A True RELATION Concerning the late Fight at Torrington, Between the Forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the Forces under the command of the Lord Hopton and others.  
SEnt in a Letter to the honourable William Lenthal Esq Speaker of the honourable House of Commons, and by him appointed to be forthwith printed and published:  
LONDON: Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the honourable House of Commons. Feb. 20. 1645.   

To the honourable William Lenthal Esq Speaker of the honourable House of Commons.  
SIR,  
SAturday Febr. 14. the army marched from Crediton and the Quarters thereabout to Chimleigh, being ten miles, the day very rainy, and the way very deep; Sunday they marched very early to a Rendezvouz some two miles in the way to Torrington, with intention to have gone on; but our parties of our Horse bringing in some Prisoners▪ by whose Examinations we could not certainly learn which way the Enemy bent, the certain knowledge whereof would mightily advantage us, by taking the benefit of that side of the River on which they marched; whereupon another party was sent out of Col: Butler's Troop, the Forlorn of which party being twelve, took twelve of the Lord Goring's lifeguard, and twenty four Horse, and brought them to the General; upon their Examination it appears, the Enemy was ignorant of our Motion; That they were drawn to no Rendezvouz; That the Lord Hopton was in Torrington. Presently after there came a spy from Torrington, who informed that that morning he left the Lord Hopton there, That they heard a kind of an Alarm, but no certain Intelligence of our Motion. And being informed that a party of the enemy's Horse was at Burrington, the General sent a party of Horse to meet with them, who accordingly charged the Enemy, put them to a Rout, shot Lieut. Colonel Dundash through the body, and took several prisoners, and brought Dundash three miles on the way, but being mortally wounded, as himself conceived, was enforced to leave him at Ringash, a Foot quarter of ours. This is the same Dundash that ran to the Enemy when the Earl of Essex's army lay about Tame: This Lieut. Colonel commanded the Lord of Cleveland's Brigade; the party of Horse that charged Dundash, was commanded by Captain Barry of Rutlandshire, who lost never a man; but only his Brother run through the arm, and one Mr. Needler of Captain Knights troop shot in the arm; we sent another party of horse towards the East, who likewise met with their horse, and took three prisoners and some horse, and shot Major Bret, who being well mounted escaped, those Forces confess that Hopton was ignorant of our motion; by this time the Bridge was made up some two miles off Chimleigh, the which the Enemy had broken down, so that our army might with convenience march over: But the day being so far spent, it was not held fit to march the whole army, so three Regiments of horse, and three of foot marched some four milss towards the enemy; that night the rest returned ro Chimleigh with orders to march; by break of day we did think the several alarms given them this day had so affrighted them, that their Resolutions would have been taken before morning, whether to go East or West, the certain knowledge whereof, was the thing we much desired, and would guide us the better to pursue our designs. Monday Febr. 16. the General with that party of the Army that was at Chimleigh, marched up to the rest of the Army to Ringash, and had there a Rendezvouz; and afterwards, upon the Moor within five miles of Torrington bade a general Rendezvouz both of horse and foot, drew them up in Battalia, and so marched up towards the enemy. When we came within two miles of Torrington, our Forlorn hope of horse charged theirs, and put them to a retreat; whereupon they came on again with a very strong party, and put ours to a stand; the reserves of our Forlorn being come up, and some foot, forced them to their Body again. When we came near Squire Rolls his house, we had Intelligence that there was a party of 200 Firelocks and musketeers left to defend that place; therefore the Army made an halt half a mile in the Eastside thereof, till the Foot came up; which the enemy perceiving, as they might easily do, by reason of the Hills and clearness of the day, quit the house, and drew their Forces to Torrington: Our Forlorn of horse and foot advanced to Squire Rolls his house, half a mile further towards Torrington, there being several skirmishes in the narrow Lane, between the Forlorn hope on both sides, and several prisoners taken on each; but most by our party. The enemy drew their foot out of the Town into the Closes about a quarter of a mile: our Forlorn hope of foot lined the hedges, and so faced each other for about two hours, within half a musket shot, exchanging course Language and Bullets, now and then; after all, the Foot and Horse were come up, and drawn up in Mr. Rolls his Park: a party of 800 foot was sent to second the Forlorn. In case the enemy should endeavour to put any affront upon them also, a Regiment was immediately