The Good and Prosperous success OF THE PARLIAMENTS FORCES IN Yorkshire: Against the Earl of Newcastle And his Popish Adherents.  
As it was sent in a Letter from the Right Honourable the Lord Fairefax, and read in both Houses of Parliament, on Monday, Ian. 30. 1642.  
With some Observations of the Lords and Commons upon the said happy Proceedings, as so many Answers from Heaven, which God hath given to the Prayers of his Servants.  
Published, that their Mouths and Hearts may be as much enlarged in Praises, as they have been in Prayers.  

Die Lunae, 30 Ian. 1642.  
ORdered by the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, that this Letter, with the Observations thereon, be forthwith Printed and Published.  
John Browne, Cler. Parliament.   
Ian. 31. Printed for John Wright in the Old Bailey. 1642.   

The Lord Fairfax his Letter.  
SIR,  
IT is most necessary that I continue my Relation to you, of the state and condition of the affairs in this Country, that they may be made known to both Houses, and Provision made for succours to be sent us, which have hitherto come very slowly, though they have made large expressions of their care, we have been long destitute of money to pay the Army, and to supply that want, I have used all possible industry, by taking up money upon Exchange, and by calling upon the Country to supply me for the present upon the public Faith: The want of money doth so perplex that part of the Army here, as I imagine, the House will not expect any considerable matter to be done by us, though God be thanked the Forces I send from hence and are raised by the Country with other places, are daily acting something to advance the public service, as in the Northriding where Sir Hugh Cholmley hath carried himself very bravely, giving several defeats to the Enemy near Malton, and on monday the 16. of this month, joining his Forces to Sir Matthew Boynton, they fell upon colonel Slingsby at Gisbrowgh, where they defeated him and 600. Horse and Foot with him, that had done much spoil in the Northriding, they wounded and took colonel Slingsby himself, with 140. other Prisoners, killed a great many, and recovered 200. Arms with the place; amongst the Prisoners taken by Sir Hugh Cholmley at Malton, and here at Gisbrowgh, it is found that a great number are Papists, and indeed the strength of the Enemies will be found to consist much of Papists & Popish affected, the Earl of Newcastle, granting his Commissions for raising men to Papists for the most part, I have heard of late of Commissions granted to twelve Recusants of these parts, whose names I send enclosed, ●●t is not to be doubted he walks the same ways in other places as well as here, which courses have so advanced Popery as I hear, that in York where many Recusants are settled, mass is ordinarily said in every street, and such affronts offered to the Protestants and their ministry, as few dare resort to Church, and in other parts of the Country I am informed, that for many miles together the religious ministry, are all either fled or imprisoned▪ which persecutions, if they be not timely repressed, will extirp or much depress the Protestant Religion in these parts, about Bradford and Hallifax, God hath blessed my Son and those small Forces with good success against the Enemy in several light skirmishes, and on monday was seven night, he seized on the Lord Saviles house at Howley, and put about 100 Musquetiers into it, and on tuesday I sent Sir William Fairfax, and his Officers with some arms, to raise his Regiment in those parts, and for his convoy I sent what horse and Dragooners I could spare from hence, directing them to stay with my Son to assist him in his design against Leeds, and yesternight I received Letters from him, wherein he relates to me, that on monday last he drew his Forces out of Bradford, and marched to Leeds, where Sir William Savill commanded in chief, my son first summoned them by a Trumpet to yield, which being refused, the Assault began, wherein his men carried themselves with great Resolution, the town being fortified on all sides, furnished with two brass Sakers, and manned with 1500. Soldiers, yet they forced an Entry in two hours' fight, there being not lost on both sides above 40. men, but he took 4. colours, 500 Prisoners (of which 6 are Commanders) and with the Prisoners they took many arms, the Sakers and all the Munition they had, which was not much; On our part we lost 13. men, and Capt. Briggs, and Capt. Lee, both sore wounded, and I perceive that in this exploit Sir William Fairfax, Sir Thomas Norcliffe, and sergeant major Forbes, with the rest of the Commanders carried themselves very gallantly, the people do observe that Sir William Savill, and the chief Commanders, on the other side soon after the fight began, fled by secret ways towards Pomfret, and their men after them by degrees, but by the way sergeant major 〈◊〉 was drowned crossing the River, and Sir William Savill very narrowly escaped the like fate. After Leeds was thus won, my Son writes that he intended to have marched to Wakefield, where Sir George Wentworth commanded, but was prevented therein by the enemy's fears, who hearing he had taken Leeds, fled all away from Wakefield to Pontefract, and left the town, so he hath sent some Forces to invest and keep that place: Thus hath God blessed their endeavours on that side, and now I am told that Capt. Hotham and Sir John Savill, are gone up yesterday with some Forces into those parts, but upon what design I know not, yesterday morning I had some intelligence, that the most part of the Forces were marched the day before out of Doncaster, so I have sent 〈◊〉 sergeant major general with six companies of 〈◊〉 to invest that place, and to leave some Forces to keep it until more strength come to us, out of the Southern Counties, which if they could be hastened hither might very much advance the cause, & crush their Popish forces before they be supplied by the Queen's coming, or their party in Scotland, of which there is some expectation, I desire you will make known to the house the great extremities that are put upon me, & that a certain course may be settled for supplying us with Money for the entertainment of the army, in such season, as our men may be encouraged in the service, and not fall into a way of plundering for want of pay, my son upon the taking of Leeds, though he entered it by force, yet he restrained his Army from pillaging, so I have ordered that the Malignants in lieu of the spoil, challenged to be due unto the Soldiers, shall give them a month's entertainment, which I hope will content both Parties, yesternight Intelligence was brought to me, that the Earl of Newcastle hath drawn down all his Forces from the South-Parts of Yorkshire, those only excepted that keep the Castle at Pomfret, for yesterday he marched from Sherborne, to York, with 36 Colours, ● Pieces of of Canon, and 43 other carriages, the certain cause I do not yet know, but suppose it is to meet the arms and Munition coming from Newcastle, or to prepare for the Queen's entertainment at York, which is much spoken of, I shall carry a vigilant eye upon his designs, and endeavour to prevent them, so far as can he expected from the forces under the command of▪  
Selby, 26. Ian. 1642. Sir, Your most affectionate Friend and servant. Fer. Fairefax,   

