A more Exact RELATION OF THE GREAT DEFEAT GIVEN to goring Army in the West; By the Victorious Sr. Thomas Fairfax.  
Sent in a Letter from Captain Blackwell, to his father in London.  
Published according to Order.  
LONDN, Printed for Henry Overton in Popes-head Alley, 1645.   

A more exact relation of the great defeat given to goring Army in the West: by the Victorious Sr. Thomas Fairfax,  
Dear Father.  
I sent you yesterday a note wherein I acquainted you in general that Sr. Thomas Fairfax had newly routed the King's Army, under the command of General Goring. Having now another opportunity of sending and more time for writing, I shall give a more large, yet a brief relation too of the particulars.  
On Monday last we marched from Crookhorne towards Ilchester, a garrison of the Kings, standing upon the river, (on the other side of which goring Army was drawn up) they having broken down all the Bridges upon the river from Evil to Bridgewater, and made good the passes by parties of theirs: we faced Ilchester with our Horse about noon, and sent a small party towards the Town to beat in their horse-guard, whereby we might the better view their works, for we thought to have forced over the pass, We beat their guards in, having wounded some of them, and taken a Lieut. prisoner, but found it difficult to pass that way: whereupon we marched with our foot to Evil, 3 miles thence that night, and found that Bridge also broke up. But the next morning early intelligence came the enemy was marched towards Glasseabury and Bristol. Whereupon we thought to have followed them, but our intelligence being not certain of the way of their march, because a party of them had marched another way, and finding their garrison. viz. Ilchester quitted and burnt (the strongest part of it,) we marched thither and quartered there on Teusday night till better intelligence.  
The next morning we understood they were marched to Langport, (another Garrison upon the river) from whence they sent a party of horse towards Ilmester where Major General Massies forces were quartered but being beaten bacl and pursued near Langport, massy found 3 Regiments of the enemy's horse turned out to grtses, which they seized upon and kept: and in the pursuit took divers colours from the enemy, and endangered goring person very much, whilst Sr. Tho. Fairfax with his Army was on the other side the river within 3 miles of Langport, at a place called Sutton viewing the pursuit, having received intelligence that night of this defeat given to the enemy by Massy, the next morning the enemy were all drawn out of Langport, on that side of the river where Our quarters were, we marched forthwith towards them: with 7 Regiments of horse (which were all the horse on this side the river) and one Company of Dragoons, and 8 Regiments of foot, And drew up against them in a Campania within a mile of Langport upon one hill, they being upon another, and there was betwixt us a small valley, and only a road way to pass through, the sides of the valley being enclosed grounds by hedges and a small brook running in the bottom between us. Here we had some skirmiging with our horse, till at last the enemy finding it would be much to their dis-advantage to lose, or to suffer us to march up that way, they endeavoured to make it good by lining the hedges with Musquettiers, but we resolved about 10. of  clock in the morning to force our way (although they had also placed a pieces of Ordinance on the top of the hill in the road way) when they perceived what we intended by our drawing towards them, they sent Dragoones to make good the pass, and as we thought, intended to draw off their Musquettiers, but before they could draw them off, we had engaged them by forlorn hopes of Musquettiers, drawn down to the hedges, both on the right hand and left of that pass, which they with stood a while stoutly; but having drawn up our great Guns, and given them about 50. or 60. great shot, their horse began to retreat, and their foot could not abide so much heat, as they found in our Musquettiers, of both forlorn hopes; whereupon our horse began to advance up the way: then their foot ran from the hedges. The Regiments late Lieut. Gener2l is own Regiment (for it is now divided into two) being in the Van, advanced up the hill, and Major bethel of one of those Regiments gave the horse such a gallant charge up the hill, that they after a long dispute with him quitted the ground, and gave liberty for the rest of our Horse to come up; who found them not resolved for a long dispute, and therefore charging them desparately the enemy all faced about, and ran away both horse and foot most shamefully: The foot most of them into Langport which was within half a mile of them, but for haste threw down all their arms by the way, and the Horse, all that were on this side the River, towards Bridgewater, our Horse pursuing with the Lieutenant General Cromwell, until they came within a mile of Bridgewater, killing many by the way, and taking many prisoners, while they were pursuing the Lieut. General gave order for a party of Horse to face Langport, their Garrison to secure the rear, And after his return finding them marching out of Langport, on the other side of the water, made ready a party of Horse and Dragoons, if it were possible to come at them to pursue them also: when they were all marched out of the Town, but some of their own that they killed, who would not march with them: they set the farther end of the Town on fire in a narrow street, thinking thereby to have hindered us that we could not come after them: But although the fire burned very violently on both sides, so that many durst not venture, the Lieut. General himself advanced in the head of 6. Troops of Horse, with about 3. of Dragoons to pursue them, (two Regiments of Foot being commanded to march as fast as they could after: he overtook them within 2. or 3. miles of the Town: And although their number was fare greater, yet it pleased the Lord to strike them with such a fear, that 15. Troops of Horse, and about 2000 Foot, the greatest part of then ran away and hid themselves, but we took hundreds of them prisoners, and marched through their own flame with them back again into Langport, showing them their wickedness. Thus God hath blessed us exceedingly, we have taken many prisoners, I cannot at present know what they are, but we have taken the Lieutenant General of their Ordnance, and adjuvant General, 3. Colonels, with Lieutenant Colonels and Majors, and many Captains and other Offices, about 30. Foot Colours, I have not yet learned how many Horse Colours, 2. pieces of Ordnance, the rest with their Train being sent to Bridgewater, in the morning two wagons of Ammunition, about a 1000 Muskets, I know not how many Horses, above a 1000 prisoners of Foot. All their arms which we took not, they threw into the River, and corn ficlds, killed about 60. or 80. of them, with the loss of about 4. or 5. men at most: Many of the prisoners have taken up arms, the rest are sent as I think for London, we are now upon our pursuit with the Army, within 2. miles of Bridgewater, both Horse, Foot, and Train, intending to fall to work there next, here are 3000. clubmen declared for us, and keep the passages with muskets between Bridgewater and Bristol. Sir, we do, do you also bless God, who hath raised up a poor company of men to do him such service, Men who were by some thought not first to be tolerated in the Kingdom, but faithful to God and those who have employed them, without any other ends then God's glory, and the public welfare of this poor Kingdom. Sir, I have no more time, pray excuse my haste, this is truth, and all the truth I know at present: I desire all my friends may know what great things God hath done for us, and may bless his Name for it, with us:  
Middlesey, july 11. Friday, 1645. Sir, Your most dutiful Son, john Blackwell.   
FINIS.