A DECLARATION OF His EXCELLENCY the Earl of Leven: Concerning the rising of the Scotish Army from the Siege of the City of HEREFORD. Published by Authority. LONDON, Printed by M. B. for Robert Bostock at the King's head in Paul's Churchyard. 14. Sep. 1645. A Declaration of his Excellency the Earl of LEVEN, concerning the rising of the Scottish Army from the siege of the City or Hereford. LLest the misrepresentation of our afaires at a distance, and the misconstructions of such as want affection, might possibly beget a misunderstanding of the reality and sincerity of our ●●…emions a●● desires, to be useful to this Kingdoms, and to improve every opportunity and advantage for advancing the Public Service; I have thought it necessary to declare and make known the grounds and reasons of the rising of this Army from the liege of Hereford: Which are as followeth: At our first undertaking of this Service we had large promises, for furnishing and providing our Army with Victual and with all materials necessary for a siege; in both which we have been exceedingly disappointed. Concerning the first, The Honourable Houses of Parliament did appoint 200. l. per diem to be assessed upon Herefordshire and the adjacent Counties, to be paid to the Infantry of the Army, whereof they never received a farthing, but for the most part have been left to their own shift, and constrained to eat fruit and the Corns that were growing upon the ground, and now for these six or seven month's past, have received but one month's Pay, which was advanced by the City of London. As the Army hath been much discouraged for want of necessary Provisions for their maintenance, so the Service hath been exceedingly retarded by the want of battering Pieces and Ball, for we had only from Gloucester three Guns of eighteen pound Ball, and to each of them fifty Ball, so that we were forced to send to the Iron Mills to cause more Ball to be cast, which spent a great deal of time; we entertained fifty Miners, and when the Mines were brought to perfection, they were drowned by reason of eight days continual rain, the Town being low in situation; Notwithstanding all which discouragements, after consultation with the general Officers, Orders were issued upon Monday the first of this instant, to the several Regiments, to make ready for a Storm against the next morning; but within a few hours after these orders were issued, there came a Messenger from Evesham with intelligence that the King's Horse, being about 3000. had a Rendezvous on Broadway and Cambden-Hill, and were marching to Worcester: This intelligence was immediately confirmed by Letters from the Committee of Evesham, and from Gloucester, to the Commissioners of Parliament, and from Colonel Freeman and Colonel Deverux, (who sent a Copy of a Letter which he had from one of his servants,) some of those Informations say the Enemy was 7000. others say 6000. and at least 3000. All this could not have made us alter our former resolutions, but at the same time we received a Letter from Lieutenant General David Lesley, showing that he was gone to Scotland with the whole Party of Horse and Dragoones under his command. In this conjuncture we were not a little perplexed how to carry ourselves, for when we thought upon all the pains and hazard we had undergone, and the fair probability of our speedy compassing the end we proposed therein, we were very desirous to have continued in our resolutions, and the next day to have adventured a storm; but the Enemy's Forces consisting in Horse and Dragoones, and we having no considerable strength of Horse to interpose betwixt us and their Quarters, which were so near, that they might easily have assaulted us before our breaches could be made, and so have interrupted us in the midst of the action; It was generally conceived a very dangerous attempt, for if the Enemy's forces should fall upon us before we could enter the Town, it was the apparent ruin and destruction of the Army: And albeit we had been assured to carry the place before the King's Forces could have come this length, (which by our intelligence we find was not possible for us to do,) yet having no considerable strength of Horse to oppose the Enemy, all the ways and passages had been close shut up by their Cavillry, all accommodation of draughts and Provisions of Victuals had been totally cut of, beside many more inconveniences, from which we knew no way how to be relieved. For preventing of all which, and the preservation of this Army, for the Public good of both Kingdoms, (which is the measure of our desires, and the end of all our Actions) after a full debate and serious deliberation, it was resolved by the Committee of both Kingdoms, residing with this Army, that the Siege should be raised, and thereupon orders were given for drawing off the whole body of the Army to the open Fields, which was accordingly performed next morning, without any loss upon our side, and the Enemy several times sallying forth, both with Horse and Boat, were beaten back with the loss of divers, both Officers and Soldiers. These grounds and reasons impartially weighed, will