[Illustration]
[Footnote 20: _Sir HENRY SLINGSBY gives the following Account
of this Action:_
My Lord of CUMBERLAND sent out Sir THOMAS GLENHAM
once again to beat up Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX's Quarters at
Wetherby; commanding out a party both of Horse and Dragoons. He comes
close up to the town, undiscovered, a little before sunrise; and
PRIDEAUX and some others enter the town through a back yard.
This gave an alarm quite through the town.
Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX was, at this juncture, drawing on his
boots, to go to his father at Tadcaster. He gets on horseback, draws
out some Pikes, and so meets our Gentlemen. Every one had a shot at
him: he only making at them with his sword; and then retired again,
under the guard of his Pikes.
At another part, Lieutenant Colonel NORTON enters with his
Dragoons. Captain ATKINSON encounters him on horseback: the
other being on foot. They meet. ATKINSON missed with his
pistol. NORTON pulls him off horseback by the sword-belt.
Being both on the ground; ATKINSON's soldiers come in, fell
NORTON into the ditch with the butt ends of their muskets, to
rescue their Captain. NORTON's soldiers come in, and beat down
ATKINSON; and with repeated blows break his thigh; of which
wound, he died. A sore scuffle between two that had been neighbours
and intimate friends. After this they [_NORTON's Dragoons_]
retreated out of the town; with the loss of more than one Trooper
killed, and one Major CARR, a Scotchman.
_Memoirs_, p. 40, Ed. 1806, 8vo.]
[Footnote 21: _This is clearly wrong, and a slip of the memory.
The Writer did not again go to Bradford until after the Victory of
the Club Men there, on Sunday, 18th December 1642; which is thus
described by FERDINANDO, Lord FAIRFAX, in a letter from Selby on
29th December 1642._
I have formerly advertised that the Earl of NEWCASTLE's Army have
seized upon Leeds: where they plunder the well-affected party; and
raise a very great sum of money out of those that they can draw to
compound for their securities.
And from Leeds, they marched on Sunday, the 18th of this month,
with 5 Troops of Horse, 6 Companies of Dragoons, 200 Foot, and
two drakes [_small cannon, or field pieces_], of the Earl of
NEWCASTLE's Army; besides Sir WILLIAM SAVILE and divers other
Gentlemen of Yorkshire and their forces, that joined themselves
with them: and came to Bradford, about ten a clock in the morning;
intending to surprise the town, in [the] time of Prayer.
But the town, having scouts abroad, had notice of their coming; and
gave the alarm to the country [_district_]: who came in to their
succour from the parts adjoining.
Yet they had not in all above 80 muskets: the rest being armed with
clubs and such rustic weapons; with which small force, they put the
cause to trial with [_against_] the great strength of the Enemy.
Who planted their drakes, and discharged each of them seventeen
times upon the town; until a townsman, with a fowling piece, killed
one of the Cannoniers. And then they all, with great courage,
issued from the town upon the enemies; and killed many of them, and
took about 30 prisoners: and forced the rest to retreat, leaving
40 of their muskets and [a] barrel of powder, with much other
provision, behind them. And this, with [the] loss of 3 Bradford men.
The report of the country is that [of] the enemies, amongst those
that were killed were Colonel EVERS, and Captain BINNS, and another
Commander; and that Colonel GORING, General of the Horse with the
Earl of NEWCASTLE, was wounded; and Serjeant Major CARR, taken
prisoner. And it is generally spoken, That 150 more are run away,
upon the retreat; and are not since returned to Leeds.
In which victory the hand and power of GOD was most evident, the
town being open on all sides and not defensible; assaulted on
every side by a malicious and bloody Enemy; and defended by a few
half-naked [_half-armed_] men: there being in the town not above 80
muskets before they got 40 more by the spoils of their enemies; so
that [the] slaughter was, for the most part, with clubs and scythes
mounted on poles, and came to hand blows.
With this defeat, the enemies are so enraged as they threaten
revenge to Bradford.
Whereupon the Bradford men sent to me for succour of men and arms.
And I have sent my son [Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX] and Sir HENRY FOULIS
to them, with 3 Troops of Horse and 120 Dragooners; who are safely
arrived there: and [have been] received with great joy and
acclamation of the country [_district_]; who flock to him and offer
themselves most willingly to serve against their Popish enemies, if
arms could be furnished to them.
He hath already surprised some victuals [_convoys of provisions_]
sent in, upon warrants [_requisitions_], to the Enemy at Leeds,
by the over-awed country [_district_]. And he hath sent Captain
MILDMAY, with his Troop of Horse, into Craven [_i.e. the upper
Wharfe-dale_] to stop the raising of forces and money in that
country: which is attempted by the Earl of CUMBERLAND; who is
lately retired from York to Skipton. And I hope he may leave
nothing unattempted that may conduce to the safety of the country,
so far as can be expected from the few forces he hath with him.
_A Second Letter from the Lord FAIRFAX._ Printed 5th Jan. 1642[-3].
British Museum Press Mark, E. 84. (15).
_Another Account of the Bradford Victory, dated 21st December 1642,
states:_
They appeared in Barker End, about 9 a clock, when we had not in
[the] town above 40 Musketeers; planted their ordnance in WILLIAM
COOKE's Barn; marched down the Causey [_Causeway_] with their Foot,
whilst their Horse coasted about the town to hinder aid from coming
in; possessed themselves of those houses under the Church; and from
thence played hotly upon our Musketeers in the Church till 11 a
clock: about which time [the] Halifax men, and other neighbours,
came in to our help.
The fight, before hot, was then hotter. Our men, impatient to be
cooped up in the Church, rushed out [and] forced a passage into the
foresaid houses; and there our Club Men did good execution upon
them. Thereabouts the fight continued till it was dark. Many of
theirs were slain....
