A Miraculous VICTORY Obtained by the Right Honourable, FERDINANDO Lord FAIRFAX, against the Army under the Command of the Earl of NEWCASTLE at WAKEFIELD IN YORKSHIRE: Of the Enemy there was taken prisoners, general Goring, Sir Thomas Bland, 2 Colonels, Sergeant Major Car, 13 Captains, 1500 Soldiers, 27 Colours of Foot, 3 Cornets of Horse, 4 Lieutenants, 15 Ensigns, and 1 Cornet, 4 pieces of Ordnance, all their Ammunition, and a great number of Arms, with the loss of 7 common Soldiers.  
Sent in two Letters to the Honourable, W: LENTHALL, Es q Speaker in the House of COMMONS.  
Also a LETTER of great consequence, which was found in General goring chamber, which was sent to him by his Father the Lord Goring.  
ORdered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That public Thanksgiving be the 28. of this instant May, giveng in all the Churches and Chappells of London, Westminster, Borough of Southwark, Suburbs and places adjacent for the great and good success 〈◊〉 hath pleased GOD to give the Forces under the Command of the Lord Fairfax, at the taking in of Wakefield; And that the Letters relating that good success, be read in the said Churches and Chapels.  
H. Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.  
MAY 29. Printed for Edw. Husbands. 1643.   

THE INTRODUCTION.  
WHereas it hath too often been seen that in a great appearance of outward means, we are over confident, and in the smallness or diminution of the same, we are too low and distrustful; so walking by sight, and not by faith, the divine Goodness and Wisdom, to wean us from this corruption, and to teach us the contrary Lesson, to walk by faith and not by sight, hath often wrought and given great Victories, b● little means and unexpected ways.  
A notable Pattern and Proof whereof is now seen in the Victory given at Wakefield, wherein God gave a happy success upon great disadvantage and inequal by a far lesser number, even less by half, overcoming a greater in a fortified Town, and the persons taken, far exceeding in number those that 〈◊〉 them, and all this not with the loss of ten persons. As this calls for the eye of Faith, spiritually to discern the great Power and Goodness of God, which gives the advantage of Victory on the side of the disadvantage in outward force; so it calls upon us to maintain and continue a course of Faith for the time to come, and by continually looking up unto God, and dependence on him, to expect from his Goodness and Bounty the like blessing in other times, of inequality and disadvantage. And as this aught to confirm our Expectations for the future, so both now and hereafter, when God's strength doth so visibly appear in our weakness, we ought to give the whole Glory and Praise to his strength, and none to our own weakness.  
Thankfulness for blessings past, being an Invitation of blessings to come, and God not failing to supply that, which he knows will certainly, turn to his own Glory. Neither ought our Thanksgiving only to bond itself in words, or in short thoughts and intentions, but it should especially be expressed in a hearty and real conversion and conformity of soul and life to him, whose will ought to be the rule of our life, and whose service is the end of our being.  
Let it also be further observed, That both this and other Victories have been given on that Day, which hath been so much opposed by dissolute and Popish persons, even to a confutation of it by set discourses, & practical profanations.  
And having given all the Glory to God, it is next just and commendable to take notice of those whom God hath vouchsafed to use in his service, as to encourage them in God's work, and that Cause, which God doth maintain by his own mighty and outstretched arm, thus made good in this extraordinary both Deliverance and Victory.   

