Fidelity to the King according to the Laws and their Zeal to the Established Religion according to their Conscience together with their Wives and Children The barbarous Vsage of the Loyal Clergy Ejected Plundred Spoiled and barbarously Consumed in Prison in Exile and with Hunger To relate all the Inhumanities committed against the Loyal Orthodox Clergy their Usurpations upon the Revenues of the Church and their Dilapidations and Ruines of the Houses of God in the Land would require a vast Volume and might deservedly employ a very good Pen which I purposely omit as wanting Ability and Leasure for so Great a Work The Scots being entred into England the Marquess of Newcastle for he had been made such for his Eminent Services marched with his Army to oppose the Progress of this new Enemy He had kept them at Bay for some time by frequent Encounters and Velitations till the taking of Selbie by Fairfax and Lincoln by the Earl of Manchester Both which especially the Latter being very numerous moved after him So that Newcastle unable to fight them all at once and lest he might be inclosed by their Three Armies retreated to York where he was surrounded and besieged by their United Forces The King being very sollicitous for the Safety of so good a Man and so good an Army sent Prince Rupert with great Forces to their Relief The Prince had some Time before relieved Newark having slain a Thousand of Sir John Meldrum's Men who besieged it and reduced the Rest to a Necessity though Six Thousand strong of parting with their Arms and Baggage High with these Successes he marches toward the North and taking Stopford and Leverpoole in his Way relieved the Illustrious Countess of Derby in Laâ—hame House where she had been long Besieged Bolton daring to defend it self was at the second Assault forced Eight Hundred of the Garrison most Townsmen being slain For relying upon their Numbers and Works they had not only abused the Prince by scurrilous Language but hang'd One of his Captains whom they had taken which occasioned this not undeserved Severity After this continuing his March he came without any Opposition to York where he joined with Newcastle the Enemy having raised the Siege upon his Approach with a Resolution to engage them The Besieged upon the Rebels drawing off did some considerable Execution upon their Rear but being secure had no mind to try the Hazard of the War any farther They had been wearied with a long Siege of Nine Weeks and supposing that their Deliverers were also tired with their long March thought it better to leave the Enemy to their own Dissentions for their Generals did not well agree about the Command in Chief than to occasion their Uniting by so hazardous an Adventure But the Prince fatally resolved and not thinking he had done enough in relieving the City if he did not also beat the Scots the only Obstacle to the King's Victories marched after the Rebels and found them drawn up in a Corn-field on the South side of Marston-Moor Four Miles from York The Enemies Three Armies contracted in One was commanded by the Three Generals The Battel of Marston-Moor July 2. The Two Fairfaxes Father and Son had the right-Right-Wing Manchester the Left and Leven the Main Body consisting all of Scots and each Division had his Auxiliaries and Reserves The Prince observing the Adversaries Order ranged also his Army in Battalia and reserving to himself the Left-Wing gave Newcastle the Right entrusting the Command of the Main Battel to Goring Lucas and Porter And as no Field since these Unhappy Wars did produce so Great Armies so none had been fought with greater Valour Rupert charg'd the Fairfaxes with so much Resolution that he broke them and the Scots their Reserves but pursued them to his own Ruine too far Our Main Battel did also repel the Scots But Affairs went otherwise in the Right the Mancesterians having routed the Royallists and not following them too far fell upon the Prince's and Goring's disordered Troops hindring them to Rally and quite dispersed them It is affirmed That the Three Rebel-Generals quitted the Field leaving to Cromwell Manchester's Lieutenant General the Honour of the Day for he keeping his great Reserve of Horse in a firm Body followed the Cavaliers so close that he hindred them to Rally and Embody again The Fight lasted from Seven till Ten at Night with great Courage and Slaughter on both Sides though the Victory fell to the Rebels as also the Cannon and Spoil of the Field There were Two of Newcastle's Regiments called his Lambs being old Souldiers who fell not unrevenged For the rest being fled they casting themselves into a Ring did alone resist Cromwell's Assaults nor could they however abandoned by their Friends and surrounded by their Enemies be broke until being shot at like Fowl at a Distance and overwholmed with showers of Bullets not then perishing without Slaughter of their Enemies scarce any of these miserable Bravo's escaping tho' worthy of a better Fortune The slain were computed at Eight Thousand the Slaughter made by Cromwell being compensated in that made by the Prince upon the Fairfaxians and especially the Scots being most animated against them His Highness being returned from his Pursuit too late rallying what he could of his dispersed Troops returned with his Remains into Lancashire whilst the Marquess retreating to York left that also and with his Two Sons and very many of his Principal Officers leaving England to its Dissentions and Tumults sailed for Hamburgh York surrendred July 23. The Royallists being thus dispersed York is again Besieged by the Three victorious Armies but wanting Powder wherewith they had furnished their Camp before the Fight the City was delivered up by Sir Thomas Glenham the Governour upon Honourable Terms most of the Northern Counties following her Fortune But the King was more successful in other Places especially where he commanded in Person Waller having lost his Army at the Devizes had raised another in London the Citizens that they might contribute to this Holy War defrauding their barking Stomachs of one Meal by the Week His first Exploit was the Recovery of Arundel-Castle sometime before taken by Hopton Being joined with Balfore and Hazelrig at Winchester not unmindful of his Defeat at the Devizes he did now in some Sort bravely revenge it upon Hopton himself at Branden-Heath near Alsford Branden-Heath Fight Mar. 29. the Lord John Stuart being mortally wounded in the Fight The Foot stood bravely to it at push of Pike till the Royallists being outnumb'red were forced to give Way The Earl of Forth having sent the Cannon away before to Winchester and that he might likewise save the Horse wheeled about with them to Basing and so to Oxford There fell of the Royallists in this Combat near Five Hundred besides the above-mentioned Lord as also Sir John Smith and the Colonels Sandys Scot and Manning The Rebels acknowleged scarce One Hundred of theirs slain besides
were they without hopes seeing the Cavaliers were so remote and dispersed But the King sollicitous for Oxford as also for Pomfret Castle which had been long besieged designed to relieve both and being nearest the City sent a strong Party of Horse with a great Number of Sheep and Cattel to its Relief and encamped with the rest of his Army upon Borrow-hill The Convoy having succour'd Oxford the Expedition of Pomfret by Langdale's Perswasion was resolved upon There were they who advised that the King should march Westward and join with Goring who had a very great Army and then with united Forces go directly for London supposed an easie purchase as being more than sufficiently distracted with Factions and the Terror of their Approach Whilst they were thus consulting News was brought that Fairfax having quitted Oxford was with his Army at Gilsburg but Five Miles off and that he had sent Ireton with a good Body of Horse to observe the Royallists who that Night falling upon the Rear of the Army quarter'd at Naesby did not only disturb it but carrying Terror with him forced the King out of his Quarters and to make haste to Harborow where the Van of his Army was lodged Upon this the King immediately called a Council of War where neglecting the Opinion of those who disswaded an Engagement and prudently advised a Conjunction with Goring they resolved to fight and because Fairfax followed them so close to turn upon him and offer him Battel The Battel of Naesby 1645 Jun. 14. And now the fatal Day the Eighteenth of the Kalends of July did appear by so much the more dismal because it ushered in under the Veil of Liberty the most insupportable of Tyrannies All Men's Eyes and Attentions were taken up with the Expectation of the Event of this decisive Day and Vows had been sent up to Heaven at Oxford and London for the Success of it since the Fate of the Kingdom seemed to depend upon it Monarchy and despised Majesty were to be vindicated on one Side together with Religion whilst the other contended for Anarchy and Vsurpation and a Liberty of doing Evil. It was told the King but falsly that the Rebels were retreating designing to shelter themselves in the associated Counties Whereupon Orders were suddenly given to march and least they might get away some of the heaviest Cannon were left behind that they might not retard their haste in preventing the escape of these pretended Fugitives But they found the Enemy drawn up upon the Advantages they had chosen in a plow'd Field near Naesby and ready to fight Though the Sight was surprising being unexpected yet the Royallists embattelling likewise their Army advanced towards then Both sides were full of Courage and desirous of doing well proposing nothing less than to overcome The Cavaliers Word was God and Queen Mary the other Side God with us The King took to himself the Care of his Main Battel The Princes Rupert and Maurice commanded the Right Wing of the Horse and Sir Marmaduke Langdale the Left The Earl of Lindsey and the Lord Ashley led the Battalions of Foot towards the Right and the Lord Bard and Sir George Lisle those to the Left In the Rear of the Foot stood Col. Howard's Regiment of Horse as a Reserve the Whole being closed up with the King's Guards and Prince Rupert's Regiment of Foot Nor was the Enemies Order or Numbers disproportionable Sir Thomas Fairfax himself with Skippon his Major General commanded the Foot Cromwell now Lieutenant General of the Horse and Col. Rossâ—ter newly arrived led the Right Wing and Commissary General Ireton the Left the Reserves being conducted by the Colonels Raynsborough Hammond and Pride With these Forces and a more than Civil Rage the Armies encountred both equally animated and of equal Desires and Hopes the Contest being for an Empire Rupert charged with his accustomed Valour and routed the Three outmost Squadrons of Ireton's Wing but suffering himself to be hurried away with the too great desire of overcoming pursued them to the very Town Ireton seeing the Prince past falls with the Remainder of his Horse upon the King 's next Brigade of Foot where being ill received he was hurt with a Pike in the Thigh and a Halbard in his Face and his Horse being kill'd under him he was taken Prisoner though presently released by the Victory of his Party But Affairs went otherwise in the other Wing for Col. Whaley after a rude Encounter on both Sides forced Langdale with Two of his Squadrons upon Prince Rupert's Men in the Rear where whilst he was rallying again he was quite dispersed by Cromwell who followed The Main Battel on both sides rushing upon each other with great and equal Fury fought with all the Incitements of Hope and Desire Pede pes densusque viro vir mutually exposing their Arms their Persons their Wounds They slay and are slain force and are forced But the Victory in all Probability had been the King's the contrary Divisions being forced up to their Reserves if Cromwell had not with his Troops fierce with success joining their Main Battel and charging the Royallists destitute for want of their Horse broke and routed them And yet there was one brave Battalion of Foot as that at Marston-Moor though charged often on all Sides by Cromwell which could not yet be pierced till Fairfax charging them with his Horse and Guards in Front and Rear at once at length defeated them worthy of better Fortune who maintained the Ground they stood on alive and covered it as if they still would keep Possession of it when dead The Princes were scarce returned from the Pursuit having lost much time in their vain Attempt upon the Carriages which were guarded with Fire-Locks and at length come though too late when they were forced with the King who had performed all the Parts of a Great Captain and now abandoned by his Fortune not his Vertue to leave the Field and an Entire Victory to the Rebels Fairfax did not think it safe to follow the Royallists without his Foot lest he might expose the Advantage he had got to new Dangers He therefore staid till they were come up being not above a quarter of a Mile behind and then opening his Horse to the Right and Left received them up betwixt the Interval and so marched as at the Beginning in battle-Battle-Army against the Enemy The King notwithstanding he had lost all his Foot and his Cannon would have charged the Rebels Horse with his own which he had embodied before their Foot were come up but being over-perswaded by the desponding Courages of them about him and the Infantry approaching the Greatness of that Resolve vanished and he was obliged to secure himself by a timely Retreat towards Leicester whilst Langdale hastened with his towards Newark The Rebels Loss in those slain and wounded were esteemed near a Thousand amongst whom Ireton and Skippon were signalized by their Hurts the Marks of their Disloyalty There
in Order Essex marches to the Relief of Glocester Essex mustered his Army the Members of both Houses being present upon Hounsley-Heath which did not exceed Ten Thousand Men too weak for the Expedition they were designed but being much reinforced by the City-Auxiliaries and Trained-Bands marched that Night to Colebroke and so forward Glocester seated upon the Banks of Severne was with the Addition of some Works and the River esteemed strong Colonel Massey an active and vigilant Commander was Governour strengthened with Two Regiments of Foot and Two Troops of Horse who however vigorously attacked did no less vigorously oppose Force to Force Sallies to Assaults and Countermines to the Mines from without But in truth neither understood the Methods of besieging or defending as yet that Part of War being but in its Infancy amongst us But we must allow the Defensive to have carried it here seeing they held it out until the Arrival of their Succours The King being advertized of the Enemies Advance sent Prince Rupert with all the Horse to retard their March which he did by continual Excursions Velitations and forcing of Posts and Quarters At Stow in the Wowld the Prince drawing all his Horse in one continued Line upon the Side of the Hill made a very great Appearance On the contrary the Rebels march up the Ascent in Battalia Lieutenant Colonel Bayly with the City-Regiments were in the Left-Wing and Colonel Harvey with his Regiment of Horse and Two of Foot being some-what advanced in the Right the Prince sent a strong Party with orders to endeavour to get betwixt them and Home which being perceived Three Regiments more were presently sent to his Assistance the which with the Thunder of their Cannon obliged the Royallists after some skirmishing to retire to their Body which being composed only of Horse did also give way to this great Army which advanced upon them The King preferring the Blessings of Peace before the Triumphs of Victory sent a Trumpeter with Propositions to Essex who answered crudely enough That he had Orders to relieve Glocester not to treat which he also did the King rising from the Siege at his Approach and passing the River with a Resolution to fight the Rebels upon their return And this seemed another Omission The Siege of Glocester raised for if the King had fought them before they reached the Town he had probably either beaten them or impeded their Progress both or either of which would infallibly have obliged them to surrender Essex having relieved the Town his next Care was to preserve his Army especially the Londoners the Chief Strength of it which he in a great Manner did by his Surprizal of Cirencester where he found Store of Provisions which he much wanted The Royallists obstructing the Enemy in their Return upon every Occasion fell into their Rear upon Auburne Chase with all their Horse forcing it up to their Main Body They charged them a second Time with the same Success but having no Foot by the Advance of their Enemies and the Night they retreated with little loss save that of de Vieuville a French Marquiss The Rebels lost many as well slain as taken The next Morning the King's Army being drawn up near Newbury having the River on their Right-Hand expected the Rebels there The Battel of Newbury There was a little Hill Five Hundred Paces from the Town which the Cavaliers had possessed and fortified with Guns Essex perceiving it and having no other way to pass he himself with his own Regiment and C. Barclay and Holborne's Brigades attacks it bravely being as bravely received by the Royallists Stapleton with his own Regiment and that of the General 's Guards charging the Earl of Carnarven was repulsed but the Earl pursuing too far was kill'd by a Shot in the Head of his own Men a Person no less remarkable for his Fortitude and Fidelity to the King than for the Nobleness of his Extraction Prince Rupert valiantly charging the Right-Wing of the Rebels who were rallied again did again disorder them driving them to the Entry of the Lane by which they were come But the Cavaliers were forced to make as much hast back having been saluted with a Volley of Shot from the adverse Foot posted there and not without loss The King 's Right and the Enemies left-Left-Wing being hindred by Hedges and Inclosures fought only by small Parties and light Skirmishes Nor had the Foot though they fought stoutly any signal Advantages of each other the Earl of Brentford on the King's side and Major General Skippon on the Rebels behaving themselves with equal Courage and Vigilancy The Royallists had taken some Field-pieces which they were forced to quit again with loss The approaching Evening put an end to this bloody Contest and the King's Army rallied and drew up again as at first in the Field where they had fought with design to renew the Combat in the Morning which yet they did not being content to send Major General Harvey who had lately deserted them with a strong Party of Horse and Foot to fall in their Rear They had also stood in Arms all Night not retreating before the Morning at which time they were close followed and charged their Rear-guard commanded by Stapleton being forced up to their Foot with considerable Loss There were slain on the King's Side many eminent Persons as the Earls of Carnarven and Sunderland the Wise Lord Faukland and Colonel Morgan with others The Rebels also lost many but of no great Quality being most Plebeians And this was the End of the famous Expedition of Glocester wherein Essex and his Party had gained much Honour if they had not fought against their King Nor did the Royallists behave themselves less Valiantly though more Commendably as having the Better Cause The Rebel Parliament invite the Scots to their Aid The Men at Westminster being heightned with this Appearance of Success which carried more Noise with it by reason of the Loss on the King's Side of so many Noblemen whereas they had but few to expose they yet prudently considering the Equality of the Balance not over-confident in their own Strength invited the Presbyterian Scots to their Assistance and to oblige them the more strictly to their Party being not to be gained by the ordinary Stipend of Mercenaries they mutually oblige themselves by a Solemn League and Covenant contrary to all Laws Humane and Divine to extirpate Episcopacy and the Liturgy and to obtrude in their Places the Scottish Ecclesiastical Discipline built upon the Basis of Rebellion and Tumult Moreover Archbishop Laud retained hitherto in the nauseousness of a Prison was now as Strafford had been formerly to be immolated a Sacrifice to the Malice of these Hirelings and the Revenues of the Church to be divided amongst these Sacrilegious Confederates as will shortly appear This best of Princes might have expected better Things from the Scots as being his Countrymen as well as Subjects Nay he had heaped
as well-nigh always in the open Field Passing thence by Taodan he marched to Esk where he met with the old Earls of Arley with his Sons and a brave train of Friends and Attendants Here he had intelligence that the Lord Burgley was at Aberdene of Aberdene with design to draw the Northern Parts by Money or Force to join with him Which Montross understanding having passed the River Dee he found the Enemy drawn up in Battel Array near the City Burgley had two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse which he placed in the Wings and having chosen his Ground and planted his Cannon at the head of his Army expected the onset Montross had but fifteen hundred Foot for the Lord of Kilpont's Men were gone home to convoy the Body of their Lord who had been murther'd by one of his own Servants and very many of the Atholians were also returned loaden with Plunder after the Victory of Perth and not yet come up to the Army He also placed his Horse which were but four and forty in the Wings Adding some of his Foot to them who for their Agility and Strength were equal to Horses enjoyning them to have a care lest the Enemies Troops surrounded them Which they also valiantly performed for the Charge being given the Enemy was defeated slaughtered routed The Horse escaped for the most part but the Foot having no place to retreat to but the City fled thither But being closely pursued by the Conquerours entring Pell-mell with them the Streets were strowed with their slain Bodies Two days being allowed the Soldiers to refresh in Montross was informed that Argile was advancing with far greater Forces than formerly being also accompanied with the Earl of Lothan with Fifteen Hundred Horse He therefore left Aberdeen and marched to Kintor from whence he determined to lead his Forces to the Mountains and Places of most difficult access In order to this he buried his Cannon in the Earth and disburthened himself of his heaviest Baggage But the Enemy pressing on all sides he marched to Badenoth that he might be out of the danger of their Cavalry those Quarters being scarce passable for Horse The Enemy having left pursuing him he was surprized by a fit of Sickness which extreamly harassed him for some days but being recovered he marched again into Angus hoping either to force Argile tired with tedious Marches into Winter Quarters or to leave him far behind him Having traversed Angus and passed over the Grampian Mountain he came to Strath-bogy to invite the Gordons with his Presence to a Conjunction of Arms with him But in vain being opposed by the Marquess of Huntley who though he did not hate the King envied the glories of Montross too much to contribute to their greatness He went thence to the Castle of Favia which he took but being sharply attacked there by Argile and Lothan had much to do to resist their Power which he yet did by his own Vertue and the rare Valour of his Men. Many days being thus spent at Favia Argile got nothing with so great an Army but Infamy from his Friends and Contempt from his Enemy Montross baffles Argile who flies to Perth Sometime after Montross understanding Argile to be at Deucalidon without his Horse resolved to attempt him which coming to his knowledge Montross being as yet sixteen Miles off he commanded his Men to shift for themselves whilst he secured himself by his flight to Perth Montross being of opinion that an Enemy could be no where so advantageously assaulted as in his own Country flew with incredible speed and industry into Argile where having forced the Marquess to save himself again in a Boat he destroyed and filled the Province with Blood Slaughter Rapine and Fire Nor were the other Neighbouring Countries as Lorn and the rest that acknowledged the Dominion of Argile better used The Royallists having quitted these Quarters they at length met with Argile at Innerlock but charged him with such Fury that they broke their Ranks and pursuing with a great shout defeated them with a great slaughter killing above Fifteen Hundred upon the place Whilst Argile himself placed in a Boat and put off from Shore saw the ruine of his Men at a distance and without any share of the danger After this the Citizens of Elgin surrender'd their Town of their own accord at which time the Lord Gourdon The noble Lord Gourdon joins with Montross and eldest Son to the Marquess of Huntley a Person above all Commendation for the eminency of his Vertues left his Uncle Argile and came over to the King's Party with a very choice Squadron of Friends and Dependants Montross heightened with this accession forced Hurrey Commander of the Rebels Horse refusing to fight upon his Invitation to a Retreat and offered Bayly sent for purposely out of England to whom Hurrey was also joined by a Trumpeter the liberty of Battel But he replied That when he was disposed to Engage it should be by his own not anothers choice The Royallists marched forward to Deucalidon and designing to pass the Tai were upon the point of being ruined by a very mischievous accident which they could not forsee Lodowick Gordon who had born Arms at Aberdeen on the Rebels side had by the mediation of his Noble Brother his Brother Lodowick deserts the army which greatly distresses Montross been reconciled to the King's Party But now whether upon real or pretended Letters from his Father having privately seduced most of the Gordons to a defection carried them away exposing thereby his Brother and Montross to very imminent danger And truly it may be a question whether of these excellent Persons most hated this Perfidy Montross highly troubled with this defection thought how to secure the rest and immediately sent the weakest of them away with all his Baggage with Command to meet him at Brechin This done he with an Hundred and Fifty Horse which was all he had and Six Hundred nimble Footmen marched with incredible Speed to Taodun which he assaulted took and plundered He himself stood upon a Hill which overlook'd the Town when sudden news was brought him that Bayly and Hurrey were with Three Thousand Foot Montross's noble retreat from Taodun and Eight Hundred Horse within a Mile of the Place By that time he had got his Men out of the City which was not done without extream difficulty being scarce to be withdrawn from their Plundering the Enemy was come up within Musket-shot of him His Retreat was admirable wherein he shewed himself no less a worthy Commander than he had done in his former Victories Some advised the General to reserve himself for better times and secure himself by flight with his Horse and others under these desperate Circumstances were of opinion they should not perish unrevenged But he complying with neither instantly sent Four Hundred Foot before and commanding the other Two Hundred to follow he himself closed the Rear with his Horse
