Association to stop his Recrutes to scarter his Forces and continually to distract the designes of that Army Experience is witnesse of how great concernment it hath been to the safety of the Common-wealth not one place in the Kingdome of England hath so much exhausted the enemies Army nor hath the like advantage to ruine it It can paine them at the heart 't is a fire kindled in their bowels that might eate out their strength had it been the felicity of the State to have sent hither a part of those great supplies which have been else-where expended and done little towards the conclusion of the great worke If this Collection shall present any thing that comes home to a civill life or the imployment of a Souldier if it shall bring to minde acceptable services and cause the people to remember the day of small things with the power of active and faithfull endeavours that observe and follow the Divine Providence I shall not faile of my end and I know that this my adventure is no more then what the action doth deserve and the world may challenge THe ingagement of the City of Gloucester in this common Cause of Religion and Liberty first began when the Houses of Parliament declared to the Kingdome their resolution of a defensive War neither were its principall and active men drawne in by inferiour and accidentall motives but quickened by the same Principles in the maine that did enliven and actuate the Supreme Court expressing themselves the very motions of a Parliamentary spirit by an absolute and greedâ compliance with every act that breathed towards the perfect health of the State the severall Remonstrances of both Houses were received with all due respect whereas no Declaration sent from the other Party found the courtesie of a formall entertainment It hath beene the honour of that Civill Government never to be guilty of the least act of disservice against that Cause which their hearts wish might prevaile and prosper Therefore when the fire kindled and fomented by Jesuited Papists and their adherents was blowne up into a flame and the heads of two Parties appeared within this Realme the City of Gloucester determined not to stand Neutrall in action but to adhere unto one party with which they resolved to stand or fall necessity requiring no lesse which affection improves into vertue The acknowledgement of its owne advantage in scituation and strength importuned a more timely Declaration least by it selfe neglected it should be seized by the Enemy whose eâe was upon it and so cast into perpetuall bondage Also the greatest part of the Country consented and resolved to maintaine their Birth-rights in the defence of the Priviledges and Power of Parliament against all invasions of usurpation and tyranny During the Kings preparaetions in the North they attempted according to the slendernes of al beginnings to put themselves into a posture of defence and exspected the instructions of Parliament And whereas the Ordinance of Militia was the first pretended ground of difference betweene his Majesty and the Houses they desiring such Officers in whom the State might confide and the King refusing to deprive them that by himselfe were intrusted when the rent was once made a greater necessity impleaded the execution of that Ordinance Whereupon the Lord Say was by Order of Parliament appointed Lord Lieutenant A Commission was likewise granted unto divers Gentlemen for Deputy Lieutenants many whereof drew back and shunned the imployment that the power for the most part rested in the Members of the House of Commons for this County by whose countenance many Companies of Volunteers were raised then called the Militia Bands and led by such Captaines as the Embryo of the Warre could afford But the first undertaking was more jocund then the progresse as oft times it comes to passe that a Military pompe and appearance of bravery doth affect and raise up many feeble spirits who quickly lye flat when they begin to feele the stubbornesse and cruelty of Warre The Commission of Array did not adventure to render it selfe to the people it was about to be offered to their liking at Cirencester by the Lord Chando's and some other disaffected Gentlemen but was stifled in the birth and crusht by the rude hand of the multitude before it saw the light the chiefe Abetter thereof was like to suffer violence by the meanest of the people whose fury constrained him to promise and give under his hand that he would never more deale in the businesse But when they saw that this Lord had escaped their hands by a secret conveyance they were the more enraged and waxed cruell against his Accoutrements and Furniture and whatsoevtr of his was left behind delighting in a contumelious revenge and rustick triumph Such were the effects of that fury that tooke hold on the ignoble multitude in whom not alwaies the deepe sense of their owne interests doth provoke this extasie of passion but peradventure a slighter accident and unexpected turning of the fancy sets them in a hurry when their insolency becomes intollerable and they glory to vent their humours by reason of an usuall restraint and subjection Neverthelesse they have produced good effects and oft times a more undescerned guidance of superiour Agents turnes them to the terrour of the Enemy and an unexplecable selfe-ingagement upon the common people which prudent men promote and maintaine yet no farther then themselves can over-rule and moderate Hereupon the full streame of the Country runnes for the Ordinance of the Militia and against the Kings Declarations and Commission of Array But since we are now upon the beginning of action it will not be from the matter to declare the grounds of that affection which the Country did expresse and were common unto them with many parts of the Kingdome that were devoted to the same Cause but might appeare in a greater degree and have a clearer evidence in the present example Most men therefore did undoubtedly foresee greater hopes of liberty from the Parliament then the Kings Party in so much that there appeared in all the States adhearents an inbred propensity to freedome but a desire of vast Dominion Dignity revenge or rapine in them that tooke to the contrary Faction by which this Country did seeme well disposed to comply with the Parliaments grand Designe for there was no excessive number of powerfull Gentry who for the most part care not to render themselves the slaves of Princes that they also might rule over their Neighbours as Vassalls But the Inhabitants consisted chiefly of Yeomen Farmers petty Free-holders and such as use Manufactures that enrich the Country and passe through the hands of a multitude a generation of men truely laborious jealous of their Properties whose principall ayme is Liberty and Plenty and whilst in an equall ranke with their Neighbours they desire onely not to be oppressed and account themselves extreamely bound to the world if they may keepe their owne such therefore continually thwart the
if this Country must be preserved it must be done by the Volunteers which were yet as a Cake not turned a kinde of Souldiers not wholly drawn off from the Plow or domesticke imployments having neither resolution nor support suitable to the service But the greatest defect was the want of able and experienced Officers neither had they any Commander in chiefe upon whom the hearts of the people might fasten Amidst these things the strength of the County was drawne to Cirencester a fronteer Towne towards the Kings head quarters then made a Garrison to prevent the incursions of the Enemy as well to preserve the Country from ruine as to advance the Publicke Service Colonell Fettiplace had the Command of this Garrison under whom some Traine Bands and Volunteers were drawne into a Regiment and two Companies of the Lord Stamfords Regiment were added to incourage the businesse a few Horse and Dragoones were raised at the free charge of the Country and the rest of the Militia were to assist upon all appearance of danger all things were trans-acted in a more voluntary but lesse regular way The businesse chiefly rested on Sir Robert Coske Sir John Seamore Master Natbaniel Stephens Master Edward Stephens Master Thomas Hodges with the rest of the Deputy Lieutenants and setting aside these men with some gleanings of the Gentry the Yeomen Farmers Cloathiers and the whole middle ranke of the people were the onely active men The Gentlemen in generall denyed their concurrence discerting their Country either by open enmity or detestable neutrality and from the Major part no better fruite was to be looked for in a degenerate Age when in many of them there appeared an hatred of the Commons and a strong disposition to the ends of Tyranny Others there were not wholly averse from the good of the Common-wealth whose enmity was grounded in Religion which obtained the most eminent place in the Parliaments Cause The superstitious adoring of their old way imbittered their spirits against reformed Religion which to them seemed a peevish affectation of novelty besides the hatred and feare of Ecclesiasticall Discipline But the greatest number neither driven by ambition nor the spirit of blind zeale onely resolving to be true to themselves deserted the State with some inclinations to the contrary Faction reflecting on their estates invironed with the Kings Country neare the heart of his strength and farre from Parliamentary supplies besides the violence and quicke dispatch of the Kings Army with the slow performances of our Country Agents after the space of an ordinary legall course in those extremities did much deterre them the Country complained of their principall men for the neglect of Taxes and the Gentlemen might happily see the grudgings of the Country in the payment of those Taxes for the common people are alwaies covetous though well-affected and forbeare to urge whatsoever might distaste the people or crosse the Parliaments accustomed moderation Which slow deliberations did lessen the esteem of the service in the hearts of many The secession of the dis-afiected Gentlemen did cast an aspeâ—sion that could not sticke that the businesse was deseâ—ted by knowing men and prosecuted by a rash and confused multitude Whereas by no one thing could it more evidently appeare to be the Cause of the Common-wealth then by the acknowledgement of the whole Body of the Commons which is more honest and wise in things of publicke concernement for though they be very weake one by one yet brought together they ballance each other and when no man hath power to impropriate much each man expects onely a proportionable share in the Publicke interest Neither is their judgement and fore-sight to be undervalued who are apt to discerne any thing that concernes themselves and being united are not like to faile for they have the best experience and are neerely affected with the woe or weale of the State and so may sometimes judge better then those that guide it as he that useth the house can better judge thereof then the Builder and the Pilate of the Sterne then the Carpenter And although they have not the first and most excellent part of knowledge to finde out and by themselves to understand the rules of Government yet have they the second part which is also excellent to judge aright of things proposed and if not made fit for the yoke by dependence on the Gentry can discover the fraud that lyes under the fairest pretext but the Gentlemen by depriving the meaner people of their due protection blemished the reputation of their Families and crossed the end of their honours and possessions which in a well ordered State are given for a shelter to the under shrubs that some generous spirit neerer the Commons might keepe off the invasion of Princes and whose power was most desired in such an exegence to gather up the scatterings of the people and keepe them united who for want of this concurrence were of lesse strength and vigour Such was the face of this Country now ready to receive the first shocke of the Enemies fury About the first of January 1642. the maine strength of the Kings Army came before Cirencester prepared and resolved to storme it yet they onely faced the Towne and after two daies were strangely taken off either disabled by the extreame cold on the Hills or some suddaine misfortune or daunted by the shew of unanimity and resolution in the people or else clouded in their thoughts by the secret Will of God in the nick of action that they made not the least attempt but threatned an afterclap A few daies after our forces had their designe upon Sudely Castle at that time kept by Captaine Bridges in the behalfe of the Lord Chandos Leiutenant Colonell Massie was intrusted with the manage of this action who drew from Gloucester a Party of three hundred Musketteers with two Sakres assisted with fourescore Horse and foure Companies of Dragoones from Cirencester by order of a Counsell of Warre held there and consent of the Deputy Lieutenants there were in the Castle neere threescore Souldiers with Provision and Ammunition sufficient Our men drew up before it in the Evening made severall shots and the Canon did some Execution the same night summons was given the enemy refused to render upon quarter but craved time till the next day which in part was granted Guards were set upon them all night the next morning our men were drawne out to make an assault Beds and Wooll-packs were fetched out of the Neighbourhood which they tumbled before and saved themselves from shot the Horse and Dragoones came up before the foot approached the wall and possest themselves of a Garden under the Castle and got Hay and Straw which they fired that the smoake driven by the wind smothered the house in the shadow of which the Ordnance were brought up undiscovered and planted against the weakest part of the Castle which when the enemy perceived they sounded a parley and immediately rendred upon agreement
