A PERFECT RELATION of the taking of LEICESTER: With the several marches of the of the Kings Army since the taking thereof. colonel Hastings being made the governor. With the state of the Town at this present. And how they plunder the country.  
ALSO, How Northampton horse skirmished with the Kings, and what loss on both sides. With the condition of both Armies, and their several rendezvous fully made known.  

Published by Authority.   
LONDON, Printed for John Wright at the sign of the Kings-head in the Old-baily. 1645.   

A perfect Relation of the taking of Leicester, and of the several marches and proceedings of the Kings Forces since the taking thereof.  
SIR,  
TO satisfy your request in your Letter touching the condition of Leicester, I have endeavoured to inform myself from the most moderate and understanding men that were sufferers in that general loss, and eye-witnesses of the whole carriage of that sad business, that are since fled hither for refuge. On Wednesday at night May the 28. a strong party of the Kings horse faced the town, and by quartering at the adjacent Villages hindered the supplies from the country. On Thursday their Artillery were drawn up near the Town, and by the direction of some malignants of the town, who had formerly gone out of it, or were put out, their great Guns were planted against some of the weakest places of their works: by Friday night they made wide breaches, which by the industry of the men and women of the town were some of them made up again with Wool▪ packs, and other materials; but the enemy pressing hard upon them with their numbers, and that round about the town they were hard put to it, the enemy being numerous without, and they but few within, and the works very large; the line is near three miles in compass, the foot Souldiers in pay in the town not exceeding 450, and the townsmen in arms, with some of the country that came in to their assistance made the souldiary about 1000 in all, who by reason of the smallness of their numbers, and the largeness of their works, were enforced to duty Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights together, the enemy keeping them in constant alarms, which did so tyre out the towns▪ men that they were the more unfit for the refi●ting the furious enemy, though to give them their due they did as much as could be expected considering the opposition, for the enemy had about 4000 foot, who stormed in so many places at once, that the defendants wanting reserves were the ea●ilier over▪ mastered. The storm began about one of the clock on saturday morning May the 31. and lasted at the walls about two hours, the enemy being all this while strongly resisted and lost many in the work, they were three times beaten back, but their horse who were behind the foot did force them on again, about 20 several bodies of foot storming at once, 200. or 300. in a place, and driven on by as many horse as oft as they were driven to retreat, and when they did break in they were by ours driven back● again until oppressed by multitudes, and entering in many places at once ours were driven to the market-place, where our horse that all this while had backed our foot, and kept them to their duty, now were themselves put to it, and did behave themselves resolutely▪ and held the fight in the Town almost an hour after, betaking themselves to places of strength, enforced quarter for their lives, and some of them escaped, having gotten the enemies word( which was God and the Prince.) At their first coming in they slaughtered many, until ours had laid down their arms and yielded themselves prisoners and then they fell to their plundering work, and catching of men to be their prisoners, executing their accustomend cruelty to men and women to find out their money, and best goods. The Gentlemen of the Committee, Sir Robert Py●, and mayor Enis were carried before the Princes to their inn, who disposed them to several houses as prisoners, the two last upon their parol were set at liberty to procure exchange, the Committee are yet kept prisoners in the town many other Gentlemen of the country and Officers of the garrison were sent with the best of the plunder to their several garrisons of Newarke, Litchfield, and Belvore, 140 cart loads of the best goods and wears in the shops were sent away by saturday noon towards Newarke with a convoy of horse. I find some of the Pamphlets speaking of the horrid cruelty of the insulting enemy, putting man, woman, and child to the sword. I know their tender mercies are cruelties, but give the devil his due, there was indeed many slain at the first entrance, and some that made little resistance, and some women and children amongst the multitude by the rabble of common souldiers▪ but I cannot learn of any such order given to destroy all, as is said by some, and it is the general opinion of many that have since got out of the town that in the conflict and since there was not slain of the Parliaments party, souldiers and others, above 100. and some of those in their could blood, after they had granted quarter of life, picking out some active men and setting common souldiers to quarrel with them and slay them, but of these not many. It is confidently believed that not above 300 are slain on both sides, the Town was full of wealth which the Countries had brought in for safety, they took their nine pieces of Ordnance, great and small, above 1000 Muskets: near 400 horse and arms, and about 50 barrels of Powder, besides what was spent in the service. The greatest defect was want of men▪ though the Town was not well fortified, nor was there Ordnance to reach from one work to another; It were to be wished that Garrisons of such concernment to the kingdom might be taken care off, that they might have at least 1000 foot souldiers in pay, which had this place had, with the help of the townsmen, in all probability that might have kept out the enemy, and made them pay for their bold attempt, colonel Hastings is made governor there, who now bestirs himself in the fortifying the town, which if soon visited may in probability yet be regained.  
