Robert Cooke

“ On Tuesday morning Sir William Waller drew from thence to Tewkesbury, and so to Gloucester, leaving orders with me to throw down as much of the works as the convenience of my time would afford, which I believe is so done that they are made unuseful, though not fully slighted, and to withdraw the force from Tewkesbury to Gloucester, from whence he had sooner departed had not the impossibility of either marching without money, or getting it without the employment of his troops to collect it, a little hindered his speed. ”

“ In this regard he held it both necessary for the country, and of great consequence to the main to attempt the taking in of Worcester, that as the works being slighted it might not remain a strength for the Parliament's enemies and give assurance to their chief body of retreat upon occasion of disaster. ”