THE COPPIE OF A LETTER From Sir Thomas Fairfax his Quarters to the Parliament, concerning the great Battell betweene Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX and Goring at Langport on Thurſday the 10. of July 1645.
Where were ſlaine,
300. Dead upon the place.
Many caried to Bridgewater.
Taken priſoners.
Taken beſides.
L. Gen. Cromwells ſpeech in the head of the Armie.
2. Garriſons taken from them.
A liſt of the Chiefeſt Commanders on our ſide, that were killed: or wounded.
And in what manner the Enemies are diſperſed into their ſeverall quarters.
Alſo how Maior Generall Maſſey the day before tooke Lievetenant Generall Porter, Lievetenant Generall of Gorings Horſe
And the Enemie purſued to Bridgewater, and all the paſſages blockt up both by land and water.
Appointed to be Printed, and pubiſhed according to Order.
Printed By Barnard Alſop, and Iane Coe.
AN account I gave you in my laſt, of our Affairs till yeſterday, I left Goring with his whole Army, at Langport; ſince they be pleaſed to take a ſhort account of our Actions, yeaſterday wee advanced to Sutton, drawing out that part of our Army which we had into Sutton Field, the reſt being foure thouſand five hundred Horſe and Dragoones (at the leaſt) under the command of Major Gen. Maſsy, were on the other ſide of the river, & thoſe 8 regiments of Foot which we had at Nasby field,2 were alſo quartered at Martock to M•ſſey advanced with his hor•ſe, and Dragoones, having foot to back them to North-ca•ry (being ordered to ſtreighten the enemies quarters, and to hinder them from any plundering exerciſe; It ſeems 500 of them being upon a deſign out, and having no intelligence of his being in motion, was ſurpriſed being in a careleſſe poſture; fell on them: being (as I take it) 9 Colours, 200 priſoners, and about 250 ho•ſe ▪ ſlew about 30 ▪ wee in the meane time were drawn up within a mile of Lang-port, with thoſe horſe and foot the Generall had with him, not knowing of his engagement. And there being 3 Rivers between him, and us, and the way almoſt twelve miles march, the laſt might wee quartered at Sutton, and this morning by three of the clock, drew out into Sutton field, having with us but ſeven Regiments of horſe; viZ. The Generalls (formerly called Lievtenant Generall Crumwels) Whalleyes Varmodeus, Grac•ſoes, Rich, Fleetwoods, and Butlers, which were not in all 2000 horſe, of foot we had all, but the Muskettiers of three Regiments, having ſent for them the laſt night from Matlock, early in the morning the enemies appeared in the field, and about 7 a clock they had made themſelves maſters of a p•ſſe which lay in the midſt between our body and theirs, had lined the hedges between us and them, with at leaſt 2000 muskettiers; ſo that the paſſage to them was extream dangerous, being ſo ſtreight, that four horſe could hardly paſſe abreſt, and that up to the belly in water; they lying ſo in flanks and fronts to receive us. In that poſture they ſtood till nigh eleven of the clock, having in the interim ſent away moſt of their Traine, and Baggage, led horſe and other lumber, to Bridgwater; being reſolved to make good their retreat thither, which they conceived they could, having ſuch an advantageous paſſe thither; we underſtanding their intentions by ſome Scouts, and other countrymen, reſolved to charge them; and accordingly drew down a commanded party of muskettiers to beat them from the hedges, which was done with gallant reſolution; advancing the ſame time with two Regiments of horſe into the lane, all that we could draw up in the front was but a3 ſingle troop, and that comm•nded by Bethell, the enemy ſtanding ready with 3 bodies of horſe, of about 1000 to charge him, he with a ſingle troop charged and broke two of their diviſions, of about 400 received the charge of the third diviſion both in front and flank, was ſomewhat overborne at laſt, and forced to retire to the Generals Reg ment, which was about 100 yards behind D borrough, with the Generals troop ſheltred him by his flank to rally, and charge up himſelfe with about 200 horſe of the Generals Regiment, diſpoſeſt the enemy and ſet them all a running, gained freedome by it for all our horſe and foot, to draw into bodies, ſent the enemy running, not being able to endure another charge, the Generall, Lievtenant Generall, and ſome other officers upon the hill, beholding the gallant charges commended it, for the moſt excellent peece of ſervice that ever was in England, we had them in chaſe almoſt to Bridg-water, having put them to the clean rout, that ever any enemy were put to; what the number of the ſlain be I cannot tell you, being ſearſe come from the chaſe. The priſoners come in already are 900. and I conceive there will come in as many as will make 2000. and 12000 horſe at the leaſt; for Colours I am uncertaine, I dare ſay at leaſt 40. the Armes at leaſt 4000. 2 peece of Ordnance I ſaw, and divers carriages of Ammunition, and to make it a compleat victory, he purſued the enemy through Langport, having gained the Garriſon, and though they fired the town juſt at the Bridge, to hinder the chaſe, yet we followed the victory through the fire, the ſucceſſe of this victory muſt be aſcribed next unto God) to the good conduct of the Generall, and Crumwels following the chaſe through Langpord, where he himſelfe paſſed through the fire flaming on both ſides of him. The enemy cryed out, they are now utterly undone, and that the King muſt now goe into Ireland. This victory was opportune, In regard, had they ſtayed but three dayes longer, Goring would have had a reinforcement of ſix thouſand horſe and foot from Greenffeld and the King, they being tranſporting their forces as faſt as can be to Mainhead, Watchhead, and Uphill, there being 1500 that landed at Uphill,2 came to Bridgewater yeſterday. Sir, this is all at preſent from your affectionate and humble ſervant.
