The King's Forces Totally ROUTED By the Parliaments Army, under the Command of Major General POYNTZ and Cheshire-Forces, on Routon-Heath, within two miles of Chester, Sept. 24. Together with The state of the Siege at Chester; AND A List of the Lords, Knights, Commanders and common Soldiers slain and taken prisoners; There being above One thousand prisoners taken, and the whole Army Routed.  

ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That this be forthwith printed and published:  
H: Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.   
Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the Honourable House of Commons. Sept. 29. 1645.   

To the Honourable William Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the House of Commons.  
Honourable Sir,  
WE still keep the Suburbs of Chester, and yesterday joining our forces with Major General Poyntz, God gave us a great Victory over the King's Army, whereby God hath not only given us, but the Kingdom much cause of joy and thankfulness: We have such earnest business at present upon us, that we ourselves cannot have time to represent to you the particulars, but have commanded the Chaplain to our Forces, who was an eye witness to all that was done, to give you a full account thereof: All that we shall trouble you with at instant, is to renew our humble requests, that you will be pleased to expedite our Remonstrance, and procure a speedy Order for moneys to be with all possible speed conveyed to us; otherwise, we shall not be able to keep such Forces together, as are necessary for this work: And so with tender of our Service, rest  
Your most humble Servants, 

G: Boothe.  
Ph: Mainwaringe.  
Rog: Wilbraham.   Chester Suburbs, Sept. 25. at 3. post Meridiem.   

