next day to encounter them This last was resolv'd on and making way with Pioneers through the Hedges we marched to the Town but after we had gone a little way word came that the Enemy was in the Reer We faced about with two Regiments and my own Regiment of Horse commanded by Major Rokeby and reliev'd those that were engaged and so the Fight began on all sides These that fell on our Reer were that part of their Army that lay on the other side of the Town who had past the River Those who were drawn up under their Works fell upon our Van which was marching to the Town Thus was the Battel divided there being a quarter of a Mile betwixt us in the Division that first engag'd Our Foot at the beginning gave a little Ground but our Horse recover'd this by beating the Enemies Horse out of the Lanes that flanked our Foot which did so encourage our Men that they regain'd their Ground on the Enemy and made them retreat from Hedge to Hedge 'till at length they were forced to fly to their Works Their Horse retreated in better Order towards Chester without much Loss Our other Wing being assisted from the Town who sally'd out with seven or eight hundred Musketeers beat the Enemy back into the same Works We presently surrounded them and being in great Disorder and Confusion they soon yielded themselves Prisoners with all their chief Officers Arms Colours and Ammunition Thus by the Mercy of God was this Victory obtain'd being the more signal in that we were not to deal with young Soldiers but with Men of great Experience and an Army which had ever been victorious After this we took in several Garrisons in Cheshire Latham only in Lancashire held out which was besieg'd by the Forces of that County but afterward the Siege was rais'd by Prince Rupert Having spent three or four Months in this Expedition my Father commanded me back into York-shire that by the Conjunction of our Forces he might be abler to take the Field We met about Ferry-bridge he being come out of Hull thither with intent to fall upon the Enemies Garrison at Selby I receiv'd at this time another Command from the Parliament to march immediately with my Horse and Dragoons into Northumberland to join with the Scots Army The Earl of Newcastle who was then at Durham being much stronger in Horse than they for want of which they could not advance But it being resolv'd within a Day or two to storm Selby I stay'd 'till that business was over which proved as effectual for the relief of the Scots Army The Governour of York Coll. Bellasis lay in Selby with 2000 Men. We drew our Horse and Foot close to the Town Sir John Meldrum led on the Foot which had their several Posts appointed them where they should storm I with the Horse ready to second them The Enemy within defended themselves stoutly a good while Our Men at length beat them from the Line but could not advance further because of the Horse within I got a Barricado open which let us in betwixt the Houses and the River here we had an encounter with their Horse After one Charge they fled over a Bridge of Boats to York their Horse came up and charged us again where my Horse was overthrown I being single a little before my Men who presently reliev'd me and forced the Enemy back They retreated also to York In this Charge we took Coll. Bellasis Governour of York By this time the Foot had entred the Town and had taken many Prisoners This good Success of ours put them into great Distraction and Fear at York so that they speedily sent to the Earl of Newcastle to haste back thither believing we would presently attempt them This News suddenly call'd him back leaving the Scots who with Cold and often Allarms were reduced to great Extremity but now they advance after him The Earl of Newcastle gets into York the Scots join with my Father at Wetherby altogether made 16000 Foot and 4000 Horse They march on to York For the Siege of York it was thought necessary to have more Men the Town being large in compass and strongly mann'd The Earl of Craford Lindsey and my Self were sent to the Earl of Manchester to desire him to join with us in the Siege to which he willingly consented bringing an addition of 6000 Foot and 3000 Horse Now the Army had three Generals Lesly Manchester and Fairfax who lay apart in three several Quarters before the Town but the North side still remain'd open Some time was spent here without any considerable Action till in my Lord of Manchester's Quarters Approaches were made to St. Marry's Tower and they soon came to mine it Coll. Crayford a Scotchman who commanded that Quarter sprung the Mine being ambitious to have the Honour alone of it without acquainting the other two Generals for their Advice and Concurrence which prov'd very prejudicial for having engaged his Party against the whole Strength of the Town without more Forces to second him he was repulsed with the loss of three hundred Men for which he had surely been call'd to an Account but