as the King had the better Cause so it was also asserted with a better Pen however otherwise unfortunate BOOK II. The King attempts Hull in vain Propositions sent to his Majesty to York Most of the Lords and many of the Commons repair to his Majesty He erects his Standard at Nottingham and raises an Army Essex the Rebels General at Worcester at Keynton The famous Battel of Edge-hill Fight at Branford The King fortifies Oxford Some Actions in other Provinces The Queen lands at Burlington Goes to Oxford The Battel of Lansdowne Of Rownday Downe The Siege and Relief of Glocester The great Battel of Newbury The Parliament invite the Scots to their Succour They enter England The Siege of York The fatal Battel of Marston-Moor The Fights at Brandon Heath and Copredy-bridge Essex defeated in the West The second Battel of Newbury Alexander Carew and the Two Hothams beheaded Mac-Mahon and Macquier executed The Archbishop of Canterbury martyr'd The Treaty at Uxbridge Essex discarded and Sir Thomas Fairfax made General in his Place Hotham proclaimed Traytor HIS Majesty upon Hotham's insolent Refusal caused him instantly to be proclaimed Traytor On the other side the Parliament declare they will defend him and complain highly of the Breach of their Privileges therein as if the King had violated his Subjects Immunities by pretending to the Possession of his own Town and the Magazine he had purchased with his own Money They further sent some of their Members to disturb the King's Preparations at York which they did so effectually that he lost the Opportunity of raising an Army in that County Perceiving then the Danger his Person was in by the Enemies forwardness he demanded a Guard of the Gentry and Free-holders of York-shire which was easily assented to Whereupon the Parliament declared That the King seduced by evil Counsellours did design to make War upon his Parliament forgetting that they had done the same being exagitated with their fictitious Terrors Eight Months before The King with his said Guard and the feeble Assistance of the Trained Bands attempted Hull but The King attempts Hull in vain finding it an Enterprise of much Difficulty would not spend that Time which was so precious in so hazardous an Undertaking But the Parliament confident now in their Numbers and Power for the City of London and the neighbouring Counties were at their Devotion sent a Remonstrance with Nineteen Propositions to the King by which they demand in Effect Nineteen Propositions sent to his Majesty that he should surrender all his Regal Power into their Hands tho they disguised as much as they could their Intentions with a Mixture of some Things really to be approved of by every honest man others specious and popular and some already granted by his Majesty All which as the King well observed in his Answer were cunningly twisted and mixed with other Things of their main Design of Ambition and private Interest But the Propositions the Parliament made to the People were of another Nature for they invited them by an Order to bring in Plate and Money to Guild-hall for the Restitution whereof they should have the publick Faith and all under pretence of rescuing the King out of the hands of Papists and Malignants for the preservation of the Protestant Religion and the Privileges of Parliament And never any Contributions were granted with more earnest and mistaken Zeal than those that were thrown into their Corban by the London and Neighbouring Puritans under the pretext of Godliness but to their own Ruine as it happened The Richer Citizens gave their Money and Plate with Joy and the Women offered their Jewels and Ear-Rings to this Calf of Presbytery Nay the Poorer both married and Maidens gave their Wedding Rings their Bodkins and their Thimbles to promote this Holy War They were all hurried into this mad Humour by the fantastick Ardour of their Levites These being the Boutefeus of Rebellion and Tumult who bellowing in their Assemblies that Religion would be overwhelmed with Popery and their Liberties supplanted by the Approaches of Tyranny declared that there was no Deliverance to be expected but from the Parliament With these Arts and Moneys from the City that Nursery of Rebellion The Parliament raise an Army under the Command of Essex a great Army was raised under the Command of the Earl of Essex and sent forth to destroy the Malignants for so they called such who by the Principles of Honour and Duty adher'd to their Prince and to rescue the King as they gloried out of the Hands of his wicked Counsellours The Title of King was as yet held in great Veneration by the People It pleased them therefore to entitle their War to the King and Parliament though nothing more contrary to both They had not as yet separated Kingship from the Person which shortly after happened for distinguishing betwixt the Politick and Private Capacity of the Chief Magistrate they dared impudently to affirm That the King was Virtually in the Parliament though Personally absent at York Nay they went further as there is still a plus ultra in villainous Rebellion contesting That the supreme Power is primarily in the People and in Kings but by a delegate and fiduciary Commission and therefore as being inferiour to the Whole though superiour to every particular to be reclaimed by Force if they should transgress against Religion and Liberty But to omit these seditious Impertinences sufficiently refuted in the repeating of them the King understanding the Progress and Preparations of the Adversaries and how they had seized his Navy Fortresses and Magazines being himself destitute of all Help except such as those Generous and Loyal Lords and Gentlemen who followed his Fortune Essex and his Adherents proclaimed Traytors The King sets up his Standard at Nottingham did contribute he declared Essex and his Adherents to be Traytors and Rebels and appointing the Marquiss of Hartford General of his Forces erected his Royal Standard at Nottingham inviting thereby all his loving Subjects to his Assistance It was observed that a Gust of Wind did at the same Time blow down the Colours which though looked upon as Inauspicious by some did not yet hinder but that several Thousands repaired to them And his Majesty having received Money and Arms from the Queen grew by these Supplies and the Accession of his Friends most of the Lords and very many of the Lower House repairing to him formidable Insomuch that this great Defection of the Members amongst whom was the Lord Keeper with the Great Seal as they added Life and Reputation to the King's Affairs being for the most part Persons of whole Estates and great Abilities so they did a little raise Apprehensions in them that remained which appeared by their Vote and Impeachment of the Fifteenth of June The Queen proclaimed Traytor The Queen in the beginning of the Troubles retired with her own and the Crown-Jewels some whereof she had pawned for these Supplies into
descending Edge-hill in Battalia and very Chearful had a Sight of the Enemy who were busie in ordering their Army in the Valley below The King viewing of them being asked what he intended to do answered briskly I never saw the Rebels before in a Body I am resolved to fight them God and all good Men assist my Righteous Cause Prince Rupert commanded the Right Wing Lieutenant General Willmot to whom the Earl of Forth was added the Left and the Earl of Lindsey General of the Field led the Main Battel on Foot with a Pike in his Hand and each Division had their Reserves Essex who had Quarter'd at Keynton drew his Army into Battalia in the Vale saluting or provoking the Adversaries with Three great Shot and as many Shouts of his whole Army This Summons was answered by Two great Guns and being advanced nearer the King observed the Rebels Army to be drawn up as followeth Two Regiments of Horse composed the Right Wing commanded by the Two Colonels Balfore and Stapelton and the Lord Fielding had his Regiment in their Rear for a Reserve Essex commanded the Battel at first also on Foot as the adverse General and the Left Wing consisting of Twenty Troops of Horse was led by Colonel Ramsey a Scot. And now the Cannon began to play on both Sides but without any considerable Execution Prince Rupert charged Ramsey with so much Courage that he not only forced him from his Station but off the Field also and the Brigade of Foot next to them frighted with the Flight of their Horse and surprized with the Defection of Sir Faithful Fortescue who mindful of his Duty went over with his Troops to his Majesty threw down their Arms Colonel Essex who commanded them retiring to the Main Body But our Horse following the Chace too far and their Reserves commanded by the Earl of Carnarven and hurried with the same Violence suffered the Victory to slip out of their Hands by their too much eagerness to overcome For if they had charged their Flank bared of their Horse they had probably much incommoded them Essex was more cautious who sending Fielding's Reserve with others under the Command of Hurrey did much disturb the King's Foot destitute by the Absence of their Horse The Left Wing had not the same Success for Balfore had forced Willmot to a disorderly Retreat and breaking Two Battalions of Foot left naked by the Flight of their Horse on that Side opened a passage to the King's Standard The Foot by this were all engaged and the Fight growing very hot the Standard it self was seized on Sir Edmund Varney that carried it being Slain but it was recovered again by Sir Jo. Smith for which generous Act he was by the King the best judge of Merit Knighted upon the Place and honoured with the bearing of that Standard he had so bravely recovered The Earl of Lindsey was slain there having performed all the Parts of a great Captain and his Eldest Son hastning to his Assistance was taken Prisoner The Battel being restored by the Accession of fresh Supplies on the King's Side and the Evening approaching they left combating as if by consent both Sides being weary and the Rebels also in want of Ammunition Both Sides therefore rallying their shatter'd Forces drew up into Battalia as at the Beginning By this the Prince was returned who if he had not amused himself in that vain pursuit and Plundering of the Enemies Carriages at Keynton the War had been ended at this first Blow Essex was strengthened in the Field with Colonel Hamden's Regiment and presently afterwards by Colonel Hollis his Foot and the Lord Willoughby's Regiment of Horse who meeting Prince Rupert's Wing in the Lanes pursuing of Ramsey forced him back into the Field Although Essex was more numerous by the Addition of these Three fresh Regiments he did attempt no farther upon the King considering also that the Prince's Horse of whose Bravery he had had Experience were fresh and entire Night being come the King withdrew to the Hill from which he had descended where he lay all Night in his Coach with the Prince of Wales the Hopes and future Glory of our Nation the Camp shining with Fires The next Morning the King sent off his Foot towards Ayno and having stood sometime in Battel-array with his Horse did also follow Essex lay in the Field where he had fought and however recruited with the Accession of Three entire fresh Regiments attempted no farther upon the Royallists but retreating to the Banks of Avon under the protection of Warwick-Castle Essex retires to Warwick suffered the King to march whither he pleased The slain on both Sides were at first believed to amount to near Five Thousand though the Country by a stricter Enquiry affirmed they had not buried above a Thousand which is the more probable seeing Slaughters of this Kind are ordinarily magnified On the King's Side the General bravely performing the Duty of his Place as also that of a private Souldier was slain together with the Lord Aubigny and Sir Edward Varney who died in this Field of Honour The Rebels lost Colonel Essex who signalized himself by his Bravery Lieutenant Colonel Ramsey and the Lord St. Johns who being taken died of his Wounds Both Parties attributed to themselves the Honour of the Victory The Essexians said That the Field and Dead were left to their Disposal The Royallists likewise gloried that they had done what they designed by removing the Obstacles that hindred their March towards London The King continues his March adding farther That the Rebels however strengthned with Three Regiments durst not oppose themselves to the King's Passage the next Day And truly though the King's Forces were much shattered they grew accidentally more formidable than before to whom it proved no small Victory considering his Discouragements not to have been vanquished For many Eminent Persons who stood at gaze before seeing the Party equal ranged themselves now without difficulty on the better Side where their Duty and Inclination invited them How fair this Enemy behaved themselves in other things may be guessed by Letters taken amongst their Baggage in the Battel discovering the Treasons of one Blake in the King's Army Blake's Treason Punishment who daily gave Intelligence of what passed to the Rebels and particularly in what part of the Army the King fought that they might direct their Bullets with more Certitude at so Illustrious a Mark. Perhaps thus designing as they had Religiously affirmed to defend the King's Person But the unhappy Contriver of this nefarious Treason expiated his Crime with his Life being hanged on the next Tree O. Cromwell 's first Adventure I cannot omit what is affirmed of Cromwell then a Captain of Horse in Essex his Regiment who absented himself from the Fight He had observed from the Top of a Steeple in the Neighbourhood the Disorder of the Right Wing of their Army wherewith being greatly terrified he slipp'd down
for haste by the Bell-Rope and taking Horse ran away with his Troop for which Crime he had been cashier'd had it not been for the powerful Mediation of his Friends I mention this of this so famous Chieftain in the following Wars to shew how the Temperature of Body and Mind may by Use and Ambition be entirely altered The King takes Banbury-Castle c. The King continued his March having the Town and Castle of Banbury surrendred to him in his Way the Two Regiments of Foot and Troop of Horse which Garrisoned there putting themselves under his Majesty's Protection and Pay Broughton the Lord Say's House was also delivered and now the King with many Prisoners and Captive-Colonels entred triumphantly into Oxford Enters triumphantly into Oxford But he did not stay long there for Prince Rupert with a great Body of Horse swiftly moving up and down the Country infested all the Ways and Avenues to London on that Side and the King following with the rest of the Army assaulted and forced Brentford Hollis and Hamden's Regiments with part of the Lord Brookes's routed at Brentford breaking Two of the Enemies best Regiments there taking Eleven Colours and Thirteen Pieces of Ordnance which were sunk by reason of their Encumbrance in the adjoining River Many were slain and drowned and Five Hundred were made Prisoners but the King gave these their Liberty upon their Engagement never to bear Arms again against his Majesty But the Parliament loth to lose so many brave Men ordered Stephen Marshall a fierce Presbyterian Minister to absolve them from the Religion of their Oaths which he did with a more than Pontifical Authority The Consternation this blow occasioned filled the City with Terror They shut their Shops immediately upon the News and mustering their Trained-Bands and Auxiliaries joining with such Forces of their Army as were nearest Essex drew them all up in Battalia upon Turnham-Green Essex at Turnham-Green Three Thousand who lay at Kingston were also sent for for which their General was after blamed for abandoning so considerable a Post which might have distressed the King if made good For his Majesty having Intelligence of the numerous Strength of the Rebels and indeed wanting Bullets for a Skirmish lest he might be surrounded by them retreating over Kingston-Bridge abandoned as is said broke it down after him and having garrisoned Redding in his Way returned triumphantly to Oxford Whilst these Things were a-doing the City and the Two Houses apprehending the King's Advance had sent for Essex to whom they had given Five Thousand Pound as an Acknowledgment for his great Services at Edge-hill to hasten to their Succour But the King being gone the Citizens returned to their Labours and the Essexians to recruit their shatter'd Regiments with new Levies The King being come to Oxford The King returns to Oxford and Fortifies it and finding it a Place very commodious to make his head Quarters of it being in the Heart of the Kingdom and not far from London commanded it to be Fortified which the Rebels had seasonably omitted to do and surrounded with a deep Moat and Bulworks according to the Modern Practice which was done with all imaginable Diligence and Haste In the mean Time the War was carried on in other Provinces of the Kingdom with no less Courage and Vigour Not only the Towns and Counties but most of the best Families divided in their Opinions many engaging according to their Interest but most according as they affected the Parties But the various Battels Fights Velitations Sieges and the like as they deserve no Triumphs happening in a Civil War so they merit a better Description than is yet extant for they were for the most part eminent for Courage famous for Conduct and by so much the more severe in their Actings by how much the Parties were the more excited with the Opinion of doing well I do not therefore design to relate the whole War as being above my Force I will leave that Province to the Writers of Histories and content my self to describe the Chief Actions of it and those Things I my self for the most part saw but with designed Brevity Whilst the Armies were in their Winter-Quarters they were not so idle but that many Horse-Skirmishes Excursions Velitations Beating-up of Quarters and the like Feats of War were daily practised and that with various Success The King's Affairs had hitherto succeeded well considering his Circumstances although he never received any Advantage without Sorrow seeing it was gained from his Subjects And hence it was that as often as his Arms were Successful his Thoughts were intent upon Peace pressing and inviting the obdurate Faction to it by reiterated Letters and Messages though to no purpose for those Puritans relying upon the Assistance of their Brethren the Scots were wholly averse from it They had indeed formerly sent Propositions to the King at York but more severe than any Denunciation of War Several fruitless Attempts for Peace The Chief were That the Chief Officers of State should be of their naming and the Militia by Sea and Land at their disposing That the King should disband his Forces abandon his Friends and not dispose of his Children but by their Consent His Majesty did not refuse an Answer to these Demands although they seemed rather Impositions of Slavery than Peace which he sent by the Marquis of Hartford and the Earl of Southampton Two Eminent Noble-men with Command to deliver it in the House of Lords But being refused Admission they returned without having effected any thing Neither were the Mediation of the French and Dutch though offered by both how sincerely I know not accepted by the Houses who answered That they could not suffer that any Foreign Prince or State especially the French should interpose in their Affairs And to shew how little they valued the Monsieur his Coach was stopped and searched for Letters as he was passing to Oxford his Complaint of that Insolence being slurred over with a faint Excuse The Parliament would admit of the Scots their Brethren in Iniquity whom the King did justly reject as equally Rebels They had indeed formerly after the Battel of Edge-hill upon the King 's Advance with his victorious Army towards London apprehending his Approach sent Two Lords and Three Commoners to stay him under Pretence of treating which when they could not they seemed in Revenge upon his Majesty's Retreat to resolve to treat no more though afterwards upon the Instance of some of the more moderate amongst them they again sent Twelve Delegates to Oxford with Demands rather than Propositions the Chief whereof were Jan. 30. 1642. That his Majesty should Disband his Army Return to the Parliament Abolish Episcopacy Abandon the Militia to their Disposal c. The King on the other Side demanded His Revenues his Magazines his Cities Navies Fortresses c. and that whatever they had done contrary to Law should be Abrogated But nothing was concluded
