Lives I presently order'd the manner of the Storm and we all fell on at the same time The business was hotly disputed for almost two Hours but the Enemy being beaten from their Works and the Barricado's into the Streets forced open the Horse and Foot resolutely entred and the Soldiers cast down their Arms and rendred themselves Prisoners The Governor and some Chief Officers swam the River and escaped only Major Beaumont was drowned about forty or fifty slain good store of Ammunition taken of which we had great want The Consequence of this Action was yet of more importance for those who fled from Leeds to Wakefield and quitting that Garison also gave my Lord of Newcastle such an Allarm at Pontefract that he drew all his Army again to York leaving once more a free intercourse which he had so long time cut off betwixt my Father and us After a short time the Earl of Newcastle return'd again to the same Quarters and we to our stricter Duties But we quickly found our Men must have more room or more Action Captain Hotham and I took a resolution early one Morning from Selby to beat up a Quarter of the Enemies that lay at Fenton they being gone we marched to Sherburne intending there only to give them an Alarm but they might see us a Mile or more over a plain Common which lay by the Town and they sent twenty or thirty Horse to Guard a Pass near the Town I had the Van for at this time we commanded our Troops distinct one from another both making five Troops of Horse and two of Dragoons I told Captain Hotham that if he would second me I would Charge those Horse and if they fled I would pursue them so close as to get into the Town with them He promised to second me I went to the Head of my Troops and presently Charged them they fled and we pursued close to the Barricado but they got in and shut it upon us Here my Horse was shot in at the Breast We so fill'd the Lane being strait that we could not Retreat without confusion and danger of their falling in our Reer so we stood to it and Stormed the Works with Pistol and Sword At the end of the Barricado there was a narrow passage for a single Horse to go in I entred there others following me one by one and close at one side of the Entrance stood a Troop of Horse of the Enemy So soon as eight or ten of us were got in We Charged them and they fled by this time the rest of our Men had beat them from their Barricado and entred the Town We soon cleared the Streets and pursued those that fled And now my Horse which was shot in the Lane fell down dead under me but I was presently mounted again The Enemy in the Towns about having taken the Alarm it made us think of securing our Retreat with the Prisoners we had got some of them being considerable among whom was Major General Windham We scarce got into order before General Goring came with a good Body of Horse up to us and as we marched off he followed us close in the Reer without doing us any hurt only my Trumpet had his Horse shot close by me and thus we returned to Selby Though this did not free us wholly from a Potent Enemy yet we lay more quietly by them a good while after In this recess of Action we had several Treaties about Prisoners and this I mention the rather for that Captain Hotham here first began to discover his intentions of leaving the Parliament's Service in making Conditions for himself with the Earl of Newcastle though it was not discovered till a good while after which had almost ruin'd my Father and the Forces with him for being now denied help and succour from Hull and the East-Riding he was forced to forsake Selby and retire to Leeds and those Western Parts where I then lay To make good this Retreat I was sent to to bring what Men I could to joyn with him at Sherburne for my Lord of Newcastle's Army lay so as he might easily intercept us in our way to Leeds which he had determin'd to do and to that end lay with his Army on Clifford-Moore having present Intelligence of our March Whilst my Father with fifteen hundred Men Ordnance and Ammunition continued his way from Selby to Leeds I with those I brought to Sherburne marched a little aside betwixt my Lord of Newcastle's Army and Ours And to amuse them the more made an Attempt upon Tadcaster where they had three or four hundred Men who presently quit the Town and fled to York Here we stayed three or four hours slighting the Works which put my Lord Newcastle's Army to a stand being on their March to meet us thinking he was deceived in his Intelligence and that we had some other design upon York He presently sends back the Lord Goring with twenty Troops of Horse and Dragoons to relieve Tadcaster We were newly drawn off when he came my Lord Goring past over the River to follow us but seeing we were far unequal in Horse to him for I had not above three Troops and were to go over Bramham-Moore Plain I gave direction to the Foot to march away whilst I stay'd with the Horse to interrupt the Enemy's passage in those narrow Lanes that lead up to the Moore Here was much Firing at one another but in regard of their great Numbers as they advanced we were forced to give way yet had gained by it sufficient time for the Foot to have been out of danger When we came up to the Moore again I found them where I left them which troubled me much the Enemy being close upon us and a great Plain yet to go over So we marching the Foot in two Divisions and the Horse in the Rear the Enemy followed about two Musket-shot from us in three good Bodies but made