escaped the better by reason of this Triumviral Government Soon after Prince Rupert came to relieve the Town We rais'd the Siege Hessey Moore was appointed the Randezvous The whole Army drew thither About a Mile from thence lay the Prince the River Ouse being betwixt us which he that night past over at Popleton The next day he drew his Army into the same Moore which being now joined with my Lord of Newcastles Army made about 23 or 24000 Men We something more We were divided in our Opinions what to do The English were for Fighting the Scots for Retreating to gain as they alledg'd both Time and Place of more Advantage This being resolv'd on we marched away to Tadcaster which made the Enemy advance the faster Lieutenant General Cromwell Lesley and my Self were appointed to bring up the Reer We sent word to the Generals of the necessity of making a stand or else the Enemy having this Advantage might put us in some disorder But by the advantage of the Ground we were on we hoped to make it good till they came back to us which they did The Place was Marston Fields which afterwards gave the name to this Battel Here we drew up our Army The Enemy was drawn up in Battalia on the Moore a little below us The day being most part spent in Preparations We now began to descend towards them Lieutenant General Cromwell commanded the left Wing of the Horse and seconded by Major General Lesley I had the right Wing with some Scots Horse and Lances for my Reserves The three Generals were with the Foot Our left Wing first charged the Enemies right Wing which was perform'd for a while with much Resolution on both sides but the Enemy at length was put to the worst Our right Wing had not all so good success by
was engaged with the Enemy's Foot and gained Ground of them The Horse came down again and charged us they being about Thirteen or Fourteen Troops We defended Our selves as before but with much more difficulty many having got in among us but were beaten off again with some Loss Collonel Herne who Commanded that Party was slain We pursued them to their Cannon Here I cannot omit a remarkable Instance of Divine Justice Whilst we were engag'd in the Fight with those Horse that entred the Gate four Soldiers had stript Colonel Herne naked as he lay on the ground Men still Fighting round about him and so dextrous were these Villains that they had done it and mounted themselves again before we had beaten the Enemy off But after we had beaten them to their Ordnance as I said and now returning to our Ground again the Enemy discharged a Piece of Cannon in our Rear the Bullet fell into Captain Copley's Troop in which were these four Men two of them were killed and some Hurt or Mark remain'd on the other though dispers'd into several Ranks of the Troop which made it more remarkable We had not yet Martial Law among us this gave me a good Occasion to declare to the Soldiers how God would punish when Men wanted Power to do it This Charge and the Resolution our Men shewed in the Left Wing made the Enemy think of Retreating Orders were given for it and some marched off the Field Whilst they were in this wavering condition one Collonel Skirton desired his General to let him Charge once with a Stand of Pikes with which he broke in upon our Men and not being relieved by our Reserves which were Commanded by some ill-affected Officers chiefly Major General Gifford who did not his part as he ought to do Our Men lost Ground which the Enemy seeing pursued this advantage by bringing on fresh Troops Ours being herewith discouraged began to fly and were soon routed The Horse also Charged us again We not knowing what was done in the Left Wing Our Men maintained their Ground till a Command came for us to Retreat having scarce any way now to do it the Enemy being almost round about us and Our way to Bradford cut off But there was a Lane in the Field we were in which led to Hallifax which as a happy Providence brought us off without any great Loss save of Captain Talbot and twelve more that were slain in this last Encounter Of those who fled there were about sixty kill'd and three hundred taken Prisoners After this ill Success we had small hopes of better wanting all things necessary in Bradford for defence of the Town and no expectation of help from any Place The Earl of Newcastle presently Besieg'd the Town but before he had surrounded it I got in with those Men I brought from Hallifax I found my Father much troubled having neither a place of Strength to defend our selves in nor a Garison in Yorkshire to Retreat to for the Governour of Hull had declar'd if we were forced to Retreat thither he would shut the Gates on us Whilst he was musing on these sad thoughts a Messenger was sent unto him from Hull to let him know the Townsmen had secured the Governour that they were sensible of the danger he was in and if he had any occasion to make use of that Place he should be very readily and gladly