AND The total Routing of the Enemy's Army.  

Saturday, September 6. 1651.  
Resolved by the Parliament, 
 THat the Letter from the Lord General, Dated the Fourth of September, 1651. be Printed, together with the Order made yesterday for a Thanksgiving on the next Lord's Day, and read, together with the said Order.  
Hen: Scobell, Cleric. Parliamenti.   
London, Printed by John Field, Printer to the Parliament of England. 1651.   

For the Right Honourable William Lenthal Esq; Speaker of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England.  
SIR,  
I Am not able yet to give you an exact Account of the great things the Lord hath wrought for this Commonwealth, and for his People, and yet I am unwilling to be silent, but according to my Duty shall represent it to you as it comes to hand: This Battle was fought with various Successes for some hours, but still hopeful on your part, and in the end became an Absolute Victory, and so full an one as proved a total Defeat and Ruin of the Enemy's Army, a Possession of the Town, (our men entering at the Enemy's heels, and fight with them in the streets with very great Courage) and of all their Baggage and Artillery; what the Slain are I can give you no Account, because we have not taken an exact View, but they are very many, and must needs be so, because the Dispute was long and very near at hand, and often at Push of Pike, and from one defence to another; there are about Six or seven thousand prisoners taken here, & many Officers and Noblemen of very great quality, Duke Hamilton, the Earl of Rothes, and divers other Noblemen, I hear the Earl of Loutherdail, many Officers of great quality, and some that will be fit subjects of your Justice: We have sent very considerable Parties after the Flying Enemy; I hear they have taken considerable numbers of Prisoners, and are very close in the Pursuit: Indeed I hear the Country riseth upon them every where, and I believe the Forces that lay through Providence at Bewdley, and in Shropshire and Staffordshire, and those with Colonel Lilburn, were in a Condition as if this had been foreseen, to intercept what should return. A more particular Account than this will be prepared for you as we are able: I heard they had not many more than a Thousand Horse in their Body that fled, I believe you have near Four thousand Forces following and interposing between them and home: Their Army was about Sixteen thousand strong, and fought ours on Worcester side of Severn almost with their whole, whilst we had engaged half our Army on the other side but with parties of theirs; In deed it was a stiff business, yet I do not think we have lost Two hundred men: Your new raised Forces did perform singular good Service, for which they deserve a very high estimation and acknowledgement, as also for their willingness thereunto, forasmuch as the same hath added so much to the reputation of your Affairs; they are all dispatched home again, which I hope will be much for the ease and satisfaction of the Country, which is a great Fruit of the Success. The Dimensions of this Mercy are above my thoughts, it is for aught I know a Crowning Mercy; surely if it be not, such a one we shall have. If this provoke those that are concerned in it to Thankfulness, and the Parliament to do the will of him who hath done his will for it and for the Nation, whose good pleasure it is to establish the Nation and the change of the Government, by making the people so willing to the Defence thereof, and so signally to bless the Endeavours of your Servants in this late great Work. I am bold humbly to beg, That all thoughts may tend to the promoting of his Honour, who hath wrought so great Salvation; and that the Fatness of these continued Mercies may not occasion Pride and Wantonness as formerly the like hath done to a chosen Nation; but that the Fear of the Lord, even for his Mercies, may keep an Authority and a People so prospered and blessed, and witnessed unto, Humble and Faithful, and that Justice and Righteousness, Mercy and Truth may flow from you as a thankful Return to our gracious God; this shall be the Prayer of  
SIR, Your most humble and obedient Servant, O. Cromwell. Worcester 4. September 1651.  
Your Officers behaved themselves with much Honour in this Service, and the Person who is the Bearer hereof, was equal in the performance of his Duty to most that served you that day.   

Friday, September 5. 1651.  
THe Parliament being very sensible of the wonderful and seasonable Mercies God hath been pleased to vouchsafe unto this Nation, by his great Blessing upon their Army near Worcester, in Routing the Army of Scots on Wednesday last, As is expressed in a Letter from the Lord General to the Speaker of the Parliament, herewith Printed, and intending to set apart a day of Solemn Thanksgiving unto God, to be observed through this Commonwealth; Do in the mean time Order, That the Ministers in all Churches and Congregations within the late Lines of Communication and weekly Bills of Mortality, on the next Lord's day, give Public Thanks to Almighty God for this great Mercy; And that the Lord Major of the City of London, Do take care that timely notice be given to the said Ministers for that purpose; and that the said Ministers do then read the said Letter.   

Saturday, September 6. 1651.  
Resolved by the Parliament, 
 THat the Letter from the Lord General, Dated the Fourth of September, 1651. be Printed, together with the Order made yesterday for a Thanksgiving on the next Lord's day, and read, together with the said Order.  
Hen: Scobell, Cler. Parl.   
FINIS.