losse advance to the further parts where they kept their Randevouze and which they laide wast plundering the houses to the bare walls driving all the cattell siezing upon the persons of men and sending them Captives to Monmouth and Chepstow except such as escaped to us by flight as many did with their Armes and some few that saved themselves in Woods and Minepitts The enemy did not adventure into the lower and neerer places where our foot lay ready and resolved to undertake theirs if they came on Our Neighbouring parts of Hereford and Worcestershire runne the like fortune with these in the Forrest and looke blacke upon this Garrison which was not able to preserve them The Kings forces returned the second time into the Forrest and tooke the gleanings of the former Harvest yet the neerer parts are still prrserved The enemy raised themselves to a great power already reputed sixe thousand horse and foote and seeme to endeavour Northward wherefore the Governour intending to helpe the Countrey by driving up the Reare of their march or to put in for any service advanced to Lidbury with foure hundred horse and five hundred foot his whole marching strength notwithstanding the addition of two hundred and fifty Horse from Northampton and Warwicke and with this party attended the enemyes motion Hither Prince Rupert advanced with the best part of his Army of whose approach neither spye nor Scout from the Out-guards made the least discovery till they came within halfe a mile of the Towne horse and foote to surprize or at least to surround us The Governour instantly commanded the Horse to mount and drew up the foote though not in so good order as he might by reason of the sudden Alarme and suspecting what he afterwards founde that the Prince would endeavour to compasse him in he marched off the foot with all due speed that the enemyes right or left wing might not get before us which they endeavored by sending one party to the Towns end to keep us in action there whilst two other parties fetched a compasse upon either hand In the meane while he brought up those few horse that were not upon the Out-guards to charge the enemy at their first entrance and placed an Ambuscado of twenty Musqueteeres to make good the retreate But the businesse was acted so that the Governour in person with the Field Officers and Captaines were enforced to entertaine the enemy with severall charges and beare their brunt alone till the foote had ridde some ground before them In this part of the skirmish their losse was the greatest for number of ours only Major Backehouse mortally wounded the Governour whom the Prince aimed to charge had his horse wounded under him by two severoll shots Our men drew off as was meete made good the retreat three or foure miles to the enemyes losse till they came up to a place of shelter when hasting to get before the right wing of the enemyes horse they were put into some confusion And the Horse having no great desire to fight neglected the advantage of the place to stop the pursuit though the Governour endeavoured what he could to engage them That the enemy fell in among the Reare Guard of the foote where he lost neare two hundred men taken prisoners many Country men being taken in to make up the number This businesse cost them the lives of some gallrnt Officers and the Prince missed his aime of surprizing Colonell Massye but the Governour supposed the stay of the Princes march an advantage to the Service Neverthelesse the Army continued some dayes after betweene Hereford and Worcester recruiting dayly and seeme to put much confidence in the Country whom they cause not onely to abjure the Parliament but binde over to themselves by solemne oath swearing in the presence of God That they beleeve no power of Pope or Parliament can depose the King and obsolve them from their naturall obedience to his Royall Person and Successors that the two Houses of Parliament without the Kings consent have no power to make Lawes or to binde or oblige the subjects by their Ordinances that they beleeve the Earl of Essex and Manchester and Sir Thomas Fairsaxe Sir William Waller Colonell Massie together with all such as have already or shall hereafter take up Armes by Authority or commission from the members of Parliament at Westminster pretending to fight for King and Parliament doe thereby become actuall Rebells and as such ought with all their adherents and partakers to be presented and brought to condigne punishment that they will never beare Armes in their quarrell but will if they be thereto called assist their Soveraine and his Armies in the defence of his Royall Person Crowne and Dignity against all contrary forces to the utmost of their skill and power and with the hazard of their lives and fortunes that they will not discover the secresies of his Majesties Army unto the Rebells nor hold any correspondence with them and all designes of theirs against the Kings Army for the surprizing or delivering up of the Cities of Hereford or Worcester or any other of his Majesties Forts they shall truly discover to those whom it shall concern so soone as it comes to their knowledge That his Majesties taking up Armes for the causes by himselfe so often declared in Print is justly necessary That they shall endeavour all they can to hinder popular tumults risings randevouzes meetings confederacies and associations of the people townes hundreds and countries which are not warranted to assemble by his Majesties expresse commission or by power derived from him by vertue of his Commissions and in the sense he meanes it and that they detest from their heart that seditious and traiterous late invented nationall covenant and protest never to take it All these particulars they vow and protest sinceerely to obsolve without Equivocation or mentall Reservation This Pretestation was strictly injoyned by the Princes to be taken by all without exception in the Counties of Mounmouth Glamorgan Breeknoâ—ke Radnor Hereford and Worcester Neverthelesse this constained act could not knit the hearts of a male-contented Country to the love of that side nor could the State permit the enemies exaction and violence by this vow eternally to binde up the people from well-doing The Princes Army is the maine rest of the Kings Affaires which they strengthen daily by impressing the Countrey taking in lesser Brigades and draining the Garrisons and a part of Gorings Army passed over the Seaverne from Bristoll into Wales and so to Rupert at Hereford After a little stay to perfect the recruite the enemy drew thence the Infantery and Artillery lay betweene Worcester and Beaudly commanded by Sir Jacob Ashley whilest Rupert and Maurice with the horse and some select foote fetch off the King from Oxford assisted also with Gorings Horse and Dragoones who left his Majesty at Stew and marched backe over the hills into the West through our Borders The Governour received another dropping
