An Exact and True RELATION OF A BLOODY FIGHT, Performed against the Earl of Newcastle and his Forces before Todcaster and Selby in York­shire, in his march towards LONDON:

BY The Lo: Fairfax, Sir Chr: Wray, Sir Henry Foulis, Capt: Hotham, Capt: Hatcher, Capt: Rhodes, and Capt: Ander­son, with their Troops.

With the number of Souldiers that were slain.

Sent in a Letter from Selby, by Sir HENRY FOULIS Baronet, to Mr. T. CHALONER Esquire, dwelling in Drury-lane, LONDON.

With a List of the Names of all the Commanders and other Gentlemen of note that were taken prisoners in the late Battell at WINCHESTER.

London, Printed for JOHN FRANK. Decem. 21. 1642.

An Exact and true Relation of a Bloody Fight, performed against the Earl of Newcastle and his Forces before Todcaster in Yorkshire, &c.

Dear Cousin,

IF I have not performed my promise in weekly writing to you, pray lay not the blame on me, but (where it is due) on the troubles of our Country, what we do here I shall tell you. Cleave­land is turned a Wildernesse, my wife and children sole Governours, not one else left ei­ther through fear or malignanty: my goods at Hull, my self with a Troop of horse here; as for my Re­giment of foot, it lyes so under the walls of York, that it is yet impossible to raise it, besides if I had them up, one Musquets report would make them run away, witnesse Cleaveland. Regiment under the Command of Sir Mathew Boynton, when he (with all the help of his friends) had at Yarum 500 of his Re­giment, the enemy giving us but one Alarum, they all ran away save 200, and those are now run to 80. As for my part I intend to raise Voluntiers, for I may do either by my Commission, I thanke God for it in this seven, weeks service I have not any hurt of my Troop but one, and that was at Kanues­brough [Page 4]as we entred the town, where we lost some men and Officers, yet lay there three dayes to re­fresh our men, not being able to walke in the streets without danger from the Castle, and all we lost was one common souldier, one Serjeant, one En­gine hurt, and some six common souldiers, what hurt we did them, we know not. When Captaine Hotham and I (though we met first at Yarum, and beat up with our Troops the enemies-Quarters at Darneton) joyned together with Cleavland foot, it was at North-Allerton upon sunday was a sevnight; that same night that Ever Gallant Hotham beat up their Quarters again, slew 4. men, one Lieutenant, and took 7 prisoners, we lost but one in that service, who wilfully cast himself away, falling into the e­nemies hands, thinking they had been his friends. On Munday the Earl of Newcastle passed the Tees with all his Army, and 14 peeces of Ordnance, and lay that night at Smeeton some four miles from Al­lerton; some six Alarums we had that night, and were perpetually in arms on both sides, our Scouts giving fire on one another, and on each Quarters; we by our Scouts discovered their lodging, which was the foot, being least regarded in the open fields, the horse we suppose in the Towne, except those that alarum'd us. We were then but 300 foot and four Troops of horse, so held it wisdom to retreat to my Lord Fairfax now (in the absence of Essex) our Generall. On Tuesday at two a clock in the morning we marched from Allerton with bag and baggage, lay that night at Topcliff, the next day [Page 5]the same time marched away to Knausbrough, where we received the losse before mentioned; and to sa­tisfie the souldiers gave them free qurrter, or at least they took it Believes me if ever God enable us to have a revenge, that Town and Castle shall suffer dearly, for they shot nothing but shawed bullets.

