A Copy of Lieutenant General Crumwels' Letter, Read in the House of Commons. And other Letters Of a great and BLOODY FIGHT near PRESTON. THE Scots Army totally Defeated by Lieutenant General Crumwell. With the particulars of the Fight, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday last. 2500 Scots slain, 2000 Taken prisoners, 300 Officers killed and taken. 400 Horse taken. 4000 Fire Arms. 2000 Other Arms. 30 Colours. 8 Barrels of Gunpowder. 4 Cart load of Ammunition 500 Cattl retaken & restored 5000 l. worth of goods retaken Divers papers concerning Prince Charles, and divers in London. Duke Hambleton fled to Wygan & Langdale to Carlisle. 15000 Scots, & English Cavaliers, killed, taken, dispersed, fled August 21. 1648. THese being true Copies, are thought fit to be Printed and published for the satisfaction of the whole Kingdom, one of them signed August the 22 OLIVER CRUMWELL. Printed by Robert Ibbitson, in Smithfield, near the Queenes-head Tavern, 1648. A Copy of Lieutenant General CRUMWELLS LETTER Gentlemen, IT hath pleased God, this day, to show a great mercy to this poor kingdom, by making the Army successful against the common Enemy. We lay the last night at Mr. Sherburns, of Stamerhurst, about 9 miles from Preston, which was within three miles of the Scots quarters, we advanced this morning betime towards Preston, with a desire to engage the Enemy, and by that time our forlorn had engaged the enemy, we were about four miles from Preston, and thereupon we advanced with the whole Army; and the Enemy being drawn out upon a Moor betwixt us & the Town, the Armies on both sides engaged, and after a very sharp dispute, continuing for three or four hours, it pleased God to enable us to give the Enemy a defeat, which I hope we shall improve by God's assistance, to their utter ruin, and in this service your Countrymen have not the least share, which we cannot express by particular, having not time to take an accounts of the slain, and the prisoners, but we can assure you we have many prisoners, and many of those of quality, and many slain, and the Army disipated. A principal part whereof (with Duke Hambleton) is on the South side of Rib, and Darwentbridge, and we lying with the greatest part of the Army close to them nothing hindering engageing of that part of the Enemy's Army but the night; It will be our care that they shall not pass over any Ford beneath the Bridge, to go Northward, nor to come over betwixt us and Whaley, we understand that three Companies of Col. General Ashton are at whaley, we have 7 Troops of Horse and Dragoons, that we believe all at or near Clâ—Źthero. This night I have sent order expressly to them to march to whaley, to join with those Companies that you shall improve of your Country Forces, toward the ruin of those enemies: you perceive by this how things stand, by this means the enemy is broken, most of the Horse being gone Northward, and we having sent a considerable party at the very heels of them, and the Enemy having lost almost all their Ammunition, and near 4000 Arms, so that the greatest part of the Foot are naked: Therefore in order to this work we desire you to raise your County, and to improve those forces for the total ruin of the enemy, which way soever they go. And if you shall accordingly do your part, doubt not of their total ruin. We thought fit to speed this unto you, to the end you may not be troubled if they shall march towards you, but improve your interest aforesaid. And that you may give glory to God for this unspeakable mercy from Preston 17 August 1648. Your humble Servant OLIVER CRUMWELL. Noble Sir, LIeutenant General Crumwell sent a Letter to the Committee here, a copy whereof you will receive enclosed; we had also other Letters from other Officers, which gives us advertisements of a glorious victory obtained against the Scots, and English Cavaliers. Lieutenant General Crumwell having fall'n down with his Army (after conjunction with Colonel Gen. Lambert) out of Yorkshire, by Clithero, towards the Scots: upon Thursday last engaged with them near to Preston. He hath given them a very great rout, taken 4000 Arms, most of their Ammunition, many prisoners, whereof divers of quality, and is still in pursuit, adding every hour to the number of the slain, and prisoners, and of divers of the Scots that are dispiersed in 6, 8, or 10 in a company, the Country people rise and knock them in the head, where they meet with them; and Lieutenant General Crumwells' horse are at the very heels of the Scots horse, that are fled Northwards; the rest of their horse, and body of foot (which escaped by reason of the night) being ill armed, quartered with Duke Hambleton, between Wygon and Preston, being about 8 or 9000. The Lieutenant General's Army went towards Preston to wait on them, I hope they will have their fatal blow, for their perfidiousness, to be an example to Generations to come hereafter. We have had the Country hereabouts in Arms this week, and hope to prevent the Scots passage this way. Cheshire also, I doubt not but will be in readiness to stop them about Warrington. Another party is about Whaley, in Blackburn Hundred. Sir, I beseech you, if any show themselves so little lovers of England, as to speak or move for a cessation, to oppose it: Let us not add the further guilt of blood of friends, upon ourselves. Yesterday being Friday, Lieutenant General Crumwell having killed and taken divers of the Scots, dispersed their body several ways, The greatest part of them fled towards Warrington, and our Forces still pursuing them; divers of the Country Forces being joined to assist Lieutenant General Crumwell. Some of the Scots were last night at Lansford on Cheshire side, our Army is at their heels: The greatest execution yesterday was about Standish Moor, where divers were killed and taken, and amongst them many considerable men, both Scatch and English, Duke Hambleton was last night in Wygan. This morning they are at them again, fresh prisoners brought in hourly, and Arms in abundance. The poor Country people being over joyed at this great deliverance, wherein the Lord hath been wonderfully seen, in delivering us from this faithless insulting cruel people. Manchester the 19 of August, 1648 A List of the great Victory obtained by Lieutenant General Crumwell, in the great defeat given to the Scots Army, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, August 17, 18, 19 1648. 2500 slain, 2000 taken prisoners, 300 Officers killed & taken 400 Horse taken, 4000 fire arms taken, 2000 arms more taken, 30 Colours taken, 8 Barrels of powder, 4 cart load of Ammunition, Duke Hamilton fled into Wigan and there beset. Sir Marmaduke Langdale fled towards Carlisle, and pursued by Li. Goe Crumwels' horse. 500 cattle retaken that they had plundered from the Country. 5000 l. worth of goods restored, that the Scots were sending into Scotland. Divers papers taken of overtures with Pr. Charles, and with some about London. 15000 killed, taken, dispersed, and fled. FINIS.