part of the River and landed at their pleasure upon our quarters from Bristoll and Wales This Friggot was sent down Seavern manned with Sea-men and a party of Souldiers for whatsoever attempt sudden opportunity should offer and arriving at Chepstow our musketteers hasted ashore and entred the Town where they surprized most of the Officers of Colonell Oneales Regiment raysed under the command of the Lord Herbert These never dreamed of an enemy from Gloucester in that corner of the Land at such a distance And this was the advantage of the service that by the surprizall of the Officers it prevented the raysing of that Regiment of horse which shortly after would have plagued the Countrey Our men having secured their prisoners and ready to made homewards another prize fell into their hands where they took a Vessell laden from Bristoll with Oyle Wine Sugar and other commodities These little services were answerable to the times and upheld the esteem of the Garrison in that low ebbe This Expedition gave an Alarum to Bristoll and all Wales who to prevent the like inrode sent up divers Friggots to guard the River At this time Sir William Vavasour began to appeare from Tewksbury and made an attempt upon Bodington House a petty Garrison of ours only to preserve the Countrey Hither he came up with five hundred foot and two peeces of Ordnance fired his Gunnes against the House and engaged himselfe in an assault The place was maintayned by them within till a small party drew from Gloucester the report of which at three miles distance caused Colonell Vavasour to draw of and return back to Tewkesbury with the losse of eight or ten men before the House Neither did Vavasour seem to act with that violence which the out-side of the enemies design did look for whether retarded by the dulnesse of nature or the notice of some close contrivance However the slownesse and ill successe of his actions rendred him obnoxious to the jealousies of his own Party which suspition was easily encreased by the intercourse of civility between him and Colonell Massie when the known fidelity and constant indeavours of the one could inable him without offence to his own side to disport with an enemy in such complements as the other had not the liberty to use Such neglected passages have a great weight in the ballance of reputation and honour since the minde is not revealed by it selfe and wise men as well as fooles oft-times have only the event to guide their judgements On the other side of the Town we had continuall skirmishes with Colonell Veale newly made Governour of Berkly Castle and assisted with the Lord Inchequeens Regiment of Horse This enemy was no way formidable nor mischievous in any thing save the plunder of the Countrey by whom hee was oft-times beaten back and kept in awe by the assistance of Frampton garrison The Church at Newnham was againe fortified and defended by Sir Iohn Winter with a sufficient strength of men and foure Pieces of Ordnance whence hee might runne up to the Gates of Gloucester rob the Countrey and take mens persons at pleasure only we kept a guard at Arlingham to hinder his passage over Seavern Colonell Man lay strong at Newent Highleaden and Tainton The Governour could doe little on that side only he placed a Garrison at Hartpury Court both to preserve Cosselawne and to endeavour the engagement of Colonell Min. Our Garrison at Frampton was removed to Slimbridge within foure miles of Berkley we had other guards likewise at Essington and Froster to preserve and enable the people to contribution Thus was the City pestered on every hand and fetched its livelihood out of the fire with continuall hazard forcing the enemies quarters and defending its own parties were daily drawn out by the Governour who then could not aime at victory nor expect any great performance though the common people repined that he did not alwayes conquer when it was conquest enough to keep the enemy in action and prevent their extravagances to beare up the hearts of our friends and signifie to the world that we were yet alive Though the Governour was not invited abroad yet he strove to make opportunities according to the stock of Ammunition that was left him that councells might spring out of the midst of action He drew out upon Tainton with two hundred Musketiers and with a hundred horse faced the house only to keep in or amaze them but when the horse marched off some of their Troopes fell on the Reare-guard and charged the Governour who re-encountred and charged home some distance before the rest of the Troop and by the breaking of the curb his horse carryed him amongst the enemies Troopes with whom for a while he grappled and was rescued by the gallantry of a common Trooper by which time our Musketiers were brought up and beat them back without losse to us The Governour choosed rather to make work for the enemy and to seek him in his own quarters then lie at home to expect the challenge yet did he play a wary game and though zealous of honour yet more true to the maine chance and tender of the lives of men wherefore hee advanced againe with foure hundred Musketiers and fifty horse came before Tainton and with a small party faced the house having laid some Ambuscado's with a purpose to allure them into the snare and cut off their men as well to encourage the Countrey as weaken the enemy but they did not adventure out When we drew thence our men beheld a faire body of horse at Highleaden whereupon a forlorn hope of our Musketiers with twenty horse advanced upon them and found their Horse and Foot drawn out of Highleaden House These were to joyn with Colonell Min who at that instant was marched out of Newent with a purpose to fall on Hartpury Garrison Here at the first some few of our horse gave the charge hurried the enemy and beat up their Ambuscadoes then they drew out their whole Garririson and sell on Their horse did not stand to it but with their foot there was an hot skirmish almost an houre And though our seconds were slow in comming up yet did the forlorn hope drive them from hedge to hedge and after a while our body comming on beat them in and pursued them up to the very house took some few prisoners and came off with the losse only of two men Such multitudes of the Kings Forces lay upon us to oppresse the Countrey and intercept our reliefe that they were extremely straimed of quarter and enforced to look forth for livelihood Whereupon two thousand Horse and Foot marched from Tewkesbury to Painsewick to gather contribution and rob the Countrey about Stroudwater The Governour drew out two hundred Musketiers with an hundred horse and marched to the top of Bruckthrop Hill expecting the enemy whom he found divided into three bodies and himselfe born down by their multitude for whilst two parties faced him
