A more Exact RELATION Of the late BATTLE Near YORK; Fought by the English and Scotch Forces, against Prince RUPERT and the Marquis of Newcastle.  
Wherein the Passages thereof are more particularly set down, presented to the view of those who desire better satisfaction therein.  
Published for the more enlargement of our hearts to Almighty God on our day of Thanksgiving, commanded by Authority for the great Victory obtained.  
Allowed to be Printed according to Order.  
LONDON, Printed by M. Simmons for H. Overton, 1644.   

A more exact Relation of the late BATTLE near York, fought by the English and Scottish Forces, against Prince Rupert, and the Earl of Newcastle.  
SIR;  
Be pleased to take notice of God's wonderful and almost miraculous goodness to us, and in us to this whole Nation, and to all the Churches of God in Europe, upon Monday last being the second of July, upon notice that Prince Rupert was advancing on the North-side Owse, with twentie-five thousand men, to raise our Siege before York, we conceiving ourselves unable to keep the Siege, and fight with him also, and supposing it the safest to fight with him with our whole strength united, we drew off all our Forces, both horse and foot and artillery, without the loss of a man, and put ourselves into Battalia upon Owse-moore, within three miles of York. That night the Prince came into York, with about two thousand horse, his foot and Ordinance quartering in the Forest of Gortrey, within five miles of York; We quartered at Long Marston, and in the Towns adjacent, with an intention the next day to march to Cawood, and so to Selby, partly to possess the River entirely, so to hinder him for furnishing York with provisions, out of the East-Riding; As also to interpose between him and his march Southwards, he having no other way to march, (the Earl of Denbigh and the Lancashire Forces interposing between him and his march Westwards, the way he came:) Accordingly early in the morning, we began our march towards Cawood, with all our Army, leaving three thousand Horse and Dragooneers to bring up the Rear of our Foot and Ordnance.  
The Enemy thinking we dislodged, because we would avoid fight, and being resolved to fight with us, they drew out five thousand Horse and Dragooneers, the Van of their Army, and with them took the Moor near Marston, about nine of the clock on Tuesday, and came up close to the Rear of our Carriages.  
We seeing that they were in earnest to fight, and we as much as they desiring it, presently commanded all our foot and Ordnance to come back with all speed, the Van of which was gone some five miles towards Cawood, and was with much difficulty to be brought bacl. The enemy in the mean while, drawing up with part of their foot close to our noses, so near that we had not liberty to take the Moor, and to put ourselves into Battalia, so that we were put to draw our men into a Cornfield close to the Moor, making way by our pioneers to get ground to extend the wings of our army to such a distance, that we might conveniently fight; which was very difficult for us to attain, The right wing of our army being placed just by Merston Town side, the town on our right hand, fronting on the East, and as our foot and horse came up, we form our battalia and the left wing, still desiring to gain as much of the left point as we could, so that at last we came with the utmost point of our left wing, to Topwith; so oru army fronted to the Moor from Marston to Topwith, being a mile and a half in length; the enemy being drawn up just under us, the wings of their army extending a little further than ours in length, but the hedges and our Dragooners secured the flanks. About two of the clock we had indifferently well form our army, as also  enemy theirs, part of their foot being beyond Owse, that morning, which made them as late as we in drawing up. About two of the clock, the great Ordnance of both sides began to play, but with small success to either: about five of the clock we had a general silence on both sides, each expecting who should begin the charge, there being a small dich and a bank betwixt us and the Moor, through which we must pass, if we would charge them upon the Moor, or they pass it, if they would charge us in the great cornfield, and closes; so that it was a great disadvantage to him that would begin the charge, seeing the ditch must somewhat disturb their order, and the other would be ready in good ground and order, to charge them before they could recover it.  
In this posture we stood till seven of the clock, so that it was concluded on our sides, that there would be no engagement that night, neither of the two Armies agreeing to begin the charge: And surely had two such Armies (drawn up so close one to the other, being of both wings within Musket shot, departed without fight, I think it would have been as great a wonder as hath been seen in England. The enemy had in the Field in all, some fourteen thousand Foot, and nine thousand Horse, and some twenty five pieces of Ordnance. The right Wing of their Horse was commanded by Prince Rupert, who had in it some twelve divisions of Horse, consisting of one hundred Troops, and might be five thousand men. The left Wing of their Horse was commanded by Hurry, with all the remainder of their Horse. The right Wing of our Horse was commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax, consisting of 80. Troops, being his own and the Scotch Horse. The left Wing of our Horse was commanded by Lieutenant General Cromwell, with all his own Horse, and the Earl of manchester's, and some of the Scotch Horse, being in all about 70. Troops. Our Foot being twenty eight Regiments, were disposed into twelve Brigades. About half an hour after seven a clock at night, we seeing the enemy would not charge us, we resolved by the help of God, to charge them, and so the sign being given, we marched down to the charge. In which you might have seen the bravest fight in the world; Two such disciplined Armies marching to a charge. We came down the Hill in the bravest order, and with the greatest resolution that was ever seen: (I mean the left Wing of our Horse led by Cromwell, which was to charge their right Wing, led by Rupert, in which was all their gallant men: they being resolved, if they could scatter Cromwell, all were their own.  
