A Happy VICTORY Obtained by The LORD FAIREFAX, AND captain HOTHAM, Over the Earl of Newcastle and his forces, in Yorkshire, with the number of men slain, and taken prisoners, on both sides.  
Also an Exact Relation of all the proceedings between both Armies, and the present state of things in that County at this present.  
As it was sent in a Letter from the said Lord Fairfax, to the Speaker of the House of peers: Dated Decemb. 10. 1642.  
Die Veneris, Decemb. 16. 1642. ORdered by the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament that this Letter be forthwith Printed and published. John Browne, Cler. Parl.  
Decemb. 17. Printed for John Wright in the Old-Bailey. 1642.   

May it please your Lordships,  
Upon Saturday last, I received a Declaration of Parliament, with a Commission from his excellency the Earl of Essex, to command in chief, over the Forces of the North, and other adjacent Counties, which great honour and Trust, far above any ambition or merit, by your Lordships conferred on me, I shall exercise withal care, and fidelity, not doubting but that your Lordships will enable me therein, with such other Supplies as the necessity of the Service shall require, and that represented from hence.  
The State of the affairs in these parts, since my last dispatch of the first of this month, stand in this manner, the Earl of Newcastle is come to York, and joined his forces to the Earl of Cumberlands, making in all as I am informed about 8000 men horse and foot, of which there is about 2000 Horse and Dragonneers, strength far too potent to be resisted by the small power which I have here, whereof I send a list enclosed; our strength was once estimated by ourselves far greater than now it appears, for upon the Earl of Newcastle's coming over the Tees, Sir Edward Loftus with all the Richmond shire men, and Sir Henry Anderson with all the Cleveland men and the rest of the North riding, which were estimated at 1000 men, did all return to their own Houses, save about 130 men brought hither by Sir Matthew Boynton, some other Gentlemen, and our troop of Horse, raised by Sir Henry Forlis, and about 40. Horse more, brought hither by captain Anderson; And besides this defect, our numbers are decreased by Sir Hugh Cholmley, to whom I have sent diverse Orders to match Northward, to join with Captain Hotham, and the rest in resisting the Earl of Newcastle's entry, before he came into Yorkshire, and since his entry, to come to me, and the rest of the army at Todcaster, but he found such impediments as he could do neither: And now I hear, he is gone to Scarborough, and taken his Forces with him, which were about 700 Men, and colonel Boynton, whose Regiment consisted of 800 Foot, is likewise marched towards Hull, although I sent him divers Orders to march up hither to assist the forces at Todcaster, giving me neither reason of his not coming to me, nor of his march towards Hull, and I understand that Sir John Gell had raised 800 men in Darbishire, sent unto him to march hither, to our succours, but I have received an Answer from him, that he is not able yet to stir from thence; from Sir Anthony Irby, nor the Lincolnshire men, I hear nothing, though I have sent to them express Messengers, so our whole strength here, (upon return of the formerly sent into the North) consisting of 21 Companies of Foot, and 7 troops of Horse, and one Company of dragoneers, we did send of them two Companies of Foot to secure Selby, and one Company to secure Cawood-Castle, and quartered the rest, part of them at Weatherby, under Command of captain Hotham, whom I have nominated to be Lieutenant general of the Army, and the rest at Todcaster, under my own command, and upon Tuesday receiving intelligence that the Earl of Newcastle with his whole forces intended to fall upon our Quarter at Todcaster, I sent to captain Hotham, to bring up the forces at Weatherby, which being done, and the Earl of Newcastle's Army come in sight, we drew our men into the uttermost part of our Quarter, where we had raised some breast-works for our Musquetiers, and there the fight began about 11 of the clock; and so continued in sharp dispute until about 4 of the clock in the evening; in which time there was at least 40 Thousand muskets shot discharged, on both sides, and great numbers of cannon shot.  
