Colonel Mittens Reply TO Lieutenant-colonell Reinkings Relation OF The taking of Shrewesburie: Which was printed without Licence, though said (in the Title thereof) to be published by Authority  
THE laying of a design for the taking of the Town of Shrews bury, was in agitation several ways, both by the Committee, and myself, they sent unto Of westrey for me to Wem to consult about it; M. Huson (a Minister) was the only man that first advised us to this way, wherein God gave us the town: after ward one Captain Willier seconded him therein.  
The first attempt we endeavoured to make upon the town, was the 14 of February, but the darkness of the night (and the ill managing of the march) by Lieutenant. Col. Reinking retarded the business so much, that we were feign to retreat for that time.  
Next day being Saturday, in the afternoon, the rest of the Gentlemen of the Committee and myself fell in council how to go on with the design again, and sent for Lieutenant Col. Reinking, M. Huson, Captain Willier, and others to advice with us.  
We did agree to go the next night; being the Sabbath, to surprise the Castle, being much troubled, lest any of the well-affected in the Town 〈◊〉 suffer by reason of our former attempt.  
They that should have gone with me, were the foresaid Lieutenant-colonell, M. Huson, and Captain Willier, we had likewise sent unto Major Fennicke, who was then Governor of Morton Corbet, to go along with us, with what strength he could afford, to second us with the rest of the Forces from Wem, and my Horse; the place were we should have scalled the Castlewall, required ladders five yards long, the ladders we had the night before were so heavy, that they could not be carried under four men to one of them; whereupon I sent for the Joiner (that lives in Wem) to me, and gave him order to make ladders of that length, with two of his feasoned rails, which were so light, that one man might carry one of them a mile with ease. But as we were ready to give order to march, word came from Shrewsbury, that they kept out Scouts towards Wem: therefore we thought fit to proceed no further at that time, and sent likewise to countermand Major Fennicke, who was to meet us upon our march.  
I stayed with them (as I remember) at Wem, till Tuesday in the evening: Upon the Monday before I went, we did agree to fall upon their Garrison at Atcham (having great hopes we should gain it) and did intent to fortify it strongly, it being a place upon the river of Severne, within two miles of Shrewsbury, which would much annoy the town: but P. Maurice being at Chester, we conceived our strength was not sufficient to defend the place, till we had made it tenable, and did agree to send to Sir William Brereton to borrow some of his Auxiliaries, and so for that time I took my leave of the rest of the Gentlemen of the Committee, and went to my Garrison to Oswestree, they promising me, and (Colonel Hunt in particular) desiring that if I had any design, I would make them acquainted, and when they were to go upon any they would acquaint me.  
Upon the Friday following they sent me a Letter to Oswestree (about four in the afternoon I received it) mentioning their march upon a design that night, wherein they desired me to have an eye upon Prince Maurice, lest he should send some party to fall upon them, and wherein they wrote, that they would have a regard to my honour in the first place.  
Between 7 and 8 of the clock, Capt. john Betton being with me I shown him the Letter, so he and I advising together, we resolved speedily to be gone, not making any one acquainted which way we went: I sent to Lieutenant-colonell Pope, to come along with us, who brought with him two or three of his Troop, and I myself had only one man, but sent to all my Horse to follow, which they did with great speed: we met them upon their march upon the old heath, a mile from the Suburbs, though Lieutenant-colonell Reinking sets forth, that they were in the Suburbs before I came in unto them: and whereas he saith, that he had only two light marches, I caused them to put out thirty and above, ask them if they would surprise the town with light matches: Colonel Lloyd, when I shown him the light matches, being also much displeased.  
Upon my first coming in, I went (as lieutenant-colonel Reinking reports) to the Gentlemen of the Committee, and saluted them, and asked them the reason why they had not sent me more timely notice of the design, they answered (and Mr. Charlton in particular) that they did only intent to have a scrip at Shrewsbury, as they passed by: but their greatest hope was to possess themselves of Atcham.  
I kept constantly with the Horse, sometimes with the Gentlemen of the Committee, sometimes with others: they that came with me from Oswestree and I, being not one from the other all night, according to our promise that we made to one another: this mean while Lieutenant-colonell Reinking went on with the Foot, as he sets forth, (leaving all the Horse behind him upon the Heath) I being in the Van of them with Capt. More, the Alarm was given unto the town: whereupon (as Mr. Huson told me and others) that Leiutenant-colonell Reinking would have gone back, had it not been for him: and thereupon he himself took a sledge, and went to the Palisadoes, by whose encouragement, and Capt. Williers, they went on again, and made their way thorough them: The mean while I went on with: the Horse into the Suburbs, where we found the Lord colvil, and where-we stayed near a quarter of an hour before the Foot could break an iron chain to let us pass to the gate. From thence I marched straight to the gate, where we stayed near upon a quarter of an hour before it was opened, which being done much about the break of day, I entered with the Horse the first myself, one would have entered before me, but I wished him to forbear, which he did till I entered: we went direct to wards the main guard, our Foot being beaten back by them, they very earnestly cried for the Horse, we made all haste possible unto their relief, (those that came with me from Oswestree being still with me) and Captain More one of the Committee, when we came into the Hay-street, we thought to have entered upon them thorough a narrow passage between some Draper's shops, but were beaten thence, and they killed one of our horses: whereupon Captain john Betton ●●d us 〈◊〉 along the Hay-street, and so by Chads Church, by which means we surrounded them: and then, and not till then, they fled.  
As soon as they were dispersed, I called for an old Gentleman (my Uncle) that lodged the next house to that guard: while I was talking with hion qume of the Committee, and Lieutenant-colonell Reinking went to the Castle shinking to have it delivered unto them, and did agree upon terms with them thereon: but when they came to surrender it, they asked. To whom they should deliver it? the Committee told them. to L. Col. Reinking they asked, whether I was not there: the Committee answered, I was in Town; they replied, They would not deliver it till I came: where upon the Committee sent M. Charlos Langford, who came in great haste to me: I went presently with him, and had it delivered unto me: I myself went to the gate of the Castle, and with my own hands (as they passed out) wrote, the names and quality of all the Soldiers therein, and gave the list of them to Colonel Lloyd.  
So when they were all gone out, and sent with a guard to the stone bridge, (excepting the Irish, upon whom I put a difference in the lift that I gave Gelonell Lloyd) I entered the Castle first, divers others of the Gentlemen of the Committee being there, and followed me.  
So it will here plainly appear, that (upon my coming) the order he standeth. upon, to be Commander in chief, was in valid, I being the ancientest Colonel in that County, having a Commission for three Regiments, as also that I came in to them a mile before they came into the Suburbs, and that Lieutenant-colonell Reinking had more than two lighted matches, and that I took the command of the horse upon me, and that I led up the horse to beat the main guard, which were not beaten away, till the Horse surrounded them, and that the Castle was surrendered unto me.  
These things I never intended to have published, but that Lie●●●nant-Colonell Reinking put forth a pamphlet upon Saturday last (as I conceive) to my dishonour: I having formerly written to, and reported in the House of Commons, contrary to what he caused to be printed.  
Tho. Mytton▪   

Printed according to Order, by R. Austin.