A true Relation of the great Fight, and Routing the King's forces on Routon Heath, Sept. 24.  
IT pleased God upon Saturday morning, Sept. 20. 1645. about break of day to deliver into the hands of the Cheshire forces, though few in number, under the command of Col: Michael jones, and Adjutant Louthian, The Suburbs of the city of Chester, formerly accounted for to Sir Wil: Brereton; in which expedition (though by storm) we lost but one man; the Enemy fired most part of the Suburbs; Cow-lane, St. John's lane, and the street without the North gate; our care was to hasten to the taking of the City, without which the diseased county could never be cured. Upon the Lord's day we brought in our Artillery, fixed a battery, & upon Monday made a great breach in the wall, resolving to storm it at night, which we endeavoured in 3. or 4. places, but the Ladders proved too short, and the breach too high on the inside, so they made their retreat with the loss of two men, and some wounded. The Suburbs were entered by Captain Gimbert, the breach by Captain Finch, both of them stout and trusty men; though God deferred that mercy we hoped for, in gaining the City, he gave us a better, the utter Routing and spoiling of the King's Army; which was thus performed.  
Our Intelligence upon Monday Sept. 21. was, that the King was at Chirke Castle, intending for Chester: Upon Tuesday, two trusty men were sent to seek Major Gen. Poyntz, who was appointed to follow the King, but we heard nothing of him; they meeting with him at Whitchurch, and acquainting him with our present condition (who were like to be Stormed that night) he hastened away, marched all night, though tired with long marches before: About six a clock Wednesday morning, he advanced within a mile of the Enemy, three miles from Chester, the one not knowing of the other; upon notice, both set themselves in a posture; General Poyntz upon Hatton Heath, divided from the Enemy on the Milne Heath by a Lane, they being betwixt him and the City: he first charged them though upon a disadvantage, because the Enemies whole body was not come up, but had a repulse, in which that gallant Gentleman Col: Graves was sore wounded, & Col: Bothell, but not so dangerously; about 20. men slain, many wounded; but we hear the Enemy's loss was greater, however, upon the retreat, it was noised that Gen: Poyntz was utterly Routed, which was sad news to our Forces in Chester; who upon consultation, at first thought it fit to quit the Suburbs, lest the Army miscarrying, all should be lost; but upon Intelligence that Poyntz kept his ground and stood in a body, they resolved to keep what ground they had gotten for the gaining of Chester, and to assist genetal Poyntz with Horse and Foot, which he sent for, and they promised: The signal of their march from the Suburbs, was the discharge of two piece of Ordnance, at which there was great shouting in General Poyntz camp, who without us could neither charge the Enemy, nor make good their Retreat if need should require: God in his good Providence deferred the work to that time of the day, that we might find the fruit of many Prayers made for us, it being the monthly Fast, and by this accession to vindicate our innocency, who were aspersed for a factious county, and mutinous Soldiery, though we can profess it before God and the world, that we know not that county where the Gentry and Commanders are more firmly semented in the band of true affection then this, nor a Soldiery more obedient to commands, constant upon duty, and now free from mutinies. Many of the Gentlemen of the county resorted to us, gave their best assistance for the carrying on of this Work, upon whose shoulder no small burden lies to regulate these troubled affairs: It was agreed by them, that Col. jones, a dextrous and resolute Soldier, should go out with the command of Horse & Foot, 350. and 500 The Foot were led by Col. john Booth governor of Warington, who was very forward in that Expedition: Adjutant Gen: Louthian a man of known worth, was to keep the suburbs; a work of great trust & courage.  
When these forces joined with Gen. Poyntz there was great joy in the camp, the Enemy form themselves into a body upon Routon Heath, two miles from Chester, and stood in Battalions, being about 5000. as their own party confess, having drained their Garrisons: We hastened towards them in the best posture we could, the Horse was the Battle, because many, the wings were Foot because few; they had the Wind and Sun; we had God with us, which was our Word, counterpoising all disadvantages, and countermanding all strength; a little before 5. a clock, we joined in a terrible storm, firing in the faces of one another, hacking & slashing with swords neither party gained or lost a foot of ground, as if every one were resolved there to breathe their last: Whilst the dispute was so hot and doubtful, our Musquetiers so galled their horse, that their Rear fled, perceiving their loss by them, upon whom they made no Execution: Their Van perceiving that, faced about, and fled also: We had nothing then to do, but to pursue and make Execution, which we did to purpose, for though the ways were strewed with Arms, Portmantles, Cloak-bags, and Horse, we left those to any that would pillage, and fell to Execution: Some part we chased to Holt bridge, the most towards Chester; some say the King was in the field, others that he went out with a party, next after mentioned; but certain it is, he went out from the City by the North gate, and thither retreated, for that gate is without our Works.  
A memorable service was performed by the Shropshire Forces, at the appointment of Lieutenant Louthiane, who were part of them that kept the suburbs. When Colonel jones was marched out to join with General Poyntz, there issued out after him through the North-gate (with which party it's affirmed the King went) about six hundred horse and three hundred foot of the Kings and Queens Regiments and General Gerrard's Lifeguard. Adjutant Louthiane sent after them about two hundred of the Shropshire horse, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Coote in chief, the second division by Colonel Prince, the last by Ma: Fenwicke and two hundred foot commanded by Captain Daniel, these gallantly performed what they undertook, routed and chased the enemy, slew the Earl of Leichfield and others, took divers principal officers and followed the execution four miles.  
After we thought the work was ended, the enemy made head again, and they that escaped in the field and about Chester, joined in another body, fell upon part of our forces with advantage (for they were desperate seeing they had lost the day) drove them to our mud walls, where the guards made execution on them, and some small measure upon ours in the rear, through mistake: so they fled towards Bridgetrafford being ignorant of the Foot, where they were driven into deep ditches, and boggy places. The Country men set on them there, took one hundred horse and sixty persons. Others fled into the forest where they are met with.  
Whilst we were thus engaged in the field the enemy taking advantage of the small number left in the suburbs attempted the regaining of them in many places; but were every where gallantly repulsed with loss by adjutant Louthiane.  
We cannot give a particular account of the number of the slain, which were many, neither know we our own loss, but that it is very small. We have taken the Earl of Portlands' brother, with many considerable persons: Knights, and officers, above one thousand prisoners; And its probable that of the five thousand they say was in the field, the King will hardly rally one thousand, we desire the honour of this victory may be given to God alone, to whom alone it is due, his Instruments behaved themselves gallantly, the Cheshire Horse were kowne most courageous, we desire not vainly to glory in any thing God hath done by us, but let the world say whether we have been backward in the work committed to us as some have suggested.  
Let Soldiers judge what it is for so small a force to maintain the leaguer at Beeston, take and keep the outworks of Chester, to assist others a fare off, and these in the field, and run all hazard, rather than quit a foot of what we have gained. Neither will we fix here: These are but the beginning of action to us, since our new moddle, so successful, so much despised.  
Upon Parliamentary supplies already Petitioned, we trust in him, whose soldiers we are, to give as good account of our after proceed, both in reducing this County and assisting the neighbourhood.   