sent to assist them, who were no sooner come up to the rest, but it began to be dark, a council of War was called, what was fit to be done; whether to engage before day or not, for that it being dark, the enemy might lay Ambuscadoes, they knowing the ground better than we; whereupon the General, Lieutenant General, with the rest of the Colonels, deferred a Resolution, and rid from Mr. Rolls his house up to the Forlorn hope, to see in what posture our forces were set, and by prisoners to know what the Enemy intended while they were there. The Tattoo was heard to beat in the town, which assured us the Enemy still continued in the town, not flying away as several Reports would have made us believe; but to be certain of the same, six Dragooners were commanded to creep under a hedge near the Barracadoes, and to give fire, to see if they would answer; by which we might know whither they stood to defend the town. The Enemy received the charge, and answered it with a very sharp volley of shot. Our Forlorn hope seeing the Dragooners engaged, they gave fire; whereupon the Enemy gave fire all along the hedges and works, thereupon the Reserve to the Forlorn came on to Relieve them, and so being engaged, the whole army advanced; and about eight at night the battle begun some six fields from the town, and so we fought from hedge to hedge, until we beat them into their Barracadoes, which they maintained for an hour after very manfully, our men being often repulsed, yet at last got over the Barracadoes, and forced the Enemy into the town; whereupon the the Horse were let in, who scouring the streets, were received by the Enemy, and a hot charge given by both parties; yet it pleased God at last we drove them out of the Barracadoes at the furthest end of the town, and by this time many prisoners were taken, and put into the Church: but far more escaped, being dark, over the hedges and byways, which was not possible for us to prevent, throwing down their Arms, and every man flying several ways for life: our forces were no sooner possessed of the town, but the enemy's Magazine which they left in the Church was fired; whether on purpose by the enemy, or by accident, we cannot yet learn: but it proved a terrible blow, not only blowing up the Church with all the Wood and Lead that was upon it, deforming many houses in the Town, but killed some of the prisoners in the Church, and some of our men that were in the Church yard; two great webs of Lead fell within twice a horse length of the General; but it pleased God he escaped, though in imminent danger; many others being hurt, both with the Timber, Stones and Lead, most of the Town was shaken by this blow, being the terriblest that hath been seen in the memory of man, there being near eighty Barrels, of Powder blown up together, and one whole Barrel which were blown out of the Church into the street, which took not fire: The Enemy perceiving their Magazine to be thus fired, gave one Charge more with their horse up to our Barracadoes, commanded by Sir John Digby, Brother to the Lord Digby, but our musketeers gave fire; whereupon they took their farewell. Our horse instantly advanced through the Town after them, and begun the pursuit about eleven at night; and I hope will give a good account of the business. Thus it hath pleased God in an instant to scatter those Forces of the Lord Hopton's, his Infantry being taken, slain, and totally routed, his Horse, many taken and dispersed, and the rest gone in great disorder toward Cornwall, as we hear, where shortly I hope we shall meet with the remnant left of that Crew, and put an end to the field Enemy in the West of England, they confessed they had eight Regiments of Horse, consisting of two thousand five hundred men; some other of that their Officers that are prisoners say Three thousand; be they more or less, they are very resolute men, fought valiantly; and after they were chased from hedge to hedge, defended their Barracadoes and works at push of Pike, and with the butt-end of their Muskets, till our foot got over a hedge, flanked them, that they were forced to quit it: They were old Cornish foot, and all Greenviles and Goring's old soldiers, English and Irish, were engaged in this Service, but now are scattered, threw down their Arms, and fled for their lives. We have abundance of men wounded, Officers and soldiers more than hath been at any storm since the Army came forth: For indeed every hedge was it were a Bulwark to the Enemy; so strong are the hedges in these parts; but few slain, we killed many of the enemy, both horse and foot. The particulars of this business you will have more fully hereafter; let the glory be given unto God, I am Sir  
Your most faithful Servant, I. R. Torrington Feb. 17.  
SOme of their Horse we hear are going towards Barnstaple; Colonel Cook is that way: However, it will be needful Colonel Whaley quarters near Newberry with some of his Horse to follow any party that may come to Oxford, and not divert our Horse that are on so probable a design to further the weal of England.  
FINIS.