On the 23rd January 1643 Sir Thomas Fairfax marched from Bradford with five or six troops of horse. three troops or companies of Dragoons under Sir Henry Foulis and 600 - 1.000 musket and 1,200 - 2.000 Clubmcn under Sir William Fairfax. Lt. General of the Foot. In all the force numbered about 36 colours. Sit Thomas's intent was to attack and secure Leeds even though they approached the city in a howling blizzard.

A Battlia of about 1,000 Clubmcn, 300 musket, and one company of Dragoons under Capt.Mildmay was sent down the south side of the River Ayr at a point near Hunslet being on the south cast side of Leeds and facing Wakefield.

The rest of the force approached Leeds on the North side of the River Ayr by the bridge on the road from Aperley to Woodhousemore Nearing Leeds, Sir Thomas Fairfax scat a trumpeter in to parley but the Royalist commander. Sir William Savile, refused to talk, chiding Sit Thomas for coming so close to Leeds before sending a parley in. Sit Thomas Fairfax closed to within sight of Leeds on the south west side, whilst the force under Capt.Mildmay closed in on the south cast side to the city centre. Sir Thomas Fairfax repeated his parley, sending a second Trumpeter into Leeds. Sir William Savile again rejected the offer and challenged Sir Thomas to fight for the town.

Undaunted. Sir Thomas Fairfax drew-out five companies of Foot, Major Forbes, Capts.Briggs, Lee, Franke and one other. whilst Captain Palmer dismounted his dragoons. The six companies began to work themselves towards the river along the trenches near the newly built church of Mr Harrison on Lidgate and Headrow at the end of Briggate At about 2 p.m. 100 Royalist musket overlooking the trenches from the hill at this point started firing down upon them. Sir William Fairfax and Sir Thomas Norcliffe with the remaining forces attacked the outworks on or by the west side of this new Church. The Troops of Horse under Sir Henry Foulis started attacking the Royalists along the roads and lanes leading into Leeds on the vest and north side of the town, leading short charges to flush the Royalists out of their positions.

The force under Capt.Milmay pushed the guard off and out of the works on the road to Beriston and opened up on the bridge guard. who called forward a demi-culverin to support them. A firefight developed between the forces in the field. taking an hour with Major Forbes leading his men on ".. most bravely.." , Capt.Mildmay managed to trickle a few men over the field to the river side into a position by which they could bring fire into the works on the north side of the river and so support Major Forbes.

Under fire from what had been a secure flank the company holding these works fell back. Major Forbes, helped up by the shoulders of his Lt.Horstall. scrambled into the works, Lt.Horstall wading through the river side into the work. The company scrambled over the works singing the 68th psalm "Let God arise" led by the Minster of Croston Chapel in Halifax, Johnthon Sokofield (or Scholefield).

The Royalist forces started to fall back into Leeds where a furious fight from defended houses broke-outas the parliamentarian forces flooded in. Leading their men on Capt.Lee was hit in the leg as they charged down the lane from Chrystall bridge. whilst Capt.Briggs was hit in the arm and face near the old church.

As Sit William Savile attempted to rally his men for a counter attack with support from a piece described as a " cannon "Mr.Scholefield with 12 -Grey cotes of Sir William Fairfax's regimeat led an assault on the market square, killing the cannoneer in a fierce little firefight, losing 2 men in the exchange. The Royalist forces broke and fled out of Leeds with the fighting being over by 4 p.m. Sir William was drowned as he attempted to flee across the River Ayre 400 - 600 soldiers were taken prisoner along with colours, drums. 2 cannon, 14 barrels of powder and about 400 muskets. Six Captains, seven Lieutenants, and eight Ensigns were also taken prisoner. Sir Thomas claimed to have lost no more than 20 dead in the fighting.

The Royalist garrison in Wakefield learnt of the fall of Leeds by about 6 p.m. as survivors trickled-inand fled themselves. Learning of this Capts.Birkchead and Wilson with 200 musket and 1.400 Clubmen from Almurbury and 3 of the Troops of Horse from Leeds entered and took Wakefield next day.

Royalist forces:

Two Foot regiments under Sir William Savile and Wol. Witherington I troops of Horse and 3 troops of Dragoons.

Parliamentarian forces:

600 - 1,000 Grey coated Musketeers of Sir William Fairfax's regiment.

In all probability these musketeers are either all of Sir William Fairfax's regiment or companies attached to Sir William's regiment to bring it up to 600 musket. What is interesting is that all what may be called the regular soldiers are musketeers, and issued with grey coats. One comment mentions the lucky escape of one soldier who "...had his coat, doublet and 2 shirts shot though.." It seems more likely that this regiment was formed from the 600 musket Sit Thomas had claimed he could raise in early January in the Halifax area.

The known foot officers are Major Forbes. probably William Forbes. a Scots professional, and Captains Edward Briggs, Ralph Lee. Franke. John Chalwick from Lancashire, Christopher Wilson, Henry Birkhead, Richard Radcliffe and Nathanial Bowes. The 1.200 - 2,000 Clubmen were probably raised by some form of levy in the Bradford area. The three Dragoon troops were commanded by Sir Thomas Norcliffe and Captains Henry Milmay and Palmer. The 5 or 6 Horse Troops were under the field command of Sir Henry Foulis and may be his own regiment. though it is more likely that the Troops taken were whatever were to hand.

Sources

Thomason Tracts E88(19) and (23).

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