AN IMPARTIAL RELATION OF THE LATE FIGHT AT PRESTON Being the Copy of a Letter written (as the Tenor of it importeth) by Sir MARMADUKE LANGDALE.  
Printed in the Year, 1648.   

AN IMPARTIAL RELATION OF THE LATE FIGHT AT PRESTON. Being the Copy of a Letter, written (as the Tenor of it importeth) By Sir Marmaduke Langdale.  
Sir,  
THis will give you a final account of my employment, which is now ended; being a Prisoner in Nottingham Castle, where I have civil usage. You have heard the condition I was in at Settle and Sigleswick, with about 3000 Foot and 600 Horse, the 13. of August, where hearing the Parliament Forces were gathered together, and Marching towards me, I went to acquaint Duke Hamilton therewith to Horneby, where he determined for Preston, where (his Army being numerous in Foot) he might have the greater advantage upon his Enemy in those enclosed Countries. I Marched near Clitherow towards Preston, in the March I met with the Lord Callender and divers of the Scottish Officers Quartered in my way, with whom I was resolved to March to Preston, but for the present the Intelligence was, that the Parliament Forces were divided, some part whereof were marched to Colne, and so to Manchester, to relieve that Town in case we should press upon it. This made the Officers of Horse more negligent of repairing to Preston, but Quartered wide in the Country; the same night certain intelligence came, that Lieutenant General Cromwell with all his Forces was within 3. miles of my Quarters, which I immediately sent to the Duke, and told it to my Lord Leviston, to acquaint Lieutenant General Middleton therewith, and drew my Forces together in a field, and so marched towards Preston betimes in the morning; where I found the Duke and Lord Callender with most part of the Scottish Foot drawn up; their resolution was to march to Wiggan, giving little credit to the Intelligence that came the night before, but suffer their Horse to continue in their Quarters 10. and 12. miles off; Within half an hour of our meeting, and by that time I was drawn into the Close near Preston, the Enemy appeared with a small body of Horse: The Scots continue their resolution for Wiggan, for which end they drew their Foot over the Bridge; The Enemy coming the same way that I had marched fell upon my Quarter, where we continued skirmishing six hours, in all which time the Scots sent me no relief: they had very few Horse come up, so as those they sent me at last were but few, and were soon beaten; but if they had sent me 1000 Foot to have flanked the Enemy, I doubt not but the day had been ours. Yet I kept my post with various success, many times gathering ground of the Enemy, and as the Scots acknowledge they never saw any Foot fight better than mine did: The Duke being incredulous that it was the whole Army sent Sir Lewis Dives to me; to whom I answered that it was impossible any Forces that were inconsiderable would adventure to press upon so great an Army as we had, therefore he might conclude it was all the power they could make, and with which they were resolved to put all to the hazard, therefore desired that I might be seconded, and have more Powder and Ammunition, I having spent 9 Barrels of Powder: The Scots continue their March over the River, and did not secure a Lane near the Bridge, whereby the Parliament Forces came upon my flanks; Neither did the Forces that were left for my supply, come to my relief, but continued in the Rear of mine, nor did they ever face the Enemy but in bringing up the Rear; When most part of the Scots were drawn over the Bridge, the Parliament Forces pressed hard upon me in the Van, and Flanks; and so drive me into the Town, where the Duke was in person, with some few Horse, but all being lost, Retreated over a Ford to his Foot; After my Forces were beaten, the Parliament Forces beat the Scots from the Bridge presently, and so came over into all the Lanes that we could not join with the Foot, but were forced to Charlow, where we found Lieutenant General Middleton ready to advance towards Preston to the Foot, which he did; but not finding them there, returned to Wiggan, where the Duke was with his Foot, (mine totally loft.) There they took a resolution to go to my Lord Byron, for which end they would march that night to Warrington: In their march the Parliament Forces fell so fast upon their Rear, that they could not reach Warrington that night. And Lieutenant General Middleton finding himself unable to withstand their Forces, left the Foot in Warrington to make their own conditions: So as we marched towards Malpas, six of the Scottish Lords in this march left us, whereof my Lord Traquaire was one; Most part submitted to the Sheriff of Shropshire, who sent two Gentlemen of that Country to the Duke to offer him the same Quarter that the Earl of Traquaire had: From Malpas we marched to Drayton, and so to Stone; in our march from thence to Utoxeter the Parliament Forces fell upon the Rear and took Lieutenant General Middleton; At Utoxeter the next morning going to attend the Duke for his resolution, I found him extreme sick, not able to March; My Lord Callender seemed to refuse all ways of Treaty, but rather to march Northward where we had a considerable Force, and the whole Kingdom of Scotland at our backs, upon this we marched over the River toward Ashburne; I had the Van, and was marching, presently my Lord of Callender came to me, told me he would march with me, but that none of his Forces would, and that he had much ado to eseape them; that he was come himself alone, his Horse pricked in the foot, and without a Cloak. I persuaded his Lordship that it was better to return to his Forces, because I could not protect him, and seeing the Scots had left me, I was resolved to sever, and shift every man for himself; but to capitulate I could not with a safe conscience: After some little discourse he returned to his Forces, and I marched towards Nottingham, where those few I had, took several ways, and I got that night over Trent, and came to a house 6. miles from Nottingham, where Myself, Colonel Owen, Lieutenant Colonel Galliard, and Major Constable, thought to have shrouded ourselves as Parliamenteeres, and so made no resistance, but were discovered, and are now in Nottingham Castle this 26 of August 1648.  
FINIS.