GREAT VICTORIES Obtained by the Earl of Denbigh at Shrewsbury, Chulmely, and other parts in Cheshire. Where were taken prisoners. The Lord Newports son, Lieutenant Colonel Harton, Serjeant Major Manly Governor of Banger, Serjeant Major Fisher, 1 Lieutenant Colonels Colours, and others. 100 Arms. 2 Barrels of powder and store of bullets. 66 Prisoners more, amongst which some others of note, good horse, and other purchase. Sergeant Major Pinkney slain on our side, and 5 or 6 wounded. With the copy of the Oath that was imposed on the Cavaliers before the Garrison was taken. Published accoridng to Order. London, printed by J. Coe, Anno Dom. MDCXLIV. A LETTER FROM An eminent Commander in the Earl of Denbighes Quarters. SIR, SInce my last, the messenger whereof is pistold by the way with my Lords Lettere and mine; these are to inform you that we have been in very hot and sharp service, making attempt to gain a bridge to Shrewsbury which we did gain and made the enemy fly in half an hours hot service. My Lord himself lead on gallantly in the forlorn hope, having not patience till the bridge could be let down, we all in the forlorn hope crowded through the R●ver to our horse skirts, we only had one man fell over there was drowned, so we pursued and took Major Fisher Major Manly, and many other prisoners, they issued out of Shrewsbury and fought with us, we beat them in, and finding ourselves to few to besiege it, we in the night retreated and are now this day upon news received marching for York. The news to us is this enclosed, for I now am in haste. Dated at Weme, newly come from Shrewsbury. July 9 1644. SIR, I Bless God I yet live to praise him for his renewed mer●e to me and our Army, and to write to you our condition, & that you may have a true test, my General hates idleness, I must tell you he ets us not rest night nor day, but upon on design or other we were this day seven-night at Mauchester, then hurried we to Knotsford, North witch, and to Oswestrie to relieve that: at which place and in that service, Sir Thomas Middleton's Troop and mine had the brunt of the service, and came off with honour: they tired our with often charging. Sir Thomas brought up other horse to relieve them: who fell on gallantly, and did good service: and pursued the Enemy near Shrewsbury, and took many prisoners of quality, the Lord Newports son a Parliament man, Marrow hardly escaped. The very next day my Lord General sent Captain Rend to give Orders for all horse and foot to quarter on and about Sutton on the Hill, in the way to Shrewsbury, early next morning we marched towards Mansford Bridge where the Enemy kept Garrison: and a drawbridge over the Severne: our men fell on gallantly, and my Lord himself appeared in the Van of the Forlorn Hope for their encouragement, which caused them to stir bravely, and to strive to adventure beyond expression, to gain the passage in a quarter of an hour's time the Enemy fled: upon which my Lord sent Cap. Keme to call the Forlorn Hope of Horse, and after other horse which he did, and we came so hastily on, that one Captain Shipply a gallant man, not having patience to stay till the draw bridge was let down, ventured over the River after him, rend the Forlorn Hope, In pursuit, and my Lord was in the midst of them, and only one man next me, and not far from my Lord, fell into a hole of the River, hardly escaped drowned. Thus we got out, and by this time the bridge was down, our Army crowding over. I mean the horse out of Captain Kemes Troop came in at a house over the bridge where they kept the Court of Guard, and took a Lieutenant Colonel's Colours which he gave his Captain to present to my Lord, but we followed the pursuit, and between the Bridge and the Heath we took most of the men, and had we not hallowed for all our horse to come up we had entered Shrewshury, with the enemy, many of their horse and foot quartering our of Town which we lighted on some of Marrows Dragoones: We drew up till our army came up on a Heath on this side Shrewsbury a mile, the enemy came in parties up Ambuscadoes, the lanes we beat them from them. Colonel Booth lead his Regiment of Foot on himself valiantly: and my Lords own horse, his life Guard commanded by Captain Tovy a gallant man pursued to pistol shot of the Works: Marrow came out, and Major Manly, and fought with us; and there was a hot bout for two hours and above: We took Major Fisher, Major Manly Governor of Bangor, and divers other Officers and Soldiers. We made good the ground within Musket shot of their Works till night: then seeing our little Army was not able to sit down before it: my Lord drew off and we retreated that night to the Heath. A mile off and the whole Army quartered in the fields, the horse, foot