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Gentleman's Magazine 1852 part 1 p.145
to our King's men; and the King's Hussars, with some of the
Yorkshire Hunters, came down, and so soon as they came
opposite to the first ambush the rebels fired upon them, but
did no execution, and then issued out of the ambush at my
doors, and a furious firing they had, the King's men acting
the nimblest and quickest that ever my eyes beheld, not one
of them receiving any harm. Some horse followed the former,
so that in a few minutes the rebels ran away like mad-men;
and just by my doors one of the rebels was brought down and
taken, and a Captain Hamilton was also taken at the same
time (afterwards executed at York); they were both had up to
the Duke. Then it was still about an hour, in which time I
abode in the house; the King's troops still standing up on
the common, in which time my son went over a little green to
see if we could get the cattle brought into their houses,
but seeing that in vain, came homewards again, when four
rebels on horseback seized him, calling him a spy, and had
him down under their horses feet, swearing desperately many
times they would shoot him, and three of them commanded the
fourth to shoot him, which he attempted with his gun, and
then pistol, but neither would fire, so he escaped, and came
in; a little after I was again grown uneasy to go out, which
I ventured to do, and looking about me I saw the King's men
as before, standing on the common; turning me about I saw
the rebels filling the town-street north of my house, as
also running down and lining the hedges and walls, even down
to my house on both sides; then I was in great pain for the
duke and his men, who could not see them, it beginning to
grow darkish; but I ventured my life, and stood a little
off, and waved my hat in my hand, which some of them
discovering, one came riding down towards me, and I called
to him, bidding him cast his eye about him and see how the
town was filled, and hedges lined; after which he returned,
and then a party was dismounted and sent down to meet the
rebels; and in the time of quietness as above, the rebels
had sent off a party of their horse to plunder and burn
Lowther Hall and town, and they were also plundering our
town, leaving nothing they could lay their hands on,
breaking locks, and making ruinous work, even to all our
victuals, and little children's clothes of all sorts. Now it
beginning to grow dark, and the rebels so thick about my
house, we had no hopes of saving ourselves, but concluded to
leave the house and go into the fields, if we could but get
there. In the middle of the orchard we were parted by the
rebels, one part of us driven into the fields, the other
back into the house, severely threatening our lives, never
expecting to see one another alive again. A son-in-law and
his family were in like circumstances, for they seemed more
severe upon us then upon others. Now come to the matter
above again: we were not all got to the fireside again
before the firing on all hands was dreadful, which continued
half an hour, in which time were killed ten of the King's
men, and twenty-one wounded, and the Duke's footman taken
prisoner, who was recovered, and of the rebels, five were
killed, and many wounded that night. Early next morning were
seventy prisoners under custody; and after the heat of
firing was over all seemed still a little space, after which
some came, and broke in at my court door, calling sharply to
open; but we believing it to be the rebels, I would not
open, when they began to be sharp, and orders were given to
fire, they supposing the house to be full of rebels, but I
called and said I would open as fast as I could, and the
first words said to me were, could the Duke lodge here
tonight, to which with pleasure I answered yes; and a
pleasant and agreeable company he was, a man of good parts,
very friendly, and no pride in him. Much on this I could say
if it would not be tedious to thee, yet shall mention one
thing very remarkable, which was, our cattle were all
standing among the slain men, and not one of them hurt, as
also them that were banished from our house came in again
next morning; the Duke's men said it was a wonder they were
not killed, our next neighbour being shot at that same time.
Thou mayst also know I had the Duke of Kingston and the Duke
of Richmond to lodge, with about a hundred more, and as many
horses. I have not yet mentioned a scaffold erected by the
rebels behind a wall, at a corner of my house, as we believe
to cut off any that might come into my court, which if it
had not been that they had fled, the noble Duke had stood a
bad chance there.
I am afraid thou can scarcely read this; but if thou think
proper to shew it to any, I would have thee copy it fair
over, and shew it to whom thou wilt, even if it be to the
King. I conclude with my true love,
THOMAS SAVAGE.
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