and the Lord Byron excellent Persons all with Fifteen hundred Horse to their Relief Being advanced near the Town Battel of Roundway-Downe July 13. 1643. the Horse were drawn up upon Roundway-Downe in One entire Line save that a Forlorn-Hope advancing before the Body encountred and beat another of theirs up to their Army which stood in Battalia upon the Hill A Valley divided the Two Armies which by reason the Enemy kept their Ground and the Advantages of the Height they stood upon we were obliged to pass which was done with Resolution notwithstanding the continual Discharges of the adverse Cannon and in very close Order and charging their Horse most of them being Curiassiers we bore them before us broke and entirely routed them We had only Two small Field-Pieces which were also Discharged but once from a high Hill upon our Left Hand being guarded by a few Dragoons to give Notice to the Town of the Approach of their Relief The Enemies Foot notwithstanding the Flight of their Horse stood firm nor would be broken until they perceived our Foot marching out of Town who advanced but slowly for fear of Ambushes and then they threw down their Arms and dispersed but to little purpose being well nigh all kill'd or taken There were Eight hundred slain Two thousand taken Four Brass Pieces of Ordnance with all their Ammunition and great Store of Provisions besides Eight and Twenty Foot Colours and Nine Cornets of Horse The Loss on the King's Side was very small except that about Thirty young Gentlemen most Voluntiers whereof the Relater being sorely wounded in the Head and Right Hand was one being too far engaged in the Pursuit were taken and carried Prisoners to Bristol from whence they in a little time were relieved for that City being ill defended was surrendred by Colonel Fines the Governour to the conquering Army for which Act as savouring of Pusillanimity he was tried by a Court-Marshal But he had approved himself Valorous against the Unfortunate having cruelly hanged and murthered Robert Yeamans Yeaman and Bouchier murthered at Bristol and George Bouchier Two prime Citizens and eminent for their Loyalty upon Pretence of their Designing to deliver the City to Prince Rupert notwithstanding the King 's and the King's General the Earl of Forth 's Letters Admonitions and Menacing to the contrary Waller and Hazlerigg fled to Bristol but apprehending a Siege went thence to London to recruit and the Citizens out of the high Opinion they had of Waller easily consented to supply him At the same time of the Bristol-plot there was another Conspiracy discovered at London Mr. Waller by his ingenious Confession and the rare Eloquence of Ten thousand Pounds Chaloner and Tomkins at London saved his Life Chaloner and Tompkins more loyal and deserving a better Fate were hanged before their own Doors The King's Forces were very successful also in other Places though the Victory gained at Hopton-Heath where Gell and Brereton Hopton-Heath Fight Two of the Rebels Champions lost their Cannon and the Day was very dear for it cost no less than the Life of the most Noble Earl of Northampton who being unhappily fallen from his Horse amongst Concy-Borrows was barbarously murthered After this Prince Rupert joining his Forces with these thus destituted having forced Burmigham a very Receptacle of Sedition though with the Loss of the old Earl of Denbigh took Leichfield-Close The Lord Brookes a fierce Zealot of the Party against Bishops in the attempting of it before upon his Advance to it had inauspiciously implored a Sign from Heaven of the Divine Approbation of his Design for whilst he was ordering his Battery though compleatly armed a Bullet glancing near him The Lord Brooke kill'd at Leichfield shot him into the Eye and Brain upon St. Chad's-Day the Patron of that Cathedral Some time after Essex having recruited his Army besieged Redding and having repelled the Cavaliers designed for its Relief at Causum-Bridge had it surrendred to him by Fielding the Lieutenant Governour Sir Arthur Aston who commanded in hief being sore hurt They were startled at Oxford at this Surrender and there wanted not them who blamed Essex for not moving that way with his Forces now victorious But others again excused him fancying that he designed to put an End to the War by a Peace not a Conquest Taunton and Bridgwater fell likewise into the Rebels Hands On the other side Prince Rupert beat the Round-heads at Chalgrave Field where many of them of Note were kill'd and taken Prisoners Colonel Hambden one of the Five Members who commanded was slain in that very Field where he first rendezvouz'd his Men against his Sovereign Very many other Fights and Skirmishes happened with various Success in thâ— several Counties of the Kingdom which to 〈◊〉 â—rolixness I have designedly omitted or but slightly mentioned contenting my self to be particular in those only which seemed decisive as to the Fate of the Kingdom The Queen having raised an Army in Yorkshire and the neighbouring-Counties leaving a considerable Force with Sir Charles Cavendish for the Defence of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire marched with the rest consisting of about Four Thousand Men Six Field-pieces and Two Mortars towards the King The Queen meets the King at Edge-hill whom she met at Edge-hill not more famous for the Battel fought there than for this Royal Congress The Joy after so long an Absence was very great as may be justly presumed since the Passions of Affection and Esteem never appeared more eminent than in this Pair-Royal of Lovers And now with joined Forces and Desires they marched towards Oxford After the destroying of Sir William Waller's Army at the Devizes and the taking of Bristol the King was absolute Master of the Field The Marquiss of Newcastle having also ruined Fairfax at Bramham-Moor and subdued the whole North having shut up the Remains of the Enemy in a few Garrisons was likewise at Liberty to act what he pleased But the King contrary to his own Sentiments and Advice being overborn by his Council of War or rather betrayed by his Fate and the Perfidy of some pretended Friends omitting London the Head of the Rebellion miserably squandered that Time which was irrecoverable in the unfortunate Siege of Glocester whilst Newcastle amused himself about Hull Whereas if they had joined their Forces the Rebels having no Army then in the Field to oppose them he might not only have routed the pretended Parliament who were already upon the Point to dissodge but have given Law to that proud City the Source of the Rebellion and his Misfortunes But it seemed otherwise good to Providence and the Two Houses who were in a desponding Condition raised with this unhoped for Opportunity recruited their empty Regiments well nigh ruined with Sickness and Sedition with all imaginable Speed and alluring to their Assistance the City-Forces they not only relieved Glocester but raised their declining Cause to a Balance with the Kings But of these
of the Town of Newbury but being far short of the Enemy in Numbers he fortified the Avenues of it drawing up the rest of his Army in Spean-Field an opportune place betwixt the Town and the Castle Where he expected Prince Rupert who was absent with Three Thousand Horse and the Earl of Northampton who had relieved Banbury with a Thousand more When the Enemy saw they could not allure the Royallists to engage by Skirmishes and that they durst not attempt them without Manifest Danger they divide their Forces sending a good part of them with Waller Balfore and Skippon to Cheveley on the other side of the Town with Resolution to attack the King's Camp from both parts at once which accordingly they did and after a brave Fight both highly animated whilst the Royallists thought to revenge their Loss at Marston-Moor and the Roundheads theirs of Cornwall the latter prevailed insomuch that they forced the Cavaliers to abandon the Ditch and Nine Pieces of Ordnance Nor did the Fight end so until the Night and Darkness parted them There were slain on the King's side Three Thousand Men amongst which were Charles the Lord Goring's Brother St. Leger Trevillian and others The old Earl of Brandford was shot in the Head Sir Jo. Greenville Campfield the younger Walgrave c. wounded and amongst the Prisoners the brave Earl of Cleveland was of Chief Note Nor was the Slaughter much inferiour on the Rebels side theirs amounting to no less than Five and Twenty Hundred And yet we must not deny the Enemy the Advantage of the Fight by reason of the King 's going off by Night who leaving his Cannon and Baggage in Dennington-Castle marched without Interruption which shewed he was not vanquished though worsted with his Army to Wallingford and thence to Oxford Dennington-Castle bravely defended The Royallists being retreated the Essexians having swallowed the great Booty in their Thoughts besiege Dennington-Castle but not with the same Success for Boys the Governour having been thrice summon'd and thrice assaulted did as often reject and bravely repel those Insults of the Rebels preserving himself and the Treasure deposited with him until the King having brought back his Army from Oxford after some sharp Encounters did not only relieve the Place but also brought off his Guns possessing himself of Newbury a most convenient place for his Winter-Quarters The Members at Westminster being dissatisfied with the Proceedings of their Army appointed a Committee to examine their Errors and Omissions especially those that were committed since the Fight at Newbury and at the succouring of the Castle their Forces being double the Enemies in Numbers The Faction suspecting Essex to be either careless or discontented and that he did not act with the same Vigour as formerly apprehending him perhaps too much enclined to Peace for he had dared to write to the Parliament some time since to incline them to it or over-affectionate to the Nobility which they grew weary of were casting about though they did not seem to suspect his Fidelity how they might with least Noise for he was still very considerable for his Interest be rid of him Cromwell in his Narrative of the raising of the Siege of Dennington had aspersed Essex's Forces with some oblique Reflections which so transported him that he was resolved to vindicate his Honour with the Ruine of the Informer And for the more Security he closed with the Scots Commissioners as knowing them highly incens'd against them because of the profuse Liberty of Speech he had used in their Concerns Having therefore convened a private Meeting of choice Friends both he and the Chancellor of Scotland used all their Arguments and Elocution to prove him an Incendiary betwixt the Two Nations which they had further proceeded in if they had not been disswaded by the contrary Opinions of Maynard and Whitlocke whom he had called thither and advised with in this grand Affair But the Grandees at Westminster did not desist resolving not only to remove him but with him all the Presbyterians in Power Yet first to sweeten him and lest he might oppose their Design they vote him Ten Thousand Pounds per annum out of Delinquents Estates as a Testimony of their Gratitude for his eminent Services for the Commonwealth for the Independants growing rampant designed to get the Command of the Armies into their own Hands The Houses therefore voted pretending nothing of their own private Interest but all for the Publick That no Member of either House should during that War The self-denying Ordinance enjoy or execute any Office or Command Military or Civil which had been granted or conferred on them by either House or by Authority derived from them The Lords though often pressed by the Commons to pass this Ordinance could not be induced to do it not obscurely foreseeing their Design against the Nobility and most eminent Presbyterians nay some looked upon this Change in the Militia as the Grave of Monarchy and their Peerage And yet after some Time they so far concurred with the Commons that they assented to the List of Officers for the new Modelling the Army insomuch that they were thanked by the Commons and assured of their Affection and Support Cromwell only was exempted from this General Order being permitted by a particular Act to continue in the Camp The Command of the Army was conferred upon Sir Thomas Fairfax a Person thought obnoxious to the Artifices of every prevailing Faction and therefore approved of by the Suffrages of both Parties He was daring and no Self-seeker Constancy was attributed to his Natural Temper being Melancholy which was notwithstanding thought ductile where Religion was in Question and therefore Cromwell that famous Impostor in Godliness was given him for a supervising Lieutenant The Forces as if new raised were new mustered and modelled the Presbyterians being by various Arts dismissed of their Employments and the most zealous of the Independant Sectaries put into their Places And here we may also observe that the Clause for conserving the King's Person which was inserted in Essex's Commission was by Vote of the Lower House left out of that which was given to Fairfax and not absurdly it seeming superfluous to except him against whom you point a Hundred Thousand Darts It was now Winter and the Armies on both sides were in their Winter Quarters whilst the Houses were busie in modelling theirs especially in their Choice of Officers In the mean Time lest the Sword should be too sparing of Blood-shed the Ax likewise was to be glutted with the Effusion of it Sir Alexander Carew as also the Two Hothams repenting Hull Plymouth though too late of the Crimes they had committed by their Rebellion against the best of Princes would have delivered the Fortresses they had so unjustly detained to the true Owner again as an Expiation of their Offences but being intercepted they were Tried by a Court-Marshal for High-Treason and by Sentence thereof they were all as equally Guilty beheaded
were taken of the Royallists near Five Thousand and Six Hundred supposed to be slain The Baggage Cannon Eight Thousand Arms and the vast Spoils of the Field fell into the Enemies Hands Six Colonels a Hundred and Four Inferiour Officers and Two Hundred Colours were taken by them at present and afterward the Supreme Power as a Dependence upon their Victory for The Royallists being entirely broken lost at the same time all possibility of renewing the War The King's Cabinet taken and published with malicious Annotations The Rebels took amongst other Spoils of the Field for the opprobrious Actions of their Triumph must be also told the King's Cabinet with his Letters which he had writ to the Queen and other particular Friends These they caused to be printed with most malicious Annotations It was a common thing for these impure Barbarians to calumniate the King and to worry his Reputation who preferred his Honour before his Scepters with Pasquils and infamous Reflections But these Epistles effected the contrary as being writ with Ingenuity with Candor and a Majestick Style Besides the pretended Parliament was justly blamed for divulging the Secrets betwixt Husband and Wife against the Laws of Modesty and Humanity and that by a Brutality that Infidels would blush at The Casualties of humane Affairs are so various and changeable that they no less surprize us than move our Admiration And here we have a lively Representation of their Incertainties The Royallists disappointed in their vast Hopes are now necessitated to endeavour their own Security not attempt upon others The Field at Naesby being lost they fled to Liecester where depositing their sick and hurt Men the King went to Ashby-de-la-Zouch that Evening And hearing of the Enemies Advance left it about Midnight and hasted to Liechfield and thence into Wales to Hereford a Place of more Safety for the present where by the Assistance of the Neighbouring Counties he might raise Foot which he mainly wanted and which were in some Measure furnish'd to him by draining of the Garrisons in his Obedience and the Accession of a Thousand Foot and some Horse sent him by Gerard from the Siege of Pembrook Langdale fled as is said to Newark and 't was wonder'd he escaped Gell then marching with Two Thousand Horse from Nottingham to Leicester Fairfax in Pursuit of his Victory followed the Royallists close and laying Siege to Leicester takes it without any considerable Opposition Here it was sometime disputed Whether they should follow the King to hinder and obstruct his Levies or hasten to the Relief of Taunton reduced well-nigh to the last Extremity Both press'd and therefore in order to either he marched with his Army through Warwickshire toward the Severn in Expectation of Orders from his Superiours but upon receiving some Letters intercepted from Goring to the King the latter was preferred especially the Scots being advanced as far as Nottingham in order to their March towards Worcester and Wales to disturb the King 's Recruits A cunning Fellow upon raising of the Siege before Oxford stole into the Town some time before and told the Secretary Sir Edward Nicholas somewhat of the King's Progress as also of the designed Removal of the Camp and Siege which gained him so much Credit that he was employed though with seeming Reluctancy into the West At Bath he met with the Prince our since glorious Monarch who richly rewarding him sent him further to Goring lying before Taunton Fairfax marches to the Relief of Taunton who also speedily returned him to the King with Assurance that in Three Weeks he should take Taunton and his Majesty be Master of the West humbly advising him by no means to engage till he had joined him with his Army But this suborned Villain being an Agent of Watson's the Scout-Master General brought these Letters to Fairfax which if the King had received 't is more than probable that his Majesty had declined fighting when he did Fairfax quickned with this Advice and lest Goring might still join his Forces with the King 's whose Horse were almost entire and so renew the War receiving also Orders from the pretended Parliament and the Committee of both Kingdoms to hasten his March into the West with all Expedition he moved accordingly He took High Worth in his Way and dispersing the Club-Men who pretended to be Neuters and only up in their own Defence advancing with all Diligence the Siege seemed to be raised by the Fame of his coming Goring was not ignorant of Fairfax's Motion and therefore removes from the Siege with a tumultuous Retreat supposing that the besieged transported with the Joy of their Deliverance would sally out upon him which they did with much Confidence But the Royallists turning upon them beat them back with considerable Loss and shut them up closer than before But this last Restraint was of no long Duration for Fairfax approaching indeed the Besiegers drew off in good earnest and marched toward Langport with design to join the Horse they expected from the King They at first encamped at Sutton having broke the Bridges of that River guarding the Avenues and Fords of it that the Enemy might not pass to them But the Rebels having forced the Passage at Evil and repaired the Bridge they got over with all their Forces And thus Taunton now again upon the point of being forced was delivered having been bravely defended in both Sieges by Colonel Blake the Governour who will also signalize himself hereafter at Sea for Courage worthy to be transmitted to Posterity if he had not sullied it by employing it against his own Prince Colonel Massey was sent with Four Thousand Horse and some Regiments of Foot to disturb General Goring's Rear which he did being also well received Fairfax followed with the Rest of his Army and drawing up upon a Hill near Langport saw the Enemies Horse in Battalia upon another opposite to him being marched out of Town to defend a Passage which hindred Massey to join with the Fairfaxians The Rebels made a sound Charge upon the said Avenues and after a brave Resistance forced the Royallists out of the Hedges and their Horse charging vigorously into the Lane Langport Fight were as vigorously repelled until being seconded with Reserves of Horse and Foot their Cannon also having done much Dammage amongst our Cavalry they forced the Passage the Royallists in their Retreat setting the Town on Fire In this Fight and Rout for the Enemy pursued within Two Miles of Bridgewater there were not slain above Four Hundred on both Sides but near two Thousand of the Royallists taken a Thousand Horses Twenty Foot Colours One and Thirty Cornets Two Guns and all the Baggage Lieutenant General Porter and Fifty other Officers were numbred amongst the Prisoners The loss on the Rebels Side was very inconsiderable only Two Captains one Lieutenant and Fifty private Souldiers Bethel and Cook with some others of the forwardest being wounded Fairfax did not pursue the Run-aways being
desires to the rest But in vain for Scudmore the Governour rejecting these Invitations with Contempt told them He would deliver the City to none but to the King that had entrusted him with it or to his Majesty's Commands And thus the Scots but raise is after a sharp though no long Siege of Five Weeks seeing there was no good to be done raised their Camp and marched Northwards occasioned perhaps by their Apprehension of the King's Motion from Oxford or rather affrighted with the stupendious Victories of Montross in their own Country Rosseter being commanded thither with Six Thoufand Horse The King having again left Oxford for his private Affairs there no less than his publick abroad grew by the Distractions and Divisions in his own Court daily worse marched to Ludlow with design to relieve Chester long labouring under the Pressures of a close Siege The Parliament hearing of the Kings Motion ordered the Colonels Poynts and Rosseter to observe him with orders that in case he moved towards Hereford they should act by consent with Leven but if he should go towards Bristol they should then move by Communication of Counsels with General Fairfax their Forces being joined Four Thousand all Horse follow the King close And the unhappy City of London to promote this Design of King-Catching as they called it or rather The Common-Council of London order their Members to find each a Horse to persuethe King their own Slavery made a Decree in Common-Council that every Member of it should have a Horse with Accoutrements ready to join with the rest in pursuit of the King His Majesty in the mean time hastens towards Chester and being come to Routon-Heath within Two Miles of it Rosseter falls with great Resolution upon the Royallists who received them with no less Courage The Fight was very hot wherein the Rebels were not only disordered but had been quite defeated and an entire Victory obtained but that Colonel Jones coming in that instant with near a Thousand Men from the Siege of Chester turned the Day by confirming their own Party and restoring to them the Success they despaired of before The Fight at Rowton-heath The King being overpowered with the Accession of these new-Commers lest he should be surrounded by them charged through them and not without much Slaughter on both sides recovered Chester The untimely Death of the Lord Bernard no less eminent for Courage and Loyalty than Illustrious for the Nobleness of his Extraction aggravated the King's Loss he being the Third Brother of the Duke of Lenox slain in his Majesty's Quarrel in this unnatural War The King did not stay long in Chester the Enemy growing upon him after their Victory but retired into Wales still loyal to his Interest he being a Prince however unfortunate insuperable in Afflictions and Superior to all Calamities Nor did he at all despond however harassed trusting that the same God who from small beginnings had raised him once to an Equality with his Enemies in Power might yet of his Goodness restore him in his good time He then by his indefatigable Industry and the Accession of Prince Maurice his Troops with some other scattered Remains had got a considerable Body of Horse together which he divided and delivering Fifteen Hundred of them to Digby and Langdale Digby and Langdale defeated sent them with Commands to endeavour to conduct them to Montross which if these great Men had been able to have compassed might have changed the whole Face of Affairs He had already acted to a Prodigy as will be hereafter declared but they could not reach the Borders and Confines of both Kingdoms For though they had broke Colonel Wren's Regiment of Horse and taken Eight Hundred Foot at Sherburne and Mylford they were afterwards surprised by Copely and Lilburne who being fresh fell upon their wearied Troops and defeated them Carnaby and Hutton Two Knights with some others were slain and Four Colonels together with many Inferiour Officers and Four Hundred Horse fell into the Enemies Hands The Lord Digby's Coach was also made a Prize wherein amongst other Spoils several of the King's Letters too carelesly guarded were found And these as those formerly taken at Naesby were printed with the same Malice and Impudence Nor is it to be wondred that as they began the War with Tumults Scandals and all Kinds of Barbarity so they should end it with the same Arts and the same Brutality Digby was again routed by the Scots upon Carlile-Sands and scarce saved himself by with-drawing with very few Attendants into the Isle of Man and from thence into Ireland So that this whole Party together with its Design was destroyed and vanished But to return to Fairfax into the West where the main Stress of the War was for what happened in other Provinces were rather Velitations and Encounters of Parties than formed Designs of Battels after the taking of Bristol the Enemy consulted what to undertake next Many were of Opinion they should march to the Relief of Plymouth labouring under the Evils of a very long and irksom Siege But that Town having the Sea open and the Parliamentarians abounding in shipping having the Navy at their Disposal it was thought more expedient to dislodge the Royallists out of those Garrisons which impeded the Commerce betwixt London and the Western Counties and so open a Passage for Travellers to and fro at Pleasure In order to this Barclay-Castle as nearest was first attempted This Fortress lying betwixt Glocester and Bristol did not only disturb the Commerce of both those Cities but extreamly incommoded the Country on every side with Excursions Fairfax had formerly sent some Horse to hinder their Cavalcades and now Colonel Raynsborough is ordered with Three Regiments of Foot to besiege and reduce them Which he also did having forced their Out-Works Barclay-Castle taken by Raynsborough and particularly the Steeple and Church which overlooked the Castle For Sir Charles Lucas however brave being unequal to the Enemy in Power was forced to surrender which he did considering the State of Affairs upon no contemptible Conditions In the mean Time Cromwell took the Devizes The Devizes by Cromwell without any great Opposition as also Laicock with the same Facility the Souldiers being permitted to march away with their Arms. And now Fairfax commands him with Three Regiments of Horse and Four of Foot to reduce Winchester and Basing-House the Seat of the Marquis of Winchester whilst he himself marches with the Rest of his Army Westward His Souldiers were mustered and paid and new cloathed Being come to Chard he was advertised that the Royallists had a design to break through his Army and join with the King Which seemed neither incredible nor unreasonable for that being effected the Enemy would be obliged either to divide his Forces which might expose both Parties or follow with his whole Army and so leave the Two fertile Provinces of Devonshire and Cornmall entirely in the Prince's Hands He