a leaguer proceeded from the desire of saving their foot with this presumption that there was no power to raise the siege which confidence deceived them till too late for their foot after those many knocks and the first fury spent were not so capable of the service without the help of many tedious preparations Wherefore besides their mine and battery they framed great store of those unperfect and troublesome engines to assault the lower parts of the City Those engines ran upon wheels with planks musket proof placed on the Axel-tree with holes for musketshot and a bridge before it the end whereof the wheels falling into the ditch was to rest upon our breast works Our reliefe seemed slow and the straitnesse of the siege debarred all intelligence Only two Spies which we sent out returned from Warwick and brought newes of the advance of the Lord Generall The report of his Excellency who then lay under a cloud did give no great assurance The truth is the sense of the depth of our distresse did not reach us Sir William Waller upon whom the Citizens of London cast their favour had not the reliques of an Army The Generals Army crumbled away the malignants of London fomented tumults in the City and insurrections in Kent distracted the businesse The house of Lords voted a treaty with the King the house of Commons debated the matter The resolution of Gloucester turned the stream whose succour was resolved upon as the Kingdoms safety The recruit of the Army was too slow for the service The London trained Bands or none must relieve us but could not agree who should undertake the businesse Essex was not favoured but the more prudent saw that he must be the man That none might decline the service upon whom the lot fell the shop windows were commanded to be shut up and trading for a time suspended The expedition was hasted in every pulpit carried on with continuall fasting and prayer an Army was framed in an instant and marched with incredible swiftnesse Prince Rupert with the greatest part of the Kings horse drew from Gloucester to retard their march but still appearing in the Van did no more then drill them along The enemy stayed before us till the last houre judging every particle of time a great advantage not knowing what a moment might bring forth They within not satisfied with the former intelligence sent out two other Spies with a double signall first one fire on the side of a hill to signifie their escapes and two fires on the same place if they heard good newes which latter was accordingly performed and beheld by us The fifth of September was appointed for a publike Fast to be kept by such as might be spared from labour This day we discovered their carriages marching from the leaguer and their horse and foot marching after yet we were not confident of the raising of the siege till the men were drawn out of the trenches and the reer-guard fired their huts We then perceived that God had sent a deliverance and that in the close of a solemn Fast as a gracious returne of prayer This evening the Lord Generall came to the brow of the hills seven miles from the Town and fired a warning piece but by reason of the contrary winds the report was not heard neither did the newes reach us that night Wherefore we did not venture upon the Reere of the enemy with our slender and wearied forces but kept as strong and watchfull guards as any time before presuming that reliefe at hand had raised the enemy yet suspecting that in point of honour they would attempt something worthy of a Royall Army But abiding before us to the last extremity they were driven away with great confusion after so many vowes of victory and revenge when their mines batteries and engines were in readinesse This hurry preserved the Countrey from injury which by them was devoted to ruine His Majesty was forced to leave the Town behinde him and constrained to a tedious march in that tempestuous rainy night their carriages were not got up the hills till the next morning which distraction was not known to us and the Generals Army was tired with long and continuall marches The admirable care of providence was beheld in the season of our reliefe when all things were prepared by the enemy for a generall storme our ammunition consumed but three single barrels of powder left in our magazine and not so much more elsewhere in the little harm done by their Cannon and Morter-pieces that sent amongst us so many terrible messengers Our lost men taken or slain did not amount to the number of fifty and of these but two Officers were slain Captain Harcus and the Governours Ensign yet we killed of the Enemy who never ventured an assault above a thousand men by the lowest confession The King expended much in Ammunition Engines and keeping together the discontented Souldiers besides the losse of his pretious time in that full tyde of Victory Here was a bound set to the swelling of those proud waves and the rock that split that Army when the Queen was sayd to be transported with passion because her counsell was not followed who advised the King to wave Gloucester and advance for London whilst the Parliament had no Army in the field the number of Malignants in the City did equall the rest began to rayse tumults and the actions of State were unresolved This City diverted the enemies thoughts from that rare opportunity which not so conscious of the Kingdoms weaknesse held up beyond reason and gave a breathing time to the State to effect its own reliefe Great was the failing of the Kings hopes in this defeat who by the gaining of this town would have held an undivided uninterrupted command and the granary of the Kingdome in the heart of his Country on the West bounded with the Sea cleare through the middle of the Land to the Northerne parts where also the Earl of Newcastles Army prevailed and in breadth reaching from the utmost Wales to the London Association and backed with Ireland with whom an Accommodation was then preparing Neverthelesse the raising of the siege was but an unperfect deliverance The successe of the Generals Army with the supply of our wants were to make it compleat For the enemy continually lay at our doores commerce was clean taken away and we farre distant from the fountaine of future supplies Wherefore during the stay of his Excellency parties of horse were continually sent abroad to fetch in provisions out of the Enemies quarters and Malignants estates The Granary was quickly filled The Generall left three Culverins forty single barrels of Gunpowder and set the Garrison in order The London Train-Bands and Auxiliaries supposing the work already done and the date of their Commission expired earnestly contended homewards yet must they break their way through the Kings Army and give him some further blow to secure and perfect the reliefe of this Garrison for
our relief and in thought have already divided the spoyle Sir William Vavasour willing to act something in the latter end of the day to repaire his credit in the Kings Army desired a greater strength with a sufficient Artillery to distresse and straiten Gloucester and having obtained two Culverins from Oxford with a proportion of powder he advanced with a strong Brigade towards Painswick with unusuall preparations and expectation Their march afflicted the Country and indangered our out-garrisons The enemy were confident to the last that extremity would compell us to yeild up all to their mercy Sir William Vavasour entred Painswicke with as gallant horse and foot as the Kings Army did yeild Here the Governour had placed a guard in a house neer the Church into which the Church also was taken in by a Breast work of Earth The intention of the guard was to command contribution and keepe off a plundering party and order was given to the Lieutenant which commanded to maintaine it against a lesser party but if the maine body and Artillery advanced upon them to relinquish it and retreate down the Hill to Bruckthrop where the Governour had set a guard to prevent the Enemies falling down into the bottome for which purpose they were assisted with a Troop of horse to make good such a Retreate if need were But the Lieutenant more confident of the place and not understanding the strength of the Army and not willing to draw off before the last minute was inforced by the Enemy to engage himselfe and many willing people of the Neighbourhood in that weak hold and upon the first onset deserted the house being the stronger part and betook himselfe to the Church which wanting flankers the Enemy had quickly gained by firing the doores and casting in hand-Granadoes some few were slaine in defending the place and the rest taken prisoners We lost three inferior Officers seaven and thirty common Souldiers and many Country men At that season the Governour had commanded to Stroud another guard of fifty Musketiers to support and strengthen the place in its own defence But Ammunition was their only cry which struck us dead and constrained the Governour to withdraw that party to the garrison at Essington For our Magazine did then yeild no more then six single barrells of powder by which meanes he was wholly disabled to encounter the Enemy Only to preserve the bottome he drew forth the greatest part of both Regiments with their Colours display'd to flourish at a distance and summoned the Volunteers of the Country whom himselfe had engaged in a posture of defence These were to increase the appearance of strength by day and at night to guard the severall passages So that the Enemy durst not adventure below the Hills nor seek us in our advantages nor was it safe for us who wanted horse to set upon them in those large and open places Either party kept their own ground They wasted the Hill Countries whilst we secured the Vale and the Souldiers sustained hard duty in marching to and fro to give the Country satisfaction where the Enemy prevailed they plundered to the bare walls and this was the accomplishment of the great service so long expected from Sir William Vavasour This Brigade upon the defeate of Sir Ralph Hoptons Army by Sir William Waller at Charrington Down was commanded hence and instantly marched for Cirencester and so to Oxford our horse made after them but could not recover the Reare only they lighted upon some straglers and in the whole businesse we killed and took near fifty men This diversion relieved Gloucester which else had bin blocked up to the Gates and cast into as great necessity as ever In this pinch we received twelve horse loade of Ammunition strangely conveyed between the Enemies garisons only by the Carriers and a foot post when their designed convoy that set forth a little after and missed them gave them for lost and returned to Warwicke The residue of the relief was stolne by parcells through the enemies Quarters for though their greater body was drawn off yet were we still vexed with their garrisons Not long after there arrived another portion and three Troopes of horse to make up the Governours Regiment At length came Lieutenant Colonell Ferrar that had the command of these succours with a little long expected pay for the Garrison As for the Foote Souldiers that came with him out of London in regard they came severall wayes and at severall times in a lingering march with want of pay and some taken prisoners about fifty came to Gloucester and of the rest no good account could be given When Vavasour was called off the Enemy revived and grew bold under a more active Leader Colonell Nicholas Min who commanded the Irish Brigade In the first entrance hee began to lash out and made assayes of action cut down the Bridge at Masemore allarmed the City from the Vineyard Hill and took divers of our men that issued out upon a sally over the River in a boate At this present there came dayly cries for the reliefe of Brampton Castle in the remote parts of Herefordshire which held out a long time in the midst of the Enemies Country to the expense of much time and bloud And their succour was the more importuned by the rage of the Enemy which had lately acted their cruelties upon fourty prisoners of the same command taken by Colonell Woodhouse in Hopton Castle which were basely murthered after the surrender Colonell Massie had no forces under his command to undertake a march through the midst of the Enemy when they pressed hard on our own borders and the Brigade of horse assigned for the Convoy and commanded by Commissary Generall Bher were unwilling to undertake the service Yet while these horse remained here the Governour desired to set them a worke that they might not act only to the spoyle of the Country Wherefore they joyned with a party of our foot and made an attempt upon Newent Colonell Mins garrison but were called off in the midst of the service by a speciall order from the L. Generall The Enemy have lost the hopes of their Winter action and this garrison made the best of a bad game in continuall petty services and small parties yet beyond the strength of the place not to conquer but live nor to destroy the Kings Forces but to stave off or delude them But to enable Colonell Massie to march with a better strength Colonell Purefoy with his Regiment of horse about the first of April 1644 was by the Committeè of both Kingdome commanded into these parts and the maine designe was to remove or take in the garrisons that lay round the City These horse having brought but a slender part of the Ammunition and none of the Armes that were sent from London were remanded to Warwicke for the Convoy of Match and Powder The Governour resolving not to undertake a march or action of time without a proportion of Powder
to secure themselves from spoyle and the souldiers violence Neverthelesse as the personall estates of all knowne delinquents within the reach of this command were seized and the profits of their Lands sequestred so these men were not to be ignorant or insensible of the value of their peace Concerning some the Governour desired the direction of the Houses yet granted Protections with strict provisoes onely to preserve their persons from the violence and their estates from the plunder of the common souldier for the advantage of the publique till a full conviction or the pleasure of the Houses were by themselves or their Committee made known And this he did according to the Parliaments undeniable justice and the example of other generall Officers As for the moderate offenders unlesse the state of things did require or permit their utter destruction he had no other way but to endeavour to make them our friends and confidents and since it was resolved they must live amongst us hee desired by love and gentle dealing to hold the way secure and open that they might imbrace the condition without discontent or feare and for these protections hee reserved nothing to himselfe but caused the moneys to be paid in to the publique Treasurer for the use of the garrison Neither was he sluggish in the spring of action but immediately fell upon another designe the surprisall of Tewkesbury by an unexpected onset For the enemy by the number of their men and the naturall strength of the place with the workes well begun were sufficiently provided to receive an expected and open storme and the Governour shun'd all desperate hazzards because he did not march with supernumerary forces but the maine strength of Gloucester Wherefore to deceive the enemy the foot were drawne forth at the West-gate bearing the shew of an advance into Herefordthire and the Horse kept their Rendezvouz and looked the same way But in the evening the horse came backe and marched through Gloucester towards Tewkesbury having first sent a guard to Upton-bridge while the foot came on beyond Severne The designe had taken effect had not the foot by their slow march or mis-guidance passed the houre which was breake of day for they came not before the Towne till an houre after Sunne rising when we were found not sit to assault a waking and prepared enemy To withdraw neverthelesse did seeme but a feeble businesse for such a faire body of horse and foot displayed before the Towne and carried before it the appearance of a baffle yet the Governour though naturally jealous of honour could digest such mis-fezance when the safety of his owne men required knowing that the opportunity of service would in good time cancell a mis-grounded ignominy and in his whole course whensoever the present exigence did not urge a greater hazzard neglected the hopes of those victories that could not be gained without the weakning of that party on which the maine rest did lie This party was presently sent over the River and marched toward Rosse to prevent the joyning of Colonell Myn now made Commander in chiefe in the roome of Sir William Vavasour with Sir John Winter and the Welsh forces as also to raise moneys for the garrison out of the remoter parts to enlarge our owne quarters engage the Countrey with us or to lie ready for all occasions of service There our horse and foot arrived with two pieces of Ordnance and found