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 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 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 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 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.