A
Letter
sent
from
his
Excellencie
Robert
Earl
of
Essex
,
directed
to
the
Speaker
of
the
House
of
COMMONS
.
SIR
,
THere
being
some
of
my
Horse
that
had
an
Encounter
with
the
Enemy
yesterday
being
Sunday
;
I
thought
fit
to
give
the
House
an
Account
of
the
particulars
of
it
,
knowing
how
apt
many
are
to
mis-report
things
to
our
disadvantage
.
About
two
of
the
clocke
on
Sunday
morning
,
the
Enemy
with
about
twelve
hundred
Horse
and
a
great
body
of
Dragoons
fell
into
a
Towne
called
Percham
,
where
o●e
Troope
of
Horse
(
being
Colonell
Morleyes
)
was
Quartered
,
of
which
they
tooke
the
greatest
part
,
and
from
thence
went
not
far
to
another
Village
called
Chinner
,
where
they
beat
up
some
of
the
new
Bedfordshire
Dragoons
and
tooke
some
of
them
Prisoners
,
and
three
of
their
Colours
,
and
some
of
the
Officers
behaving
themselves
very
well
,
and
defending
the
Houses
wherein
they
were
;
they
set
fire
on
the
Towne
;
these
being
out-Quarters
,
the
Alarm
came
where
Major
Gunter
lay
with
three
Troopes
(
viz.
)
his
own
,
Captain
Sheffields
,
and
Captain
Crosses
,
whom
he
presently
drew
out
and
marched
towards
the
Enemy
;
Colonell
Hampden
being
abroad
with
Sir
Samuel
Luke
and
onely
one
man
,
and
seeing
M●jor
Gunters
Forces
,
they
did
go
along
with
them
,
Colonel
Dulbeir
the
Quartermaster
Generall
did
likewise
come
to
them
:
with
these
they
drew
neare
the
Enemy
,
and
finding
them
marching
away
,
kept
still
upon
the
Reare
for
almost
five
Miles
.
In
this
time
there
joyned
with
them
Captain
Sanders
Troop
,
and
C●ptain
Buller
,
with
fifty
commanded
men
,
which
were
sent
to
Chinner
by
Sir
Philip
Stapleton
,
who
had
the
Watch
here
that
night
at
Thame
,
when
hee
discovered
the
fire
there
,
to
know
the
occasion
of
it
,
he
likewise
sent
one
Troope
of
Dragoones
under
the
command
of
Captaine
Dundasse
,
who
came
up
to
them
.
There
were
likewise
some
few
of
Colonell
Melves
Dragoons
that
came
to
them
:
at
length
our
men
pressed
them
so
neer
,
that
being
in
a
large
pasture
ground
they
drew
up
,
and
notwithstanding
the
inequality
of
the
numbers
,
we
having
not
above
300.
Horse
,
our
men
charged
them
very
gallantly
,
and
slew
divers
of
them
;
but
while
they
were
in
fight
,
the
Enemy
being
so
very
strong
,
kept
a
Body
of
horse
for
his
reserve
,
and
with
that
Body
wheel'd
about
and
charg'd
our
men
in
the
Reare
,
so
that
being
encompassed
and
overborne
with
multitude
,
they
broke
and
fled
,
though
it
was
not
very
far
;
For
when
I
heard
that
our
men
marched
in
the
Reare
of
the
Enemy
,
I
sent
to
Sir
Philip
Stapleton
,
who
presently
Marched
toward
them
with
his
Regiment
;
&
though
he
came
somewhat
short
of
the
Skirmish
,
yet
seeing
our
men
Retreat
in
that
disorder
,
he
stopt
them
,
caused
them
to
draw
into
a
Body
with
him
,
where
they
stood
about
an
hour
:
Whereupon
the
Enemy
marched
away
.
In
this
Skirmish
there
were
slain
forty
and
five
on
both
sides
,
whereof
the
greater
part
were
theirs
.
They
carryed
off
the
Bodies
of
divers
persons
of
quality
.
On
our
side
Major
Gunter
was
killed
,
but
some
say
he
is
prisoner
and
so
hurt
;
a
man
of
much
courage
and
fidelity
,
his
bravery
engaging
him
,
and
his
small
party
too
far
:
Colonell
Hamden
put
himselfe
in
Captaine
Crosse
his
Troop
,
where
he
charged
with
much
courage
,
and
was
unfortunately
shot
through
the
Shoulder
.
