Desires to the King for more Men or at least Arms from beyond Seas and himself single lies close but Oglebey and his Friends were all surprized and imprisoned by the Covenanters untill the next year that Montrose set them at liberty who did him faithfull Service Montrose with onely two Gentlemen Rollock and Sibald hasts towards Scotland and by the way escaped Sir Richard Graham who was revolted to the Covenanters and undertook to discover all men affectionate to the King this Graham heretofore a very mean Iockey of the Duke of Buckingham's Stables by Industry and Deceit got into his favour to be the chief Master of his Horse and by the necessity of the Princes secret Journey into Spain was there serviceable and upon that score had grace and preferment to be made a Knight Baronet getting an Estate emulous to all his Neighbours and now becomes a Traitour But after four Days Montrose arrives at his Cosin Patrick Graham in the Sheriffdom of Perth with whom he resides disguised and sends his two Friends to discover the state of the Kingdom who return this News That all the people lay under subjection of the Covenanters and that the Marquess of Huntley had laid down his Arms and was fled to the North leaving his noble Family the Gourdons exposed to his merciless Enemies Covenanters Instead of ten thousand promised onely 110. Irish landed in the North of Scotland from Antrim under Command of Alexander Mac-Donel a Scot who met with Montrose in Atholde but Arguile their Enemy was in their Rear with an Army marching after them the Countreymen eight hundred joyn with Montrose who marches to Ern and passing by Weme Castle of the Meneses his Enemies who treacherously fell upon his Rear he burns their Houses and wasts their Fields this was the first Onset of War His noble faithfull Friend Patrick Graham commands the Athole men to scout before who meet with five hundred Foot under the leading of the Lord Kilton Son to the Earl of Taith descended of Grahams and Sir Iohn Drummond Son to the Earl of Perth both Kinsmen to Montrose raised to oppose the new-landed Irish but understanding of Montrose the state of the Kings affairs they all joyn in a Body these discover that the Covenanters were in Arms at their Rendezvouz at Perth and waited for them at Athole he marches within three miles of them drawn out in an open Plain Tippermore ready to fight and commanded by the Lord Elcho with the Earl of Tullibardin and the Lord Drummond with six thousand Foot and seven hundred Horse It was on Sunday the first of September Elcho had the right Flank one Sir Iames Scot the left and Tullibardin the Battel to each Flank Wings of Horse Montrose had not one Horse and being but few in Foot he draws out open as possible he could with his Files onely three deep commands his Ranks all to charge at once the first Rank kneeling the next stooping the third being the ablest men upright not to stoop but in the teeth of their Enemy and to spare Shot in vain and immediately after to fall in upon them with their Swords and Musquet-ends Montrose commands the right Flank against Scot the left to the Lord Kilponâ— and the Battel to Mac-Donel with his Irish. Montrose sends to the Enemy one Drummond Son to the Lord Maderty who told them That Montrose had his Commission from the King Victory they might have if they would please to conquer themselves and return to their Allegeance for his own part he was not covetous of any mans wealth nor ambitious of their honour nor envious of any mans preferment nor thirsty of bloud onely he begged of them to return faithfull to their King hitherto provoked with unspeakable injuries who had deserved to be the best of Kings These inhumane Wretches gave no Answer but send the Messenger Prisoner to Perth Being now within Musquet-shot the Enemy sends out Drummond with the Forlorn Hope at the first Onset routed them back to their Main Body and with a shout le ts loose his whole Forces upon them and puts them to flight pursued six miles two thousand slain and as many Prisoners the most take Oath with him but proved perfidious he took the City Perth but without one jot of Plunder Here he stays three Days to whom comes the Earl of Kinole with some Gentlemen of Gawry inconstant too Arguile was come up with his Army Montrose quarters in the Fields having passed over Tay near Conper a Village in Angus where Sir Thomas Ogleby Son to the Earl of Arley comes to him with others next morning early there happened a base Murder in Montrose's Quarters one Stuart lodging that night with the Lord Kilponten discovered his Design to murder Montrose inviting his assistance upon great assurance of preferment from the Covenanters who set him on work which being the Lord refused he suddenly stabb'd him with many wounds and before Day and dark he escaped to Arguile and was forthwith preferred to high Commands Montrose marches to Dundee who refuse to submit but he not fitted for a Siege turns towards Eske amongst his supposed Friends who yet withdrew onely the Ear of Arley a man of sixty years old with his two Sons Sir Thomas and Sir David and some others joyned with him through all extremities to the end And now they march towards Aberdine where lay Commissioners of the Covenanters with an Army of two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse commanded by the Lord Burgly labouring to assure the Northern parts which Montrose would prevent