a rocke Colonell Massie caused a blinde to be made crosse the street to bring up the Ordnance within Carbine shot when on the sudden the fancie of an Alarm seized upon our men in the heate of the businesse that the enemy were sallying out upon them which was nothing so This unexpected accident strucke those men that at other times would brave it in the face of an enemy with such distraon and feare that they all fled and left their Cannon in the open street This meere conceit was like to overturne all but they within observed not After a while the Souldiers recovered themselves regained and kept their ground and the Governour resolved to storme the Towne in three places at once The severall parties were drawne out to the places of assault but this designe miscarried through the mis-understanding of the signall The parties returne unto the Governour who resolved to make the assault at breake of day in one place where himselfe kept the onely passage into the Town having no draw-bridge at the entrance but onely a Turn-pike whereas the other parts were almost inaccessible guarded by a steepe descent and double channell round about The houses within Pistoll shot of the workes were our maine advantage by which meanes our men were brought safe under the shelter of their workes And the Governour observing the late effects of a panick feare amongst his owne men gave the charge that they should fall on all together with a sudden and confused noise to amaze the enemy and disturbe the command of the Officers The forlorne hope advanced seconded with a good reserve all put on together came up to the Turn-pike and threw in Granadoes the enemy made many shot at randome in the disadvantage of a rainy night and their muskets lying wet on the workes So that our men came all in a croude to the narrow passage and thronged in and not a man slaine or wounded in the storme One onely was killed the night before in helping to make the blinde Colonell Howard was taken at the workes after three shots received in severall parts of his garment each of which missed his body An hundred musketiers were taken prisoners many having escaped besides those of Beverston-castle who came hither for refuge the day before This service was performed gallantly by our men after three daies continuall march Upon the first entrance Colonell Massie preserved the Town from plunder nor at any time did he suffer his souldiers to ransacke any place that he took by storme giving this reason that he could judge no part of England an enemies Countrey nor an English Town capable of devastation by English souldiers After a little stay to settle the garrison and Countrey and to command in some moneys for the satisfaction of the souldiers and present supply of the brigade he returned to Gloucester and the Warwickeshire horse were called off into their owne Countrey After few daies the Governour having breathed himselfe and his men resolved to attempt the taking of Tewkesbury a bad neighbour to our head garrison and where he had suffered the repulse twice before He was able to draw forth an hundred and twenty horse and about thirty dragoones with three hundred foot For his strength was no more then the standing forces of the City a great part of which were now swallowed up by the garrisons lately taken in The horse and dragoones commanded by Major Hammond advanced some few houres before the Foot and Artillery and were to alarm the enemy till the foot came up They made a hault a mile from the Town and drew out a pretty strong forlorne-hope conceiving they might possibly surprize them if they had not as yet tooke the alarm and first three men were sent before to espy if the Draw-bridge were down and six more behind went undiscovered next unto these marched the forlorne hope and the maine body in the reare In this posture they advanced up to the Town where they found the Bridge down the guards slender the enemy without intelligence and supinely negligent On went the first party killed the Sentinels a Pikeman and a Musketier without match and made good the bridge the forlorne-hope rushed in and after them a full body of horse and dragoones fell upon the guards came up to the maine-guard before the alarm was taken overturned their Ordnance and charged through the streets as farre as the bridge Worcester way where they tooke Major Myn the Governour of the Towne The enemy threw down their Armes many escaped by flight and many were taken prisoners Colonell Godfrey was slain in the first charge as also Colonel Vavasours Quartermaster-generall and a Lieutenant all Papists besides a Sergeant with about six common Souldiers Our Officers and Souldiers supposing themselves wholly victorious dismounted and went into the houses some in the vanity of their humour others for plunder whilst all sleighted their owne guards and the making good of the bridge at which they entered and neglected the taking and disarming of the maine-guard which lay in the heart of the Towne and cleared every street Whereupon those at the main-guard observing the horse not seconded with foot took courage to charge some of our horse now in confusion and many of the enemy out of the houses ran to the guard and so strengthned it that they issued out upon our men put them to a retreat beat them out of the Towne and took some few prisoners But before they were beaten out they had cut down two Draw-bridges and secured the Governour Major Myn who was passed over Severne with a small party that tooke him beyond the Town By this time Colonell Massie was come up with a few horse halfe a mile in the Van of the foot which hasted after to make an assault in this instant of time But the bridge towards Gloucester was againe drawn up and the workes manned on that side here the governour placed his company of dragoones and gave order to fire upon them whilst he drew his men round the Towne it being now darke night but before he could reach the farther end where he entered about midnight the enemy were fled towards Worcester being daunted at the first assault made by the horse observing withall our foot now brought up their owne Governour lost their Officers slaine and most of the common Souldiers already runne away The Townesmen through feare durst not give the least intelligence of what had hapned By which meanes they were past the recovery of our horse already tyred besides the night and darke weather hindred the pursuit Onely we tooke some scattering foot to the number of foure and twenty with a Lieutenant Upon our entrance we found eighteen barrels of Powder left by their haste an hundred twenty skeyns of Match two hundred new Pikes foure thirty large hand-Granadoes good store of Musket-shot and two brasse Drakes Most of their Muskets were thrown about in the fields ditches and rivers many of which were afterwards
