







 
   
     
       
         A true relation concerning the late fight at Torrington between the forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the forces under the command of Lord Hopton and others : sent in a letter to the Honorable William Lenthal Esq., speaker of the Honorable House of Commons, and by him appointed to be forthwith printed and published.
         Rushworth, John, 1612?-1690.
      
       
         This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A57927 of text R25118 in the  English Short Title Catalog (Wing R2334A). Textual changes  and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more  computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life.  The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with  MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish.  This text has not been fully proofread 
       Approx. 11 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images.
       
         EarlyPrint Project
         Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO
         2017
         A57927
         Wing R2334A
         ESTC R25118
         08769391
         ocm 08769391
         41763
         
           
            This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of
             Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal
            . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.
          
        
      
       
         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A57927)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 41763)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1268:12)
      
       
         
           
             A true relation concerning the late fight at Torrington between the forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the forces under the command of Lord Hopton and others : sent in a letter to the Honorable William Lenthal Esq., speaker of the Honorable House of Commons, and by him appointed to be forthwith printed and published.
             Rushworth, John, 1612?-1690.
             Lenthall, William, 1591-1662.
          
           8 p.
           
             Printed for Edward Husband,
             London :
             1645.
          
           
             Signed and dated: J.R., Feb. 17.
             Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Great Britain -- History -- Civil War, 1642-1649 -- Sources.
        
      
    
       A57927  R25118  (Wing R2334A).  civilwar no A true relation concerning the late fight at Torrington, between the forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the forces under th Rushworth, John 1646    2084 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 B  The  rate of 5 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the B category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 
        2003-01 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
        2003-02 SPi Global
        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2003-03 John Latta
        Sampled and proofread
      
        2003-03 John Latta
        Text and markup reviewed and edited
      
        2003-04 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
       
       
         
           A
           True
           RELATION
           Concerning
           the
           late
           Fight
           at
           Torrington
           ,
           Between
           the
           Forces
           under
           the
           command
           of
           Sir
           
             Thomas
             Fairfax
             ,
          
           and
           the
           Forces
           under
           the
           command
           of
           the
           Lord
           
             Hopton
          
           and
           others
           .
        
         
           SEnt
           in
           a
           Letter
           to
           the
           Honorable
           
             William
             Lenthal
          
           
             Esq
          
           Speaker
           of
           the
           Honorable
           House
           of
           
             Commons
             ,
          
           and
           by
           him
           appointed
           to
           be
           forthwith
           printed
           and
           published
           :
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           
             Edward
             Husband
             ,
          
           Printer
           to
           the
           Honorable
           House
           of
           Commons
           .
           Feb.
           20.
           1645.
           
        
      
    
     
       
       
       
         
           To
           the
           Honorable
           
             William
             Lenthal
          
           
             Esq
          
           Speaker
           of
           the
           Honorable
           House
           of
           Commons
           .
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           SAturday
           
             Febr.
          
           14.
           the
           army
           marched
           from
           
             Crediton
          
           and
           the
           Quarters
           thereabout
           to
           
             Chimleigh
             ,
          
           being
           ten
           miles
           ,
           the
           day
           very
           rainy
           ,
           and
           the
           way
           very
           deep
           ;
           Sunday
           they
           marched
           very
           early
           to
           a
           Rendezvouz
           some
           two
           miles
           in
           the
           way
           to
           
             Torrington
             ,
          
           with
           intention
           to
           have
           gone
           on
           ;
           but
           our
           parties
           of
           our
           Horse
           bringing
           in
           some
           Prisoners
           ▪
           by
           whose
           Examinations
           we
           could
           not
           certainly
           learn
           which
           way
           the
           Enemy
           bent
           ,
           the
           certain
           knowledge
           whereof
           would
           mightily
           advantage
           us
           ,
           by
           taking
           the
           benefit
           of
           that
           side
           of
           the
           River
           on
           which
           they
           marched
           ;
           whereupon
           another
           party
           was
           sent
           out
           of
           Col
           :
           
             Butlers
          
           Troop
           ,
           the
           Forlorn
           of
           which
           party
           being
           twelve
           ,
           took
           twelve
           of
           the
           Lord
           
             Gorings
          
           Life-guard
           ,
           and
           twenty
           four
           Horse
           ,
           and
           brought
           them
           to
           the
           General
           ;
           upon
           their
           Examination
           it
           appears
           ,
           the
           Enemy
           was
           ignorant
           of
           our
           Motion
           ;
           That
           they
           were
           drawn
           to
           no
           Rendezvouz
           ;
           That
           the
           Lord
           
             Hopton
          
           was
           in
           
             Torrington
             .
          