from both sides both Armies were at length engaged The Passage into the Town was barricado'd up The Fight at Torrington where the Fight was very sharp at push of Pike and Butt-Ends of Musquets but that being gained the Encounters in the Street were no less brave The Royallists had Twice repelled the Enemy and being as often beat back themselves were forced at length to quit their Ground to the more numerous Assailants Hopton in Person very conspicuous and well mounted brought up the Rear of his Horse but was not able to save his Foot whereof scarce Six Hundred escaped The Horse by Benefit of the Night and Knowledge of the Ways did well-nigh all save themselves by Flight Four Hundred as well Commons as Gentlemen were taken of which near Two Hundred were blown up with the Church Hopton had left Fourscore Barrels of Powder in it which being fired by Accident or by one Watts as it was said hired thereto for Thirty Pieces of Gold I will not determine But however it happened very many of the Rebels perished with it the Town was miserably shaken and Terror and Destruction were scattered every where by the Dreadfulness of the Noise and the Vibration of the Ruines of the Temple The Enemy following the Chace forced the Cavaliers over the River Tamar and advancing forwards beat Colonel Basset out of Launceston which they also possessed The Prince sails to the Isles of Scylly The Prince of Wales admonished by the frequent Misfortunes of his Party and seeing after this last Defeat no possibility of renewing the War took shipping at Truro And that he might with-draw himself from these barbarous and bloody Enemies to his Life and Fame and being attended on by the Lord Capel Lord Culpeper and Sir Edward Hyde since Lord Chancellor of England sailed to the Isles of Scylly and thence into France reserving himself by the Care of Providence for the signal Restitution of his enslaved Kingdoms to their former Glory Fairfax did not omit to improve this Opportunity of the Prince's Retreat by inviting Hopton by honourable Conditions to disband his Forces as being abandoned and left to himself The Greatness of the thing kept him in suspense for some Time It grieved him to the Soul to see his King and dearest Lord deprived of so many brave Men and such a gallant Body of Horse and that by his own Act. But to conserve them seemed morally impossible for there was no Help to be expected from Abroad and he himself shut up within the compass of Six Miles in the Streights of Cornwall surrounded by the Sea and a victorious hostile Army Nor did he know whither to go in case he had broke through the Ways being obstructed with Trees cut down and laid cross them on purpose the Passages every where kept with strong Guards and what was more dismal the King's Affairs were under such sad Circumstances and so desperate that we were deprived of the very Solace of Hope In this Extremity it was determined to lay by our now useless Arms and submit to the Necessity of our Fate A Treaty was therefore entered upon by Commissioners from both sides The Lord Hopton disbands bis Army who met at Tressilian-Bridge and after a great Contestation concluded a Dissolution of the Royal-Army The Officers each according to his Quality were permitted the Enjoyment of their Arms Horses and Equipage But the common Troopers were obliged to deliver theirs receiving every one Twenty Shillings in Lieu of them All had their Bag Baggage and Liberties secured to them and Permission to return to their Homes or to pass into Foreign Countries at pleasure The Army being disbanded and the Garrisons thereby excluded from all Hopes of Relief did likewise fall Exeter the Chief City of the West surrender'd upon honourable Terms Barnstable followed as also the remaining Garrisons upon Demand And now Fairfax having subdued the West marched with his victorious Army towards Oxford Whilst he is on his way it may not be from the Purpose to relate what happened in other Parts of the Kingdom Which I hitherto designingly omitted not willing to interupt the Progress of this Western Expedition Being content to deliver the greater Actions in their Order rather than to distract them with a regard to the Things themselves more than the Times they were acted in though that also will appear in the Margent After the Defeat of Digby and Langdale which we have mentioned the King had continued for some time at Newark until wearied with the Dissentions of his Party he was necessitated to depart The Lord Gerrard Sir Richard Willis Distractions amongst the Royallists at Newark and others had deserted his Majesty and the Princes Rupert and Maurice having capitulated with Poynts for Passes to go beyond Sea which was assented to by the pretended Parliament were upon the point of abandoning him The Dispute was about Digby who being accused by these Dissenters with more Fervor than Duty considering the Times found an Advocate of his Innocency in the King and Bellasis the Governour Hereupon his Majesty with Six Hundred Horse came to Oxford where being entertained with heavy Countenances and a lugubrious Accompt of Affairs he replied with undaunted Constancy That Three Years ago he had been in yet a lower Condition than at present The same God who from such despicable Beginnings had render'd him great and formidable did live and reign still to whose Goodness he also recommended the Care of his present abject Estate But however confident he seemed to be he was as is usual in great Calamities too much neglected by many And though he daily performed whatever could be expected from a brave and prudent Prince yet nothing succeeded by reason of the perpetual Distraction of his Nobles his Officers and Counsellours agitated by the Infelicities of the present Condition of Affairs or rather actuated by the secret Dispensations of Providence Nor was he long permitted to reside there Ashley beat at Stow. the Lord Ashley having been defeated and taken at Stow. He had drawn a Body of near Two Thousand out of several Garrisons evacuated for that Purpose which were the last Field-Forces that appeared for the King So that the Remains being forced to save themselves in their Fortifications were since there was no Success to be expected from Abroad easily divested of them also BOOK IV. The King leaves Oxford and goes to the Scots Army Hereford is surprized and Chester surrender'd Oxford besieged and taken The other Royal Garrisons follow Massey's Forces disbanded Contests with the Scots Their barbarous Vsage of the King They sell him He is imprisoned in Holmbey-House The History of the Scots Rebellion and valorous Actions of Montross Independency triumphant The Army mutinies and seize upon the King at Holmbey They court him but deal treacherously with him He flies to the Isle of Wight FAirfax had sent Ireton with a Body of Horse to hinder the Excursions of the Oxonians and to invest
relate what things were performed by the Royallists in Scotland and briefly to insert them in our Commentaries Which will be the less difficult seeing they are for the most part extracted out of the History of Montross writ in fine Latin by the most Reverend Bishop of Edenburg Doctor Wishart The Scots the cause of all our Evils deserve to be treated with a more severe style The History of Montross but that we find also even in this Nation several Persons of Honour and known Vertue who signaliz'd themselves by the Eminency of their Loyalty and Endeavours for the King's Preservation Amongst these Montross deservedly challenged the first rank who performed such stupendious feats of Arms with such slender means having neither Soldiers nor Pay to begin with that we may equally wonder that he undertook as that he effected them He had formerly been of the Covenanters Party in Scotland and was the first that led his Men over Tweed in the first Scotch Invasion But when he perceived that his Countrymen design'd not only the King's Ruine but that of Monarchy too he resolved to quit them He also wrote to the King to testifie his Obedience But his Letters were stole out of His Majesty's Pockets by some of his Bed-chamber and Copies of them conveyed to the Confederates as also notice of the King's Letters to Montross which were intercepted stitched up in a Saddle as had been notified This being perceived he resolved in Person to wait upon the King at Oxford Which he did and discovered to His Majesty the Counsels and Designs of the Confederates but in vain the Faction of the Hamiltons being too prevalent at Court which continued until the Scots did actually enter England The King then perceiving himself abused sent Hamilton Prisoner to Pendennis-Castle and at the same time sent Montross into Scotland as chief Governour of the same The King indeed had ordered the Marquess of Newcastle to furnish him with some Forces for the Expedition And Prince Rupert after the fatal Battel of Marston-Moor had promised him a Body of Horse but all came to nothing insomuch that he entred Scotland with only two Companions himself disguis'd in the habit and garb of a Groom and by swift Journeys came to the Banks of the River Tai where he lay close for some days in the house of Patrick Grimes his Kinsman a Person of great worth and Loyalty Here he understood how all the King's Friends had been suppressed by the tyranny of the Rebels The Marquess of Huntley had indeed raised a considerable Army but he quitted those Arms he had rashly taken up upon the first noise of the Enemies Trumpets saving himself by Flight Montross troubled with the misfortune of the Gurdons began to cast about how and by what means he might draw this brave and Loyal People to his Party that they might again try the fortune of War under another General In the mean time there was a rumour spread amongst the Shepherds who watched their Flocks in the Mountains though very uncertain of several Irish who being wafted over Some Irish Land in Scotland kept themselves in the Northern Highlands Montross fancied this possible and that they were of those Auxiliaries which the Earl of Antrim had promised a few Months before Which he also found to be true as well by Alexander Macdonnel's Letters who commanded them as by others from several of his Friends in the Mountains Having received these by accident he answered them as if he had been at Carlisle encouraging them highly with assurances that they should neither want Assistance nor a General Ordering them at the same time to descend with all speed into Athol Which they did with Joy upon the immediate Receipt of these Commands sooner than could imaginably be expected Montross who was scarce twenty Miles off with his Cousin Patrick habited like a Mountaineer and on foot surprizingly met them which also happened very opportunely they being in great danger of being destroyed For the Marquess of Argile followed them close with a great Army whilst the Low-landers attended them in the Plains where if they descended they could not escape being trod to pieces under their Horses Feet The Ships which had brought them over to take away all hopes of a Retreat were burnt by Argile Nor would the Atholians or others who favoured the King run any hazard with them they being strangers had no known Authority nor could produce any Person of ancient Nobility which the High-landers chiefly reverence to head them To this their number was small not exceeding eleven Hundred whereas ten Thousand were promised Montross heads them the Atholians come in to him with 800 Men. But Montross his Presence who was received by them as if dropt from Heaven seemed to compensate all these defects and in two days the Atholians to the number of eight Hundred and armed presented themselves with great Alacrity to Montross Being thus accompanied he the same day marched through the Fields of Athol towards Ierna with design to open a passage for his Friends and Supplies if any such should be stirr'd up with the fame of his undertaking before it should be shut up by the Enemy surprized perhaps with the novelty of the thing before they could rejoin their divided Forces Having passed the Tai the greatest River in Scotland he was strengthened by the accession of five hundred Men as also the Lord Kilpont and Sir Jo. Drummond with 500 Men. under the Command of the Lord Kilpont and Sir John Drummond They as well as others had been summoned by the Confederates to oppose the Irish as common Enemies but as soon as they heard that Montross did command they both without any hesitation for both tho' privately favoured the King's Cause joined Forces with him Heightened with these supplies he beat the Enemy consisting of six thousand Foot and seven hundred horse commanded by the Lord of Elchon and the Earl of Tullibardin at Tippermoor Montross had no Horse at all He therefore to prevent by reason of the inequality of their numbers being surrounded extended his Front as much as possible so that his Files being but three deep the first Rank was commanded to kneel The Battel of Tippermoor the second to stoop and the third where the properest Men were to shoot standing and all to fire at once and then to fall in with the Butt-ends of their Muskets and their drawn Swords All which was valiantly performed but they wanting Powder and not being well Armed they fought with such Weapons as chance furnished them with throwing Stones with such activity and animosity at the Enemy that they forced them first to give Ground then to run away The slain were reckoned at two Thousand and more taken Perth was surrender'd to Montross the same day where having rested three more he was informed that Argile was marching towards him with a strong Army He therefore re-passing the Tai encamped at Cupr in Angus lying then
The Enemy discovering their number and seeing them so few divided their Forces and followed after them very eagerly not only coming up with them in their Rear and Flank but endeavouring to obstruct their passage to the Mountains The Rebels forlorn of Horse pressed hard upon Montross's Rear but his Foot facing about fired upon them and having slain the three foremost rendred the rest more cautious and the pursuit less hot The darkness of the Night put an end to these Skirmishes By this they were come near Aberbroth where Montross considering that the Enemy might have intercepted the direct way to the Hills with his numerous Horse commanded his Men to turn to the South-westward and march with all imaginable speed by which artifice and incredible toil he deluded his Pursuers slipping by them in the night and wheeling suddenly Northwards he passed the Esk not far from the Castle of Careston And having after some light Skirmishes and a continued March of threescore Miles without Sleep without Meat or any other refreshment gained the foot of the Mountains the Enemy at length left them retiring from their fruitless pursuit Being thus beyond their hopes come into a place of security Montross sent the Lord Gourdon as well to recal those Troops his Brother had debauched as also to augment them by new Levies which he also performed with great industry joining the General in Marr with a Thousand Foot and Two Hundred Horse Being thus inforced the Royallists defeated Hurrey with Three Thousand Foot and Five Hundred Horse at Alderna The Fight at Alderna and Alford where the Lord Gourdon was slain he himself hardly escaping with the Horse Nor was Bayly the most knowing of the Enemies Captains more fortunate at Alford where having left his Foot he also fled with his Horse which the most untimely fall of the noble Lord Gourdon contributed to a loss irreparable to the King and his Party and which cast such a damp upon the Victory that the Soldiers overcome with Sorrow wore the countenance of a baffled not conquering Army But Montross after this strengthened with a numerous recruit of High-landers and by the accession of the Earl of Aboyne who succeeded his Brother Gourdon and Arley who were come up to him with Three Hundred Horse resolved to penetrate into the inmost parts of the Kingdom as well to disturb the Enemies Levies in Fife as to dissipate the Convention of the States at Perth Being come into Fife the richest and most popular Province of the Kingdom he resolved to pass the Forth Which he also did four Miles above Sterling and marching forward encamped at Kilsythe The Rebels fierce with their multitudes thought that Montross's late Marches and his hasty passing of the Forth were the effects of his Fear not Counsel So that they resolve to attack him in that place he had chosen their chief care being to cut off all Retreats especially to the Mountains Montross's Army consisted of Four Thousand Five Hundred Foot and Five Hundred Horse the Rebels of Six Thousand Foot and Eight Hundred Horse But their fortune the same for the Royallists animated by the rare Valour of the old Earl of Arley who being sixty years of age did with his single Troop defeat Three of the Enemy's and dis-engaged a Battalion of Montross's Foot The Battel of Kilsythe too rashly advanced which gave such universal Courage to the whole Army that raising a great Shout they all ran upon the Enemy beat down such as resisted and ruined all scarce One Hundred of the Foot escaping The Arms Baggage and Spoils of the Field were the present reward of the Victors who lost only six Men whereas near Six Thousand of the Enemy fell that day Upon this the Confederate Lords fled out of the Kingdom and such who favour'd the King did no more scruple to discover themselves This Victory having produced a new face of things over the whole Kingdom reconciled the Cities and Provinces thereof to their duty to the King Which he had also maintained if the Horse which His Majesty had sent with the Lord Digby and Sir Marmaduke Langdale had as he hoped come up to him But these being dispersed as is said in England he found other Forces than those he expected thence For the Confederates upon the fame of his Atchievements had sent David Lesley with Six Thousand Horse who by their intelligence with the Earls of Trequair and Rosburg whom the King had unhappily trusted surprized and defeated him at Selkirk The Royallists surprized at Selkirk Montross leaves Scotland Yet did not so far oppress him but that he afterwards became formidable again But the King being in the Scots Army he was by his Majesty's Command forced to dismiss his Soldiers leaving his Country to the disposal of the Confederates It is now high time to return to Holmbey and take a view of His Majesty's Diversions in that wretched Solitude Amongst other things seeing he heard nothing from the Parliament he composed an Answer to the Propositions formerly sent to him Wherein besides many unexpected Concessions he promised To comply with the rest provided he were suffered to come to London But having no Secretary or Clerk to transcribe what he had writ he desired one from the Commissioners attending him otherwise he would himself scrible it over as well as he could This was rejected as soon as sent although he had assented to most and desired a Personal Treaty for the rest they being deaf to his demands and whilst he was thus earnest for Peace Vote him averse to it affirming moreover how falsely The King 's miserable restraint at Holmbey That he had never offer'd them any thing worthy their Acceptation or accepted of any thing they had presented to him In this extremity he turns to God and withdrawing himself writ those Divine Soliloquies which compose his Book spending that leisure time with Heaven which was not permitted him to employ with any he delighted in here below This Book as it surpasseth all other except the Bible in Piety Prudence and Eloquence of Style so it containeth a true and genuine discovery of the state of affairs and consequently fit to be read of all good Men and such who would be satisfied in the reality of our Transactions In the mean time the Pretended Parliament force away the miserable from the unfortunate For seeing the King's unhappiness and restraint had not so far divested Men of that Veneration they owed him but that many sick of that Disease called the Kings-Evil came to him to be healed the Novellists more out of envy than grounded in reason endeavoured tho' to no purpose by Declarations to divert the People from this pretended Superstition as they called it Although all the Kings of England have ever since the time of Edward the Confessor who received this Prerogative from Heaven made use of it with success The Rebels being now Masters of the King and Kingdom having supplanted the true Heir