Wilton-bridge guarded by Captaine Cassie and thirty Musketiers from Gudridge-castle a party of our horse advanced upon them forced the River and got beyond them after some dispute beat off the guard wounded and tooke the Captaine slew many of his men and tooke the rest in the chase almost up to the Castle Our forces rested here a few daies and summoned the Countrey to appeare it being the Governours constant endeavour to adde daily friends unto the Parliament and to put the Countrey into such a posture that upon all alarms they might gather to an head for their owne defence and hereupon many came in and declared themselves by taking the Nationall Covenant Whilst the engagement of the Countrey was thus prosecuted some emergent occasions drew the Governour to Gloucester where he found a prisoner Captaine Oglethorpe Governour of Beverston-castle a man rendred odious to the Countrey by strange oppressions and tyranny and who lost himselfe basely being taken by some of our Scouts in a private house courting his Mistresse and when once taken not so high and sterne before but now as vile and abject By which meanes the Governour was made sensible of the weakenesse of the Castle but much divided in his owne thoughts whether to leave the Countrey that came on so fairely to a selfe-engagement and neglect the Contribution already levied but not payd in or desert the hopes of agallant service till at last considering the great command of the Castle that the gaining of it would free the Clothiers of Stroudwater from the bondage and terrour of that government might prove a great detriment and annoyance to the enemy in stopping or disturbing their passage from Oxford to Bristoll he turned his thoughts to the businesse put on and resolved to try for it Wherefore he drew from Rosse without delay and commanded his foot over Severne at Newnham passage whilst the horse marched through Gloucester the next day he came before Beverston and demanded the Castle in the name of the King and Parliament The Lieutenant that commanded at the first returne sent an answer of complyance farre from the language of a souldier and without one confident expression They quickly came to a parley and rendered upon conditions that both Officers and common Souldiers leaving their Armes Ammunition Bagge and Baggage should freely passe to whatsoever garrison of the Kings themselves desired onely foure Officers had the priviledge to take each man his horse So that without losse or danger we were possest of Beverston-castle to the great content and satisfaction of the Countrey round about 'T was lost unworthily on the enemies part who might have held it with ease Of so great simplicity was he conscious that commanded the Garrison as to aske the place whether our forces intend the next march expressing his doubts of Malmesbury and feare of being taken the second time Neverthelesse they required a conduct thitherward and were guard d along by two Troops of horse and that very day our forces fell before it Whilst the horse faced the Towne Colonell Massie sent in the Summons but this enemy put on the appearance of bravery fired upon the horse and Colonell Henry Howard Governour of the Garrison sent backe a resolute answer Thereupon our foot and artillery were brought up from Tedbury and within two houres drawne into the Suburbs and lower part of the Towne The foot broke their way through the houses till they came almost up to the workes and the onely place of entrance into the Towne which is built upon the levell of
so neere Bristoll and farre from releife especially in the Winter Nor at that season could they draw off without a stronger Guard and Convoy To this end the Governour marched to Kingscoate with three hundred Horse and Dragoones intending to send a party to bring off that Garrison but receiving advertisement of a Regiment of Horse quartered that night in Sâ—dbury he fell downe thither where he found an enemy there arrived to the assistance of Colonell Gernard against Tate-House here he resolved to undertake them that night and had no sooner appeared at the Townes end but the first Guard fledde and our men marched into the Town one by one because of the enemyes baracadoes went up to the maine Guard consisting of forty Horse who being surprized daunted at the sudden entrance of our men and not confiding in their owne strength quitted the place and left the rest in their quarters most of which escaped on foote by the backe side of the Towne We tooke fourescore Horses many Armes twenty prisoners and of them two Captaines and the next morning brought off the forlorne Garrison In the depth of Winter when each parcell of the Parliaments Army had retired into London or the securer parts of that Association and the Kings forces were dispersed into the severall quarters Cirencester and the hill Country of Gloucestershire was assigned to Sir Jacob Ashley having the Command of three Brigades of foote and assisted with the Queenes Prince Ruperts Prince Maurices and the Lord Wilmots Regiments of Horse with others His designe was to destroy the Countrey and live upon the ruines thereof whose incursions on that side and the Bristoll forces about Berkely with the Worcester Hereford and Monmouth forces on the other side act something daily to the spoyle of a miserable Countrey which is left as the Kingdomes forlorne hope and croucheth daily betweene two burdens The distressed Neighbourhoode did seeme to challenge those severall Armyes then in being which lay rusting in their quarters to keepe the Associated Countyes where no feare was when they might prevent the ruine of their freinds and starve the enemy who live upon our fatnesse when they might hinder the Kings Recruits disturbe their Winter calmes and make them fight for the possession and enjoyment of their owne Territoryes But in the deepe silence of that part of the Kingdome these parts are borne downe by the maine Bulke of the Kings Army without the least inablement at present or the hopes of future releife The enemyes whole burden rests upon this Government Colonell Massie placed a Guard at Lypiat commanded a party of Horse and Dragoones to Strouds a place most exposed to spoyle and set Guardes of Horse at severall places of advantage These Guardes affronted Sir Jacob Ashley in the stoppe of Contribution and Plunder the indignation whereof drew him out of Cirencester with foure Regiments of Horse to Hampton Roade where he divided his men and sent them out three severall wayes to surprze our Horse in their quarters and plunder the Countrey Each party fayled of the designe through the favour of Providence to that well affected people At each Guardes some few that tooke the Alarme did encounter and stave off the enemyes first violence till the rest of a few slender troopes were drawne up and encouraged by the Governours fortunate arrivall from Gloucestershire at that instant charged and overcame a farre greater power which were also engaged to fight by their heavy plunder and difficult returne In the whole about eight or nine slaine and twenty of the best men of the Queenes and Princes Regiment taken prisoners and of these one Captaine and Cornet The successe did revive and engage the Countrey Yet after a few dayes Sir Jacob Ashley marched out of Cirencester with a greater power of Horse and Foote and assaulted the Guard at Lypiat in the absence of the Captaine that commanded there with instructions from the Governour to draw off if at any time an Army fell downe But the House being unfortifyed was soone taken and uncapable of defence where we lost a Lieutenant and fifty private Souldiers At which very time we had lodged three hundred foote within Muserden House sent thither the day before with orders to defend it as a Garrison who had no knowledge of the enemyes approach till they came within halfe a mile They remained in the House according to command but in no defensible posture neverthelesse expecting the Onset every moment The surprizall of these men was prevented by a meere accident of the Governours Arrivall who faced the great Body with no more then sixty Horse till the Foote were drawne off the Hills That the strength of the Kings Army should lie upon us was not strange but that no care was had of a competent provision for a deserving Country was beyond the conceit of them that beheld our misery The enemy were strong in horse and our few divided into so many parcells and swallowed up in the petty guards that no sooner could we drawe to the rescue of one side but the forces on the other hand fell on to the ruine of the poore people The Governor knowes no remedy but by daily shifting motions and becomes an Ubiquitary He can attempt no designe but first in his owne person faceth the Enemy on the contrary side and fills them with the alarme of his presence Sir Jacob Ashley sends Warrants for contributions to the gates of Gloucester The forces from Hereford were marched forth to Canon-Froome towards Lidbury whereupon the Governor advanced with a party of horse and foote as farre as Bosbury waiting for action but staied onely for a night having placed guards towards Worcester and Hereford in the most passible wayes for the Enemies approach and fell into one of their quarters tooke a Captaine and his Cornet with some common Troopers and fifteene horses the Enemy falling downe from Cirensester suddenly fetches home this party Whiles these things happened the Governour received a command from the Committee of both Kingdoms to attempt Campden House newly Garrisoned by the Kings forces under Sir Henry Bard and the horse of Warwicke and Coventry by command of the same Committee were to aide and receive Orders from him in the prosecution of this designe Colonell Massie tooke courage to resolve them of the incapacitie of that service for the present since it could not be done without greater losse to the State then the fortune of the action could countervaile for it was a worke of continuance that required our whole strength and that side of the Country from which we drew must be given up to destruction and the Enemy waited no greater advantage then to fasten the Governor upon a tedious enterprize besides the intendment was unvailed in all those parts that were required to send aide and before the Orders of the grand Committee came to his hand the London Mercuries had proclamed it to the world The Earl of Worcester the Lord Herbert and their
which the representative Body of the Kingdome thinks fit For a third party cannot be in England And therefore they have no way of safety or justification in this action but a speedy declaration for the Parliament from whom they would finde security and protection and after assurance of fidelity a setling of the Countrey to their owne likings He gave them likewise to understand that the charge of the Parliament in maintaining the Souldiers and of the Countrey in contribution did thence arise that the people being disingaged in person might looke to their Husbandry declaring withall that the disunion of the Country not understanding their interest in the Parliament was the sole cause of the entertayning of Souldiers For had the whole Kingdome rose in time and expressed themselves of this opinion that they would stand up as one man against the Popish partie and enemy of their Countrey the worke had beene long since done But their drawing backe put the Parliament upon this way of raysing Armes upon their stocke and expence or the Kingdome must needs fall He minded them likewise that if they lost this opportunity of closing with the Parliament nothing but destruction would follow that if they closed with Hereford and composed the difference this compliance might last till Prince Ruperts returne and then they must looke to pay for this rebellion but if they purpose at last to fall in with Rupert it would hasten their bondage yet givethem no security This kinde of entercourse passed betweene Colonell Massie and the Countrey people meane while he drew backe to Rosse waiting the event of this commotion but not engaging himselfe amidst a promiscuous and doubtfull multitude He represented likewise to the Committee of both Kingdomes what advantage the gaining and disadvantage the losse of this opportunity might be to the whole worke that their expressions of their esteeme of himselfe and his gentle dealing with them were great that the weaknesse of his forces cheifely of Horse was the maine businesse that caused the Major Part to decline his invitation importuning them if they desired to gaine this partie as also a leading party to the whole Kingdome to send a considerable strength of Horse and if the forces saide to be intended had come to him when fifteene thousand appeared in Armes before Hereford and of them sixe thousand Musqueteers and some well mounted he had gained a full testimony of compliance with the Parliament and drawne them with ease to aide him against Prince Ruperts Army when they were in the moode so farre incensed and inraged And to compleate the designe a Recruite for the Regiments of Horse was necessary and that the Auxiliaries should bring along their meanes of entertainment for the sending of strength without money did more wound then heale us for the Souldiers challenge their pay or plunder And as it was hatefull to the Governour so the State of the Countrey would not permit him to spend his time in gathering contribution But for want of a just and due supply these men were lost to us and to themselves also concluding a peace with the Governour of Hereford and obnoxious and open to the Kings Army Hereupon Colonell Massie marched from Rosse and passed the Seaverne towards Berkely purposing to joyne with Sir William Waller who was noysed to be come into the Borders of this Countrey when the day before some of the Berkely forces had issued out towards our Garrison at Slimbridge but ere they could retreate to the Castle the Garrison forces fell upon them slewe twelve wherof one Captain an Irish Rebell and took twenty five prisoners whereof two were Captaines and one Leiutenant The Governour with his party advanced thence towards Chipping-Sodbury where Colonell Strange with a party of Horse began to fortify but upon the notice of our Advance retreated to Berkely No sooner had the Herefordshire men disbanded and returned to their owne houses but Prince Rupert falls backe out of Shropshire and comes upon them with his whole Army The noise of his Arrivall doth hasten the Governours returne to Gloucester who drew thence two hundred Horse and five hundred foote into the Borders of Herefordshire where many of the Countrey people resorted unto him some with fire weapons some with others but the want of strength especially of Horse render'd him of little capacity to preserve them The people having good desires but daunted with the greatnesse of the enemy and the slendernesse of our forces were wholly lost Sir William Waller was importuned to draw this way or to send a strong party which might prove of the greatest advantage to the Kingdome when the Princes designe was to lye on that Countrey to recruite his Army with men horses and money for the Spring action and the approach of the Parliaments Army and would not onely bring in the Countrey and make them firme to their service but disappoint if not destroy Prince Ruperts Army at that time the greatest in the Kingdome being a confluence of the forces of Prince Rupert Prince Maurice Colonell Gerard Lord Hastings Lord Ashly Sir Marmaduke Langdale These men beare all before them take mens Persons spoyle their Estates disarme the Countrey reape the benefit of the late insurrection and extract money by force and terrour from the poore people whose destruction as well as their late rising in Armes is wholly lost to the Parliament and serve onely to make up the enemies recruite The Princes impresse men in great abundance in Hereford Monmouch Worcestershire raise great summes of money get good store of Armes necessity in part casting them upon such ways of violence and coercive power And though the prest men were of suspected fidelity and lesse value and had often deceived them in the heate of battell yet they conduced to the sudden forming of an Army when the Kings Affaires grew desperate and thrust in with the old Volunteers made up the bulke of a great Body Thus both the strength and the ruines of the Countrey are left to the enemy when by the aide of twelve hundred Horse in the beginning of this insurrection the hopes of the businesse might without vanity promise the Parliament many thousand fighting men of all sorts besides those already in pay Sir John Winter the plague of the Forrest once more importuned the releife of Lidney House and obtaines from the Prince about two thousand Horse and fifteene hundred foot who breake in to destroy the Countrey and disarme the Inhabitants The Governour with what strength he can make marched to Wesbury and quartered within a mile and a halfe of the enemy and gave order to the Guards that beset Lidney that the foote be drawne off to the Garrison of Nast and Highmeadow and the Horse repaire to the Randevouze which was done without losse when the Forrest was full of the enemy He preserved likewise the lower parts neere the river but for want of horse wherein the enemy did abound could not without extreame hazard and