           Presently
           after
           there
           came
           a
           Spye
           from
           
             Torrington
             ,
          
           who
           informed
           that
           that
           morning
           he
           left
           the
           Lord
           
             Hopton
          
           there
           ,
           That
           they
           heard
           a
           kinde
           of
           an
           Alarm
           ,
           but
           no
           certain
           Intelligence
           of
           our
           Motion
           .
           And
           being
           informed
           that
           a
           party
           of
           the
           Enemies
           Horse
           was
           at
           
             Burrington
             ,
          
           the
           General
           sent
           a
           party
           of
           Horse
           to
           meet
           with
           them
           ,
           who
           accordingly
           charged
           the
           Enemy
           ,
           put
           them
           to
           a
           Rout
           ,
           shot
           Lieut.
           
           Colonel
           
             Dundash
          
           through
           the
           body
           ,
           and
           took
           several
           prisoners
           ,
           and
           brought
           
             Dundash
          
           three
           miles
           on
           the
           way
           ,
           but
           being
           mortally
           wounded
           ,
           as
           himself
           
           conceived
           ,
           was
           inforced
           to
           leave
           him
           at
           
             Ringash
             ,
          
           a
           Foot
           quarter
           of
           ours
           .
           This
           is
           the
           same
           
             Dundash
          
           that
           ran
           to
           the
           Enemy
           when
           the
           Earl
           of
           
             Essex's
          
           army
           lay
           about
           
             Tame
          
           :
           This
           Lieut.
           
           Colonel
           commanded
           the
           Lord
           of
           
             Clevelands
          
           Brigade
           ;
           the
           party
           of
           Horse
           that
           charged
           
             Dundash
             ,
          
           was
           commanded
           by
           Captain
           
             Barry
          
           of
           Rutlandshire
           ,
           who
           lost
           never
           a
           man
           ;
           but
           only
           his
           Brother
           run
           through
           the
           arm
           ,
           and
           one
           Mr.
           
             Needler
          
           of
           Captain
           
             Knights
          
           troop
           shot
           in
           the
           arm
           ;
           we
           sent
           another
           party
           of
           horse
           towards
           the
           East
           ,
           who
           likewise
           met
           with
           their
           horse
           ,
           and
           took
           three
           prisoners
           and
           some
           horse
           ,
           and
           shot
           Major
           
             Bret
             ,
          
           who
           being
           well
           mounted
           escaped
           ,
           those
           Forces
           confesse
           that
           
             Hopton
          
           was
           ignorant
           of
           our
           motion
           ;
           by
           this
           time
           the
           Bridge
           was
           made
           up
           some
           two
           miles
           off
           Chimleigh
           ,
           the
           which
           the
           Enemy
           had
           broken
           down
           ,
           so
           that
           our
           army
           might
           with
           convenience
           march
           over
           :
           But
           the
           day
           being
           so
           far
           spent
           ,
           it
           was
           not
           held
           fit
           to
           march
           the
           whole
           army
           ,
           so
           three
           Regiments
           of
           horse
           ,
           and
           three
           of
           foot
           marched
           some
           four
           milss
           towards
           the
           enemy
           ;
           that
           night
           the
           rest
           returned
           ro
           
             Chimleigh
          
           with
           orders
           to
           march
           ;
           by
           break
           of
           day
           we
           did
           think
           the
           several
           alarms
           given
           them
           this
           day
           had
           so
           affrighted
           them
           ,
           that
           their
           Resolutions
           would
           have
           been
           taken
           before
           morning
           ,
           whether
           to
           go
           East
           or
           West
           ,
           the
           certain
           knowledge
           whereof
           ,
           was
           the
           thing
           we
           much
           desired
           ,
           and
           would
           guide
           us
           the
           better
           to
           pursue
           our
           designes
           .
           Munday
           
             Febr.
          
