A True Relation OF THE FIGHT Between Maior Gen. Lambert, and the Scots Army near Appleby, july 24. 1648. WITH A Letter written from Colonel Charles Fairfax, touching the Surrender of Thornhill House in Yorkshire, with all the Arms and Ammunition therein, for the service of the PARLIAMENT. Written to a Member of the House of COMMONS. WITH The Summons, Answers, and Replies from the said Colonel, and Governor thereof. July .27. LONDON, Printed for Robert White, 1648. Sir, Conceiving you may have many false reports concerning our retrent, I thought fit to give you this true action following. Upon the approach of the enemy with their whole body within two miles of Fenrith, on Friday night July 15. it was thought fit upon advice of a Counsel of War to draw off our forces from thence, and to retreat to Appleby, and further, if occasion should be: The reasons moving, were, First, The paucity of our forces, compared with the Enemies conjoined bodies. Secondly, We had some additional forces coming up to us out of several Counties, as Yorkshire, County of Durham, and Northumberland, and it was not held wisdom to hazard a fight with our small number, considering the consequences to these parts, and to the whole Kingdom, if it had not proved well; when we might easily retreat to such advantages. Thirdly, We were tender in being too forward to engage, in regard we had not understood the pleasure of Parl. upon the coming of the Scots Army into this Kingdom. Accordingly that evening we retreated from Penrith to Appleby; very safe, (the Enemy neverappearing in our Rear at all) where we lay from Saturday till Monday morning without disturb, ance, (some illness of weather,) though the enemy marched afterand pitched with their foot between the two Bridges, near Brougham Castle, seven miles from Appleby, and their horse about them, but on Monday morning, they marched again with their whole body towards us, (it being a very dark rainy morning) were within a mile of our horse guards, before they were discovered, all our horse having been that night drawn together in expectation of their approach, and continued together till the morning, and then not hearing of the enemies march, and through the great rain and cold, in which they had been all night, and not in quarters a fortnight before, they were dismissed to some Towns near about Appleby for refreshment: Before they had well gotten to their quarters, came this Alarm, the enemy presently appeared in three great bodies, upon three hills, very advantageous for them, within half a mile of Appleby, so that our horse guards were forced to retreat towards the Town, and the enemy followed, our foot, were presently in readiness, and were drawn down, and placed at the several Passes, and Baracadoes to prevent the enemy's horse from careering into the Town, which they attempted to do, but were gallantly repulsed, and one of them taken prisoner, and wounded; hereupon most of our foot were drawn out of Town towards the Enemy, to line the hedges, and stop the Enemy's approach, (till our horse could be embodied,) being placed near the Enemy's body, and much to their annoyance; the enemy drew out several parties both of horse and foot; and attempted divers times to force our men from their Stations, and break into the Town upon us, before our horse could come together, fresh parties relieving the other every quarter of an hour, but were repulsed, and forced to retreat as fast as they came on, by our brave foot, seconded with some horse, so that our men did get, and not lose ground of them; nay, a small party of our foot advanced up to one of the hills, where a great body of the enemy's horse were, viz. the Gallows hill, where the Gallows is, and gave them such a charge, that they forced their body to retreat, and came off with Freedom, Safety, and Honour; during this time, our horse were advancing up from their several quarters, the enemy's bodies standing as before, and not attempting any thing upon our particular horse quarters dividedly, and at last came all safe together, rejoicing much by great shouting, &c: to see their Enemy in the field, the foot continually crying out for a Field, a Field. This skirmish continued from 12 at noon, till 9 at night, that they could see no longer; and upon Consultation at a Counsel of War what was fit to be done, it was resolved, for the reasons before mentioned, (though our men, both horse and foot, would gladly have engaged in the field) to draw off, and go to Kirly Stephen, which was pursued, and our foot drawn off accordingly from their hedges, guards, etc. into the Town, and so we marched off. In this service, viz. upon the first charge of our guard with the Enemies first party, Col. Harrison, who ventured very far in his own person, and farther than his men would follow, (for he had hold of one of the Enemy's Colours) received three wounds, viz. a cut on the wrist, a prick in the back, and thigh, but we hope not mortal; Captain Cromwel's Lieutenant, and one foot soldier of ours, were slain upon the place, and two or three of our men wounded, and Lieutenant Sh●●rs taken prisoner, which is all the loss we know of; the enemy had many slain, many wounded, and some taken prisoners, particularly one of Duke Hamiltons' Surgeons, and some others; the enemy's foot, both Scots and English, were very unwilling to come upon service, and would go on no farther than they had horse on back to force them. The Scots; when any charge was given by our men, presently threw down their Arms, Poles; and Meal-bags, and ran away, divers of their Arms were brought off by our men, and some left behind. It must not be forgotten that the Lancashire foot did play their parts very well in this service: our horse were drawn off on the South side of the Town, and the Enemy and the Northside, the River being between, which was so high with the rain, that neither party could ford over, and the bridge which we maintained against them so narrow, and barricadoed, and the Enemy's body so near drawn up, that they could not well be drawm over to do service. After we came to Kirly Stephen, it was not thought fit to stay there, conceiving the Enemy might interpost between