no Attempt upon us And thus we got well over this open Campagn to some Inclosures beyond which was another Moore less than the other Here Our Men thinking themselves secure were more careless in keeping Order and whilst their Officers were getting them out of Houses where they sought for Drink it being an extream hot Day the Enemy got another Way as soon as we into the Moore and when we had almost pass'd this Plain also they seeing Us in some Disorder charged Us both in Flank and Rear The Countrymen presently cast down their Arms and fled the Foot soon after which for want of Pikes was not able to withstand their Horse Some were Slain many were taken Prisoners Few of Our Horse stood the Charge Some Officers with me made Our Retreat with much Difficulty in which Sir Henry Fowlis had a slight Hurt my Cornet was taken Prisoner We got well to Leeds about an Hour after my Father and the Men with him got safe thither This was one of the greatest Losses we ever
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
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
THE Lord Fairfax's MEMORIALS SHORT MEMORIALS OF THOMAS Lord Fairfax Written by Himself LONDON Printed for Ri. Chiswell and are to be Sold at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard 1699. TO THE Right Honourable THOMAS Lord FAIRFAX MY LORD IT is with Your Lordship's leave that this short Manuscript of my Lord Fairfax Your Noble Predecessor is now Printed from the Original written in his own Hand and left in Your Study at Denton in Yorkshire for it was never intended by him to be Published but to remain for the Satisfaction of his own Relations But of late something has hapned which in the judgment of Your Lordship and many other Persons of Condition makes it necessary that these Papers should be sent to the Press which is now done without any Material Alterations from the Original but only by placing them in the natural order of Time Tho' no Copy was ever taken by Your Lordship's Consent yet I know not how some imperfect Ones are got into other Hands And this being an Age wherein every Man presumes to Print what he pleases of his own or other Mens we are plainly told That my Lord Fairfax's Memorials are ready to be Published and by the very same Person who has lately set forth some Memoirs wherein his Lordship is scarce ever nam'd but with Reproach not to be excused by what the Editor himself confesses That the Author was much out of humour when he writ the Book My Lord Fairfax's True Character is better known to many Wise and Good Men than to be blemished by such envious Detractions Nor can his Reputation thereby suffer with any who were acquainted with his Person and the true Intentions of his Actions and knew him in the latter part of his Life His great Misfortune and so he accounted it was to be engaged in the Unhappy Wars whereof he desired no other Memorial than the Act of Oblivion which few that ever needed better deserved It cannot be denied but as a Soldier his Life would furnish as Noble a Memoir as the Age has produced from the time that he began with a Troop of Horse and a few undisciplined Forces in the North to his being General of a Victorious Army in the South which he Governed not as a Cypher but with great Prudence and Conduct in Councils of War as well as animated by his Personal Courage in the Field as long as they had any Enemy to oppose them But after that they broke into Factions and were over-run with Enthusiasm and became Vngovernable by their General when they chose their own Agitators and were managed by Men of the deepest Dissimulation and Hypocrisie by whose fair but treacherous Promises some Greater than Himself were deceived to their own Ruin That most Tragical and Deplorable part of the Civil War the Death of the King he utterly from his Soul abhorred and lamented to his dying day and never mentioned it but with Tears in his Eyes The retired part of his Life gave him greater Satisfaction than all his former Victories when he lived quietly at his own House at Nun-Appleton in Yorkshire always earnestly wishing and praying for the Restitution of the Royal Family and fully resolved to lay hold on the first good Opportunity to contribute his part towards it which made him always lookt upon with a jealous eye by the Usurpers of that time As soon as he was invited by General Monk to assist him against Lambert's Army he cheerfully embraced the Occasion and appeared at the Head of a brave Body of Gentlemen of Yorkshire and upon the Reputation and Authority of his Name the Irish Brigade of Twelve Thousand Horse forsook Lambert's Army and joyned with him the Consequence was the immediate breaking of all Lambert's Forces which gave General Monk an easy March into England This was always acknowledged not only by General Monk but by the King himself as a signal Testimony of his Zeal to make amends for what was past and of the very considerable Assistance he gave towards the restoring the Royal Family After he had waited on his Majesty in Holland as one of the Commissioners sent to invite him home and had seen the King establish'd on his Throne he retired again into his own Country where he died in Peace in the 60th Year of his Age Anno 1671. leaving behind him his only Daughter the Lady Mary Dutchess of Buckingham I shall now say no more of him but That so long as Unfeigned Piety towards God Invincible Courage joyned with wonderful Modesty and exceeding Good Nature Justice and Charity to all men in his private Life and an Ingenuous Acknowledgment of his Publick Error with hearty Endeavours to make Reparation as soon as he was convinced of it shall be esteemed in the World So long shall the Name of my Lord Fairfax be honoured by good Men and be had in perpetual Remembrance Your Lordship had the good fortune to be born after the Storms and Tempests of that Age But you have had the Honour to appear eminently in defence of our Religion and Civil Rights in this last happy Revolution as your Noble Predecessor did at the Restoration My LORD Apr. 22. 