           16.
           the
           General
           with
           that
           party
           of
           the
           Army
           that
           was
           at
           
             Chimleigh
             ,
          
           marched
           up
           to
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Army
           to
           
             Ringash
             ,
          
           and
           had
           there
           a
           Rendezvouz
           ;
           and
           afterwards
           ,
           upon
           the
           Moor
           within
           five
           miles
           of
           
             Torrington
          
           bad
           a
           general
           Rendezvouz
           both
           of
           horse
           and
           foot
           ,
           drew
           them
           up
           in
           Battalia
           ,
           and
           so
           marched
           up
           towards
           the
           enemy
           .
           When
           we
           came
           within
           two
           miles
           of
           
             Torrington
             ,
          
           our
           Forlorn
           hope
           of
           horse
           charged
           theirs
           ,
           and
           put
           them
           to
           a
           retreat
           ;
           whereupon
           they
           came
           on
           again
           with
           a
           very
           strong
           party
           ,
           and
           
           put
           ours
           to
           a
           stand
           ;
           the
           reserves
           of
           our
           Forlorn
           being
           come
           up
           ,
           and
           some
           foot
           ,
           forced
           them
           to
           their
           Body
           again
           .
           When
           we
           came
           neer
           
             Squire
             Rolls
          
           his
           house
           ,
           we
           had
           Intelligence
           that
           there
           was
           a
           party
           of
           200
           Firelocks
           and
           Muskettiers
           left
           to
           defend
           that
           place
           ;
           therefore
           the
           Army
           made
           an
           halt
           half
           a
           mile
           in
           the
           Eastside
           thereof
           ,
           till
           the
           Foot
           came
           up
           ;
           which
           the
           enemy
           perceiving
           ,
           as
           they
           might
           easily
           do
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           Hills
           and
           clearnesse
           of
           the
           day
           ,
           quit
           the
           house
           ,
           and
           drew
           their
           Forces
           to
           
             Torrington
          
           :
           Our
           Forlorn
           of
           horse
           and
           foot
           advanced
           to
           
             Squire
             Rolls
          
           his
           house
           ,
           half
           a
           mile
           further
           towards
           
             Torrington
             ,
          
           there
           being
           several
           skirmishes
           in
           the
           narrow
           Lane
           ,
           between
           the
           Forlorn
           hope
           on
           both
           sides
           ,
           and
           several
           prisoners
           taken
           on
           each
           ;
           but
           most
           by
           our
           party
           .
           The
           enemy
           drew
           their
           foot
           out
           of
           the
           Town
           into
           the
           Closes
           about
           a
           quarter
           of
           a
           mile
           :
           our
           Forlorn
           hope
           of
           foot
           lined
           the
           hedges
           ,
           and
           so
           faced
           each
           other
           for
           about
           two
           hours
           ,
           within
           half
           a
           musket
           shot
           ,
           exchanging
           course
           Language
           and
           Bullets
           ,
           now
           and
           then
           ;
           after
           all
           ,
           the
           Foot
           and
           Horse
           were
           come
           up
           ,
           and
           drawn
           up
           in
           Mr.
           
           
             Rolls
          
           his
           Park
           :
           a
           party
           of
           800
           foot
           was
           sent
           to
           second
           the
           Forlorn
           .
           In
           case
           the
           enemy
           should
           endeavour
           to
           put
           any
           affront
           upon
           them
           also
           ,
           a
           Regiment
           was
           immediately
           sent
           to
           assist
           them
           ,
           who
           were
           no
           sooner
           come
           up
           to
           the
           rest
           ,
           but
           it
           began
           to
           be
           dark
           ,
           a
           Councel
           of
           War
           was
           called
           ,
           what
           was
           fit
           to
           be
           done
           ;
           whether
           to
           engage
           before
           day
           or
           not
           ,
           for
           that
           it
           being
           dark
           ,
           the
           enemy
           might
           lay
           Ambuscadoes
           ,
           they
           knowing
           the
           ground
           better
           then
           we
           ;
           whereupon
           the
           General
           ,
           Lieutenant
           General
           ,
           with
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Colonels
           ,
           deferred
           a
           Resolution
           ,
           and
           rid
           from
           Mr.
           