receiv'd there Which News was joyfully receiv'd and acknowledged as a great Mercy of God yet it was not made use of till a further necessity compell'd My Father having Order'd me to stay here with eight hundred Foot and sixty Horse retired that Night to Leeds to secure it The Earl of Newcastle spent three or four days in laying his Quarters about the Town of Bradford and brought down his Cannon but needed not to raise Batteries for the Hills within half Musket-shot commanded all the Town Being planted in two places they shot furiously upon us and made their Approaches which made us spend very much of our little Store being not above twenty five or twenty six Barrels of Powder at the beginning of the Siege Yet the Earl of Newcastle sent a Trumpet to offer us Conditions which I accepted so they were Honourable for us to take and safe for the Inhabitants We sent two Captains to treat with him and agreed to a Cessation during that time but he continued working still whereupon I sent forth the Commissioners again suspecting a design of attempting something upon us They returned not till Eleven a Clock at Night and then with a slight Answer Whilst they were delivering it to us we heard great shooting of Cannon and Muskets all run presently to the Works which the Enemy was storming Here for three quarters of an hour was very hot Service but at length they retreated They made a Second attempt but were also beaten off after this we had not above one Barrel of Powder left and no Match I called the Officers together where it was advised and resolv'd to draw off presently before it was day and to retreat to Leeds by forcing a Way which we must do for they had surrounded the Town Orders were dispatch'd and speedily put in execution The Foot Commanded by Colonel Rogers was sent out through some narrow Lanes and they were to beat up the Dragoons Quarters and so go on to Leeds I my self with some other Officers went with the Horse which were not above fifty in a more open Way I must not here forget my Wife who ran the same hazard with us in this Retreat and with as little expression of Fear not from any Zeal or delight in the War but through a willing and patient Suffering of this undesirable Condition I sent two or three Horsemen before to discover what they could of the Enemy who presently return'd and told us there was a Guard of Horse close by us Before I had gone forty Paces the Day beginning to break I saw them upon the Hill above us being about 300 Horse I with some 12 more charged them Sir Hen. Fowles Major General Gefford my Self and 3 more brake through Cap. Mudd was slain and the rest of our Horse being close by the Enemy fell upon them and soon routed them taking most of them Prisoners among whom was my Wife the Officer Will. Hill behind whom she rid being taken I saw this Disaster but could give no relief for after I was got through I was in the Enemies Reer alone those who had charged through with me went on to Leeds thinking I had done so too But I was unwilling to leave my Company and stay'd till I saw there was no more in my Power to do but to be taken Prisoner with them I then retired to Leeds The like Disaster fell among the Foot that went the other way by a mistake for after they had marched a little way the Van fell into the Dragoons Quarters clearing their way but through a
reason of the Furzes and Ditches we were to pass over before we could get to the Enemy which put us into great disorder Notwithstanding I drew up a Body of 400 Horse But because their Intervals of Horse in this Wing only were lined with Musketteers who did us much hurt with their Shot I was necessitated to charge them We were a long time engag'd one within another but at last we routed that part of their Wing which we charged and pursued them a good way towards York My self only return'd presently to get to the Men I left behind me But that part of the Enemy which stood perceiving the disorder they were in had charged and routed them before I could get to them So that the good Success we had at the first was eclipsed by this bad Conclusion Our other Wing and most of the Foot went on prosperously 'till they had cleared the Field I must ever remember with Thankfulness the Goodness of God to me this day for having charged through the Enemy and my Men going after the Pursuit and returning back to go to my other Troops I was got in among the Enemy who stood up and down the Field in several Bodies of Horse so taking the Signal out of my Hat I past through them for one of their own Commanders and got to my Lord of Manchester's Horse in the other Wing only with a Cut in my Cheek which was given me in the first Charge and a shot which my Horse receiv'd In this Charge many of my Officers and Soldiers were hurt and slain The Captain of my own Troop was shot in the Arm my Cornet had both his Hands cut so as render'd him ever after unserviceable Captain Micklethwait an