1699. I am Your most affectionate Uncle and humble Servant Brian Fairfax A short MEMORIAL of the Northern Actions in which I was engag'd during the War there from the Year 1642 to the Year 1644. IN Gratitude to God for his many Mercies and Deliverances and not to deprive my self of the Comfort of their Remembrance I shall set down as they come into my Mind those things wherein I have found the wonderful Assistance of God to me in the Time of the War in the North though not in that methodical and polish'd Manner as might have been done being intended only for my own Satisfaction and help of my Memory My Father was call'd forth by the Importunity of his Country to join with them in their own Defence which was confirm'd by a Commission from the Parliament The first Action we had was at Bradford We were about three hundred Men the Enemy seven or eight hundred and two Pieces of Ordnance They assaulted us We drew out close to the Town to receive them They had the Advantage of the Ground the Town being encompassed with Hills which exposed us more to their Cannon from which we receiv'd some Hurt but our Men defended those Passages by which they were to descend so well that they got no ground of us and now the day being spent they drew off and retired to Leeds A few days after Captain Hotham with three Troops of Horse and some Dragoons came to us Then We march'd to Leeds but the Enemy having Notice of it quitted the Town and in haste fled to York We advanc'd to Tadcaster eight Miles from York that we might have more room and be less burthensome to Our Friends and being increased to one thousand Men it was thought fit that we should keep the Pass at
Wetherby for the securing of the West-Riding or the greatest part of it from whence our chief Supplies came I was sent to Wetherby with three hundred Foot and forty Horse The Enemy's next design from York was to fall upon my Quarters there being a Place very open and easy for them to assault there being so many back-ways and Friends enough to direct them and give them intelligence About six a clock one morning they fell upon us with eight hundred Horse and Foot the Woods thereabout favouring them so much that Our Scouts had no notice of them and no Allarm was given till they were ready to enter the Town Which they might easily do the Guards being all asleep in Houses for in the beginning of the War Men were as impatient of Duty as they were ignorant of it I my self was only on Horseback and going out of the other End of the Town to Tadcaster where my Father lay when one came running after me and told me the Enemy was entring the Town I presently galloped to the Court of Guard where I found not above four Men at their Arms as I remember two Serjeants and two Pikemen who stood with me when Sir Thomas Glenham with about six or seven Commanders more charged us and after a short but sharp Encounter they retired in which one Major Carr was slain and by this time more of the Guards were got to their Arms. I must confess I knew no Strength but the powerful Hand of God that gave them this Repulse After this they made another Attempt in which Captain Atkinson on our part was slain And here again there fell out another remarkable Providence during this Conflict our Magazine was blown up This struck such a Terror into the Enemy believing we had Cannon which they were before inform'd we had not that they instantly retreated And though I had but a few Horse we pursued the Enemy some Miles and took many Prisoners We lost about eight or ten Men whereof seven were blown up with Powder the Enemy lost many more At this time the Earl of Cumberland Commanded the Forces in York-shire for the King He being of a peaceable Nature and affable Disposition had but few Enemies or rather because he was an Enemy to few he did not suit with their present Condition Their Apprehensions and Fears caused them to send to the Earl of Newcastle who had an Army of six thousand Men to desire his Assistance whereof he assured them by a speedy March to York Being now encouraged by this increase of Force they resolv'd to fall upon Tadcaster My Father drew all his Men thither but in a Council of War the Town was judged untenable and that we should draw out to an advantagious piece of Ground by the Town But before we could all march out the Enemy advanced so fast that we were necessitated to leave some Foot in a slight Work above the Bridge to secure our Retreat but the Enemy pressing on us forced us to draw back to maintain that Ground We had about nine hundred Men the Enemy above four thousand who in Brigades drew up close to the Works and storm'd us Our Men reserv'd their shot till they came near which they did then dispose of to so good purpose that the Enemy was forced to retire and shelter themselves behind the Hedges And here did the first Fight continue from Eleven a Clock at Noon till Five at Night with Cannon and Musquet