Die Sabbathi, 7. Martii, 1645.  
WHereas Thursday next is by former Order appointed for a day of public Thanksgiving for the great mercy of God in giving success to the Parliaments forces against the Enemy at Torrington in Devonshire: And whereas since the appointment of the said day of Thanksgiving the Parliaments Forces in several Parts of the kingdom have given the enemy divers defeats, and gained several strength which are now in the possession of the Parliament: It is thereupon Ordered, That the respective Ministers within the Limits where the said day of Thanksgiving is appointed to be observed, and kept; do make mention of these several mercies and successes, and stir up the People to a due thankfulness for the same; And to the end the said mercies and successes may be the better taken notice of, Mr. Rowse, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Gourdon, and Mr. Alderman Pennington are to collect the same; to the end the Ministers may be acquainted with the particulars thereof. And the Lord Major of London is desired to take care that the Ministers may have timely notice of this Order.  
H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.   

WHereas heretofore it pleased God in the very days of thanksgiving for former Mercies, to meet us with new; as if he had taken notice of our thankfulness, and encouraged us to it, as a duty that gives him both Honour and delight: Now, the infinite goodness of the same gracious God hath prevented our day of thanksgiving (lately appointed for the blessed success of the Parliaments Army at Torrington,) with many Mercies and Successes in sundry parts of this Kingdom; and hath sent them to us as grounds and encouragements to give him on this day a larger, fuller, and more zealous thanksgiving: For the further advancement whereof, there are many observable passages of Divine providence.  
In the first place we may take notice that Ragland Castle in Wales was long fortified by the Earl of Worcester a Papist, which of late much increased in strength, and committed many cruelties upon the County of Monmouth, plundering, firing, and destroying Towns and Houses; having the whole Country under their power, except some few garrisons of the Parliaments, no way able to resist them. The Ragland Horse drew towards Cardiff in Glamorgan-shire, a Parliament garrison; whereupon the governor and Committee there, sent to colonel Kerne lately appointed High sheriff by the Parliament, and to the rest of the Country to rise in a body to oppose the Enemy: but contrary to expectation, colonel Kerne and the Malignant Gentry being at their rendezvous, prevailed with the people to besiege Cardiff, which was done with about 2000 men: they took the town in a short time, having the assistance of the Malignant townsmen. The governor, Committee, and soldiers betook themselves to the Castle; God's Providence so cast it, that Major general Laughorne, Sir Trevor Williams and colonel Keyrle came in season, (Provision being almost spent in the Castle,) and fought with the countrymen and Ragland Forces, (who were joined on a Heath near the Town,) Routed them, took many Prisoners, and forced them to fly back to the Town: Major general Laughorne pursued, and relieved the Castle; the Enemy continued in the town a while; at last Articles were agreed, That they should march away with Colours flying, Match lighted, &c. But having marched some distance from the town, occasion was given by the Enemy for breach of Articles, whereupon they engaged in a very hot fight, in which were slain and drowned of the Enemy near 400, about 500 taken Prisoners, the rest scattered and fled. We lost very few men in this service, though many hurt: had this treacherous Plot taken effect, South-Wales had been lost again, which probably would have afforded thousands to the King to join in a body with Sir Jacob Ashley, who drew his Forces that way. This, if rightly considered with the circumstances, is none of the least mercies, among many late successes and Victories which God hath vouchsafed us.  
The deliverance also of Abbington is an observable Mercy. The Enemy came to Abbington with a 1000 Horse, and about a 1000 Foot; they drove our men from the Works, and entered above 300 men, and possessed themselves of sundry Guards, Works, and the Magazine itself; but our Horse and Foot resisted them valiantly, routed them, and made them quit their ground, God at that time raising their Spirits to a great height of Resolution.  
After the taking of Torrington in Devon, some Forces advancing towards Stratton in Cornwall, and the Enemy making resistance, it pleased God to put them to flight, and there were taken about 300 Horse, and 80 Prisoners.  
After this our Army came to Launceston a chief Town in Cornwall, which after some opposition they took, with the arms and Magazine in it. And it may be worthy both of notice and thanksgiving, that our soldiers there were so temperate and obedient, that notwithstanding the opposition made at the town; yet they did not plunder so much as one House; which no question was a great Conquest upon themselves, and advanced much the conquering of that County; especially since before the Armies coming to Launceston, the people were possessed with an opinion that there would be no mercy shown to the Cornish.  
It is also observable, that God hath strucken the Enemy with a terror there; and divers persons of quality send for Protections, and daily make their submissions; and not above 80 Foot appeared upon the calling of their Pose; whereas heretofore thousands have appeared.  
And now our Army advancing towards Bodmin, a Town about twenty miles within Cornwall, the enemy did quit the Town by night, Hopton himself bringing up the rear of them. In those parts six Troopers drove away the Convoy of four Load of Ammunition; and four Troopers overtaking 42 Musketeers with Matches lighted, and Muskets loaden, made them all lay down their arms, and brought them back Prisoners.  
The main body of the enemy's Army, consisting most of Horse is driven far into Cornwall, and being shut up behind by our Forces, is enclosed both before and on every side by the Sea, and hath little rest, being alarmed by our parties.  
Beyond all this, God hath delivered not only their Forces and Forts, but their counsels into our hands; and the delivering up of their counsels, delivers also their Cause: For by God's especial Providence, a Ship coming into Padstow (a Sea Town in Cornwall,) and bringing in divers of the native Irish (most of which, those of the Town destroyed) there came also with them a Packet of Letters from Ormond, Clamorgan, and Digby, which being cast into the Sea was recovered again, and contained matters of great consequence, that concern the bringing in of a multitude of Irish into this Kingdom. Thus their counsels being brought to light, their Cause therein appears most abominable, while there must needs be a likeness between it, and those that support it: now the supporters of it are Idolatrous and bloody Irish rebels and traitors.   

London Printed by Richard Cotes, 1645.