closely pursued by the Enemy with Hopes of strong Assistance from the Inhabitants of Norfolk and Suffolk But these failing and indeed joyning with the Rebels contrary to their solemn Promises the Royallists were besieged in this Town no way tenable but by the rare Fortitude of the Defendants Cromwell the Welch Nor was Cromwell less successful in Wales Laughorn having been beaten at St. Fagons by Col. Horton with scarce half his Number Fifteen Hundred of his Men being killed and near Three Thousand taken Prisoners Cromwell besieged the Fugitives in Pembroke having first taken Tenby Castle and forced that of Chepstow by Col. Eure who slew the Governour in cold Blood The Rumor of the Scots Invasion greatly encreasing animated Cromwell to employ all his skill and force for the Reduction of this important Post The Garrison within was strong and the Place well fortified which he resolved however to attempt by Storm And falling on with great Courage was as bravely received and at length beaten off with great slaughter of his Men. After this not thinking it adviseable to expose his dismayed Souldiers to new hazards he resolves to gain that by famine which he could not effect by force Which being perceived by the Garrison they chose rather to surrender upon Terms than lanquish in the Toyls of a long Siege tho they saw a Prospect of a General Rising in the Kingdom and the certainty of the Scots Invasion But Cromwell knowing how precious time was offering the Souldiery and Inferior Officers very good Conditions he had this strong Place with the Three chief Leaders Laughorn Poyer and Powell delivered into his hands by these faithless Miscreants Nor was Sir John Owen more fortunate in North Wales being defeated and taken Prisoner by Colonel Mitton So that the whole Country being reduced to the Parliaments Obedience again Cromwell was at liberty to march against the Scots with all his Power The Earl of Holland defeated The Earl of Holland the Duke of Buckingham with the L. Francis his Brother the Earl of Peterborough and some others of Quality appeared near Kingston with Five Hundred Horse and some Foot but were instantly suppressed tho not without some bloody Shirmishes in one of which the Young and Generous Lord Francis refusing Quarter was barbarously slain by an unknown Hand Holland was taken in his flight at St. Neots by Col. Scroop where Dalbier sometime a Favourite of Essex's and a great Parliamentarian was killed in his Quarters But the Scots seem now to demand our Attention being advanced with a very numerous and well accoutred Army far into the Kingdom And here may be observed the Vicissitudes of the Times as well as of Affairs For the Scots whom the Parliament had formerly with great Endeavours and Charges allured to their Assistance and whom the War being done they had likewise twice dismissed with vast Rewards as Friends These same Scots the Faction being changed become Enemies and invading England again joyn Forces with the Royallists their now reconciled Friends against their sometimes dear Brethren of the Parliament Duke Hamilton upon the surrender of Pendennis Castle where he had been detained Prisoner by the King's Command being set at liberty was now General of this great Army consisting of Fifteen Thousand fighting Men to whom Langdale and Musgrave brought Three Thousand English which forces if God had not determined otherwise might have effected what they designed As soon as the King was informed that Hamilton commanded the Scots Army he too prophetically foretold the Fatal Issue of the Expedition as fancying him unfortunate or inconstant But Cromwell being come out of Wales with a victorious and disciplined Army and joyning with Lambert who had hitherto attended the Enemies Motion fell upon the main Body of the Scots within Two Miles of Preston in Lancashire and routed them by Skirmishes Cromwell defeats the Scots at Preston and beating up of Quarters without the Formality of a Battle Langdale and his English fought bravely but being neglected and no ways succoured were oppressed by the adverse Multitudes The Scots presumed perhaps upon their own Power and thinking to conquer by themselves and consequently reap the whole Advantage of the Victory as also the entire Honour of restoring the King if they had any such design abandoned them that fought so well and by this foolish precaution or presumption contributed to their own ruin Besides the Scots Forces either by Ignorance or Malice or Discord for Hamilton and Calander who was Lieutenant-General of the Army did not agree well were so untowardly marshalled that they could not all be brought to fight or assist each other by reason of the over great distance of their Wings whereby they were all defeated Bayly after sharp encounters with those who pursued him having recovered Warrington-Bridge delivered up himself and Four Thousand Foot to the Conqueror upon Quarter Major-General Midleton was intercepted with Four Hundred Horse and Hamilton himself General of the Expedition with Three Thousand Horse was taken without a Blow at Vttoxeter by the Lord Gray and Colonel Waite Very few returning by the way they came met with Monroe who followed Hamilton with a Supply of Six Thousand more but hearing of the Defeat returned with the other Fugitives back into Scotland Cromwell following in the Rear of these came to Edinburgh where joyning Forces and Councils with Argile by whom he had been invited they not only obliged the contrary Faction to lay down Arms but having summoned another Parliament condemned the late Expedition as unjust Scotland being pacified Cromwell secure on that side having also concerted with Argile concerning the Ruin of the King and Extirpation of Monarchy it self they also advised and agreed on the Form and Method of the future Regicide And so after sumptuous Treats and many high Expressions of Gratitude and Acknowledgments for his meritorious Services Cromwell returned into England All this while Colchester held out with incredible Courage and Constancy upon hopes of Relief from the Scots and not only content to defend themselves did extreamly annoy the Enemy by their frequent Sallies and Camisadoes They had consumed their Horses Dogs Cats and what else was no less abhorring to Nature but their hopes with the defeat of Hamilton being likewise spent they were forced to surrender Which they did upon no other Terms than Quarter for life to the Souldiery and Mercy to the Officers But Colchester surrendred how cruel the Mercies of these Scelerates were instantly appears for they had no sooner possest the Town but Three most Noble Persons Men of Eminent Valour and Loyalty the Lord Capell Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle to whom was added Sir Bernard Gascoyn but exempted upon the accompt of being a Stranger were sentenced to be shot to death by the Court-Marshal tho the War was done Sir George and Sir Charles were immediately murthered by Souldiers appointed for the Slaughter The Stone they fell upon being sprinkled with their Blood could
as appears by his Concessions And now the Hopes of Peace and a Happy Accommodation seemed at â—and which had also been effected if the Parliament had not wretchedly lost too much time in frivolous disputations of no weight Whereby it appeared as formerly at Vxbridge that they never designed that this Treaty should take any effect nor that they would be satisfied with Part who had already devoured the Whole in their thoughts The Army who seemed to acquiesce in the Pleasure of their Superiors whilst engaged in War did dare now the Royallists being every where supprest changing their Principles with their Success plainly to dissent And to declare openly to the whole World That nothing would satisfy but the Destruction of the King and the Subversion of Monarchy In order hereunto a fierce Petition was presented from the City against the Treaty which was also seconded from Oxfordshire New-Castle York c. and in particular Ireton's Regiment insisted upon the same demanding That the same fault may have the same punishment in the Person of King or Lord as in the Person of the meanest Commoner A Prelude to the designed Regicide They had formerly designed the Murther of the King by the Ministry of that Villain Rolfe as is already mentioned but now fierce with their Victories they will themselves destroy him To this purpose they emit a Remonstrance The Armies Remonstrance execrable as it's Authors Cromwell and Ireton which was presented to the Commons House by Col. Eure and Seven other Scelerates like himself In this they furiously declaim against the Restitution of the King or any Accomodation with him requiring That he as the Capital Enemy should be brought to judgment That the Prince and Duke of York should be summoned in by a day That the Parliament should constitute a Government for the future and fixing a Period to their own Session should take care for Annual or Biennial Parliaments and the like stuff which they offered in their own Names and as the Agreement of the People They were grown now to that insolence that their modest General writ to the Committee of the Army for Money or he should be forced to receive that is take it out of the Collectors and the Receivers hands where he could find it if speedy course be not taken to supply him Which however high it appeared or unbeseeming in the General was connived at And now again the Army declare That they can see in the Majority of those trusted with the Affairs of the Kingdom nothing less than a treacherous or corrupt Neglect of and Apostacy from the publick Trust reposed in them and therefore they appeal from them to God and the People In order to this the Army marches towards the City and in contempt of the Parliament's Order who commanded their stay advance sending a Declaration before them wherein They accuse the Members of Folly of Infidelity and Inconstancy threatning They would come to Westminster where they would further act as God should inspire them And thus the Parliament after successes above their desires are agitated and tormented with the Mutinies of their own Army They had indeed declared the seditious and mutinying Souldiers Enemies but now by a desponding Compliance they Vote them their Pay and the Officers their Arrears and also that the Declaration against the Army be rased out of the Journal of the House They further as also the Citizens of London and the Counties began to make all their â—pplications to the General especially Cromwell â—nd the Army The Parliament seemed now â—eglected whilst the Army triumph and all Men are affraid of doing any thing that may â—isplease them The King hurried to Hurst Castle During these traverses and the Treaty at Newport not yet finished the King by command from Fairfax was by Col. Eure hurried to Hurst-Castle a place Infamous for Cold and the Insalubrity of the Air. At parting from the Isle the Parliament-Commissioners coming to take their leave of him he gave them his Answer unsealed and having acquainted them with the Condition of the Times he told them He had parted with All how dear soever to him except wherein his Conscience was dissatisfied And finally added That he had reason to believe that this would be the last time of their enterview But that blessed be God he had made his Peace with him and should without fear undergo what he should be pleased to suffer Men to do unto him As for them they could not but know that in his fall and ruin they saw their own and that also near to them He prayed God to send them better friends than he had found He was fully informed of the whole Plot and Carriage against him and his But that nothing so much afflicted him as the sense and feeling he had of the Sufferings of his Subjects and the Miseries that hung over his Three Kingdoms drawn upon them by those who upon pretences of good violently pursue their own Interests and Ends. Fairfax by so much the more wicked in that he witlesly acted for others brought the Army equally Rebels to the Parliament now as they had been to the King before to London and in Contempt of the Treaty impudently took up his Quarters at White Hall And yet the pretended Parliament that had hitherto rejected as well the King's Concessions as his Demands in contemplation of the Armies Insolence The Parliament Vote his Concessions satisfactory voted His Majesty's Answer to the Propositions of both Houses to be Satisfactory But this was too late for theâ—e double Rebels were so furiously enraged thereat that they immediately demanded by writing from the Parliament That the late accused Members and such other who favoured the Scots the King or the Personal Treaty should be excluded the Houses Nor were they pleased to stay for an Answer but besetting the Senate they seize upon One and Forty of them whom they imprison and seclude a Hundred and Sixty more leaving none to sit but such who were mancipated to Cromwell and the Faction The Common-Council was purged with the same Ingredients from the Army the vacancies being supplied with Plebeian fanaticks whereof any Forty should be a Quorum and Superior to the Mayor These petitioning with the same fury against the King as the Agitators had done involved the City in the Guilt of the Regicide as well as the Rebellion The Government being thus changed from one Tyranny to another the Supream Power which the Presbyterians had so long hunted for was surprized by the Independants Who to shew their Authority dissannul whatever the Presbyterians had voted concerning the Treaty or their secluded Colleagues And some time after divers of the Lords how degenerate did so far compliment Fairfax upon his Proceedings that they let him know They would wave their Titles and Priviledges in case they should be judged burthen-some to the Common-wealth or the Peoples Liberties Things being thus disposed and the Obstacles that might hinder their
Marquis of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland but with too precarious and Authority for he was forced to grant every thing the Irish insisted upon and consent that Inchequin should have Munster entire to himself for the subsistance of his Army which was indeed the Ruin of the Old Irish Regiments of that Province The Peace being thus made up and these several Interests however ill cemented seeming to acquiesce in the main their Obedience to the King and Army was raised by the extraordinary Labour and Prudence of the Lord Lieutenant and being reinforced with the considerable Troops of the Lords Inchequin Clanrickard and Castel-Haven they marched towards Dublin Inchequin was by the Impatience of the English and Scots Forces declared Lieutenant General of the Army Raiseth an Army Clanrickard and Castel-Haven seem disgusted with this Preference tho both acquiesced preferring their Loyalty before the satisfaction their Merits might deservedly challenge Col. Jones Governour of Dublin advanced with his Forces as far as the Naas to obstruct the March of the Army but being unequal in Numbers retreated into the City again Ormond had omitted no Caresses to draw this brave Rebel to his Party and Duty again but in vain he obstinately persevering in an Infidelity which he had engaged in for Spite because a Lieutenant Colonel had been preferred over his Head Which may serve for a President not to prejudice deserving Men in their just pretences tho no Excuse can serve to vail those abominable Sins of Perfidy and Rebellion Ormond encamped his Army at Finglas being content at present to shut the Garrison within their Walls and keep them from foraging until the several parts of his Army were come up to him Inchequin now Lieutenant General was sent with a strong Party to reduce the neighbouring Fortresses possest by the Enemies Garrisons which he did defeating also a Batalion of Oneal's Men commanded by Farell marching to the Relief of the Nuncio He also routed the younger Coot with the Dublin-Horse and had Dundalk delivered to him by the Garrison who also entered into the Kings Pay Inchequins Successes notwithstanding the endeavour of Colonel Monk their Governour to the contrary and their promises to stick close to him Trim the Newry and Tredagh it self ran the same Fortune so that all being cleared on that side Inchequin returned triumphant and increased in numbers by so many Victories to the Camp again where it was forthwith resolved by Advice of the Peers and the Council of War to invest and press the City with all their power Dublin the Seat of the Kingdom and the War called by Ptolomy Eblana and by the Irish Balaeleigh because founded upon Piles and Hurdles is seated at the Mouth of the Liffny which would render the Haven very commodious but that it is obstructed by Heaps of Sand often thrown up by Reciprocation of the Sea This City was first fortified with Works and a Garrison by the King and after by the Parliament being now very defensible by its Numbers and Fortifications But the Lord Lieutenant relying upon his great Army consisting of at least Twenty Thousand and the Defection of the Souldiers in Dublin whereof most had formerly served under his Command and daily came over to him Ormond besiegeth Dublin resolved upon a vigorous and close besieging of the Place in Order to which leaving the Lord Dillon with a strong Party at Castel-knock he transferred his Camp to the South side of the City and that he might wholly shut up the Enemy and particularly their Horses and Cattel from grazing he commanded a Fort to be built at Baggot-rath giving the Charge of this considerable Trust to Patrick-Purcell Major General of the Army Some Regiments from England were in the mean time Landed at Dublin under the Conduct of Reynolds and Venables to the Number of Three Thousand Horse and Foot whereupon a Rumor was spread that Cromwell himself designed for Munster as not yet confirmed in their Defection from their late Masters This Report obliged Inchequin to desire the Lord Lieutenant's permission to go thither affirming all his Troops would revolt unless prevented by his speedy Repair to them which Ormond not being in a condition to refuse was forced to assent to He parted then with Eleven Hundred Horse dividing thus the Army whereas the whole did scarce suffice for the Enterprize in Hand Jones the Governour of Dublin perceiving the Progress of the Work at Baggot-rath and considering that if it were finished it would entirely shut him up from all Commerce by Sea as well as Land Aug. 22. 1648. resolved to obstruct it by a vigorous Sally which he did for the Garrison rushing out upon the Pioneers easily dispersed them and with the same Facility dispersed the Watch that guarded them and possessing the Place routed the amazed Irish and their Courage encreasing with their Success they pursued them to the Avenues of their Camp where falling upon the Guards there who seemed rather to look on than prepare for Defence they put them likewise to Flight The remaining Garrison in the Town The Siege is raised seeing the success of their Friends together with the Inhabitants flew all to their Assistance and with very little Pains obtained a very great Victory For the Army being upon the sudden surprized with a more than Panick Fear the Souldiers forgetful of their Defence threw down their Arms and ran away In this Confusion there were about Three Thousand slain amongst whom Sir William Vaughan was one who had also fought well The Prisoners were no fewer Collonel Butler the Lord Lieutenant's Brother and a Hundred Officers being of the Number The Cannon the Camp and the immense Spoils of it sell to the present sharing of the Conquerors and presently after the whole Kingdom the Forces of it being irrecoverably lost by this Blow Ormond who had spent the Night on Horseback in rounding and viewing the several Posts of the Army being but newly laid to rest was raised by the coming of the Lord Taffe General of the Ordnance but too late the Camp being distracted with Fear and its Consequence Confusion He therefore in this General Consternation having in vain opposed himself to this resistless Torrent until abandoned by them that followed him hastened to the Lord Dillon's Camp but those Irish had fled upon the Noise having scarce seen the Enemy About this Time London-Derry was likewise relieved by Owen Roe-Oneal London-Derry relieved the most bloody of the Irish Rebels who leaguing with Coot and Monk as above mentioned forced the Scots from that Siege But as if these Misfortunes had been but light ones they were followed by a grievous Plague brought to Gallowav by a Spanish Vessel which raged with that Fury that it swept away many Thousands in that City and the Neighbouring Country To heighten these Calamities Cromwell the worst of Plagues who ruined not only Persons but whole Cities and Provinces Landed at Dublin with an Army of Fifteen
Thousand Horse and Foot They were not very forward till they heard the Siege was raised and the Royallists overcome and in probability if Dublin had been taken would never have attempted the Re-Conquest of Ireland But now they flye to share in the Spoils of a regained Kingdom Cromwell Lands in Ireland with an Army and Cromwell will triumph for another's Victory Having refreshed and mustered his Army he marched with it to Tredah This Town was well fortifyed and a Garrison in it of Two Thousand Five Hundred Foot and Three Hundred Horse the Flower of the Royal Army under the command of Sir Arthur Aston a brave and experienced Souldier The Lord Lieutenant had foreseen that this Place by reason of its Neighbourhood and Situation would be first attempted it not being advisable in the Enemy to leave so considerable a Fortress behind him And he hoped he might have time to recruit his shattered Army and repair the Loss of his late Overthrow which he endeavoured with all his Might whilst Cromwell was employed in the difficulties of the Siege But this impatient Conqueror omitting the common Forms of approaching and turnings fell to battering and made two accessible Breaches in the Walls which were Twice bravely assaulted and Twice no less valiantly defended the Enemy being as often repelled until reinforced by Cromwell's presence and conduct renewing the Storm having slain Collonel Wall in the Breach they at length entered A tumultuous offer of Quarter being made and accepted sooner than it ought to have been was the Ruine of the Defendants and by their incautious Facility of the whole Garrison For the Town being thus taken they were all put to the Sword though they did not fall unrevenged for they fought in every Street the Market-place and from the Houses and Towers whither they had retreated Ashton the Governour withdrew into the Castle where the Enemy entring Pell-Mell with his Men slew him Others who fled into a Tower imploring the Enemies Clemency Takes Tredah were forced to yeild to a Decimation about Thirty of the Remainder of them being condemned to the Plantations in the Western Islands There fell besides the Governour several brave Men amongst whom Sir Edmond Varney the Collonels Warren Flemming and Brinn Lieutenant Collonel Finglass Major Tempest and many other Gentlemen and Officers The Garrison being slain the City was spoiled and pillaged and though it had repelled the Fury of the Irish Catholic-Rebels for three whole Years it did not suffice to resist the Force of the English Fanatick Rebels the space of one Week I would not condemn the promiscuous slaughter of the Citizens and Souldiers of Cruelty because it might be intended for Example and Terror to others if the like Barbarity had not been committed elsewhere The Garrison of Trim and Dundalke apprehending the Fate of Tredah quit them which the Enemy having taken possession of Cromwell marches with his Army to Wexfora ' and having routed a Party of Inchequiâ—â— to his way had the Castle betrayed to him 〈◊〉 Strafford that commanded it The Town was otherwise strong by Situation and a good Garrison but being thus surprized was assaulted and entred all being put to the Sword with the same Cruelty as at Tredah Wexford being taken he hasts to Rosse Wexford and Rosse a Port capable of very great Vessels seated upon the Banks of the Barrow After some great shot this Place was delivered undefended and in sight of the King's Army by Luke Taffe who was permitted to pass with his Garrison consisting of Fifteen Hundred Men to Kilkenny besides Six Hundred English who deserted and took Pay with their Country-men Cromwell after so easie a Victory passes the River upon a Bridge of Boats with design to force Ormond to Fight or oblige him to separate his Army The English in the mean time besieged Duncannon which was relieved by an Artifice of Castel-haven's He sent over in Boats the Tract being at least Three Miles by favour of the Night Fourscore Horses with their Saddles and Accoutrements but without Riders These were mounted by English most Reformado-Officers who Duncannon relieved under the Conduct of Collonel Woogan the Governour sally'd out with so much Suddeness and Vigour that the Enemy knowing they had no Horse before and feeling them now fancied that the Royallists from without had broken into their Camp with the Apprehension whereof leaving some Cannon behind they tumultuously ran away The King's Army was by this very numerous and strong being increased by the Forces of Inchequin Ardes and Oneal who being rejected by the Fanaticks had also complied But they omitted a fair Opportunity in not attempting it that is to wage Battle their Souldiers being chearful and willing and the Enemy on the other side weary and faint with so many Toyles and Sicknesses But these Forces how great soever mouldered away through the Dissensions of their Chief-taines for want of Pay and conveniencies by the Aversion of the great Cities and Towns which refused to contribute to the Public and by the daily deserting of the Brittish allured by the Temptation of Cremwel's Mony and his promises of Preferment By these means Reynolds took Carrick in part betrayed to him which the Royallists attempted to recover in vain Cromwell who had lain sometime Sick at Rosse being restored to his Health formed a Design upon Waterford which he notwithstanding deferred when he perceived the Constancy and Resolution of the Citizens to defend themselves And now not willing to tempt Fortune any further The Chief Towns of Munster revolt to the Regicides having taken Passage Fort a very strong Place he resolved to put his Souldiers into Winter-Quarters which he also did very opportunely by the traiterous Surrender of Corke Youg-hall and the other Fortresses of Munster into his Hands Ormond prest also with want of Necessaries to subsist with having attempted Passage and Waxeford this by Inchequin and that by Tarell in vain was also necessitated to send his Army into Winter Quarters but too separate and far distant from each other The Vlster Men except Sixteen Hundred sent to Clonmell returned home to choose another General in Oneal's place lately dead as was agreed Others were distributed into other Places Tasse to Conaught Inchequin to the County of Clare The Confedâ—rates dâ—â—ersed into Quartâ—rs and Dillon into Methe It is scare credible with what Industry and Prudence Ormond endeavoured to allay the wild Animosities and Dissensions of the Confederates though to little purpose which occasioned the daily Defection of the Souldiers And now the Irish as well as Brittish allured by the Regicides Successes and Invitations as also deterred with the Plague that raged amongst them together with want of Pay and Necessaries ran by Troops to Cromwell's Camp Hereupon Ormond seriously considering the untoward State of Affairs having appointed Castel haven Governour of Lemster he himself removed to the County of Clare to raise new Forces to oppose for as much as in him lay