Upon Tuesday Iun● 3, the Kings horse advanced Southwards, and kept his general randezvo●z at Newton five miles on this side Leicester, on Wednesday he removed to Ki●worth five miles from Harbrough and on Thursday morning his horse came to Maydwell eight miles from Northampton and in the afternoon they came to Brixworth and other adjacent To●nes and sent out their warrants all over the northeast par●s of t●is County▪ and taxed every Town some at 100 pound, some 200 pound, and some less some more, upon penalty of being plundered of their goods, and their houses fired, and by this means they have gathered great sums of money: and some of the towns having paid the sum first set, another company comes and chargeth them again at a second, and after that a third, and all have been enforced to be paid; on Thursday night about eight of the clock, a party of their horse came within two miles of Northampton, we took that day divers prisoners, who all agreed that the whole body of horse and foot were drawing up this way, which gave us a timely alarum; on Friday and Saturday they continued their taxing the country towns, and their horse lye in several places in great bodies to collect their tax, we daily take of their men in the towns, and our troopers skirmishing with them, Sir John N●rwich governor of Rockingham hath sent out his troope daily, who have taken many prisoners, he sent in hither 30 at one time to be kept here. On saturday june 7. the King with all his foot and carriages marched from Harbrough to Daventry in Northamptonshire. This night came in our 400 foot had been before Oxford at the Leaguer▪ and this night Sir Thomas Fairfax his army quarter about Oleny and Newport panel, to whom this day joined colonel Ver●uden with his 2000 horse and 500 Dragooners, the two armies being within 16 miles each of other. The Kings army drive men and cattle along with them, that the towns may come after them and redeem them for money: The Kings head quarter is this day at Daventry eight miles from Northampton, his horse in the villages adjacent, he hath about 14 pieces of Ordnance, and about 200 carriages, much of the wealth of Leicester▪ and his men are full of money they plunder from the Country, the King drives multitudes of Beasts and Sheep before his Army, it is supposed to counterfeit Oxford; this day we took eleven of theirs prisoners, and slay five, most of them full of money and good clothes, those that have seen both Armies say they differ not much in numbers▪ the Kings horse seeming more, but not so good nor so well armed, and his foot nothing so well provided as ours, the Lord give us courage and faithfulness▪ ●nd stand by us in the day of battle, and find out and discover those have occasioned so much misery to the heart of the kingdom, I am confident the Counties of Stafford, Warwick, Leicester, and Northamption have suffered more within six weeks then would pay our new army six moneths, and their weekly taxes and other charges for 12. to the utter undoing of many thousands, and the impoverishing of others both friends and foes, for I am sure I can have abundant testimony from those that at first had them welcome to Town, and directed them to the roundheads houses and grounds, where they first began their cruelty, but it ended on their pates as well as purses, that thought they should have found them their friends; for the good party having obscured themselves, they to keep their hands enure exercised their cruelty one whom they could meet, And found their cattle would yield as round money as others, and they to be delivered from their cruelty would give as round sums; those pretended to be their friends, they with horrid execration cursed, and bad them if they were friends bring in their money, swearing at the next progress they would not leave them worth a penny, telling them all they had was the Kings, and he had given it to them would fight for him, they having no other pay.  
On Sabbath day I 〈…〉 ●. there came in divers souldiers both horse and foot from Leicester that had been prisoners about a week, and were exchanged for so many of Esham prisoners sent hither▪ in all 100 horse and foot souldiers, the like number being to be released here for them) and they inform us that there was 300 released on Thursday last, for so many from Warwick, Coventry and Stafford; Here is yet about 100 more, most of them lately taken in this country of the Kings party, which will release more, the enemy no● knowing what to do with so many pri●oners; few of the 800 souldiers horse and foot taken prisoners at Leicester would by any means take up arms for the other party though they were daily solicited both by threats and promises: onely on Smith a Lieutenant who let th●m▪ i● as soon as he could, is since made a captain by colonel Hastings, and he persuaded ●bout forty foot souldiers to take up arms with him, but some of them have since disserted him, and got to Coventry: All speak the feaseablenesse of regaining the town, if attemp●ed before the n●● 〈…〉 be made▪ which they a●e a●out to do in a part of the town; and of their cruelty to the Scotts, slaying divers of them in could blood after quarter given to them, but this is said to be by the Irish in the Kings Army, and English Papists their adherents. The King still continues at Daventry and our army in their quarters, our horse have been abroad this day and slain two of the enemy and brought one prisoner, I hear but of one of our men lost in all these encounters▪ and he is come home upon exchange; I have been more particular and large then ordinary, because you wrote twice for the same thing, an● seem to be affencted with the business of Leicester, which we have all ●ause to be, and I pray God we may never forget to do them the best good we can by our prayers, purses, and pains, knowing that nothing hath befallen them, that we are not subject unto, a sanctified use whereof both to them and us, is the earnest prayer of your loving friend.  
Northampton, June 9. 1645.  
 
IT is said that Langdale did quarrel at Leicester, that the King did not advance North, as he had promised him and others, and the King promised him within 15 dayes to go● that way, else he and other northern men would have left hi● service.  
FINIS.