A NARRATIVE, Together with LETTERS Presented by CHAPTAINE TAYLOR, To the Honourable House of COMMONS, Concerning the late success obtained by the Parliament forces in Carnavanshire in North Wales, against Sir john Owen, and his forces, consisting of Malignant Papists and Cavaliers. As also, Of his barbarous and unparallelled inhuman usage towards the High Sheriff of the said County, and others of the Parliaments party taken prisoners by him. Ordered by the Commons in Parliament assembled, that this Narrative together with the Letters be forthwith Printed and published. Hen. Elsing Cler. Parl. June 13 LONDON, Printed for Humphrey Harward, and are to be sold at his Shop at the George upon Ludgate-hill over against the Bel-Salvage. 1648. The Narrative, Together with Letters presented by Capiaine Taylor, to the Honourable House of Commons concerning the late success obtained by the Parliament Forces in Carnarvonshire in North Wales against Sir john Owen his Forces consisting of Malignant Papists and Cavaliers. SIr john Owen, Commander in chief of the enemy's Forces (and whom they called) and formerly Major General against the Parliament, with a hundred and forty horse, and one hundred and twenty foot or thereabouts, was grown so strong by some addition from the Country, that Major General Mitton together with William Lloyd Esquire, High Sheriff of Carnarven, were forced for their security to repair to Carnarvan Garrison, (upon Saturday the third instant. Major General Mitton with the Sheriff, and what horse were in the Garrison, being about twenty, and some Foot to the number of sixty or thereabouts, marched forth the enemy; met them within three miles of the Garrison; the Sheriff who led the horse was so fare engaged, that being overpowred, he could not come off, but after long struggling, having received seven or eight wounds, became their prisoner, whose barbarous usage towards him can hardly be related; they carried him, whilst he was able to sit, from place to place on horseback, his wounds never searched nor dressed, which had they been, it's conceived they had not proved mortal, as by a Surgeons attestation appears, given by him under his hand, as followeth. The Surgeons Attestation. William Griffith Chirurgeon, being sent for to dress some men belonging to Sir john Owen, found the High Sheriff of Carnarvan-shire, wounded in seven several places, besides burn and scars, but no considerable help afforded for the healing of them, being unsearched, untented, unrolled, from Saturday in the forenoon, until Sunday night only some shallow pledgets of Lint on the superficies of the Orificies, which wounds (I believe) were all curable, if he might have rested in a settled place but; being marching in wind and rain, and cold getting into the wounds must, needs cause death, and this I testify under my hand. William Griffith But when his strength began to fail, they carried him upon a Bear; and all this not sufficing to take away his life, they threw him off of the said bear with such violence that he presently died, having continued in the languishing condition aforesaid, from Saturday till Monday following, after his wounding; fresh being brought to him, Sir john would not suffer him to be shifted, and Major General Mitton sending to desire that he might come to Carnarvan to have his wounds dressed, with engagement that after his recovery he should render himself prisoner, it was wholly refused, and no answer returned thereunto; Colonel Carter Governor of Conway, and Lieutenant Colonel Twisselton, Governor of Denby used their best endeavours to suppress the Forces raised by Sir Owen as aforesaid, and having mounted thirty foot from Denby Castle with Colonel jones his Troop, and about thirty Volunteers mounted, being some late disbanded officers and others well-affected in Denbyshire, as also seventy Foot and thirty Horse, procured from Colonel Duckingfield Governor of Chester, together with thirty of Colonel Carters soldiers marched towards Carnarvan, intending before engagement with the enemy, to add some of the Forces in Carnarvan; but the enemy prevented this, and met them upon Monday, the fifth of this instant month, upon a plain near the seaside, betwixt Bangor and Aben; the Forlorns of both Parties being drawn forth, charged each other with great resolution; but ours at last were forced to a disorderly retreat; the enemy pursued with much courage, and were entertained by our reserve, after some