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
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
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
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-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
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
matter in hopes of Relief which he seemed to expect from the Conjunction of Goring's Forces with the Oxford-Horse For he had writ from Collumpton that he would be ready in Twenty Days to succour the Besieged Fairfax had also intercepted some of those Letters which made him prepare for a General Assault which he designed with his utmost Vigour and Industry But these were Dreams and all Attempts for renewing the War after the Defeat at Naesby and Goring's Loss of his Foot at Langport but imaginary The Royallists would notwithstanding attempt every Extremity for the Defence of their dear Master and King in whose Safety the Church the Laws and Liberties of all good Men lest they should be enslaved to the worst of Tyrannies were included Bristol assaulted Dec. 10. All things being ready for the Assault the Sign being given early in the Morning by firing Heaps of Faggots and Straw and the Discharge of Four great Guns they fell on upon all sides Montague and Pikering assaulted Lawford-Gate with their Regiments and enter'd it and being followed by Desborough with the General 's Regiment of Horse routed the Defendants and siezed upon Two and Twenty of their Cannon Sir Hard. Waller with Two Regiments of Foot fell upon the Line betwixt the said Port of Lawford and the River Frome and mastered it Raynsborough and Hamond had the like Success by Prior's-Fort which after a brave Defence Price the Governour being slain was forced and all the Defendants cut in Pieces The Lines and Hedges being levelled by Pioneers the Horse entered and charging the King's Cavalry occasioned a Bloody Encounter where Colonel Taylor a Royallist and Major Bethel of the Enemies side were sorely wounded But the Garrison Horse being overpowered were obliged to secure themselves by retreating betwixt the Great Fort and that of Coulston The Enemies Success was not the same on the other side of the Town for the Wall being higher the Defence was easier Welden who attack'd it with Four Regiments being beaten off The Royallists set the lost part of the City on Fire which they also extinguish'd a new Treaty being set on foot at the Desire of Fairfax and surrendered And thus Bristol was surrend'red upon harsher Conditions than the Enemy had formerly presented For the Foot were allowed their Swords only but upon the Prince his Desire and Engagement of Restitution they had a Thousand Arms lent them for their Defence against the Insults of the Club-Men The Enemy lost about Two Thousand Men and a few Officers in this Enterprise Nor did the taking of this Noble City and the Recovery of the Cannon which the King had taken from Essex at Lestithiel which were laid here cost them any more Which will seem less strange when we consider that the King's Party was every where broken But their Vertue was invincible and they themselves above their Misfortunes which they will yet abundantly testifie Bristol being thus taken Fairfax fearing the Contagion retires to Bath a better Air and sends his Souldiers after so many Toils for some Days to fresh Quarters In the mean time whilst the Rebels are indulging upon his Ruines it will be requisite to relate the Actions and Labours which the King underwent in person After the Fatal Battel of Naesby this magnanimous however unfortunate Prince The King's Travels and Labours retired as is said to Hereford To add to his Calamities as the Miserable are usually neglected so he is now also insulted on by the degenerate Scots Ecclesiasticks Who in a Letter most impudently admonish him That acknowledging his great Sins he should seriously and suddenly repent How could he think that God would bear with his fighting against his faithful and pious Subjects his authorising their Murther and Slaughter by the Irish Rebels and his permitting of the Exercise of the Mass and other abominable Idolatry He had wearied the Patience of his Subjects which if he persisted in they denounce would be his inevitable Ruine They advise him Not to neglect the Demands of his faithful Subjects and that he should at length repent and suffer the Son of God to reign over him and his Kingdoms in the sincere Worship and Discipline of his Church c. These barbarous Reproaches from a less barbarous Generation however false might have been in some sort born but to have * Clodius accusat Maechos Rebels pretend to Loyalty Schismaticks to Piety and Superstitious Disciplinarians to rail against Idol Worship where there was none is only proper to such who usurping the Title of God's Vicegerents would reign and domineer over the Kings of the Earth But his Majesty not to be moved with these Impertinencies no more than the scurrillous divulging of his Cabinet being Proof against the Malice of Calumny as well as Fortune after some time left Hereford and with Three Thousand Horse hastens by Liechfield to Bewdly Where falling upon some Troops of Scots Horse he beats and routs them From thence by a swift March he enters Derbyshire and beat Gell at Sudbury and Ashburnham He thence came to Welbeck and ravaging the associated Counties surprising the Guard at the Gate of Huntington enters the City and imposing a reasonable Ransom upon it did the Inhabitants no further Harm He passed by Cambridge which he looked upon with a benign Eye it being the Seat of the Muses and Learning But he fined St. Ives Five Hundred Pounds And finally passing through Ouburne and Doncaster returned to Oxford It is not to be wondred that he obliged some Towns in his March to redeem themselves with no great Pecuniary Mulcts seeing they had always been exempted from any quartering of Armies and had perpetually contributed to the Maintenance of the Rebellion The King had continued his Cavalcade through these Counties with so much Celerity that he baffled the Sedulity of his Followers And though he had been pursued by Ten Thousand Horse the Scottish Cavalry being joined with the English and that with the utmost Obstinacy yet they could not prevent him The Scots however fattened with their Rest and Quarters would not yet leave them without the Allurements of Prayers and Money Being then paid they were perswaded to move Southwards and The Scots besiege Hereford having taken Canon-frome a small Garrison of the King 's they marched directly for Hereford and laid a formal Siege to the place The Convention at Westminster had sent General Leven a Jewel valued at Five Hundred Pounds as their Acknowledgment for his late Success and an Incitement to greater Things This did not a little quicken him and now the City is approached mined battered and assaulted by his no less craving Souldiers But being bravely received and beaten off with great Loss they attempted the Surrender which they had not been able to compass by their Action and Threats by the offer of very fair Conditions The Parliament had also joined in these Demands and the Inhabitants of the Country round forced by Fear added also their
