A COPY OF COLLNEL MASSEYS' LETTER: Of all the particulars of the great Fight between him, and Prince RUPERT, at Ledbury on Wednesday the 22.th of April, 1645.  
With the number and Names of the Chief of those that were Killed, and taken on both sides. AS ALSO The taking of to Piece of Ordnance by Colonel MASSEY at Lydney.  

Die Jovis Maii, 1. 1645.  
Commanded to be Printed, and is published according to Order.   
LONDON, Printed by THO: FORCET, 1645.   

A Copy of Colonel MASSEY'S Letter.  
SIR:  
ON Tuesday last the 21th. of this instant April, an Dom. 1645. Prince Rupert marching all that Night came the next Morning, Wednesday the 22th. before Ludbury; where I than was, but the Enemy intercepting 8. Scouts, we had no Intelligence, till they were near at hand. The Enemy advanced, and charged into the Town upon us; and myself (with divers Gentlemen. viz. Major Harlow, Lieutenant Colonel Kerle, Major Bacchus, Captain Gifford, Captain Mo●e, and Captain Baily, with some others and some common Soldiers, with the assistance of 200 Musketeers out of the County forces received them; And so soon as we received the Alarm, we drew out upon them, and marching close up to them, fell on them, beat them to a retreat, and made it good against them, so long till my Foot might retreat a secure way to Gloucester. After the foot we marched off, and out of the town we had two or three hot Charges upon them, where we slew near 40 of the Enemy's men, and the most of them that were killed were Officers, at which Charge (as it seems) the Lord Hastings with some others of quality were slain. On our part we had very few killed not above 6 or 7. But I was enforced myself still to Charge in the head of all my troops to encourage all the Warwick and Northampton horse; I and my Officers berring the heat of the day.  
At length, intending to retreat to our place of advantage (some horse of those fent to me not standing to it, as they should have done) the Eneme got in amongst our Foot; but we redeemed that again, and marched off into the field.  
The Enemy have sent us a list of the Prisoners which they took from us: the number by their own list is 110 Prisoners, but above 80 of those were none of my men, only such Country people as they swept away with them in their retreats, that did never bear Arms, only they carried them away to cause them by money, or making friends for exchange to redeem themselves: my Major, Serjeant major Bacchus is desperately wounded in the head, and was carried away Prisoner by the Enemy to Hereford. Major. Harlow had a sleight wound in the head, and another in the arm, but came bravely off; Captain Baily and Captain Foster, with some other common men of ours are taken Prisoners by them. I have sent for their freedom by exchange of some of those Prisoners I took from them, many of them being of quality, enough to redeem them all if they were thrice as many.  
Prince Rupert sent me word by my Trumpeter that I sent, that in the fight he sought me out, but knew not till after, no more than I knew him. But it seems we charged each other, and he shot my horse under me, and I did as much for him. At that Charge many Commanders of theirs fell.  
Prince Rupert is (I hear) very much enraged to undertake so great and toilsome a march, and so much to miss his end. I had by God's blessing my intentment, and stopped his present march Northward, to God be the glory.  
Prince rupert's Army by the report of the Country, is noised about to be 6 or 7000 Horse and Foot: who are now upon their march again towards Ludlow, and so, as I hear, intent for Salop, if they be not prevented again, which must be by a more considerable strength than I have.  
The forces that were with me, were in all about 5000 Foot, and 350 Horse, nor were these all with me at Lydbury, for my Guards were not come up.  
The Enemy brag little of their getting, but lament much; the Names of the Commanders and Officers that were slain by us, I shall send you by the next.  
April the 25. 1645. Your humble Servant, E. MASSEY.  
Postscript.  
MY last letter told you that Lydney house was stred and Sir john Winter ran away by the light of the flames, and for hast over-ran 2 of his great Guns, one demi Culverin one Sakre, and three brases of Iron murderers, which he left behind at Lydney to do a courtesy. Sir john fired all the way he went, till our forces drove them to Chester pursuing him over the bridge.  
Whereas some Malignants have noised abroad that a great defeat hath been given to Colonel Massey; and have been so bold as to report it to have come from Colonel Masseyes' own mouth, and that he having lost 150 Prisoners retreated to Gloucester, that himself was wounded; flying away with 〈◊〉 horse which is so false; and full of poison and Malignancy, to desparage the proceed of that g●lant Gentleman that I dare warrant you it hath been drawn out from Oxford, only to lesson the honourable Victories Colonel Massey hath obtained with but, an handful of men. It is therefore thought fit that this letter (coming from Colonel Massey himself the same being also confirmed by divers other letters) should be Printed and published to make those Malignants ashamed, who have formented such abominable, and filthy lies; which however those viners seek to poison us by being permitted in the bosom of the City, yet a sudden course will be taken with them.  
The Malignants have not only done so in this business of Colonel Massey but in divers other things, and when we have notice of some Victory obtained by any of the Parliaments forces, then presently they raise some lie or other of a second charge or something they will have to lesson or extennate the former.  
I wonder how any impudent Malignant that hath stood so stiff in charging so great a loss (as hath been reported upon Colonel Massey,) can for shame show their faces to those they reported it.  
But hereafter other manner of course wi●● be ●a●en with the broachers and fomenters of such Malignant lies.  
FINIS.