Their cannon, one of which shoots a 9 lb. ball [_if so, it was a
Demi-Culverin: see Vol. IV., p. 251_] played all that time upon the
town: but hurt no man, praised be GOD! who hath delivered those
that were ordained to death, &c.
_Brave News of the taking of Chichester, &c. &c._ Printed 30th Dec.
1642. British Museum Press Mark, E. 83. (36).]
[Footnote 22: _Sir HENRY SLINGSBY says of this Fight:_
Two days after, His Excellency [the Earl of NEWCASTLE] came to
York [5th December 1642]; he undertook to attempt to beat Lord
FAIRFAX out of Tadcaster: in this he succeeded pretty well [on 7th
December 1642]; and marched to Pomfret [_Pontefract_], which he
made his Head Quarters. His Horse [was] at Sherburn, and towns next
adjacent.
Here we were a little too secure. Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX (with a party
of 300 Horse; and, it seems, hearing the Officers in Sherburn were
to have a feast) comes at noon-day, beats up our Quarters; [and]
takes Commissary WINDHAM, Sir WILLIAM RIDDALL, and many others,
prisoners.
_Memoirs_, p. 42, Ed. 1806, 8vo.
_The date of this Fight is fixed by the following passage:_
On Tuesday last [13th December 1642], about four of the clock in
the morning, Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX marched from Selby; fetching a
compass, as if he declined Sherburn: yet, at last, [he] wheeled
about, and assaulted that town about one of the clock, the next
day [14th December 1642] &c. &c. _A True Relation of the Fight at
Sherburn, &c._ Written on [Friday] 16th December 1642. British
Museum Press Mark, E. 83. (15).]
[Footnote 23: Saturday night, the 20th of May [1643]. The Lord
General [i.e. FERDINANDO, Lord FAIRFAX] gave Order for a party of
1,000 Foot, 3 Companies of Dragooners, and 8 Troops of Horse, to
march from the garrisons of Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, and Howley.
Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX commanded in chief. The Foot were commanded by
Serjeant Major General GIFFORD and Sir WILLIAM FAIRFAX. The Horse
were divided into two bodies: 4 Troops commanded by Sir THOMAS
FAIRFAX, and the other 4 Troops by Sir HENRY FOULIS.
Howley was the rendezvous, where they all met on Saturday [20th
May] last, about twelve a clock at night.
About two, next morning, they marched away: and coming to Stanley,
where 2 of the Enemy's Troops lay, with some Dragooners; that
Quarter was beaten up, and about one and twenty prisoners taken.
About four a clock in the morning [of 21st May 1643], we came
before Wakefield. Where, after some of their Horse were beaten into
the town, the Foot, with unspeakable courage, beat the enemies from
the hedges, which they had lined with Muskeeters, into the town;
and assaulted it in two places, Wrengate and Norgate: and, after
an hour and a half's fight, we recovered [_captured_] one of their
Pieces [of Ordnance] and turned it upon them; and entered the
town, at both places, at one and the same time.
When the Barricadoes were opened, Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX, with the
Horse, fell into the town; and cleared the street: where Colonel
GORING was taken by Lieutenant ALURED, brother to Captain ALURED, a
Member of the House [of Commons].
Yet in the Market Place, there stood 3 Troops of Horse; and
Colonel LAMPTON's Regiment: to whom Major General GIFFORD sent a
Trumpet[er], with offer of Quarter, if they would lay down their
arms.
They answered, They scorned the motion.
Then he fired a Piece of their own Ordnance upon them: and the
Horse fell in upon them, [and] beat them out of [the] town. We took
39 Officers, 27 Colours of Foot, 3 Coronets of Horse, and about
1,500 common soldiers.
The Enemy had in the town 3,000 Foot and 7 Troops of Horse: besides
Colonel LAMPTON's Regiment; which came into the town, after we had
entered the town.
The Enemy left behind them 4 Pieces of Ordnance, with Amunition;
which we brought away.
THOMAS FAIRFAX. JOHN GIFFORD. JOHN HOLMAN. TITUS LEIGHTON. HENRY
FOULIS. WILLIAM FAIRFAX. ROBERT FOULIS. FRANCIS TALBOT.
_A Miraculous Victory...at Wakefield_. Printed 27th May 1643.
British Museum Press Mark, E. 104. (13).]
[Footnote 24: A modest Refutation of an Error published in print by
Master [THOMAS] FULLER, in his book of _Worthies_ [_of England_].
Title, [_Yorkshire_] _Battles_, pagina 225 [, Ed. 1662], in these
words, viz.
GORING, [at the fight of Marston Moor,] _so valiantly charged the
Right Wing of the Enemy, that they fairly forsook the Field_.
On this, Lord FAIRFAX made the following marginal Note in his copy:
I envy none the honour they deservedly got in this battle; nor am
I ambitiously desirous of a branch of their laurel. But I see no
reason to be excluded [from] the Lists: in which I underwent equal
hazards with any others that day.
But [it] being my lot to be cast upon many disadvantages, having
command of the Right Wing, with much difficulty I could get but
5 Troops in order: with which I charged the Enemy's Left Wing;
when the business was hotly disputed a long time, at [the] sword's
point. We broke through; and had the chase of many of them.
But, indeed, the rest of the Horse, [that] I could not draw up to
charge with me, were soon routed with that part of the Enemy we
left behind.
But to shew that some did their parts: having routed some of the
Enemy, and taken GORING's Major General prisoner; few of us came
off without dangerous wounds; and many [of them] were mortal.
Which shews that the Right Wing did not wholly leave the Field; as
the Author of that book relates.