From thence we came to Wetherby where we lay, expecting whether my Lord of Newcastle would make his passe that way to his Majesty, or by Todcaster where my Lord Fairfax lay; but he bent his course for Todcaster, and summoned all the country to be there on. Wednesday last, with their carriages and draughts to convey his Ammunition and Ordnance. On Tuesday the Earl shewed him­self before Todcaster and retreated; then did my Lord Fairfax send for Captain Hotham and us from Wetherby, to be at Todcaster before day on Wednesday; we obeyed and marched all night with our Ordnance; when we came to Todcaster we re­fresht your selves for an hour, then we had notice that the Enemy was upon the Moor some a mile from the Town, presently part of the horse which were Sir Christopher Wrays Troop, Sir Thomas Fair fax's Troop and my own Troop; drew into the field neere the Moore, and remained there till towards 12 a clock, the enemy keeping themselves on the further part of the moore among the Fenns, and a ditch between them and us; They advanced not towards us, nor we towards them, but stood at gaze then my Lord Fairefax commanded us on this side the River with the rest of the horse, Captaine Ho­thams [Page 6]Troope, Captaine Hatchers Troope, Cap­taine Rhodes Troope, Captaine Ardersons Troope to secure the forces. When we retired the enemy presently fell on: the fight began about one of the clocke, and continued till after foure; you cannot immagine how hot service it was, for I dare well say one both sides above 40000. shot past, besides Ordinance, which were played as occasion served. Upon us they played with 5. Culverin, we had but one. Demy Culverin which never shot but once, but our Drakes shot notably, and did good service; their Ordinance did little hurt, onely killed one man, the rest flew into our horse Troops, but did no hurt because they were spent before they came at us, one shot of 18. pound fell between Hothams Troope and mine within 3. yards of my selfe, and another in the reare of my troope, and just before Sir Christopher Wray, the bullet was above 19. l. weight.

On our side there was slaine but 4.3. Common Souldiers, and one whose memory shalbe ever fa­mous, Colonell Lister; My Lord Fairefax with the rest of the Commanders laide him in his Grave at Todcaster on Thursday morning, and presently marched away hither; for the truth is, though my Lord of Newcastle was before Todcaster himselfe in person with all his force; and that we beate him off, yet we were not able to keepe the Towne, be­cause we wanted victuall and ammunition, for I dare well say that in 48. hours not a Commande­r cate a bit, march lesse a Common Souldier; some [Page 7]Sacke we had, but that was not for the poore Soul­diers. What hurt we did the enemy we know not, for we found not above 30. killed, and some 20. taken prisoners, but when on [...]horse went out in the night to discover the fields were full of lamentable groans of dying people, yet in a galantry New-Castle lay with his men in the fields all that night, and as we are informed some 500. rann from him; We are now and all our Forces at Cawood and Sel­by, as well to secure our selves, as refresh our men, we came hither the last night, and if New-Castle advance, we shall fall upon him, though Sir Hugh Cholmely and Colonell Francis Boynton come not to us; both which we have not yet seen, though of­ten sent to: And you may beleeve that their Regi­ments with the foure Troops of Horse they have, would be a good recrute to our wearied Forces.

Selby, this 17. of December.
Your affectionate Cousin to serve you Henry Foullis.
FINIS.

The List of the Names of all the Commanders, and other Gentl [...]men of note that were taken Prisoners in the late Battell at Winchester, as it was presented to his Excellency the Earl of Essex at Windsor, Decem. 17. And sent by Coronet Sterly to Sergeant Major Alexander, one of the Comman­ders under his Excellency.

Worthy Sir,

I Was in presence when the news came to my Lord Gene­rall concerning the fight at Winchester; And therefore thought good to give you the same intelligence of it that that was delivered to him. There sallyed out two Regiments of foote, which were of the Kings life guard upon us, which were all, or the most part of them cut off: Besides the foote forces, there also sallyed out a Brigade of horse; but they al­so finding they were notable to withstand us, retreated in­to the Castle, then we scaled the walls, they desired quarter, which we gave them, onely detaining their Commanders, and Officers, whose names are here underwriten; And for the rest of their forces we stripped and sent them away. The Inhabitants of the Town of Winchester offers 2000l. to save themselves from being pillaged by our Regiment.

And thus I rest your Servant to command

John Sterly, Cornett.
  • Col. L. Grandison
  • Cap. Garret
  • Col. Bennet
  • Sir R. Willis
  • Cap. Honywood
  • Col. Savage
  • Sir J. Smite
  • Cap. Barty
  • Liev. Williamson
  • Cap. Booth
  • Livet. Rogers
  • Maj, Hayborne
  • Cap. Brangling
  • Cap. Wren
  • Cap. Beckonhead
  • Livet. Elverton
  • Co. Ruddry.
  • Lievt. Rodham
  • Lievt. Booth
  • Cor. Gwyn
  • Cor. Bradlines
The Names of the Gentlemen of that County that were ta­ken Prisoners with the Cavaliers.
  • Sir J. Mills
  • Sir Tho. Philips
  • Sir Fra. Powre
  • Sir H. Knowles
  • Mr. Ranford
  • Mr. Saunders
  • Mr. Griffin
  • M. Foyl and his son.
  • M. Powlet & his son.
FINIS.

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