without intermission They had once possessed a House by the Bridge which would have cut us from our Reserves that were in the Town but Major General Gifford with a Commanded Party beat them out again where many of the Enemy were slain and taken Prisoners They attempted an another Place but were repulsed by Captain Lister who was there slain a great Loss being a Discreet Gentleman By this time it grew dark and the Enemy drew off into the Fields hard by with intention to assault us again the next day They left that Night above two hundred dead and wounded upon the Place But our Ammunition being all spent in this day's Fight we drew off that Night and marched to Selby and the Enemy entred the next Morning into the Town Thus by the Mercy of God were a few delivered from an Army who in their thoughts had swallowed us up The Earl of Newcastle now lay betwixt us and our Friends in the West-Riding but to assist and encourage them I was sent with about three hundred Foot and three Troops of Horse and some Arms to Bradford I was to go by Ferry-bridge Our Intelligence being that the Enemy was advanced no further than Sherburne but when I was within a mile of the Town we took some Prisoners who told us my Lord of Newcastle lay at Pontefract eight hundred Men in Ferry-bridge and the rest of the Army in all the Towns thereabout So that our Advance or Retreat seem'd alike difficult Little time being allowed us to consider we resolv'd to retreat to Selby three or four hundred Horse of the Enemy shewed themselves in the Rear without making any attempt upon us so that by the Goodness of God we got safe to Selby Three days after this upon better Intelligence how the Enemy lay with the same Number as before I marched in the Night by several Towns where they lay and came the next Day to Bradford a Town very untenable but for their good affection to us deserving all we could hazard for them Our first Work then was to Fortifie Our selves for we could not but expect an Assault There lay at Leeds fifteen hundred of the Enemy and twelve hundred at Wakefield neither place above six or seven Miles distant from us They visited us every Day with their Horse Ours not going far from the Town being very unequal in Number yet the Enemy seldom return'd without Loss till at last our few Men grew so bold and theirs so disheartned that they durst not stir a Mile from their Garisons Whilst these daily Skirmishes were among the Horse I thought it necessary to strengthen our selves with more Foot I summon'd the Country who had by this time more liberty to come to us I presently Armed them with those Arms we brought along with us So that in all we were about eight hundred Foot Being too many to lye idle and too few to be upon constant Duty we resolv'd through the assistance of God to attempt them in their Garisons We summon'd the Country again and made a Body of twelve or thirteen hundred Men with which we marched to Leeds and drew them up within half Cannon-shot of their Works in Battalia and then sent a Trumpet with a Summons to deliver up the Town to me for the use of King and Parliament They presently returned this Answer That it was not civilly done to come so near before I sent the Summons and that they would defend the Town the best they could with their
receiv'd Yet was it a Providence it was a part and not the whole Forces which receiv'd this Loss it being the Enemy's Intention to have fought us that Day with their whole Army which was at least Ten Thousand Men had not Our Attempt upon Tadcaster put a Stand to them and so concluded that Day with this Storm which fell on me only We being at Leeds it was thought fit to possess some other Place wherefore I was sent to Bradford with seven or eight hundred Foot and three Troops of Horse These two Towns were all the Garisons we had and at Wakefield six Miles off lay three thousand of the Enemy but they did not much disturb us And we were busied about releasing Prisoners that were taken at Seacroft most of them being Countrymen whose Wives and Children were still importunate for their Release which was as earnestly endeavoured by us but no Conditions would be accepted so as their continual Cries and Tears and Importunities compelled us to think of some way to redeem these Men and we thought of attempting Wakefield Our Intelligence was that the Enemy had not above eight or nine hundred Men in the Town I acquainted my Father with Our design who approved of it and sent some Men from Leeds so that we were able to draw out eleven hundred Horse and Foot Upon Whitsunday early in the Morning we came before the Town but they had notice of Our coming and had manned all their Works and set about five hundred Musketeers to line the Hedges without the Town which made us now doubt our Intelligence but it was too late After a little Consultation we advanced and soon beat them back into the Town which we storm'd at three Places and after an Hour's dispute the Foot forced open a Barricado where I entred with my own Troop Colonel Alured and Captain Bright followed with theirs The Street where we entred was full of their Foot We charged them through and routed them leaving them to the Foot that followed close behind us And presently we were charged again with Horse led on by General Goring where after a hot Encounter some were Slain and himself taken Prisoner by Colonel Alured I cannot but here acknowledge God's Goodness to me this day for being advanced a good way single before