A Fuller RELATION of that MIRACVLOVS VICTORY Which it pleased God to give unto ●he PARLIAMENTS Forces under the Command of the Right Honourable the Lord Fairefax, against the earl of New-Castles Army at Wakefield in Yorkshire. Where they took Prisoners, general Goring, Sir Thomas Bland, 2 Colonels, Sergeant mayor Car, 13 Captaines, 1500 Souldiers, 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 Arm●s, with the loss of seven Common Souldiers. S●nt in two Letters to the Honourable W. Lenthall, Esq; Speaker in the House of Commons. Also a LETTER of great consequence, which was found in general Gorings Chamber, which was sent to him by his Father the Lord Goring. Die Sabathii, 27. Maii. 1643. ORdered by the Lords& Commons in Parl. that public Thanksgiving be to Morrow the ●8 of this instant May, given in all the Churches and chapels of London and Westminster, Borough of southwark, suburbs and places adjacent, for the great and good success it hath pleased God to give the Forces under the Command of the Lord Fairefax, at the taking in of Wakefield; and that the Letters relating that good success, be red in the said Churches and chapels. John Brown clear, Parliamentor. May 29. Printed for John Wright, in the Old Bayley. 1643. The Introduction. WHereas it hath ●oo often been seen, that in a great appearance of outward means, we are over confident, and in the smallness or dimination of the same, we are too ●ow a●d 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 contra●y Lesson, to walk by faith and not by sight, hath often wrought and given great Victories, by 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 di●advantage and inequality a far less num●er, even less by half, overc●mming a greater in a fortified town, and the pe●sons ●aken, for exceeding in n●mber those that took them▪ and all this not with the l●sse of ten persons. As this c●lls for the eye of Faith spiritually to dis●erne the great Powe● and goodness of G●d, which gives the advantage of Victory ●n the side of the disadvantage in outward force; so it calls upon us to maintain& 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 ought to confirm our Exp●ctations for the future, so both now and hereafter, when Gods 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 onely to bound itself in words, or in short thoughts and intentions, but it should especially be expressed in a ●earty 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 Pr●phanations. And having given all the glory to God it is next just and commendable to take notice of those whom God hath vou●hsafed to use in his service, as to encourage them in Gods work, and that Cause, which G●d doth maintain by his own mighty and out-stretched arm, thus made good in this extraordinary both Deliverance and Victory. For my Honourable Friend William Lenthall Esq; Speaker in the Commons House of Parliament. SIR, VPon 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 earl of Newcastle had possessed himself both of Rotheram and Sheffeld, the Forces in Rotheram held out two dayes siege, and yielded up the town upon treaty, wherein it was agreed, that the town should not be plundered, and that all the Gentlemen, Commanders, and Souldiers,( six only excepted, that were specially name) leaving their Arms, should have free liberty to go whether they pleased; But when the Enemy entred, contrary to their Articles, they have not only plundered the town, but have also made all the Commanders and Souldiers prisoners, and do endeavour to constrain them to take up Arms on their party. The Commanders at Sheffeld, hearing of the loss of Rotheram, and seeing some of the Enemies Forces advanced in view of the town, they all presently disserted 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 earl 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 Knaresborough, 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, three troops and some other Forces, of which many were French came from that Garrison, and pillaged Otley, and there barbarously used some honest women of that town, and in their retreat to Kn●resborough, upon the open forest 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 montainous barren Country, the people now begin to be sensible of want, their last year provisions being spent, and the Enemies Garrisons stoping 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 mea●es to relive 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 the Army itself, it is so far in arrear, 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 Garrisons in Leeds, Bradford, Hallifax, and Howley, some horse, foot, and Dragooneers, in all about 1500 men, and sent them against Wakefield, commanded by my son, and assisted by mayor general Gifford, sir Henry Fowles, 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, sergeant mayor 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 Souldiers, went on with undaunted courages, and notwithstanding the thick volleys of small and great shot from the Enemies) charged up to their work; which they entred, seized upon their Ordnance, and turned