           
             Rolls
          
           his
           house
           up
           to
           the
           Forlorn
           hope
           ,
           to
           see
           in
           what
           posture
           our
           forces
           were
           set
           ,
           and
           by
           prisoners
           to
           know
           what
           the
           Enemy
           intended
           while
           they
           were
           there
           .
           The
           Tattoo
           was
           heard
           to
           beat
           in
           the
           town
           ,
           which
           assured
           us
           the
           Enemy
           still
           continued
           in
           
           the
           town
           ,
           not
           flying
           away
           as
           several
           Reports
           would
           have
           made
           us
           believe
           ;
           but
           to
           be
           certain
           of
           the
           same
           ,
           six
           Dragooners
           were
           commanded
           to
           creep
           under
           a
           hedge
           near
           the
           Barracadoes
           ,
           and
           to
           give
           fire
           ,
           to
           see
           if
           they
           would
           answer
           ;
           by
           which
           we
           might
           know
           whither
           they
           stood
           to
           defend
           the
           town
           .
           The
           Enemy
           received
           the
           charge
           ,
           and
           answered
           it
           with
           a
           very
           sharp
           volley
           of
           shot
           .
           Our
           Forlorn
           hope
           seeing
           the
           Dragooners
           engaged
           ,
           they
           gave
           fire
           ;
           whereupon
           the
           Enemy
           gave
           fire
           all
           along
           the
           hedges
           and
           works
           ,
           thereupon
           the
           Reserve
           to
           the
           Forlorn
           came
           on
           to
           Relieve
           them
           ,
           and
           so
           being
           engaged
           ,
           the
           whole
           army
           advanced
           ;
           and
           about
           eight
           at
           night
           the
           Battel
           begun
           some
           six
           fields
           from
           the
           town
           ,
           and
           so
           we
           fought
           from
           hedge
           to
           hedge
           ,
           until
           we
           beat
           them
           into
           their
           Barracadoes
           ,
           which
           they
           maintained
           for
           an
           hour
           after
           very
           manfully
           ,
           our
           men
           being
           often
           repulsed
           ,
           yet
           at
           last
           got
           over
           the
           Barracadoes
           ,
           and
           forced
           the
           Enemy
           into
           the
           town
           ;
           whereupon
           the
           the
           Horse
           were
           let
           in
           ,
           who
           scowring
           the
           streets
           ,
           were
           received
           by
           the
           Enemy
           ,
           and
           a
           hot
           charge
           given
           by
           both
           parties
           ;
           yet
           it
           pleased
           God
           at
           last
           we
           drave
           them
           out
           of
           the
           Barracadoes
           at
           the
           furthest
           end
           of
           the
           town
           ,
           and
           by
           this
           time
           many
           prisoners
           were
           taken
           ,
           and
           put
           into
           the
           Church
           :
           but
           far
           more
           escaped
           ,
           being
           dark
           ,
           over
           the
           hedges
           and
           by-wayes
           ,
           which
           was
           not
           possible
           for
           us
           to
           prevent
           ,
           throwing
           down
           their
           Arms
           ,
           and
           every
           man
           flying
           several
           wayes
           for
           life
           :
           our
           forces
           were
           no
           sooner
           possest
           of
           the
           town
           ,
           but
           the
           enemies
           Magazine
           which
           they
           left
           in
           the
           Church
           was
           fired
           ;
           whether
           on
           purpose
           by
           the
           enemy
           ,
           or
           by
           accident
           ,
           we
           cannot
           yet
           learn
           :
           but
           it
           proved
           a
           terrible
           blow
           ,
           not
           onely
           blowing
           up
           the
           Church
           with
           all
           the
           Wood
           and
           Lead
           that
           was
           upon
           it
           ,
           deforming
           many
           houses
           in
           the
           Town
           ,
           but
           killed
           some
           of
           the
           prisoners
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           some
           of
           our
           men
           that
           were
           in
           the
           Church
           yard
           ;
           two
           great
           Webbs
           of
           Lead
           fell
           within
           twice
           a
           horse
           length
           
           of
           the
           General
           ;
           but
           it
           pleased
           God
           he
           escaped
           ,
           though
           in
           imminent
           danger
           ;
           many
           others
           being
           hurt
           ,
           both
           with
           the
           Timber
           ,
           Stones
           and
           Lead
           ,
           most
           of
           the
           Town
           was
           shaken
           by
           this
           blow
           ,
           being
           the
           terriblest
           that
           hath
           been
           seen
           in
           the
           memory
           of
           man
           ,
           there
           being
           neer
           eighty
           Barrels
           ,
           of
           Powder
           blown
           up
           together
           ,
           and
           one
           whole
           Barrel
           which
           were
           blown
           out
           of
           the
           Church
           into
           the
           street
           ,
           which
           took
           not
           fire
           :
           The
           Enemy
           perceiving
           their
           Magazine
           to
           be
           thus
           fired
           ,
           gave
           one
           Charge
           more
           with
           their
           horse
           up
           to
           our
           Barracadoes
           ,
           commanded
           by
           Sir
           
