Note 24 — Thomas, third Lord Fairfax.
Reading edition
A modest Refutation of an Error published in print by Master [Thomas] Fuller, in his book of Worthies [of England]. Title, [Yorkshire] Battles, pagina 225 [, Ed. 1662], in these words, viz.
Goring, [at the fight of Marston Moor,] so valiantly charged the Right Wing of the Enemy, that they fairly forsook the Field.
On this, Lord Fairfax made the following marginal Note in his copy:
I envy none the honour they deservedly got in this battle; nor am I ambitiously desirous of a branch of their laurel. But I see no reason to be excluded [from] the Lists: in which I underwent equal hazards with any others that day.
But [it] being my lot to be cast upon many disadvantages, having command of the Right Wing, with much difficulty I could get but 5 Troops in order: with which I charged the Enemy's Left Wing; when the business was hotly disputed a long time, at [the] sword's point. We broke through; and had the chase of many of them.
But, indeed, the rest of the Horse, [that] I could not draw up to charge with me, were soon routed with that part of the Enemy we left behind.
But to shew that some did their parts: having routed some of the Enemy, and taken Goring's Major General prisoner; few of us came off without dangerous wounds; and many [of them] were mortal.
Which shews that the Right Wing did not wholly leave the Field; as the Author of that book relates.
F. Grose, Antiquarian Repertory, 2nd Ed., III., p. 31, 1808, 4.