A Letter from a Minister to a Brother in London

A Letter from a Minister in the Army, to his Brother in LONDON.

I Know my friends are full of expectation, & I am not unwilling to take a little pains to fatisfie them: But if they will not be satisfied without the storming or taking the Town, they cannot yet be satisfied: if the truth will give any satisfaction, it is this: We marched from Windsor to Maydenhead, on Thursday after noon; from thence to Ockingham on Friday, and so to a place on the West of Reading, a mile from the Town, where my Lord Generalls Quarters, at the house of one Sir John Blachgrave, with the Soldiers in the fields about. On Saturday afternoon, toward night, we faced the Town: in the night Major Gen: went up with his Regiment, and a Work was made to plant Ordnance on, which began to play on Sunday morning early, and battered the Fort and Works next them, which yet they diligently make up. On Sunday night Sir John Meldrum commanded with his own Regiment, Sir William Cunstables, and Col: Barelayes, who went on with the Works. Last night Col: Langham commanded, having with him his own Regiment, my Lord Generalls, and Colonel Hampdens; and the Works are now brought within less then half a Musket shot of the Town. It may be our friends at London expect we should have stormed the Town, and entered it before this; but they may be mistaken at that distance: they have in the Town about 3000 men, which they have a liberty of drawing down to that part of the Town next us, in regard we have no Forces on the other side, my Lord Grey being not yet come to us, though we doubt not of him this night, or tomorrow morning. We have had intelligence out of the Town, that say we have killed and hurt many of their men, notwithstanding the advantage of their Works, Colonel Bolles, as is reported, for one; and that their Provision is scarce, but as yet it is not stopped, as were to be wished; yet we have taken up Cavesham bridge, and left no way to them, but by Boat, or by Henley. We hear of some of the Kings Forces marching down on the other side the water to their relief, if it may be, I hope they will be prevented. At our first approach, our Provision was very scant, but I hope we shall now have it more plentifully; hungry days, and cold nights would have abated the courage of our Soldiers, were they not very hearty in the business: Let our friends rather strive to have their prayers for us warm as the day, then their censures sharp as the night: If we be to blame, it was for coming hither, which yet must not be too soon; I know no miscarriage since we came. Our loss hath been very little, considering our danger, working and lying so near them; I think we have not lost above 8 or 10 men in Service, two or three have been killed through curiosity, and some hurt by accident, as some of Sir John Meldrums Regiment yesterday, by blowing up Powder, and this morning three or four slain, and some were hurt by the breaking of a Carriage by some Powder fired about through improvidence. Sir Anthony Saint-John, a Captain of my Lord Generalls Regiment hurt by it; it was reported Major Ingolsly was slain, and Lieutenant Colonel Barriff hurt, but no such matter: We have lost no Officer since our sitting down, but one Lieutenant Price, of the Major Generalls Regiment. Though our work be hard, yet our Soldiers are hearty; but it must not be expected they should overcome impossibilities, so as by a bare assault to get over Pallisadoes, Ditches very deep, and Brest-Works. They have in Town ten small Brasse Pieces, two bigger of Iron, three Troops of Horse. As we have not assaulted, so neither they sallyed forth to do anything worth the naming. Take heed your desires of storming be not too soon fulfilled; if it be not done with all circumspection, it will not only lose many lives, but endanger the whole Army and Kingdom, for ought I know: Add therefore to your faith patience; we could be as willing to change our Quarters, as you to have us; Me thinks you should be preparing a supply, to further the best, and to prevent the worst. I thought fit to write this, not only for your own satisfaction, but to prevent Mercurius Aulicus, who I doubt not will tell you strange stories shortly. This may serve as a battery upon the refuge of lies, which is our enemies strong retreat; as some out of the Town tell us, they encourage their Soldiers by telling them our Ordnance are broke, their supplies at hand, they see our men fall in great numbers. This night Major Gen: commands in the approaches, his own Regiment; my Lord Roberts, and Col: Hobornes, with three Regiments more, as a reserve to them, which is the constant course: It may be the difference of my profession may make me miss in terms and circumstances; but you may take this for the substance and truth of our condition. Only I may further add, for I shall not conceal anything, though to our disadvantage, That there is a Supply of strength come into Reading this morning, some Muskettiers under the Conduct of Sir Lewis Dyve, as I hear, who have so much confidence, as to bring their Ladies to this Music; I hope to no other purpose then to make our Victory the more considerable. I forbear to add further for the present, but that which I need not beg, your prayers.