honest stout Gentlemen was slain And scarce any Officer who was in this Charge but receiv'd a Hurt Coll. Lambert who should have seconded me but could not get up to me Charged in another place Major Fairfax who was Major to his Regiment had at least thirty Wounds of which he dyed at York after he had been abroad again and in good hopes of recovery But that which nearest of all concern'd me was the loss of my Brother who being deserted of his Men was sore wounded of which in three or four Days after he dyed Buried at Marston Aetat 23. In this Charge as many were hurt and kill'd as in the whole Army besides On the Enemy's part there were above 4000 slain and many taken Prisoners Prince Rupert returned into the South the Earl of Newcastle went beyond Sea with many of his Officers York was presently surrendered and the North now was wholly reduced by the Parliament's Forces except some Garrisons Soon after this I went to Helmesley to take in the Castle there where I received a dangerous Shot in my Shoulder and was brought back to York all being doubtful of my Recovery for some time At the same time the Parliament voted me to Command the Army in the South But my Intentions being only to keep in mind what I had been present in during this Northern War I shall put an end to this Discourse where it pleas'd God to determine my Service there Yet thus with some smart from his Rod to let me see I was not mindful enough of returning my humble Thanks and Acknowledgments for the Deliverances and Mercies I received and for which alas I am not yet capable enough to Praise him as I ought that may say by Experience Who is a God like unto Our God Therefore not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give we the Praise But as for my self and what I have done I may say with Solomon I looked on all the Works that my Hands had wrought and on the Labour that I had laboured to do and behold all was Vanity and vexation of Spirit For there is no remembrance of the Wise more than the Fool for ever seeing that which now is in the Days to come shall be forgotten T. Fairfax SHORT MEMORIALS OF Some things to be cleared during my Command in the Army BY the Grace and Assistance of God I shall truly set down the Grounds of my Actions during this unhappy War and especially of those Actions which seem'd to the World most questionable My first engaging in the sad Calamities of the War was about the Year 1641 when the general Distemper of the three Kingdoms I mean the Difference betwixt the King and Parliament had kindled such a Flame even in the Heart of the State that before a Remedy could be found the whole Body was almost consumed to Ashes I must needs say my Judgment was for the Parliament as the King and Kingdoms great and safest Council As others were averse to Parliaments because they did not go high enough for Prerogative Upon this Division different Powers were set up The Commission of Array for the King and the Militia for the Parliament But those of the Array exceeded their Commission in oppressing many honest People whom by way of Reproach they called Roundheads who for their Religion Estates and Interest were a very considerable part of the Country which occasion'd them to take up Arms in their own defence and it was afterward confirm'd by Authority of Parliament My Father being yet at his House at Denton where I then waited on him had notice from his Friends that it was intended he should be sent for as a Prisoner to York He resolved not to stir from his own House not being conscious to himself of any thing to deserve Imprisonment The Country suffering daily more and more many came and intreated him to join with them in defence of themselves and Country which was extremely oppressed by those of the Array who after had the Name of Cavaliers and he being also much importun'd by those about him seeing his Neighbours in this Distress resolv'd to run the same Hazard with them Then did the Parliament grant a Commission to him to be General of the Forces in the North my self also having a Commission under him to be General of the Horse It is not my intention in this place to relate the services done in this Cause of the Parliament For I am rather desirous to clear my Actions than declare them and therefore I shall say no more of this three years War in the North there being nothing I thank God in all that time to be objected against me in particular But I shall say something how I came to be engaged in the South Some years had been spent in those Parts in a lingring War betwixt the King and Parliament and several Battels so equally fought that it could scarce be known on which side the business in dispute would be determin'd Though it must be confest that the Parliaments Army was under the Command of a very noble and gallant Person the Earl of Essex yet they found that time and delay gain'd more advantage against them and their Affairs than Force had done They