to provide for the attendants of a march that onely a proportion seemed to be cared for that might live within the walls of Gloucester and nothing to further such action that might restrain and lessen the strength of the Enemy preserve the Countrey and passe withall to the relief of remote garrisons Neverthelesse the establishment of such a power was required in these parts as might check the Enemy in all his marches and recruits and this strength far greater then the stint of that constant number which the garrisons took up In this extremity the Governor was constrained to act and marched on in the pursuit of the Enemy who kept randevous neer Hereford with fourty two troops of horse resolving to passe the Severne at Aust not daring to adventure over the hill Countrey And to guard the passage Prince Rupert sent into the Forrest a commanded party of five hundred horse and foot These began to fortifie Beachly for a lasting guard a place of extreme difficult approach being a gut of land running out between Seaverne and Wye and the onely commodious passage from Wales to Bristoll and the Western parts being the maine entercourse of the Kings Army and a strong reserve for the last exigence It was high time therefore to crush this designe and nip the bud of so great hopes The Governor advanced upon them some foure dayes after they began their fortifications and had drawn the trench half way from the banks of one River to the other when the other part was well guarded with an high quick-set hedge which they lined with Muskettiers and a ditch within with a fair meadow beyond wherein they had made a re-intrenchment The strength consisted neer of six hundred horse and foot which at the first coming on lighted upon a partie of horse from Chepstow took some and drove the rest into the River then faced the Enemy within Musket shot that Evening and so continued the next morning waiting the opportunitie of an assault for at high water the place was inaccessible by reason of their ships which guarded each River with Ordnance lying levell with the banks and clearing the face of the approach from Wye to Seaverne Wherfore the Governor taking the advantage of lowe water drew forth a party for the on-set These were brought neer the place of entrance where the Enemy intended a draw-bridge with order to storme the works which as yet were not finished Out of the forlorn hope the Governor had selected ten Musketiers to creep along the hedges and thenceto fall into the very breach These gave the first alarme and caused the Enemy according to the meaning of the plot to spend their first shot in vain And when the first volly was given ere they could recharge their Muskets the Governor gave the signall by the discharge of a Pistoll on went the Forlorn-hope and the Reserve following the Trumpets sounding and the Drums beating run up the Works rushed in among them and fell upon the hack when the whole and each part of the action was carried on without interruption and the Souldiers went up in such a regular march and so great solemnity that it seemed more like the pomp of a triumph then the confused face of a fight Of the Enemy some were killed and the rest taken prisoners besides some few that recovered the boats and many of them that took the water were drowned And to grace the service it was performed in the full view of a multitude on Chepstow side whilest the great guns plaid from each River which cast beneath the banks by the lowe ebbe did no execution but by their noise and semblance of terror both raised the Souldier and conduced to the majesty of the victory This good successe and the season held forth a fair opportunitie to compasse an other designe at that time in agitation Some overtures were made by Lieutenant Collonel Kyrle of the delivering of Monmouth into our hands Many did urge the present acceptance of the plot and an hasty performance and were discontented in that which they called slacknesse in the Governor when as neither the method of the plot was propounded in the generall the circumstances being left free nor the present state of things gave leave to manage the businesse when the following Army of P Rupert was to be intercepted a work of greater concernment and more beseeming a publick spirit then this latter But at that time t was the usuall mistake of particular Associations to confine every enterprise to their own Counties and divide the Common-wealth into so many petty kingdoms And in this did Collonel Massie deny himself in spending the latter part of the Summer in prosecuting a lesse plausible and appearing service though of larger concernment But having now pursued the Princes horse into Wales and destroyed the Enemies project in fortifying Beachly he quartered with his horse and foot neer Monmouth on the Forrest side and receiving an answer to a message lately sent to Lieutenant Collonel Kyrle propounded unto him and followed this way That he would feigne a Post from Gloucester side to desire a sudden return with his forces thitherward to secure that part of the Countrey from the Enemy which was already fallen out from Bristoll and Berkley and this message was to come to his hands at Mr. Halls house of High meadow a grand Papist where it would take wings for its dispatch to Monmouth by which means Kyrle commanding the horse might easily draw forth some troop to follow the Rear of our party Hereupon the Governor feigned a sudden retreat to Gloucester and having marched back three miles lodged his forces in a thicket of the Forrest sending his Scouts abroad prevented the Enemies discovery In the mean while the intelligence reaches Monmouth Leift Col Kyrle draws out whom the Governour surprised at midnight in High meadow house with his troop of thirty horse and with as little noise as possible advanced thence to Monmouth Neverthelesse t was not so deep a silence but the alarme was given by the Cornet of the troop who escaped the surprisall and the attempt made the more difficile if not desperate The Town took the alarme stood upon their guard expecting an Enemy Notwithstanding this Kyrle with an hundred select horse arrived at the Towns end confidently came up to the draw-bridge pretended a return with many prisoners taken perswaded the guards and prevailed with Coll Holthy the Governor of the Town by the Officers of the guard to let down the draw-bridge which was done but with much jealousie and a strong guard the bridge presently drawn up again insomuch that the first party were like to be held prisoners in the Town Our forlorn hope saw that it was time to lay about them they declare themselves over-power the guard and make good the bridge and in this there wanted not those that kept a strict watch over Kyrles deportment who acted his part with dexterity and valour Our body of
