THere are divers Letters come to certifie this action, and the Particulars thereof; both from Sir John Brown (the Commander in Chief who did the action) to Generall Les­ley; And also from Generall Lesley to the Scotch Commissioners: As also, from di­vers other Officers and Gentlemen. The substance of which Letters are as followeth.

Viz.
The Lord Digby, and Sir Marmaduke Langdale, having sent to Bolton, and others of their party in Lancashire, and Cumberland, and other places to come to them, and joyne [Page 2] in their march towards Scotland, where they intended to joyn with Montrosse; marched from Skipton Northward, and in­deavoured to have passed by Kirby Lunsdale, where Collonel Briggs having intelligence of their design, made good a passe against them, whereby he forced them to turn by the way of the sands about Partmake to get into Cumberland, their chiefe guide being Sir William Huddleston, who engaged what party he could to their assistance, and brought them to Millum Castle his own house upon the Sea coasts.

About which time there was some foure or five ships seen upon those coasts, and thereupon conceived that they were laden with Irish to joyne with Digby about White-H [...]ven, but they proved some of our own Navy. It seemes that Dig­bies design was to have gone into Scotland, to have joyned with Montrosse; which design, he (it seems was much encouraged in, by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and Sir William Huddleston) who is growne so great a man with Digby of late, that he is confident to be added to the new moddell of Lords.

Thus by their activity they had gotten together about one thousand horse under the command of the Lord Digby, and Sir Marmaduke Langdale, and with them were upon their march towards Montrosse.

Lieutenant General David Lesley with about two thousand was upon his advance towards them, and lay between them and Montrosse, to hinder their conjunction with Digby; in the mean while the well affected Gentry of Cumberland were forced to flye for their security; the enemy plundering, and u­sed great cruelty all the way as they passed: insomuch that the country people made a great acclamation against them.

Generall Lesley sent out a Brigade of about 1 [...]00 horse, under the command of Major Generall Van-druske, to pursue the enemy; and a Regiment of English horse also were desig­ned [Page 3] after them to gaine a passe, in case the enemy came back to hinder their retreats.

Major Generall Van-drusk with the Scots Brigade pursued the enemy so close, that they discovered them in their march, and endeavoured to force them to engage, which the enemy endeavoured to avoyd, Major Generall Van-drusk divided his men, and made good s [...]verall passes, but by reason of the lownesse of the tide, Digby and Langdale got away over the Fords by reason of the lownesse of the water; over which, Van drusk followed them, the enemy fled over another water, and so over three or four severall places one after another so long, till the flowing of the Sea came in after they had passed the last Ford, and before Van drusk could with his body get over, the water were swelled too high to pursue further; whereby Digby got an opportunity with his forces to escape them.

In the mean while the Lord Balmers [...]oth with what forces he could raise out of the Frontiers of Scotland prepared to oppose Digby, who with his party (Digby it seems having intelligence thereof, that) occasioned his retreat, and so whee­ling about escaped his forces, and it avoided ingagement at that time, but all this while Digby increased, and ga­thered forces; and was 1000 at the least, and committed many outrages, and villanous plunderings with his men in all places where he came, sparing neither friend nor foe; yet all this while Digby and Langdale avoided all our forces and it seems had guides that were very perfect in the waies where he was to march, if that he escaped every partee all this while; but yet we me [...] with him afterwards with a small partee, but yet it pleased God to make them so [...]arte powerfull against tuem, as to rour and spoile them.

Sir Iohn Brown, a very gallant active man, undertooke [Page 4] with a small party of betweene 4. and 500. to seeke out Dig­by and his nimble brigade, that had so many quirkes, and turnings, and if it were possible to force them to engage which he performed with great wisdome, and valour.

S [...]r Iohn Brown divided his smal party, about 150 were sent to make good a passe, whilst the rest being not above 300: marched out towards the enemy, Sir Iohn Brown having then Intelligence that the Lord Digby; Sir Marmaduke Langdale and the rest, in number about 1000. were about Carlisle sands, whether he hasted after them, and Digby (it seemes) had In­telligence of forces coming against him, but (it is prob [...]ble he knew not the number, for he) fled from them, neerer to the sea, whether Sir Iohn Brown followed them, and it pleased God to give him an opportunity to fall on the enemy the thing that Sir Iohn much desired, and the tide being up, Sir Iohn Brown gained a passe, which is a kind of passe over a place which we got and made good, though he was so few, and the enemie so many, yet Sir Iohn Brown was resolved to engage, and to runne that hazard, trusting in Gods alsufficiency, and accordingly drew up.

But Sir Iohn Browne, being willing to hazard his own per­son, yet he sent away his Cullers to Generall Leshly; with some other things that could not do much help but hinder the fight; and sent word to Generall Leshly; what a resolution he had to force Digby to engage, and what an opportunity he had to do it, which though so few, yet with those he had he would runne the hazard, his number being then not full 300. but well mo [...]nted, and Armed.

Vpon their approach the Lord Digby tooke an alarme in his quarters, and understanding that the party were but small, drew into a posture to fight with them, and Sir Iohn Digby divided his forces into two bodyes, one of which stayed with [Page 5] him, and the other Commanded by Sir Marmaduke Lang­dale; Digby stayed with his party, and Langdales came up to­wards Sir Iohn Brown, and they faced each other awhile, the enemy being then surrounded by the waters.

Sir Iohn Brown sent Captaine Leshly on the forlone hope, who drew up; and being met by the enemie charged them ve­ry gallantly, the reserve charged up to him seasonably with Sir Iohn Brown; and all of them in their severall places, (ac­cording to their degrees) did all very much and in short time, break through their body and routed them▪ Their reserv [...] some of them came up, but most fled; And in this action Sir Iohn Brown himselfe deported himselfe with as much gal­lantry as any man in the world could do, the whole body being not discouraged, though in number so much overmatched.

For the particulars of those was killed, and taken, I re­ferre you to the list, where all the perticulars are certified, ac­cording to Sir Iohn Browns own letter.

The Lord Digby had a very cleere rout as ever was given to any; The Lord Digby himselfe with Sir Marmaduke Lang­dale, and others of his cheefe officers that escaped fled over to the Ile of man in a cock boate; the Ile of man is a malignant Iland betweene Cumberland and Ierland; the Earle of Derby is the Governour thereof for the King: and of others that es­caped, there are divers taken straglers, and their horse, and armes, but in a body there are none heard of, saue only about 200, that are fled towards Bolton; and a party are sent to stopp them from getting in thereto, if they can, but of them that are fled that way of the enemies, many of them are sore woun­ded.

It is beleeved that the Lord Digby and Sir Marmaduke Langdale will passe over into Ireland, Sir Iohn Brown is shot, but is able to sit on his horse-back.