losse advance to the further parts where they kept their Randevouze and which they laide wast plundering the houses to the bare walls driving all the cattell siezing upon the persons of men and sending them Captives to Monmouth and Chepstow except such as escaped to us by flight as many did with their Armes and some few that saved themselves in Woods and Minepitts The enemy did not adventure into the lower and neerer places where our foot lay ready and resolved to undertake theirs if they came on Our Neighbouring parts of Hereford and Worcestershire runne the like fortune with these in the Forrest and looke blacke upon this Garrison which was not able to preserve them The Kings forces returned the second time into the Forrest and tooke the gleanings of the former Harvest yet the neerer parts are still prrserved The enemy raised themselves to a great power already reputed sixe thousand horse and foote and seeme to endeavour Northward wherefore the Governour intending to helpe the Countrey by driving up the Reare of their march or to put in for any service advanced to Lidbury with foure hundred horse and five hundred foot his whole marching strength notwithstanding the addition of two hundred and fifty Horse from Northampton and Warwicke and with this party attended the enemyes motion Hither Prince Rupert advanced with the best part of his Army of whose approach neither spye nor Scout from the Out-guards made the least discovery till they came within halfe a mile of the Towne horse and foote to surprize or at least to surround us The Governour instantly commanded the Horse to mount and drew up the foote though not in so good order as he might by reason of the sudden Alarme and suspecting what he afterwards founde that the Prince would endeavour to compasse him in he marched off the foot with all due speed that the enemyes right or left wing might not get before us which they endeavored by sending one party to the Towns end to keep us in action there whilst two other parties fetched a compasse upon either hand In the meane while he brought up those few horse that were not upon the Out-guards to charge the enemy at their first entrance and placed an Ambuscado of twenty Musqueteeres to make good the retreate But the businesse was acted so that the Governour in person with the Field Officers and Captaines were enforced to entertaine the enemy with severall charges and beare their brunt alone till the foote had ridde some ground before them In this part of the skirmish their losse was the greatest for number of ours only Major Backehouse mortally wounded the Governour whom the Prince aimed to charge had his horse wounded under him by two severoll shots Our men drew off as was meete made good the retreat three or foure miles to the enemyes losse till they came up to a place of shelter when hasting to get before the right wing of the enemyes horse they were put into some confusion And the Horse having no great desire to fight neglected the advantage of the place to stop the pursuit though the Governour endeavoured what he could to engage them That the enemy fell in among the Reare Guard of the foote where he lost neare two hundred men taken prisoners many Country men being taken in to make up the number This businesse cost them the lives of some gallrnt Officers and the Prince missed his aime of surprizing Colonell Massye but the Governour supposed the stay of the Princes march an advantage to the Service Neverthelesse the Army continued some dayes after betweene Hereford and Worcester recruiting dayly and seeme to put much confidence in the Country whom they cause not onely to abjure the Parliament but binde over to themselves by solemne oath swearing in the presence of God That they beleeve no power of Pope or Parliament can depose the King and obsolve them from their naturall obedience to his Royall Person and Successors that the two Houses of Parliament without the Kings consent have no power to make Lawes or to binde or oblige the subjects by their Ordinances that they beleeve the Earl of Essex and Manchester and Sir Thomas Fairsaxe Sir William Waller Colonell Massie together with all such as have already or shall hereafter take up Armes by Authority or commission from the members of Parliament at Westminster pretending to fight for King and Parliament doe thereby become actuall Rebells and as such ought with all their adherents and partakers to be presented and brought to condigne punishment that they will never beare Armes in their quarrell but will if they be thereto called assist their Soveraine and his Armies in the defence of his Royall Person Crowne and Dignity against all contrary forces to the utmost of their skill and power and with the hazard of their lives and fortunes that they will not discover the secresies of his Majesties Army unto the Rebells nor hold any correspondence with them and all designes of theirs against the Kings Army for the surprizing or delivering up of the Cities of Hereford or Worcester or any other of his Majesties Forts they shall truly discover to those whom it shall concern so soone as it comes to their knowledge That his Majesties taking up Armes for the causes by himselfe so often declared in Print is justly necessary That they shall endeavour all they can to hinder popular tumults risings randevouzes meetings confederacies and associations of the people townes hundreds and countries which are not warranted to assemble by his Majesties expresse commission or by power derived from him by vertue of his Commissions and in the sense he meanes it and that they detest from their heart that seditious and traiterous late invented nationall covenant and protest never to take it All these particulars they vow and protest sinceerely to obsolve without Equivocation or mentall Reservation This Pretestation was strictly injoyned by the Princes to be taken by all without exception in the Counties of Mounmouth Glamorgan Breeknoâ—ke Radnor Hereford and Worcester Neverthelesse this constained act could not knit the hearts of a male-contented Country to the love of that side nor could the State permit the enemies exaction and violence by this vow eternally to binde up the people from well-doing The Princes Army is the maine rest of the Kings Affaires which they strengthen daily by impressing the Countrey taking in lesser Brigades and draining the Garrisons and a part of Gorings Army passed over the Seaverne from Bristoll into Wales and so to Rupert at Hereford After a little stay to perfect the recruite the enemy drew thence the Infantery and Artillery lay betweene Worcester and Beaudly commanded by Sir Jacob Ashley whilest Rupert and Maurice with the horse and some select foote fetch off the King from Oxford assisted also with Gorings Horse and Dragoones who left his Majesty at Stew and marched backe over the hills into the West through our Borders The Governour received another dropping
valuable person was active in his own place The usuall outcryes of women were not then heard the weakenesse of whose sexe was not overcome by the terrible Engines of warre And our becalmed spirits did implore divine assistance without consusion The Governour personally performed ready at every turning of affaires and gracing the businesse with speech and gesture upon the least intimation of diffidence he pretended rationall hopes of successe adding withall that our late yeelding could not mollifie the Kings Army and if in the close we must needs be lost no suter meanes of safety then by the utmost gallantry to constraine honourable conditions The Enemy still prepared for a generall storm mean while seeking to waste our Magazine which they knew must needs suddenly fayl expended their own store and dayly acted to the terrour of the inhabitants shooting Granadoes Fire-bals and great stones out of their Morter-peeces and had now planted a Battery on the Southside westward unto which the lower part of the Town was open Thence in one night they shot above twenty fiery melting hot iron Bullets some eighteen pound weight others two and twenty pound weight which were seen to fly through the ayre like the shooting of a starre They passed through stables and ricks of hay where the fire by the swiftnesse of the motion did not catch and falling on the tops of houses presently melted the leads and sunk through but all the skill and industry of the enemy could not set one house on fire They still playd their great shot against the wals and wrought hard in filling up the Moat with faggots and earth at the place where they battered where also they built a Gallery over the head of the Trench the breadth of foure abreast in the shelter whereof they had almost workt themselves over the Moat Then we found that they had sunk a Mine under the East Gate whereupon the Governour commanded a Counter-mine in two places but finding the Springs left off conceiving for the same reason the endeavour of the enemy to no purpose To discover or interrupt this work a Serjeant with five daring men were put forth at a port hole in the dungeon at the East gate came close to the mouth of their mine took off the board that covered it and for a while viewed the miners One of these cast in a hand-Granado amongst them whilst the foure musketiers played upon them as they ran forth and with the noise of our men from the walls gave the whole leager a strong alarm and crept in at the port-hole without harm Wherefore discovering that the enemy notwithstanding the springs went on with their mine we renewed our countermine for they had sunk a great depth under the moat and extreamly toyled in drawing up the spring water till at length they had gotten under the gate that our miners could heare them work under them and did expect to spoyle them by pouring in water or stealing out their powder For a remedy to this mischiefe and withall the enemy having planted store of Canon baskets within half musketshot of the East gate point blank intending a battery there upon the springing of their mine We made a very strong work crosse the street with a large trench before it and filled it with water intending to raise it up to the Eaves of the houses and to plant some Cannon there we answered their severall approaches by so many counter works A sconce was built upon a rising ground that looked into their trenches where we could plant foure piece of Ordnance to cleare within the wals a ground called the Friars Orchard southward and scoure their flank upon their entrance at the East gate and so northward Also an inner work was drawn from the south side along the middle of the Orchard and all passages stopt between that and the East port And to hinder their gallery we began to undermine for a place to put forth a peece of Ordnance at the bottom of the wall to batter the flank thereof which was perfected and a saker there placed Commanded men were drawn out upon the walls Granadoes provided and when the great Gun played upon the gallery the musketiers sent plenty of shot and cast divers Granadoes into their trenches in the mean while they firing their Ordnance against the top of the wall we cut off a maine beame of the gallery with our bolt shot But the same day the enemy had sunk a piece against the port-hole of out mine and forced us to withdraw the sakre yet we cast them back three dayes work And because all this side of the Town had no flankers nothing did more offend the enemy in their entrenchments then an old Barne at a corner point near the North Port in which was mounted a Peece that commanded three severall wayes and obliquely looked into their Trenches and oft times did good execution upon the pioners This was the chiefe strength of that side conceived the weakest part of the Town Vpon the Key head an halfe moon was raysed with a breast-work upon Seavern side under the Castle and the river chained to defend an assault from those high grounds beyond the river which was ever feared by those within His Majesty constantly residing at a miles distance would not solemnly invite by publique Summons lest hee should detract from the honour of his enterprize Neverthelesse those about him dealt underhand by sundry advertizements of the Kings displeasure threatnings perswasions and many intimations of possible grace and favour Some of our neighbours in their own names desired admission to a conference and perswaded the Surrender of the City in regard of the great power and terrible menacings of the enemy with the small hopes and in a manner impossibility of reliefe adding withall the heavy burthens under which the Countrey groaned The Governour made answer that we were sufficiently conscious of our own strength and the ground of our resolution and that we did not think our selves obliged to the enemy for the hopes and offers of favour These manifold perswasions made the besieged more obstinate and enabled them to understand themselves as a people worthy of entreaty a prize worth the purchase and in no wise lost or desperate the enemies themselves being Iudges As the â—ouldiers within were heated with their own performance so the enemy without being wasted in a lingering design before the houre of service came grew feeble in their own thoughts and to us contemptible Our common souldiers took to themselves a liberty to revile prevented and confounded the enemy with the self-same language in which they were wont to abuse and scorne our party which contumely though it begets a more deadly hatred and desire of revenge in generous mindes at that time did deject exceedingly and debase the spirits of their private souldiers who had never performed one gallant atchievement and to whom the sturdinesse of our men was well known The slownesse of their design in that form of