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
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
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
in writing against the Jurisdiction of the Court But it was not permitted the President saying He would admit nothing against the Parliament from which there was no appeal And so the King was remitted and the Court Adjourned Three Days after the King was again brought before this Impious Court where He desired the President cloathed now in Scarlet suitable to the Bloody Design of the Day to be heard a Word hoping to give no occasion of interruption But the President refused him saying The Court must be first heard And thereupon told the Auditors how the Prisoner had been several times convented and brought before the Court to make Answer to a Charge of Treason and other Crimes Which he not only refused to do but took upon him to offer Reasonings and Debates against the Authority of the Court and the Highest Court that constituted them to try and judge him which being considered as also his Contumacy and the Probability of the Fact they had resolved to pronounce Sentence against him But the Prisoner desiring to be first heard the Court was content to hear him provided he said nothing against the Authority thereof The King then said Since they would hear nothing of Debate concerning what he thought most material for the Peace of the Kingdom he would wave it only tell them That all Things had been taken from him this many a Day but what he valued dearer than his Life his Conscience and his Honour And if he had respect to his Life more than the Peace of the Kingdoms and the Liberty of the Subject certainly he would have made a Particular Defence for himself whereby he might have at least delayed an ugly Sentence which he believed would pass upon him And therefore if his Zeal to his Country had not overborn the Care that he had of his own Preservation he should have gone another Way to Work He conceived That a hasty Sentence once passed might be sooner repented of than recalled And the same desire that he had for the Peace of the Kingdom and the Liberty of the Subject more than his own particular did make him now at last desire that having something to to say that concerns both he might be heard in the Painted-Chamber before the Lords and Commons This delay could not be prejudical to them whatsoever he said If Reason it would be worth the Hearing if otherwise those who heard him might judge He therefore conjured them as they loved what they pretended the Liberty of the Subject and Peace of the Kingdom that they would grant him a Hearing before Sentence past If not he did protest that so fair shews of Liberty and Peace were but meer shews and not otherwise and that they would not hear their King This being heard however the President had said That it was but a new Delay and a farther declining the Jurisdiction of the Court yet there were some amongst the Judges who would reason the Business in Private And lest they might seem to dissent amongst themselves they withdrew into the Court of Wards Where after some sharp Contests They Vote That what the King had tendered tended to delay Several of the Judges were of a contrary Opinion desiring to know what the King would say to them But it was voted by the major part in the Negative whereupon some of them exagitated with the Terrors of their Consciences went away in discontent The rest being returned into the Court the President in a very long nauseous Speech ripping up all the Misfortunes and Errors committed in the Government imputed them to the King He further affirmed That Kings were inferiour to the People and to the Laws producing Examples of some Kings of England deposed from the Government which happened by Parliaments no less impious than this and more particularly in Scotland where of 109 Kings near half were removed by untimely Ends. This tedious and hated Speech being ended and the Charge read the Sentence followed in these Terms He is condemned That Charles Stuart as a Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and Public Enemy shall be put to Death by severing his Head from his Body It may not be from the purpose to mention some particular Passages that intervened extraordinarily at the various Sessions of this Court. The King behaved himself with that Firmness of Mind Wisdom and Majesty that he did nothing that was not truly Royal cluding their Epithites of Tyrant and Traytor with Smiles Casualties that happened during his Tryal Some time after the Head of his Cane falling off he was himself forced to take it up not one amongst so many Barbarians offering at so small a Civility and perceiving the By-standers seemed to look upon it as sinistrous he said That was nothing The Second Day the King offered his Reasons in Writing against the Jurisdiction of the Court but was not permitted The Third Day of Meeting the General 's Wife whilst he impiously commanded the equal impious Army ventur'd to disturb the Court when they were baiting the King calling out That was a Lye Adding That the Tenth part of the People she might have said the Hundredth were not of that Opinion but that it was done by the Artifice of that Traytor Cromwell She also blamed the Subjects Irreverence to their King Insomuch that the Souldiery had much to do to silence her though Axtel called her Whore and others moved upon that occasion I cannot tell Whether this may not in some sort Parallel that of Pilates Wife But what I was seriously told by one that was present of Bradshaw's Wife comes nearer She the Morning of the Day that the King was Sentenced rushing into her Husbands Chamber fell upon her Knees at his Feet and dissolved into Tears and Sighs besought her Husband That he would have nothing to do with His Majesty nor Sentence this Earthly King for fear of the dreadful Sentence of the King of Heaven You have no Child said he and why should you do so monstrous an Act to Favour others But Bradshaw bidding her get about her business added I confess he hath done me no Harm nor will I do him any but what the Law commands The Sentence being pronounced his bloody Murtherers Seventy Two of them being present stood up thereby expressing their Assent The King delivered to the Souldiers who abuse and mock him After which His Majesty was hurried away by his Guards the Souldiers instigated by Axtel and Peters crying as he went along Execution Execution as the Jews had done formerly to their Saviour Crucifie him Crucifie him To these the King no less immoveable in Adversity than Prosperity replied Alas poor Souls for a piece of Money they would do so by their own Commanders Which also happened upon the Restauration of Charles II. when some of these Miscreants cryed out for Justice against the King's Judges with no less Violence and Clamour There were amongst these Wretches some who puffed Tobacco the Smell whereof was odious to him in his Face