A DIURNAL, OF True Proceed OF OUR ARMIES AT Sherbourne, Since their first coming there, and their happy issues related.  
Showing the goodness of God in preserving the courage of those that stand for King and Parliament against the Cavaliers, and their Adherents.  
Desired by many to be published, being the last true news. And of the Battle there fought.  
LONDON, Printed by Luke Norton for Benjamin Allen in Pope's head Alley. Septemb. 14. 1642.   

Loving Cousin,  
YOur Letters, as also my Pistols I received yesterday at my return home from the Army, and give you thanks for your careful sending of them. Now to give you some touch of our proceed in these parts. I will relate it unto you in way of a diurnal; First, therefore on Sunday the 25. of August the Earl of Bedford came into this County, where the Gentlemen of this County met him, and attended him that night to Wells, where they stayed till Saturday following, the Country (I mean) the Traine-Bands, and Volunteers resorted unto him in great numbers: on Saturday hay marched from Wells to Glassenbury where they stayed till Tuesday, on Tuesday they marched to Elchester, where they stayed Wednesday being Fast day, and on Thursday marched to evil, and on Friday marched to the hill where we lay that night, not doing any thing, only a few of the Cavaleirs shawing themselves at Sherborne Townes end in a bravado, a squadron of Major Prittys troop (in whose company I entered myself and two more of Cousin Ashes men well horsed) road down to them, but they retreated bacl into the Town, not changing one Bullet; on Saturday morning our forces horse and foot were drawn down to the town's end, as also all our Ordnance which were about eight or nine, in our march as we passed by the Castle, they at the Castle let fly eight or nine pieces of Ordnance at us, two of which were let fly against out troop we being the first troop in the field, but (praised be God) they fell short and did us no hurt, but the bullets fell so near us that we took them up. Our Companies being come up, some foot of ours were drawn up into the lane that enters the Town, and our troop to enter the town, my place was the right hand file of the Coronet in the front of the battle: The Cavaliers had placed store of Musquetiers on both sides of the lane under hedges and bushes which play very thick upon us, the bullets flying very thick about our ears, they being under covert, and we lying an open mark unto them, our Gunners began to play with a small brass piece upon the Town, what service they did we know no; the Cavaliers grew so fast upon us, having that great advantage, that we were forced to draw back our pecce of Ordnance higher upon the hill, and our troop to retreat higher, having been half an hour in this great danger, not one of us (praised be God) hurt, the first man that fell in this skirmish of ours was one that was shot by his next fellow, who shot him through the back.  
Now was our troop relieved and fresh men to supply, playing on both sides very sharp and quick, continuing till Evening; on our fide we had not above six killed and hurt, one of which there were kill I was a shearman of Cousin Ashes, who looking over a little wall after he had discharged his Musket, was shot through the head, what hurt was on the enemy's side we cannot learn; at evening, at the closure of the night, our troop was drawn up again to enter the Town, which had been a great hazard to us all the enemy being in houses, and we open to their mark: And in the dark night we as likely to shoot ourselves as our enemies, this was at last considered of, and after we had sitten at the lanes end two or three hours, were brought back again to our Camp.  
This evening our greatest pieces (which were not very big) began to play at the Castle, discharged nine pieces, which we conceived had done good service against the Castle, we could not perceive the Castle, for it was in the dark of the evening; but the next morning we could perceive no service that they had done. Sunday morning we removed further upon the hill over against the Casile, and began to entrench, some few musquetiers on both sides making light skirmishes one against the other; and some few of our horse scouting out, but nothing done worth the writing. I had now watched three nights together. Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday, and sitting continually upon my horse, was so tired, that I could not hold up my head any longer, so this night I went with my cousin Samuel Ash to evil; three miles from the Camp, and on Monday we returned to the Camp again, where nothing more was done.  
Our countrymen with this long and tedious march grew very weary, & abundance of them stole a way from the Camp, some of them throwing their arms away into the corn fields, the better to escape home; so that our Army now grew l●sse and less, and our m●n very weary and tired. I offered myself on Saturday 〈◊〉 pence to a boy to fetch me a draught of water 〈◊〉 was th● Cavaliers policy, for they were warm, and their bellies full, lying in their beds and they knew well, that our country fellows that were wont to have their bellies full of good beef, and then to their beds, would not long endure hunger and cold on a bleak hill.  
