A True RELATION of a late VICTORY Obtained By Sir RALPH HOPTON Against My Lord of STAMFORDS' Forces in Cornwall.  
Which (through the mercifulness of the General Sir RALPH HOPTON) was gotten with little bloodshed.  
The like Victory cannot be paralleled in the memory of Man.  
Being the Copy of a Letter written from Salt-Ash by a very impartial hand, Dated the 24. of this present jan. 1642. which many other Letters that came by the same Post (no doubt) will confirm.  
Printed by His Majesty's special Command at Oxford, jan. 28. 1642.  
By Leonard Lichfield Printer to the University.   

A true Relation of a late Victory obtained by Sir RALPH HOPTON Against My Lord of Stamfords' Forces in Cornwall; Which (through the mercifulness of the General Sir Ralph Hopton was gotten with little bloodshed.  
The like Victory cannot be paralleled in the memory of Man.  
I Do not make it my profession to write News, but that this extraordinary unexpected accident gives me occasion: I doubt not but you will have it at Oxford from other Pens than mine, for indeed I could have wished I had not had occasion, but truths which are so perspicuous cannot be hid: therefore I will (without further circumstance) come in brief to the business itself.  
This week my Lord of Stamfords' Forces under Colonel Ruthen came out of Devon, to seek out Sir Ralph Hoptons' Army, and give him battle: it seems the Defendant had some advantage of the Assailants, as by that which follows will appear.  
Salt-Ash in Cornwall, january 24. 1642.  
FOr confiding News, take this for truth, that Sir Ralph Hopton with his stout Cornish blades, hath given the Lord of Stamford his Forces a total overthrow: he took from them all their Arms, Baggage, Munition, and Ordnance, amongst which was a Brass piece of fourteen foot long, with the Rose and Crown engraven on it, and hath taken to the value of ten thousand pounds, most of it was taken up in Devon upon the public Faith, with fifteen hundred prisoners, amongst whom is Sir Shitton Calmado, with many Commanders, and some eighteen Ensigns, Ruthen fled for his life and liberty, with much ado got over Salt-Ash passage, in a small Boat, the rest that escaped report, that Sir Ralph Hopton is a most merciful commander, for otherwise every mother's fonne had perished; Sir Ralph lost but two men: the like defeat was never known nor heard of.  
On Sunday last, to clear the Land of mercy (for so those that are escaped term Cornwall) of the Militia Forces, Sir Ralph with a small party marched towards Salt-Ash, wherein were three hundred Militia men, and ten pieces of Ordnance, he beat them from their Ordnance, entered the Town, drove them to the Sea side, where about one hundred did rather choose drowning then killing; of which three hundred but forty escaped. After that, Sir Ralph, who was still in the front, took a lusty Ship, that road in the river near Salt-Ash, to assist the Town against the Cornish, in which was sixteen good Guns, with much Ammunition and provision; so that now Cornwall hath cleared itself of the Militia Forces, and strongly fortified all its frontier Townes.  
FINIS.