Fairfax be honoured by good men, and be had in perpetual remembrance. Your Lordship had the good fortune to be born after the storms and tempests of that age: but you have had the honour to appear eminently in defence of our religion, and civil rights, in this last happy revolution, as your noble predecessor did at the restoration. A SHORT MEMORIAL OF The Northern Actions in which I was engaged, during the War there, FROM THE YEAR 1642, TO THE YEAR 1644. 415 IN gratitude to God for his many mercies and deliver ances, and not to deprive myself of the comfort of their remembrance, I fhall set down, as they come into my mind, those things wherein I have found the wonderful assistance of God to me in the time of war in the North; though not in that methodical and polished manner as might have been done, being intended only for my own satisfaction, and help of my memory. Ferdinando, Lord! the side of the Par My father was call'd-forth by the importunity of his Country to join with them in their own defence, which Sir Thomas Fairfax was confirmed by a Commission from the Parliament. (the author of this The first action we had was at Bradford. We were Memorial,) at the about three hundred men, the enemy seven or eight hun- head of 500 men on dred, and two pieces of ordnance. They assaulted us; liament, repulses a out close to the town to receive them; they had the ad- body of 700 Royalvantage of the ground, the town being encompassed with ists, at Bradford. In hills, which exposed us more to their cannon, from which we received some hurt; but our men defended those passages by which they were to descend, so well, that they got no ground of us; and now the day being spent, they drew-off; and retired to Leeds. A few days after, Captain Hotham with three troops of horse, and some dragoons, came to us: then we marched to Leeds; but the enemy, having notice of it, quitted the town, and in haste fled to York. We January 1642-43. We advanced to Tadcaster, eight miles from York, that we might have more room, and be less burthensome to our friends; and being increased to one thousand men, it was thought fit that we should keep the Pass at We therby, for the securing of the West-Riding, or the greatest part of it; from whence our chief supplies came. I was sent to Wetherby with three hundred foot, and forty horse; the enemy's next design from York, was to fall upon my quarters there, being a place very open, and easy for them to assault, there being so many back. ways, and friends enough to direct them, and give them intelligence. About six a clock one morning they fell upon us with eight hundred horse and foot, the woods thereabout favouring them so much, that our scouts had no effect or notice of them, and no alarm was given till they were ready to enter the town: which they might easily do, the guards being all asleep in houses; for in the begin ning of the war, men were as impatient of duty, as they were ignorant of it. I myself was only on horseback, and going-out to the other end of the town to Tadcaster, where my father lay, when one came running after me, and told me the enemy was entering the town; I presently galloped to the Court of Guard, where I found not above four men at their arms, as I remember *, two Serjeants and two Pikemen, who stood with me when Sir Thomas Clenham, with about six or seven commanders more, charged us; and after a short, but sharp encounter, they retired, in which one Major Carr was slain; and by this time more of the guards where got to their arms. I must confess, I knew no strength but the powerful Hand of God that gave them this repulse. After this they made another attempt, in which Captain Atkinson (on our part) was slain and here again there fell-out another remarkable providence ;During this conflict, our Magazine was blown-up. This struck such a terror into the enemy, believing we had cannon (which they were before informed we had not,) that they instantly retreated; and though I had but a few horse, we pursued the enemy some miles, and took many pri soners: soners: we lost about eight or ten men, whereof seven were blown-up with powder; the enemy lost many more. At this time the Earl of Cumberland commanded the forces in Yorkshire for the King; he, being of a peaceable nature and affable disposition, had but few enemies; or, rather, because he was an enemy to few, he did not suit with their present condition. Their apprehensions and fears caused them to send to the Earl of Newcastle, (who had an army of six thousand men,) to desire his assistance, whereof he assured them by a speady march to York. Being now encouraged by this increase of force, they resolved to fall upon Tadcaster. My father drew all his men thither; but, in a Council of War, the town was judged untenable, and that we should draw-out to an advantageous piece of ground, by the town; but, before we could all march out, the enemy advanced so fast, that we were necessitated to leave some foot in a slight work above the Bridge, to secure our retreat; but the enemy pressing on us, forced us to draw-back, to maintain that ground. caster. We had about nine hundred men, the enemy above A battle near Tadfour thousand, who in Brigades drew-up close to the works, and stormed us Our men reserved their shot, till they came near, which they did then dispose-of to so good purpose, that the enemy was forced to retire, and The Royalists are reshelter themselves behind the hedges. And here did pulsed. the first flight continue from eleven o-clock at noon, till five in the night, with cannon and musquet, without in termission. They had once possessed a house by the bridge, which would have cut us from our reserves that were in the town: but Major-general Gifford, with a commanded party, beat them out again, where many of the enemy were slain, and taken prisoners. They attempted at another place, but were repulsed by Captain Lister, who was there slain; a great loss, being a discrete gentleman. By this time it grew dark, and the enemy drew-off into the fields hard by, with intention, to assault us the next Sir Thomas Fairfax and his little army march to Selby; and, three days after, They left that night above two hundred dead and wounded upon the place. But, our ammunition being all spent in this day's fight, we drew-off that-night and marched to Selby, and the enemy entered the next morn. ing into the town. Thus, by the mercy of God, were a few delivered from an army, who in their thoughts had swallowed us up. The Earl of Newcastle now lay betwixt us and our friends in the West-Riding; but, to assist and encourage them, I was sent, with about three hundred foot, and three troops of horse, and some arms, to Bradford: I was to go by Ferry-bridge, our intelligence being that the enemy was advanced no further than Sherburne; but when I was within a mile of the town, we took some prisoners, who told us, my lord of Newcastle lay at Pontefract, eight hundred men in Ferry bridge, and the rest of the army in all the towns thereabout: so that our advance or retreat seemed alike difficult. Little time being allowed us to consider, we resolved to retreat to Selby: three or four hundred horse of the enemy shewed themselves in rear, without making any attempt upon us, so that, by the goodness of God, we got safe to Selby. Three days after this, upon better intelligence how the they go to Bradford. enemy lay, with the same number as before, I marched in the night by several towns where they lay, and came the next day to Bradford, a town very untenable, but for their good affection to us, deserving all we could ha zárd for them. Our first work then was to fortifie ourselves; for we could not but expect an assault. There lay at Leeds fifteen hundred of the enemy, and twelve hundred at Wakefield, neither place above six or seven miles distant from us. They visited us every day with their horse, ours not going far from the town, being very unequal in number: yet the enemy seldom returned without loss, till at last our few men grew so bold, and theirs so dis heartened, that they durst not stir a mile from their garrisons. Whilst these daily skirmishes were among the hoise, I thought it necessary to strengthen ourselves with more foot; I summoned the country, who had by this time more liberty to come to us. I presently armed them with |