so confident were the enemy of their own strength that many thought his Majesty ill-advised in not fighting with the Earle of Essex neare Gloucester wherefore the Generall was to secure this retreat to take heed lest he be penned up in these parts and with that speed made after the Kings Army which by this time had gotten some miles in the Van of our Army that some horse and foot out of the remote quarters marched above thirty miles before they rested They came up before Cirencester where the King had left a strong party The forlorne hope entred the Town whilst the rest surrounded it killed the Sentinell sleeping marched up to the Market Place without opposition the enemy supposing them Prince Maurice his Forces that night expected till they entred the houses and surprized them in bed took foure hundred men and thirty Cart-loades of bread cheese and other provisions a great reliefe in a wasted Countrey and the only support of the Souldiers against the Battle at Newbery The successe of which Battell did close up with honour that happy and gallant undertaking of the Lord Generall and the Citizens of London As brave a service as these Warres can shew forth enobled by its wonderfull rise lively progresse nimble expedition admirable fortune and honourable conclusion Notwithstanding his Excellency had hereby disabled and broken the Kings Army and secured the Garrison of Gloucester from a sudden reverse yet his own Army was sorely bruised and retiring to London left but a little burthen upon the Enemy on that side By which meanes they were free to molest these parts and this Garrison left to beat the brunt provide for it selfe and run the danger though not of an other siege yet of blocking up and ruine by the spoyle of our Countrey which that party decreed to destruction and the Enemy at the doore and the distance of our friends did threaten no lesse Not a man could be left by the Generall to encrease our strength nor money to content the Souldier there was only an assurance of help from the Parliament when the arreares of Officers and Souldiers were large the Governour made certaine propositions to the Parliament concerning the support of this place That since at such a distance he could not expect a constant supply they would send down at once ten thousand pounds and a thousand men farre below the places due according to the termes of the Souldiers entertainment might set things in a thriving way and enable the Souldier to act of themselves without those continuall cravings and out-cryes against the State Vpon which termes the activenesse of this Government gave assurance of the framing of an Army to master the Countrey then enthralled to the enemy yea to lie upon the enemies quarters consume their store distresse their cheife Garrisons of Bristoll and Oxford and endanger the rest as Hereford and Worcester and stop their supply of men and money Such a strong beginning had been more then halfe way to the end of the work But the State seemed to walk in a frugall course and desire a daily dropping of reliefe rather then to entrust much which is not the way of great performance nor can bring to the end of the design when as this rationall adventure might give the encrease of an hundredfold and upon the failing hereof the greatest mischiefe could bee no more then the losse of that expence Wherefore they voted a supply and raised men and moneys in a languishing way that those five hundred listed for Gloucester were reduced to a fifty ere they could reach us and the greatest part of the money squandred away without a sensible advantage to this Garrison After Newbery fight Sir William Vavasour was sent to Hereford with a strong party to raise Forces in those parts with Commission to command in chiefe in the Countreys of Gloucester and Hereford and a command from his Majestie to distresse Gloucecester on the Welch side and to Garrison Tewkesbury Colonell Massie was not satisfied in keeping his own Garrison but eager of continuall service to destroy or disable the enemy for which no other place in the Kingdome was conceived capable of the like advantage Wherefore by himselfe urged he set upon the Parliament with importunate complaints that for lack of strength great opportunities of service to us and disservice to them were lost And a greater mischiefe did exercise this government the want of men and money and ammunition to defend it selfe upon which extreme scarsity of provision was like to follow and in these hopes did the enemy blesse themselves so that the advantage and honour of maintaining the City against the violence of an Army was like to vanish in the lingring death of the place And the Governour was about to embrace an other command in the Generalls Army yet reserving a submission to the Parliaments pleasure who required him to continue his service in this Government This charge was surrounded with difficulties and each day brought forth some new birth When the enemy begirt us in their Winter quarters the hopes of our promised succours were past without the Convoy of an Army Not one Gentleman of the Countrey durst be seen to assist us no Member of Parliament did reside here to encourage the businesse All things rested upon the Governours sole care both to store the Garrison with provisions and raise money out of that small pittance of the Countrey out of the enemies hands The discontent of the Souldier was now heigthned and ready to cause a disbanding To make good the place was the Parliaments command and inevitable necessity was the cheifest law to support it Wherefore apprehending more misery then in the late siege the Governor was constrained to lay some easie taxation on the Countrey to supply the present exigence whilst the enemies power extended on all sides almost to the Gates of Gloucester Hereupon daily complaints were brought before him that the taxes were unequally rated by the Officers of the severall Parishes that such as were broken by the enemy were rated as high as if their Estates were entire The Governour represented these things to the Parliament earnestly begged their direction in his intended course which by them was not in one syllable contradicted Wherefore at a Councell of Warre the condition of the Countrey was debated upon and an order made that some Officers Citizens should be intreated as a Committee to hear and rectifie the complaints concerning assessements and to use that moderation which reason did require Not long after a petition was presented to the Governour in the name of the Countrey That one Monthly rate without other charge might be imposed upon them likewise that the rate might be made according to equity and the poore spared that the money might bee paid in to the common Treasurer whence it should issue as necessity required and that a choyce Committee might be appointed to over-see all the money rated received and disbursed The Governour to
manifest his desire of the peoples satisfaction and that things might bee carryed in a just and equall way ordered by the consert of a Councell of Warre that a Committee of Officers Citizens and Countrey Gentlemen should regulate the assessements of the Countrey according to their desires Some of which Gentlemen not long after were of the Committee for these Counties by Order of Parliament Moreover this Committee moved at a Councell of Warre for a further power to heare and determine such businesses as by the Governours speciall order should be referred unto them to examine upon oath and commit all such persons Officers and Souldiers only excepted as should offer contempt and this they enforced with these reasons 1. Because there was no Committee of Parliament then in being nor would any adventure such an undertaking in an oppressed and distracted Countrey and the necessities of the Garrison did admit of no delay 2. That this Committee consisting of Souldiers Citizens and Countrey Gentlemen would give satisfaction both to the Countrey men who payd their money when themselves were acquainted with its necessity and disposall and to the Souldiers who being privy to the receit of the money and the Countreys indigence might be contented with a slender entertainment that at once it seemed to prevent discontent in the Countrey and mutiny in the Souldier 3. That the Petitions of the Countrey pressed upon the Governour in such multitudes that a great part of his time which might be spent against the enemy to better purpose was taken up herewith or many persons must needs be exposed to injury and oppression 4. Because all course of Law from Westminster was then stopped not a Lawyer left in the Countrey no Court of Equity to relieve the oppressed or curb the extremity of the Law whose present want was not so much in setling estates and determining right as in providing for the support of the Garrison then like to be ruined of which the Kings partee had as great a confidence as before the Siege No Landlord could receive his Rent no intercourse of Trade between man and man whereby to enable them to pay taxations And for these reasons such an Order by the Councell of Warre was then assented unto In this the people never groaned under the Governours power their voluntary submission was a witnesse of his moderation And this authority had more of entreaty then constraint only the Sword had some influence of feare upon the injurious the proceedings of the Town-Court not suspended but sometimes entreated to forbeare upon equitable considerations And when the Governour began to observe some derogation from his intentions by this Committee he instantly sent a Prohibition T was never his thought to rule by the Sword but in a desperate case by the same to cut out a way wherein the rules of Law and Iustice might freely passe He was ever unwilling to take the charge upon him and by severall Letters requested the Parliament that the burthen of Government might be layd upon some other or if that charge must rest upon him that they would send down a Committee that might take off the former cares and permit him to look to the well ordering of his Forces for the safety of this place and to enlarge his quarters that the service here might not bee only to keep Gloucester but weaken the Enemy and beget friends daily to the Parliament Such was the face of Government within the City whilst the Enemy acted his part without and bore down by force on all sides From Hexeford Sir William Vavasour with about seven hundred horse and foot marched into Tewksbury with a purpose to garrison that Town A wide and open place not easy to be held by us who had neither competent strength nor time to fortify the Kings forces continually lying upon us Sir William made shew of setling the Garrison styled himselfe Governour of Tewksbury invited the Countrey with promises of moderation and candor in all his proceedings yet these Welch Forces had scarce taken up their quarters but received an Alarum from Gloucester by a party that went up in a Friggot And the common souldiers partly discontented with their Officers who had often deceived that innocent people and betrayed them to the Sword and partly repining for want of pay fell into a desperate mutiny forced their Commanders chose rather to be kild then to fight and constrained their flight out of the Town hasted over Vpton Bridge and did scarce look back till safe in their own Countrey and t was to be suspected that many late knocks had beaten out their spirits but chiefly that they were afraid of this Countrey ayre in which they could never thrive By this meanes the excrescence of Sir William Uavousors government was pared off and himself driven to retire into Hereford Neverthelesse we are cooped up with the enemies garrisons round about and wholly divided from the rest of the Parliaments Army Sudely Castle was maintained by the Lord Chandos a great stop to our entercourse with Warwick which was the only way of commerce with London that a Scout could not passe without extream hazard Berkley Castle was held for the King by a Scottish Captain and subdued the richest part of the County In the heart of the Forrest Sir Iohn Winter strongly fortified and defended his own House And now the enemy had put a garrison into Beverstone Castle resolving withall not to leave one strong house unguarded both to enlarge their own quarters and to stop our markets and contribution Our Governour began to look forth and first for want of quarters was enforced to send abroad his own Company which were placed in a defenceable house at Frampton upon Severn These were a stop to the incursions from Berkley and furthered the safety of that side of the Countrey An hundred and fifty Foot of Colonell Devereux his Regiment garrisond a strong house at Presbury within foure miles of Sudely Castle These sorely vexed the enemy in those parts did a little open the passage towards Warwick and the house proved a good resting place in the repasse Another guard was set at Westbury on the edge of the Forrest to affront Sir Iohn Winter a most active enemy and one chiefe Agent of the Popish Faction Sir Iohn assisted with the Lord Herberts Horse threatned us out of the Forrest and had made a passage over Seavern at Newnham to afflict those parts beyond the River Notwithstanding all this our small party by continuall action upheld their repute Some weeks after the raising of the siege the Governour marched with his two Troops and two hundred musketiers before Berkley Castle The musketiers faced and kept in the enemy whilst the Horse fell into the Countrey beyond to fetch in the persons of some principall malignants but in stead of them met with the Lords Herberts Troops and an hundred and fourty Horse besides which came to relieve the Castle Our Horse with some few musketiers fell upon
