TRUE, But Sad and Dolefull News FROM SHREWSBURY. Expressed in two several LETTERS: Whereof, The one was written to a Gentleman of the Inner-Temple: The other, To a friend in London, relating at large the several Passages of the late skirmish at or near Worcester, between a Party of each Army, viz. Under the Command of Prince Robert on the one side, and of Colonel Sands on the other. Confirmed by a Letter sent from Prince Robert to His MAJESTY. Septemb. 24. With divers other Circumstances of several Passages at that time. With the Cornets Mottoes. Octob. 10. 1642. IN DOMINO CONFIDO printer's or publisher's device Imprinted at York, and now reprinted in London. Octo 19th 1642. Sad and doleful News from SHREWSBURY. The first Letter. SIR, I Do believe you have heard of the flight between His Majesty's Forces and my Lord of Essexes; but yet I think you have not heard the truth, or any true relations thereof; for we have them in print here with us from London: Your Diurnal says Prince Robert is dead, and his brother dangerously hurt, and most of the Cavaliers cut off, nay that thanks are given to God for it, but believe it not: For now even their friends begin to be ashamed of their lies. And therefore I will relate the very truth of it. Sir john Byron was in Worcester with two Troops of Horse and some Foot, Prince Robert marched away from his Majesty with 8 Troops of Horse, and came to Worcester upon Friday, about four of the clock in the afternoon; and as he was marching through the Town, News came that about 12 Troops of Horse, and about 500 Dragoneers were marching to the Town: Whereupon, Prince Robert sent Sir john Byron with two Troops of Horse to view the Enemy, and the Prince in the mean time set his men in a Battalia, and Sir john Byron retreating back to the Prince, they marched towards the Enemy and met them, upon the Top of a Hill they stood looking about half an hour one on another. At length, they coming nearer together, Sir Alexander Douglas discharged his Pistol against Sergeant Major Byron, but missed him, for it was about seven yard's distance; but Prince Robert commanded ours not to charge the enemy just until they came to their Breasts, the which they did well observe; For the Front of the Parliament Troops discharging at too uncertain a distance, did no execution; but the Front of Prince Robert's Troops coming on, discharged just at their breasts, and quite cut off the Front: Sergeant Major Byron shot a bullet into Douglas belly; Prince Robert his Brother, and Sir Lewis Dives slew each a man; Colonel Wilmot singled out Colonel Sandys, and gave him his deaths-wound, though he like a valiant Commander fought while he had one drop of blood. The Parliaments forces endured two shots well, but at the third they were routed, and the Prince had them in chase half a mile. The Parliaments 500 Dragoneers were placed upon a Bridge, about a quarter of a mile off; but their Horse being routed, came to the Bridge to get over, so that then the Dragoneers all fled, but with their making too much haste, there were about 60 drowned; which fell over the Bridge. There were about 350 slain and drowned, divers common Troopers taken prisoners; but their Horse and Arms taken from them, they were set free again, because they were not worth their breed. We have here prisoner one Captain Wingate, Burgess for Saint Alban, and he fought valiantly. We lost but four men; the one was a Cornet to Master Hastings Troop, and brother to my Lord Beaumond. Prince Robert is very well; though he ventured as far as any Trooper of them all; Prince Maurice is wounded in the head, but no danger; Sir Lewis Dives was shot through the Arm, Commissary Wilmot cut in the back, but all of them were with the King abroad the next or within two days after the fight. When the marquis of Hartford is come, and my Lord Strange we shall march forward; We expect them on Monday at night; My Lord Strange would have been here before this, but only that he is talking with Manchester, and then we make no question but we shall be able to march through England. Colonel Sandys behaved himself like a Gentleman and a soldier, for he charged upon us valiantly, and at the hour of his death, said, That we had cut off the flower of their chivalry and died very penitently. Prince Robert sent his Chaplain. Doctor Wats to him, to whom he confessed his disloyalty to the King and the Church, praying God and the King to forgive him. I pray you remember my love to our friends at Moregate, and tell them I am very well, and hope to be with them within these three weeks. So with my love to yourself, etc. I rest, Shrewsbury, Septemb. 