A GREAT VICTORY OBTAINED Against the Enemy, at the raising of the Siege from before TAUNTON, on Sunday last, May 11.  
WITH The manner of the several Fights; and what was lost on both sides: How the Enemy dispersed themselves, 20. Colonels, Majors and Captains slain, and 300. common Soldiers in the siege, and many wounded.  
Certified by two Letters: the one from Colonel Weldens Quarters, to Sir Thomas Fairfax his Quarters, and the other from Sir Thomas Fairfax his Quarters, to a person of note with the Parliament.  
Published according to Order.  
With a Letter of thanks to be sent to Sir Thomas Fairfax for his care, and another to Colonel Welden, etc. for their good Service to the Public.  
LONDON, Printed for R. Austin. 1645.   

The Copy of a Letter, sent from Petmister, from our quarters there, to Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army, which was then at Whitchurch, about 12. miles from Newberry.  
SIR,  
BY this enclosed Copy you may understand the happy news of the relief of Taunton, with that part of our Army which Sir Thomas Fairfax sent thither. And we (which were another party of the Army with Sir Thomas Fairfax) are come back to Whitchurch, which is our Headquarters. This night we hear, that Goring is upon his march; some of his Forces are already at Bath, and is himself upon his march after with his Army speeding Westward.  
Whitchurch, 13. May. 1645.   

Here followeth the collection of the Letters enclosed, which were sent from Petmister to Sir Thomas Fairfax his Quarters, and delivered at Whitchurch.  
Honourable Sir,  
BLessed be name of God, who hath given to us this cause of joy, which may come unexpected to you, and indeed all good people have cause to rejoice, that we have such happy news to write to you, which makes me salute you with these joyful (though rude) lines.  
On Thursday the 8. th' of this present May, we marched from our quarters near Blanford towards Taunton, but the soldiers being encouraged by our Officers, were so earnest upon their march, (though many of then had scarce shoes with any soles for them to tread upon) for the relief of poor Taunton, that they were ready to advance early in the morning, and having some additional forces to come from the Country, so doubled the courage of our men, expressing great joy at the hearing of their coming; we quartered that night between Birdport and Bemister, our strength being then in all about 6000. Horse and Foot, we called a Counsel of War about ordering our business in falling upon the enemy, being resolved if they stayed till we came up, to fight with them, some disputes there was whether Col. Graves commands of the horse, or Col. Welden of foot should have the guide of the business, some delivered their opinions for the one, some for the other, but laying all self-ends aside, they being resolved that the work should not be neglected not regarding who had precedency, so it was effected, the next morning early they were again upon their march.  
On Friday the 9. th' of May, we marched by Pellisden Pen, and Bur●oeke, and so on towards Chard, which is about 10. miles from Taunton, where we had an intent to quarter that night, and about 3. or 4. hours before night after that we had passed Ford, and were come over the bridge, and so upon our march, never disovering one Scout of theirs all the way, until we came near Winchan in Kingsbury Hundred within 3. miles of Chard, where we received notice that the enemy were still before Taunton, and that the town was much straitened by them, and in great danger to be lost, if we did not speedily relieve them; so we marched on, and quartered at Chard that night, no enemy all this while appearing to us.  
On Saturday May the 10: th' the enemy faced us with a small party of horse, not above 300. in sight, others between them and Taunton, acting what they could to hinder our going on, we drew out upon them, and made them to retreat, but by reason of the Inlands they by constant opposition, did so trouble us that they hoped to out-vapour our intents, but were deceived; we drove them back by several charges upon them, all the way between Chard and Petmister, which is about 3. miles short of Taunton in the way of Wellington, on our march by parties charging each other, there were six prisoners taken, and one killed of the enemy's party; and four prisoners taken, and one killed on our party. The enemy continued facing of us still, and the siege was continued before Taunton, (as we understood afterwards) but we went still on, following, and driving them back, till w● came between Trull and Orchard, within a mile of Taunton, and there we shot off a warning-piece, to give them notice in the town of our being there: but (it seems they had but little store of powder in the town, for) there was no answer made to us. but night being come, we could not go any further without great danger: and therefore bettook ourselves to our quarters, setting a strong watch about us; and indeed we rested but little that night; for all the Army generally thought i● long till morning came, that they might be upon their work, all being resolved to force the enemy to rise, or to fight with them. And then making inquiry into the state of the enemy, and what had been done that day, as also enquiring into their strength, and advising how to manage the next day's business. There was declared unto us by those that we had taken prisoners, that they were confident that we would not have been so soon with them; but took our Army to be their friends, and that ours was goring Army that was come up to strengthen them, they wondering why we fought with them; so for that night we rested in our quarters at Pitmister, Pounsford, and Trull, intending the next morning to fall upon the enemy, who (as we heard) were about four or five thousand.  
