A true relation of a great and wonderfull victory otained by Captain Ashton and the Parliaments forces, against the Earl of Derby at Whalley in Lancashire.: As it was certified in a letter from a gentleman there, to a member of the House of Commons. For which great mercie they have apointed a day of thanksgiving.

A TRUE RELATION Of a great and wonderfull VICTORY, &c.

SIR,

THough I be from Manchester, yet having this convenient Bea∣rer thither, I thought good to give you a Relation (in which I desire not to exceed) of Gods great pre∣servation of us, which was greater then I mentioned in my last 〈◊〉〈◊〉

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That the Earl of Derby, the Lord Mollineux, Sir Gilbert Hoghton, Colonell Tildesley, with all the other great Papists in this County, issued out of Preston, and on VVednesday noon came to Ribchester with ele∣ven Troops of horse, 700 foot, and infinite of club-men, in all concei∣ved to be 5000. VVe lying at Dun∣kenhalgh-hall with out two Troops hearing of his great force retreated to Padiham, having before sent to Colonell Shuttleworth, to raise the country which he did, all the fire∣men came in the next morning (though they have had no pay this 5 weeks) and some few club-men: I did compute us to be 60 horse, and some 400 foot, not above five hun∣dred

I am sure at the first: we mar∣ched with our horse towards Whal∣ley, where we tooke a man and 2. geldings of Mr. Lathams the great Papist, and retreated to Read-bank, here we discovered above 150 horse to follow us, and when our foot was come thither to us, our horse retrea∣ted more, our foot advanced close under a wall, only my self stood and faced the enemy: I made as though I fled, they pursued me, when I knew they were in the command of our men, I advanced again and shot off my pistoll (being the signe for our foot) whereupon our men dis∣charged with a great showt, the ene∣mies horse fled in great disorder, we wounded many, took forty priso∣ners,

some horse and 60 Musquets, our fire men pursued them to Whal∣ley, where the Earl of Derby and the rest were in the Abbey, much a do we had to keep our Souldiers back, the enemy (who were ten for one to us) discharged his Cannon 5. times, but hurt not a man of us, (blessed be our good God) he drew into a body, we being out of order ran under hedges, played upon them with our Muskets, and routed their foot, which fled over the VVater, their horse still facing us, our men still pursued them to Lango-green, where Captain Ashton and my selfe with much a doe caused our first men to stay till more came up, then our men shot; their horse fled; then

all our horse came up and pursued them through Salisbury Park, and to Ribchester, & most of their great ones had some touch, or some nar∣row escape, as themselves report. And having thus driven them out of the Hundred, we retreated to Padiham, where having a good Mi∣nister, some hours were spent in thanksgiving for this great delive∣rance, and be assured it is to be taken (next the first great bout at Man∣chester) the greatest deliverance we have had. VVe had one day last week, and on Friday next we are to observe a Thanksgiving both in Salford Hundred & this, with prai∣ses to our God. The intent of the e∣nemy was to overrun this Hundred,

and so to Bolton and Manchester, (as upon examination appears by the prisoners) and be assured if the Lord had sufferd this part to fail, we had in al probability bin utterly un∣done. The enemy stole all horses & beasts as far as they went; I hope our Gentlemen in this county vvill consider to joyn and clear the coun∣ty; This part vvhich before vvas dejected, is novv through Gods mercy united and raised, and the common people never more for∣vvard, and the souldiers more cou∣ragious, but the Lord is our preser∣ver; So desiring still to hear from you, I rest

Your loving Friend, E. F.

Padiham, 24. April. 1643.

FINIS.