LangportJuly 10. 7 at night.
On wedneſday the ninth of July 1645. there were 1500 of the enemies commanded by Liutenant generall Porter, who lay at Aberſile, on whom Major generall Maſsy fell before the Enemy were aware of it; with Colonell Maſsy were Lieutenant Bull, Maior Sanderſon, Colonel VVeb, and ſome other officers, who with the common ſouldiers behaved themſelves gallantly, the enemy about 3 of the clock grazing their horſes, and having made works about Aberſile Church, and in exceeding good quarters, little thinking Maſſy ſo neer, had ſet a ſmall guard of foot at the towns end, Major generall Maſſy drew his men into two diviſions, for each end of the town one, himſelfe commanded one, and Capt. Gutredge the other, which was but aſmall party: for C. Maſſy commanded the main body himſelfe, Maſsies men marched with green boughes in their hats, C. Gutridge comming to the towns end, found the hedges lined with Muskettiers at the ſouthweſt end of the town, Cap. Franſway, a Dutch Captain, commanded a party to fall on the one ſide of the ambuſcadors, and Capt. Gutredge on the other. The Dutch Captain when he was charged by the enemy, began to face about, which impeded Capt. Gutredges proſecution of the buſines, yet the reſt of the officers and ſouldiers, with the wiſdome of Capt. Gutredge, ended the buſineſſe ſo well, that they beat up their ambuſcadors for all that, and drove them quite away: in the mean time Maior Gere all Maſſy marched up to the other ſide of the Town, Colonell Cook having the command of the forlorn hope, who in like manner had lined the hedges at that end of the town, and Col: Maſsy with Co: Cook and the reſt, raiſed them, and thoſe with the reſt at the other end of town, followed ſo hard upon the enemy, that they drove3 them all from the town, purſuing them within two miles of Langport, and took many Armes in Aberſoile. Maior Generall Maſſys word was VVales, the enemy ſtaid not give any word at all. On Thurſday the tenth of Iuly Sir Tho: Fairfax marched toward the enemy, diſcovered them when hee was with his body by the windmils, between Lamport and Summerton, the enemy were then on the Hills in Lamport field about two mile and a half off, the water being between them. About eleven of the clock they drew out, and about one of the clock Maior Bethel charged the enemy: the fight was very hot, and laſted about two hours, about 3 of the clock Goring was got himſelfe into Bridgewater, Prince Charles bein gone from thence before, and the Lord Hopton with him to Barnſtable with three Troops of Horſe, to raiſe what forces they could in thoſe parts, to ioyne wi•h thoſe which were to come from Greenvill. Rupert was gone to the King before alſo to ſend what ſtrength he could to ioyn with them, and Greenvils horſe, as appeared afterwards, were then upon their march toward Goring, and alſo Sir John Barkley was before drawn off, upon ſome diſcontent or other towards Exceter, but, is beleeved, returning with Greenvill. Sir Thomas Aſton was then with Goring, who hath a regiment in which are good ſtore of Papiſtr, but hee ranne away like a baſe Coward. and the greateſt part of his Regiment are taken, of which the poore county men are not a little glad, for they have been extream cruell in plundering. Sir Lewis Dives was then in Sherburn, it ſeems he loves a garriſon better then the field, and holds it more ſecure. The Cavaliers ſeem to be very ſorrowful for their loſſes, we perceive by them, that they have loſt ſome conſiderable men, but will not be known who they are.
Sir Thomas Fairfax quartered that night at Oller, ſour miles from Bridgwater, Maior Generall Maſſy is ioyned with him, where he blocked up that ſide of their garriſon, Lieutenant Generall Crowell making a ſpeech in the head of the Army, declaring how the enemies paſſage by water might be ſtopped up, whereupon a party of 1500 horſe and Dragoons were ſent to block up the weſt ſide for the ſame purpoſe
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