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.