All the Earl of Manchesters' Foot being three Brigades, began the charge with their bodies against the Marquis of Newcastle, and Prince rupert's bravest Foot. In a moment we were passed the ditch into the Moor, upon equal grounds with the enemy, our men going in a running march. Our front divisions of Horse charged their front, Lieutenant General Cromwel's division of three hundred Horse, in which himself was in person, charged the first division of Prince rupert's in which himself was in person. The rest of ours charged other divisions of theirs, but with such admirable valour, as it was to the astonishment of all the old Soldiers of the Army. Cromwel's own division had a hard pull of it: for they were charged by rupert's bravest men, both in Front and Flank: they stood at the swords point a pretty while, hacking one another: but at last (it so pleased God) he broke through them, scattering them before him like a little dust.  
At the same instant the rest of our horse of that Wing, had wholly broken all Prince rupert's horse on their right Wing, and were in the class of them beyond their left Wing: our Foot on the right hand of us (being only the Earl of Manchesters' Foot) went on by our side dispersing the enemy's Foot almost as fast as they charged them, still going by our side, cutting them down that we carried the whole Field before us, thinking the victory wholly ours, and nothing to be done but to kill and take prisoners: not knowing that the enemies left Wing, led by Hurry had done as much to our right (led by Sir Thomas Fairfax, they wholly carrying the Field before them, utterly routing all our Horse and Foot, so that there was not a man left standing before them, most of the Horse and Foot of that wing, and our main battle recreating in haste towards Todcaster and Cawood, thinking the day lost, as the enemies right wing did towards York. The enemy being in pursuit and chase of retreating men, followed them to our Carriages, but had slain few of them: for indeed they ran away before the enemy charged them. Just then came our Horse and Foot from the chase of their right wing, and seeing the business not well in our right, came in a very good order to a second charge with all the enemy's Horse and Foot that had disordered our right wing and main battle. And here came the business of the day (nay almost of the Kingdom) to be disputed upon this second charge.  
The enemy seeing us to come in such a gallant posture to charge them, left all thoughts of pursuit, and began to think that they must fight again for that victory which they thought had been already got. They marching down the Hill upon us, from our Carriages, so that they fought upon the same ground, and with the same Front that our right wing had before stood to receive their charge; and we stood in the same ground, and with the same Front which they had when they began the charge.  
Our three Brigades of Foot of the Earl of manchester's being on our right hand. On we went with great resolution, charging them so home, one while their Horse, and then again their Foot, and our Foot and Horse seconding each other with such valour, made them fly before us, that it was hard to say which did the better our Horse or Foot. Major General Lesley seeing us thus pluck a victory out of the enemy's hands, professed Europe had no better Soldiers.  
To conclude about nine of the clock we had cleared the Field of of all enemies, recovered out Ordnance and Carriages, took all the enemy's Ordnance and Ammunition, and followed the chase of them within a mile of York, cutting them down so that their dead bodies lay three miles in length. Divers prisoners of note were taken, Lord goring son, Colonel Tilsley, Sir Charles Lucas, Major General Porter, and about an hundred more Officers, 1500 Soldiers. The number of the dead is uncertain; but I cannot think, but of all dead in the field, in the woods, and mortally wounded (which would die within a day) there are between three and four thousand Their whole Army is so broken, that of Foot I am confident they are not able of 13000. to rally 2000 and of eight or nine thousand Horse, not above two thousand, the rest all gone to their own homes, except those that are slain and prisoners. The glory of this, as it only due to God, as the prime efficient, so must it be acknowledged (as it is by all, and that most justly) thit instrumentally it was done by none but by the Earl of Manchesters' Horse and Foot led on by Cromwell, and those Scots which charged in with them, commanded by Major General Lesley, who carried himself very bravely. Lieutenant General Cromwell (the great agent in this victory) hath received a slight wound in the neck. We lost not in all this fight, above two or three hundred men. Sir Thomas Fairfax (wounded in the head or face) carried himself as bravely as as man could do, was unhorsed, lay upon the ground, and was relieved by our horse. The enemy hath lost all their Arms, the field being full of Pikes and Muskets; This morning we gathered them up within 2 miles of York, not an enemy daring to look upon us. Rupert is on the North side or York with about two thousand Horse. I am  
Your humble Servant Lion Watson   

The Contents of another Letter sent from one in the Earl of Manchesters' Army to a friend in London.  
I Thought good hereby to acquaint you with that glorious victory which the Lord hath given us over the enemies of Jesus Christ mightily he hath been seen in delivering us, and confounding his adversaries. On Monday, July 1. our siege being raised from York, and we quartering that night in Long Merston Moor, it was reported the next morning, that Prince Rupert had his rendezvous in Brammamoor, whereupon we marched thitherward; when we were advanced about half a mile, we descried Prince rupert's horse marching after us, in Long Merston Moor, whom we faced at that distance, they drew up in battalia on the Moor, we returned, and did the like in the fields. About one or two of the clock the Cannon began, and played till four or five in the afternoon. Afterwards we all marched down to them, both horse and foot; they charged us very fiercely and violently, but by the blessing of God, we routed their horse on the right wing, and one Regiment or body of their foot; but the field went very dangerous in our right wing, for there they were routed, and many ran: So likewise in our main Body, but it pleased God to uphold the spirits of our army, and our foot charged so violenty, that they forced the enemy to run, and our horse pursued them, and routed them totally out of the field.  
There were killed about 4000 near 2000 taken; all their foot colours, and many of their horse colours were taken, 25. pieces of Ordnance, 8000. arms, and all their wagons and ammunition. Thus the Lord did wondrously for us, blessed be his holy Name.  
My Cousin Thomas D. is very well, but escaped narrowly, being dismounted by the enemy.  
Your ever loving Brother, Robert Grifen.  
FINIS.