The Copy of A LETTER SENT From Mr. WILLIAM RHODES Knight, TO Mr. IGBY, one of the Members of the House of COMMONS, Declaring the proceed of the Earl of Cumberland, with his Forces in YORKSHIRE, and other Counties in the North parts of this Kingdom.  
With the great VICTORY upon Tuesday, last near Pontefract by the Lo: Fairfax the said Sir William Rhodes, and Capt: Hotham: At which Fight were slain 200 of the Malignants, 40 of Capt: Hothams' side, and the rest of the Malignants fled; about 30 being taken prisoners in their flight.  
THis Letter being Read in the House of Commons on Friday, the eleventh day of this instant November, 1642.  
LONDON: Printed for Tho: Banks. Novemb. 12. 1642.   

The Copy of a Letter SENT From Mr. WILLIAM RHODES Knight, TO Mr. IGBY, one of the Members of the House of COMMONS, etc.  
SIR,  
THe troubles and distractions in this County, hath taken up all our time in seeking to prevent danger, and suppress the Malignant party that endeavoureth only, the destruction of us and our Posterity, that I have no opportunity to recomend myself, and loving affections unto you, which hath been my desire; but I crave your excuse for my negligence therein, redoubt not but you have had Relations from time to time, of the proceed of this County from good hands, and likewise have received many reports that are only fictious; my only desire is as a mite of my love to you and small token of recompense for that loving affection which I have always found in you towards me and mine, to inform you of ou● present Affairs and Condition, in which we now stand.  
On Friday last, being the fourth day of this present Month of November, some of our Forces by Command from the Lord Fairfax and Captain Hotham, apprehended a messenger sent from Master Secretary Nicholas with a packet of Letters, directed to the Earl of Cumberland, which I presume hath been received by the Honourable House of COMMONS; declaring His Majesty's Resolution, that the said Earl with his Forces consisting of about Ten thousand of the Malignants under his command, should advance from our parts towards London to join with his Majesty's Army; upon which the Knights and Gentry of our County, assembled in Council, unanimously resolved to hinder the said Earls march, and to the uttermost of our endeavours to prevent his designs, whereupon we gathered our Forces into an entire Body, Captain Hotham being our Commander in chief, our Army consisting of about Five thousand horse and foot, with which we marched towards the said Earl, who encamped near unto Pontefract, where about three of the clock in the afternoon, we arrived and discovered our adversaries, and coming within shot of their Arear, without any parlance or treaty desired on either side; our Soldiers with good courage discharged varliently, both our forces joining hot in Battle and very warmly stood to it with variable fortune on either side, for the space of two or three hours, the Malignants having the advantage of ground; the right Wing of their Army obtaining a little Hill against us, which Captain Hotham perceiving, commanded the left Wing of our Forces governed by myself and Sir William Savile, to wheel about and face that part of the Enemy that had the Hill, between whom began a most fierce Skirmish, the rest of the Forces playing very hotly beneath the Hill in the Valley. In this manner we continued until dark night, not perceiving which side had the better, a retreat being sounded on both sides till the next morning.  
On Saturday morning a Parley was desired by the Earl, which being granted, His Lordship demanded free passage with his Forces to His Majesty, promising that his Soldiers should do no damage in their march to their Countries, but only for subsistence of Victuals, which demand being utterly denied on our part, we fell to Skirmish a fresh: about a thousand of the Inhabitants of the Country in complete Arms freely coming in to our assistance, by which means our Enemies being fearful of the coming in of more aid, began to retreat and finally to fly; in this Skirmish of our side, were slain about forty, of the other side about two hundred, and about thirty taken prisoners, the residue in their flight being separated, escaped into several parts of our County in a confused manner, we being in hope by pursuing our good luck with the Country's assistance, utterly to suppress them; for it is conceived, they cannot again gather a head, many of them which came out of the Counties of Cumberland, Northumberland, and other places, being returned home again.  
After which our Forces returned to Pontefract to refresh our Soldiers with intention (God-willing) on Monday next to pursue the said Earl, and either apprehend him, or drive him out of our Countries: And this is all (Sir) that this present opportunity will afford me to write unto you; which if it may be profitable, or commodious, to be made known to the Honourable House of Commons, or otherwise serve only for your private reading, you may do which seemeth good to yourself with it.  
And thus, till further opportunity, and better matter cometh to my hands, to inform you of, I commit you, and the rest of that Honourable Assembly to the blessing and protection of the Almighty, whose servants they profess to be, and whose cause they have undertaken; and hearty take my leave.  
Your affectionate friend, W. Rhodes.  
FINIS.