HONOUR ADVANCED: OR, A brief account of the long keeping, and late leaving of the Close at Lichfield, Being a full Relation of all the Passages worthy observation during the whole time of the Siege; As also of the honourable terms upon which it was resigned.  
Together with The Names of those valiant Commanders who have done this service both for Church and State; Some of them unexperienced in War, yet all courageous for the Truth.  
By Captain John Randolph, A Commander, and eye-witnesser in the said Close.  1 Sam. 2.30. 
Them that honour me, I will honour.  
Printed for Tho: Underhill. 1643.   

God's goodness and severity: MANIFESTED IN The strange preservation of the Garrison in Lichfield Close; and after a long Siege, honourably surrendered to Prince Rupert and his Forces.  
Faithfully Related by Jo: Randolph, one of the Captains in the said Close.  
I Need not tell the world what (to their cost) they know, That Soldiers by action, and Printers by promulgation, are the two great English Factors. I am content to lay by my Sword, and handle the Pen at this time, not to encroach upon another's employment, but that such as will, may know the truth of the passages concerning Lichfield Close, of which I was an eyewitness.  
The Close of Lichfield hath a strong wall and buildings encompassing the Cathedral Church, which all together make a very defensible Fort; This was gained from the Earl of Chesterfield, and divers other Commanders and Soldiers (by the forces raised by the Lord Brook after his death) under the Conduct of Sir John Gell, than Commander in Chief, who afterwards by advice of the Committee of the County, placed a Garrison in it, consisting of about two hundred soldiers, besides Captains: This Garrison Prince Rupert (having drawn his forces into Staffordshire) summoned by a Trumpeter (the soldier's usual Herald) on April the sixth, to yield up the Close unto him, conditioning that the Captains and Soldiers should be entertained to serve his Majesty in their respective places, or else march away; we returned a direct denial, and told him we resolved to fight it out: Hereupon, on Saturday, April the eighth, he advanced into Lichfield, the Inhabitants petitioning him so to do, his forces then were about four thousand: Sunday, the ninth of April, they well observed us, entrenching themselves, and in the night planted their Ordnance on the East side of the Close, fitting their instruments, which on Monday, April the tenth, they played with in earnest, shooting about one hundred and fifty bullets roundly, most of which weighed nineteen pound, and not all in vain, for they pierced our walls very frequently, which we repaired with stones and earth without any prejudice to ourselves, this design not answering their expectations, they removed their Ordnance thence, and planted them on the South side, in a garden of Sir Richard Diets, This proved to them labour in vain, and then because we had leisure, we bravely mounted three or four leather Buckets upon wheels like a Morter-piece, which they let fly at furiously, and so spent the rest of that day, in playing while we danced, some of them that while having laid the great Pond dry, that lay between their Ordnance and us, in the night following endeavoured with Faggots to make a Bridge over the mud, and did half perform it before we could discern it, after which we played them a sit with our muskets, to their loss, which yet did not deter them, for that design (as much conducing to their advantage) they prosecuted divers nights, though we laid the man for the most part with the Faggot; and how ever they had a stock sufficient, and might spare men yet was the service too hot, dead men and Faggots did not join handsomely together, nevertheless the day following they shot from the Garden or backside where they had pitched, by reason whereof they fired a house in the Town which they intended not, whereby eight or ten other houses were consumed, and that while we made way through the flames with our Bullets to meet our Adversaries, and there many of them fell. Upon Saturday, April 15. they planted their great Ordnance at the South Gate near the Mill, which is within a few yards of the Close, and thence shot about sixty times, thereby battering all the Wall over the Portcullis, intending to make their entry there on Sunday morning, and therefore during the smoke of the shot, attempted to scale the Walls, which the Sentinel espying discharged, as did other of our soldiers upon his Alarm, who were exceeding ready and diligent, notwithstanding their continual service day and night, for the space of sixteen days and nights, for so long the Siege continued, and so that Plot (as the rest) miscarried: In this assault we lost one man, and they (as we conceive) about sixty, yet so indefatigable were they, that they caused the Colliers which they called to their assistance to under-mine us, which we once or twice prevented by countermining and smoking them out: Another Mine they had secretly made from the Angel under one of our Towers, which we suspected not; this being fully prepared, Prince Rupert did again; viz. on Thursday morning, April 20. sound a Parley, and tendered us the former Conditions, which we again refusing, they presently blew up our Tower, and there made a terrible wide breach, and entered it presently with much eagerness and security as we conceived, for many of their chief Commanders appeared first in it; about 40. of our Musketeers endeavoured to make good the breach, the rest of our soldiers being employed on the Walls, which they were also now endeavouring to scale; these forty seeing little execution done by their shot, being lead on by that truly valiant Soldier, Lieutenant Mydhope did fall upon their Adversaries (being between two or three hundred) pell mel, and with their Butt ends of their Muskets, their Swords, and Holbeards, did most bravely repel them, slew many, among which was Colonel Usher, Captain Corbet (say some Sir John Corbets Son) and many other Officers, to the number of about 60. and wounded near upon 100 others amongst which were the Lord Digbie who is snot into the knee, Colonel Wagstaff, Mortally wounded, Colonel Garret hurt, took Prisoners divers great Commanders, among which was Capt. Leg, and Prince rupert's Chaplain, one Askin a Scottish man, unto whom a Chirurgeon was sent, Prince Rupert having before requested it, after this, while some of our soldiers made good the breach, we went presently to clear the Close of those that rushed in, being about 150. who apprehending all their own, as in probability they well might, fell on Plundering; divers of these we took Prisoners, others of them escaped down the Ladders that were reared for their coming over unto us, a fair escape by Ladders.  
We lost in this dreadful commotion not above eight men, two were blown up with the Tower, and some four or six wounded, and in all the siege before not above three or four men; when we had breathed a little, a Council of War was called, and perceiving our danger, how destitute of all relief from men, and which was worst of all, how very near spent our Match and Powder were, not enough to make good another assault, we resolved on these Articles to present to Prince Rupert.  