and fight them ere that Arguile should come and first gets the Bridg over Dee where he found the Enemy drawn up near the City Montrose had but fifteen hundred Foot and but just four and fourty Horse for he had given leave to Kilponten's men to convoy their dead Master home and the Athole men were returned with Spoil with these he made two Divisions mixing his best Fire-men and Archers nimble and quick on either Wing to prevent the Enemies Horse upon his Rear the right Flank to Iames Hay and Nathaniel Gordon the left to Sir William Rollock The Enemies left Wing was commanded by Lewis Gordon Son to the Marquess Huntly a Hare-brain'd Fellow that had forced his Fathers Friends to this Fight who charges Montrose's right Flank whom Rollock aided with twenty Horse and beating back three hundred to a Rout and run away but left them for the Enemies right Wing of Horse was charging their left who had no Horse till these twenty Horse were got in but not able to endure so great a Charge wheeled about and fell upon the Enemies Flank with their Swords and put them also to Flight Those Horse that stood it out were to be assisted with fresh Foot out of the Main Body which Montrose soon apprehending prevented them fell upon the other on all sides and put them to a Flight whom he followed with execution into the Gates and Streets
Ordnance before to choose out so many commanded Musquetiers of the English of late come out of Ireland as might well be spared out of that Garison These were a thousand Musquetiers of Colonel Broughtons and Colonel Tilliers Regiments with a hundred and twenty of Colonel Sir Fulke Huncks All these sent down by the Severne met the Prince at Bridgenorth on Fryday Of Horse he took along his own Troop and Regiment with twenty of Major General Sir Hurrey's with these Forces he drew along three Field-pieces At Wolverhamton next day was his Army recruited by a hundred Horse and two hundred Foot of Colonel Levesons On Munday night he had notice at Ashby de la Zouch of two thousand two hundred Enemies under Sir Edward Hartop sent out by Meldruâ—â— to the pass and bridge over the Sore a mile from Loughborow in Leicester-shire Their purpose was either to intercept General Major George Porter or to prevent his joyning with my Lord Loughborow For thither with four Regiments of Horse and aâ— thousand commanded Musquetiers of my Lord of Newcastles men was Master Porter now come from about Newark to hinder the farther inroads into Leicestershire Dayly slight Skirmishes here passed For Meldrum not able to force the passaâ—â— and hearing of my Lord of Loughborow's drawing out they stole away Porter thus dis-ingaged was the next day together with my Lord Loughborow's forces conjoyned to the Prince's That night they all quartered in a Close by Bingham eight miles short of Newark About two of the clock the Moon then well up the drums beat and all marched Hitherto had the marches been so speedy as fame it self was prevented for by Meldrum's own Letter sent to the Lord Fairfax which was intercepted the night before they had no more but an uncredited rumor of Prince Rupert's coming On this dayes march Rupert had notice by his espyalls how the Enemies were busied all that morning in sending away their Cannons which proved no other then their drawing them off their Batteries into their chiefe work at the Spittle or Excester House a little more then musket shot from the Town for into that one Quarter had they that morning drawn all their Regiments and Amunition The Prince having intelligence of their amassing themselves into one Body which he supposed a preparation to march off suddenly advanc'd his Van of Horse upon the spur to overtake them the rest of his Horse had order to keep along with the Foot Cannon and Amunition Coming near the Beacon-hill a mile short of Newark he perceived some Horses of the enemies who upon his approach drew down the other side to their own Grosse The Prince thus easily gaining the hill increased his natural courage upon his apprehension besides of having many advantages upon a retreating enemy Whereupon Courage sayes he let 's charge them with the Horse we have and ingage them till our Reer and Foot be march'd up to us Trooping thus to the edge of the hill he perceived the most of the enemy in Battalia Horse and Foot near the Spittle all except four great Bodies of Horse who expected him at the very descent of the hill The Prince thus ordered his own few Forces first himself with his own Troop of Life-guards undertook to attack that Body on the left hand appointing my Lord Loughborow's Troop to second him and Colonel Gerard's Troop to be as a Reserve a little on my Lords right hand The Princes Regiment was cast out into five divisions two Troops to each division in the first and very right hand of all were Captain Gardiner and Captain Richardson then Captain Cobb and Captain Martin then the Lord Grandison and Sir Thomas Dallison next them the Troops of Sir Lewis Dives and the Lord Dillon Major Leggs and Lieutenant-Colonel O-Neales Troops being next unto the Life-guards this Regiment was seconded by Major General Porters Regiment the Field-word was King and Queen theirs Religion The fight began about nine a clock and after a while grew sturdy especially on Rupert's right wing the other doubling their files from three to six deep and charged two outmost Troops upon the Flanks so hard that Captain Martin