long encounter, to their total routing; and in their retreat Captain Tailer singled out Sir john Owen, and after some short encounter wounded him, and unhorsing him, took him prisoner; there were of the enemy slain about thirty, whereof three Captains, one Captain Madrin; Captain Morgan, and another, and fifty eight taken prisoners, most horse, whereof many of quality, as by the list appeareth; they threw away their Arms, and most of them possessed by us; few of them had escaped, but that our words were somewhat alike in sound, and the signal on both sides the same; their word was Resolution, ours Religion; the signal was without bands, so in the disorderly pursuit, we knew not each other; about fifty of their horse got away in a body, and carried three of our men with them, which we hear since they have put to death, it being according to their resolution, as some of the prisoners confessed, not to give quarter to any they took. Sir john Owen, after he was disarmed, upon discourse uttered these words; though you have defeated me, yet fourscore thousand men, now in Arms in Essex and Kent will not be baffled therewith; and seemed therewith much to comfort himself. By the Barbarous, and unchristianlike usage aforementioned by the said Sir john Owen and his rebellious crew, towards the aforesaid Gallant Gentleman, the late High Sheriff of Carnarvan, (who with his life gave testimony of his good affection to Parliament, Maugre the late aspersions endeavoured to be fastened upon him by some persons really disaffected both to him and Parliament) as also towards others taken by them prisoners, all unbyased men and of any ingenuity and conscience, may discover their bloody resolution, and others of their stamp towards the Parliament and their adherents. Did not God in mercy prevent the execution of their bloody designs, as he hath been pleased most eminently of late, (especially in this expedition, and that success in Kent, and other parts of the Kingdom so manifest,) which is hoped and desired, may prove as an eyesalve to open the eyes of such, as have been, or are apt to be deceived by the plausible Pretences of Malignants and Cavaliers, and serve as a motive to all honest and religious men, to lay aside divisions, and to unite against the common adversary, for the preservation of Religion, and public peace of the Kingdom. To the honourahle William Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the Honourable House of Commons. Honourable Sir I Have sent you enclosed a Relation of the good success God hath been pleased to give unto the forces which were coming to join with me (against Sir John Owen) under the command of Colonel Carter, and Colonel Twisleton, as you will find it expressed under their own hands; and surely it was in a mighty seasonable time; the few Foot that I had in Carnarvan, which Captain Symkis turned out of Anglesey, and a very few Horse, being tired with continual duty in marching out to endeavour the obstructing of the enemy his raising of men, which by the help of the late high Sheriff and Thomas Madrin Esquire, we did very muc● prevent until Saturday last, when we marched out with a party, where meeting with the enemy, Mr. Sheriff was taken prisoner, and two more private soldiers, and we took a Lieutenant and an Ensign, and killed one of theirs. The next day after the Sheriff was taken, a great part of the County came in to Sir John Owen, and so fast, that if it had not pleased God to give us this victory and deliverance, this County had not been only lost, but also almost all North Wales, the Island of Angl●sey being in so distracted (or rather lost) condition, and which I humbly desire may be speedily taken into consideration. I cannot omit to give your Honour a relation of the unchristianlike usage of that gallant Gentleman by Sir John Owen and some others, during the time he was their prisoner. The note here enclosed under the Chirurgeons hand, will demonstrate one part of it. As soon as he was taken I sent a Drum to see whether he were wounded, who brought me word that he was very sorely, the next morning I sent a letter to Sir John to desire that he might come to Carnarvan to recover his health, which if it please God that he did, I did engage myself that he should become a prisoner again: unto which, and two letters more, he sent me no answer at all; he did also deny to let him receive a suit of that I sent him for shift: those that he was wounded in, being exceeding