The Enemy had once won part of the town and beaten our men, and placed some of their Companies in two or three houses, which did much endanger us, but in the end our men with great courage forced them out again, recovered and burnt the houses, and killed many of the enemy's men that were there placed, and in conclusion, forced the whole Army to retreat, leaving very many of their men dead, and very great numbers wounded, the certain numbers, nor qualities of the persons we could not take, but it is generally said by the country people that there were at least 100 found killed and burnt, and we took 17 prisoners in the fight, & on our part we lost 6 men, and captain William Lyster, a valiant and gallant Gentleman who was shot with a musket bullet in the head, and we had about 20 more wounded, and lost not one Prisoner in the battle, though divers of our men being negligent of their duty stayed behind us when we quit the Quarter, and so were taken the next day there, by the Enemies, and made Prisoners; in this fight our men behaved themselves with very great resolution, far beyond expectation, in so much as I conceive we might have maintained the place still if we had been furnished with Powder and shot, but having spent in a manner all our whole store of Bullet, Match, and Powder, I advised with the Commanders, and by general consent it was though fit, to rise with our Forces, and march to Cawood; and Selby, to secure those places, and there receive supplies of Ammunition and men, which was accordingly done, and now I am at Selby, with part of the Army, and the rest with captain Hotham at Cawood; And yesterday I sent my son Sir Thomas Fairfax with five Companies of Foot, and two Troops of Horse to Leedes, intending he should continue there to secure that place, and the other Clothing towns, against the Earl of Newcastle's forces, if it were possible; But the enemy's forces were laid so strong in the way, as he could not pass, so he only beat up a Quarter of the Enemies in a small Village, took five Prisoners, and retreated to Selby.  
Thus my Lords I have briefly represented the condition of this Army at present, which I must confess I fear will very suddenly grow worse, if not utterly broken up, and that especially for want of money, I having not above a weeks pay provided before hand, and no visible means left to raise maintenance for them unless I should give the Soldiers free quarter upon the country, a cure in my conceit as dangerous as the disease, and peradventure not possible to be effected, If the Enemy be still master of the field, and cut off our men as they go abroad to levy Sustenance▪ which they may do, and yet not able to beat up our Quarters. I have hitherto supported this Army by the loans and Contributions for the most part of the parishes of Leedes Hallifax and Bradford, and some other small Clothing-townes adjacent, being the only well affected people of the Country, who I much fear may now suffer by this Popish Army of the North merely for their good affection to the Religion and public Liberty▪ Out of the rest of the country I was not able to draw any considerable help, the Enemy having Garrisons in so many places, who threatened to ruin any that should assist the Parliament and the cause with money or rather helps. My Lords in sum the State of this country is thus, The Enemy is mighty, and master of the field, plentifully supplied from his Majesty and the Popish and malignant party, with moneys and all necessaries, the well affected party as now it is divided not considerable, the aids from Lincolnshire Darbyshire and other Counties very uncertain, the want of moneys here, such as will force us to disband within 10 days, and if the Enemy become absolute Master of Yorkshire, they will force contribution, and succours from the country, which will raise a very formidable Army and put 〈…〉 peril, if God do not miraculously defend it, I beseech your Lordship seriously to consider it, and send such speedy supplies of men, and money as may Enable me to go forward in the service, which I shall not fail to do with a constant fidelity. Your Lordships have heretofore assigned two thousand Pounds, for our succour; but the most part of it is still at London where it lies for want of Exchange or convoy, and therefore what shall now be sent, must come either by sufficient convoy of Forces by Land, or else by sea to Hull, and so hither to me: the Scottish Officers are now come hither, yesterday, but now we are so straightened, that we can have no men resort to us, to put under command, nor have we money to pay them. The further relation of these affairs, I shall leave to captain Hatcher, who follows these Letters purposely to give true Relation to the House of these affairs, and hath been an eye witness of most of the passages, in this County▪ from the first raising of arms; to whose further expression, I shall leave it, with this addition only, That if the country or cause suffer, your Lordships will discern by this Relation, in whom the default hath been, and impute it accordingly: For nothing hath been omitted possible to be effected by  
Your lordship's most faithful and humble Servant Ferdinando Fairefax. From Selby, 10. Dec. 1642.  
FINIS.