the Enemies Progress But Cromwell being abundantly furnished with Recruits and Provisions out of England the Winter drawing to an End takes the Field and having possessed himself of some Neighbouring Garrisons forced Goram betrayed by the Sedition of the Souldiers causing Hammond the Governour with some of his chief Officers to be shot to Death in Cold Blood This done he marched with his victorious Troops to Kilkenny Kilkenny besieged and surrendered This City the Nursery of the late Rebellion and the Residence of the Supream Council was by the Diligence of Castle-haven well provided with Defendants and Provisions Nor were they wanting in a generous Defence having repelled the Enemies Assaults with Slaughter of them But all Hopes of relief vanishing Collonel-Butler the Governour at length surrendered it upon reasonable Conditions Clonmell ran the same Fortune though Hugh Oneal who commanded there having beaten off the reiterated Assaults of the Enemy and slain above Two Thousand of their Men was necessitated through want of Powder to quit the place which he did with so much Secresie that the Enemy ignorant of it gave very good Conditions to the Towns men next Morning The Bishop of Rosse with Four Thousand Foot and Three Hundred Horse attempted to The Bishop of Rosse taken and hanged relieve it but unhappily being routed and taken by the Lord Broghill who without any Respect or Reverence to his Character caused him to be hanged up The Bishop of Cloger runs the same fate Emir Mac Mahon Bishop of Cloger who succeeded Oneal in the Command of the Vlster Army ran the same Fate for being overcome by Coot and Venables who had joyned him with Two Regiments of Foot and one of Horse of Cromwell's Army he was also hanged Coot with the same Facility over-ran Vlster routing both Scots and Irish that opposed them and rendering himself Master of their Garrisons on all sides Cromwell returns into England It is now Time to sail back into England where Cromwell is likewise hastening leaving his Son-in Law Ireton in Ireland to finish what he had so prosperously carried on and put an End to the Reliques of that War whilst he himself is destined to new Empires and new Triumphs Nor was there indeed any thing of moment done by the Mock-Parlâ—ament without his Consent or in his Absence save that the Regalia and the Revenues of the Church were exposed to Sail and a nefaricus Tribunal of Mock-Justice erected as well to terrifie as enslave the People During these Traverses the Scots apprehending the Changes of the Presbyterians in England were glad to look back towards their own King whom they had so cruelly offended They knew it would be no difficult Business to raise an Army by the Influence of his Name and Title Nor were they mistaken tho taking Advantage of his Necessities they would impose upon him The Scots send Windram to the King and therefore demand amongst other Things That he should take the Covenant ratify the Decrees of the late Parliament revoke his Commission to Montrosse drive Papists from his Court and Presence renounce his Negative Voice in Parliament and name a place in the Vnited Provinces where they might further treat of all Things These Propositions were sent by Windram of Liberton to his Majesty who was then at Jersey whither he was retired out of France upon the little Prospect of Relief from that Court as also to be nearer England where the Levellers were stirring and near Ireland now wholly except Dublin and London-derry at his Devotion The Confederates had earnestly desired his Presence amongst them and 't is not doubted if he had gone thither but that he would have been absolute Master of the Kingdom Others were of another Opinion urging that if he miscarried in Ireland he would also loose the Hopes he had conceived of the Protestants in England and Scotland As if a Sovereign Prince were not permitted to make use of his own Subjects of what Religion soever they were for his Service and Defence especially they being willing to assist him and he satisfied in their Loyalty But when the News of the Overthrow at Dublin came the Scots demands were taken into Consideration Some of the Council seemed to reject all kind of Commerce with that People affirming That as they had sold and betrayed the Father so when their Fear and Covetousness prompted them they would serve the Son and therefore there was no Faith to be given to such Perfidious Men. But others more moderate in their Councils advised the King by no means to omit the Opportunity which so fairly offered it self but immediately to close with the Scots for that Kingdom being recovered his Attempts upon the other would be less difficult The Queen-Mother was also of this Opinion He is returned with a satisfactory Answer and so was Montrosse who offered now to go into Banishment as Strafford formerly to Death voluntarily rather than interrupt so Hopeful a Peace The King at length perswaded tho not without Repugnancy dispatcht Windram back into Scotland with no unpleasing Answer and Assurance that he would do every thing for the Good of his People appointing moreover Breda a Town in Brabant for the Place of Treaty commanding and desiring the Committee of Estates to send Commissioners thither to meet him on the 5th of March following year 1649 Windram being sent into Scotland the King left the Island as well upon Accompt of the Regicides Preparations to invade it as of his being at Breda by the Time appointed for the Treaty Whilst the King is in his way it may be proper to say somewhat of the Royal Fleet under the Command of Prince Rupert The Rebels being too strong for him he was necessitated to shelter himself in the Haven of Kinsale where he had long been shut up by them And now Cromwell approaching the City with his victorious Army to besiege it by Land he was forced to adventure to Sea and did break through the Enemies Fleet with the Loss of Three of his Ships and directing his Course for Lisbone he entred the River Tagus with full Sail where he found not only a friendly Reception but Protection also from that Prince The Rigicides irritated with this Civility declare War against the Author of it and sending Blake with a Fleet blockt up the Mouth of the River extreamly interrupting the Traffick of Portugal by seizing their Ships in their Return home He lay long there but not being able to oblige that King by Intreaties or Force to abandon the Prince he at length his Provisions being spent was constrained to go seek for more The Prince taking the Opportunity of his Removal put to Sea and sailing towards Malaga took and burnt several English Vessels but Blake pursuing him mastered and seized the Roe-buck a good Man of War and forced Five more upon the Rocks and Shore The Prince escaped this Misfortune tho reserved for a greater for being forced into the Western Islands
Prince Maurice lost in a Hurricane after many Hazards and Adventures Prince Maurice being separated from his Brother in that Tempestuous Ocean perished in a Hurricane The immature Fate of this Royal Youth was justly lamented by the Good and Brave for being no less eminent for Fortitude Gentleness Greatness of Mind and all other Vertues than Illustrious for his Birth he was snatcht away leaving his Fame to his Posterity and to us his Contemporaries the Desire of him The King being come to Breda met the Scots-Commissioners who attended his Majesty some Miles out of Town The first Congress was fair but the Disceptations and Arguings in the Treaty long and sharp The main Disputes were about the Covenant the Directory and the Catechism And tho the said Covenant did naturally regard the People not the Sovereign yet the Commissioners instigated by the English Presbyters did so obstinately adhere to them The Treaty at Breda that they refused to grant the King that Liberty in Holy Things which they challenged to themselves But to sweeten him they promise if he would consent to their Demands that they would not only restore him to the Scottish Throne but assist him in the Recovery of the rest of his Dominions and to bring to condign punishment the execrable Murtherers of his Royal Father His Majesty readily consented to the Civil Part of their Proposals remitting all Things to the Determinations of Parliament but stuck at the other until overcome by the Perswasions of the Prince of Orange and the greatest part of his Council as also by the Desperateness of his Affairs ruined both by Sea and Land he tho very unwillingly at length yielded And now the Treaty was upon Conclusion when the unfortunate Defeat and Death of Montrosse had like to have quite broke it off Those who were averse to any Agreement with the Scots took Occasion hence to disswade his Majesty from having any Commerce with them daily inculcating to him That this perfidious Nation had no other thoughts but of his Ruine because they had in the very time of Treaty so inhumanly murthered his Lieutenant But no Man did more affectionately bewail the immature and cruel End of this excellent Personage than the King himself who did not cease to expostulate the Injury done him in it by so barbarous an Act of Hostility even then whilst they pretended to Peace But Time and the Necessity of his Affairs did somewhat allay his Resentments so that the Treaty being at length happily concluded Concluded he and the Commissioners embarking at Scheveling with Young Trompe sailed towards Scotland Whilst His Majesty is upon the Ocean it will not be impertinent to be more particular in the sad History of the Illustrious Montrosse Our former Commentaries have noted those Actions of Glory he had performed in Scotland with the Lustre whereof he appeated so eminent in the Courts of Foreign Princes that his Exile seemed rather a Progress than Banishment until the Commands of the King obliged him again to arm and invade his Ungrateful Country The last Scene of Montrosse's Actions This was done by his Majesty with Design that by the known Valour of the General he might force his untractable Country-men to more Equal Terms But the Event proved unsuccessful Scotland was then full of Armed Men and their Forces intire whereas he had scarce Seven Hundred Souldiers with him when he landed Nay the Inhabitants either wearied with the War or terrify'd with the noise of Foreigners came but slowly in to him notwithstanding his known Valour and Conduct but forsaking their Dwellings fled with their Fears about them and filled the Country with the Apprehension of this Pretended Invasion Hereupon Lesley was sent with the Army to suppress this new Enemy who was also defeated by Straugham sent before with a Party of Three Hundred Horse and being betrayed by the Laird of Aston one he had entrusted with his Safety was taken and murthered with all the dire Circumstances of Enraged Malice and his Quarters sent to the Four principal Cities of the Kingdom to be fixt over their Chief Gates It is strange with what Firmness of Soul and unshaken Constancy he heard this dreadful Sentence saying only That he took it for greater Honour to have his Head fixt upon the Prison Gate in such a Cause than to have his Picture in the King's Bed-Chamber And lest his Loyalty should be forgotten they had highly honoured him in designing lasting Monuments to Four of the Chiefest Cities to bear up his Memorial to all Posterity wishing he had had flesh enough to have sent a piece to every City in Christendom to Witness his Loyalty to his King and Country Being ready to mount the Scaffold they put a Rope over his shoulders with his Declaration and History fastned to it which he wore with the same Calmness as formerly affirming That he embraced that with no less Alacrity than he had done the Garter when he was admitted of that most Honourable Order by his present Majesty He further asked these Barbarians Whether they had any more Dishonour to put upon him And thus ended this renowned Marquess not unjustly paralell'd to the great Captains of Antiquity if he had not fallen in the Untimely Prosecution of a most Just Cause The King having escaped the Dangers at Sea and eluded the Snares laid for him by the English landed having been convoy'd by Three Men of War lent him by the Prince of Orange at Spey in the North of Scotland where being received by a Noble Train of Attendants and welcomed by the grateful Acclamations of the People as he passed he came to Edinburgh His reception there from the Parliament and Committees of the Kirk was honourable and with all the Appearance of Affection and Loyalty July 15 1650. the People congratulating his happy arrival with continual and perhaps more sincere Shouts of Joy And now the Second Time he was proclaimed King of Scotland England and Ireland tho his Coronation was deferred as yet by reason of the pressing Difficulties of the War The English Parricides were not ignorant of these Triumphs and Preparations of their Neighbours and were also informed of their promises to restore the King They had Intelligence of what was transacted in Scotland by their Friends there and of what was done at Court by their Spies and Hirelings about the King They therefore to prevent a War at their own Doors resolve to transfer it to the Enemy as well to prevent their Invasion of England as to remove into another Country the Calamities that attend Camps and Armies But Fairfax could not be perswaded to bear Arms against the Scots their Brethren and sworn Confederates his Aversion to it being much fortified by his Wife and the Presbyterian Teachers Nor was the Mock Parliament much concerned at his Refusal for thinking they had done enough in having sent a Committee to perswade him they conferred the Generalate upon Cromwell lately called out
of Ireland to this Purpose Cromwell having at Length obtained what he had so long coveted the Command of the Forces of the Commonwealth high with this Accession of Honour prepares vigorously for War and hastning to the Army he mustered it near Berwick Sixteen Thousand strong brave Men and well accoutred flesht with so many Victories and confident of Success He thus accompanied enters Scotland having sent his Declaration before him July 22.1650 amongst other Things denouncing War against them because they had proclaimed Charles Stuart King who was their Publick Enemy and had promised to support him against the Common-wealth of England Being come to Dunbar without seeing an Enemy the Inhabitants being all fled tho he had invited and courted their staying at Home he refreshed his Army there with Rest and Provisions brought by shipping out of England From thence he marcht to Musselbourg with Design to attempt the Scots who lay encamped not far off But being opposed by the Rains the adverse Tempests and the Toyls of his Men who lay in the open Field he was forced to return to his Camp again The Enemy pursued him close charging and continually disturbing his Rear until they were repressed by Lambert and Whaley who hastned thither with fresh Supplies The following Night Montgomery and Straugham with Fifteen Troops of Horse fell upon the English with so much Violence that having forced their Guards and beaten a Regiment of Horse that seconded them they brought Terror into the rest of the Army But these recollecting themselves the Scots were charged by Parties that hastened to the Danger from all Sides and being way-laid by Okey in their Return they bravely broke through and returned after much Dammage given and received to their own Camp The King was then accidentally in the Army by whose conduct for seeing the danger of the Men he had hastened to their Assistance their Retreat was secured The Chief of the Army and the turbulent Delegates of the Kirk were much vexed at it urging the Kings Departure Nor would they suffer this magnanimous Prince to stay in the Camp pretending the danger of his Person but more truly lest as it appeared in that Encounter he should gain too much upon the Souldiers Favours and thereby render himself Master of that Army which had been raised by the auspicious Influence of his Name There were Three prevalent Factions in Scotland at that Time The First and Greatest was that of the Parliament and Kirk which would indeed have a King but precarious and one who should govern as they directed Another Faction was of the most rigid Presbyterians These dreaming of I know not what Theocracy or Government by the Church equally abhorr'd both King and Commonwealth as profane But this upon the Defeat of Straugham and Kerr by Cromwell quickly vanished The Third was that of the Royalists but unarmed and excluded from Publick Employments to which the King was forced to retire in Expectation of better Times The English in the mean time raised with some small Successes as the taking of Collington and Red-House by storm endeavoured to draw the Scots to Battle They approached their Camp seemed carelesly to wander under their Trenches and with the contumely of Words daily dared them to fight but in vain for the Scots were fixt not to adventure the Hazard of a Battle but to overcome the Enemy without Danger with Hunger Cold Sicknesses and the Rigor of the Climate Cromwell seeing then he could not force the Scots by reason of the Situation of their Camp nor oblige them to fight out of it his Provisions being likewise spent he determined to bring his Army back to Dunbar which he also did tho not without much Difficulty by reason of the close pursuit of the Scots From thence he resolved to return with what haste he could with his sick and weary Forces by Sea or Land for England for he despaired of any Hopes of Success in this inauspicious Expedition Dunbar is a Sea Town seated betwixt Edinburgh and Berwick surrounded on the Land side with Mountains and Precipices which are likewise so steep that there is but one passage at Copperspeith scarce large enough for Ten Men a-brest which was also possessed by the Enemy who now insultingly bragged which they might also have performed if God had not infatuated their Understandings That they had the Army of the Schismaticks in a Pound And thus this so famous a Leader had brought his Army by ill Conduct into such Streights that all his Glory got by so many Victories had vanish'd in Infamy if Fortune and the Follies of his Enemies had not contributed to his Relief For it would have proved a business of extreme Difficulty to have shipt his Men they pressing so near upon him nor would it have been less dangerous to return by Land all the Passages and Avenues being guarded by an Enemy so numerous and much more healthful as being in the Clime they first breathed in They were Twice as many as the English and hovered like a Cloud upon the Hills about them But their Impatience to overcome lost them the Victory for wheeling to the Right they in Confidence of their Strength descended into the Plain as if they designed to deprive them of all Hopes of Retreating Cromwell perceiving this as if he had cooped himself up but with Design to break out with more Lustre sent Lambert with Six Regiments of Horse and Three of Foot to charge them He was bravely received at first but afterwards by the Fatal Valour of Despair routed the adverse Cavalry The Foot seeing their Horse broke without any resistance ran also away in vain seeking that Safety in their Legs which they had had in their Hands And thus a very great Victory was gained by the English in a Moment wherein Three Thousand were slain and near Ten Thousand taken Two Hundred Colours Fifteen Thousand Arms and the whole spoil of the Camp with the Loss of scarce Three Hundred English Nor did this signal Victory which made them Masters of the South side of the Frith cost them any more For it being known at Edenburgh by the Arrival of Lesley who fled with the Horse the Nobility and Souldiery quitted that City as also Leeth a commodious Station for shipping and posted away to Sterling leaving all except the Castle of Edinburgh to the Disposal of the Conquerors This Battle seemed indifferent to the King who could lose none but Enemies whoever vanquished The Presbyterians were no less averse to him than the Independants and the Scots if they had overcome would have used him no better than they did his August Father at New-Castle They had extorted Conditions from him equal to those their English Brethren had forced from his Martyred Predecessor in the Isle of Wight Nor did those Concessions suffice somewhat was still superadded and obtruded upon him And as if that were not enough he himself as also his Friends were excluded from sharing in the Government
