marched towards Preston: having intelligence that the Enemy was drawing together thereabouts from all his out-quarters, we drew out a Forlorn of about two-hundred horse and four-hundred foot, the horse commanded by Major Smithson, the foot by Major Pownel. Our Forlorn of horse marched, within a mile “to” where the Enemy was drawn up,—in the enclosed grounds by Preston, on that side next us; and there, upon a Moor, about half a mile distant from the Enemy’s Army, met with their Scouts and Outguard; and did behave themselves with that valour and courage as made their Guards (which consisted both of horse and foot) to quit their ground; and took divers prisoners; holding this dispute with them until our Forlorn of foot came up for their justification; and by these we had opportunity to bring-up our whole Army.
So soon as our foot and horse were come up, we resolved that night to engage them if we could; and therefore, advancing with our Forlorn, and putting the rest of our Army into as good a posture as the ground would bear (which was totally inconvenient for our horse, being all enclosure and miry ground), we pressed upon them. The regiments of foot were ordered as followeth. There being a Lane, very deep and ill, up to the Enemy’s Army, and leading to the Town, we commanded two regiments of horse, the first whereof was Colonel Harrison’s and next was my own, to charge up that Lane ; and on either side of them advanced the “Main ”-battle,—which were Lieutenant-Colonel Reade’s, Colonel Dean’s and Colonel Pride’s on the right; Colonel Brights and my Lord Generals on the left; and Colonel Ashton with the Lancashire regiments in reserve. We ordered Colonel Thornhaugh’s and Colonel Twistleton’s regiments of horse on the right; and one regiment in reserve for the Lane; and the remaining horse on the left:—so that, at last, we came to a Hedge-dispute; the greatest of the impression from the Enemy being upon our left wing, and upon the “Main”-battle on both sides the Lane, and upon our horse in the Lane: in all which places the Enemy were forced from their ground, after four-hours dispute;—until we
