A Full RELATION Of the great defeat given to the Cornish Cavaliers, By Sergeant Major General Chudley.  
Confirmed by divers Letters from those parts to several Merchants in London.   printer's or publisher's device 
LONDON, Printed for Edward Blackmore. May. 3. 1643.   

A full Relation of the great defeat given to the Cornish Cavaliers.  
OUr Army consisting of 1500. Musquetiers, 200. Pikes, 5. Troops of Horse, under command of Sergeant Major General Chudleigh, advanced out of Devon. into Cornwall, over Poulson bridge, near Lancestone, Sunday moring last, and there fought with the whole force of Cornwall all that day, till near midnight, and was in danger to have been cut off, the enemy being so many, and having hemmed them round to stop their retreat into Devon. which they had done, had not Col: merrick's Regiment of Lond. Grace coats, under command of Lieutenant Col. Calmady, which went out of Plymouth the Saturday after noon, and rescued our Army, when the enemy had well-nigh encompassed them round, the grey coats falling on them bravely, so that our Army themselves killed and hurt them many men, some say 150. so as they made the enemy retreat, and so our men came freely off, making an honourable retreat, not losing any thing, only having some eight or ten men killed at most.  
By Monday morning all our Forces were safely arrived into Devonshire again, and whatever the matter was, I cannot learn, some difference there was, so as part of our Army dispersed themselves, the rest being not above 600. Foot and 3. Troops of Horse, the Tuesday night quartered at Ockhampton, and about nine of the clock at night unthought on, one of the Quartermasters riding out to get quarter to some village near the town for their Troopers, met three scouts of the enemies, who fired their Carbines at him, whereon he set spurs to his horse, discovered the enemy's Army, which we hear consisted of 4000 Foot and 400. horse and Dragoons marching towards Ockhampton to cut off our Forces there, who little expected them, the enemy as it seems intending to fall upon them in the dead of the night. But now mark and observe the providence of God, most wonderfully and miraculously, in delivering our Forces from these cruel enemies.  
The Sergeant major General understanding of the enemies near approach by the Quartermasters relation, calling a sudden counsel, presently commanded the Horse being but 108. in all, (who were going to their quarters before this news came) to divide themselves in squadrons, having speedly marched first to the brow of a hill where the enemy was to pass, and in that order to remain till the enemy came home upon them, and upon pain of death no man to show himself, till the enemy should march full upon them, and when they came, on whose quarter soever they should first light, those squadrons first to charge, and to charge them through and through, and to shout, crying, Fall on, fall on, They run, they run. This being thus bravely and speedily designed, was as resolvedly and valiantly put in execution, for it so fell out, that the enemy first approached to Captain Drakes quarter, who having divided those of his Troop, consisting but of 36. into tow squadrons of 18. each commanded them to follow him, and not to give fire till they see him give fire, and so put spurs to horse, and charged the enemy's horse and Dragoons, giving the shout, Fall on, fall on, pistolled the first man he met, knocked out the brains of the next with his pole-axe, and so made way through for the rest of his squadron, who as bravely followed him, and after him his Lieutenant with the other 18. crying, Fall on, fall on, They run, they run, and on the other parts, Captain Gold, Captain Pym, Sergeant Major Chudleigh himself as bravely fell on the body of the foot, charging them through, making them throw down their Arms, and cry for quarter. This being done, all with 108. Troopers, the Foot remaining in the Town being but about 600. in all, who had command to make good the town for retreat, where also their Ordnance and Ammunition was, after the first rout, again about midnight our enemy faced about again, when our Foot also came out upon 400. of them, and together with about 60. or 70. of the Horse so bravely charged them, that they dispersed them in a shameful manner, make them turn back, and again to retreat for Cornwall. Our Horse had so far pursued them, that they had almost got their two brass Ordnance, which they had in possession, but the Foot were not come up to bring them away: So not being of number sufficient, thought it not good to go too far, but returned back to Ockhampton with honour, being so well employed in the rout, took only some 20. prisoners, killed some 20. more, and not a man of ours lost. They have taken upon 1000 men's Arms, and 100 in 150. of their horses.  
We are now gathering a considerable army together, and intent by God's help to march into Cornwall. Our men are now all courageous and hearty, seeing the wonderful mercy of God, who gives the victory to few as well as to many, and fights the battles of his servants, to whom be the glory and honour of his mercy and goodness ascribed forever.   

