A true copie of Colonel Sr. Gamaliel Dudley's letter to His Highnesse Prince Rupert from Newark 4. March. 1644 being an exact relation of Sr. Marm. Langdale's march northward, as also the great victory obtained by him over Lord Fairfax neare Pontefract 1. Martii, 1644. Dudley, Gamaliel. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A36751 of text R41934 in the English Short Title Catalog (Wing D2439). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 15 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A36751 Wing D2439 ESTC R41934 19728867 ocm 19728867 109369 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A36751) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 109369) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1698:36) A true copie of Colonel Sr. Gamaliel Dudley's letter to His Highnesse Prince Rupert from Newark 4. March. 1644 being an exact relation of Sr. Marm. Langdale's march northward, as also the great victory obtained by him over Lord Fairfax neare Pontefract 1. Martii, 1644. Dudley, Gamaliel. Rupert, Prince, Count Palatine, 1619-1682. [2], 6 p. Printed by Leonard Lichfield ..., Oxford : 1644. Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library. eng Langdale, Marmaduke Langdale, -- Baron, 1598?-1661. Fairfax, Thomas Fairfax, -- Baron, 1612-1671. Great Britain -- History -- Civil War, 1642-1649. Great Britain -- History, Military -- 1603-1714. A36751 R41934 (Wing D2439). civilwar no A trve copie of Colonel Sr Gamaliel Dudley's letter to His Highnesse Prince Rvpert, from Newark, 4. March. 1644. Being an exact relation of [Dudley, Gamaliel] 1644 2496 5 0 0 0 0 0 20 C The rate of 20 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2006-10 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-10 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-11 Jonathan Blaney Sampled and proofread 2006-11 Jonathan Blaney Text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A TRVE COPIE OF COLONEL Sr GAMALIEL DVDLEY'S Letter to His Highnesse PRINCE RVPERT , From NEWARK , 4. March . 1644. BEING AN EXACT RELATION OF Sr MARM . LANGDALES March Northward ; As also the great Victory obtained by Him , over the Lord Fairfax neare Pontefract , 1. Martii , 1644. OXFORD , Printed by LEONARD LICHFIELD , Printer to the Vniversity . 1644. May it please your Highnesse , THe zeale of our duties at once unto His Majesties Service , and the reliefe of our distressed Friends in Pontefract , being , by the blessing of God , seconded with successes of happinesse beyond our greatest hopes , I was commanded by Sir Marmaduke Langdale , to give unto your Highnesse at present a particular Accompt of each occuring circumstance in this our Expedition . On Sunday the 23d of February , we began our march from Banbury towards Daventry , where we had Intelligence of an uncertain number of Horse and Foot that attended thereabouts with designe to affront Vs in our march , but Sir William Compton marching before Vs with his Horse , was onely looked on by them at a good distance , and after the encounter of a little skitmishing , they perceiving the rest of our Horse advancing towards them , wheeled off in great disorder , and Sir William Compton had the execution of them in their flight very neare Northampton Towne . Their particular losse in this defeat , I presume your Highnesse has already received account of at full from Banbury . On Monday the 24th we continued our March to Harborough without any opposition or sight of Enemy , but here we were certainly advertized of a conjunction made that night of all the Horse of Leicester , Darby , Nottingham , Grantham , Stanford , Burleigh , and Rockingbam , associated under the conduct of Colonell Rossiter , ( and then in present motion ) drawn out , but upon what design , severally reported ▪ untill the next day being Tuesday the 25. marching from Harborough towards Melton-Mowbray , we were at full assured ; for approaching neare the Towne , we discovered some Horse and Dragooners in it , and upon another passe of the same water in a faire Meade , about halfe a mile from the Towne , their main strength ( as we judged them ) being neare 2000 in all , were drawn up to oppose us ( as Sir Marm. Langdale did conceive ) at the passage , being a place of very great advantage , for which purpose he was instantly putting himselfe into a posture to endeavour to force the passe , but their eagernesse to fight saved us that labour ; for by that time that we were well in order drawn up , and had gained the brow of the Hill on the South side of Melton , the Enemy was advanced through the Towne to meet us , and in a gallant fury gave us a bold charge upon the very ground chosen by our selves to fight upon ; the encounter continued hot and sharp a good while , with severall various appearances of successe on both sides ; but at length they were wholly routed , many of their Commanders slaine , many hurt , and all the body scattered unto their severall Garrisons , the fatigue