             Iohn
             Digby
             ,
          
           Brother
           to
           the
           Lord
           
             Digby
             ,
          
           but
           our
           Muskettiers
           gave
           fire
           ;
           whereupon
           they
           took
           their
           farewel
           .
           Our
           horse
           instantly
           advanced
           through
           the
           Town
           after
           them
           ,
           and
           begun
           the
           pursuite
           about
           eleven
           at
           night
           ;
           and
           I
           hope
           will
           give
           a
           good
           accompt
           of
           the
           businesse
           .
           Thus
           it
           hath
           pleased
           God
           in
           an
           instant
           to
           scatter
           those
           Forces
           of
           the
           Lord
           
             Hoptons
             ,
          
           his
           Infantry
           being
           taken
           ,
           slain
           ,
           and
           totally
           routed
           ,
           his
           Horse
           ,
           many
           taken
           and
           dispersed
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           gone
           in
           great
           disorder
           toward
           Cornwal
           ,
           as
           we
           hear
           ,
           where
           shortly
           I
           hope
           we
           shall
           meet
           with
           the
           remnant
           left
           of
           that
           Crew
           ,
           and
           put
           an
           end
           to
           the
           field
           Enemy
           in
           the
           West
           of
           
             England
             ,
          
           they
           confest
           they
           had
           eight
           Regiments
           of
           Horse
           ,
           consisting
           of
           two
           thousand
           five
           hundred
           men
           ;
           some
           other
           of
           that
           their
           Officers
           that
           are
           prisoners
           say
           Three
           thousand
           ;
           be
           they
           more
           or
           lesse
           ,
           they
           are
           very
           resolute
           men
           ,
           fought
           valiantly
           ;
           and
           after
           they
           were
           chased
           from
           hedge
           to
           hedge
           ,
           defended
           their
           Barracadoes
           and
           works
           at
           push
           of
           Pike
           ,
           and
           with
           the
           But-end
           of
           their
           Muskets
           ,
           till
           our
           foot
           got
           over
           a
           hedge
           ,
           flanckt
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           forced
           to
           quit
           it
           :
           They
           were
           old
           Cornish
           foot
           ,
           and
           all
           
             Greenviles
          
           and
           
             Gorings
          
           old
           Souldiers
           ,
           English
           and
           Irish
           ,
           were
           engaged
           in
           this
           Service
           ,
           but
           now
           are
           scattered
           ,
           threw
           down
           their
           Arms
           ,
           and
           fled
           for
           their
           lives
           .
           We
           have
           abundance
           of
           men
           wounded
           ,
           Officers
           and
           Souldiers
           more
           then
           hath
           
           been
           at
           any
           storm
           since
           the
           Army
           came
           forth
           :
           For
           indeed
           every
           hedge
           was
           it
           were
           a
           Bulwark
           to
           the
           Enemy
           ;
           so
           strong
           are
           the
           hedges
           in
           these
           parts
           ;
           but
           few
           slain
           ,
           we
           killed
           many
           of
           the
           enemy
           ,
           both
           horse
           and
           foot
           .
           The
           particulars
           of
           this
           businesse
           you
           will
           have
           more
           fully
           hereafter
           ;
           let
           the
           glory
           be
           given
           unto
           God
           ,
           I
           am
           Sir
        
         
           
             Your
             most
             faithful
             Servant
             ,
             I.
             R.
             
          
           
             
               Torrington
            
             
               Feb.
               17.
               
            
          
        
         
           
             SOme
             of
             their
             Horse
             we
             hear
             are
             going
             towards
             
               Barnstaple
            
             ;
             Colonel
             
               Cook
            
             is
             that
             way
             :
             However
             ,
             it
             will
             be
             needful
             Colonel
             
               Whaley
            
             quarters
             near
             
               Newbery
            
             with
             some
             of
             his
             Horse
             to
             follow
             any
             party
             that
             may
             come
             to
             
               Oxford
               ,
            
             and
             not
             divert
             our
             Horse
             that
             are
             on
             so
             probable
             a
             design
             to
             further
             the
             weal
             of
             
               England
               .
            
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
    
    

