A BLOVDY FIGHT AT Pontefract Castle IN YORK-SHIRE ON Sunday morning last, between the Kings Forces, and the Parliaments; Shewing, the manner how they sallyed out of the Castle with 400. Horse and Foot, fell upon the Parliaments Guards, beat them out of their Works, ruined a Troop of horse, and routed two Guards of Foot.
WITH The full particulars of the said Fight, a List of the number killed and taken prisoners; and a great Blow given by the most loyall Patriot to His King and Country, renowned Col. Rainsborough.
ALSO, Another bloudy Fight neer the City of York, 30 killed upon the place, and one hundred taken prisoners. And an unexpected Victory obtained by the Royalists neer Newark upon Trent.
Printed in the Year, 1648.
A BLOUDY FIGHT IN THE NORTH
Between The Kings Forces in
Pomfret Castle, and the Parliamentters, their routing of the Horse guard, and carrying severall prisoners into the Castle.
ON Friday last the Kings Forces fallied out of the Castle with a strong party of Horse and foot, and fell upon our Horse and Foot [Page 2]Guards neer the lower Church, with such undanted courage, that they soon surprized many of the Souldiery, beating them off from their Works, and seizing upon their Arms, still embracing the pursuiz, till they came almost to the Market place, thinking to have become sole Conquerors of the Besiegers, and indeed had indangered the raising of the siege, had not Collonell Rainsborough appeared in the nick of time, who charged the enemies chief Body, consisting of seventy horse and one hundred foot, disputed the place with exceeding gallantry, but they were most puissantly received by the other party, who charged the Collonel in an excellent Military Posture, some of their musquetiers flanking the horse, the rest firing in the Van of them, and wheeling off betwixt the Files.
During which dispute, divers fell on both sides, and at last Colonell Rainsborough fore't his passage thorow their Body of Horse, which caused them to retreat in a very disorderly manner, most of the Foot being left ingaged.
The Colonel pursued them to the very Castle gates where a morter-piece charged with Granadoes were fired at them, which did some execution: whereupon they were remanded back to a further distance, insomuch that the Enemy attempted another salley, thinking to carry off their wounded men, but being sore galled with our musquetiers, retreated in again, and left them to the mercy of our souldiers, who brought them prisoners into the high town, procured Chyrurgeons to dresse their wounds, and after examination were committed to safe custody.
In this Conflict we lost about 20 men, one gallant Troop of Horse totally ruined, the Captain Lieutenant, the Cornet, and about thirty Troopers taken prisoners.
Of the enemies side were slain, neer upon fifteen, and twenty of their Foor souldiers, a Lientenant and eight troopers taken.
Colonell Bonivant who commanded the Van of the Enemies Horse, was shot in the left arme, Since which time he hath made another salley forth of the Castle, and killed ten of our men upon the place; and often times adventures ten or twelve miles into the Country and bring in the Gentry thereof prisoners, and other Booty and provision, without any opposition: So that this siege is managed very absurdly, if not treacherously, for the enemies forces are exceedingly increased within; but dare not take their progresse as formerly, being limited to a narrower distance, since the conjnnction of our Forces with Colonell Rainsborough.
This morning they attempted another salley Captain Huddleston commanding in chief, our foot guards received them, and gave them a volley; which was answered again by the Enemies Foot: and after some dispute the enemy retreated; but being within Command of their Canon, durst not follow the pursuit; so that they re-possessed themselves of their Sanctuary with the losse of five men: on our part were slain two and three wounded. The great Ordnance from their severall Towres doth very much annoy us, doing execution on our men as they lye in their Forts and trenches, &c.
Pontefract Vpper-town 20 Octob. 1648.
A new Remonstrance.
VVHereas the Lawes of God, Man, and Nature justifie the people in opposing, fighting against, and imprisoning of Kings, who act contrary to their Oaths, and the trust imposed on them by the people; and that the same Lawes as much justifie them in opposing the power of Parliament, when they betray their trust, in pleading the interest, and justifying the cause of such princes, joyn with them to levy war against the poor people, whose Trustees they are only and by whose Votes and Election tdey sit in Parliament, to preserve, and not to destroy them, to condemn, and not justifie their Enemies, who have been drunk with the bloud of Saints, and have confest themselves guilty of the bloud of three hundred thousand soules that have perished by war in the three Kingdoms.
So that by this, the Reader may cleerly discern the inference of the free born people of England upon the whole, resolving to tosse their Ball amongst the Presbyterians, (that so each judgment may catch at it) wherein is wound up severall undeniable Arguments as followeth.
- 1. That the King may erre, notwithstanding the maxim in the Law, Lex non potest errari, [...]y laying illegall taxes upon the people, introducing Popery, and levying War against them.
- 2 That in committing such errours, he falsifies the trust which the people of the Land repose in Him, and then His Commands being unlawfull and destructive, it is lawfull for the people to disohey them: and on the contrary, it is no lesse then sin, and the forfeiture of all the Liberties, [Page 5]Freedoms, and Birth rights of the people to give obedience thereunto.
- 3 That it is lawfull and of necessity for the people to levy war against their King, and all that adhere unto him, for defence of themselves, and preservation of their birthrighte and freedoms, having once broken the trust reposed in Him, and put them out of his protection, by levying war against them, ruling them as a tyrant at his pleasure, and not as a King by the Law of the Nation.
- 4 That it is lawfull for the peoples Truslees in Parliament to declare to the Nation the miscarriages of such a tyrannous Prince, and to state the matters of fact by way of Charge against him.
- 5 That it is a breach of trust in the peoples Trustees, and a great dishonour for the English Nation, to charge the King with such high Crimes, and neither to prove them against him, nor to clear him of them.
- 6 It is a great breach of the Trust, and the Nationall League and Covenant, not to bring Delinquents to condigne punishment, there being no person exempt by the same.
The Demands of the People to the Parliament.
- First, That a Parliament by breach of Covenant, Treaties, and Acts of Parliament, voting and acting against the Covenant, and siding with, and pleading the interest of the enemies thereof, and of that Nation for which they are Trustees may erre.
- Secondly, that by breach thereof they have forfeited their trusts to the people for whom they serve, and by whom they were elected.
- Thirdly, that it is lawfull fog the people of that Nation to levy war against them, for the maintenance of their [Page 6]lives and freedoms, which that parliament endeaxours to give to their enemies, and make them and their posterity slaves for ever.
- The said party doth further declare, That they desire to be governed by a King, but such a Prince who shall be governed by the Laws of his people; and in case he acts contrary to the said Lawes, to be as liable to the punishment thereof, as the poorest Commoner or subject whatsoever.
Letters from the North further say, That Col. Sanders Regiment hath lately fallen upon 200 of the dispersed Cavalry in Gilsland beyond York, and after a bloudy fight routed them, killed 30. and took 80 prisoners, with the lose of 15 men.
And from Newark upon Trent it is likewise said, that a party of the Parliamenteers riding from thence toward Nottingham, were set upon by a Company of Royalists, and being three to one became victorious, killed two, disarmed the rest, and so hasted towards Belvoir Castle, where a party of the Lord Grey's horse are pursuing them.
Newark 21 Octob. 1648.