few straglers in the reare and tooke thirteene prisoners Meane while Sir John Winters releife lyes under the arrest yet so as we would gladly ridde our hands for the Guards set round his House to the safety of the Forrest did alwayes distract our designes These Horse are impatient of a longer imprisonment and after a sore distresse breake their way through our quarters into the utmost parts of the Forrest towards Chepstow and joyne with a partie of foote from Chepstow landed at Lancaught where they intended to fortify and to make good the Passe over Wye by which meanes they might issue out of Wales at their pleasure The place containes foure hundred acres having a very straight entrance Hereupon our severall Guards drew together and summoned the Country to aide and came up to the enemy who were divided in opinion one part held it meete to make good the passage the rest perswaded to draw out into the Field and fight These latter prevailed and for a while both parties faced each other Our men drew out a forlorne hope of Foote the place so requiring next unto these a forlorne hope of Horse and the rest were appointed for a reserve Their Horse violently charged our forlorne hope of Foote who were ready to give backe when our Horse came in opportunely and played their parts whereat the foote tooke courage and fell on all together and with one charge turned the enemy to flight that they killed few on the place but drove them up to the River side and fell upon the hacke in the pursuite and so cooped them up that few escaped their hands About fourescore were slaine of whom were Colonell Gamme and Colonell Vangerris of the residue some adventured the River to recover the Frigate many were drowned of whom Colonell Poore Governour of Berkely Castle but Sir John Winter and his brother with some few besides escaped onely of an hundred men from Chepstow and an hundred and fourescore Horse and Dragoones from Lidney House The remainder fell into our hands an hundred and twenty taken prisoners of whom two Leiutenant Colonells foure Captaines and divers inferiour Officers This was the last blow of three which Sir Iohn Winter received one in the necke of another These things happened about the time of the taking of Shrewesbury which called off the Kings forces from these parts Sir Jacob Ashly marched from Cirencester and Prince Rupert out of Herefordshire to releive his brother Maurice neere Chester The Governour was imployed in observing the enemyes motion but with a strength every day more slender having lost most part of his own troope with some peeces of others by an other miscarriage in fetching our Armes and Ammunition from Warwicke and in the Conveying of some Clothiers Packes of great value which were taken betweene Campden and Banbury through the misguidance of the Officer that commanded Neverthelesse he advanced into the neerer parts of Herefordshire with two hundred Horse and five hundred foote to startle the enemy or make some diversion supposing they bent their course to the releife of Westchester Here he found great multitudes of the Countrey people appearing in Armes but standing on their owne Guard and declaring themselves for neither side It was hoped neverthelesse they might be made of good use and the best affected of them gave Colonell Massie that satisfaction as was meete by whom he understood the condition of their engagements The Governour of Hereford sending for hay and contribution to his Garrison was so farre denyed by the Countrey that it came to blowes The people rising to resist some few men and as it was reported women and children were slaine and some carried prisoners to Hereford also some of the Hereford forces were taken by the Countrey men The next day the Alarum went throughout that side of the County and some parts of Worcestershire The people gather into a Body and march to Hereford Here they stayed some dayes with a resolution to have certaine Articles granted by the Governour of that Garrison The summe of their demaunds were to this effect that such of theirs as were held prisoners there should be delivered forthwith that satisfaction be given to the Country for the losse they sustained by plunder as also to the wives and children of those that were slaine that the Countrey might be freed from Contribution and all manner of Payment to the Souldier that since the present forces of Hereford were not able to defend the County they forthwith quit the Garrison and leave it to be kept by the Countrey who are able to defend the same and the whole County with lesse charge These and the like triviall passages did they discover to the world as it is wont to happen in such popular Commotions In the meane while severall Posts were dispatched to Colonell Massie at Ledbury and letters returned from him to them and in particular to some Gentlemen the cheifest and best affected These letters received by the Country people tooke well with some but the generall vote was that they needed not his helpe to gaine Hereford which they conceived would be delivered up by the Citizens whom they knew to be of one minde with them Other messengers came from them with intreaties to march up to Hereford promising concurrence in assaulting the Towne others would have him fall upon another Garrison at Canon-Froome The Governour made answer to the severall Messages that he desired to conferre with some of their best intrusted Gentlemen and Yeomen expecting meete security that either by Protestation or taking the Nationall Covenant they give him an assurance of their standing with the Parliament requiring them to cast off the enemy and receive orders from him to act nothing of themselves without the consent and approbation of Parliament without which engagement he could not joyne or act with them To this they replyed that they held it a thing of evill consequence and dangerous to declare themselves and they knew their ability of themselves to performe what they had resolved intreating him to march backe with his men giving assurance that they were our friends but could not declare for either side this act of theirs being a just defence against the unjust proceedings of the Committee and Souldiers of Hereford and to secure the Countrey from contribution and quarter The Governour makes answer to this resolve That the course they had taken was neither safe nor legall for it in this confused manner they should gaine Hereford it would doe them little service unlesse they were able to keepe it from the Kings Army and be able of themselves to beate them wholly from that side Seaverne that no incursion could be made on their Countrey from any part that they would distresse themselves without releife because their illegall way would not be owned by the Parliaments forces for though they have undertaken the preservation of the Kingdome yet they can give no protection to any that will not joyne with them in that way