Barum the 28 of April, 1643. 
 My constant friend,  
YOur health wished, etc. I received your Letter by the Post, and do thank you for your intelligence, our forces being not above 1500. lay on Friday last 10. miles from Lancestone, but on saturday they advanced to Liston within 3. miles of Lancestone, and yet in Devon where they thought to have met with 3. or 4. regiments of trayners those being all Seamen and Volunteeres, but there was no aid came thither as was promised by the Lieutenants: Sergeant Major Chudleigh commanding in chief. Of these 1500. on Sunday morning at 10. of the clock marched over Poulson-bridge into Cornwall, upon this ground hearing that there was not above 1000 men and that of Sir Bevel greenvil's Regiment, so that he thought to have set upon Lancestone, but before they came near the Town the Cavaliers came out and lay half a mile off the Town in hedges, and shot upon our men from 10 till 3. or 4. of the clock but our men beat them from hedge to hedge till they were come near home to the Town; and then about 5. or 6. of the clock there was 2. or 3. Regiments came in to the help of the Cavaliers, but we held two or three small brass pieces which did great execution among them, but their number being so much increased they were like to have begirt our men round, and had sent a great number to the bridge, but by the providence of God 500 of the E. of Stampfords' men came in from Plymoth and cleared the bridge, and our men made a fair retreat about 9 of the clock at night on Sunday and marched to Southampton, but I must tell you that our men killed above 20. for one, we lost but 8. men, and they lost above 200. and some say for certain 240. whereof M. Basset their high Sheriff was one shot in two by our brass pieces, blessed be God for this mercy. Well, our men on Monday came to Southampton 15. miles from Lanson in the way to Exeter: The Cavaliers on Tuesday advanced from Lanson into Devon, Sir Ralph came but with 4000 almost starved poor Cornish and 500 horse, our men by their Scouts sent out, brought news to Major Chudleigh that the Cornish Army was within 4. miles of the Town, they sent out 3. Troops of Horse, Major Chudleigh, Captain Gould and Cap. Drake which in all made but 108. horse, who lay close under a hill where the enemy was to come, who just in the edge of the evening came to the place, our horse possessed, our men presently charged the Van very furiously, got their word, and fell in among them pel mel: Cap: Drake slew 12. or 13. with his battle axe and sword, and one of his Corporals the like number, he charged through and through the midst of the Army, and had the foot come up had gotten their guns, being 3. they had possession of them but wanted foot to carry them away: It is thought the Cavaliers killed one another, seeing they saw them kill their fellows that had the word, there was no difference but our men in the moonlight knew every one by his scarf and colours, our men killed above 120. of them, took 6. or 700. Arms, buff coats and scarlet coats store, 12. drums, 3. Ensigns. 11. prisoners, swans feathers and much other pillage, and beat them back to Lancestone where they shamefully arrived wednesday the fast day, but we must not ascribe it to man but to God, that they had this great success, being above 45. to one man. One thing is remarkable, that as soon our horse charged them being on a great down; it grew dark and it thundered and lightened in a very terrible manner, and the thunderclap broke just over their heads and then rain extraordinary, and it was a very great wind and hard weather all that day and night, and they were amazed at our sudden charge, that they ran amain to save their lives, so let all our enemies perish.  
There was a Letter intercepted which came from the King, going to Sir Ralph Hopton 3. or 4. days since near Exon wherein he wrote that he should come away to his help speedily, and it is thought that if he could have cut off that little force we had in Southampton then he would have plundered the Country where he had gone, and so gone away to the King, but he is gone to his corner with weeping cross: Lord Major lost his, scarlet coat and Sir Straning his scarf and many beaver hats found cut and hewed, it is thought is 5000. hurt of them, he lost in the last fight 5. or 6. horses but not one man, and 3. or 4. hurt, God's name be glorified. Pray let us hear what news, you I hope this week will produce great news, God send it to be good, under God this war dothly much on the E. of Essex his Army if well or ill, therefore it concerns London to afford him all the help you possible can, your true friend for Jerusalem's peace, I rest,  
W. N.  
I hear the Letter from the King was written upon white satin and found in a clokebag, wherein was many papers, and will discover all our Malignants of Devon.   
FINIS.