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of souldiers sometimes to commit some insolencies w’out comand from their 
supiors is the cause of my writing this time; hoping, hereby, through 
your care, to prevent a further evill, in all thankfulness, I shall acknowledge 
(besides the great obligation you putt on Mr. Parker,) myselfe to bee, your 
much obliged, Ric. SHurrnewortH. Gawthrop, 13 Feb., 1644. 
The following is a protection from the Royalists :— 
These are to intreat all officiers and souldieres of the Scottish armie, 
and to require all officiers and souldieres of the English armie under my 
command that they forbeare to tale or trouble the p’son of Edward Parker, of 
Browsholme, Esqr., or to plunder his goods, or anie other or damage to 
doe unto him in his estate, Tuo. Tyupzstry. This 8th day of August, 1648. 
The Roundheads made a raid into Briercliffe and Extwistle, 
for the purpose of plundering the supporters of the Royal cause. 
A party sacked High Halstead, near Swindean, taking all they 
could lay their hands on, and ultimately driving away ten oxen and 
twe other beasts to the value of £45. The noise and tumult made 
by the marauders was heard across the valley from Extwistle by 
Mr. Parker, who immediately drove all the cattle within reach 
into the thickets of Ronclehurst Wood ; also hiding away most of 
the valuables in the hall. On finding themselves checkmated 
they attempted to fire the place, but having to decamp hastily 
very little damage was done. 
On the 25th day of May, 1644, Prince Rupert entered 
Lancashire by way of Stockport, with an army of 8,000 men, 
destined for the relief of Lathom House. Rigby, who commanded 
the besiegers, immediately retired to Bolton with a force of 2,000 
soldiers. The storming of the latter place soon followed, after 
which the Royalists poured across the hills into Burnley valley 
on the way to join the King’s forces at York a few days previous 
to the battle of Marston Moor, where the star of the Royal 
Stuarts destiny set for ever. Breaking up into small 
detachments for the purpose of foraging on the line of route, they 
commenced to plunder indiscriminately both friend and foe. A 
party of 200 made their appearance in Worsthorne on the eve of 
a summer’s afternoon, where they blackmailed the farmers’ 
larders of all the edibles and drinkables they could lay their 
hands on, the officers living at free quarters at an old public- 
house, which was demolished during the early part of the last 
century. It was called ‘‘Cross House,”’ hence the name of the 
locality Cross House Green. The house is gone, but a portion 
of the garden fence exists at the present time. The following 
morning they seized and drove the cattle out of the fields along the 
line of march. Passing the farm house at Bottin, one of them 
entered the place and took possession of a panful of potatoes. 
At High Halstead two horses were unyoked and taken out of two 
carts, and a herd of cattle was taken possession of. The despoiled 
farmers, incensed by the cruel treatment they had received, armed 
themselves with all kinds of rude weapons, and hung on the rear 
of the invaders, bent upon rescuing some of their cattle. On 