I have sent unto Master White to be hewed unto you thr●● papers found with Col. nell Slingsby when he was taken at Gisbrough by Sir Hugh Cholmely which may peradventure be thought necessary to be made known to the House, if Sir Hugh have not already presented the transcript to you.  

The Names of Recusants in these parts, to whom the Earl of New Castle hath granted Commissions to raise Forces.  
M. Robert Traps.  
M. Stevenson of Thornton.  
S. John Middleton.  
S. Walter Vavasor.  
M. Andes.  
M. Tindall.  
M. Bretton.  
S. Philip Hungate.  
M. Waterson.  
M. Thwenge.  
Capt. Sare.  
Capt. Granger.   
Besides those formerly printed by Order of this House, and many more which are omitted.   

The Observations of both Houses of Parliament, upon the aforesaid Letter.  
Whereas many and fervent prayers have been sent up to God for his blessings to be poured down upon the Endeavours of the Parliament in maintenance of his own Cause, and Religion, now openly assaulted by Papists, and because it is most just and necessary to observe the return of these Prayers, that our mouths and hearts may be as much enlarged in praises, as they have been in Prayers. The Lords and Commons have thought fit to pnblish some late good successes, as so many Answers from Heaven which God hath given to the Prayers of his servants.  
And whereas sundry late Declarations have showed to the world divers Informations and proofs concerning the raising of a Popish Army with an intention to subvert God's true Religion▪ professed and by Law established in this kingdom and to introduce popish idolatry, and Superstition, that it may appear that, what was before an intention is now matter of fact, and really put in Execution, a most certain and true Relation is here offered to public notice and observation wherein it may be seen that this Popish Army hath set up the open practice of their abominable Idolatry in York the second City of this kingdom, and are grown to that height of Insolence that they terrify and drive away Protestant Ministers and people from frequenting, their own Churches and from the practice of their own Religion, wherein they have given a pattern and pledge what they intend to do, and what must be expected from them through the whole kingdom, the consideration hereof (whereby the most precious things in the world▪ God's Glory and true worship, and the salvation, and souls of men are brought into danger) ought to excite▪ and stir up (and we are confident it will) the strongest endeavours and most united conjunctions of all Religions, and well affected Protestants and Patriots 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and suppress these common Enemies of God, Piety their Country and commonwealth, for now, it plainly appears that how ever they pretend to defend the authority and the laws, yet their main intention is to Establish Popery in this kingdom, and to extirpate the Protestant Religion which cannot be done without subversion of the laws, as the Papists have all most effected in Ireland.  
FINIS.