A Full RELATION OF The great Victory obtained by the PARLIAMENTS Forces under the Command of Lievt. Gen. Cromwell AGAINST The whole Army of the SCOTS, under the conduct of Duke Hamilton. With the numbers slain and taken Prisoners. Sent in a Letter under the Lieut. Generals own hand: Which was read in both Houses of Parliament upon Wednesday the 23 of Aug. 1648. With an Order of Parliament for a Thanksgiving for the same.  
Die Mercurii 23 August. 1648.  
ORdered by the Lords Assembled in Parliament, That Lievt. General Cromwel's Letter be forthwith printed and published.  
Joh. Brown Cler. Parliament.  
Imprinnted at London for john Wright at the King's Head in the old Bayley. 1648.   

For the Honourable William Lenthall Esq; Speaker of the House of Commons. These.  
Haste.  
SIR;  
I Have sent up this Gentleman, to give you an account of the great and good hand of God towards you in the late victory obtained against the Enemy in these parts.  
After the conjunction of that party which I brought with me out of Wales, with the Northern Forces about Knaresborough and Weatherby, hearing that the Enemy was advanced with their Army into Lancashire, we marched the next day, being the 13 of this instant August, to Oately, (having cast off our Train, and sent it to Knaresborough, because of the difficulty of marching therewith through Graven; and to the end we might with more expedition attend the Enemy's motion) and from thence the 14. to Skipton, the 15. to Gysburne, the 16. to Hodder Bridge, over Ribble, where we had a Council of War, at which we had in consideration, Whether we should march to whaley that night, and so on to interpose between the Enemy and his further progress into Lancashire, and so Southward, which we had some advertisement the Enemy intended, and since confirmed that they resolved for London itself; or whether to march immediately over the said Bridge, there being no other betwixt that and Preston, and engage the Enemy there; who we did believe would stand his ground, because we had information that the Irish Forces under Munroe lately came out of Ireland, which consisted of 1200. Horse and 1500 Foot, were on their march towards Lancaster to join with them; It was thought that to engage the Enemy to fight was our business; and the reason aforesaid giving us hopes that our marching on the North fide of Ribble would effect it; It was resolved we should march over the Bridge, which accordingly we did, and that night quartered the whole Army in the fields by Stony-Hurst-Hall, being Mr. Sherburnes house, a place nine miles distant from Preston, Very early the next morning we marched towards Preston, having intelligence that the Enemy was drawing together there abouts from all his out quarters; we drew out a forlorn of about 200. Horse and 400. Foot, the Horse commanded by Major Smithson, the Foot by Major Pounell; our Forlorn of Horse marched within a mile, where the Enemy was drawn up in the enclosed grounds by Preston on that side next us; And there upon a Moor about half a mile distant from the Enemy's Army, meet with their Scouts and out-Guard; and did behave themselves with that valour and courage, as made their Guards (which consisted both of Horse and Foot) to quit their ground, and took divers prisoners, holding this dispute with them until our Forlorn of Foot came up for their Justification; And by these we had opportunity to bring up our whole Army. So soon as our Foot and Horse were come up, we resolved that night to engage them if we could; and therefore advancing with our Forlornes, and putting the rest of the Army into as good a posture as the ground would bear (which was totally inconvenient for our Horse, being all in closure, and myerye ground) we pressed upon them, the Regiments of Foot were ordered as followeth, There being a lane very deep and ill up to the Enemy's Army and leading to the Town, we Commanded two Regiments of Horse, the first whereof was Colonel Harrisons, and next was my own, to charge up that Lane, and on either side of them advanced the Battle, which were Lieutenant Colonel Reads, Colonel Deans, and Colonel Prides on the right, Colonel Brights and my Lord Generals on the left, and Colonel Ashton with the Lancashire Regiments in reserve; we ordered Colonel Thornhaugh, and Colonel Twisletons' Regiments of Horse of the right, and one Regiment in reserve for the Lane, and the remaining Hotses on the left; so that at last we came to a hedge dispute, the greatest of the impression from the Enemy being upon our left wing, and upon the Battle on both sides the Lane, and upon our Horse in the Lane, in all which places the Enemy was forced from their ground after four hours' dispute, until we came to the Town, into which four Troops of my Regiment first entered and being well seconded by Colonel harrison's Regiment, charged the Enemy in the Town and clear the Streets, there came no hands of our Foot to fight that day, but did it with incredible valour and resolution, amongst which Colonel Brights, my Lord General, Lieutenant Colonel Reads, and Colonel ashton's had the greatest work, they often coming to push of Pike and to close firings, and always making the Enemy to recoil, and indeed I must needs say, God was as much seen in the valour of the Officers and Soldiers of these before mentioned, as in any action that hath been performed, the Enemy making (though he was still worsted) very stiff and sturdy resistance, Colonel Deans, and Colonel Prides out winging the Enemy could not come to so much share of the action, the Enemy shoging down towards the Bridge, and keeping almost all in reserve, that so he might bring fresh hands often to fight, which we not knowing but least we should be out winged, placed those two Regiments to enlarge our right wing, which was the cause they had not at that time so great a share in that action; at the last the Enemy was put into disorder, many men slain, many prisoners taken; the Duke with most of the Scots Horse and Foot retreated over the Bridge, where after a very hot dispute betwixt the Lancashire