by the addition of two Troops from Newport-Pagnell the Auxiliaryes were in all three hundred and forty his owne so few weake and ill armed that he could scarce muster a hundred fighting Horse and those much discontented observing the rest in good equipage but themselves in the constant action of Souldiers naked and miserable These are imployed in attending the enemyes march to preserve the Countrey what they may yet they disturbe it with frequent Alarmes and sometims beate up the lesser partyes and upon sundry attempts tooke one Colonell divers Captaines with inferiour Officers and souldiers Sir John Winter despairing of longer subsistance and livelyhoode deserted and fired his house at Lidney having first spoyled the Forrest and so before hand with revenge By this time the Counties round about are cleared of the Kings Army and Colonell Massie received a larger supply of Horse from the remainder of Colonell Bher and D'albeirs Regiments commanded by Major Buller and thereby inabled to undertake some important Service Evesham was beheld as the most opportune and of greatest concernment in distressing Wor cester and establishing the Committee by Order of Parliament for that County Wherefore the Governour drew before it with five hundred foote from Gloucester and two hundred from Warwicke who belonged to the Worcester Committee with a strong able Brigade of Horse and in the name of the King and Parliament summoned Colonell Robert Legge Governour of the towne to make a speedy surrender of the Garrison with all Persons Armes Ammunition and Provision which he there held against the justice of them both or upon refusall to expect such justice as fire and sword would inflict And to this he expected a speedy answer Colenell Legge sent backe the Summons with this answer You are hereby answered in the name of his Majesty that this garrison which I am intrusted to keep I will defend so long as I can with the men armes and ammunition therein being nothing terrified by your summons I perceave you are a stranger to our strength and resolution further treaties will be troublesome Upon this returne the Governour prepared the designe and ordered to each Officer his charge in the storme The assault was to be made on each part of the towne The side that lookes towards Worcester was to be stormed in five places with one place at the bridge on the other side of the river The commanded parties of the foote were lead on by the severall Captaines and seconded by the Horse devided into three Bodies After the disposition of the designe and the night spent in Alarmes the Signall was given a little after breake of day when both horse and foote fell on together with life and heate in a furious assault broke up the Pallisadoes filled the grafts with faggots and other preparations made sundry passages recovered the workes and stood firme on the Parapet whilest the Musqueteers from within played furiously The foot having recovered the shelter of the ditch beate off the enemy got up by scaling ladders stood on the breast workes and some entred but were againe driven up by the Horse to the top of the workes where they stood firme and fired but after a while ready to be beaten off by the violent charge of the enemies horse till a party of our horse on that fide drawing up close and having a small breach made for their entrance fell in and beate off the enemy from that bul warke whilest another party made an entrance neare the Bridge And now they tumble over the works on all sides and charge up both horse and foote with equall gallantry bore downe the enemy and mastered the Garrison The conflict was hot and difficult for almost an houre and maintained by the enemy with much resolution The lives of the Officers and Souldiers were wonderfully preserved in that violent storme when each man was exposed to the hazard of the most daring enemy Of the Officers two onely wounded and ten private souldiers slaine and twelve of the enemy The prisoners taken in the garrison were five hundred and fifty on the list of whom two Colonells one Major thirteene Captaines with other Officers and Gentlemen reformadoes to the number of seventy Many Gentlemen and Officers that charged with the Governour acted their parts with courage and spurd on the valour of the souldiers The reserve of foot devided into three bodies to second the assaylants performed as became resolved men and the whole action was compleate according to the Idea Platforme of the designe The Evening before to keep off an approaching enemy from Worcester about a hundred horse were drawne out and kept guard five miles from Evesham faced a party of horse from Worcester whose hasty and distracted retreat gave such an alarme to the whole City that they fired foure peece of Ordnance before day and alarmed the Countrey round about when the Conquest was already secured and the Parliament Masters of Evesham This performance was the concluding honour of Colonell Massies government after his remove from the present command was resolved by both Houses of Parliament when the desires of promoving the publike service made him to hazard the fame of his former atchievements by the doubtfull issue of the last action Some dayes before hee had an honourable invitation from the Westerne Gentlemen and the same day that he entred Evesham received a Commission from the Lords and Commons to leade an Army in the West The Parliaments command found the Governour absolutely free in affection and choice willing to comply with their pleasures neither longing to stay nor eager of a change but in any place ready to spend his blood in the Kingdomes Cause if he might not spend it in vaine Neverthelesse the City and County of Gloucester did much resent it and something repine that their Governour should be snatched from such a people as had done much and suffered much in their fidelity and resolution without president considering the many assaults that had sacrificed their lives and fortunes in preserving this City and the Kingdome therein that had borne so much in the firing of the Suburbs in the burning of many houses neere the towne some by the Enemies malice and some by themselves for safety and the pressures of the Country under both Armies They cast up the consequence and concernment of the place being the Center Garden and Granary of the Kingdome the Blocke-house to the river of Severne and a barre to all passages betweene Worcester Bristoll and the Sea the stop of entercourse betweene Oxford and Wales the Key to open the passage upon the Welsh and their Frontiers and the locke and barre to keepe-out their incursions the onely refuge and safety for the Parliament party and friends in that part of the Kingdome and the Enemies sole hinderance from the command of the whole West Besides this they had strong desires of retaining their Governour having so long experience of his judgement to foresee dangers and care to
