A True and Perfect RELATION Of a GREAT AND HAPPY VICTORY Obtained by the Parliaments Forces, under the Command of Colonel Ruthin, over Sir Ralph Hopton, ●nd his Cavaliers, near Plymmouth, with the Names of the Prisoners they have taken in the Battle, and divers other passages of extraordinary importance.  
As it was sent in a Letter from the  at Dartmouth, directed to the Right Honourable the Lords and others of the Committee for the safety of the Kingdom; And read at a Conference of both Houses of Parliament, on Tuesday the 13 of December 1642.  
john Browne Cler. Parliament.  
Subscribed unto by 

William Ruthyen  
Alex. Pym  
Lov●s Dick.  
George Thomson  
Anthony Rouse.    
Decemb. 14. Printed for John Wright in the Old-Bailey. 1642   

To the Right HONOURABLE The Lords and others of the Committee, for the safety of the Kingdom: present these.  
Right Honourable;  
ACcording to our duty and trust reposed in us, we have used our best endeavour for the preservation of this County: And although little Assistance hath been offered us by the people here (to what we expected) yet God that never faileth those that go on in his way, and rest upon his power and goodness, hath so blessed us now in this time of Streights, that he hath done great things for us by small means, to him alone be the glory and praise.  
Upon Tuesday the 29. of November, Captain Thompson, and Captain Pym, by command of Colonel Ruthyen, went to Plymton, to keep the Town with their Troops, and about 70. Dragoneers and 200. Foot, if they saw it might have been kept without great hazard. But the next day hearing the Enemy was marching from Tavistock, with (as was related to us) 3000. Horse and Foot, and about 8. pieces of Ordinance, and finding the Town of Plymton not to be kept without as great a Force as should come against it, by reason the Town lies so scatte●ring, and several Villages so near it; And lest the Enemy should come betwixt them and Plymouth, they drew forth towards the Enemy, but night coming on, they could not come to give them a charge, without hazard of the damaging of one another in the dark, they then went to Plymouth.  
The next day being Thursday, Colonel Ruthyen, with 4. Troops of Horse and the aforesaid Dragoneers, went to Plymton to revive the Town and to see the motion of the Enemy, and found the Town as was related to him. Then drew towards Plymouth, and stood upon the Larie for the space of three hour, facing the Enemy, who attempted one charge to have drawn us to their Ambascadoes, but fled presently, and durst not withal then force, which we judge was at least 2500. Horse and Foot (then left, for many ran away the night before) give us a charge upon fair ground, but that night, they went to Plymton where they continued.  
Wednesday the 7. of this present month, Colonel Ruthyen with the aforesaid 4. Troops of Horse, and about 100 Dragoneers, about three of the clock in the morning, marched from Plymouth, over Ruberdowne, being a by way to Modbery, where were gathered together by the Sheriff's command, 3. or 4000 Men, some with Arms, and some without, and we came so privately, that they did not discover us, until we came within a mile of the Town, which did so amaze them, that after Sir Ralph Hopton had drew up the Force he could presently get, he with Sir Nicholas Slaning ran away and escaped, and after a small skirmish with those that stood to it, with the loss of one man and two hurt, and 3. or 4. Horses, we took Prisoners the Sheriff, Sir Edmund Foscue, and his Brother, Sir Edward Seymore and his son, Master Bassett, Captain Glomery, Master Shopcut, Captain Wood, Captain Bidlock, Barnes of Exeter, Lieutenant Penrose, Master Short, &c,  
From thence we marched that day with our Prisoners to Dartmouth to the gladding of the hearts of the good people there (having had a long march sixteen hours on horseback,) for while we were upon our march towards Modbery, one Master Thomas Lee was in Treaty with Sir Ralph Hopton, about the delivery up of the Town as we are informed, and by his confession he had got a warrant to free his house from Plundering, which Master Lee we have also taken, and with the rest of the Prisoners, have sent to Plymouth this morning in a Frigate called the Cresset, by one Cap. Plunket; we ran a great hazard in this service, as your Honours may judge, for the Enemy lay on both sides with all their force, part at Plymton, and part at Totnesse, but the Lord carried us along in our way, and deluded the Enemies of his Truth, and our Liberties into our hands, and made many more to flee before us. The Prisoners, Colonel Ruthyen hath ordered to be sent from Plymouth, with the first fair wind to London, and we now lie here expecting some Force from Exeter to join with us, which if we can have but a 1000 Dragoneers, we hope to do the Enemy much damage.  
We here this day, that since our coming hither, the Enemy is come with the greatest part of their Force to Totnesse, what are left at Plymton we know not, If speedy supplies come not of Men, Money, and Arms, we fear they will plunder most of the good Towns, of this County, and what it may grow to, if God doth not mightily work for us, we know not, your Honours know of what concernment the keeping of this County is, and we doubt not but the great need of assistance will be sufficient to move your Honours to take into consideration the premises, which that your Honours would please to do, is the humble desire of  
Your most obedient Servants. 

William Ruthyen.  
Alex. Pym.  
Lovis Dick.  
George Thompson.  
Antho. Rouse.   Dartmouth the 9 of Decemb. 1642.  
FINIS.