1. To leave the Close, and to march out with our Bag and Baggage, and all our soldiers armed, and Colours flying.  
2. To have eleven Carts provided for us.  
3. That all the prisoners that any of the King's forces had taken in Staffordshire, since my Lord Brooks arrival there, should be released.   
Unto which we added, that if Prince Rupert refused these terms, we would put all our prisoners we then had to the Sword, and die ourselves upon the walls.  
Upon the receipt of the Articles, Col. Hastings came in to treat with us, and in a very short time consented to them, whereupon we marched forth orderly the next morning, being Friday, with our Colours displayed, being about 80. Musketeers, and as many Horsemen with their Horses and Arms, besides the Commanders, and so passed through Prince Rupert his Army, which was set guard wise about a mile in length, none of his Soldiers offering any abuse to us, and so we came safe to Coventry, some on Friday night, others on Saturday morning, and however we have cause to be humble, yet blessed be God, who hath not delivered us over unto death, but by us cut of many hundreds of our enemies.  
That both our Commanders and Common soldiers who kept Lichfield Close may have their due commendations, this may not be omitted, namely, their great faithfulness as well as courage, for although Prince Rupert and Hastings used all means [as by commending them for their valour, proffering them preferment and good pay, etc.] to cause them to desert the Parliament, and serve under them, yet they refused, although they had never received penny pay in all that service.  

The names of the Commanders in the Close.  
Capt. Edw. Leigh.  
Sergeant Major Russell.  
Capt. Grieves.  
Capt. Henry Stone.  
Capt. Edward Foley.  
Capt. John Randolph.  
Capt. Spearing.  
Capt. Richard Smith.  
Capt. Holmes.   

The Names of some Commanders in Prince rupert's Army.  
Prince Rupert.  
Earl of Northampton.  
Lord Digby.  
Lord Capell.  
Col. Hastings, Stanhop, Wagstaffe, Ʋsher, Garret, Harding, etc.