Sir
Samuel
Luke
thrice
taken
prisoner
,
and
fortunately
rescued
:
Captain
Crosse
had
his
horse
killed
under
him
in
the
middest
of
the
Enemy
,
and
was
mounted
by
one
of
his
owne
men
,
who
quitted
his
owne
horse
to
save
his
Captain
.
Captain
Buller
was
shot
in
the
neck
,
who
shewed
very
much
resolution
in
this
fight
,
taking
one
prisoner
after
hee
was
shott
.
Mounsieur
Dulbier
with
Captaine
Bosa
and
Captaine
Ennis
,
did
likewise
carry
themselves
very
well
.
Wee
likewise
lost
two
colours
,
viz.
Major
Gunters
and
Captain
Sheffeilds
;
no
prisoners
of
quality
were
taken
by
the
enemy
,
but
Captain
Sheffeilds
Brother
.
Prince
Rupert
was
there
in
person
,
and
the
Renagado
Hurry
.
Wee
took
prisoner
one
of
the
Earle
of
Berks
sonnes
,
Captaine
Gardener
,
the
late
Recorders
sonne
of
London
,
and
captain
Smith
,
with
some
others
of
quality
and
divers
prisoners
.
Sir
,
this
is
the
true
Relation
of
what
passed
in
this
businesse
,
I
rest
;
Your
assured
Friend
ESSEX
.
Thame
.
19
June
.
1643.
A
Letter
sent
from
his
Excellency
the
Earl
of
Essex
,
to
the
Gentlemen
,
Freeholders
and
well-affected
people
in
the
County
of
Essex
.
HEaring
of
your
readinesse
to
assist
in
this
great
cause
with
your
persons
and
purses
,
for
the
defence
of
Religion
and
Liberty
,
and
what
ever
is
deare
unto
us
,
and
of
your
willingnesse
to
rise
generally
,
and
to
joyn
with
other
Counties
,
to
deliver
your selves
from
that
slavery
and
misery
that
our
enemies
would
bring
upon
us
.
I
do
with
much
joy
receive
your
resolutions
,
and
count
it
a
speciall
mercy
of
God
,
that
makes
his
people
sensible
of
their
dangers
,
and
willing
to
hazard
their
lives
for
him
,
and
do
judge
it
the
most
hopefull
means
of
concluding
these
unhappy
distractions
of
the
Kingdom
.
Therefore
I
desire
you
to
assure
your selves
of
all
assistance
from
me
that
the
Army
can
afford
,
and
my
earnest
desire
is
to
helpe
you
in
it
.
And
I
desire
such
may
appear
in
this
cause
,
as
have
most
interest
in
it
;
such
of
whose
constancy
and
courage
wee
may
be
assured
,
men
of
Religious
lives
and
affections
fittest
to
bear
Arms
for
truth
of
Religion
,
Men
of
estates
to
defend
those
estates
that
the
enemy
seeks
to
devour
:
The
employment
is
not
too
mean
for
the
best
men
,
and
then
we
shall
hope
for
successe
when
such
put
their
hands
to
the
work
;
for
assure
your selves
,
the
loosnesse
and
inconstancy
of
the
Souldiers
,
amongst
others
is
one
cause
of
the
continuance
of
the
Warre
.
I
desire
you
to
provide
your selves
as
well
as
you
can
with
arms
and
necessaries
,
and
to
bring
six
weeks
pay
in
your
purses
,
considering
that
the
march
is
long
,
and
but
a
moneth
of
that
may
be
spent
in
service
;
when
that
time
is
expired
,
we
hope
you
may
returne
home
with
peace
;
If
we
shall
entreat
your
further
helpe
,
we
shall
provide
for
you
as
well
as
God
will
enable
us
.
Chuse
Commanders
your selves
,
Colonells
and
Captains
,
when
we
shall
heare
their
names
we
shall
send
them
Commissions
,
and
when
you
shall
come
near
us
,
we
shall
send
some
able
and
experienc't
Commanders
from
our
Army
to
assist
you
.
Doubt
not
of
your
Country
in
your
absence
,
we
shall
take
a
course
for
the
securing
and
quieting
of
the
Malignants
;
your
safety
is
in
being
in
Arms
,
it
will
be
your
happinesse
to
fight
with
your
enemies
at
distance
,
and
so
keep
them
from
spoyling
that
as
yet
peaceable
and
flourishing
County
.
If
God
stirre
the
hearts
of
people
to
appeare
generally
,
and
to
prosper
our
endeavours
,
wee
hope
the
successe
will
be
happy
and
comfortable
.
Stoken
Church
,
9.
June
,
1643.
Your
assured
Friend
,
Essex
.