evidence a conjuncture of necessities laid upon us for preferring the safety of the Army to the uncertain event of a dangerous assault, in the now posture of affairs, when a cruel Enemy is master of the Fields in Scotland, and for these three weeks past, hath rob, plundered and spoiled the substance of that Kingdom at his pleasure, destroying the Lands and houses of the well affected by fire, and imprisoning their persons, for all which he pretendeth no other quarrel, but the assistance given by us to this Kingdom, which as it was performed with much readiness and cheerfulness, and no less expense in the hardest season of the year, and when this Kingdom was in its lowest condition: So we are confident to meet with the like kindness and cheerful affection in the day of our calamity, when the Lord is pleased to hid his countenance from us for our sins and provocations against him. LEVEN. Gentlemen, KNowing the great Importance, that the knowledge of the motion of the King's Army may be unto you, in discharge of our duty; these are to signify unto you That yesterday the King's Army kept their Rendezvouz near Marton in Marsh, where the King was in Person: (since we hear he is gone to Oxford.) This morning his Army Rendezvouzed upon Broadway-Hills, and are marching over Bidford-bridge, and thence to Worcester (as prisoners taken by us inform us. Their Commanders in Chief, are General Gerrard, and Sir Marmaduke Langdale, their number about 3000 Horse, scarce any Dragoons; their Horse are much spent with their long marches: How fare this may concern Hereford, is referred to your Judicious consideration, by Evesham, 31 of August, 1645. Your affectionate Friends and humble Servants Edward Rouss. William Lingon. John Dormer. Sam. Knightley. Edward Smith. For the Honourable, the Commoners of Parliament of England, residing with the Scottish Army. Gentlemen, We have Intelligence but now, from the Committee of worcester, which we were by them desired to communicate to you, That upon Saturday last the King's Army kept their Rendezvous near Marton in Marsh, (where the King was in Person) That yesterday morning the King kept his Rendezvous upon Broadway-Hills, and did march over Bidford-bridge, and thence to Worcester, they were about 3000 Horse, few Dragoons, or none, their Horse much spent, Commanded by Langdale, and Gerrard: The King himself is gone to Oxford. The which having acquainted you with, we rest assured, that you will presently acquaint the General, with Gloucester 1. of Septemb. 1645. GENTLEMEN, Your loving Friends and Seevants Tho. Morgan. William Shepheard. Henry Jones. For our much honoured Friends, the Commoners apppointed to assist the Scottish Army residing in Herefordshire. May it please your Excellency NO sooner had I addressed myself to the obedience of your Commands in settling part of our Brigade in a ready posture to serve your Excellency, but I received this intelligence. That the Enemy fell upon Captain Bernard and Captain Ennes Quarters at Cambden, and took all their men but two, which brought me the news thereof, they tell me that they march 6000. strong in horse, but neither trame of Artillery nor Infantry attending them. The smallest number I hear of is 3000. very able horse newly recruited out of the associated Counties, and joining with Oxenford, Wallingford, Woodstock, Radfoord, Faningson, and Banbury Horse. I am uniting all the Foot possibly I may, and have drawn all my Horse to pursue the Rear, and if their Army come towards your Excellency, I will leave that pursuit, and draw all the Force I can to serve you. In the mean time I shall beg your Excellency to esteem me Corssour the first of. Septemb. 1645. The humblest of your Excellency's servant EDW. FREEMAN. Honourable Master: THese are to certify you that His Majesty came yesternight into into Worcester, they say he hath 7000. Soldiers, the speech is amongst the Soldiers, they are this day to go to Cannon-Froom; if you please to send by this Messenger where I shall meet some other man to morrow morning, you shall have further Intelligence, and in the interim I will use the best means I can to further the business. Septemb. 1. 1645. Your servant Sic subs. ¶ For Colonel Devereux. May it please your Excellency: I Did acquaint you formerly with my resolution to go to Scotland, with four Regiments of Horse and a Regiment of Dragoones, and leave the rest under the command of General Major Middleton; but I am since forced to alter that resolution; for the sad news of the last defeat of our Army near Kilfith, and of the enemies being Master of the field at home being noised abroad amongst the common Soldiers, they all openly professed that none of them would stay, but all go for relief of their native Country. Upon which consideration, and the confidence that Colonel General Poyntz professed to me, that with his own and the rest of the Country Forces, he was strong enough to oppose the King. I have marched with the whole party for Scotland, expecting your further Orders, which shall be carefully obeyed by Nottingham 26. August 1645. Your Excellencies most humble servant DAVID LESLEY. FINIS.