Sir Thomas Fairfax LETTER To the Honoble William Lenthal Esq Speaker of the honourable House of Commons. CONCERNING All the Passages of his Army since his advance from Exeter, and the manner of Routing the Princes and the Lord Hopton's Forces at Torrington, Together with all the particulars in that Expedition. ALSO Another LETTER from a Gentleman of quality, of the whole passages of this great Victory. Both which were read in the House of COMMONS.  
ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That these Letters be forthwith printed and published: H: Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.  
London, Printed for Edw. Husband, Printer to the honourable House of Commons, and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the Golden Dragon in Fleetstreet, near the Inner-Temple. Feb. 24. 1645.   

To the honourable William Lenthal Esq Speaker of the honourable House of Commons.  
Mr. Speaker,  
PLymouth being set free, and Dartmouth taken, I sent Col. Hamond with part of the foot to possess certain houses near Exeter for the blocking of it upon the West side of the River (as formerly I had done on the East) and lay with the rest of the Army, so as to countenance both that work, and the raising of some Forces in the Southams to lie about Totness for the securing of that country, and to keep the Enemy from coming of that side of Devonshire again, when the Army should remove to the other. These two things, with the continual foul weather at that time, and the absence of Col. Cook with so many of the Horse, ocacsioned my stay thereabouts above a Fortnight, in which time the Houses being competently Fortified, and the Forces raising in the Southams in good forwardness, I drew the Army up towards Crediton, with purpose to advance into the North of Devonshire to dislodge the enemy's Horse from their Quarters thereabouts, and force them into Cornwall, and to endeavour the further clearing of that part of Devonshire also, either by the taking of Barnstable, or by blocking of it up, and raising a Force in that well-affected Corner to keep it in, so as (having all clear or made fast behind me) I might the better follow the remaining Field forces of the Enemy into Cornwall: And to continue the blocking up of Exeter on the East side, I left Sir Hardres Waller with three Regiments of Foot, and a Regiment of Horse of this Army, and advanced with seven Regiments of Foot, five Regiments of Horse, and five Troops of Dragoons, (the rest of the Horse and Dragoons being absent with Col: Cook in Dorsetshire, but then sent for to come up) when I was resolved upon my advance this way, the Enemy at the same time advanced out of Cornwall with all the Foot they could make to Torrington, about which their Horse did lie before, and began to fortify the Town. Their intentions therein (as we conceived, and do since further find) were by the advantage of this place, and their Garrison of Barnstaple so near it, to make this part of Devonshire more surely theirs, & more difficult for us to come into, and lying so much the nearer to Exeter (against which they supposed this Army wholly engaged) to take their best advantages: From hence, and from Chimleigh, which they meant also to have possessed, to relieve Exeter on the North side, or disturb us in the Siege; and 'tis probable, they might have a further purpose in their posture here to secure the Landing of Irish or Welsh Supplies so much the forwarder towards the East.  
On Saturday last, I advanced from Crediton to Chimleigh, where by many Prisoners taken I was Informed, That the Lord Hopton had hereabouts Four thousand Horse, and Three thousand Foot; we believed them to be about Two thousand Foot or upwards, and Three thousand Horse. The extreme foulness of weather that day and next, occasioned me not to advance from about Chimleigh for the next night, save only one Foot quarter, and an Horse Guard advanced to ringash, three miles towards the Enemy, to secure a Rendezvouz so much the nearer to them for the day following: I understood by the best Intelligence, That the Enemy was resolved to make good their station, and set their rest upon it to fight us there, if we would come up to them: And truly, men in their condition could not hope (all things considered) to have more for it. Their Horse in number superior to what I brought up with me, their Foot (as I find since) not much inferior; and if they could with all their force make good this Town, and put us to lie in the field, (there being no Villages near it that could shelter the Army; the wet weather continuing which was then most likely) would have forced us to draw back, and make our Fire-arms little useful, either for assault or defence; and besides, we were like for matter of Provisions to be forced to draw off first, they having both by their posture (with the plentiful country of Cornwall behind them, and a River at their backs securing also a good part of Devonshire unto them) and by their strength of Horse much advantage for longer subsistence than we; and we (by the barrenness of the place where we must have lain before them, especially for Horse-meat, their Garrison of Barnstaple lying partly behind us, their Horse more numerous than ours. which might with stronger parties cut off our supplies) had had little possibility to subsist long before them. These considerations we had in our eye to discourage us from going on (as I believe they had to encourage them to stand) yet on the other side finding, That by reason of the barrenness and long exhausting of our Quarters behind us, we could neither keep our hoary so close together as to lie safe so near the Enemy, nor indeed find subsistence for the Army, either where we were, or in any other Quarters more backward, (where we could lie, so as to secure the Siege of Exeter from relief) and upon all considerations, conceiving