Sir Thomas Fairfax HIS Victorious proceedings in the taking of LAUNCESTON, with the Magazine and arms.  
The Enemy driven from Taverton-bridge and the rest of their passages upon Tamar, three hundred Horse taken, and Major-Generall web routed, and the Enemy fled and dispersed to several parts in Cornwall.  
With a List of the particulars thereof.  
Also how Prince RUPERT entred ABBINGTON, And was beaten out again on monday March the second, and the particulars thereof, and how many we slay, Ruperts Forces being quiter beaten out of Abbington.  
All which is confirmed by several Letters.  

Published by Authority.   
London, printed for Matthew Walbancke, 4 March 1645.   

The Copy of a Letter sent from an officer of Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army.  
SIR:  
THe general having( as I acquainted you in my last) left Col. cook with a thousand Horse and 500. Foot to block up Barnstable, according to the unanimous resolution of the counsel of war, advanced Tuesday last with the Army from Bierford, Torrington, and Stevenston towards Holsworthy; In the way there was a general Randezvouz of Horse and Foot on Stebber-downe: all this day no Parties of the Enemy appeared, the day was very rainy, which fell all the time of the March without intermission, and the ways extraordinary deep and bad; at the coming of the Army into Holsworthy the townsmen shewed much cheerfulness, as being glad they should be rid of the enemy, who had absolutely impoverished that poor town, and left neither mans meat nor Horse meat; here we understood that captain Huggins, who was sent forth upon a Party the night before, had fallen into the Enemies Quarters a mile and half in Cornwall, taken 24. Horse and several Prisoners; Wednesday February 25. in the morning the Army advan●ed from Holsworthy towards Launceston, a general Randezvouz upon Hornecute down, where we had advertisement that Col. Butler who was sent forth with a Party of 1000. Horse( the night before) and 400 Dragoons to beate up the Enemies Quarters, had done it effectually near Shatton; first passing the River Tama●,( where the Enemy had raised a Breast-work, and likewise pulled down the Bridge to stop our passage) afterwards forced both Horse and Foot to retreat to their Guards, and from thence to the place appointed in case of Alarm, where after several charges the Enemy were put to flight, near 300. Horse, and 80. Prisoners taken, and about 40. slain on the place; most of the men escaped by reason of the darkness of the night, and eagerness of our men after Booty. The Enemies Horse being about 800. were commanded by mayor Gen. web, who with the rest of his Commanders and Horse were put to a disorderly retreat, and likewise an Alarm given them on the North side of Cornwall▪ which made them draw their Horse back. In our m●●ch on W●dnesday the enclosed Proclamation was red in the head of every Regiment, being an addition to that I sent you formerly; when we came within two miles of Launceston our forces took divers of the Enemies Scouts, and some straggling Parties, who were most of them drunk; those who were best able to express themselves boasted, That Col. Basset was ●esolved to maintain the Town against our Forces; whereupon our forlorn hopes of Horse and Foot were sent to enforce entrance, the Enemy having shut the Gate, and the town very strong, made some opposition, but Sir Thomas Basset general of the Horse, and Col. Blits governor of the town, with Col. Srevaticans Regiment of Foot, in all about 500. Horse and Foot, having quitted the town about an hour before we came, and left it onely to some few of the Trained Bands, they after some resistance retreated; our men entred, took some Prisoners, and killed onely two, it being now dark the rest escaped: we seized upon the arms and Magazine in the town, the inhabitants seemed generally to be much revived at our coming, being sensible that they were formerly but deluded with the blandishments of the Kings Party, pretending what they did was in defence of the King, when indeed it was chiefly to the destruction of the Subject. Our Sould●ers notwithstanding the opposition they received at the entrance, did not then nor since plunder any one house that I know of, but demeaned themselves very civilly, so that our courtesy is likely to have a more powerful influence upon the Cornish then the Enemies cruelty; besides, the Enemies talk much of the landing of Irish and French Forces, which the inhabitants cannot endure to hear of. The Gentlemen of this County that were sent unto to plymouth are to morrow at night to meet the general in this town, where it will be necessary to refresh both Horse and Foot with that small pittance which is to be had, alleys march being about 13. long miles was as tedious( respecting the badness of the ways and weather) as any they had. The Prince is in Bodman, where most of the Horse and Foot he hath are quartered, or near about it. The general will lose no time to clear the County of the Enemy, having had so good and prosperous a beginning, and to use all means possible to prevent their breaking through, which( in point of policy) is probable will be their chief endeavour. The Lord of Hosts, the Great counsellor direct your counsels, and this Armies undertakings, that the issue may be the settlement of Truth and Peace to this distracted Kingdom. Sir, I remain  
Launcester, Feb. 25. 1645. at one at night. Your most humble Servant. W. C.   