and carriages on the Heath. Next morning we matched away upon advice of the Council of War to Weme: where we quartered all night, being Friday. Saturday we marched to Whitchurch: On the Lord's Day morning, my Lord had Captain Keme to preach, which he did and after dinner gave him order to order a Rendezvous at Normans Heath which was done: where my Lord further declared his intentions to send the Cashier Gentlemen, and on his march to observe the commands of the Committees of both Kingdom to secure Lancashire and Cheshire to wait on P. Rupert, to call in at Cholmley house, a strong Garrison of the Enemies: My Lord with his own Troop and Colonel barton's; and Ma or Burtons', and Captain Kemes, and Captain Farmers, and some two Troops more marched to view the ground, we came to it, and found it full of difficulty, unless we spent time on it. Ye my Lord sent them a summons by a Trumpet, which was to tell them, he required in his passage to have quater in the house for his army, for the use of King and Parliament; the Enemy scorned to answer, but shot at the Trumpeter: upon which, my Lord gave order to draw up his Cannon, and early saluted them: and finding them to cake little effect, resolved to storm it; upon information it was surrounded with a small ditch only; But the Cheshire men that knew it was a Moat deep and broad: were somewhat backward to adventure their men: My Lord told th●m his Honour was engaged in it; what he did was in affection to express his affections to them. And if they would not go on, he would go on with his Stafford foot himself; Major Low than a gallant man lately come out of prison: hearing it went to some of the Cheshire Officers, and told them what my. Lord said: upon which they drew forth a 100 out of a Regiment. So Major Pinkny a most valiant honest Gentleman led on the Stafford foot, who had the brunt of the business: Lieutenant Colonel _____ the Cheshire, and Major Croxon, and after the signal of two piece of Ordnance, fell on to storm it, and such a storm, as I never heard the like but at Basin, in half an hour's time, they within cried quarter; but by reason of hollowing, and Drums and Trumpets they could not be heard: at last our men entered the draw bridge, and took it. In which entry Major Barton Captain Tory, and Captain Hitchcock, and Captain Harford did good service, facing their horses, and in which enery in the crowd, I had like to have lost my life, or taken the more when we came in four men were so merciful to give them their lives, till we heard brave Major P nkney was slain, shot in the belly and in the arms by two flags, who is much lamented, Captain Keme is to p●each, this evening at his funera, he was my Lords Major of St●fford foot, under Colonel Rudgeley. In the house was little riches only some good horses, 2 barrels of powder, and store of bullets: what there was the Soldiers had, and arms about a 100 prisoners, Lieutenant Colonel Horton, and others, 66 in all. My Lord gave them to the Cheshire Gentlemen, and the horse to Rear Garrison. It is a place if you see it miraculonsly gained by God's free love, with loss but of five men, and 6 wounded, This night we came to Namptwitch, to morrow is a day of Thankigiving to God for ourselves, and the great business of York. I have sent you the Cavaliers Protestation I found in the house. My love to all our friends. Pray and praise God, I rest yours. Nontwich, the 9 of july, 1644. A PROTESTATION, Confirmed by Oath, taken by the Major and the Loyally affected in the City of Chester, for the Defence of that City, against this present Rebellion. 1644. I A. B. Dofreely, and from my heart vow and Protest, in the presence of Alm ghty God, that I will, with my life and utmost Power, maintain and defend this house of Chulmley, against all Forces raised, or to be raised without his Majesty's express consent upon any pretence whatsoever; and particularly against the Forces now under the Conduct of the Earl of Essex and Sir William Brewerton, and all Forces which do or shall adhere unto them, or either of them or their Party. And I will neither directly, nor indirectly give or suffer to be given, any Intelligence to the said Earl of Essex, or Sir William Brewerton, or any their Forces or Adherents in Prejudice of this house, or the forces within the same; but will discover to the Governor of the Forces within the said house, all such Plots and Designs as I shall know to be against the said house. And this I vow and Protest, without any Equivocation or mental Reservation; Believing that I cannot he Absolved from this my Vow and Protestation; And wishing no blessing from Almighty God if I do not perform the same; So help me God, And by the Contents of this Book. GOD SAVE THE KING