came timely in to help to beat them off the Prince himself having pierced deep into the enemies and being observed for his valour was dangerously at once assaulted by three sturdy persons whereof one fell by Rupert's own sword a second being pistoll'd by Master Mortaigne one of his own Gentlemen the third now ready to lay hand on the Princes collar had it almost chopt off by Sir William Neale He thus dis-engaged with a shot only in his gauntlet with Sir Richard Crane and his own Troop charged quite thorow that Body pursuing them in rout home to their very Works at the Spittle presently after this his Regiment with their seconds likewise routed the three other Bodies four of the Troops charging even into the Work and bringing away a Captain Prisoner Loughborow also deported himself honourably some of his shrunk at the second charge himself rode back to rally and bring them up again Major-general Porter charged with much bravery though some of his also retired up the hill in disorder Colonel Charles Gerard did here like himself but by the fall of his horse was bruised shot in the arm and taken prisoner After a while both sides began to rallie and make ready for a second charge the Prince to make impression and they to receive it and though for a good while they disputed it toughly yet by fine force were they and all the rest driven quite out of the Field beyond their own Work Foot and Cannon at the Spittle divers of them hasting by a bridge of boats over that branch of the Trent into the Island four other Troops with as many Foot-companies hasted up to Muskham bridge upon the other side of the Island and main stream of the River about three quarters of a mile both from Newark and the Spittle here they stayed till towards evening when breaking the bridge behinde them and throwing one piece of Cannon into the Trent they then hastned to Nottingham In both these stiffe bouts the Prince took Five Cornets and Ninetie Prisoners whereof three Captaines some Gentlemen three Cornets besides other Officers and two Cannoniers And now as if an universal truce had been agreed upon there was some half an hours silence excepting that the enemies Cannonado's disturbed it For the Foot had not yet advanced and their Horse by this time had enough of it As for the Prince he now stayed for his Foot and Reer of Horse both left full two miles behinde when his Van began to double their march to overtake the enemy anon came up his Foot all that day commanded by Colonel Tilliar these resting themselves a while upon the hill the first division being part of those that came from Shrewsbury were led on by the Colonel these marcht down in the face of the enemy hooting at their Cannon these
the Plain and by a Trumpet challengs Baily to fight but was refused for the River I le parted them Then at Dunkildon where he escaped utter ruin for Lewis Gordon another Son to Huntley sometimes an Enemy was reconciled by his Brothers means he by true or counterfeit Letters from his father the old fox was tempted and carried away with him almost all the Gordons basely deserting his brother and Montrose ready to engage against the Enemy And so diverted the intended journey to Tay and marched towards Brechen sending his weakest men under the Hills to meet him there but by the way he Summons Dundee and storms it in three places beat them from their Sconces possessed their Ordnance and turned them upon the Town beat open their Gates and gets the Church and Market-place and fire the Town in several places When his Scouts bring tydings of Baily and Hurrey a mile off Montrose in all speed Rallies his plundring Souldiers wearied with twenty miles march and now more spent by fighting to fight he was not able to Retreat he must be overtaken In wonderful difficulties he resolves to Retreat Immediately he sends out four hundred Foot before him with convenient speed two hundred the most active to follow them and he with his Horse brings up the Rear trooping in open Order if need were to have room for light Musketiers The Enemy divide in two parts and so pursues them and now their Van closes up to the Retreaters and were welcomed by these Musketiers that Lined Montrose Horse and soon abated their pursuit and Skirmishing stoutly with their Horse untill night parted the fray and because that their wayes were belaid by the Enemy they amuze them by turning and winding off face about and march Southwest passing by them thus beguiled by night and the next morning turning North-ward passed over South-Eske near Goneston Castle thence to Brâ—chen to fetch those men which were left with the Carriages But they hearing of this distresse were got into the Mountains The Enemy came after them so near that they continually Skirmish untill he came to Gleneske This was that so much admired Expedition of Dundee renowned indeed encountering all extremities with patience for sixty miles march fighting without meat or sleep for three dayes and two nights to any purpose of refreshment Incredible but from him that assures this Narrative of his own knowledg and sufferings And now being safe he bides his Souldiers sleep whilst his unwearied Noble Soul fits a wake which resolves of his Warlike affairs He sends the Lord Gordon with those of his continuing loyal into his County to win upon his revolted Brother and his Fugitives and to recruit new forces which he performed with faithfulnesse and