A true and perfect RELATION OF A Great Victory obtained by the Parliaments Forces IN NORTHUMBERLAND: Together with a List of all the Prisoners, Horse and Arms taken; with the surrender of Curtington Castle, with all the Arms and Ammunition.  
As also the late bloody practices of the Garrison of Pontefract at Doncaster, and other places.  
In two Letters from Gentlemen of quality to their Friends in London.  
London, Printed by J. M. 1648.   

A true Relation of the great Victory obtained by the Parliaments Forces, under the Command of Major General Lambert, over Langdales' Forces, in Northumberland and the Bishopric of Durham.  
SIR,  
GOd is pleased to work wonders daily; and when we least think of help, but rather expect a ruin, God then is pleased to step in and stay us, as may appear by this great victory God hath given to us unexpectedly; the manner of it was thus: The Scots were near the borders of England to join with Langdale, and those Forces that belonged to Northumberland and Bishopric, who were now in Northumberland under the Command of Col. Grey and Sir Richard Tempest, being in number about twelve hundred Horse, who lay together expecting to join with six hundred Foot that were to march out of Barwick that day they were taken, & had not they then been taken they had within 3 hours been upon their march to meet the Foot toward Barwik, being unwilling to engage without more Forces though they were twelve hundred and we but nine hundred: Our men very early on Saturday morning before break of day fell into their quarters, and after they had beaten up one of their quarters and taken them that were there prisoners, the soldiers than were so resolute that they road Post to all the quarters round about where the Cavaliers were quartered, and took them in their beds, and their Horses at grass: only Cartington castle, where sir Richard Tempest was, stood out two hours, but we lost no men, only two horses killed: It will much daunt the Scots joining with Langdale and interrupt their present design, which was to march into England to engage the Forces with LAMBERT: I see it is good to leave all to God; when we think lest God doth most: Oh that men would give the whole glory to God The Commanders that are taken were the chief Actors in raising a new War in the North and bringing in the Scots. I have much more to write, but I am in haste, in providing entertainment for the prisoners, therefore say no more, but give the glory to God.  


Prisoners taken in Northumberland July the first.  
Colonel Edward Grey Commander in chief of the Forces in Northumberland. Col. Richard Tempest, Baronet, Commander in chief of the Forces in the County of Durham.  
Sir Francis Ratliff. Baronet Ratliffs son. Sir Jervis Lucas.  
Mr. George Bellasis, M. George Collingwood, M. John Collingwood, Reformadoes.  
Lieutenant Col. John Salkeld: Lieut. Col. Ralph Millett: Lieut. Col. John Thornton.  
Major Thomas Salkeld: Major Trollope.  
Captain Francis Brandling: Cap. James Shaftoe: Cap. Hugh James: Cap. Smith: Cap. Ascue: Cap. Ambrose Carleton; Cap. Fetherston Haugh: Cap. Francis Carleton.  
Mr. Gown Ratcliff: M. Ralph Bowes: M. Roger Ratliff: M. John Wright: M. John Thornton: M. William Hodgson: M. Charles Selby: M. John Thurlwel: M. William Hampton: M. Shawe: M. Hauslet Selby: M. Nicholas Woodhuse: M. Anthony Trollope: M. John Fitz Williams: M. John Sison: M. Thomas Hurdey: M. John Watson: M. Ralph Claxton: M. John Sison signior. M. Thomas Hurdey: M. John Watson.   And many other Gentlemen and Officers that I cannot give you the number of now, and above three hundred soldiers, and betwixt five and six hundred Horse, with great store of Arms: The Enemy was about eleven or twelve hundred strong, and we about nine hundred strong.   

A true RELATION OF THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE PONTEFRACT FORCES IN DONCASTER.  
SIR,  
UPon the ninth of this instant came a party from Pontefract to Doncaster, between one and two of the clock in the night, unto the dwelling house of Mr. Hafford, the Postmaster, and knocked at the door, and cried, a Post, the door being opened they cried, Lights, Lights, struck the servants, and cut one of them in the head, crying, God damn me, ye Rogues, where is your Master that traytorly Rogue? Crying, wounds they would cut him as small as herbs for the pot; she being in bed, slipped on a Petticoat, and went down to them, but they drove her up the stairs again with their naked Swords and Pistols, crying, God damn me, you whore, you Parliament Bitch, your money, your Plate, and your 20. l. Horses; one with his fist struck her on the face, saying, The King is come home Jade, and striking her over the shoulder with his sword, said, Pontefract Castle is ours Whore: and so taking 3 horse, with some other things that they stole, they went away to Mistress Cooleings, where my Lady Fairfax of Gilling lay, which was supposed to be the Lord General's wife; they knocking at the door, which was not opened in that hast they expected, they cried, bring up the Foot, march up Dragoons, cast up your fireballs and fire the house; the door being opened, they straight up to the Lady's Chamber; she being of their own party, thought them to be Sheffield men; they broke up the door upon her, not suffering her to put a petticoat about her, crying, Yield up yourself Whore, your Rings, your Jewels, your Horses, and yourself; standing with their Swords and Pistols over her, cried, God damn me, Whore, speak not, but yield up yourself, you Bitch, you Jade. The Lady in this sad condition, asked if there were a Gentleman among them? One of them said he was a Gentleman; then she desired him to divulge himself to her, and she would divulge herself to him; which when they understood, that she was one of their own Party, they said they were sorry for what they had done to her: and one of them said, as he sat on horse back, to George Cooleing, present my service to my Lady and tell her, God damn me, that he was sorry for what he had done unto her Ladyship: But God confound him, body and soul, had it been Fairfax his Lady, he would have pistolled her, and have run her through with his sword, and have cut her up for the fowls to have gazed upon.  
The next day the said Lady went to the Castle to complain of them, the Castle said they went without order, and that they should be punished: They, to colour their do, said, Mistress Hafford sent them over; yet some of them said they had news of her being there the night before: Whereupon one called Captain Bishop writ thus to Mistress Hafford, to wit;  
Mistress Hafford, through your abusive misinformation, you made us injure such souls as our souls honoured, for which you must look to give a strict account; therefore I would advise you, for your now security, to send me your brown bay Nag, which if you will do, I shall be your servant, if not, you must expect what follows; thus If you will obey my command, and send me your Nag, I shall rest  
Your friend Rich. Bishop.  
There was Captain Mathewman, and M. Nash that we knew, the rest are unknown as yet by name.  
One of these Pontefract Gentlemen came to Mistress Cooling, and stroaked her with his hand under the chin, and said to her, O little Rogue! who would have thought to have seen the Cavaliers to have reigned again. She said, Sir, the Cavaliers are very welcome to me, and they carry themselves like civil Gentlemen; hereupon he lift up his hand, and smote her a good round box on the ear, saying thus, A pox take you for a dissembling Jade.  
FINIS.