A SECOND, But more Perfect RELATION OF The great Victory obtained by Sir RALPH HOPTON, near Bodmin, in the County of Cornwall, on thursday Ian. 19 Ann. Dom. 1642. Together with his no less eminent success at Saltash, the Sunday following being the 22th.  
Printed by H. Hall for W. Webb. M.DC.XLII.   

A second, but more perfect Relation of the great Victory obtained by Sir RALPH HOPTON.  
UPon the 18 of January being Wednesday, His majesty's forces in Cornwall drew out of Bodmin with a resolution to fall upon the enemy in Lescand. That night they lay abroad in Boconnocke park▪ the next morning as they were advancing towards the town, the enemy leaving that advantage, which the dangerous and difficult avenues unto the place through deep and narrow lanes did give them, came forth into the field. They were about 20 foot Colours, and between 4 and 500 horse. They faced us at Hilsborough, themselves being planted upon a little hill encompased with a bog. There were but two passages (and those but wide enough to receive ten or twelve men in breast) over it. His majesty's Army took no fear for all that, their joy to see their enemy, above either their expectation or their hope fairly in the field, drowning all apprehensions of that disadvantage, wherefore after prayers upon the place (which the Rebels, as was afterwards confessed by the prisoners, scoffingly termed mass) we advanced boldly forwards. Ere we came near them, they gave us two or three volees in vain, hurt none of us: but so soon as we were got within distance of them, and had saluted them with one volee, they turned about and fled, Our soldiers were eager to pursue them. but by the industry of their commanders, were kept still in good order. This providence diverted a mischief from us, which▪ as it seems, the enemy had intended us. For on a sudden the whole body of their horse turned back upon us. But finding us in our ranks, and unbroken, they utterly lost their courage, and ran away, as if some tempest had driven them, even over their own men▪ The soldiers br●ke now forth with all violence into the chase (they could not any longer be possibly withheld) we followed it at least five miles, even to the town's end. There we were a little stayed by a volee, which a company of the enemies, that had not that day marched forth, gave us from their barricadoes. It did no hurt; only shot a horse of captain Digby's through the leg. The volee ended, they all ran presently away; and we entered the town. We found there good store of Ammunition, and five excellent brass guns, and one iron. This day there were slain in the pursuit 200 of the rebels and 700 we took prisoners; among them Sir Shilston Colmadee; and 8 colours; and all this with the loss but of one common soldier, what became of the rest of their colours we know not, but for certain they brought back only one into the town. The next day, which was Friday, we rested there. On Saturday we advanced yet farther Eastward. In the mean while a fresh regiment of the Earl of Stamford under the command of Lieutenant colonel Colmadee had entered Launcestan; but upon our approach that way fled thence to Plymouth. This evening the one half of our Army was quartered about Calstecke and Cutteale; the other marched with Sir Ralph Hopton towards Saltash, where the enemy had rallied and made head against us.  
On the morrow about 4 in the evening Sir Ralph assaulted the town. Ruthen, Crocher, Strode, Pyne, and divers others of the enemies chiefs were there. and they had 10 pieces of ordinance with them. 3 hours they held out; but at last we forced the place (lost but one man in this service) seized on their artillery, and so dispersed the very men themselves, that they could have but little time, less opportunity to escape. yet it being dark, we could not for the present know either how many of them, or whom we had taken. the morning was likely to yield some better account of them, but this Relator was dispatched for Oxford before it was day. Ere he came away, one boat full of them putting over for Plymmouth, sunk in the passage. perhaps there were of their chiefs in that. As he passed Devon, he heard it everywhere, it was almost every man's discourse, how that Ruthen himself and Stroud and the rest had miscarried in the business. Neither of these successes did the King's Commanders attribute to their own strength or policy. they gave the glory to him, whose work alone it was, causing a chaplain of the Army to draw a form of thanksgiving, to go throughout Cornwall for those great deliverances.  
Since this Relaters arrival at Oxford, His majesty hath received a more full information of Sir Ralph Hopton's success at Saltash where he hath taken (besides those 10 pieces of ordinance already mentioned) 700 prisoners more, and arms for 4000 men, and a ship with 16 pieces of ordinance in it, formerly brought up to batter the town. It pleasing God, contrary to their expectation, to give it up a prey to that power, which it came thither to suppress.  
FINIS.   

February 3. 1642.  
SIR,  
HAving newly entered Cyrencester, I thought good to impart some passages of our siege and entertainment there, but time will not permit a full Relation; wherefore I here give you only a brief, which is as followeth: viz. slain and wounded of the King's Forces seven and thirty slain and wounded of the Rebels four hundred ninety seven; Taken colonel Fetiplace, governor of the town; Lieutenant colonel Car, Sergeant Major Ashton, and one George a Parliament man: six pieces of Canon, and all their Gunners; two thousand arms, one thousand Prisoners, and the town Plundered, which their own base behaviour was the cause of; for after we entered the Town they shot out of their windows at us, and killed one of our men: what favour such desperate Rebels deserve, let all the world judge.  
Your friend T. B.