LORD FAIRFAX. 469 



inains, bearing an elegant latin inscription, com- 

 posed by his friend, the Rev. Mr. Milner, minor 

 canon of the cathedral church of Durham, 



LORD FAIRFAX. 



Thomas Lord Fairfax, the distinguished general 

 of the parliament in the civil war of Charles I., 

 was the eldest son of Ferdinando lord Fairfax, 

 at whose seat of Denton, in Yorkshire, he was born 

 in 1611. He received an academical education, at 

 St. John's college, Cambridge ; but his disposition 

 inclining him rather to an active than a studious 

 life ; he went to Holland and served as a volunteer 

 in the English troops, uuder Horatio lord Vere, 

 with whom he was at the taking of Boys-le-duc. 

 On his return he married a daughter of Lord Vere's 

 and settled in the country. When the discontents 

 of the reign broke out, he took a decided part 

 against the royal party in church and state, in which 

 lie followed the example of his father, and was also 

 instigated by his wife, a zealous presbyterian. He 

 presented a popular petition to the king, on Hey- 

 worth-Moor, in the presence of a large body of the 

 people ; and when actual hostilities commenced, ho 

 had a commission from the parliament to serve as 

 general of horse under his father, who was ap" 

 pointed their commander in the north. He was 

 soon actively engaged against the earl of Newcastle 

 and the other royalists in those parts, and in con-, 

 sequence of inferiority, suffered several defeats, 

 though he always behaved with distinguished valour, 

 and speedily repaired his losses, and returned to 

 action. His father and he were completely routed 

 in an attack they made upon the earl of Newcastle 

 at Adderton-Moor, in June, 1643, for the purpose 

 of relieving Bradford, Sir Thomas with much 

 difficulty, made good his retreat to Hull. His wife 

 was intercepted by the way, but was afterwards 

 politely sent to him by the earl, in his own coach, 

 with a guard, Hull was besieged by the royalists, 

 but without success j and Fairfax. \vcnt with his 