my Men having a Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel who had engaged themselves to be my Prisoners only with me and many of the Enemy now betwixt me and my Men I lighted upon a Regiment of Foot standing in the Market-place being thus encompassed and thinking what to do I spied a Lane which I thought would lead me back to my Men again At the end of this Lane there was a Corps-de-guard of the Enemy's with fifteen or sixteen Soldiers who were just then quitting of it with a Serjeant leading them off whom we met and seeing their Officers they came up to us taking no notice of me and asked them what they would have them do for they could keep the work no longer the Round-heads as they call'd them came so fast upon them The Gentlemen who had pass'd their Words to me to be my true Prisoners said nothing and looking one upon another I thought it not fit now to own them as Prisoners much less to bid the rest to render themselves to me but being well mounted and seeing a place in the Works where Men used to go over I rushed from them and made my Horse leap over the Work and by a good Providence got to my Men again who before I came had by Direction of Major-General Gifford brought up a Piece of Ordnance and placed it in the Church-yard against that Body that stood in the Market-place which presently rendred themselves All our Men being got into the Town the Streets were cleared and many Prisoners taken but the Horse got off almost entire This appeared the greater Mercy when we saw Our mistake for we found Three thousand Men in the Town and expected but half the number We brought away fourteen hundred Prisoners Eighty Officers Twenty eight Colours and great store of Ammunition But seeing this was more a Miracle than a Victory more the Effect of God's Providence than humane Force or Prudence let the Honour and Praise of all be His only After this we exchanged our Men that were Prisoners and we were freed a good while from any trouble or attempt of the Enemy Hitherto through God's Mercy we had held up near two Years against a potent Army but they finding us now almost tired with continual Service treacherously used by Friends and wanting many things necessary for support and defence the Earl of Newcastle marched with an Army of Ten or Twelve thousand Men to besiege Us and resolv'd to sit down before Bradford which was a very untenable Place Hither my Father drew all the Forces he could spare out of the Garisons but seeing it impossible to defend the Town otherwise than by Strength of Men and that we had not above ten or twelve days Provision for so many as were necessary to keep it We resolv'd the next Morning very early with a Body of three Thousand Men to attempt his whole Army as they lay in their Quarters three Miles off Hoping by it to put him to some distraction which could not be done any other way by reason of the unequal Numbers To this End my Father appointed Four o' th' Clock next morning to begin Our March but major-Major-General Gifford who had the Ordering of the Business so delay'd the execution of it that it was seven or eight before we began to move and not without much suspicion of Treachery for when we came near the Place we intended the Enemy's whole Army was drawn up in Battalia We were to go up a Hill to them That Our Forlorn Hope gained by beating theirs into their main Body which was drawn up half a Mile further upon a Plain called Adderton-Moore We being all got up the Hill drew into Battalia also I Commanded the Right Wing which was about One thousand Foot and Five Troops of Horse Major-General Gifford Commanded the left Wing which was about the same number My Father Commanded in Chief We advanced through the inclosed Grounds till we came to the Moore beating the Foot that lay in them to their main Body Ten or twelve Troops of Horse charged us in the Right Wing We kept the Inclosures placing Our Musketeers in the Hedges next the Moore which was a good Advantage to us who had so few Horse There was a Gate or open Place to the Moore where five or six might enter a-breast Here they strive to enter we to defend it but after some dispute those that entred the Pass found sharp Entertainment and those who were not yet entred as hot Welcome from the Musketeers that flanked them in the Hedges They were all in the end forced to retreat with the Loss of Collonel Howard who Commanded them Our Left Wing at the same time
on with their whole Body which was about 4000 Horse and 12000 Foot We stood till they were come very near to us I then drew off having given direction before for the Foot to March away towards Hull and thinking to make good the Retreat with the Horse The Enemy with a good Party came up in our Reer the Lanes being narrow we made good shift with them till we got into Beverley and shut the Gate which we had scarce time to do they being so close to us In this business we lost Major Layton and not above two more The Enemy not knowing what Forces we had in the Town stay'd till the rest of the Army came up which was about a Mile behind This gave our Foot some advantage in their Retreat it being five Miles to Hull and the way on narrow Banks I sent the Horse by Cottingham a more open Road who got well thither they overtook the Foot and made good their Retreat till we got to a little Bridge two Miles from Hull where we made a stand The Enemy followed close Our Men gave them a good Volley of Shot which made them draw back and they advanced no further So