… With the fell intent of accomplishing the desired objects Cavendish March to strong falls into offered on the 27th day of June he fixed his headquarters at Hanby hall his troops encamped in handy park a very commanding position with their left resting on Billsby Carr their right stretched to, and resting on, the Holywell farm which was protected by swamps in the rear and a wood of which a fragment yet remains, on their flank. During the next days the town and neighbourhood were pretty well harried and plundered but all efforts to capture Sir Lionel Weldon were vain so Drayner Massingberd of South Ormsby, with what feeble force he could gather endeavoured to hold them in check, but ineffectually. Happily during the afternoon of 1st of July he had the satisfaction of welcoming the Parliamentary army under Robert Montague, Earl of Manchester, with six guns, who took ground and encamped in Bilsby field, his left strongly protected by swamps and his right by Ancroft Fen.
Cavendish being absent on a visit to Fitzwilliam of Withern Hold, the Royalists did not venture to make any attack and the Parliamentarians having made forced marches needed rest. But early on the morning of the second, Cavendish having rejoined his army, found his front furiously assailed on the centre by Fairfax. Payne (Who was a Burgh man) and Moody of Scremby, who had three troops of horse afterwards incorporated with Cromwell’s ironsides, broke through the enemy’s lines entered the town and Wheeling left about, attacked Cavendish’s right wing which was formed by Sir Marmaduke’s brigade commanded by Sir Philip Monckton.
Captain Moody knew that erelong Colonel rossiter’s regiment of infantry would be coming on the scene of action from Burgh so that he could but best succeed in his purpose by placing them between two attacks Langdale’s brigade to all intents and purposes must be well nigh annihilated. Moody (who was ancestor of the brave old tar so long captain of the lifeboats at Skegness) executed his movements with such promptitude, energy and skill as to ensure complete success. After destroying large numbers of them in the swamps and leaving the field that lay behind Shore’s house crowded with dead and wounded, he drove them Pell Mell before him to Willoughby where they were met by Colonel Rossiter with his regiment of infantry.
After a conflict a very short endurance the ill-fated fugitives would be cut to pieces; A small party of them nearly reached Orby but were slain to a man in the road that now forms the avenue to Boothby Hall by the enraged peasantry. Meanwhile the left wing and the main body stood their ground nobly and worthy of a better cause.
The battle was stiffly and stoutly contested but the royalists were driven from every position that they attempted to hold. William Hanby was slain and Hanby Hall partially destroyed by fire. Colonel penruddock with the remained of his regiment took refuge in the Church of Saint Wilfrid but it proved no sanctuary to them for they were mercilessly slaughtered and the church almost dismantled in which state it continued to remain until 1666.
The rout became complete in Cavendish was hurried off the field. Penruddock brave as he was unfortunately was severely worded. He was kindly sheltered, nursed and finally got safely off by Puritan only to die afterwards on the scaffold.
Not long after followed the battle of Winceby which ensured the future quiet of Lincolnshire.
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Welton le Marsh 