Regiments, part of my Lord Generals and them being at push of Pike, they were beaten from the Bridge, and our Horse and Foot following them, killed many, and took divers prisoners, and we possessed the Bridge over Darwent and a few Houses there, the Enemy being drawn up within Musket shot of us where we lay that night, we not being able to attempt further upon the Enemy, the night preventing us; in this posture did the Enemy and we lie the most part of that night; upon our entering the Town, many of the Enemy's Horse fled towards Lancaster, in the chase of whom went divers of our Horse, who pursued them near ten miles, and had execution of them, and took about five hundred Horse, and many prisoners; We possessed in this Fight very much of the Enemy's Ammunition, I believe they lost four or five thousand Arms, the number of the slain we judge to be about a thousand, the prisoners we took were about four thousand.  
In the night the Duke was drawing off his Army towards Wiggon, we were so wearied with the dispute that we did not so well attend the Enemies going off as might have been, by means whereof the Enemy was gotten at least three miles with his rear before ours got to them. I ordered Colonel Thornhaugh to Command two or three Regiments of Horse to follow the Enemy if it were possible, to make him stand till we could bring up the Army: The Enemy marched away seven or eight thousand Foot, and about four thousand Horse, we followed him with about three thousand Foot, and two thousand five hundred Horse and Dragoones, and in this prosecution that worthy Gentleman Colonel Thornhaugh pressing too boldly was slaive, being run into the body, and thigh, and head, by the Enemy's Lancers, (and give me leave to say, he was a man as faithful and gallant in your service as any, and one who often heretofore lost blood in your quarrel, and now his last; he hath left somebehind him to inherit a Father's honour, and a sad Widow, both now the interest of the Commonwealth) our Horse still prosecuted the Enemy, killing and taking divers all the way, at last the enemy drew up within three miles of Wiggon, and by that time our Army was come up they drew off again and recovered Wiggon before we could attempt any thing upon them, we lay that night in the field close by the Enemy, being very dirty and weary, and having marched twelve miles of such ground as I never rod in all my life, the day being very wet we had some skirmishing that nigh; with the Enemy near the Town, where we took Major General Van Druske and a Colonel, and killed some principal Officers, and took about a hundred prisoners, where also I received a Letter from Duke Hamilton for civil usage towards his Kinsman Colonel Hamilton whom he left wounded there.  
We took also Col. Hurrey, and Lieut. Col. Ennis, sometimes in your service. The next morning the enemy marched towards Warrington, and we at the heels of them, the town of Wiggon a great and poor town, and very Malignant, were plundered almost to their skins by them; we could not engage the enemy until we came within three miles of Warrington, and there the enemy made a stand at a pass near Winwicke, we held them in some dispute until our Army was come up, they maintaining the pass with great resolution for many hours, ours and theirs coming to push of pike, and to very close charges, and forced us to give ground, but our men by the blessing of God quickly recovered it, and charging very home upon them beat them from their standing, where we killed about a thousand of them, and took (as we believe) about two thousand prisoners, and prosecuted them home to Warrington town, where they possessed the Bridge, which had a strong Barracado and a Work upon it, formerly made very defensive; as soon as we came thither I received a Message from Lieut. General Baily, desiring some capitulation, to which I yielded, considering the strength of the pass, and that I could not go over the river within ten miles of Warrington with the Army; I gave him these terms, That he should surrender himself, and all his Officers and Soldiers prisoners of War, with all his Arms and Ammunition and Horses to me, I giving quarter for life, and promising civil usage, which accordingly is done, and the Commissioners deputed by me have received, and are receiving all the Arms and Ammunition which will be as they tell me about four thousand complete Arms, and as many prisoners. And thus you have their Infantry totally ruined, what Colonels or Officers are with Lieutenant General Bailey, I have not yet received the List. The Duke is marched with his remaining Horse, which are about 3000. towards Namptwich, where the Gentlemen of the Country have taken about 500 of them, of which they sent me word this day; the Country will scarce suffer any of my men to pass, except they have my hand, telling them, They are Scots; they bring in and kill divers as they light upon them. Most of the Nobility of Scotland are with the Duke, if I had a thousand Horse that could but troth thirty miles I should not doubt but to give a very good account of them; but truly we are so harrased and hagled out in this business that we are not able to do more than walk an easy pace after them. I have sent Post to my Lord Grey to Sir Hen. Chomley, and Sir Edw. Roads, to gather all together with speed for their prosecution, as likewise to acquaint the Governor of Stafford therewith; I hear Munro is about Cumberland with the Horse that ran away, and his Irish Horse and Foot, which are a considerable body; I have left Colonel ashton's three Regiments of Foot with seven Troops of Horse, six of Lancashire, and one of Cumberland at Preston, and ordered Col. Scroape with five Troops of Horse, and two Troops of Dragoons, with two Regiments of Foot, viz. Col. Lassells, and Col. Wastalls to imbody with them, by which I hope they will be able to make a resistance till we can come up to them, and have ordered them to put their Prisoners to the Sword if the Scots shall presume to advance upon them, because they cannot bring them off with security.  