the Affairs of the Kingdom did require us, and God by all did call us to make a present attempt upon the Enemy, we resolved to go on to try what God would do for us, and trust him for weather, subsistence, and all things. Accordingly on Monday morning I drew out the Army to an early Rendezvouz at ringash (within six miles of the Enemy) the weather still continued very wet, and so by all signs, was like to hold, till we were advanced from the Rendezvouz; but suddenly when we were upon march, it beyond all expectation grew fair and dry, and so continued, whereas we had scarce seen one fair blast for many days before. The Enemy (as we understood by the way) had all their Horse drawn together about Torrington, and with their Foot prepared to defend the Town, which they had fortified with good Barracadoes of Earth, cast up at every Avenue, and a competent Line patched up round about it, their Horse standing by to flank the same, and some within to scour the streets. Our Forlorn hope had Order to advance to Stephenson Park (about a mile from the Town) and there to stay for the drawing up of the Army, there being no other place fit for that purpose nearer to the Town on that side we came on: But when we came near, we understood the Enemy had with Two hundred Dragoons possessed the House in the Park, and were Fortifying of it, being of itself very strong: But upon our nearer approach, their Dragoons quitted the House, and our Forlorn hope falling on them, took many Prisoners, and pursuing them near the Town, were engaged so far as they could not well draw back to the Park, which occasioned the sending up of stronger parties to make them good where they were, or bring them off; and at last (there being some fear the Enemy would draw about them, and him them in, Col: Hamond was sent up with three Regiments of Foot (being his own, Col: Harlows, and mine) and some more horse to lie for Reserves unto them, by which time the night was grown on, so as it was not thought fit, unless the Enemy appeared to be drawing away to attempt any thing further upon the town till morning, in regard none of us knew the ground nor th'advantages or disadvantages of it; But about 9 of the clock, there being some apprehension of the Enemies drawing away, by reason of their drawing back some outguards, small parties were sent out towards the towns end, to make a certain discovery, which going very near their works before the Enemy made any firing, but being at last entertained with a great volley of shot, and thereupon supposed to be engaged; stronger parties were sent up to relieve them, and after them the three Regiments went up for Reserves, till at last they fell on in earnest; after very hot firings, our men coming up to the Barracadoes and Line, the dispute continued long at push of Pike, and with But-ends of Muskets, until at last it pleased God to make the Enemy fly from their works, and give our men the entrance. After which, our men were twice repulsed by their horse, and almost all driven out again, but col: Hamond (with some other officers & a few soldiers) made a stop at the Barracadoes, and so making good their Reentrance, rallied their men, and went on again (Major Stephens with their Forlorn of horse coming seasonably up to second them) The enemy's foot ran several ways, most of them leaving their Arms, but most of their Officers, with assistance of horse, made good their own Retreat out of the Town towards the Bridge, and taking advantage of strait passages to make often stands against our men, gave time for many of their foot to get away over the Bridge. Their horse without the Town (after some attempts at other Avenues to have broke in again upon us being repulsed, at last went all away over another Bridge, and at several other passes of the River, and all fell Westward; the ground, where their horse had stood, and the Bridge they went over lying so beyond the Town, as our horse could not come at them, but through the Town, which (by reason of strait passage through several Barracadoes was very tedious, by means whereof, and of the continued strait Lanes the Enemy had to Retreat by after they were over the River (as also by th'advantage of the night, and by their perfect knowledge of the country, and of escape, and our utter ignorance therein) our horse could do little execution upon the pursuit, but parties being sent out several ways to follow them (as those disadvantages would admit) did the best they could, and brought back many prisoners and horses; we took many prisoners in the Town, who being put into the Church, where the enemy's Magazine lay (of above Eighty barrels of powder, as is reported, besides other Ammunition) either purposely by some desperate prisoner, or casually by some soldier, the powder was fired, whereby the Church was quite blown up, the prisoners and most of our men that guarded them were killed, and overwhelmed in the ruins, the houses of the Town shaken and shattered, and our men all the Town over much endangered by the stones, Timber and Lead, which with the blast were carried up very high, and scattered in great abundance all the Town over, and beyond, yet it pleased God that very few of our men were slain or hurt thereby (save those in the Church only) our loss of men otherwise in this service was small, though many wounded, it being an hotter service than any storm this Army hath before been upon, wherein God gave our men great resolution, and Col: Hamond especially, with other Officers engaged with him, behaved themselves with much courage and diligence recovering the ground after their men were twice repulsed; of prisoners taken in this service, about two hundred were blown up, two hundred have taken up Arms with us, and above 200 more common soldiers remain prisoners, besides many Officers, Gentlemen and Servants, not many slain, but