of our long March , and the night intervening , prevented our very farre pursuit of them in a strange Country , but we slew upon the place neere 100 , and took almost so many Prisoners and foure Colours of Horse . The losse we sustained was small , only Sir Iohn Girlington and Captain Gascoign , two gallant Gentlemen , both slaine in the first charge , and some few wounded . One Captain Hacker held a Garrison for the Rebels at Sir Erasmus de la Fountains house in Kirby , within a mile of the place we fought upon , who being with his Horse and Drogooners totally routed in this battaile , went back in despaire to his Garrison and burnt it , and then fled with such as would follow him , being but two in all , in the night to Leicester , a common Parliament practice , to set a House on fire , and then to runne away by the light of it . The pursuit of the Enemy being done , and the pillage of the field gathered by our men , wherein was good store both of Horse-mens Armes and Muskets . Sir Marm. Langdale rallying all his Troops together again in order , continued his March that night beyond Belvoir Castle , and the next day , being Wednesday the 26 , we advanced foure miles beyond Newark , at which time the Enemy with some Foot from Lincoln , Welbeck , and some other adjacent Garrisons , and with eight Regiments of Horse , and one of Dragooners had besiedged Norwell House , a Garrison holden by Newark Forces some miles from the Town . But having gained intelligence of our advance and successe had against Rossiter , ( their admired Champion ) they instantly deserted the attempt , and retreated in great disorder unto Retford , from whence the night following they fled in as much feare and distraction unto Doncaster . On Thursday the 27th , the Governour of Newark assisted us with 400 Foot and about 400 Horse under the Conduct of his Lievtenant-Governour , which joyned to us , we marched that night beyond Tuxford , not disturbed either in march or Quarters by any Enemy , and the next day being Friday the 28th , we advanced towards Doncaster ; about Rossinton-Bridge some three miles from the Towne , our Forlorne Parties discover'd some appearance of an Enemy , but still as we approached with our body they retreated , this night we expected they would have disputed our passage over the River Dun , but they onely made a bon-mine there , and left us the Towne of Doncaster to Quarter in that night . The next morning , being Saturday the first of March , we drew early into the field , where immediately Sir Marmaduke Langdale put the Army into the posture of Battaile he did intend to fight in , and prepared the Souldier with a knowledge of such difficulties as they should expect this day to encounter with , and therefore to goe armed with the constancy of undaunted resolutions , it being a businesse that was at first no lesse dangerous to undertake , then it was now desperate to decline ; The newes was entertained by a welcome from the Souldiers that eccho'd out aloud their joyfull acclamations . This prophetick Omen presaging clearly the happy consequence of their ensuing Victory . We marched without sight of Enemy , till we came neare Wentbrigge , above three miles short of Pontefract , where about 1000 Horse , and 500 Dragooners of the Enemies , attended that place , as much as possibly they could , to impede the speed of our course that way , but without much danger in the dispute , we forc'd the Passe , but yet they so retarded our march , as the besiegers had gain'd time to be all drawne together both Horse and Foot in order , being in number about 2500 Foot , and neare 4000 Horse and Dragoones , all the strength of English that possibly the Lord Fairfax could draw together in the North , excepting the Forces that Meldrum lay withall before Scarborough , and Sir John Savile before Sandal , which he himselfe in Person came this morning unto them , with two Regiments of Horse , and 500 Commanded Musqueteers . Betwixt foure and five in the afternoone , we gained the Top of the Hill over against the Castle , their Army standing all drawne up in the bottome , and now me thought we view'd them with the fancy of that great Captaine when he first encountered Elephants , Tandem par animis periculum video , a good advantage was it to us , that our Forlorne Parties , seconded with severall Divisions of our Horse , had beaten in that great Body of their Van-currier● in such disorder into their Main Battaile , as taking that opportunity with a continued charge , this had not time to recover themselves into any setled order , and though the suddainesse of the Action gave not leave for each Division of our Horse to observe its proper time and place of their severall orders to Charge in , yet in the whole it was so fully done , a● that there was not one Body of them all , but did foure or five severall times that day act their parts with very gallant Execution . The Fight continued without a cleare Victory , at the least three houres , untill there was not left on our Party standing in order to Charge withall , more then three small Bodies , consisting of above 120 in each Body , which with some Officers and Gentlemen together rally'd , gave a seasonable Charge to the last of the Enemies strength , the Castle at the same instant making a gallant Sally of 200 Musqueteers , who fell in the Reare of the Enemies Foot , our owne Foot firing upon them at the same time in their Flanck , and this totally cleared the Field . We followed the Execution sixe or seven miles three severall wayes , as the Enemy fled ; A short time ( with a Reserve of Foot , and Morgans Dragooners , and one peece of Cannon ) they endeavoured to defend the Passe at Ferrybrigge , but were soon beaten off , lost their Cannon , and in the pursuit their Carriages , with 34 double Barrells of Powder , and a proportionable quantity of Match and Bullet , and much other spoyle . There were slaine about 300 upon the place , and many drowned in the River , which water they took as nimbly as if it had been their naturall Element , as yet we have not had time to fish for them : betwixt 7 and 800 Prisoners , of which 44 Officers of quality , 22 Colours of Foot , being all they had there , and not one escaped with their Armes , and 26 Standarts of Horse , many of their chiefe Officers both of Horse and Foot slain , as Colonel Armyn , Colonel Thornton , Colonel Malevary , and many more , whose names I have not , all the Foot Armes we took , to the number of 2500 at the least , and many Horse Armes . Te Deum Laudamus . Non nobis , Domine , non nobis , &c. One remarkable circumstance I cannot omit to acquaint your Highnesse with ; They had some few dayes before given out , that they would take the Castle with a Stratagem , which should be thus : They would make as if reliefe were comming to it , and so they would seem to draw all off , as to fight the Reliefe , ( leaving onely an Ambuscada in the Towne ) and then they would skirmish together , and seem defeated by the Releevers , and so retreat disorderly as beaten , in expectation the Castle should make a Sally , and then their Ambuscada should surprise it ; But I hope they were now taught the danger of jesting with edg'd Tooles , and will hereafter leave such mocking . At our first advance into the Country , it was generally reported , that your Highnesse was come in Person , which struck a great terrour into the Enemy and Courage into our Souldiers , as had your Highnesse transmitted some of your Royall Spirit into their hearts , and your active strength into their Armes , scorning to be guilty of any Act that they should have had cause to have blusht , had your Highnesse looked on . About two of the clock in the morning , all parties that had been in pursuit of the Enemy being returned , we drew into Quarters to refresh , and about eight of the clock in the morning , on Sunday the second of March , Sir Marm. Langdale sent parties out into the Country , which brought in plenty of all sorts of provisions for the Castle , and then appoynted a Rendezvous the next morning . In the interim he was advertised that Rossiter with all his broken Troops rallyed , and others joyned to them , and 300 Dragooners , was come to Doncaster with intention to joyne with Fairfax , whereupon we immediatly Marched towards them , but they having secured the Bridge , Sir Marm. Langdale diverted his course over a ford at Oldwark neare Rotheram , and thence we continued out March ( only halting some few howers by the way to refresh ) without any losse at all , to Newark whereabouts we are at present Quarter'd . I can assure Your Highnesse that the present effects of this Expedition are these . Besides that our comming was highly seasonable , it being almost the very Criticall minute of the Castles necessity , Scarborough Bolton , and Skipton were all besiedged , and they were forced to draw off upon this occasion , and are now so shaken , as that they cannot suddenly be in any probable condition to begin new siedges hastily , besides the Country is so discouraged from their party , that whereas the Lord Fairfax had undertaken to have raised an Army of 20000 Horse and Foot for his Sonne to move into the South withall ▪ and had prepared his businesse in great forwardnesse , he will by this businesse doubtlesse receive a good diversion , the Countreys generally declining him , and whensoever your Highnesse shall be pleased to take this Countrey into your particular care , he hath ▪ chalked out unto Your Highnesse a ready track for to raise the same leavy in their own way , which that Your Highnesse may have a speedy opportunity to undertake , next the continuance of your Highnesse happinesse and honour , shall be the daily Praier of May it please your Highnesse , Your most humbly and most faithfully devoted of all that serve your Highnesse GAM. DVDLEY . Newark that 4. of March , 1644. We lost not one Officer ( God be thanked ) and but very few common Souldiers . FINIS .