THE COPY OF A LETTER From Sir Thomas Fairfax his Quarters to the Parliament, concerning the great Battle between Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX and Goring at Langport on Thursday the 10. of July 1645. Where were slain, 300. Dead upon the place. Many carried to Bridgewater. Taken prisoners. 6. Colours. 14. Lieutenant Colonels and Majors. 100 Captains and Officers of Note. 2000 Prisoners. Taken besides. 1200. Horse. 40. Colours of Horse and Foot. 4000 Arms for horse and foot. 2. Pieces of Ordnance. 6. Cartloades of Ammunition. All their Bag and Baggage that was in the field. L. Gen. Cromwell's speech in the head of the Army. 2. Garrisons taken from them. A list of the Chiefest Commanders on our side, that were killed: or wounded. And in what manner the Enemies are dispersed into their several quarters. Also how Mayor General Massey the day before took Lieutenant General Porter, Lieutenant General of goring Horse 2 Sergeant Majors. 9 Colours. 6. Captains. 250. Horse. Many inferior Officers. 200. Prisoners and divers slain. And the Enemy pursued to Bridgewater, and all the passages blocked up both by land and water. Appointed to be Printed, and published according to Order. Printed By Barnard Alsop, and jane Coe. THE COPY OF A LETTER FROM Sir THOMAS FAIRFAXES Quarters, read in the House of Commons on Saturday july 12. 1645. AN account I gave you in my last, of our Affairs till yesterday, I left Goring with his whole Army, at Langport; since they be pleased to take a short account of our Actions, yeasterday we advanced to Sutton, drawing out that part of our Army which we had into Sutton Field, the rest being four thousand five hundred Horse and Dragoones (at the least) under the command of Major Gen. Massy, were on the other side of the river, & those 8 regiments of Foot which we had at Nasby field, were also quartered at Martock to M●ssey advanced with his horse, and Dragoones, having foot to back them to North-ca●ry (being ordered to straighten the enemy's quarters, and to hinder them from any plundering exercise; It seems 500 of them being upon a design out, and having no intelligence of his being in motion, was surprised being in a careless posture; fell on them: being (as I take it) 9 Colours, 200 prisoners, and about 250 ho●se▪ slew about 30▪ wee in the mean time were drawn up within a mile of Lang-port, with those horse and foot the General had with him, not knowing of his engagement. And there being 3 Rivers between him, and us, and the way almost twelve mile's march, the last might we quartered at Sutton, and this morning by three of the clock, drew out into Sutton field, having with us but seven Regiments of horse; viZ. The Generals (formerly called Lieutenant General Crumwels') Whalleyes Varmodeus, Grac●soes, Rich, fleetwood's, and Butlers, which were not in all 2000 horse, of foot we had all, but the Musketeers of three Regiments, having sent for them the last night from Matlock, early in the morning the enemies appeared in the field, and about 7 a clock they had made themselves masters of a p●sse which lay in the midst between our body and theirs, had lined the hedges between us and them, with at least 2000 musketeers; so that the passage to them was extreme dangerous, being so straight, that four horse could hardly pass abrest, and that up to the belly in water; they lying so in flanks and fronts to receive us. In that posture they stood till nigh eleven of the clock, having in the interim sent away most of their Train, and Baggage, led horse and other lumber, to Bridgwater; being resolved to make good their retreat thither, which they conceived they could, having such an advantageous pass thither; we understanding their intentions by some Scouts, and other countrymen, resolved to charge them; and accordingly drew down a commanded party of musketeers to beat them from the hedges, which was done with gallant resolution; advancing the same time with two Regiments of horse into the lane, all that we could draw up in the front was but a single troop, and that comm●nded by bethel, the enemy standing ready with 3 bodies of horse, of about 1000 to charge him, he with a single troop charged and broke two of their divisions, of about 400 received the charge of the third division both in front and flank, was somewhat overborne at last, and forced to retire to the Generals Reg meant, which was about 100 yards behind D borough, with the General's troop sheltered him by his flank to rally, and charge up himself with about 200 horse of the General's Regiment, disposest the enemy and set them all a running, gained freedom by it for all our horse and foot, to draw into bodies, sent the enemy running, not being able to endure another charge, the General, Lieutenant General, and some other officers upon the hill, beholding the gallant charges commended it, for the most excellent piece of service that ever was in England, we had them in chase almost to Bridg-water, having put them to the clean rout, that ever any enemy were put to; what the number of the slain be I cannot tell you, being scarse come from the chase. The prisoners come in already are 900. and I conceive there will come in as many as will make 2000 and 12000 horse at the least; for Colours I am uncertain, I dare say at least 40. the Arms at least 4000 2 piece of Ordnance I saw, and divers carriages of Ammunition, and to make it a complete victory, he pursued the enemy through Langport, having gained the Garrison, and though they fired the town just at the Bridge, to hinder the chase, yet we followed the victory through the fire, the success of this victory must be ascribed next unto God) to the good conduct of the General, and Crumwels' following the chase through Langpord, where he himself passed through the fire flaming on both sides of him. The enemy cried out, they are now utterly undone, and that the King must now go into Ireland. This victory was opportune, In regard, had they stayed but three days longer, Goring would have had a reinforcement of six thousand horse and foot from Greenffeld and the King, they being transporting their forces as fast as can be to Mainhead, Watchhead, and Uphill, there being 1500 that landed at Uphill, came to Bridgewater yesterday. Sir, this is all at present from your affectionate and humble servant. Langport July 10. 