them put them to a retreat and slew some few without any losse to our party who drew off expecting the opportunity of a greater strength About this time Sir John Winter entred upon the Government of Newnham whereupon he took the courage to plunder the Villages neare Gloucester his Horse came within three miles of the City and drove away store of the Countrey cattle The Governour receiving intelligence drew forth his small number of Horse not exceeding seventy made after and pursued them to the entrance of their new Garrison where they had already secured their plunder in the retreat five Troops of the Lord Herberts Regiment fell on the reare our men drew up in a narrow lane ready to receive the charge fired upon them and put them to a running retreat An Officer with twelve Troopers made the pursuit took one horse colours and some prisoners and killed a Cornet and Quartermaster which event made Sir Iohn Winter for present quit that government with much distraction At that time there was no lofty stage of action because the present enemy did yeeld no gallant opportunity Sir Iohn Winter was wise for himselfe nimble in inferiour businesses delighted rather in petty and cunning contrivance then open gallantry referred all his industry to his own house or the limits of the Forrest vexed his neighbours more then weakned his enemy and advanced the Catholike Cause no other way then by the plague and ruine of the Countrey On the other side of the City the enemy was imboldned to erect new Governments at Tedbury and Wotton Underedge These did invite the Governours march that way who withall had his eye upon Beversione Castle newly garrisond and commanding the rich Clothiers of Stroodwater hither he advanced with a party of three hundred foot and foure score horse These horse sent before were so formidable to the enemy at Tedbury that the Governour Horatio Cary with his whole Regiment were put to flight and dissipated with the losse of fourteene of their men slaine and taken prisoners Colonell Massey brought up his men and two Sakers against Beverston Castle where having surrounded it hee planted his Guns within Pistoll shot of the Gate and gave fire severall times Fifty Musketiers ran up to the Gate at noone-day and fixed a Petarre which neverthelesse failed in the execution Those from within threw Granodoes amongst our men but hurt none who although thereby forced from the Gate yet they ran up the second time being open to the full shot of a secure enemy and brought of the Petarre with much gallantry The design was not feazible for a quick dispatch for the Gate was barricado'd within the night came on and those remote parts did promise no security to so small a party likewise the state of the City required them nearer home wherefore after twelve houres the party was drawn off and in the retreat advanced towards Wotton Underedge where the enemy had placed a kind of temporary Garrison with a Regiment of horse they prepared for the coming of our Forces drew up on a Hill before the Town to face them and at night retreated to their Garrison Where our men arrived somewhat late and found the enemy all mounted sell upon them and put them to flight of whom about six were slaine and twelve taken prisoners the rest escaping to Bristoll The next day by an over-ruling hand of providence our party was led back to Gloucester contrary to the hope of Sir Iohn Winter and his Complices These having intelligence of the Governours absence with a stronge party and supposing the Garrison thereby weakned sent to all the quarters of the Forrest Monmouth and Herefordshire to draw together and advance for the surprisall of Gloucester It was afterwards suspected a complotment to be managed by the assistance of Malignants in the City Late at night the Governour had notice of the enemy in the Forrest Thereupon he commanded Captain Crispe to draw fifty Musketiers from the Guards and march three miles that way making good a house that stood on the passage As yet there was no suspition of a Plot but before our party had passed a mile and halfe they encountred the enemy who were drawn up Horse and Foot in a broad lane neare Highnam House instantly fired upon them slew a Captaine and some foure common souldiers The enemy were amazed at the sudden and unexpected encounter forced back with feare and retreated to Huntly where Sir Iohn Winter had secured his own person But distracted by the strange repulse marched off in great confusion at the approach of fifteene horse that fell in amongst the whole Brigade slew seven or eight and took ten prisoners This discomfited the enemy and dashed the designe yet the Hereford and Monmouthshiere Forces kept their randevouz at Coford in the Forrest and still threatned the City No meanes for the reducing of this place is left unattempted and at this present treachery was the grand design and over-ruled all their proceedings and prevented many mischievous acts of open hostility which might easily have destroid us for divers Malignant Gentlemen of this County went about to cast this City into extreme poverty and exigence by the Countreys ruine Wherefore conceiving the present enemies not sufficiently cruell they importuned his Majesty that Colonell Charles Gerrard might quarter upon us with his Brigade to devour spoyle and burn besides the expectation of all the mischiefe the Lord Herbort and Vavasour can doe But this malitious councell and instigation though most opportune for the Kings purpose was afterwards crossed by their own party waiting upon the successe of a close design About this time was the act of Pacification made by the King with the Irish Rebels which began to undeceive the world and wipe of the Varnish of the former Oathes and Protestations The world could not believe that any command or power could so soone allay and quell those Irish stormes but that word which raised them up Then did the effect declare the cause of those rare and slow Proclamations against that bloudy Rebellion and strange intercepting of reliefe sent from the State to the distressed Protestants The greatest admirer of the Kings Declarations could judge no lesse then that those Rebells did better comply with his intentions then the Parliament of England since his Majesty having two enemies is resolved to make peace with one to crush the other he will fall in with that party that carries least contradiction to his maine designe and this was the Rebell of Ireland whose chiefe aime likewise his Majesty must not abhorre for there can bee no lasting compliance without a mutuall engagement Besides the heads of that Rebellion were brought over not as accessaries but principals in the Kings warre and admitted to the secret Councell And to colour the Pacification the losse of that Kingdome and all the sufferings of the English Protestants were charged upon the Parliament The English Forces in Ireland were possest with the opinion of
the third stole down an hollow lane and had almost surrounded him unawares by the negligence of the Scouts so that our whole body was brought into great danger driven to a sudden and confused retreat and the Governour himselfe left deeply engaged yet most of our men got off being preserved only by the gallartry of a few resolved men that stood in the breach and of them Captaine George Massie striving to retard the pursuit grappled with three together hand to hand received a sore wound in the head and was happily rescued by a Serjeant of the company of ours two Lievtenants and sixteen private Souldiers were taken prisoners the rest in disorder ran down the steep through a rough and narrow lane and recovered an house at the foot of the Hill where a party was left to make good the retreat and the enemy durst not pursue by which meanes all the bottome was preserved from spoyle next day they retreated to Few esbury laden with plunder Suddenly after this repulse we lost two small Garrisons at Westbury and Huntly by the treachery of Captaine Thomas Davis who sold them at a rate to Sir John Winter This Davis commanded the Guard at Huntly where himselfe by night some distance from the house attended the enemies comming went in before them as friends from Gloucester gave them possession and having accomplisht that peece of treason immediately marched to Wesbury where he was received for a friend and led in his traine of Cavaleers that both places were surprized in two houres and above eighty men and armes lost in that great exigence This Villaine was posted on the Gallowes in Gloucester and the Lord Generall was desired that his name might stand upon the Gibbet in all the Parliament Garrisons During these things a Treason of higher nature was plotted by the Enemy to a self-delusion in the close a greater birth requiring more time to bring forth It was first conceived the nineteenth of November and for near ten weeks had the prime influence on their whole course in these parts and is now ripe for action All the force they can make from Oxford and the Irish are drawn together The Lord Herbert Colonell Vavasour and Sir Iohn Winter lie upon us and Prince Rupert himselfe lying at Newent hoping to effect this great Design Fifteen colours of horse arrived at Cirencester and five hundred horse and foot advanced to Saperton and Musarden within ten miles of this Garrison There were of the Enemies forces round about near six or seven thousand The failing of their endeavours and hopes in the late siege brought forth a despaire of reducing the City by storme and put them upon the wayes of treachery who therein illuded themselves and were over-acted in their own councels One Edward Stanford an Esquire and a grand Papist assaulted the fidelity of Captain Backhouse once his friend and acquaintance He presumed that former friendship might make way to admit the plot and Backhouses power and interest in the Governour made it in his conception very feasible Wherefore in a private Letter he tendred the renewing of ancient love not only to the procuring of the Kings pardon but a greater advancement and fortune then the condition of those whom he served could rayse him to This might be purchased by the delivering of Gloucester into their hands which was not hard for him to perform considering the nature of his employment And the honesty of the enterprize was grounded on the old proverb fallere faltentem non est fraus An hasty and abrupt temptation and the tempters irrationall confidence did befool him in the first onset who knew not either to propose or expect such grounds of assurance as the thing did require but set upon a knowing man without the knowledge of any imbred inclination to treason or present provocation Except a strange levity a minde set on mischief the conscience of delinquency or desire of revenge vain glory or riches are the sole aimes of a Traytor and the hopes of either must appear large and certain but here an attempt is made on such a one who neither by feare was compeld to provide for himselfe nor enraged against his own party but acknowledged a present felicity in the work in hand as though it were possible to perswade a man wittingly to contrive his own overthrow The Letters were no sooner received but communicated to the Governour who advised to embrace the businesse and hold a correspondence with that party practizing that rule by themselves propounded for these reasons First t was a delight and glory to take them in the snare which themselves had layd and the advantage was great 2. That this treason already secured might prevent other conspiracies against the City so long as they had faire hopes of prevailing by this lest the contrivance of a second should confound the disposition of the first 3. That the Countrey under the command of this Garrison which upon the petition of the malignant Gentry was devoted to destruction might be preserved and spared by the Enemy in hope to enjoy the benefit thereof themselves for the embracing of this plot did not draw on the Enemy but held his hand and suspended the execution of his fury 4. To spin out the plot and feed their expectation till the Countrey had vented in the markets their spare provisions of Corn and Cattle 5. That the Enemy possest and taken up with the gayning of the City might give the Parliaments Forces in other parts of the Kingdome a greater freedome to execute their designes 6. That a flattering promise might allay their fury till the winter were past or our reliefe come and we be able to feed them with harder meat and that themselves might taste the cursed fruits of Treason to a selfe-shame and confusion The Design was communicated to Captain William Singleton Alderman and Captain Read For these and the like reasons Backhouse undertook the businesse and returned an answer in a liberall garb protesting that he honoured his Majesty with his soule and was ready to perform all reall service He seemmed withall to promote the plot by requiring sworn secrecy and agreeing upon a trusty messenger and that he might seem more deeply to rellish the matter catcht hold on the promise of Reward and required some unquestionable assurance that he might not play an after game poorely Thus the fraud is returned upon them by one that strives to maintayn the repute of integrity conceiving it no transgression of Military Honour to deceive them into a snare by verball equivocation as well as by a doubtfull action the common way of the Stratagems of Warre This confident Reply and the palpable discovery of a sudden change did not render him suspected but beyond all reason gave the complotters great contentment who did not enquire into the conviction and change of his thoughts by due degrees Stanford desired him forthwith to expresse his conditions propose the way and descend unto the particulars
found but the place it selfe was of greatest consequence and worthy of the service being now a strong Frontier-town securing that side of the County and commanding a good part of Worcestershire and in this nicke of time extreamly crosse to the intentions of the Kings Army The enemy confest themselves to be neer seven hundred strong when our whole body could not reach that number That very day Colonell Myn was to march from Hereford to ayd this Town but prevented by our possession These things were acted here while the Earle of Essex and Sir William Waller lay neere Oxford with both their Armys and compelled His Majesty to withdraw himselfe from his strongest hold The King having shifted between them both by a close and nimble conveyance and being on a swift march over Cotswood hils had this Town of Tewkesbury in his thoughts for his owne passe and a stop to the pursuing Army not understanding his losse till within a daies march of the place The intelligence of this surprisall and that Upton-bridge was made unpassable perplexed the King and turned aside the course of his flight towards Evesham where he quartered for a night and rose thence in great distraction and caused all the bridges in those parts to be broken down after him to hinder Sir William Waller in the pursuit whom he expected in the Reare every hower In such a hurry confusion and feare did the Enemy run that a smaller party of horse only with the report of the foot comming after in a constant and close pursuit might have consumed and dissipated the whole army which neverthelesse remained a body with life in it selfe and quickly grew up to the perfection of parts The Governour had reduced these parts into a reasonable condition of ease and security made a convenient passe for the Parliaments forces through the heart of the Kings Country and blocked up the course of the Enemy almost on every side unlesse the maine Army did march Malmesbury and Beverston-Castle lie in the Roade from Oxford to Bristoll and inforce the lesser parties to fetch a compasse by Worcester and Hereford thence round about into Wales and at last to passe the River of Severne below Berkely Castle When the King had winded himselfe out of the snare Sir William Waller could not well follow the chase with his foot and a traine of Artillery though the horse might performe gallantly to the ruine of those who resolved rather to flie before them then fightupon any tearmes Wherefore he made some pause by the way with a purpose to march his great Ordnance to Gloucester and appointed Colonell Massie to meet him before Sudeley where he performed an acceptable service to this Country The Governour forth with faced the Castle beat in the Enemy and took twenty horses from under the Castle walls expecting the arrivall of Sir Wil. Waller who came up within few houres with a strong party of Horse The Enemy within discharged their Ordnance and fired their out-houses like men resolved upon extremities rather then to yeild up or lose the garison In the evening Sir William Waller summoned the Governour of the Castle and it fell out that the very name of his Army and presence strooke them to the surrender of that hold that might have expended the lives of many and much time then pretious in that great advantage on the Kings