On Tuesday it was concluded by our Council of War, that our Army should retired that night to evil, from whence my Lord with what forces he thought good would march to Dorchester, there to remain till he had sent to the Parliament, and as I hear, to have some of your General's forces to come hither. We came to evil that night, and on Wednesday I came homewards in company of Captain Barnard's foot, We came Wednesday night to Elchester now let me tell you of a passage that happened on Wedsday at evening after I was come from Evel: The Cavaliers with a great force of horse and 3. companies of foot came from Sherbourn, to the hill over Evell, about a mile from the town; whose unexpected appearance put the town in a great hu●ly Burly: But after our men had placed their Ordnance for the security of the town and strengthened them with men; Captain Askew and his troop of horte and Captain Thomson and his troop, with twenty musquettiers attending each troop were sent to the hill, Captain Askew took one way up the hill, and Captain Thomson another, Captain Askew was the first who with his small troop charged them so courageously that he went through and through them, killed as is reported) eight of them, and after discharging Carbines and pistols fell to work with their swords and so retreated: Captain Askew lost in this conflict three of his men; by this time Captain Thomson charged them on the other side and presently routed them, they taking themselves to their horse heels, the three captains of their foot, young Lunsford fled away upon his horse; Captain Hussy killed, and the third Captain tak●n prisoner: Our men fell upon their foot, killed betwixt thirty and forty; took many prisoners, and but that the night fell dark upon them had cut them all off: And our horse followed their horse home to Sherborne towns end, We hear that Sir Ralph Hopton is hurt, one of the Bartlet's killed, with some other of their Commanders: This hath a little cooled their Insolences. Thus much in haste for news in these parts.  
Freshford, 10. Septembris, 1642. Your loving Cousin till death, Lat. Samson.   

From Dorchester Septembris, 10. 1642.  
From an Alderman to his Friend in London.  
HEre in the Country we dare not send seven miles abroad for the Cavaliers, who at Sherbourn do pillage rob, and kill like the Sons of hell; but they were met withal this week to the purpose, by some London Troopers; and our Dorchester Troopers. My Lord of Bedford finding the Castle to be a piece of greater strength than he imagined, and seeing his trained band men forsake him, so that of six or seven thousand, he had but 1500. left within three days, not that they deserted the country, but being men that have wives and estates, were loath to lose or hazard them in an obscure way, my Lord resolved to raise the siege, and they marched to a Town called evil, within four miles of Sherborne. There was lost seven or eight men of a side at the siege, very few more or less that we can learn: I am sure no more of our side on Wednesday towards evening, while my Lord of Bedford and the soldiers were at a Sermon in Evell at the Funeral of some soldiers lately killed. The Sherborn Lords and Cavaliers having that day received into their aid an hundred horse, and two hundred foot from Master Rogers, one of our high knights, entertained them with triumph at the departure of my Lord of Bedford's forces, contemning the Parliament, came in a bravado, pitching themselves in battle array with 400. horse, and 200. musquetiers in ambush at the top of the hill before evil and Sherborne middle way, which the London troops hearing of, two of their troops & our Dorchester troops lay ready to assault the enemies, the other Troops abiding at the end of the town of Evell fearing the Cavalleirs would surprise the town, our men have about one hundred musquetieres' and one hundred and forty horse: and marched while bullets flew as thick as hail about their ears, they assaulted the Cavalleirs while they spent their shot and came within sword point, cutting and slashing without either pity or mercy the great r●bels without respect of person; but the night came on else they in likelihood had killed and taken every man. God cast upon the Cavalleirs a spirit of fearfulness that they, ran like mice into every hole the musquetiers threw down their Arms and fled so that our men took about twenty men in ambush, with some chief Commanders and killed many, amongst whom were Colonel Lunsford and the Lord Paulet credibly reported to be slain: the next morning were twenty eight dead bodies found lying on the ground besides those that were carried away in the night by the Rebels, there were lanterns and candles seen searching for dead bodies all the night at the Cavaliers flying away as they did like mad men, they said hold your hands for you have shed much noble blood: Of our side were slain five men, and two or three taken prisoners, and some more likely wounded. The Cavaliers were heard to say at their coming home, The Roundheads did fight more like Devils than men, and swore that they thought they had lost half their men. Of 200. musquetiers there returned but 18. into the Castle the first night: This news is certain, my man was in the fight; only it is not certain whether my Lord Paulet is slain, or dangerously hurt.  
I desire you to take notice of one passage, That a Cavallierbeing beaten off his horse, cried out for mercy, for they had a bad cause: But one of Captain Askews men being deadly wounded, called to his fellows to go on, for they had a good cause: We see conscience in dying men will speak truth.   
FINIS.