“Being Commanded by you to this Service, I think myself bound to acquaint you with the good hand of God towards you and us: We marched yesterday after the King, who went before us from Daventry to Haversbrowe, and quartered about Six Miles from him—he drew out to meet us—Both armies engag’d.—We, after three hours fight—very doubtful,—at last routed his army—kill’d and took about 5000—very many officers—but of what quality, we yet know not.—We took also about 200 Carag. all he had—and all his Guns being 12 in number—whereof two were Demi Culverins and I think the rest Fasces—we pursued the Enemy from three miles short of Haversbrowe to nine beyond—Ever to sight of Leicester, whither the King fled.—Sir—this is none other but the hand of God:—and to him alone belongs the Glory—wherein none are to share with him.—The General served you with all faithfulness and honor—and the best recommendation I can give of him is, that I dare say, he attributes all to God and would rather perish than to assume to himself, which is an honest and thriving way—Yet as much for Bravery must be given him in this Action as to a man.—Honest men served you faithfully in this Action.—Sir, they are trusty—I beseech you, in the Name of God, not to discourage them.—I wish this Action may beget thankfulness and Humility in all that are concern’d in it—He that ventures his Life for the good of his Country—I wish he trusts God for the liberty of his Conscience and you for the Liberty he fights for.—In this, he rests who is your most humble Servant
“O. Cromwell.”
“Haversbrowe, June 14, 1645.”
The gentleman who possesses Cromwell’s original letter is known to the editor, who thus publicly expresses his thanks to him, as he has done privately, for having communicated so valuable an historical document to the public, through the Every-Day Book.
Heriot’s Hospital,
Edinburgh.
With the [particulars] respecting this foundation in the present volume, it was intended to give the two engravings subjoined. They were ready, and the printer waited for them, and delayed the publication an entire day, while the engraver’s messenger carried them about with him, without the accompaniment of a recollection that they were in his pocket, until after the sheet had appeared without them. This is a disclosure of one of the many “secret sorrows” lately endured by the editor, who begs the reader to bear in mind that the cuts belong to [col. 766].
