A LETTER FROM Colonel Pane Governor of Abbington, TO Major General Browne: CONCERNING The gaining of Abbington by the Enemy, and its recovery by our Forces. Withal the several passages in the taking and retaking of the same.  
With an other Letter from an Officer of the said Gerrison to a worthy Friend.  
Commanded to be forthwith printed and Published.  
LONDON, Printed for William Leake. 1645.   

 Tudor rose  Scottish thistle  French fleur-de-lis  depiction of Irish harp  
Honourable Sir,  
I Had not an opportunity to send my Letters formorly written, and now God hath afforded an occasion to speed away this Messenger on purpose, to let you know, that the last night the enemy drew out of Oxford with a strong party of 1000 horse, and all the strength they could make of foot, and notwithstanding all our parties abroad, and our horse-guard, they came between Thrupp and Norcot to Barton-house, and kept covert till daylight, and lay still after the Ravaly was beaten, and our out-Centinels called in, and then suddenly arising out of their Ambushment, taking the advantage our works (being caved out) at the Spurr, and other places, forced our guards, beat them all from the works, entered above 300 men, possessed themselves of Abby-guard, Spurr-guard, Wayne-guard, and Barn, pressed hard towards the prison, where three of their men were slain between M. Dues house and the prison; by which time we had well taken the Alarm, and our men gotten together, made good the passage, and then fearing lest they should possess themselves of Bore-bridge and let in their horse, (which they had in great numbers about our works) I commanded a party towards the Bridge, and lodged them in the old Redoubt at Bore-lane end, which was of very good use for us, for by keeping that we kept the Town. I sent another party which did very good service at Wayneyard. In the mean time our horse did gallantly, charged their foot, routed their Musketeers, and we had doubtless taken most of them that were over the works, but that they were preserved by a strong body of the enemy's Pikes. Major blundel and Colonel Washburne came in good time, charged gallantly through the thickest of them, which so terrified them, that being on all sides beset, they quit their ground, tumbled over the works (besides them they carried away) we took 13 prisoner's. There was slain on our party two common Soldiers; Capt. Taylor, Capt. maddock's, Quartermaster Cox dangerously wounded, Major blundel slightly wounded with a Halberd on the thigh, Cap. Keeling shot in the hand, Col. Washburne had his great bay horse slain under him Quartermaster Arnott, and Major Blundels' Cornets horses s●aine, many of our men sorely wounded, the dispute was sharp for the time, but God gave our men such spirits, that scorning death they resolved rather to lose their lives then the Town; our horse-guard that lay without Ockbridge run all away, whether for fear of the enemy, or for fear of being called to account for their neglect, I know not; They were part of the Sussex Troop.  
I desire you will be pleased to order the Officers of Colonel Rainsborowes Regiment to come down to look to their charge, there being here but four of ten Commanders.  
I am informed that the King hath sworn He will have Abingdon, and will fire it, and that this night again we shall be assaulted with 2500 men. I doubt not but to be better provided for them. Sir, I beseech you be pleased to hasten down some money for the relief of our poor men, whose necessities are great, and deserve encouragement.  
Sir, I shall desire to the utmost of my power to approve myself your Honour's most humble servant,  
GEO. pain. Abbington, March 2. 1645.   

SIR,  
THe happy deliverance it hath pleased God to give us from the cruel enemy, is I am confident, the only news all Letters are now filled with, yet I Presume to give you such an account as I take myself obliged to, that is The Enemy about six of the clock this morning (as soon as the Ravally had beat) appeared in a full body, both horse and foot, from Barton house, where it is conceived they were long before lodged, and fire being given by our Sentries at the Abbey guard, they presently fell on, before our men could make any the least resistance, and got over the works and drove our men from Abby-guard, and Barton bulwark up to the main guard, where Captain Bagnall commanded as Captain of the watch, (Col. Rainsboroughes Regiment being upon duty that night.) He upon their arrival made them draw up and brought the enemy to a stand under the Abby-gate, where two of them were slain that endeavoured to break open the prison. The alarm being generally given and received, our horse drew out, as also the foot. But by this time the enemy had possessed himself of all the works and line from Barne-guard to the water side at the Abbey, as also our magazine which I am confident they had fired h●d they not thought all their own. Whereupon our foot made several charges upon them, sallying through the houses in the street, and by the Abbey, and some of the Major General's Regiment threw themselves into the little old fort over against the Major General's quarters by the high way, and from thence played upon the enemy that were in Barne-bulwarke and at Ty-harris: some they slew, and forced the rest off the ground, in the mean time Major blundel advanced with the horse, and the Enemy drew themselves into a complete order, making good the pass, which was by a ditch with a good stand of Pikes, and in the mean time their musquetiers fired from their flanks. Major blundel endeavoured to have forced them, but was beat off three times, at the fourth, he Routed the whole party, who never came in so fast as now they ran out: Three of our pieces they had turned upon us and fired them, and then overthrew them, not having time either to cloy or nail them. In the mean time our Officers did their parts. Major blundel not only being dry beaten and bruised, with the butt end of their muskets, but wounded in the external part of the thigh with a Pike or Halberd something largely: our Officers of the foot did for the most part gallantly, and not one Captain of Major Generals own Regiment, but received a shot, though Captain Presson, and Bagnall without danger. The field Officers did most gallantly. Of ours are wounded Major Blundall, who notwithstanding never dismounted till he had pursued the enemy within two miles of Oxford. Captain Taylor shot through the body. Captain Kellings hand all torn, Captain Clerk shot in the side, Captain Madox through the belly, three Lieutenants, two Quartermasters, and some store of Soldiers. The enemy left within and upon the works eleven men dead, besides what they carried off and what were wounded. The reason why they had no greater loss, was our want of ammunition upon the guards, for though we had store in the Town, there was scarce to be found three charges upon each guard, which much dicouraged the poor Soldiers. We took 12 or 14 prisoners, most of them wounded.  
I should have told you that the enemy's horse as Major Blandell came up, Began to come through a breach they had made by the Barton-bulwarke, but by his coming were timely prevented, as also, that had they been so wise as to have attempted the drawbridge they might easily have left in their horse, being a great body attending without, for the Governors' man as the alarm was giving, came to open the port, and either for haste or fear so left it: but it pleased God to direct otherwise, to whom be all the glory and praise, had not our horse charged so gallantly it is doubted by all what the success had been.  
There were of the enemy a thousand foot, 500 whereof entered the Town. Their horse were about a thousand. The Townsmen came forth and resolutely assisted the Soldiers, by which it appears that the Nationall Covenant which they all took, and the pains the Major General hath taken among them wrought effectually. 'tis great pity these poor lads should have their courage abated by delaying their necessary supplies,  
I am Sir, Your humble servant. M. W. Abingdon March. 2. 1645,