Horse being not same behind them, and acquainted them Col. Reynolds had made
good New Bridge against the Libertines, and engaged to me to make it good with
his life: Upon which his Excellency & Lieut. Gen. Crumwell, Commanded a Party
of Horse Speedily to march towards them, and coming within 3. miles of the
Bridge, met Col. Reynolds. who made the Lieut. Gen. acquainted he had made good
the Bridge, but the Levellers marched down towards Farrington, and forced the
River, and that his men were marched on Barkshire side the River, and gone to
quarters to refresh themselves and horses, and so soon as his Excellency & the Lievt.
Gen. heard the Lavellers were got over the River, they were much troubled, and
commanded Col. Reynolds to get his men Speedily out of their quarters to pursue
them. And the L. Gen. riding down to new bridg to take a view which way they
were gone, Comanded me to ride forth to discover them, upon which I [unr]old the Lievt.
Gen. in obedience to his command I would doe it, and being him intelligence where
they lay, if I lived, and after hard riding, and much enquiring about 12. of the Clock
on Munday night last, I hapned into the Libertines quarters at Burford in
Oxfordshire, and observing how they were quatered, returned, and met the
Lievt. Gen. with a body of horse upon the Downes about there miles from
Burford, and acquainted him where the Levellers were quartered, whereupon
the Lievt. Gen. commanded his body of horse to march with all possible speed, and
the Lievt. Generalls Forlorne hope comming neer Burford met the Levellers
Scouts, and fell into the Town with them, & charged through the Town to a Village
called Fulbrooke where some of them quartered, and a whole troop quartered
in one house, who made good the house against as above an houre, & at last yealded
upon quarter. The Levellers whole party were 12 Troops of horse, besides others
that came in to them, which were all taken except only 30 who were quartered with
their Cullors at Skipton, two miles from Burford But Col. Reynolds is in persuit of
them . Then the Speaker asked Cap. Bidg how many was killed, he answered but
one of the Levellers killed, and 4 or 5. of our men wounded, & as many of the Levellers
as he saw, but there might be more for ought he knew. The Speaker asked
him what prisoners of note were taken, he told him Col. Eayres, and cornet Down,
and that he could not take a lift of the number of Prisoners being commanded
away so speedily by his Excellency & Lievt. Gen. and the Speaker asked him what
the Souldiers said, he answered, some of them cryed out against Jesuits & ill Principall'd
men, that had misled them, and in that little time that he was amongst
them, some having an opinion that he was really for them, he did gather by them
that they did not so much aime at any particular man, but generally all in authority
The House took the faithful service of the said Capt. Sawnel Bridger into
consideration, and ordered him as foloweth. viz.
Die Mercutii 16 Ma[unr] 1649.
ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, that the Committee of the Army be
required to give warning to the Treasurers at warre, to Pay unto Capt Samuel Bridger
the Sum of On hundred Pounds, for areward for his faithfull service to the publique, and
fifty pounds more to buy him a ho[unr]rse, and the Said Treasurers are required to make present
payment thereof to him accordingly, and the acquintance of the said Capt, Bridger shall be
a sufficient discharge to the Treasurers for the Same.
Hen. Scobel Cler. Parl.