Thus you have a Narrative of the particulars of the success which God hath given you, which I could hardly at this time have done, considering the multiplicity of business; but truly when I was once engaged in it, I could hardly tell how to say less, there being so much of God; and I was not willing to say more, lest there should seem to be any thing of man, only give me leave to add one word showing the disparity of the Forces on both sides, that so you may see, and all the world acknowledge the great hand of God in this business; The Scots Army could not be less than 12000. effective Foot well armed, and 5000. Horse, Langdale not less than 2500. Foot, and 1500. Horse, in all one and twenty thousand; and truly very few of their Foot but were as well armed, if not better than yours, and at divers disputes did fight two or three hours before they would quit their ground: Yours were about 2500. Horse and Dragoons of your old Army, about 4000 Foot of your old Army also, about 1600. Lancashire Foot, and about 500 Lancashire Horse, in all about 8600. you see by computation about 2000 of the Enemy slain, betwixt eight and nine thousand Prisoners, besides what are lurking in Hedges and private places, which the Country daily bring in or destroy. Where Langdale and his broken Forces are, I know not, but they are exceedingly shattered; surely Sir, this is nothing but the hand of God, praise only belongs to him, and where ever any thing in this world is exalted, or exalts itself, God will pull it down, for this is the day wherein he alone will be exalted; it is not fit for me to give advice, nor to say a word what use should be made of this more than to pray you, and all that acknowledge God, that they would only exalt him, and not hate his people who are as the apple of his eye, and for whom even Kings shall be reproved; and that you would take courage to do the work of the Lord, in fulfilling the end of your Magistracy, in seeking the peace and welfare of the people of this Land, that all that will live quietly and peaceably may have countenance from you; and they that are implacable, and will not leave troubling the Land, may speedily be destroyed out of the Land; and if you take courage in this God will bless you, and good men will stand by you, and God will have glory, and the Land will have happiness by you in despite of all your enemies, which shall be the prayer, of  
Your most humble and faithful servant O. Cromwell. 20 August.   

POSTSCRIPT.  
WE have not in all this lost a considerable Officer but Colonel Thornhaugh, and not many Soldiers, considering the service, but many are wounded, our Horse almost destroyed, and our Foot beaten out of , Shoes, and Stockings; our Horse will need recruit, and our Foot Regiments need to be recruited also, for they are very much shaken with hard marchings, very much wanting supplies of money; some of those which were with me in Wales not having had any pay since before our march thither. I humbly crave, That some course be taken to dispose of the Prisoners, the trouble and extreme charge of the Country where they lie is more than the danger of their escape; I think they would not go home if they might without a Convoy, they are so fearful of the Country from whom they have deserved so ill; ten men will keep a thousand of them from running away.   

Die Mercurii 23 August. 1648.  
ORdered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled, That Thursday come fortnight, the seventh of September next, be appointed a day of solemn Thanksgiving thorough the whole Kingdom, unto Almighty God, for his wonderful great mercy and success bestowed upon the Parliament Forces under the Command of Lieutenant General Cromwell, against the whole Scots Army under the Conduct and Command of Duke Hamilton on the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth of this present August in Lancashire.  
Joh. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.  
FINIS.