7 at night. The report of the Scout that brought the aforesaid letter, which is here placed by way of postscript for further satisfaction▪ On wednesday the ninth of July 1645. there were 1500 of the enemies commanded by Liutenant general Porter, who lay at Abersile, on whom Major general Massy fell before the Enemy were ware of it; with Colonel Massy were Lieutenant Bull, Maior Sanderson, Colonel Web, and some other officers, who with the common soldiers behaved themselves gallantly, the enemy about 3 of the clock grazing their horses, and having made works about Abersile Church, and in exceeding good quarters, little thinking Massy so near, had set a small guard of foot at the towns end, Major general Massy drew his men into two divisions, for each end of the town one, himself commanded one, and Capt. Gutredge the other, which was but asmall party: for C. Massy commanded the main body himself, Massies men marched with green boughs in their hats, C. Gutridge coming to the towns end, found the hedges lined with Musketeers at the south-west end of the town, Cap. Fransway, a Dutch Captain, commanded a party to fall on the one side of the ambuscadors, and Capt. Gutredge on the other. The Dutch Captain when he was charged by the enemy, began to face about, which impeded Capt. Gutredges prosecution of the business, yet the rest of the officers and soldiers, with the wisdom of Capt. Gutredge, ended the business so well, that they beat up their ambuscadors for all that, and drove them quite away: in the mean time Maior Gere all Massy marched up to the other side of the Town, Colonel Cook having the command of the forlorn hope, who in like manner had lined the hedges at that end of the town, and Col: Massy with Co: Cook and the rest, raised them, and those with the rest at the other end of town, followed so hard upon the enemy, that they drove them all from the town, pursuing them within two miles of Langport, and took many Arms in Abersoile. Mayor General Massys word was Wales, the enemy stayed not give any word at all. On Thursday the tenth of july Sir Tho: Fairfax marched toward the enemy, discovered them when he was with his body by the windmills, between Lamport and Summerton, the enemy were then on the Hills in Lamport field about two mile and a half off, the water being between them. About eleven of the clock they drew out, and about one of the clock Maior Bethel charged the enemy: the fight was very hot, and lasted about two hours, about 3 of the clock Goring was got himself into Bridgewater, Prince Charles bein gone from thence before, and the Lord Hopton with him to Barnstable with three Troops of Horse, to raise what forces they could in those parts, to join wi●h those which were to come from Greenvill. Rupert was gone to the King before also to send what strength he could to join with them, and greenvil's horse, as appeared afterwards, were then upon their march toward Goring, and also Sir John Barkley was before drawn off, upon some discontent or other towards Exeter, but, is believed, returning with Greenvill. Sir Thomas Aston was then with Goring, who hath a regiment in which are good store of Papistr, but he ran away like a base Coward. and the greatest part of his Regiment are taken, of which the poor county men are not a little glad, for they have been extreme cruel in plundering. Sir Lewis Dives was then in Sherburn, it seems he loves a garrison better than the field, and holds it more secure. The Cavaliers seem to be very sorrowful for their losses, we perceive by them, that they have lost some considerable men, but will not be known who they are. Sir Thomas Fairfax quartered that night at Oller, sour miles from Bridgwater, Maior General Massy is joined with him, where he blocked up that side of their garrison, Lieutenant General Crowell making a speech in the head of the Army, declaring how the enemy's passage by water might be stopped up, whereupon a party of 1500 horse and Dragoons were sent to block up the west side for the same purpose A list of Major general Masseys' victory at North-Carry on Wednesday the 9 of ●uly. 16●5. 1500. Routed which were surprised by Colonel MASSEY. 9 Colours taken from the said party of 1500. Levetenant General Porter Lieutenant General of goring horse taken prisoner. 2500. Horse and arms taken from them at the same time. 2. Sergeant Majors taken prisoners, and 6 Captains. 200. of their inferior officers and common men taken prisoners. A list of the particulars what was taken, and how many slain at the Routing of Goring by Sir Thomas Fairfax, at Langport on Thursday the 10. of July, 1645. 300. Slain, and left dead upon the place. Divers officers Carried dead and some wounded into Bridgewater. 6. Colonel's, some of which are notorious incendiaries 14. Leivenant Colonel's and Sejeant Mayor. 100 Captains, and Reformadoes, and other officers of note. 2000 Prisoners: whereof divers inferior officers. Taken besides 1200. horse. 40. Colours of horse, and foot, 4000 Arms pistols Carbines, firelocks, muskets pikes etc. 2. Pieces of ordnance. 6. Cart load of Ammunition, powder match, etc. All their bag, and baggage which they had left in the field The loss on our side. 2. Reformado Captains: one of them a dutch man both slain. Colonel Butler's Captain Lieutenant slain, and his Cornet let fall his Colours, but they were honourably regained. Colonel Butler, a slight cut on the arm. Colonel Edward Cook shot on the mouth, only on the upper lip, the hurt not much. FINIS.