On the next morning (which was the Lord's Day, May it.) we drew ourselves into a posture to fight with the Enemy; but the enemy had so blocked up the way with trees, timber, and other combustible matter, that we could not pass; so that we were feign to make our way, which we did with what speed could be; and when we came before the town, the enemy was gone; and therefore in the next place I shall certify you further certify you what is declared to me concerning the proceed of the enemy before the town, and how they now marched off from thence.  
The enemy have made many assaults upon the town, and have been gallantly repulsed: Colonel Blake the Governor, and divers other Officers, with the soldiers, having (during all the siege) shown so much gallantry in the defence thereof, that they were resolved to fight it out in the defence of that place, while they had any power left to defend themselves withal.  
On Thursday the eight of this present May the enemy had stormed the town with great violence, but were gallantly repulsed, and divers were hurt and killed on both sides: and although the town was in so great distress (and the enemy had taken a house from them which commanded one of their Works) and that they were not certain of speedy relief, yet (trusting in God) they were resolved still to stand out, notwithstanding the enemy played hard upon them.  
On Friday the enemy very desperately stormed the town again, and were again as valiantly repulsed from the Garrison, to the great loss of the enemy. That which Colonel Blake most wanted in the town (besides horse-meat) was match, whereby they were forced to burn their bed-cords in stead of it. And they began to be straitened of powder; they played upon them all this day, and got so close up to the town, that they burn 20 houses; but could do no good of it for all that: the town still held out, and opposed them.  
On Saturday the enemy was not so furious, yet made some shot against the town again; it is conceived that they stayed in expectation of goring coming up to them; and that by their own Scouts mistaking, they took our Army for goring, as it seems they did when they met them at Chard; and so lay still till Goring came to them.  
On the Lord's day they did not much trouble the town, by reason of our men's coming upon them, which found them work enough for that day: and in the night the enemy drew off their Cannon, and raised the siege, taking the opportunity of the night to fly by; and they divided themselves several ways, one part went towards Wellington, in the way to Exeter, and the other towards Bridgewater, marching away very disorderly, we have made some charges upon several parties in their Rear, and killed and taken some: but by reason of the inland country, and most of all for the great need that Taunton stands in of present relief; as also, for that the Soldiers have marched themselves almost off of their legs, they could not without great prejudice (many ways) desert the carrying in of relief speedily into Taunton, to follow the enemy. It is believed, that the enemy will be suddenly on our skirts, and should these Forces be drawn away, they would soon lay siege before the town again, especially when Goring is come up to them.  
There are in Taunton about 200 wounded men, and about 50 (I hear) have been slain during this siege: Colonel Blake is very well, and there hath not many Officers been lost: what the particulars are of the enemy's losses, we cannot certainly learn for the present; but there is much lamentation on their part, for the loss of divers gallant men, that were of the King's best Soldiers; they have had many Colonels, Majors, and Captains, and other Officers of note, at the least 20 slain: and it is believed, that at least two or three hundred men have been killed of theirs: and they have abundance of wounded men. They have had many notorious Irish Rebels there, but still they having the burial of their own dead, we shall scarce have all the particulars of their loss. But blessed be the Lord, that hath given to us the victory against those bloody Papists, and wic-Incendiaries, that care not what mischief they do amongst honest godly Protestants.  
It is believed, if the Army continue in those parts, that there will be a good addition of the Countrymen, who are very much enraged against the enemy, by reason of their cruel and barbarous carriage towards them.  
Dated at Pitmister May 12. 1645.  
It is ordered by the House of Commons in Parliament, that a Letter of thanks be sent to Sir Thomas Fairfax for his care, and another to Colonel Welden, Colonel Graves, and the rest of the Officers and Soldiers, for their good service in the relieving of Taunton.  
FINIS.