their foot so dispersed, as that of about Three thousand, (which the most credible persons do affirm they had here, and we find by a List taken among the Lo: Hopton's papers themselves did account them more) we cannot hear of above four hundred that they carried off with them into Cornwall, whither their horse also are gone, being much broken and dispersed as well as their foot. By the considerations and circumstances in this business which I have here touched upon, you will perceive whose hand it was that lead us to it, and gave such success in it. And truly there were many more evident appearances of the good hand of God therein then I can set forth, let all the honour be to him alone for ever, being desirous (as God shall see it good, and further enable me) to improve th'advantage of this success to the utmost. The next day having sent some Regiments of horse and foot to advance unto quarters up towards Holsworthy to set the Enemy more home into Cornwall, and with more terror upon them: I sent also one Regiment of foot with some horse back towards Barnstable, to possess the Earl of baths house at N. Tavestock, about a mile from Barnstable on this side the River, whereby that Garrison will be easily kept in on this side, and I shall further try what may be done upon it other ways, while the Army takes a little rest hereabouts, which the unseasonable marches, miserable quarters, and hard duty both horse and foot for many days have been put unto do necessarily require: But I conceive, that so soon as the Army can be fitted for the purpose, it would be best to follow the Enemy home, and throughly into Cornwall, the breaking of that body of horse that's left there being the likeliest means to prevent or discourage the landing of any foreign forces in these parts, or the raising of any more out of Cornwall. In order to which, I must earnestly recommend to your care two things especially, the one, To provide by the disposal of your Forces in the Midland parts, that by Excursions from Oxford hitherward I may not be diverted from prosecution of the work in Cornwall, to send again that way; nor the sieges of Exeter and Barnstable disturbed when I am engaged further West: The other, that Money may be sped (if any ways possible, but for one month or six weeks) to enable the horse as well as foot, to pay quarters in Cornwall, whereby th'oppositions that people might make would in all likelihood be taken off, and their affections or good opinions gained, to make them helpful to us against their present oppressors.  
There came unto me this day a young man from about Truro, who certifieth me, That Sir Walter Dudley came very lately from France, to let those about the Prince know, That if there were an absolute necessity, they could bring over their men from France with a fair wind, to be here by the middle of the next month; expressing, That they had near Eight thousand foot, and a thousand horse in readiness, and three months pay provided for them, besides Ten thousand pounds in Bullion daily expected, a Mint being ready to coin the same: But yet intimated a conveniency in the giving a little more time for their coming over; whereupon Sir John Culpeper was to go in all haste for France upon Friday last and is supposed on purpose, either to hasten all or a good part of those Forces over. I think it will be very good, that as much shipping as may be obtained be hastened to those parts; I shall upon this Information, and the good success God hath been pleased to give us, so to dispose of the Army, as may most effectually conduce to a speedy and thorough settlement of these Western parts of the Kingdom. Therefore I desire you again to have a special care, that the Forces about Oxford be not permitted to range into these parts, when the Army is like to be engaged so far West, lest it occasion the diversion of our Forces, and hinder the accomplishment of that we desire to effect. I remain  
Your most humble Servant, T: FAIRFAX. Great Torrington, Feb. 19 1645.   

To the honourable William Lenthal Esq Speaker of the honourable House of Commons.  
SIR,  
I Suppose before the Date of this Letter, you have received my former Letter of the Engagement of this Army and Hopton's at Torrington on Monday night last, where we took Six hundred Prisoners, besides Officers, near Two hundred Prisoners blown up with Haptons' Magazine, set on fire by one Wate a Northern man, for thirty pounds promised him by Sir Ralph Hopton, as he confessed a little before his death: He died this day of the wounds he received by the Timber that fell upon him: The rest of the Prisoners cast him out for a Monster, that would have destroyed all them his Friends. All the houses in the Town are almost shattered in pieces with the blast. Hopton had his Horse killed under in the street; and as we understand by those that come to day from Cornwall, he is desperately wounded; All his force are All-ago into Cornwall, there they are in great Confusion for fear of our Armies advance, and an Army out of France: we had been there before now, but for settling the business of Barnstaple, by blocking it up close: One Regiment is at the E: of baths house at Tavestock within a mile of Barnstaple; other Forces at Biddiford and other places. On Saturday or Sunday we are for Cornwall, Godwilling. By Hopton's Papers we perceive the Relief of Exeter was the principal end of his Motion to Torrington. The quantities of Powder and Salt to be left in Exeter, we find in writings. We took eight Colours, one Hopton's own Colours with this Motto, I will strive to help my sovereign King. His Commission from the King and Prince to be General, and Digby's to be Colonel General of the Forces before Plymouth, were also taken. Two Ships are come into Biddiford yesterday; the one will prove Prize.  
J. R. Torrington, Feb. 19 twelve at night.  
FINIS.