and being unequel to those Veteranes after a sharp Fight he was defeated by them And however he escaped their present Fury by Flight he was afterwards taken in the Battel of Worcester and being brought to Chester was there notwithstanding the Quarter given him beheaded by the Regicides finishing his Course with no less Gallantry than he had lived with Glory The King upon his Entry into England was ploclaimed by a Herald at Arms King of ENGLAND SCOTLAND FRANCE and IRELAND which was also done in all the chief Towns as he passed along and was now repeated at Worcester with greater Pomp and Splendour He had by Letters and Messages in his March invited several of the Rebel-Commanders and Governours to the return of their Duty but in vain He had also desired the same of the Mayor and Common-Council of London but with the same success There were however several Noble Persons who came in to him as the Lord Talbot Packington Howard Broughton and others with about Two Thousand private Souldiers The rest kept back either surprized with the sudden Advance of the King and consequently unprovided or terrified with the Cruelty of the Rump and so durst not appear or averse to the Scots now unseasonably mindful of the former Injuries received from them and would not come The King had been advised and it was his own Opinion to march from Warrington directly to London which in probability ought to have been done if the Army had not been so much wearied with their former Toyles and Labours They therefore came to Worcester a Place convenient enough where having recovered and repaired their Strength they might either expect or promote the War Hither Cromwell came Six Days after with the conjoyned Forces of the Party amounting to near Sixty Thousand Souldiers and Trained-Bands and having beaten Massey from Vpton-Bridge approached the Town The Rebels having passed the Rivers Severne and Tame upon Bridges and Boats advance towards the Walls however very bravely opposed by the Scots out of the Hedges and Ditches in their way But the Royallists being out-numbered were forced to retreat towards the City The Rebels having repulsed and wounded Montgomery at Powick Cromwell advancing drew up near ..... Wood. The King with Forbes's Foot a small Body of Horse for Lesley with Two Thousand more stood a loof of and did not approach and some English Voluntiers charged the Van of the Enemy with so much intrepid Bravery that he not only repelled them but took their Cannon which yet he could not keep by reason of their numerous Reserves and Supplies incessantly relieving each other Insomuch that the King having performed all the Parts of a Great Commander by rallying his broken Troops and embodying his scattered Foot and encouraging them by his Example and Presence in their renewed Encounters being over-pow'red by the adverse Legions Duke Hamilton who kept close to him being also wounded of which Hurt he shortly died he was forced to retreat towards the City which he entered on Foot at Sudbury-Gate being then obstructed by a laden Waggon overthrown in the Passage Nor did he long stay there but mounting another Horse when he saw all was lost and that the Enemy entered on all sides he at length slipping away in the Croud escaped out of the City The Royal-Fort defended by Col. Drummund with Fifteen Hundred Men was taken by Assault where all were put to the Sword The slaughter in the City was not less barbarous the Citizens and Souldiers being promiscuously slain all being filled wiâ—h Rapine and Murther There fell as well without as within the Walls where the Slaughter was greatest Three Thousand Five Hundred and the Prisoners were above Six Thousand most of the English escaping by the Benefit of their Tongue Duke Hamilton having his Thigh broken died there and amongst the Prisoners of most Note were the Earls of Derby Cleveland Lauderdale Rothes Carnworth Kelley as also Packington Greves Fanshaw the King's Secretary and many other Noble Persons taken in their Flight It is a Wonder that the King escaped the Diligence of his Pursuers but the Means by which he escaped doubles the Miracle Five Poor Brethren by Name Pendrills with Francis Yates married to their Sister and Three Females their Companions who concealed conducted and nourisht him justly merited the Glory not only of saving a Citizen as they had done before in the Person of the Earl of Derby whom they had formerly secured but of preserving their Prince No Threats of Punishments or Death nor the offer of a Thousand Pounds to those who discovered him would prevail with these however needy Plebeians whose Loyalty surmounted both their Hopes and their Fears The King having spent several Days in this miserable Solitude passed through many Hands of both Sexes and Religions Men and Women of the Middle and Lowest Sort. And by many Accidents and Spottings of Fortune wandering as it were in a Cloud for the space of Two Months he at length going on Board a small Collier and not unknown to the Master at Bright-hemston in Sussex was conveyed together with the Lord Wilmott his Achates and Companion in Dangers into France reserved by Divine Providence for the Glories that attended his Restitution At Rohan he discovered himself to some English Merchants where he changed his Apparel and went the next Day to Paris where his Fame arriving before him he was met in the way by the Queen his Mother and the Duke of Orleance with a great Train of Nobility Thus convoyed he was brought to Court where he was received with the Applause of all Men and the particular Congratulations of the French King and all the Peers of that Kingdom BOOK II. Cromwell enters London Triumphantly Continuation of the Irish Affairs Ormond leaves Ireland and Clanrickard his Deputy there Ireton dyes of the Plague Monk takes Sterling Dundee and Subjugates Scotland The Isles of Scilly Barbadoes Garnsey Jersey and that of Man surrendered to the Regicides Their Greatness They are courted by the Neighbouring Kings and States They send a solemn Embassy into Holland Cromwell cabals Turns out the Mock-Parliament Chooses another Is chosen Protector The Wars with the United Provinces The various Sea-Fights betwixt the Two States Cromwell makes a Peace with them and a League with France The Expedition of San Domingo and Jamaica Blake's success at Tunis and Santa Cruz. Dunkirk taken The Death of Oliver Cromwell His Character THE Scotch Army being defeated at Worcester and Lesley Midleton and the other Chief Officers who fled with the Horse taken Cromwell having sent his Prisoners before him entered London the Westminster and City Senates and Grandees receiving him with all imaginable Honour and Flatteries And now the Common-wealth having overcome all their Enemies exceedingly gloried in their Acquisitions Ireland was also subdued the remaining Natives being transported into Connaught But of these Tumults it will be expedient to treat more particularly Ireton having been left by his Father-in-law to command in Ireland as
Nation from whom having in vain attempted Hispaniola he extorted the Island of Jamaica in the West-Indies and Dunkirk a famous Sea-port nearer Home by the Assistance of the French But these deserve a more particular Narrative He had equipp'd Two considerable Fleets with great Cost and Application one whereof he sent with Blake into the Mediterranean and the other under the Command of Pen and Venables fraughted with Land-Souldiers set Sail about the same Time The Design was kept secret which did not a little amuse the Neighbour-Princes and particularly the Spaniards who sent the Marquess of Leda Governour of Dunkirk into England to penetrate into the Reasons and Designs of these great Preparations But conjecturing by the Ambiguity of the Answers he received that it might concern his Country-men he immediately returned The Fleet arrived happily at the Barbado's one of our Principal Indian Colonies Where as also out of the Neighbouring Isles the Land-Forces they brought out of England consisting but of Three Thousand were made up to at least Ten Thousand Servants and others being invited to take up Arms upon Assurance of their Liberty and Hopes of Plunder But though the Army were great the Provisions made for it were not so the Generals perhaps thinking that they did but need to Come and Conquer With these Forces and vast expectations they sailed towards Hispaniola Being come within the Sight of San Domingo the Spaniards terrified with the Danger abandoned their City and fled into Woods leaving all to the Discretion of the Assailants But the English by the vain Precaution of their Governours fearing I know not what imaginary Ambuscades omitted and lost the Opportunity for leaving the Port Venables landed Ten Leagues from the Town with Seven Thousand Men. The Souldiers were brisk and fierce promising themselves Gold and Wealth even to Satiety But their Joy did not last long for it was proclaimed under pain of Death that none should plunder Gold Silver Jewels or any other precious Moveables or kill any tame Cattle The Souldiers damp'd with this unseasonable Order destitute now of the Solace of Hope it self moved but dully and marching through thick Woods scorching Sands excessive Heat of the Sun and its concomitant unsufferable Thirst they at length came to the assigned Rendezvous Collonel Buller met them there with Three Regiments from the Fleet where they were somewhat refreshed for there was a River of Fresh-water which discharges it self into the Sea The Forces being joyned Venables marches with his Army towards the City having sent Captain Cox who was also their Guide with Five Hundred Men before as a Forlorn And they proved so In the mean Time the Spaniards taking Courage from their Enemies loitering and perceiving the Difficulties they laboured under betake themselves to their Defence and falling briskly upon them in the Intricacies of their Passage with a handful of Men they kill Cox and rout his Party who rushing upon the next Regiment put it to Flight Upon advance of the Army the Spaniards retired into a Fort they had in the Wood. Venables after this brush return'd back to the River with a Resolution to re-assume his Design And having mounted Two Guns provided Scaling-ladders Mortars Granado's and Fire-balls he marches the second Time towards the City But being betrayed by the Errors of his Guides who undertook to lead him a more commodious Way for the avoiding of the Fort he is brought into the same place where they had already fought so unluckily The Spaniards but Seventy in Number sallying hastily out of their Ambushes fell with such Violence upon the Van Guard that the Forlorn being beaten into the next following Battalion that also turned upon their own Army and filling all with Terror they all ran away The Enemy pursued with a great slaughter nor did they retire till they were wearied with killing and carried away Seven Colours in sign of Victory Collonel Haynes having with great Courage endeavoured to make Head against them being abandoned was slain by them and with him Six Hundred more besides several wounded These Miscarriages were followed by the Negligence of the Commanders with want of Provisions so that several of the Souldiers straying in the Woods in Quest of Victuals were snapt up by the Enemy Their Wants growing daily upon them they eat all their Horses which they had brought in a fine Troop with them from the Barbadoes and these not sufficing they at length resolved to leave this unlucky Shore Which they did sailing with their baffled Army to Jamaica where the News of their Defeat not being yet arrived they easily landed the Spaniards there articling for Liberty to depart which they easily consented to This Island is very pleasant Sixty Leagues in Length and Thirty in Breadth But they met here with an Enemy more severe than the Spaniards which was the Plague which in a little Time reduced their Army to sewer than Two Thousand Those who survived being recruited with Provisions and Men from England the Island being also cleared of Spaniards is now become a famous Colony of the English But Admiral Blake's Successes were greater tho' they did not make more Noise in the World The Algerines upon Sight of the Fleet so far superior to theirs making a Peace with him consented to the Restitution of the Brittish Slaves and a Liberty of Commerce But they of Tunis trusting to their own Strength answered Blake's Summons fiercely shewing him by way of ostentation their Castles in the Guletta and their Fleet in that impregnable Receptacle of Porta-ferino Blake resolving always on the brave filling his long Boats with his boldest Adventurers sent them into the Haven to burn their Ships Which they also effected consuming Nine of them with Fire with the inconsiderable Loss of Five and Twenty Men. All this while the Ships of the Fleet thundred terribly with their Cannon upon their Castles and Batteries dismounting for the most part their Guns and forcing the Defendants to abandon their Works The Infidels thus chastised became more submiss being glad to accept of that Pacification they had lately so insolently refused Cromwell being secure Abroad had at Home defeated all the Endeavours of the Royallists as also of the Presbyterians and Democraticks for the recovering of their Liberty All these Attempts were stifled in their Infancy or betrayed in their Growth before they came to any Ripeness effecting nothing but the Ruine of such who were concerned in them and the securing of him in his Tyranny whose Destruction was so passionately desired This cruel Protector had afflicted the Royallists with all manner of Torments in their Persons And now having constituted Major Generals after the Manner of the Turkish Bashaws in all the Kingdom decimated and confiscated their Goods and raging against their Persons with Incarcerations Banishments and Death it self exposed them to all the Miseries their inexorable Malice could invent But seeing that all would not do and that they were Proof against the utmost severity he
changed his Battery and will now try to gain them by Civilities and a more gentle Usage But that taking no effect with Men immoveable in their Loyalty and whom nothing could oblige to abandon that Cause they had so religiously maintained he thought of other ways to be rid of these Men so averse to his Tyranny Upon this accompt he permits Foreign Ministers in League with him to make Levies of them for their Wars the Prisons having often times been emptied for that purpose The Colonies in the West Indies consumed many of them by Slavery and others allured into the unfortunate expedition of San Domingo perished in it His Domestick Enemies being thus removed or oppress'd the Vsurper became also formidable to Strangers And now it seemed seasonable for him to think of transmitting his Tyranny to his Posterity As he had usurp'd the Power of a King so he ambition'd the Title which a Parliament he had convened for his Purpose endeavoured to invest him with But he was opposed by the Chiefs of the Army who expected and hoped after his Fate to have their Turns in the Supremacy However he managed his Design so well that he was created Sovereign Protector with Power to name his Successor which was in effect what he desired in rendring his Tyranny Hereditary The Spaniards to repay one War with another seized and confiscated all the English Merchants Goods and Shipping in his Dominions and by a Publick Edict declared War against the Nation But Cromwell acting more Effectually sent Blake and Montague with a Fleet to shut up the Haven of Cadiz where the Rich Ships from the Indies usually arrived Stayner with his Squadron of Seven Frigats 1656. Sep. 1. fell upon Eight of them in the Absence of their Admiral whereof he took Two burnt One with the Marquess of Badaiox the Vice-Roy of Peru and his Lady in it sunk Another forced Two on Shore and the other Two escaped into Port. This was a great Victory wherein they took above Two Millions of Pieces of Eight But that which Blake won at Teneriffe the Year following surpassed all other in Nobleness of Action and Resolution of the Undertakers The West India Fleet consisting of Sixteen Rich Ships 1657. Apr. 20. having Intelligence that the English were cruising upon the Atlantick Ocean put into the Haven of Santa Cruz where by the Advantage of their strong Castle at the Entry and Seven Forts round the Bay they thought themselves secure But Blake perceiving their Order sending Stayner a brave Commander with some nimble Frigats before followed himself with the rest of his Fleet. And plying the Castle and Forts with his great Ships beat the Spaniards from their Guns and after a sharp Fight took the Fleet abandoned by the Sea-men who ran on Shore but not being able to carry it away with them they set in on fire consuming both it and the immense Riches it was fraughted with A Thanksgiving-Day being appointed in England for this so eminent a Victory Blake was honoured by the Parliament with a Present of Five Hundred Pounds But this so famous Admiral did not long survive so many Victories expiring at his Entrance into Plymouth Road by the Malignity of the Dropsy and Scurvy Thus ended this brave and fortunate Warriour worthily to be celebrated if he had not so audaciously resisted his own Prince Nor was it at Sea only that Cromwell plagued the Spaniard for he sent Six Thousand Men under the Command of Collonel Reynolds into Flanders who much facilitated the Successes of the French Montmedy and St. Venant were taken by their Asstance and some time after Mardike which was delivered to the English and by them so strongly fortified that it firmly withstood the Assaults of the Brittish Regiments in the Service of Spain Hereupon Dunkirk was Besieged by the Confederates But Don Juan of Austria Governour of those Low-Countries Solicitous for the conserving of so considerable a Sea-port and to prevent the Excursions of the French into Flanders on that side having drawn his Army together and strengthened it with Veterane Souldiers taken out of their Garrisons and being joyned by the Duke of York with four Batalions of English and Irish then under his Command he marched to the Relief of the Besieged and suddenly possessing the Height of the Sand-Hills opposite to Turin's Camp pitcht his there Marshal Turin having left Guards to Defend Forts and Posts against the Sallies of the Besieged drew the rest of his Army out of his Trenches The English were in the Van who notwithstanding the Showers of shot powered upon them ascended the Hill and after a sharp encounter at push of Pike and Butt-end of Musket forced the Enemy from their Ground This being done the French Horse charged the opposite Cavalry which being long sustained by the Valour and Vertue of the Duke of York and his Brother Gloucester was at last the English advancing upon them obliged to leave the Field There were above a Thousand slain and more then Two Thousand taken Prisoners The Cannon and Spoil of the Field were the present Reward of the Victors and some time after Dunkirk it self Which by the Death of the Governour the Marquess of Lede was surtendered upon Conditions and put into the Possession of the English by Contract Cromwell however heightned by this Victory did not long survive it being oppressed with a Melancholy which he had contracted upon the Death of his beloved Daughter Cleypoole Which accompanied with a Fever and Faintings snatcht him hence deprecating his immature Destiny in vain to that Tribunal where he was to give an Accompt of his Rebellions Sacriledge Perjury Parricide and Tyranny He died indeed like other Men in his Bed but not without some extraordinary Commotions of Spirit Nay the whole Frame of Nature suffer'd violent Concussions by a dreadful Tempest at the Exit of this Impostor which threatn'd by Tumult and Noises loud as his Sins to reduce the World into its pristine Chaos again We cannot with Justice deny this great Artist in Dissimulation and Imposture Courage and Vastness of Mind since he raised himself up from a Private Condition and a simple Gentleman to the Supream Height of Empire not altogether unworthy the Degree he attained to if he had not acquired it by ill Means BOOK III. Richard succeeds his Father in the Protectorate He is deposed by the Army The Rump restored Lambert defeats Sir George Booth Montague returns with the Fleet out of Denmark Lambert turns out the Rump Monk dissents and declares for the Rump Lambert marches against him Being deluded by Treaties he is deserted by his Army The Committee of Safety routed and the Rump yet again restored Monk marches to London Readmits the Secluded Members The Parliament dissolv'd by its own Act. An Abstract of the King's Actions and Motions abroad He is proclaimed by the Parliament Returns into England His glorious Reception The End of our Troubles OLiver having during his Sickness been vainly
courtly though reserved And yet the King behaved himself with so much charming Prudence to both these Ministers and gained so much upon them that he not only defeated the Designs of Lockhart the Regicides Embassadour then there but having obtained an Assurance of being assisted by the Forces of the Two Crowns for his Restitution he was dismissed with the same Honours he had been received At Paris in his Return he was splendidly treated by the Duke of Orleance as King of England and acknowledged such by all Men none now doubting of his sudden Restauration From thence he came to Brussels entering into that City publickly and with a Pomp worthy his Grandeur where he also was magnificently caressed and where he designed to continue until the Dissolution of the Parliament Whilst these things were in Agitation the Distractions and Risings in England were various the Impatience of the Royal Party to restore their Prince precipitating them as usually into great Inconveniencies And yet they got to a Head in Cheshire under Sir George Booth as is already mentioned and the King himself was in private about St. Malos attending some favourable Occasion to transport him into England These Risings especially Booth's were lookt upon as formidable it being supposed that Monk was intermingled with them But they being supprest every where the King returned again to Brussels in expectation of the event of the Pacification concluded betwixt the Two Crowns He had not continued long there when being informed of the Differences betwixt the Army and Rump his Hopes being raised thereby he took also a Resolution not to be wanting in himself He had tryed the ways of War and had also attempted the perfidious Fidelity of his Enemies but with no Success He will therefore put himself upon other Counsels And seeing Monk commanded the Rebels in Scotland in Chief he will enquire into the Secret of his Intentions and Mind The King had found him a sharp Enemy but Noble free from Calumnies and Revilings nor any way distained with the inexpiable Guilt of the Regicide In the former Wars he had served King Charles I. but being taken and perhaps neglected he preferred Liberty before Confinement and the Management of Arms to the clinking of Shackles It was therefore thought expedient to attempt him under these Circumstances and endeavour to reclaim him with the Charms and Honour of being the Deliverer of his Country and King the Church and State Sir John Greenvill eminent for his Loyalty and of kin to Monk was employed to manage this important Secret Who in order to it having gained Mr. Nicolas Monk a Minister the General 's Brother on whom as Patron he had bestowed a very considerable Benefice he sent him into Scotland with Commission in the King's Name to offer him any Conditions he should please to Demand But Monk wisely suspicious under pretence of the incertain Vicissitudes of Affairs answered ambiguously neither openly declaring his sentiments nor wholly concealing them He also having exacted an Oath of secresie from his Brother sent him back with his Daughter which was the Pretext for his coming into Scotland as also a Message to the Members outed by Lambert to assure them of his Fidelity to the Parliament These Gentlemen raised with these Hopes presumed all things upon that Accompt and was a plausible Vail for him in the modelling and forming his Army according to his Designs But Greenvill being not well satisfied with the Parson's Declaration acquainted the King with it Who notwithstanding the Abstruseness of it drew no ill Augury thence commanding Greenvil to attend the General when he came to London and make all imaginable Enquiry of what Intentions he was towards His Majesty's Restitution And this he happily performed being admitted by the Assistance of Mr. Morrice a great Confident of Monk's and afterwards Secretary of State to the King The Enterview was in Morrice his Chamber where no Body but themselves being present Greenvill delivered Monk the King's Letters To which after Twice reading of them he answered That he would not only comply with the King's Desires but also restore him without Conditions or any the least Diminution of his Royal Authority Neither would he think of any Terms for himself humbly submitting that to the King's Pleasure when he returned Greenvill ecstasi'd with the Joy of his Success desired Letters to the King to testifie so great a Secret but he replied That he would commit nothing to Writing nor send any Body to the King besides himself whom he had found so faithful and secret He hoped His Majesty would Pardon what was past professing That he always had a Veneration for the King and now upon this first Occasion would testifie his Obedience to him with the Hazard of his Life and Fortune Greenvill overjoyed with this happy Conclusion hastened to acquaint the King with it at Brussels who was infinitely pleased with Monk's generous Actings especially having received Letters out of England from some Friends there desiring him to accept of the Isle of Wights Conditions they being the best they could at present procure him But Greenvill was by Advice of Sir Edward Hyde then made Chancellour and the Marquess of Ormond presently returned into England with a Commission for Monk as General of all the Forces in the Three Kingdoms and a Letter all writ with the King 's own Hand full of gracious Expressions and Acknowledgments for so great a Benefit Greenvill had also other Letters which we shall mention in their Place And lest he might himself return empty after he had been so signally meritorious the King honoured him with a Warrant for an Earldom and 3000 l. a Year Whilst these things were in Agitation the English observing that the Treaty betwixt France and Spain upon the Borders would end in a Peace shewed themselves likewise not averse to it especially considering the vast Commerce they always had with the Spanish Countries Hence followed a spontaneous Cessation from Arms. But the King would not expect the Event of it for fear of being imposed upon here as he had been in France and therefore removed his Court to Breda belonging to his Sister the Princess of Orange The sudden Change in England occasioned Changes of Councils And now it was supposed that the King should take shipping from Calais or some Part in Flanders having been earnestly invited thereto from both France and Spain But to content both he accepted of neither but continued at Breda cluding thereby the Arts of both Princes the French Designs as well as those of the Spanish longing for the return of Jamaica and Dunkirk to their Obedience The King then being secure at Breda was saluted there by Deputies from the States-General where he was also magnificently treated by the Publick The Parliament being now met consisting of Two Houses free and full in their Numbers their first Care was to give Publick Thanks to God for rescuing their Country from Usurpation and Tyranny and the next to thank
