Dear Sir,

Attached please find some prose on an engagement I had the honor of witnessing today. I would hesitate to describe it a great victory such as were won by Joshua or Caesar but ‘twas most pleasant to witness the malignant horse turning tail and scurrying away like mice after a few moments noise and confusion

Sir, you have imparted to be constantly the importance of Accuracy in this business; in describing things as they are, not as we’d like them to be; it being a well-known fact, apparent throughout the Gospel and remarked on by our most able Preachers, that our Lord, who sees all and understands all, the inner and exterior man, the prayer and the purse, the heart and the hand, despises the liar and contemns the hypocrite.  It’s in that spirit, then, though with great regret, that I make the observation that these troops of Col Hampden’s — who, sir, you will know I admire as much as you, given the courage he has shown, in struggling for the rights of Englishmen against the tyrant — are not much better than the rogues and ruffians I observed with my lord Goring in Portsmouth: indeed, perhaps worse, as the aims they ostensible fight for are greater and more pleasing in the sight of God that those of the King and Goring.

Here are several observations.

The soldier mentioned in my story, who shot himself in the foot, was assisted in this ignoble effort by the guzzling, on the march, of a not-inconsiderable portion of Wine.

This Wine was obtained by the Pillage of the house of an accused malignant. The soldier was not the only one so-burdened with such spoils; how it happened that he was the sole injured from a regiment at least one-third of which were drunk, or close to, is a mystery beyond my comprehension.

Other spoils from the house of the Papist were bread, hoisted on bayonets as a sort of rude piratical banner; venison, from the deer-park; articles of clothing; spoons.

Please understand, sir, that I don’t object to the persecution of malignants as such, but such assaults on Property I find quite absolutely appalling and in contravention of the commands of the Gospel and the laws of England, spirit and letter of both. And this is not the first — far from it! — such Outrage visited by these ruffians on Private Property.

It’s my understanding that the citizens of Northampton (other than the strumpets and the keepers of ale-houses) looks somewhat askance at the prospect of these brutes (not to mention those Purple-, Red-, and other coats) making camp in and near their town, and in the spirit of Christian honesty, sir, I cannot blame them.

I ride today toward Leicester; having heard some portion of the King’s horse, led by Rupert, is venturing in that direction.

I can’t but think horse led by Rupert would not have fled at the sight of this army of drunkards. Quite the opposite, I fear, which would result toward the ruin of Parliament’s hopes.

It's my understanding Col. Hampden is enroute London for conferences with Pym and Essex. Far be it from me to suggest you might drop a subtle hint about my concern. But perhaps, sir, you should.

I am thy servant,

William Firth, Apprentice

To Mr Sydney Holyfen, the Old House, near St Johns Gate, London