TWO LETTERS, FROM THE LORD BYRON TO HIS EXCELLENCE THE marquess OF NEW CASTLE, The one Dated the 2. of January, and the other the 5. of January, 1643. ALSO, A Letter from Sir Richard Byron, governor of Newarke, to the Lord Widdrinton, Dated the 7. of January, 1643. Printed at York by Stephen Bulkley. 1643. My Lord Byron's Letter to his excellency the marquess of Newcastle, the Second day of January, 1643. I Shall now give your Excellence an account of the Victory it hath pleased God to give a part of this Army, against all the Forces Sir William Brewerton could make. Upon Christmas Even last, I had intelligence, that he was marched from Manchester with sixteen hundred select foot, and eight Cornets of horse, and that upon Christmas day he was to keep his Rendezvous at Sandbacke within six miles of my Quarters: Whereupon I resolved to march thither with the Army, leaving a Regiment of horse and a Regiment of foot for the security of my Quarters, lest they of Nantwich should in the mean time sally forth, but we came no sooner within view of Sandbacke, but the Rebels retreated in great confusion, yet in regard of a narrow pass which was betwixt us and them, we could not overtake any of them, and took up our quarters in theirs that night: There I was informed by all the country people, that Brewertons forces were totally dispersed and returned to their several homes. Whereupon I commanded colonel Warren with his Regiment of foot, and my Lord Molineux with his horse to march back to Crew-house, a strong place possessed by the rebels, betwixt Nantwich and Sandbacke, intending to march thither myself with the rest of the Army the next morning; but as I was upon my march, certain intelligence was brought me by a Scout I had sent forth, that Brewerton was at Middlewich with all his Forces, within three miles of us: Whereupon I immedately marched thither, and our forlorn-hope discovered seven of their colours drawn forth of the town, and the rest advancing as fast as they could; Upon this, colonel Gibson, and my brother Robert Byron advanced with their Regiments, having the Van that day, Sir Michael Earnley with his Regiment was forced to stay with the Cannon which stuck in a dirty lane, so that, in that particular we were equal, for they had no Cannon with them, and we could make no use of ours. The Rebels had possessed themselves of the hedges, and all places of advantage, and gave excellent fire, being the prime train-band men of Lancashire; but our men with great resolution ran up to them, and after hot dispute, which lasted almost an hour and a half, bear them out of their hedges, and uttetly routed them, the horse followed the execution, which was all the service they could do in that place, and pursued them almost as far as Nantwich, which Garrison the Rebels quitted the same night, and our men have since possessed themselves of five of their colours. We took three hundred prisoners, with all their Baggage and Ammunition; at the least six hundred slain, as I am since certainly informed; all their arms they threw away in their flight, many inferior Officers are taken, but their Colonels are too wise to come in danger, yet Brewerton himself escaped narrowly, for he had two great falls in making too much haste, wherewith he was so bruised, that he was fain to have one ride behind him. On our part, fifteen was slain outright, whereof fourteen were of my brother Robert's Regiment, and amongst the rest himself shot in the leg, but God be thanked without danger. We are now returned ro quarter about Nantwich, which being now out of hope to be relieved, I believe will not hold out long▪ The day after the business of Middlewich, My Lord Mollineux and colonel Warren took in Crew-house, and in it above two hundred prisoners, and sixty horse, with all their arms. Our strength here is somewhat above four thousand foot, and one thousand horse, but this I can assure your Excellence, the world hath no better men, nor will they be beaten by any equal number. My Lord Byron's Letter to his Excellence the marquess of Newcastle, from Paddington the fifth day of January, 1643. My Lord, SInce I wrote my last Letter to your Excellence, We have taken in another strong house called Paddington, whereby Nantwich is so locked up, that unless Brewerton come again with an Army to relieve it, we shall in a short time, I hope, carry it. Sir Richard Byron's Letter, governor of Newark, to the Lord Widdrington, the seventh of January, 1643. My Lord, BEing informed how some of Crumwell's troops lay quartered about Lincoln, and conceiving it very fensible to beat up their quarters, I sent out last night Sir Gervis ●yres Regiment, and about sixty of Sir Peregrene Bertyes horse, with a few Dragroons upon that design. They fell into their quarters about seven a clock this morning at Waddington and Harmeston, and there took a Major, two captains, two lieutenants, one Cornet, and three colours, besides a hundred and one and thirty prisoners, whereof some Quarter-masters, corporals, and Trumpets, &c. FINIS.