Barrels of Powder with Back Head and Breast-pieces for near Five Thousand Men and Lime it self was secured by a Garrison sent thither from the Duke of Albemarle of Three Companies The Rebels changing their Quarters often and in perpetual Motion seemed desirous to pass into Gloucestershire but were repelled at Canisham-Bridge between Bristol and Bath with the Loss of Two Troops of their Horse They hereupon returned back by Bath where the King's Forces were and marched towards Philips-Norton being followed in their Rear by the Royallists For that purpose a Detachment of Five Hundred Foot with some Dragoons and Horse-Granadiers commanded by the Duke of Grafton whilst the Rest of the Forces followed with the Cannon were sent in Pursuit of them Being advanced near the Town he fell into an Ambush the Lane being lined on both sides with Foot and Horse behind the Hedges who made very great Fire upon our Men. Grafton went as far as the Gate of the Town with as much Courage and Resolution as can be expressed but the Enemy continuing their fire he retired and passing thro the Rebels Horse with no less Bravery than good Fortune got safely off Eight of his Men were killed in the Adventure and about Thirty wounded The Rest of the Army being come up the Earl of Feversham drew it up in good Order upon a little Hill within Distance answering the Rebels Cannon with the Noise of his own tho with no great Effect on either side He had designed to have fought the Enemy there but was impeded by the Excessive Rains which fell at that time So that towards the Evening the Royallists marched to Bradford and the Enemy to Frome But the Rebels doubling and changing Quarters often to avoid their Pursuers came to Wells where they prophaned the Cathedral with unusual Barbarity plundered ravished and robbed the Citizens upon pretence of wanting Pay From hence they marched to Bridgewater and the Earl of Feversham from Somerton to Weston where he encamped Three Miles distant from the Rebels The Horse and Dragoons lay in the Town and the Foot in the Field covered towards the Campaign with a Parapet and Trench formerly made by the Country-men against Inundations and their Rear was secured by the said Village behind them Towards Evening it was told my Lord Feversham that the Rebels were stirring in Order to march Whereupon he sent frequent Scouts out to learn News of them But Monmouth eluding the said Scouts enters unobserved and with great Silence into the Plain before the Royallists Trench Where drawing up his Army which consisted of Six Thousand Foot and having entrusted the Lord G. with the Horse which amounted to Twelve Hundred he marched in Battle-Array against the Adversary The alarm being taken the Royallists consisting only of the Guards and part of Dunbarton's Regiment were quickly ready to receive them The Fight began with great shouts and brisk firing The aforesaid Dike being in the Nature of a Parapet was of great use to the Royallists which occasioned the Enemies shot as being aimed higher to five for the most part over their Heads whilst they as being more exposed in the open Field were more directly armed at and woundded The L. G. hastening with his Horse to the Assistance of the Foot loosing his way in the Night fell unexpectedly upon a Party of the Royallists Which he endeavoured to avoid by wheeling from them But turned upon his own Men who thinking he ran away did effectually do so themselves and filling all with Fear and Confusion the whole Horse were broke and routed and that without a Blow every one shifting for himself and searching his Safety in his Flight instead of fighting The Foot stood bravely to it until attacked by our Horse at length come up in Flank and Rear as also our great Guns beginning to play upon them they seeing themselves abandoned by their Cavalry were also broke routed and slaughtered The slain on the Rebels side amounted to near Two Thousand besides many taken Collonel Holmes Major Perrot Crookhorn and other unknown Names were made Prisoners There were also taken Three Field-Pieces and Six and Twenty Colors Of the King's side Three Hundred were slain and many wounded And undoubtedly the loss would have been greater but for the fore-mentioned Breast-work the Rebels so far out-numbering them Immediately after this Victory Feversham marched with Five Hundred Men to Bridgewater the Rebels next Station Which he possest himself of without Resistance they dispersing and flying upon his Advance And here he left Collonel Kirk to compose the Disorders of the Town Monmouth and Gray seeing all lost escaped out of the Battle and changing their Vestments sought where best to conceal themselves But the Lord G. was taken in the disguise of a Shepherd one other only being in company with him and being brought to the L. Lumley he was discovered at first sight being also known by a Servant of the said Lord's who had formerly been his Groom So that putting off his Disguise he professed That since his landing in England he had never had one good Nights Rest or eat one Meal in quiet Nor is it a wonder being perpetually agitated with the perturbations and cares which accompany unfortunate Ambition Two Days after Monmouth himself fell into the Hands of his Pursuers The Immensness of the Rewards raised the Country in the search so that the Ways and Woods were filled with their Numbers Some went out by break of Day and taking a Dog with them as Men usually do in Hunting Beasts of Prey the Dog made the first Discovery of one hid in a Ditch who proving to be a Foreigner which appeared by his broken Language and threatningly required to tell where Monmouth was pointed at his Covert whither they immediately went and there seized this unhappiest of Men in great Distraction pale trembling and full of Disorder He was brought thence to the Lord Lumley's and from Ringwood sent a Letter to the King Protesting the Remorse in him for the Wrong he had done His Majesty in several things and now in taking up Arms against him He complained of his Misfortune in meeting some Horrid People that led him away to believe That it was a shame and a sin before God not to do it But he would not trouble his Majesty at present with many things he could say for himself that he was sure would move his Compassion The chief end of this Letter being only to beg That he might have the Happiness to speak to his Majesty having that to say to him that he hoped might give him a long and Happy Reign He concluded That he really thought himself the most in the Wrong that ever any Man was and had from the Bottom of his Heart an Abhorrence for those that put him upon it and for the Action it self Hoping that God Almighty would strike his Majesty's Heart with Mercy and Compassion for him as he had done his with the Abhorrence of what he had done
therefore lay in the Field all Night and forced the advancing Royallists to retreat over the Isca Goring had fallen into the Enemies Quarters near Chard with Success having slain some and taken about Sixty But Tiverton by Fairfax Fairfax closely pursuing them took Tiverton as also the Castle and Church by storm occasioned by a casual Shot which broke the Chain of the Draw-bridge by which Accident the Passage was immediately seized Sir Gilbert Gerard the Governour and the whole Garrison being made Prisoners The Winter being far advanced and the Robels wearied with so many Toils thought it neither fit nor safe to attempt the Royallists further or besiege Exeter well fortified and strengthened with a Garrison of Five Thousand Men. They therefore resolve to block up the City at a Distance and raising some Redoubts and Skonses upon the River Clyssa within Command of each other though Three Miles from the City put Guards into them whereby they might with no great Force extreamly disturb the Communication betwixt the Town and Country They might have done the same on the other side of the Isca and so at once have shut up the Garrison from all Commerce with the adjacent Neighbourhood which they also afterward did Cromwell having possessed himself of the City of Winchester without Opposition Cromwell takes Winchester battered the Castle with Six Cannon and made a Breach in the Walls Which being observed by the Lord Ogle the Governour who thinking every Defence in this declining State of Affairs superfluous beat a Parley And being admitted to treat having compounded for the Security of his Garrison he surrender'd this Fortress however furnished with all kinds of Military Provisions for a long Siege But the Marquis fell by a nobler however more unhappy Destiny for Cromwell having battered his Works assaulted them with Four Battalions and passing the Moat and Ramparts brake down the Gates and so however bravely opposed forced his Passage into the House and became Master of it and Basing House The Marquis Sir Robert Peak with others of Quality with immense Spoils were the Reward of the victorious There were a hundred slain a Girle of a masculine Courage being found amongst the stript And thus this Fortress of Loyalty having baffled very many Attempts of the Rebels for its Reduction hitherto fell now by the uncontrouled Fortune of Cromwell And being first pillaged was afterwards burnt to the Ground out of spite rather than any advantage to the Conquerours Langford fearing the like Fate prevented it by a timely Surrender And now the Passages being cleared betwixt London and the more distant Provinces of the West Cromwell rejoins his Forces to Fairfax's Army The Prince sends to Fairfax about Peace During these Traverses the Prince of Wales had sent to Fairfax his Desires for a safe Conduct for the Lords Hopton and Culpeper to go to the King with design to endeavour to compose the Differences betwixt his Majesty and the Two Houses But Fairfax returned Answer That it not being of his Province to treat of Peace he had sent his Highness's Letters to the Parliament from whom an Answer was to be expected Goring having sent the Colonels Scroop and Philips had attempted the same before proposing That by the united Force of both Armies they should compel both King and Parliament to an Accomodation The like Conjunction of Forces had formerly been motioned to Essex which was then rejected by him as now by his Successor All hopes of Peace being vanished the Prince sollicitous for Exeter draws his Army consisting of about Seven Thousand to Okehampton His Highness had been informed that the Rebels Forces were very much diminished by Death and Diseases which gave him room to hope for some favourable Occasion to attempt upon them But being suddenly after assured that they were daily furnished with new Levies Fairfax surprizes Three of Wentworth's Regiments at Bovey and fresh Supplies which was true he changed his mind and with-drew his Forces to a greater Distance But the Enemy advancing surprized Three of Wentworth's Regiments at Bovey The Troopers except Fifty and a Major who were taken escaped by Favour of the Night but they left near Four Hundred Horses behind them Fairfax was careful to advertise Plymouth of his Advance and the Royallists Retreat which was also relieved by the drawing off of the Besiegers This Place had been very long blocked up by Land and having been often bravely attempted by Sir Richard Greenville did defend it self with no less Bravery For the Sea always open and the Rebels Masters of it they could not be forced Dartmouth was the next Trophy of the Conquerours Dartmouth taken which they took by Assault without the Loss of scarce one single Man though the Town was strengthened with a Hundred pieces of Ordnance Nor was the Slaughter greater on the Defendants side Sir Hugh Pollard the Governour the Earl of Newport Seymour Denham and about Eight Hundred being taken Prisoners .... Carey and his Officers upon the Delivery of a Fort which he guarded was permitted his Liberty and the Souldiers had also leave to retire every Man to his own Home The Cornish-men who they were many had each Two Shillings allowed for their Journey not absurdly bestowed to tempt the rest of their Countrymen who were now the only considerable part of the King's Forces The Rebels marched thence to Totnes and afterwards returned to the Siege of Exeter Sir Hardres Waller had commanded there and now it is resolved to attempt the forcing of the Place it having hitherto been but block'd up with Forts and Redoubts They therefore commanded Ladders to be brought out of the Country for an Assault until upon fresh intelligence of the Prince's Preparations and Design to relieve the Besieged they again leaving Waller with Three Regiments of Foot and one of Horse to continue the Blockade moved with the Rest of the Army to meet the Royallists The Lord Hopton commanded the King's Forces For the Lord Goring being gone for France and having entrusted his own Troops to the Lord Wentworth's Conduct the Government of the whole was devolved upon this excellent Personage Who now had with Three Thousand Horse and Four Thousand Foot possessed himself of Torrington with a Resolution to defend the Town and to hazard there the Extremity of War Fairfax being advertised of all this by his Spies quickens his March and to give the Royallists no time to fortifie themselves made all imaginable haste Hopton had lined the neighbouring Avenues with Musqueteers which he again quitted upon the Enemies Advance who also possessed the said Places Where they fix'd their Station by reason of the Darkness until a Noise in the Town creating an Opinion that the Royallists were dislodging obliged them to send a Party to see what was the matter These Discoverers being received with a Volley of Shot were seconded by a Reserve and they again by a Third and Fourth Party so that Supplies being successively sent
requiring That the Treaty with the King might be renewed and the Army paid off and disbanded But their reception was very rude being beaten and plundered and slain by their Guards Insomuch that the Kentish-men having likewise framed a Petition for Peace upon the like usage by a Party of Horse and being threatned to have two harged out of each Parish that were Promoters of it and the rest sequestered they threw away their Paper and betook them to their Arms. The first appearance of an Insurrection broke out in the City of London being accidental not upon the King's Accompt The Parliament had piously voted down Holy-days abrogating all the Festivals of the Church having appointed one Day in every Month in lieu of them for Publik Recreations The Apprentices as usually had met in some Numbers in Moor-Fields on the 9th of April to play and divert themselves But this being Sunday moved the Zeal of some precize Schismatical Officers of the Trained-Bands who with their Guards would force them away but were themselves routed by the Boys with Stones and Clubs who also took their Colours from them and in a Childish Bravery marching into the Streets frighted Warner the then Mayor into his House and taking away a Drake from his Door Planted it at Lud-Gate nearest the Foe the Army then about White-Hall But Fairfax on the Morrow following ent'ring with some Regiments of Horse and Foot at Alders-Gate easily dispersed them though then numerous no Person of Quality undertaking their Conduct The Fame of this tumultuous Insurrection or rather Riot was quickly noised throughout the Kingdom which although strangled in its Infancy seemed to animate the oppressed populace to follow the Example whereby they might redeem themselves and Liberties from their impending slavery The Welch were the first that took up Arms under the Conduct of Major General Laughorn The Welch in Armes and the Collonels Poyer and Powell all Three formerly stiff Assertors of the Parliaments Jurisdiction But now being to be disbanded by Orders of the Council of War of the Army they refuse to obey And the better to secure themselves declare for the King acting by Commission and Powers from the then Prince of Wales Laughorn grew suddenly by the accession of Major General Stradling and others of the King's Party to a considerable Army esteemed Eight Thousand strong which rendered him Master of the Town and Castles of Pembroke and Tenby Sir Nicholas Kemish at the same time surprized Chepstow Castle and Sir John Owen another eminent Cavalier in North wales defeated and took the High-Sheriff of Caernarvan So that all Wales seemed at once to shake off that cruel Yoak they laboured under Nor were the preparatives for a War of the Kentish-men less considerable For As also the Kentishmen Rendezvouzing near Rochester they chose the Earl of Norwich then upon the place to be their General Very many Apprentices and reformed Officers and Souldiers flocked from London daily to them Insomuch that the Juncto terrified with the apprehension of what might happen restored to the City their Militia which they feared otherwise might be extorted from them hoping by this Confidence to render them more addicted to their interest Which also happened not upon sentiments of generosity but to manifest their aversness to oppressed Monarchy even then when it was in their Power to restore it Skippon being also readmitted to the Command of their Forces the Communication with Kent was interrupted by placing Guards upon the Passages of the River But the Clouds that threatned the fiercest storm gathered in the North where Sir Marmaduke Langdale Sir Charles Lucas and others having surprized the strong Town of Berwick Berwick and Carlile surprized and Sir Phillip Musgrave and Sir Thomas Glenham that of Carlile and raised considerable Forces to joyn with the Scots now ready to enter England seemed no less able than willing to effect what they pretended the King's Restitution Though it be true that the Scots-Declaration had so many untoward Restrictions in it that nothing but the Frank Loyalty of the Royallists could joyn with them Upon the first noise of the Scots arming many English repaired into Scotland which obliged them at Westminster by their Deputies to require the delivery of the chief of them as Incendiaries They named particularly Wogan who carried a Troop thither with Sir Thomas Glenham and others But the Scots refused it seeing it was not stipulated in the Treaties betwixt both Nations They not judging those to be Incendiaries between the Two Kingdoms but only between the King and England These Revolts and Preparations for a new War did strangely disquiet the pretended Parliament who thereupon reviving their Votes of 1642. declare That it appears that the King seduced by wicked Counsel though then a close Prisoner intends to make War against the Parliament Cromwell being dispatcht against the Welch with great Forces the Kentish Expedition was not thought unworthy Fairfax's Conduct He therefore marches with Six Thousand Foot and Two Thousand Horse against the Cavaliers who being fatally divided whilst they Fight singly by Parties they are all overcome Fifteen Hundred stout Men were sent to Maidstone Fairfax defeats the Kentish-men to oppose their Enemies Passage there who fought with so much Valour that after they had been beaten from the Avenues and Hedges they kept that Town firing from the Houses and Leads about the space of Six Hours with great slaughter of the Enemy So that it is believed if the Earl of Norwich had come up with the rest of the Army to their Assistance the Rebels might have been defeated that Day But he dividing his Forces sent half of them to Dover and himself marched with the rest to Black-heath and being denied a Passage through the City which had been promised him he Ferries and Swims his small Army over to the Isle of Doggs From thence he moved to Mild-end-Green But seeing none come out of London to his relief as he expected he himself with only Five Hundred the rest being upon the obstinacy of the Citizens slipt from him joyned with the Essexians at Bow under the Command of Sir Charles Lucas They all stay'd here some time to favour any Loyal Attempt that might be made at London until warned by the approach of Fairfax who having dispatcht Rich and Barkstead with their Regiments to reduce those Castles which the Kentish had taken towards the Downs had passed the Thames at Graves-End they were also forced to dislodge And marching further into the Country seized store of Arms and Ammunition in the Earl of Warwick's House at Lees and having surprized the Parliament-Committee at Chelmsford went thence to Colchester where the brave Lord Capell joyned them with some Horse And all of them received the Van of Fairfax's Army with such Gallantry at the Towns-end that they forced them to retire to their main Body with considerable Loss They had designed to march further if they had not been so