A full RELATION OF The defeat given, and Victory obtained upon Saturday last, by our Forces at ABBINGTON: Commanded by that Noble and faithful Commander, Major general Browne, against the Oxford Forces, Commanded by the two Princes, Rupert, and Maurice, who then with much confidence came to storm and take the aforesaid Garrison. In a Letter from colonel Samuel Harsnet, to captain Jones in LONDON.  

Imprimatur,  
Ja. Cranford.   
LONDON, Printed by R. Cotes, for Ralph Smith, at the Bible in Cornhill, 1645.   

A full RELATION OF THE defeat given, and Victory obtained upon Saturday last, by our Forces at ABBINGTON.  
January 12. 1644. SIR,  
I Have had a longing desire to requite your love in giving me a Relation of that Fight of Alford; but never could meet with an opportunity, but some thing the Lord hath now vouchsafed worthy the Relation to our worthy Friends.  
I came on Friday night from Henly with our Company that came with us from London. Some others of our Garrison that we found at Reading, and from thence after midnight, past very quietly by Wallingford, and so about three a Clock came safe to Abbington, seeing none in our way to trouble us, but having been not above three hours here, we had an alarum from the same way we came, which was about half a mile from us in Oxfordshire, called Cullum Bridge, which they posseft themselves of, before we had time to draw forth any party to charge them; there were parties from Oxon, and from Wallingford, Prince Rupert Commanding in chief, with whom was Prince Maurice, Sir Henry Gage, governor of Oxford, and many other great Commanders; their Force were supposed to be in all about three thousand Horse and foot, with two pieces of Ordinance.  
Behind the said Bridge was a great hill with many hedges, which they lined with Musqueteers, to the great annoyance of our men. But our Noble Major general upon hearing of the alarum, Commanded our men to arms, which was cheerfully obeyed: and by parties were drawn along the Cawsie, that did lead from the Town to that Bridge, (Meadows over-flowed with water, being on both sides) and coming to charge them at the Bridge, the Enemy stoutly opposed us, but to their loss, whereupon we had two Drakes commanded thither: And our men cheerfully drawn into the water on both sides, did so pelt them, while the Drakes played upon the Bridge, that after four hours' fight we drove them from the Bridge and the Hedges, and made them retreat, and we having got the Bridge, which being of Stone, they had partly broken down.  
Yet our men got over, Commanded by Major Bradberry, Major to colonel sparrows Regiment of Essex, at the entering over which Bridge he was slain, but have not lost above eight or ten men at the most, and so the Enemy was forced shamefully to retreat.  
The Fight began betimes in the morning, at which instant there was a party of three score and ten, or fourscore Horse from Farringdon, to set upon our Horse, quartered at a Village called Drayton in Berkshire, on the other side of the Town, near two miles off, the Enemy was there, Commanded by Major Hatton Farmer, Major of the Prince his Regiment, our Horse carried themselves very courageously, beat the Enemy out of their quarter, and pursued them within a mile of Farringdon, and killed the Major with divers others, and mortally wounded the captain Lieutenant of the Prince his Regiment, took many of the Men and Horse, amongst whom were five Irish men, which we hanged the same day in the Market place, and not above twelve of these Horse got into Farringdon, the rest slain or taken, without the loss of any one of our men, or Horse.  
Their intent was, as we are informed by Prisoners, and a Trumpeter, that this evening came from Oxford, to desire the major's body, that the Horse should give us an alarum on the one side, whilst the foot stormed us on the other. And another that this day came from Oxford, did give our Major general information, both of them affirm, that we have slain Sir Henry Gage, Governous of Oxford, and many others of great quality. It is reported that Lieutenant colonel Lower, Deputy governor of Wallingford, is slain, time will produce more: I am confident the Enemy had a great advantage of us by the bridge and hills, yet the Lord fought for us, and hath delivered us out of their hands, for which we desire thanks may be generally given to the Lord of hosts, the God of Victory and in particular for this preserving of us in our passage hither, the Enemy being upon their march very near us; and had they taken us, it would have occasioned great Triumph in the Enemy; there being of us four Colonels; besides other captains and Commanders. Our Major general, Doctor wilson, and Quartemaster general Burrowes, remember their loves to you, and would have given you a touch hereof, but I undertook to save them that labour; I pray you acquaint our Friends herewith: as having expressed nothing but what I know to be truth.  
One of the Messengers from Oxford informeth us that Prince Rupert engaged himself to the King and Lords, that he would have Abbington on Saturday before twelve a clock at noon, but missing his hopes he was ashamed to march into Oxford with the Forces that returned, but came in privately another way, and there the Lords mocked him, asked him Where is Abbington, that he boasted he would so suddenly have. But we gave them such a breakfast, that I think, he will have little stomach hereafter to come and visit our Noble Major general; we could not for want of Horse pursue the victory, colonel Fines having left us, and I think God would not vouchsafe to do him so much honour as to be present at so noble an exploit: for the number of ours slain, I have already given yovan account: The slain of the enemy are not yet certainly known; the country reports of three or four Carts of dead and wounded corpses they took with them. Besides many of theirs were drowned; others thrown in after they were slain, and some found dead upon the place.  
Abbington the 12 of January, 1644. at nine a clock on Sabbath day night. I rest your Loving Friend and Neighbour, SAM. HARSNEY.  
FINIS.