Lieut: general Cromwells LETTER To the honourable, William Lenthall Esq; Speaker of the House of Commons; OF THE STORMING and TAKING Basing-House: With the Marques of Winchester, Sir Rob: Peak and divers other Officers of Quality, and all the Ordnance, Ammunition, Arms and Provisions therein.  
Together with an Order of the Commons in Parliament assembled, for a Day of Thanksgiving in the Cities of London and Westminster.  

ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That this Letter and Order be forthwith printed and published:  
H: elsing, clear. Parl. D. come.   
London, Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the honourable 〈…〉 of Commons, Octob. 16. 1645.   

Lieutenant general Cromwels Letter to the honourable William Lenthall Esq; Speaker to the honourable house of Commons.  
SIR,  
I Thank God I can give you a good account of Basing: After our Batteries placed, we settled the several posts for the storm, Col: Dalbier was to be on the North side of the house next the Grange, Col. Pickering on his left hand, and Sir Hardres Wallers, and Col: Mountagues Regiments next him. We Stormed this morning after six of the Clock: The signal for falling on, was the firing four of our Canon; which being done, our men fell on with great Resolution and cheerfulness: We took the two houses without any considerable loss to ourselves: Col: Pickering Stormed the new house, passed through, and got the gate of the old house; whereupon, they Summoned a Parley, which our men would not hear: In the mean time, Col: Mountagues, and Sir Hardres Wallers Regiments, assaulted the strongest works, where the Enemy kept his Court of Guard, which with great resolution they recovered, beating the enemy from a whole culverin, & from that Work; which having done, they drew their Ladders after them, and got ●●er another Work and the house wall, before they could enter in this: Sir Hardres Waller performing his duty with honour and diligence, was shot on the arm, but not dangerous: We have had little loss; many of the Enemy our men put to the Sword, and some Officers of quality, most of the rest we have Prisoners, amongst which the Marques and Sir Robert peak, with divers other Officers, whom I have Ordered to be sent up to you. We have taken about ten piece of Ordnance, much Ammunition, and our Souldiers a good encouragement. I humbly offer to you to have this place slighted, for these Reasons; It will ask Eight hundred men to man it, it is no frontier, the country is poor about it, the place exceedingly ruined by our Batteries and Morter-pieces, and a fire which fell upon the place since our taking it. If you please to take the Garrison at Farnham, some out of Chichester, and a good part of the Foot which were here under Dalbier, and make a strong quarter at newberry with three or four Troops of horse: I dare be confident, it would not only be a kerb to Dennington, but a security and a Frontier to all these parts, inasmuch as newberry lies upon the River, and will prevent any incursion from Dennington, Wallingford, or Farringdon into these parts, and by lying there will make the Trade most secure between bristol and London for all Carriages: And I believe the Gentlemen of Sussex and Hantshire will with more cheerfulness contribute to maintain a Garrison on the Frontier, then in their bowels, which will have less safety in it.  
Sir I hope not to delay, but march towards the West to morrow, and to be as diligent as I may in my expedition thither: I must speak my judgement to you, that if you intend to have your work carried on, recruits of Foot must be had, and a course taken to pay your Army; else believe me Sir, it may not be able to answer the work you have for it to do. I entreated Coll: Hamond to wait upon you, who was taken by a mistake whilst we lay before this Garrison, whom God safely delivered to us, to our great joy, but to his loss of almost all he had which the Enemy took from him. The Lord grant that these mercies may be acknowledged with all thankfulness; God exceedingly abounds in his goodness to us, and will not be weary, until righteousness and peace meet, and that he hath brought forth a glorious work, for the happiness of this poor Kingdom, wherein desires to serve God and you with a faithful heart,  
Basingstoke, October, 14. 1645. Your most humble Servant, OLIVER CROMWEL.