parliament's report 28 March 1644

Quarterly Report of the Committee of Both Houses This year of 1644 shows great promise for the true and glorious cause of Parliament against the King's advisors. Our allies the Scots have started thier march to the south to assist us in liberating ourselves from the yoke of the advisors oppression. Our commanders in the north, namely Manchester and Fairfax have met the enemy in battle and roundly beaten them. The junction of these combined forces will give us overwhelming superiority to the forces of our enemies and the whole of the north will flock to our banners. It will then only be a matter of time before these forces advance on the heartlands of the enemies to deliver the final blows of this war. In the south of the country we have actively harried our opponents and delivered them some mighty blows. We are still strong and have the capacity to advance upon their so called capital at Oxford when the time is right. Meanwhile our fleet is active and has swept the sea clear of royalist privateers. We control the Channel and continue to supply our forces in coastal garrisons which in turn hold down far larger forces of our enemies. In this way we weaken our foes while building up our forces under Waller and Essex to take part in what we are sure will be the final acts of this tragic war.