By W. W. Ravenhitt, Esq. 



137 



May it please your Highnesse 



I came the last night to this place, and intended this day to be steering 

 towards the Devizes ; but upon some intelligence from Major Butler at Salisbury 

 I shall (God willing) goe to Almesbury, and hope to be there by two of the 

 clocke, in order to a conjunction with Major Butler and the two troopes from 

 Chichester, and after a few houres refreshment shall proceed, as I shall gett 

 intelligence, which I have by all wayes layed out for, and as the Lord shall 

 please to direct us. I understand that the high sheriff of Wiltshire is gott from 

 them and reports them to be bounding (when he came away) for Evill, (Yeovil) 

 and thence for Bath and Wells. I doe not heare of any considerable accesse of 

 • force they have attained in all their progresse. I recommend your highnesse to 

 the Lord's gracious protection, and remaine 



I received both your highness's letters this night ; the one by the old messenger 

 about eight a clocke, and the other by Captain Crescet between 4 and 5 this 

 morning.* 



From Newbury he went to Amesbury, thence, as we have seen, to 

 Shaftesbury and Wincanton. From the last-mentioned town he 

 wrote to the Lord Protector, on the 17th of March. In addition to 

 the complete rout of the Cavaliers, the letter narrates that a large 

 number of them were already secured in Exeter Gaol. 



<{ May it please your Highness f 



This evening I received intelligence, that the enemy was routed on 

 Wednesday night last at Moulton in the county of Devon ; severall prisoners 

 taken and carried to Exon goale ; but I suppose the particulars are more fully 

 sent to your Highnesse than is yet come to my hands ; and therefore I doe by 

 these humbly acquaint you of my intentions as to further service by dividing these 

 troops with me into several places, where they may lye convenient for the ap- 

 prehending of those that are fled viz : my own troope to Bemister, (Beaminster,) 

 Captain Scotton's at Bredport, (Bridport,) Major Blackmore's at Crookehorne, 

 (Crewkerne,) Captain W aldington's at South Petherton, and Major Jenkin's at 

 Somerton and to keep a guard at Lamport (Landport.) Major Butler's troopes, 

 two to Salisbury, and two to Marlborough ; and the two troopes of Colonel 

 Twisteltons to returne to Alton and Farnham, all to attend your Highness's 

 further pleasure. I have written to the respective Sheriffs of Wilts, Dorset, 

 Somersett, Devon and Cornewall, to use their utmost endeavours for the ap- 

 prehending of all suspitious persons, that may be thought to have had a hand 

 in this insurrection ; and have also written to the Justices of the Peace of those 

 respective countys, to make diligent enquiry what persons have been absent 

 from their habitations within the space of ten dayes last past, and upon ex- 

 amination to deale with them as to justice shall appertaine. 



Newbury March 15 1654 (5) 



Your highness's humble Servant 

 John Disbrowe 



*3Th., 247. 



+ Ibid, 2(33. 



VOL. XIII. — NO. XXXVIII. 



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