LANCASTERS MASSACRE: OR, THE NEW WAY OF Advancing the Protestant Religion, and expressing loyalty to the KING and queen.  
NAMELY, To cut the throats of Protestant men, women, and innocent Children, as lately the Papists and Malignants did at Lancaster.  
Related in a Letter from a Gentleman of great note in Lancashire, to a friend in London, who the Bookseller can name: which Letter is here printed verbatim.  
LONDON: Printed for The. Underhill at the Bible in Woods●… April 1. 1643.   

A copy OF A LETTER FROM A Gentleman of great worth in Lancashire, to his friend in London, who the Stationer can name.  
I Have not time to writ any large discourse, the news is not so good but you may hear enough of it; yet rather then let you be abused with fallacies, I will give you the sum of all briefly. After the taking the Ordnance from the Spanish ship, we carried them all safe to the Castle of Lancaster, within few dayes after the Earl of derby advanced towards us, all the Papists rising wholly with him. Our mayor having notice of it, sent to Boulton and Manchester for relief for us: Mr. Ashton undertook the charge, and advanced as far as Garston, and hearing that the enemy fled upon his coming, he returned to Preston. Whereupon the Earl re-advanced towards us; and after some two houres hard fight, with the great slaughter of our enemy,( for we could at several times see two or three of their Colours fall at once, and bodies lie on heaps) they dispersed themselves among the hedges, and at the back of the houses, and set the Town on fire. This enforced our men to retire to the Castle; whereupon the enemy entred the Town, and killed man, woman, and children with all barbarous cruelty, draging poor people from their houses, and cutting their throats with Butchers knives: they set fire round the Town and departed. We had no victuals in the Castle, the Well there was presently drunk dry: but we issued out again into the burned Town, took divers of the Enemies there remaining prisoners, and out of the store yet unburned, we victualled ourselves for a good time. Thus we lay two or three houres, the enemy encompassing us on all sides but( we were without any fear of danger) at last the mayor general and Master Ashton came to relieve us, they drew all the strength of Preston and adjacent parts with them; the Earl lying at Ellwell they drew to Cokeram, and so passed by him to us: the earl who was no way able to have fought with them, took this opportunity of the Town of Prestons weakness, and fell back upon it, and took it that night. Master Hopwood and Peter show were there taken, and yet escaped again: I know not the loss there they received, I am sure it was over much; at my going post I left my armor, Clothes, and an hundred Muskets there, these are lost, I having nothing left. Vpon notice the Earl was marched towards Preston, sergeant mayor Sparrow, and Master Ashton followed him; he had the Town before they came: and as we are certainly informed, all this cruelty arises from the earl of derby, who hath taken all the great Papists into his counsel, who before were not admitted, who have put him upon this cruel massacre, and all rise with him as one man, and if it be in their power will not leave a true Protestant in these parts. If God and good people do not look upon us, which God grant they may, this country will be open for the queen to pass with her forces, who hath already sent 1100 to Shipton, toward Blagborne, being in hast I cannot enlarge: But rest,  
Lancaster, the 25. March. 1643. Your faithful friend, J. H.  
FINIS.