bloody; and he did carry this Gentleman along with him every day, all the way he marched, until it pleased God to take him from such bloody Tyrants, and put an end unto his time here; in the field as near as possibly could be discerned, when Sir John was routed and taken prisoner himself. There be divers other barbarous things spoken of concerning his usage, which I forbear at this time to write unto your Honour of (till am better informed of the certainty of them,) though I am induced to believe divers of them. I am emboldened to give your Honour this Relation, though tedious, not doubting but the Honourable House will be pleased to take some speedy course herein, the lives of your servants being so much concerned (if such men shall go unpunished) and amongst the rest of him, that is Carnarvan the 6 of june 1648. Your Honour's faithful and most humble servant, THO. MITTON. To the Honourable William Lenthall Esquire, speaker of the Honourable House of Commons. Honourable Sir, THe sad distempers of these times had reached these countries in a great measure, and threatened sad things to these Parts, had not God been pleased to give the Enemy a blow, and such an one, as we hope will crush and destroy all their hopes in these Parts; and it was exceeding seasonable; all circumstances considered, the relation whereof we leave to this bearer, whose valour and courage much conduced to the s●●●ice. Sir John Owen hearing of o●r march, and suspecti● 〈…〉 ●●ntion, which was to join with General Myt●●●… 〈◊〉 he since confessed, resolved to engage us to hinder it, and accordingly marched with all the strength he could make, which was of Reformadoes and Fightingmen about 250. all well appointed, and of Countrymen a numerous many, and met us between Bangor and Aber in a very fair plain upon the Seaside, where he found us ready to entertain him, having had intelligence of his advance, we were horse and foot 200. and upwards the dispute was desperate and hazardous, but at last (although our forlorn was first routed) through the resolutions of the Officers and Reserves, the routed Party rallied, we utterly routed the Enemy, killed and took many; and with no few knocks to ourselves, this endorsed list shows you the names and qualities of the Prisoners and their number: we dispersed also all the Clubmen that were gotten together, there is some horses of the Enemies gotten away which we could not immediately pursue, our horse being wearied in the fight and march, but intent to give them little rest in these Parts. We thought it our duty to present you with this account, wherein we would ascribe all to that good hand of God that fought with us and for us. We are, Honourable Sir, Your most humble and faithful Servants. JOHN MARTYR, GEORGE TWISLETON. A List of the names of the Prisoners both Officers and Soldiers. Sir John owen's Maj. Gener. Mr Richard Lloyd Colonel, Mr William owen's, Mr Hugh Budurdah, Mr Joshua Cole, Mr Robert Wynn, Mr James Kinaston Capt. Mr Mathias Lloyd, Mr John Wantom, Mr Thomas Lloyd Lieu. Mr Robert Wynn Lieu. Mr John Mathews, Mr Samuel Conway, Mr Will. Sanders Capt. Mr Gilbert Fox Capt. Mr Arthur Stapleton Cornet, Maurice Griffith servant to Sir John owen's. William Hid of Cheshire. John Harrison of London. Richard Thomas, Of Carnarvonshire. John Thomas, Of Carnarvonshire. William Pym, Of Carnarvonshire. Robert Jones, Of Carnarvonshire. William Pirhard, Of Carnarvonshire. William Jones, Of Carnarvonshire. Hugh Roberts, Of Carnarvonshire. Robert Davies, Of Carnarvonshire. William Richard, Of Carnarvonshire. Richard George, Of Carnarvonshire. Owen-ap-William Of Carnarvonshire. Ralph Davenport of Lancashire. Evan Roberts, Of Denbishire. Thomas Jones, Of Denbishire. John Davies, Of Denbishire. Hugh Greene, Of Denbishire. Robert john's, John Hughes, William Danis, William Calladay of Hartfortshire, Walter Morgan of Glocestershire, Robert Creswell, Of Shropshire William Creswell, Of Shropshire Walter Roe, Of Shropshire Thomas Stochwell, Of Shropshire Christopher Elmor of Lincolnshire, David Williams, Of Merionethshire. Henry Pughe, Of Merionethshire. Robert Williams of Flintshire. David Ellis of Montgomeryshire. Benjamin Par of Carmarthenshire. John Morris of Cardigonshire. John Cross, of Worcestershire. Thomas Cross, of Worcestershire. Jeffrey Burch, of Worcestershire. John Clarke, of Worcestershire. Rich. Baxter of Staffordshire. Isaac Edward's of Anglesey. John Cadwallader of Carmarthenshire. FINIS.