distressed Army yet they refused to render at the first summons The Battery was planted within halfe Musketshot But the great pieces did little execution upon the soft and yeilding stone nor could the Castle be taken by battery but one shot by chance took off the head of their Cannoneer and exceedingly daunted the common souldier and the Governour Sir William Morton did in his owne thoughts incline to a surrender whether out of a naturall feare or free choice He was knowne to be active and violent in the Kings service of an high spirit and bold bearing before him the semblance of valour and supposed by an high degree of enmity most obnoxious to the justice of the Parliament one that had the repute of a knowing man able in the profession of the Law and versed in the wayes and actions of men He was likewise more strongly linked unto that cause by the late honour of Knighthood which by the State is held no better then a note of infamy to stigmatize those persons that have been eminent in the disservice of the common-Wealth Notwithstanding this being lost and desperate in the opinion of the Parliament he gave up that strong hold and himselfe into their hands having not provided for the indempnity of his own person when by his own party likewise he must needs be branded with treachery or cowardize and so lost on all hands So that no faction seemes to be assured of its principall confidents and that no resolved nature or judgement can secure the strongest enterprize to a wise and honorable conclusion After the surrender Sir William advanced thence to seek out the Kings Army and left the Castle to be kept by the Gloucester forces By this time the Enemy had no footing in the County save Berkely-Castle and Lidney house And as this government had by maine force gained every step of its command so no lesse skill and vertue is required to maintaine the victories we have the possession of Gloucester Tewkesbury Sudely Newneham Beverston and Slimbridge all to be defended and maintained at so great distances only by two Regiments of foot For Malmesbury was kept by Colonell Deveraux his Regiment who was appointed Governour under the command of Colonell Massie unto whom the disposition and settlement of that garrison was intrusted by the Parliament For want of money the City Regiments were weake and uncertaine in duty and service and the Souldiers ranne dayly to other garrisons where they found alwayes constant pay and lesse hardship But the Governour could find none so rationall as to clap them in Irons or give them back to his justice For this cause he was perplexed in each designe uncertaine of the atchievement and could not waite for a regular disposition and traine of circumstances but nimble in the secret and sudden motions of the time and season and sometrue resolving upon the sole guide of providence but in this never running a greater hazard then the shame of a non-performanee These many garrisons having taken up the whole strength for want of a marching brigade we were deprived of the fruit of our labours in the supplies of monies to be commanded out of the Enemies quarters and disabled to relieve the remote parts that were by this time united under the power of this government So that the first fruits were nipt in the bud and we remaine miserable after so great enlargements being inforced to cry to the Parliament for help which we should have held a disparagement had we received a stock to improve to a larger support and livelyhood Wherefore the house of Commons taking notice of
the many good services of Colonell Massie made an Order for the recrute of his Regiment of horse and foot in the first place and to make up a competent Brigade Colonell Tho. Stephens had commission for a Regiment of horse and Colonell Edward Harley for a Regiment of foot In which businesse the Governour advised not to raise men and horse at Londm whither the refuse of the Army runnegadoes and such as disliked the conditions of their former entertainment were wont to repaire but only to procure monies to be sent into the Country where horses might be raysed at a cheaper rate and able men were easy to be found and chiefly where we might robbe the Enemy of their maine strength from whom great multitudes were ready to flow in upon the hopes of entertainment And before this time since the late siege at least a thousand of the Enemy that here tendred themselves to the service went from us for lack of pay This was a speedy course and effectuall which might carry on the worke whilst we were in a thriving way At that time the affaires of the garrison were a little enterwoven with some passages of the greater Army Sir William Waller was led into the Northerne parts in the pursuit of His Majestie straining to reach or get beyond him But the King doubled in the chace hasted back by Worcester towards Oxford and left Sir William a few dayes march in the Rear who neverthelesse made after with all speed but was constrained to rest at Gloucester to refresh his weary Souldiers And purposing to fall upon the Kings Army importuned the Governor to lend his assistance which was extracted out of the extreme penury of these parts onely for a quick dispatch Two hundred and seventy Muskettiers with a Company of Dragoons were sent from Gloucester and a hundred Muskettiers from Malmsbury which did not a little necessitate the place and stop the actions of this command which had so many Garrisons to make good and defend the Countrey from the neighbouring Enemy that began to threaten from every quarter At this time there happened a dispute between the Kings Army and Sir William Waller at a Bridge neer Banbury where some few were slain and taken on both sides but on ours the chief miscarriage was the losse of some Ordnance After this brush the King marched off into the borders of Worcestershire and Sir William Waller towards Buckingham to joyn with Collonel Browne Our Countrey is in danger of ruine by the falling down of the Kings Army whose main body lay for a while about Breedon three miles from Tewkesbury where his Majestie being informed of the weaknesse of the place drew neer with a purpose to storme it advanced the Ordnance within a mile and sent out parties to skirmish Collonel Massie upon the first intelligence clapt into the Town two hundred Muskettiers for an additionall strength and to incourage those within Himself in the mean while with a hundred and fifty Muskettiers in Cosâ—â—awne waited to encounter with an other party of the Worcester forces whom he staved off with the losse of five or six men neer Vpton bridge and passed over Seavern to Tewksbury Upon notice hereof the Enemy drew thence and retreated towards Parshowe and Evesham There the King pretended to passe over the River into Herefordshire and Wales and gave command that all the Bridges should be made up but his designe lay Westward Wherefore he made up the hils marched the first day in the view of Shudely Castle over the Downes and came that night to Cubberly seven miles from Gloucester and from thence marched the next day by Beverstone Castle to Sodbury They went on like a flying Army surprised the Countrey but they onely touched and away And our weak troops drove in the stragling plunderers For the Governor commanded a party of horse to follow the Reare of the Enemy whilest the rest were imployed in a necessary defence in sundry places These did seem to give them a gentle convoy over the hill Countrey towards Bristoll and though the Van of their horse were too nimble for us and drove great store of the garrison cattell that lay in their way yet the Countrey-men were saved from any great matter of losse and the parties of horse brought into our garison between 50 and 60 prisoners officers and souldiers and though they could not retard the march yet made them passe forward with much watines and fear In the mean while Coll Min together with Sir John Winters forces take the advantage of our weaknes to spoil and destroy our friends on the Forrest side Sir William Russell and the Governor of Worcester make incursions on that side And the garison oppressed with many out-guards and multitudes of prisoners within had much ado to preserve the neighbours from ruine Collonel Min advanced from Rosse where he quartered his regiment within half a mile of the City drove away the Countrey cattell and took the persons of many And the forces of Berkely Castle act a sufficient part in the generall mischief The Governor looks round about him and though he cannot hope to lay them flat and subdue their spirits yet he can check their insolence make them stand on their guard He commanded a party of horse and Dragoons towards Berkley who fell upon the guard of the Town beat them into the Castle slew eight or ten took prisoners Captain Sandys with a Lieutenant Ensigne Sargeant and seven common Souldiers whence likewise they brought away fourty or fifty arms and took from out of the Park under the Castle wall about fiftie horses with other cattell An other party was commanded within foure miles of Worcester and surprised in their quarters Sir Humphrey Tracy Lieu Coll Hely and Captain Savage and brought them prisoners to Gloucester By this time an increase is added to the garrison forces by the arrival of Col Stephens with three troops of horse and two troops of Coll Harlyes Regiment which did inable the Governour once more to appear in the field and draw out against Collonel Min a serious and active Enemy and a perpetuall terror to the Countrey whose ruine was again contrived and resolved upon And for this designe strong preparations were made by the Enemy round about The Governor had some discovery out of their own quarters and upon advertisement that some forces out of Hereford and Wales went over the River at Aust passage advanced with his horse towards Berkly Castle and thence to the passage where they missed not half an houre of the surprisall of the Lord Herbert The notice of the march of our horse into the remote parts of the County hastned Mins expedition for Gloucestershire And our intelligence abroad gave a timely advertisement of the work in hand which a little after was fully confirm'd by letters taken out of Collonel Mins pocket to wit that Hereford and Worcestershire were to joyn their forces about Cosselawne and with an over-powering Army to march
horse and foot were at hand had a large entrance subdued the Town in a moment and spared the blood of the surprised Souldiers But the dark and rainy night fitted the governour of Monmouth with the major part of the garrison for an escape over the dry graft We took one Major three Captains and divers inferior Officers threescore common Souldiers five barrels of powder and some arms but the Town it self was the best prize being the key of Southwales and the onely safe entercourse for the Kings Army between the West Wales and the Northern parts The taking of Monmouth gave a fearful alarme to the whole Countrey especially to the Earl of Worcester at Ragland Castle who raised the Countrey and called in Prince Ruperts horse to their assistance The Ragland Papists made the poore Welch believe that we came to put man woman child to the sword and filled their fancies with as many strange conceits of the Roundheads as the poore Spaniards had of the English after their revolt from Rome it being easie to perswade an irrational and stupid people Forthwith they appear in arms against us Wherfore two dayes after our entrance the Governor sent out a small party of Muskettiers commanded by Capt Rochford to quash the rising of the Countrey Our men find out the randevous with a kind of guard defended by Captain Gainsford with his ragged Regiment These upon the first onset were all put to flight ran an hundred wayes like a barbarous people were pursued by our horse about twenty knocked on the head and sixteen taken prisoners To revenge this losse Sir Will Blaxton with his brigade of horse joyns with the Countrey Trainhands and the forces from Ragland and Chepstow making according to the best relations five hundred horse and twelve hundred foot Of this preparation we were not advertised till they fell upon one of our horse quarters in a strong house neer Monmouth where we lodged two troops and by good hap ten Muskettiers to secure the quarters The house was made good by the resolution of Captain Bayly and Leift Page till the Major of the horse had drawn up the troops faced the Enemy whilest the Governor commanded out of Monmouth a hundred and fifty Muskettiers But before our foot could reach the house their horse drew thence encountred with a party of ours being recharged by Major Backhowse were beaten back to the foot By thistime our Musketiers were brought up and in the first charge put the Enemy to a confused running retreat slew seventy and wounded many took threescore prisoners Of the Officers a Major of horse and two Captains were slain one taken and Sir William Blaxton shot in the thigh But the pursuit had an early stop by a small river which the Enemy passed plucked up the bridge or their foot had been wholly routed and taken The prisoners that were of the Countrey people the Governor entreated kindly and after a few dayes sent them home by parcels and each man with a little note or letter directed to his master or the severall Parishes to signifie that the intention of the Parliament and the present government was not to destroy or enslave their persons or take away their livelihoods but to preserve their lives and fortunes to open the course of justice free them of their heavy burthens under the forces of Rupert a Germane Prince At the free discharge of the captives they began to resent the Governors humanity as before by the slaughter of their men they had felt the force of arms And the dispersed papers did in part undeceive the people and dislodge their fears our horse marching peaceably and doing no spoil or violence After the appeasing of the Countrey tumults the indeavours of the Governor were to reduce that people to a willing and cordiall obedience He dispatched many letters of invitation to the gentlemen of the Countrey and gave assurance to the best affected of his purpose to defend make good the Town But all were silent and not two valuable persons did own the businesse On the other fide they did not stir a foot at the summons of the Earl of Worcester and in confidence of the justice of this party they frequented our markets wheras at our first approach they drove away all their cattell into the remote parts of the county yet most of the gentlemen fled from their houses The greatest part of P Ruperts forces lie stil under our arrest in Wales where they decrease and drop away discontent and burden the Countrey between whom there arise perpetuall quarrels And the truth is even those people whose affections comply with the Kings designe could never correspond with the Souldier of that faction with whom there is no dealing for very friends Insomuch that the generall hatred of the souldier might drive in to the Parliament a moderate enemy and such as breathe a more cool spirit of malignity when the State shall reach out the hand to clear the way and make good the engagement Collonel Massie seems now to have spread the Branches of his government beyond the sap and strength of the root and the extreme parts grow burdensome to the main body He had neither horse nor foot to maintain what was gotten considering the strivings of the Enemy to repossesse themselves of Monmouth For which end the whole power of Southwales that is fit for the march under the command of Collonel Gerrard are come as far as Abergenny Vske and Ragland Sir John Winter must bring forth his master-peece to the world and once more assisted with four hundred from Bristoll purchased at a high rate and added to a hundred of his own men with all the aid Prince Rupert can send undertakes to fortifie Beachly The noised strength of the Enemy round about did contribute to the designe with all fiercenesse fince the want of a guard upon this passage did render all Southwales of little value And it highly concerned us to indeavour the preventing this project which threatned the ruine of the Forrest the intercepting of the passage between Gloucester and Monmouth and to render that garrison in great part uselesse The Governor had a hard game to play alwayes put upon desperate hazards without a sufficiencie to accomplish or make good For the case was questionable whether to desert Monmouth or seek to maintain it having no competent number for a Town yet unfortified generally malignant in an Enemies countrey at a great distance and with a difficult passe but that the wonderfull successe of Beachly twice fortunate determined the doubt The businesse was not capable of deliberation nothing but a quick dispatch had the shew of safety Gerrard was to be kept from joyning his fortes with these in the Forrest who when once fortified were not to be beaten out having all the advantages of Sea and land And although his Forces hovered about the Countrey pretending to fall upon Monmouth yet about midnight Octob. 13. one hundred
