Happy News from SHERBORN, AND Sherborne Castle: RELATING, THE death of Colonel Lunsford, the Lord Paulet, and divers other persons of quality, the taking of divers prisoners, and great store of Arms from the CAVALIERS. Written in a Letter from DORCHESTER to Master Nicholas Skinner a Merchant of LONDON, declaring the happy success of the Parliaments Forces, against the Cavaliers betwixt Sherborne and Yeavell. ALSO, A true Copy of the last Petition, sent by both Houses of PARLIAMENT to His MAJESTY. London Printed for F. Cowles. Septemb. 13. 1642. A Letter written from a Merchant in DORGHESTER to M. Nicholas Skinner a Merchant of LONDON, declaring the happy success of the Parliaments Forces, in defeating divers of the Caveliers near SHERBORNE. SIR HEre in the Country we dare not send seven miles abroad, for fear of the Cavaliers, who lie at Sherborne, pillaging, robbing and killing like so many Sons of Hell; but they were met withal this week to the purpose, by some London Troupers, and our Dorchester Troopers. My L. of Bedford finding the Castle to be a piece of greater strength than he imagined, and seeing his trained Bands to forsake him; so that of six or seven thousand he had not above fifteen hundred in three d●yes, not that they deserted the Cause, but being men who had Wives and Estates, were loath to hazard their lives in an offensive war. My Lord resolved to raise the siege, and on Tuesday marched to Yeavell, four miles distant from Sherborne. There were lost seven or eight men of a side at the siege, as we hear, I am sure no more on our side. On Wednesday toward Evening, while my LORD of Bedford and the soldiers were at a Sermon in Yeavell, at the Funeral of some soldiers lately killed; The Sherborne Lords and Cavaliers, having that day received to their number a hundred horse and two hundred foot, from M. Rogers, one of our Shire Knights, insolently triumphing at the departure of my Lord of Bedford's Forces, and contemning the Parliament, came in a bravado, and pitched themselves in battell-array with 400 horse, and two hundred Musketeers in ambush on the top of the Hill, betwixt Yeavell and Sherborne midway: Which the London Troopers hearing of, two Troops of theirs, and our Dorchester Troop made ready to assault the Enemy, the other Troops abiding at the ends of the Town of Yeavell, fearing the Cavaliers would surprise the Town. Our men had about a hundred Musketeers, and a hundred and forty horse, and marched up the Hill while Bullets flew as thick as hail about their ears, assaulted the Cavaliers, and came in to swords point, slashing and cutting without any pity or mercy, the great Rebels, respecting no person, but the night came on, else they had killed and taken every man. God cast upon the Cavaliers a spirit of fearfulness, that they ran like Mice into every hole. The Musketeers threw down their Arms and fled, so that our men brought above a hundred of their Muskets into Yeavell, took about twenty men, amongst which were some chief Commanders, killed many, amongst whom Colonel Lunsford and the Lord Paulet are certainly slain. The next morning there was found twenty eight dead bodies of the enemies lying upon the ground, besides those which were carried away in the night, there were Lanterns and Candles searching for dead bodies all the night, most of the Cavaliers running away (for so they did) they cried out to our men, hold your hands, you have shed already much noble blood. Of our side were slain five men, etc. two or three taken prisoners, and divers lightly wounded, The Cavaliers were heard to say at their coming home, (as some of our neighbours which were present heard them say) they had lost half their men, of two hundred Musquetiers there returned but eighteen to the Castle that night; thus in brief I have related to you the truth, praised be to God for the Victory, So farewell. Your loving friend, I. W. Dorchester Septemb. 9 1642. To the Kings most Excellent MAJESTY. The humble Answer and Petition of the Lords and Commons assembled in PARLIAMENT, unto the King's last Message, bearing date the fifth of September. May it please your Majesty, IF We the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, should repeat all the ways we have taken, the endeavours we have used, and the Expressions we have made unto your Majesty, to prevent those distractions and dangers your Majesty speaks of, likely to fall upon this Kingdom, we should too much enlarge this reply; therefore as we humbly, so shall we only let your Majesty know, that we cannot receade from our former answer for the reasons there expressed, for that you have not taken down your Standard, recalled your Proclamations and Declarations, whereby you have declared the actions of both Houses of Parliament to be treasonable, and their Persons traitors, and you have published this same since the 25. of August, by your late instructions sent to your Commissioners of Array, which Standard being taken down, and the Declarations, Proclamations, and instructions recalled, if your Majesty shall then upon this our humble Petition leaving your Forces, return unto your Parliament, and receive their faithful advice, your Majesty will find such expressions of our fidelity and duties, as shall assure you that your safety, honour, and greatness can only be found in the affections of your people, and the sincere Counsel of your Parliament, whose constant and discouraged endeavours and consultations have passed through difficulties unheard of, only to secure your Kingdoms from the violent mischiefs and dangers now ready to fall upon them, and every part of them who deserve better of your Majesty, and can never allow themselves (representing likewise your whole Kingdom) to be balanced with those persons whose desperate conditions and counsels prevail still so to interrupt all our endeavours for the relieving of bleeding Ireland, as we may fear our labours and expenses will be fruitless to that distressed Kingdom, as your presence is thus desired by us, so it is our hopes your Majesty will in your reason believe there is no other way then this, to make yourself happy, and your Kingdom safe. john Browne Cleric. Parliament.