up to the gates of Gloucester to the utter devastation of the parts adjacent with fire and plunder and to burn up the corn on the ground it being then neer harvest Hereupon the Governor marched back with his troops to Gloucester from whence he commanded two hundred and twenty Musketiers and ordered an hundred Muskettiers from Tewksbury to meet him on the march to prevent this great noised Army Whilest the orders for the march were giving forth to the Officers of horse and foot there fell out a sad accident between Major Gray and Major Hammond which was like to dash the whole action The heat of a quarrell then brake forth by occasion of a verball contestation at a Councell of Warre the same day when both had orders to march and were commanded to their particular charges Major Gray began to question Hammond for his hasty language and to require satisfaction This challenge at the present was refused or sleighted wherefore impatient of the supposed injury and full of revenge he smote him on the face with his fist upon this to swords they went in the street and after a little clashing Gray received his deaths wound by a thrust in the neck and expired in the place This miserable accident was like to beget a greater mischief among the Souldiers who being in Arms and ready to advance came back with full streame of violent resolution for the present revenge of Grays blood that the whole City and garrison was not farre from an uproar It rested on the Governors sole care to allay that violence of the Souldier who used his best art and industry to appease them whilest the Officers indulging their own discontent at the losse of their Major fell quite off the hinges After an houres dispute and intreaty the tumult was in some measure qualified that the most were perswaded to march as it was high time when the Enemy came on within three miles of the City with a resolution if not to lay waste by fire as they threatned yet to plunder and take away the persons of men their goods and cattell The businesse was put forwards but with little help from the discontented Officers Late in the afternoon our party began to advance and at High leaden passage got over the brook The Enemy were quartered in Hartpury field and commanded to lie close Our men came up to a bridge within a quarter of a mile of them in the dark night gave them an alarme and took ten prisoners and an other party of our horse that quartered neer the Lawne took divers that were sent that way to plunder But their main body evaded us and with great speed marched that night to Redmarley and we after a tedious wandring to find them out came to Eldersfield two miles from their quarters where we rested two or three houres to refresh ourselves and horses At break of day we prepared to advance upon the enemy when the beating of their Drums minded us of an early march and by six of the clock we came up to their randezvous their horse consisted of an hundred and sixty and their foot of eight hundred and fifty and of them six hundred and fourty Muskettiers by their own confession all drawn up into battalions and the hedges lined with Muskettiers To beat them out of their advantages the Governor divided the Foot into two bodies and drew out the Horse into single troops because the frequent inclosures would not make roome for a larger forme the Enemy in the mean while plying us with small shot and having disposed of his own troop with the hundred Muskettiers from Tewkesbury newly come in and many of the Countrey inhabitants armed with Muskets and good resolutions to one part of the Town he drew the Gloucester Muskettiers about an hundred and sixty for the rest remained at home ready to raise a mutiny for the misfortune of Grayes death and the greatest part of the horse to an other place of best advantage Himself advanced with this party and led the Van which consisted of three troops these were seconded with three other troops left to the command of Captain Backhowse Some of the Foot were placed in each Flank of the Horse and one single troop with the rest of the foot brought up the Reare They were drawn out into this posture marched up to the face of the Enemy the Governor in the Van next unto him Collonel Harley in the head of his own troop gallantly and in good order gave the charge beat them from their ambuscadoes put their horse to flight and in the instant of time got into the Van of their foot cut down and took them prisoners that few escaped our hands The Horse and Foot both Officers and Souldiers plaid their parts with resolution and gallantry The Enemy was left to our execution and their whole body broken and shattered many wounded and slain but more taken Major Generall Min was slain on the place with an hundred and seventy Among the Officers Leiftenant Collonel Passy then mortally wounded Major Buller seven Captains foure Leiftenants five Ensignes twelve Sergeants and neer three hundred common Souldiers were taken prisoners Some troops advanced in the pursuit fiue miles from the place of the sight but upon the view of a strong party from Worcester that came to joyn with Collonel Min they were enforced to leave the pursuit and prepare for a second encounter And a strange hand of providence kept asunder the Hereford and Worcester forces whose joyning would have proved unto us an inevitable destruction For Leiftenant Collonel Passie who commanded this fresh partie of an hundred and fiftie horse and five hundred foot just upon the beginning of the fight was riding up to Mins Brigade to bring news of their arrivall but happily intercepted and wounded by our Scouts and left for dead So that neither Enemy had the knowledge of each others condition But the Worcester forces advanced within two flight shot of the place whilest our men were scattered here and there in the chase of a vanquished Enemy nor did the Governor when the first brunt was over expect an after-birth The first discovery was made by Collonel Broughton and Captain Backhowse upon whom a blunt fellow charged up from the head of the main body in the entrance of a crosse-lane Him they surprised in the name of friends drew him aside from the view of the company and informed themselves of the strength at hand Forthwith they make a noise in the Enemies hearing pretending to fall on with a body of ours ready for a charge by the sudden out-cry daunted and drove back that strong party and made way for the Governors retreat and those with him which were now dispersed secure of the victory and following the chase Our stragling persuers were gathered together drew back to the place of the fight and there expected the charge choosing rather to make good the victory atchieved upon so great hazard and disadvantage then venture all