Castle which the Governour was ready to embrace that Wales might fall under the power of the Parliament but with much warinesse having many irons in the fire Neverthelesse lying under a greater weight of envie he resolved to obey the former Orders against the progresse and reason of his affaires wherefore he called off his owne Regiment of horse from about Monmouth where the enemies vigilancie was not little and the malignity of the towne wondrous great with the Regiment of horse he hasted towards Eversham where the Enemy had arrived before whose march he could not interrupt or retard since they were eight for one But before this march having drawne a small party out of Monmouth he commanded from Gloucester his own company and another company of the same Regiment to the security of that Garrison and committed the charge of the Towne in his absence to Major Throgmorton then Serjeant Major to Colonell Harley who by Order of Parliament was designed to that Government but with no Power to command out a Partye upon any designe having no thought that the forces left there were fit to be imployed upon any service more then the defence of that place Besides he had waved the offers of Chepstow till he might gaine an assurance of making good so much ground in an enemies Country for it was alwayes his desire in ingaging any people to those masters whom he served to foresee a possibility of continuing that engagement least hee might doe them a greater disservice by dashing the resolution of others who intended the same course and by grasping beyond his reach take off their inclinations who might be gained in due time Notwithstanding the Governors expresse Order at the earnest solicitation and promises of some well-affected in the Country and the vehemencie of others who thirsted after the glory of some atchievement in the Governors absence the Major yeelded for the drawing out of a party for Chepstow and stretched his power beyond the knowndiscipline of warre fearing either the brand of cowardise or the censure of a man unwilling to doe his Country service though he declared his judgement against it Wherfore he advanced towards Chepstow with three hundred commanded men having some conceived assurance of gaining the Castle by surrender or onslat The newes is conveyed forthwith to the Enemy who draw together all the strength they can make of horse and foote from Ragland Abergeveny Hereford and Godridgâ— and November the nineteenth about breake of day came neere the towne and lay undiscovered behind a rising ground at a quarter of a miles distance never thinking to make an attempt muchlesse to surprise it but as the Governors inavoydeable absence and the impertinent enterprize of Monmouth garrison did cause their approach there being not above a hundred and fifty left there so the negligence of the Captaine to whom the Keyes were intrusted in the Majors absence gave up the towne into their hands So remisse were the slender guards that the Treually was beaten none tooke the alarme The enemy observed it and tooke the courage to attempt the surprisall came upon the higher side of the towne that looked towards Hereford having onely a sloping banke cast up to a reasonable height with a dry graft of no depth Insomuch that the Gaurds and Sentinells being all asleepe or supinely negligent above forty men presently climbed over and fell downe to the next Port where they found no more then sixe men who fled from the guard upon their comming on with that one takes an iron barre breakes the chaine forces the gate and sets it open to the whole body of horse who rid up the towne with full career seased upon the maine guard before one man could be ready to give fire and cooke the rest in their beds it was done in a moment where wee lost Colonell Broughtom foure Captaines Lieutenants and Ensignes some of the Committee together with common souldiers in all about one hundred and threescore prisoners two Sakers besides a Drake and nine hammer Guns taken at Beachly with Ammunition and Provision and at least foure hundred muskets The newes of the taking of Manmouth reached Colonell Massie neere Burford prosecuting the commands of the Committee of both Kingdomes and there abiding to meete the Lord Grandesâ—on with the Worcester forces who endeavour for Oxford hence he makes haste to the reliefe of the party sent out against Chepstow and to bring off the rest that remaine upon their guards in that County and at Gloucester understood that the party sent for Chepstow were safely landed on this side Wye having effected nothing of their designe the Governor met them in the Forrest and thence marched to Rosse where he hoped to have passed the bridge to the releefe of Pembridge Castle which was made an out-guard to the garrison of Manmouth but found the bridge broken downe and the river made unpassable by the sinking of boates on the other side and a guard of horse to defend it Here we had some disputes with the Enemy for two dayes but those in the Castle having no meanes of a longer subsistence were inforced to surrender upon quarter and the freedome of their persons most of the common souldiers revolted being formerly of the Kings Army and our prisoners The base neglect of the Officers had not the least share in the unfortunate losse of Manmouth and daily wants increased the neglect and weakned the Governours hand in inflicting condigne punishment And as the Parliaments Service was by many degrees cast backe by this misfortune so the Forrest in speciall was hereby sorely plagued being left open to the spoyle of the enemy against whom they were preingaged by Colonell Massie and of late had declared themselves more freely And though the generall multitude seemed to be brought in by the hatred of Sir John Winter whose name and faction the people did abhorre yet at that time the tye of affection and necessity drew them to a strong combination To provide for their safety was the Governours maine care wherefore instead of one good baracadoe the Towne of Monmouth sundry Garrisons are erected in the Forrest for want of an ample strong-hold and these expended greater portions of Men and Ammunition though the limits of the Government were much contracted The Garrison of Highmeadow did affront Monmouth and furthered the preservation of that side Ruâ—rdeane was a stoppe to the Plunderers from Hereford And those at Kidney were kept in by another party at Nâ—â—t These lesser places distracted the Governour on every side willing but not able to preserve all them that desired to live under his protection Some weekes before the Governour had commanded a party to Tate-Court within ten miles of Bristoll to secure the Neighbourhood being a well affected people but in this distraction he resolved to call off those men who peradventure might maintaine themselves in a kinde of imprisonment but in no wise preserve a Countrey that was then filled with the Kings forces
few straglers in the reare and tooke thirteene prisoners Meane while Sir John Winters releife lyes under the arrest yet so as we would gladly ridde our hands for the Guards set round his House to the safety of the Forrest did alwayes distract our designes These Horse are impatient of a longer imprisonment and after a sore distresse breake their way through our quarters into the utmost parts of the Forrest towards Chepstow and joyne with a partie of foote from Chepstow landed at Lancaught where they intended to fortify and to make good the Passe over Wye by which meanes they might issue out of Wales at their pleasure The place containes foure hundred acres having a very straight entrance Hereupon our severall Guards drew together and summoned the Country to aide and came up to the enemy who were divided in opinion one part held it meete to make good the passage the rest perswaded to draw out into the Field and fight These latter prevailed and for a while both parties faced each other Our men drew out a forlorne hope of Foote the place so requiring next unto these a forlorne hope of Horse and the rest were appointed for a reserve Their Horse violently charged our forlorne hope of Foote who were ready to give backe when our Horse came in opportunely and played their parts whereat the foote tooke courage and fell on all together and with one charge turned the enemy to flight that they killed few on the place but drove them up to the River side and fell upon the hacke in the pursuite and so cooped them up that few escaped their hands About fourescore were slaine of whom were Colonell Gamme and Colonell Vangerris of the residue some adventured the River to recover the Frigate many were drowned of whom Colonell Poore Governour of Berkely Castle but Sir John Winter and his brother with some few besides escaped onely of an hundred men from Chepstow and an hundred and fourescore Horse and Dragoones from Lidney House The remainder fell into our hands an hundred and twenty taken prisoners of whom two Leiutenant Colonells foure Captaines and divers inferiour Officers This was the last blow of three which Sir Iohn Winter received one in the necke of another These things happened about the time of the taking of Shrewesbury which called off the Kings forces from these parts Sir Jacob Ashly marched from Cirencester and Prince Rupert out of Herefordshire to releive his brother Maurice neere Chester The Governour was imployed in observing the enemyes motion but with a strength every day more slender having lost most part of his own troope with some peeces of others by an other miscarriage in fetching our Armes and Ammunition from Warwicke and in the Conveying of some Clothiers Packes of great value which were taken betweene Campden and Banbury through the misguidance of the Officer that commanded Neverthelesse he advanced into the neerer parts of Herefordshire with two hundred Horse and five hundred foote to startle the enemy or make some diversion supposing they bent their course to the releife of Westchester Here he found great multitudes of the Countrey people appearing in Armes but standing on their owne Guard and declaring themselves for neither side It was hoped neverthelesse they might be made of good use and the best affected of them gave Colonell Massie that satisfaction as was meete by whom he understood the condition of their engagements The Governour of Hereford sending for hay and contribution to his Garrison was so farre denyed by the Countrey that it came to blowes The people rising to resist some few men and as it was reported women and children were slaine and some carried prisoners to Hereford also some of the Hereford forces were taken by the Countrey men The next day the Alarum went throughout that side of the County and some parts of Worcestershire The people gather into a Body and march to Hereford Here they stayed some dayes with a resolution to have certaine Articles granted by the Governour of that Garrison The summe of their demaunds were to this effect that such of theirs as were held prisoners there should be delivered forthwith that satisfaction be given to the Country for the losse they sustained by plunder as also to the wives and children of those that were slaine that the Countrey might be freed from Contribution and all manner of Payment to the Souldier that since the present forces of Hereford were not able to defend the County they forthwith quit the Garrison and leave it to be kept by the Countrey who are able to defend the same and the whole County with lesse charge These and the like triviall passages did they discover to the world as it is wont to happen in such popular Commotions In the meane while severall Posts were dispatched to Colonell Massie at Ledbury and letters returned from him to them and in particular to some Gentlemen the cheifest and best affected These letters received by the Country people tooke well with some but the generall vote was that they needed not his helpe to gaine Hereford which they conceived would be delivered up by the Citizens whom they knew to be of one minde with them Other messengers came from them with intreaties to march up to Hereford promising concurrence in assaulting the Towne others would have him fall upon another Garrison at Canon-Froome The Governour made answer to the severall Messages that he desired to conferre with some of their best intrusted Gentlemen and Yeomen expecting meete security that either by Protestation or taking the Nationall Covenant they give him an assurance of their standing with the Parliament requiring them to cast off the enemy and receive orders from him to act nothing of themselves without the consent and approbation of Parliament without which engagement he could not joyne or act with them To this they replyed that they held it a thing of evill consequence and dangerous to declare themselves and they knew their ability of themselves to performe what they had resolved intreating him to march backe with his men giving assurance that they were our friends but could not declare for either side this act of theirs being a just defence against the unjust proceedings of the Committee and Souldiers of Hereford and to secure the Countrey from contribution and quarter The Governour makes answer to this resolve That the course they had taken was neither safe nor legall for it in this confused manner they should gaine Hereford it would doe them little service unlesse they were able to keepe it from the Kings Army and be able of themselves to beate them wholly from that side Seaverne that no incursion could be made on their Countrey from any part that they would distresse themselves without releife because their illegall way would not be owned by the Parliaments forces for though they have undertaken the preservation of the Kingdome yet they can give no protection to any that will not joyne with them in that way