THE COPY OF A LETTER Sent from EXETER, By a Gentleman of quality, to a worthy friend of his dwelling in London.  
SHOWING, How the Enemy have besieged the said City, and how they lie quartered about it: With a true Relation of a Fight between the Citizens and the Gavaliers, wherein the Citizens took 80. Prisoners from them.  
Moreover how the Earl of Warwick arriving at a place called Apsom, sent to the high Sheriff to raise the County, which he denied; whereupon the Earl sent 3. or 4. small Ships, who battered down a Fort where the Cavaleirs harboured, to the ground, and slew 60. or 70. of them.  
Together with other Remarkable matters, of special Note and consequence.  
This is entered into the Register Book of Stationer's Hall, and Printed according to Order.  
Aug: 11th London, Printed for Bernard Alsop. 1643.   

The true Copy of a Letter sent from EXETER.  
SIr,  
the miserable estate and condition of our City I conceive is sufficiently known, yet there hath not any ways, or means, been neglected by our Major, Aldermen, and the rest of those worthy Citizens, who have been both vigilant and watchful for prevention of danger; and although some part of this our City is surrounded (and by those blood thirsty people which seek to destroy us, our lives, liberty, and Religion) yet we hope in due time to assuage their malice, and confound their devices.  
There was lately a hot fight between us and our Enemy, and Cannons played on both sides, but little or no hurt done, onel● we took eighty or thereabouts of them prisoners. Since which time, Sir William Courtney Commander in chief, Colonel, Actland Colonel Eulford, and the rest of the King's Party, have laid at ease, eating and drinking up the sweat of poor men's labours, the Cavalleres with their number amounting near upon three thousand horse and foot, lieth at Apsom, Saint Thomas his Parish, Affington, and the passage between Kirton and Exeter. As for the East and Southern part we have free passage, and have daily great supplies of provision from Tiverton, Silferton, Collompton, and Bradinch, but for how long this will so continue, God knows, we fear not long, but suspect that a greater force will shortly environ us from Bristol, and so besiege all parts. We stand only upon our guard, and think it not fit to sally out to raise the siege, for fear of being put to retreat and disorder we should not have sufficient to manage our works; as our enemy lieth upon advantage, so we expect aid from Plymouth and Dartmouth, till which time here can be no issue of the business. The Earl of Warwick at his arrival near our Castle at Apsom, sent a message to the high Sheriff, commanding him to raise the Country upon the posse Comitatus, that thereby he might land men and ordnance, commanding him in the name of King and Parliament to assist him to keep the peace of the County, but the Sheriff obstinately refused it, saying he would not obey his command, pretending he had a Proclamation from his Majesty to the contrary: then my Lord sent three or four small ships which battered down a great Fort level to the ground where the Cavalleres harboured, but left their freehold, as the Cavalleres term it, with the loss of sixty or seventy of them slain: the Malignant prisoners, both Gentlemen and Clergy now in durance, were upon the Cavaliers besieging our City very deboist, and mutinous, swearing they would burn and fire the houses over their heads, and although I call them prisoners, yet they had too much liberty, going and coming when and where they pleased, such ingrateful parsons are worthy of restraint, and are rewarded since accordingly. At Ratford house, where the late judge Dodderidge lived, we have mounted 3. Pieces of Ordnance, and fifty or sixty Musketeers, to keep the enemy from coming over the River, yet such is their desperateness, that they attempt it daily, and come over robbing and stealing our horse, sheep, and cattle, and make such spoil, that neither they nor their Commanders have any fear of God, or rule of good manners. Sir john Barkely a great Commander of the Cavaliers, hath done very great spoil amongst us, posting to and fro with 150. horse, imposing upon the subject such heavy taxations, that the subject cannot bear; their horses and goods plundered, their persons threatened, and imprisoned, and I think it is no news to the world, that this County hath had its share of troubles. For since the siege of Sherborn Castleful 14. months, when first Sir Ralph H●pton took his flight in the North part of Somerset, and so along the Sea coast till he came to Pendennis Castle, we have not been free of soldiers, and no small number, but by thousands, sometimes 4 5 6 8. and 10000 still in pay of our own party, and at length came the rabble of Cornish, and they swept the Country clean where they went, yea, and forced men to carry Arms, but they have done them as little service as they did us at Modbury, when they all run before they came near the place.  
This distraction amongst us we have justly deserved, and indeed it was ever contrary to my desire, that young Chidley, who is the chief cause of our troubles, should have such a place of authority, Sergeant Major General, a place of too much honour for a giddy youth; but such is the wisdom of many, that they think if a man spend a month, two or three in the wars of a foreign Nation, none like such for experience: but give me leave, honesty is the best policy: we have been in all parts thus treacherously dealt withal, and I think no County suffered the like as we have by Chidleyes revolt. It was not for his good conditions or experience we esteem the loss, but the number of brave horse, yea and most of the Earls own horse, which indeed is the only ruin of the Western parts. Yet God is all sufficient, and we doubt not but he will strengthen us, as daily he doth; for since the surrendering of Bristol, where within 24. hours after we heard the truth thereof, how the matter was carried, and upon what terms the soldiers and inhabitants should departed, as in the Articles of agreement is largely expressed, none of which being performed, but the City rifled, yea, and all both fri●nd and so, though the Malignants to be known from others stuck green boughs at their doors, and wore them in their hats; yet being all pillaged, the Malignants amongst us knowing they shall taste of the same sauce, if the like occasion happen to us as in Bristol, begin to be well affected, and encourageth the rest, and at this present do voluntarily as hard duty as a common soldier; so that those Malignants amongst us that are of strength and ability, I am persuaded, will show themselves more forward in this wrong Cause, as they term it, for the love of their goods, than any other man amongst us Therefore if any assistance come to us speedily, we doubt not but to remove those ill neighbours about us, and be at liberty. I cannot certify you with more than I have said of the proceed amongst us, but we have had lately intelligence from Bristol, that there is a Regiment or two upon their march, or ready to march at Dorchester and Waymouth, I see not how, or who should resist them; neither is it expected that there can be prevention given, unless some considerable force be sent down to join with the Country, and to resist and make head, there being no more in these parts but only those small forces we have under the command of Sir Walter earl, which are more than sufficiently matched with the Captain of Corfe Castle: and certainly if there be not a sudden course taken, the enemy will be exceedingly strengthened, and all the Western parts ruined and spoiled. Squire Rogers of Blanfora, one of the greatest disturbers of the peace in this County, is lately dead; he died of the small pox, coming from Oxford. Thus praying to God to deliver us out of the hands of our oppressors, I rest,  
Your affectionate friend, I. S. Exeter, Aug. 3. 1643.