Agent Sir John Winter bestirre themselves to patch up the lingring life of the Garrison at Lidney and have procured from Prince Maurice at Worcester a regement of horse and dragoones by whose assistance he was confident to have beaten up our small guards in the Forrest and enlarge his owne quarters to bring the Forrest once more under his power to the destruction of the people and the great advantage of the Kings Army and Bristoll in speciall furnishing them with iron wood coales The reminding of so great a mischiefe to the Parliaments Service made the Governour carefull to prevent him and with an answerable number of horse and foote advanced into the Forrest towards Lidney where Sir John and his party got in before him But after a few small skirmishes to no valuable losse on either side the Governour set guards upon all the passages and imprisoned the Enemy in their own strong hold and again drew off the maine body in the view of the Garrison The Enemy observing his march and supposing the expedition for Gloucester sallied out upon Sully-House at a miles distance and a temporary garrison for the blocking up of Lidney In the instant of time the Governour returnes to this guard and understanding by the Scouts their neere approach drew out a forlorne hope faced and charged them retreated alittle and faced them againe with the exchange of few shot till the Enemy were brought up so high that they discovered our body Hereupon they make a sudden retreate our forlorne hope fall on and the body followes turned their horse to flight who forsooke the foote and left most of them to our mercy Here wee tooke one Captaine with five and twenty common souldiers having slaine a Captaine two Leiutenants and twenty sixe souldiers The whole action upon those forces from Worcester was performed onely with the losse of twenty horses and a few men surprized in their quarters which neverthelesse cost the Enemy the life of a Major The passages from Lidney are all guarded by our horse to starve those within and preserve the Forrest from their plunder The Governour having his hands and thoughts filled with these distractions was yet more perplexed by a fresh and unknowne engagement of Colonell Stephans in Wiltshire It happened that about this time the enemie had garrisoned an old but repaired Castle at the Devizes And to prevent the spoyle of the Country neere Malmesbury Colonell Deveraux had erected a garrison at Rouden House between the Devizes Malmesbury and before it was setled or well furnished with Ammunition and Provision it was set upon sorely straightened Colonell Stephens being newly made Governour of Beverston Castle was desired to give aide to the reliefe of the house and sets upon the service without Colonell Massies Order or knowledge in those his manifold preingagements wherefore hee advanced to succour the besieged with three Troopes of his owne Regiment and some Malmesbury foote and though he failed of a parry of horse to be sent from Colonell Devereux undertooke the businesse broke through the Enemy with much difficulty and hazard and relieved the house with provision and powder but failed in the concluding part for when he might with farre lesse difficulty have forced the way back through a troubled enemy he alighted unwarely and went into the house to refresh himselfe thereby giving the besiegers time to rally and to cast up a breast-worke before the passage that hee with the rest being foure hundred horse and foote were all cooped together and the poore besieged are most desperately straitened by this kinde of reliefe They without are five hundred strong the newes runnes to Gloucester and calls for helpe which had not needed had Colonell Stephens imparted the businesse to the Governour as he ought and waited to have set the Country in a posture on all sides to face the Enemy whose inrodes in the meane while were expected from each quarter They were already drawne out of Cirencester Farfard and Leehlade and keept their Randevouz on the hills by Cirencester From Hereford they stirre with a great strength on that side and in the Forrest those that are penned up in Lidney strive to breake prison Notwithstanding this at our first alarme the Governour sent his owne Captaine Leiutenant and threescore of the choise horse well appointed and all that could be spared unlesse he would ruine the Forrest and now the worke of releeving this place is made more difficult the Enemy round about being drawne together with a purpose to swallow them up or more gladly to fight with Colonell Massie at such advantage on the hills and farre from home yet the best face is put on a bad matter the threescore horse were to joyne with an hundred horse and dragoones from Malmesbury to breake through the Enemy and these added to the foure hundred and thirty within the house were conceived able to force a passage through the midst of the first five hundred But now a greater power are come up to the house at least three thousand men Sir Jacob Ashley did contribute much to the strength of the besiegers by draining his quarters at Cirencester whom the Governour could not prevent nor follow except with the losse of his interest in the Forrest onely he raised the Country about Stroudwater to face the Garrison of Cirencester our horse advanced up to the first guard and slew the Sentinell hoping by this alarme to draw backe the residue from Rowden House And though the weather dispersed and drove backe the Country forces yet such hopes did revive the businesse that two rainy nights might be an opportune and active season for Colonell Stephens to breake through and then which no greater could be expected Our second party of horse went on for Malmesbury to releeve the besieged at Rowden and by the way releeved Beverston Castle with Ammunition but came too late for the maine designe for the more potent Enemy had so strongly guarded the passages that the releefe of the house became desperate and they within presently surrendred upon quarter for their lives The Regiments of horse are much broken and reduced to an inconsiderable number the Enemy growes strong and a streame of ill successe flowes in upon us Colonell Hopton for whom the Governour procured a Commission upon his promise of raising foure hundred horse and armes at his owne charge without the helpe of the State or Country having got together about threescore horse and forty foote undertooke with these men to garrison Castle-ditâ—â— neere Ledbury in Herefordshire having neither order nor directions from the Governour who conceived the house not to be defended and required him to desist the enterprize the order is neglected But not many dayes after a party drawne out of Hereford had not lain before it foure and twenty houres but he with his forty foot and twenty horse were taken and carried prisoners to Hereford ere the Governor could come with releefe who lighted neverthelesse upon a