Prisoners taken at, and after the Routing of the King's Forces on Rowton Heath within two miles of Chester, the twenty fourth of September, 1645.  

Knights and Colonels.  
SIr Philip Musgrave Major General.  
Colonel Sir Thomas Dawbrichcoate.  
Colonel Sir Thomas Dacres.  
Colonel Sir Michael Constable.  
Colonel sir Thomas Goare.  
Colonel sir Henry straddling.  
Colonel johan Philiem Heitter.  
Colonel Weston, son to the late Lord Treasurer.  
Colonel Gifford.  
Colonel Cromwell.  
Colonel Fletcher.   

Lieutenant Colonels.  
Lieuten. Col. Matham.  
L. Colonel Millington.  
L. Colonel Hatton.  
L. Colonel Salkeld.  
L. Colonel Ruly.  
L. Colonel Broughton.  
L. Colonel Rutherford.   

Majors.  
Major William's.  
Major Morris.  
Major Magduggell.  
Major Magdoole.  
Major Lacymouth.   

Captains.  
Captain Martin.  
Captain Swinlue.  
Captain Henshaw.  
Captain White.  
Captain Gibbon.  
Captain Starling.  
Captain Sheley.  
Captain connyer's.  
Captain Johnson.  
Captain Dixon.  
Captain Press.  
Captain Louther.  
Captain Willey.  
Captain Moreton.  
Captain Simpson.  
Captain Bell.  
Captain Boulton.  
Captain Vaughan.  
Captain St. michael's, Capt. of the Queen's Troop, with him a Scarf taken, which the Queen took from about her neck, and gave him to wear as Colours for her.   

Lieutenants.  
Lieutenant cottrel.  
Lieutenant Morgan,  
Lieutenant Bartrom.  
Lieutenant Astelby.  
Lieutenant Story.  
Lieutenant Colborne.  
Lieutenant Constable.  
Lieutenant Mansfield.  
Lieutenant Skipwith.  
Lieutenant Jefferson.  
Lieutenant Power.  
Lieurcnant Brook.  
Lieutenant Whitney.  
Lieurcnant Ellyott.   

Cornets.  
Cornet Elsing.  
Cornet Julyan.  
Cornet Rainsford.  
Comet Morley.  
Cornet Peirson.  
Cornet Fitz-williams'.  
Cornet Smith.   

Quartermasters.  
Thomas Shelden, the King's Quartermaster.  
Quartermaster Collizer.  
Quartermaster Lowe.  
Quartermaster Brere.  
Trumpets five.  
Corporals two.  
Gentlemen of the King's Lifeguard, seventeen.  
Twenty more Gentlemen.  
Troopers between eight hundred and a thousand.  
Master Sherburne of Stannyhurst.  
Master Willam Leighton.  
Master Lewis Darcy.  
Master Henry Boucher.  
Master James Montague.  
Master Gilbert Markham.  
These very considerable Gentlemen.   

Slain.  
Two Lords, 2 Knights, 1. Colonel, 1 lieutenant-colonel, and three hundred and more Officers and common Soldiers.   
FINIS.