For my Honourable Friend William Lenthall, Esquire, Speaker in the House of COMMONS.  
SIR;  
Upon the sixth of this Month I writ to you by a special Messenger, which I hope is come to your hands; Presently after the dispatch of that Letter, the news was brought me, that the E: of Newcastle had possessed himself both of Rotheram and Sheffeild, the Forces in Rotheram held out two day's siege and yielded up the Town upon a Treaty, wherein it was agreed, that the town should not be plundered, and that all the Gentlemen, Commanders and Soldiers (six only excepted, that were specially named) leaving their Arms, should have free liberty to go whither they pleased; But when the Enemy entered, contrary to their Articles, they have not only plundered the town, but have also made all the Commanders and Soldiers prisoners, and do endeavour to constrain them to take up Arms on their party. The Commanders at Sheffeild hearing of the loss of Rotheram, and seeing some of the enemies Forces advanced in view of the town, they all presently desserted the place, as not tenible with so few, against so potent an Army, and fled away with their Arms, some to Chesterfield, and some to Manchester. The loss of these two places hath much elated the enemy, and cast down the spirits of the people in these parts, who daily see the enemy increase in power, and to gain ground, and no succours come to them from any part: The E: of Newcastles Army do now range over all the South-west part, of this country, pillaging and cruelly using the well-affected party; and the last week there is a Garrison of Horse and Foot laid at Knavesborough, where they begin to fortify the town, and pillage and utterly ruin all the religious people in those-parts, and round about them. On Friday seven-night last 3 Troops and some other Forces, of which many were French came from that Garrison & pillaged Oteley, and there barbarously used some honest women of that town, and in their retreat to Knavesborough upon the open For rest they took a man and a woman, the man they wounded and beat cruelly, and before his face ravished the woman. These particulars I repeat, that you may the more clearly discern the miseries which this country groans under; and here about Leeds, Bradford, and Hallifax, being a mountainous barren country; the people now begin to be sensible of want, their last year provisions being spent, and the enemy's Garrisons stopping all provisions both of Corn and Flesh, and other necessaries that were wont to come from the more fruitful countries to them, their Trade utterly taken away, their poor grow innumerable, and great scarcity of means to relieve them. And this Army which now lies amongst them to defend them from the enemy, cannot defend them from want, which causeth much murmur and lamentation amongst the people. And for this Army itself, it is so far in arreare, and no way appearing how they shall either be supplied with money nor succours, as they grow very mutinous.  
Yet upon Saturday last in the night, I caused to be drawn out of the Carrisons in Leods, Bradford, Hallifax and Howley, some Horse, Foot, and Dragooners, in all about 1500 men, and sent them against Wakefield, commanded by my son, and assisted by Major General Gifford, Sir Henry Fowls, and sir William Fairfax, with divers other Commanders, they appeared before Wakefield about four a clock on Sunday in the morning, where they found the enemies (who had intelligence of their design) ready to receive them; There was in the Town General Goring, Serjeant Major General Mackworth, the Lord Goring, with many other principal Commanders and eminent persons, with about 7. Troops of Horse, and six Regiments, containing 3000 Foot, the Town well Fortified with works, and four pieces of Ordnance; Yet our men both Commanders and common Soldiers went on with undaunted courages, and notwithstitaling the thick volleys of small and great shot from the enemies, charged up to their Works, which they entered, seized upon their Ordnance, and turned them upon themselves, and pursued the enemy so close; as they beat quite one of the Town the most part of the Horse, and a great number of the Foot, and made all the rest prisoners, and with them took four piece of Ordnance, and all the Ammunition then in the Town, and a great number of Arms, and amongst the prisoners General Goring himself, with divers other Commanders, and other common Soldiers, in all about 1500 men, and 27 Colours of Foot, three Cornets of Horse, of which I send a more particular Life enclosed; The more exact, and particular Relation of this service, as it is testified to me under the hands of the principal Commanders employed in that design: I send you enclosed for your better information, and truly for my part I do rather account it a miracle, than a victory, and the glory and praise to be ascribed to God that wrought it, in which I hope I derrogate nothing from the merits of the Commanders and Soldiers, who every man in his place and duty, showed as much courage and resolution as could be expected from men, When the Town was thus taken, they found their number and strength too weak to keep it and their prisoner; so they left the place; and marched away with their booty. In taking the Town we lost no man of note, and not above seven men in all, of which one was the Clerk of the store, and an Ensign of the Foot, and one a Quartermaster of Horse, the rest Common-Souldiers; But many of our Men were short and wounded. This overthrow hath much enraged the enemies, who threaten a present revenge, and are drawing all their Forces this way to effect it. I perceive there are Succours sent to Lincolnshire and other adjacent Countries, which if they were here, might he employed to as much advantage for the public safety, as in any place. I desire our condition may be seriously thought on by the house, and the aids often promised, may presently March away to us, and that Colonel Cromwell, with his horse and foot may also be ordered to march to me; that being joined together, I may be able to draw this Army into the field, and gain fresh quarter for the Soldiers, and furnish ourselves with Powder, Arms, and Ammunition, which is now grown very scarce, and cannot be supplied, until the passage to Hull be forced open, which now is possessed by the enemy. If such succours come not timely to us, we cannot long subsist, but must be forced to accept of dishonourable conditions, which besides the loss and ruin of this Country, will be a great disadvantage to the general safety, and withal, some course must be thought on, to furnish large proportion of money to defray the Soldier's Arrears; which I beseech you endeavour for them and me, that am  
Your most affectionate Friend and Servant Ford. Fairfax. Leeds, 23 May. 1643.  
I Send enclosed, a Letter from the Lord Goring, to his son General Goring, found in his Chamber at Wakefield, which will let the House see the Enemies great desire to have this Army ruined, that they might with their whole Force march Southwards.   