leaving a small Guard at the Bridge we got safe to Hull Thus not only for want of Military Skill in the Gentlemen of the Committee but to say no more for want of good Nature we were expos'd to this trouble and danger My Lord of Newcastle now laid Siege to Hull but at a great distance for the Sluces were let open and drowned the Land for two Miles about the Town Yet upon a Bank which was the Highway he approached so near as to shoot Cannon Shot at random into the Town and for the most part hot Bullets but by the Diligence and Care of the Governour who caused every Inhabitant to watch his own House the Danger was prevented Our Horse was now useless and many dyed every Day having nothing but salt Water about the Town I was therefore sent over with the Horse into Lincoln-shire to join with the Earl of Manchester's Forces which were then Commanded by Major General Cromwel who received us at our Landing with his Troops Sir John Henderson lay within three or four Miles of this Place with 5000 Men to prevent our Conjunction but durst not attempt it He marched three or four Days near unto us but for want of good Intelligence we did not know so much For I altogether trusted to the Care of our new Friends being a Stranger in those Parts At Horncastle one Morning he fell upon our out Guards who being but newly raised in that Country fled towards Lincoln without giving any Allarm to our Quarters that lay dispersed and secure Sir John Henderson marching slowly with his Army gave the Allarm to some of our out Quarters which was soon taken in all the rest Yet we were in some disorder before we could get into any considerable Body My Lord Willoughby with his Horse and my Dragoons Commanded by Collonel Morgan brought up the Reer and after some Skirmishes we lodg'd that Night in the Field The next Day the Earl of Manchester came to us with his Foot the Day following we advanced toward the Enemy and chusing a convenient Ground to fight on we drew up the Army there The Enemy did so on the side of another Hill close by having a little Plain betwixt us Lieutenant General Cromwel had the Van I the reserve of Horse my Lord Manchester all the Foot After we had faced one another a good while the Forlorn Hopes began the Fight presently the Bodies met on the Plain where the Fight was hot for half an Hour but then they were forced to a Rout 200 kill'd and many taken Prisoners This was the issue of Horncastle Fight or as some call it Winsby Fight At the same instant we heard great shooting of Ordinance towards Hull which was a Sally my Father made out of the Town upon my Lord of Newcastle's Trenches who drew out most part of his Army to relieve them But our Men charged so resolutely that they possess'd themselves of the Canon and pursuing their Advantage put the Enemy to a total Rout upon which he raised the Siege and returned again to York These two Defeats together the one falling heavy upon the Horse the other upon the Foot kept the Enemy all that Winter from attempting any thing and we after the taking of Lincoln setled our selves in Winter Quarters In the coldest Season of the Year I was commanded by the Parliament to go and raise the Siege at Nantwich which the Lord Byron with the Irish Army had reduced to great Extremity I was the most unfit of all their Forces being ever the worst Paid my Men sickly and almost naked I desir'd the Parliament that they would be pleas'd to supply these Wants not excusing my self as some did who had no will to stir though well enough accommodated The Parliament's answer was a positive direction to March for it would admit of no delay But foreseeing I should have such a return to my Desires and considering the necessity of the Business I had upon my own Credit got so much Cloath as Cloathed 1500 Men and all were ready to March when these Orders came to me The twenty ninth of December we set forward from Falkingham in Lincolnshire with 1800 Horse and 500 Dragâ—oons and power to call the Regiments of Foot in Lancashire and Cheshire to make up the Body of the Army which I found was not a little trouble when I came to Manchester for some were thirty some forty Miles distant besides the dissatisfaction of some of their Collonels who went as their particular Safety or Interest sway'd them But finding more readiness in the inferior Officers and common Soldiers I got up in a few Days near 3000 Foot With this Army we marched to Nantwich which was at the point of Surrendring When we came within a Days March I had Intelligence the Lord Byron had drawn off his Siege and intended to meet us in the Field I put my Men into the Order in which I intended to Fight and continued my March till we came within three Miles of the Town There was a Pass kept with about 250 Men I sent Collonel Morgan with his Dragoons who beat them off in which his Brother was slain The Major who commanded the other Party with some others was taken Prisoner We marched on till we came within Cannon shot of their Works where half of their Army was drawn up And we were inform'd that the River which runs through the Town being raised with the melting of the Snow hinder'd those that lay on the other side of the Town from joining with them We call'd a Council of War wherein it was debated whether we should attempt those in their Works being divided from the rest of the Army or march into the Town and relieve them and by the increase of our Force be better able the
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