the Pass and Yorkshire, and so we came on to Bows without any trouble of the Enemy, who never appeared in our Rear, and came no further than Appleby after us, which if they had done, and sought to have engaged us, we should have adventured, and left the success to God; but this night at Bows, we meet with Major Sanderson; and Capt. Bradfords' Troops, out of Northumberland, Colonel Wrens five Troops, and Captain Harleys, and Captain Persons company, who are grown very thin by their lying at York. Sir, Being ordered with about 500 of my Regiment of foot, accompanied with 200 of Col. Sir Henry Chalmleys' horse; to march to Thornhill gasrifort, I intended to have been there last Saturday night, but too much of that day was spent in pacification of the soldier, that ●●●laimed for pay! (and indeed they are gallant men, if they were not too clamourous.) It was passed nine next morning before we came thither, we possessed ourselves of the Church, and Barsonage house, (a stones cast from the hall) without opposition, sent them the summons; to which we have these answers, and replies here enclosed, we intended that day only to take a view, but it proved an engagement. Very opportunely came to our assistance four Troops of horse, and two of Dragoons sent by Lieutenant General Gramwell, we fell on the work, entered the barns, stables, and malthouse, within the fold, but without the Mote; it was a very sharp dispute betwixt one and six; we spent most of our ammunition, viz. four barrels of powder, sent presently to York and Leeds for more; we have about twelve men slain, and thirty wounded, whereof a few of them mortally. On Monday we cut off their fresh waters, than set work men to draw out the Mote. And on Tuesday towards night completed the work; Sir Henry Cholmley then come to us, we sent them that last summons, appointed Hostages, & Treators, had a Rendition upon articles to this purpose, That they should deliver to Sir Henry Cholmley, and me, the house and arms. Only the Governor and Mayor Bonifant to have their horses and swords, as likewise a horse to one jenning's, a south country man, who was one of their Treators. They were to send us eleven of those Troopers of my Lord General's Regiment (surprised at the ferry.) And the common soldiers only to march away with his apparel, An hour before their march (which was seven at night) merely by accident the fire from their own party took hold of their powder, blew up part of the house, slew 4 or five of theirs, but none of our men, and miserably scorched about seven or eight more, and the same flame hath consumed all the buildings. I account it a mercy that it was done by themselves, and cannot be objected against us, some few arms the soldiers rescued, but got little prize: The breach was on their part, in not rendering the powder, but chief, for that one of them took out a pistol, and many marched with their moneys, therefore it is confessed some lost their , for which cause the Governor and Bonifaut refuse to send the eleven Troopers, or render themselves prisoners according to engagement. Sir, I cannot at present enlarge myself more, than all humble respects to my Noble good friends being there, and your servant C. Fairfax: This 22. of july, 1648. Thornhill. Sir, WE thirst after no man's blood, but desire that God will scatter the people that delight in war. I do therefore, as here Commanded for settlement of these parts, and prevention of insurrections and tumults, demand of you the hold wherein you now are, together with your arms, to be forthwith delivered into my hands for the use of the King and Parliament. If this motion be rejected, expect hostilities, and the Lord look upon each of us according to the sincerity of his heart, as we desire our peace, to the greatest honour both of God and the King. C. Fairfax. Thornhill the 16. of july, 1648. Sir, IN answer to your demands I return, That we are equally with you desirous to prevent Christian bloodshed. But to your demand of the house, we answer, that we may not part with our Loyalty, but together with our blood; we were Commanded hither by our lawful Superior, and may not in honour or duty part hence, without their order. But if you please to suffer a Messenger from us to go to the Governor of Pontefract Castle, at his return you may expect to hear a further Answer from. Sir, Your servant Thomas Paulden. To Colonel Fairfax, Commander in chief in Thornhill Town. Sir, I am engaged to make good my proffer. The Rendition of that house will forseit no Loyalty; though blood be precious, yet we cannot condenscend to so long a Cessation, as to expect any answer from Pontefract, but a speedy Surrender to▪ C. Fairfax. Thornhill 16. of july, 1648. To the Governor of Thornhill Hall. Sir, YOu may not expect any thing here but what you can win with your sword, until I receive further Commands from my Superiors. Yours Thomas Paulden. Sir, IF God shall give you so compassionate a heart to pity the lives of so many of your soldiers, with divers others that be now in your garrison, we shall become humble suitors unto the Parliament (whose former mercies some of you have liberally tasted) that you may have the latitude of favour, where of your several conditions will admit you capable. But if our offer be now rejected, you must expect a pursuance of our advantages with all extremit●y. And be assured that the blood of those that die in the slaughter, (a work we abhor, if you did not enforce it) will be required at your hands, and of them that advise you. C. Fairfax. Thornhil 18. july, 1648. Sir, TO infer your conclusion, that the blood spilt shall be required at our hands, before you have proved that we ought not to defend our right and the Kings, with our blood, is very bad logic; your Rhetoric not so pregnant, as may persuade us to assent to so dishonour able Conditions, upon so small reason; but in order to the tenderness we have of Christian blood, if you please to appoint two of like Condition with ours, mentioned in my Letters to Sir Henry Cholmley, and send us Hostages, we shall embrace a Parley. This is all can be returned from Your servant Thomas Paulden. july 18. 1648. To Colonel Fairfax these present.