them upon themselves, and pursued the Enemy so close as they beat quiter out 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 4. pieces 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 souldiers, in all about fifteen hundred men, and twenty seven Colours of Foot, three Cornets of Horse, of which I sand a more particular list 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 sand you enclosed for your better information, and truly for my part I do rather account it a miracle, than a Victory, and the glory& praise to be ascribed to God that wrought it, in which I hope I derogate nothing from the merits of the Commanders and souldiers, who every man in his place and duty, shewed 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 prisoners, so they left the place and marched away with their booty. In taking the town wee lost no man of no●e, 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 shot 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 be 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 cronwell, 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 souldiers, 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 withall, some course must be thought on to furnish some large proportion of money to defray the Souldiers Ar●ears, which I beseech you endeavour for them and me, that am Leeds 23 May, 1643. Your most affectionate Friend and servant, far. FAIRFAX. I sand you 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 theit 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 Fairefax commanded in chief; The Foot were commanded by sergeant mayor general Giff●rd, 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 fowls; 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 Enemies Troops lay with some D●agooners; 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 shoemakers, into the Town, and assaulted 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 entred 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 allured, Brother to captain allured, a Member of the House; yet in the Market place their stood three Troops of Horse, and colonel Lamptous Regiment, to whom mayor 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 fel in upon them, beat them out of the Town, and took al these Officsrs expressed in this enclosed list Twenty seven Colours of foot, three Corners of Ho●se, and about 1500 Common Souldiers. The enemy had in the Town 3000 Foot, and seven Troops of Horse besides colonel Lamptons Regiment, which came into the Town, after w had entred the Town: The enemy left behind them four pieces of Ordnance, with ammunition, which we brought away. Thomas Fairfax. Henry fowls. John Gifford. William Fairfax, John Holman. Robert fowls. Titus Leighton. Francis talbot. Prisoners Commanders taken at Wakefield, May 21. 1643. general Goring. Sir Thomas Bland, Lieutenant colonel to Sir George Wentworth. Lieutenant Col. St. George. Lieutenant Col. Mackmoyler. Sergeant mayor Car, captain Car. Capt. Knight. Capt. Wildbore. Capt. Rudstone. Capt. Pemberton. captain Croft. Capt. Ledgard. Capt. Lashsly. Capt Kailey. Capt. Nuttall. Capt. Lieutenant Benson. Sergeant mayor Carnaby, and Capt. Nuttall left wounded in Wakefield, upon their engagements to be true Prisoners. Lieutenants. Mouckton Thomas. Wheateley. Kent. Nicholson. ensigns. Squire. Vavasour. Maskew. Lampton. ducat. Stockhald. Baldwinson. Davis. Car Gibson. Smaythwait. Ballinson. Watson. smelled. Haliburton. Cornet Wivel. AFter this Letter was concluded our men took Wakefield, of which I sand a particular Relation enclosed, and a List of the Prisoners and other Booty taken; If we had now any Force of Horse to join with 〈◇〉, 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 are directed, to Plunder, and take mens Estates, so as they account for the moiety of the profit to His M●jesty; 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 advertisements 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 toi●, the latter way of dividing his Force, unless it be in the County where he will abide himself, this will be tr●ed to morrow at his return hither, where the queen expects him. In the interim, if it were possible to give ●he 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 ●airefax never believed you would look into the Parts where you now 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 betwixt Bradford and Leedes, you will so annoy, devert, and separate them in all their designs, as you may be sure to carry Hallifax and Bradford on that hand, or Leedes on the other. Take this to heart, and let general King, with my humble service know thus 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 advice 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 hers and the Kings present occasions or else leave this country naked to the Tyranny of the merciless enemy, contrary to contract, and all due Iustice. This is the opinion of others, far better able to advice then he that so hearty prays for you, and is Yours Gorcing. cudgel them to a Treaty, and then let us alone with the rest. york▪ 17▪ april, 1643, FINIS.