The copy of a Letter sent to a Member of the House of Commons.  
SIR;  
U●on Tuesday the general began his march with the Army from Bierford, and part from Torrington, and quartered that night at Holsworthy, being 12 miles from one place, and 15 miles from the other, an extraordinary rainy day, and ways extraordinary deep. Wednesday the 25 we advanced from Holsworthy to Launceston, being ten long miles, that the Enemy might be the more amazed at the Armies entering of Cornwall; colonel Butler was sent from Holsworthy, with a party of 1000 Horse and 400 dragoons, on Tuesday night as far as Stratton in Cornwall, to beate up the Enemies Quarters, and accordingly that night he passed the River, where the Enemy had raised up a breast Work at Tamarton bridge, and broken down the Bridge to hinder our passage over, but presently quit the passage, whereupon he forced the Horse as well as Foot, that kept Guard, to retreat to their other Guards, and from thence to the place appointed for their drawing together upon an Alarm, where he charged their Horse several times: at last it pleased God to put the Enemy to the flight, he took about 300. Horse and 80. Prisoners, he had more prisoners and some of quality, but the Souldiers minding their prey and booty in Horses, many of the prisoners escaped, this party of Horse of the Enemies being about 800. that lay to keep Guard upon the River Tamar, was commanded by mayor general web, who with the rest of the Commanders, were put to a disorderly retreat, with the rest of their Horse; which gave them such an Alarm towards the North parts of Cornwall, that it forced them to draw their Horse back, the rest of the Army marching to Launc●ston, which amazed them likewise on the left hand, that if their intentions were for breaking through, they could not tell what resolutions to take. When we came within two miles of Launceston, we met with their Scouts, having taken several of them, we understood that colonel Basset with Horse and foot was resolved to keep Launceston, and not to permit our entrance into the same; whereupon the Forlorn Hope of Horse and Foot were sent to force entrance into the town; the Enemy shut the Gates, made some opposition, but at last quit the Town, and that disorderly; we took some Prisoners and killed some two of them; night being come on, the rest escaped in the dark; the Arms and Magazine in the Town we seized upon; we find the Country, and particularly the place, to express much joy at our coming, though they were made believe by the Enemy, that the Army would give no Quarter to any Cornishman or woman, which they did for the most part believe, and was the cause of a great terror upon them: but our Souldiers, notwithstanding the opposition they had at their entering of Launceston, did not so much as plunder any one house, nor do any other prejudice to the town, that we can hear of, but I hope will so demean themselves in pursuance of the Generals Proclamation, as we shall conquer the Cornish sooner by our civility then by the Sword. Thus far into Cornwall it pleaseth God to prosper things with us; and I hope when we come more into the heart of the Country, we shall not find so many Enemies as friends. Very speedily you shall receive a fuller account from  
Launcester, the 26. of Febr. 1645. about nine a clock in the morning. your humble Servant. J. R.   

POSTSCRIPT.  
THe Horse and Foot have been put to hard duty upon the march, and Guards, and going out upon parties, so that I believe we shall not hear this day, and then according to such Information and Intelligence as we shall receive more further West. The Gentlemen of Cornwall that were at Plymoth, are to be here to morrow night, whose advice may contribute much in the further ordering of the Affairs in these parts. I forgot to acquaint you that captain Woogan on Tuesday morning fell upon a Guard the Enemy kept in Cornwall, and took between 20 and 30 horse. Likewise when we came near Tamerton bridge, the Cornish Trained Bands that were appointed to keep the passage, upon the appearing of our men, cried unto them, Pray you do not come near, for if you do●, we are commanded to shoot you. But our men no sooner presented their Muskets to give fire, but both Officers and Souldiers ran away. The Country is much incensed against Gorings Horse; and already, not only at this place, but at other places in Cornwall, durst not kept Markets, which makes our Army be more acceptable to them.  

A List of the Prisoners taken by Sir Thomas Fairfax Forces in Cornwall.  
TAverton bridge taken. The Passages on Tamar quit. mayor general web routed 300 Horse taken, 88 Prisoners 800 fled and scattered. Launcestor taken with the Magazine, two slain and many wounded. Divers Prisoners taken and many arms. Twenty odd horse taken of their Guard by Captain Woogan, and the Enemy fled and dispersed to several parts in Cornwall.  
mayor general brown received a Letter from Reading, the substance thus; That there were Messengers sent from thence to Abbington, who upon their return assures them that Abbington is safe and the Enemy beaten out; Rupert came against them on M●nday the 2 of March 1645. with a great strength, and about five a clock in the morning entred the Works at the Abbey, took the Abbey Works, the Spur Works, and the other Works, and some Ordnance and arms, and marched up towards the Market place, where was our main Guard, but was repulsed by mayor blundel and some horse, who opposed them till mayor general Browns men got up, some in their shirts, some in their breeches, some without hose or shoes, fell on the Enemy with such violence, that they drove Ruperts Forces back, beat them out of the Town and Works, and drove them quiter out of Abbington, about nine of them being slain, and many wounded, and well was he could get first out of the town.   
FINIS.