30. Yours, B. H. Postscript. Captain Browne, Colonel of the Dragoneers ran away at the first. The Welsh-men come in apace. The Second LETTER. I Have written to you the last week, which I presume you have received, whereby I informed you of my safe arrival here. Since that time I have been in some part of Wales, and am last night returned here: Where the King is with his Army, the Earl of Essex is also at Worcester: Where for his first entertainment, the vant carrier's of his Army were shrewdly handled by Prince Robert, who with 8 Troops of Horse routed a thousand of the Parliaments forces, killed 300 in the place, brought six Cornets with him here, taken in the field, and one Parliament man taken; Colonel Sands and other Commanders were slain, and the rest taken or drowned in the river, and all this only with the loss of four men on the King's side, and Prince Maurice slightly hurt with a sword in the head, with some others, but without danger of death. The King is here very strong, and they flock to him in multitudes. There is at Bridgenorth some two or three Regiments of the King, where last night some of his Excellency's Army came and made a bravado, and valiantly ran the same way they came. It is expected that in a short time there will be a Battle, the King hath already defied the Earl, and it is expected, some twelve days will decide the quarrel. Farewell. A True Copy of a Letter sent by Prince Robert to his MAJESTY. SIR, THe Bearer will with all your Circumstances tell your Majesty our Proceed at Worcester, I shall only say this, That upon your Majesty's Commands to secure the Town, we went thither with our Forces, and found the Rebels on both sides of the Town, no Ammunition, nor nothing fitting to entertain so great a Force as the Lord of Essex would have brought that Night. But all things in so great a disorder, that certainly we had all been lost, had we not by a great chance met with ten Troops of their Horse, and five of their Dragoneers, which we did entirely rout, and killed most of their chiefest Officers. The Manner and the Names I leave for the said Bearer to tell you. Your Majesty will be pleased to accept this as a beginning of your Officers and my Duty; and I doubt not, as (certainly) they behaved themselves all very bravely and gallantly, that hereafter Your Majesty shall find the same behaviour against a more considerable number. Of this Your Majesty may be very confident, as also of the endeavours of SIR, Your Majesty's Most obedient Nephew, and humble Servant, ROBERT. From Bodfort this 24. of Sept. 1642. Sir, This Gentleman hath behaved himself so gallantly, That I must needs humbly desire your Majesty to knight him; which will encourage him and all others to continue the Affection for your Service. The Circumstances related by Master Crane, who is knighted. He is (I hear) Prince Robert's Cornet. THat at the first Charge, Prince Robert, Prince Maurice, Master Fox, and two more, charged and defeated a Troop, whom they knew not to be enemies till they were upon them, by their Orange colour Scarves. That seven Cornets are taken some I saw. That several Officers are killed on their side, particularly, Douglas and Sandys; that the last repent before his Death, for having borne Arms against the King. That several men are taken, as Captain Wingat of the House of Commons, and others. That we have but three killed in all. That but three of ours of quality have been hurt; Master Wilmot in the back, and the worst of any, but yet he marches in a Coach and is merry Sir Lewis Dives through the shoulder; M. Byron (a brother of Sir john's) over the face. I heard he hath said, that Prince Maurice is a little hurt, but I understood him but those three. That Captain Browne, who commanded in chief as Colonel of the Dragoneers, was one of the first that ran away. That our men are very hearty with the victory, and the spoils of the killed (as Horses, Arms, Buff-coats, Money in their pockets) and the Enemy (as they hear) much disheartened, and not likely to make so great haste from about Worcester as they meant. The Cornets MOTTOES. PRo Rege & Regno. Exurgat & Discipabuntur. Pro Rege & Religione. Si pro Patria Merior, non Moror. The rest were so torn, the Mottoes could not be read. FINIS.