SAturday night the 20 of May, The Lord General gave order for a party of a 1000 Foot, three Companies of Dragooners, and eight Troops of Horse, to March from the Garrisons of Leeds, Bradford, Hallifax, and Howley, Sir Thomas Fairfax commanded in chief; The Foot were commanded by Sergeant Major General Gifford, and Sir William Fairfax. The Horse were divided into two Bodies, four Troops Commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax and the other four Troops, by Sir Henry Foulis; Howley was the Rendezvous, where they all met on Saturday last, about twelve a clock at night; about two next morning, they marched away, and coming to Stanley, where two of the enemy's Troops lay with some Dragooners; that Quarter was beaten up, and about one and twenty Prisoners taken. About four a clock in the morning we came before Wakefield, where after some of their Horse were beaten into the Town, the Foot with unspeakable courage, beat the enemies from the Hedges, which they had lined with Musketeers into the Town, and assaulated it in two places, Wrengate and Norgate; and after an hour and a half fight, we recovered one of their Pieces, and turned it upon them; and entered the Town at both places, at one and the same time: When the Baracadoes were opened, Sir Thomas Fairfax with the Horse, fell into the Town, and cleared the Street where Colonel Goring was taken, by Lieutenant Alured, Brother to Captain Alured, a Member of the House; yet in the Market place there stood three Troops of Horse, and Colonel Lamptons' Regiment, to whom Major General Gifford sent a Trumpet with offer of Quarter, if they would lay down their Arms, they answered, they scorned the Motion; then he fired a Piece of their own Ordinance upon them, and the Horse fell in upon them, beat them out of Town, and took all these Officers expressed in this enclosed List, Twenty seven Colours of Foot, three Coronets of Horse, and about 1500 Common Soldiers. The enemy had in the Town 3000 Foot, and seven Troops of Horse, besides Colonel Lamptons' Regiment, which came into the Town, after we had entered the Town: The enemy left behind them four Pieces of Ordnance, with Ammunition, which we brought away.  


Thomas Fairfax.  
Henry Foulis.  
John Gifford.  
William Fairfax.  
John Holman.  
Robert Foulis.  
Titus Leighton.  
Francis Talbot.     

Prisoner's Commanders taken at Wakefield, May 21. 1643.  
General Goring, Sir Thomas Bland, Lieutenant Colonel to Sir George Wentworth, Lievt. Colonel Saint George, Lievt. Colonel Macmoyler, Sergeant Major Carr; Captains, Carr, Knight, Wildbore, Rueston, Pemberton, Croft, Ledgard, Lashley, Keayley, Nuttall, Cap. Lieutenant Benson. Sergeant Major Carnaby, and Captain Carnaby, and Captain Nuttall, left wounded in Wakefield upon their Engagements to be true prisoners. Lieutenants, Munckton, Thomas, Wheatley, Kent, Nicholson. Ensigns, Squire, Vavasor, Maskew, Lampton, Ducket, Stockhald, Baldwinson, Davis, Carr, Gibson, Smathweight, Ballinson, Watson, Smelled, Hallyburton. Coronet Wivill.   

AFter this Letter was concluded our men took Wakefield, of which I send a particular Relation enclosed, and a Lift of the Prisoners and other Booty taken; If we had now any force of Horse to join with us, we should in all probability utterly rout the Enemies in this Country, or shut them up in holds, which if it do not speedily come, we shall be in danger to perish, if the Enemy draw his whole Force upon us.  
I had forgotten in the Letter to the Speaker to mention the new Commissions granted by the King, wherein His Majesty, according to the known Laws of the Land (as all things are said to be done) gives liberty to the parties to whom the Commissions directed, to Plunder, and take men's Estates, so as they account for the moiety of the profit to His Majesty; this is confessed by the Captains now Prisoners here.  
From Leeds 23 May 1643. Your Servant Thomas Stockdell.  
It is now about three weeks since we had any Letter from you, or any advertisement from the South.   

George  
I Saw what you wrote to H. Jermine, and find that the business will be put on that way; But I am of opinion that Your General will never consent to it, the latter way of dividing his Force, unless it be in the Country where he will abide his self, this will be tried to morrow at his return hither, where the Queen expects him. In the interim, If it were possible to give the Enemy any such knock, or considerable disturbance, to the Country round about them, which hath not yet felt the misery of their neighbours. I would not doubt but the Treaty might be resumed again, by which means and by no other, your Army may be set at Liberty to change your stations, and do something that may be of consequence indeed. I pray you think seriously hereof, and once in your life follow the advice of your best friend and dearly loving Father  
April 17. 1643. Goreinge.   

After I had sealed my Letter I was advised to advertise you. That the Lord Fairfax never believed you would look into the parts where now you are, but intended to draw back to the place from whence you came, which made him so lofty in his Conditions wherefore if you can (as my Authors propose) get between Bradford and Leeds, you will so annoy, divert, and separate them in all their disignes, as you may be sure to carry Hellifax and Bradford on this hand, or Leeds on the other. Take this to heart, and let General King, with my humble service, know this much, not as new to him and the rest of you, but as that which all the wisest and most knowing men in the Country advise and hope; This will so hare them, and satisfy this Country, and will give you such other advantages, as will render happy and glorious too; whereas on the contrary, all will fall flat both in power and reputation past expression. And her Majesty, either unprovided of such a Convoy from thence, as is fit for her and the King's present occasions, or else leave this Country naked to the Tyranny of the merciless Enemy, contrary to contract, and all due Justice. This is the opinion of others, far better able to advise, than he that so hearty prays for you, and is  
Yours Goreinge. Cudgel them to a Treaty, and then let us alone with the rest. York April 17. 1643.   
FINIS.