courage And Montrose with five hundred Foot and fifty Horse all that he left for himself marcht through Angus into Perth-shire so to distract the Enemy till he was Recruited For Hurrey was gone into the North with six hundred old Foot and two hundred Horse to suppresse the Lord Gordon and Bailey himself staies with an Army at Perth Montrose was twelve miles off at a Village called Krâ—if secure and he safe too conceives when Bailey sets out over night with all his forces discovered by Scouts time enough to finde their adversaries in order fit to retire following the course of the River Erne and made good the Fords thereof and himself the Rear guard repulsing his Enemy to their return and he Quartered at Laugh-Erne the next day to Balwidir where met him the Earl of Alboine with others that escaped out of Carlisle 18 of April Thence to Logh-Catrines where comes newes that Hurrey was upon engaging with Gordon that Gallant young Lord. Montrose makes speed to oppose Hurrey and passes by Balwidir and a Lake twenty four miles long the head of Tay then through Athole and Angus over Gransbane and through Glenmak-vale he comes to the midst of Marre and joynes with Gordon who had gotten one thousand Foot and two hundred Horse marching to Spey to finde the Enemy and was so near as six miles off ere Hurrey thought him past Garshame having over-run the report of himself But Hurrey would not be forced to fight and so passeth over the Spey speeding towards Innernesse the appointed Rendezvouz whither Montrose followes not far off for he was there also the next day and Encamped at a Village Aldern There was now ajoyned to Hurrey the Earls of Seaford and Sunderland the whole Sept of the Frasers the most of Murries Men and Cathnes with some out of the Town Garrison and all together draw up with three thousand five hundred Foot and four hundred Horse against Montrose's fifteen hundred Foot and two hundred Horse and not possible to Retreat Bailey was coming up with his Forces And ere his Enemy should joyn the best he could do was to chuse his ground draws up his Forces in a Valley under a Town on the top of a Hill and Hills behind and above it shadowing his Forces from sight Before the Town he places a few choice Foot with his Ordnance sheltered with Ditches The right Wing is committed to Mac-donel with four hundred Foot fortified with Banks Ditches Shrubs and great Stones and orders him to preserve himself entire as a Reserve safe from the Enemies Force of Horse and Foot and commits also to his charge that notable Standard of the Kings which he alwaies had born before him expecting that upon the sight of that the Enemy would order their best men against that Wing when he on the left Flank would force upon them And drawing the rest of his men to the other side he commends the Horse to the Lord Gordon and takes charge of the Foot himself Those first Forces under the Town seemed his main battle when God knows he had none nor reserves at all The Enemy came on as he imagined their Van upon those before the Town on the right Flank and as their Souldiers spend drew on fresh He therefore meant to fall upon them with his left Flank all at once when one whispered to him that Mac-donel on the right Flank was put to flight He of quick apprehension called aloud My Lord Gordon what doe we doe Mac-donel hath routed the Enemy and is upon execution shall we loyter and he have all the honour of the day with that commands to charge home upon Hurries Horse which began to run left their Flanks which they were to maintain open to disadvantage yet their Foot stood the shock stoutly but being pressed home they threw away their Arms and fled but Montrose remembring Mac-donel drew off thither to the right Flank where he found him though valiant as any man but with more heart then head-piece had advanced out of his fastness and was overpowered and routed and had he not drawn into a neighbours close he and his had been lost for himself was the last that drew off covering his head with a large Target which he alwaies
Title and to be General with which he sets to sea Octob. 8. his fleet 80 in all and was overtaken with a storm in 4. dayes which encountred the whole sail that for 7. dayes conflict and skirmish with winde and waves fifty of the fleet were scattered and a gallant ship of Ipswich with 175. persons perished Being met together at the southern Cape their Comission giving leave to be at liberty where to land and which was so long in designing that the whole Coast were alarâ—m'd into so sudden a posture as was not safe to shore any where Wimbleden was for land war the Earl of Essex Vice Admiral at sea and earnest he seemed to set upon the Spanish ships in the Bay of Gades his own designe though unaccessible into a Harbour without forcing a strong fort before they came at the Castle-Portall But on they go with twenty English and five Dutch ships in that service these did well but the English gave off in mighty disgust with their Commanders till Wimbleton went aboord each ship to beg their advance against the Castle which withstood the shock of two thousand shot and not a stone the lesse losse And so conceived impregnable Sr. Iohn Burrowes an experienced souldier was sent with a select Regiment a shore to force it by Land where he was encountered with the enemies Horse and Foot and they beaten back to a direct flight and the cause inclining a fear in the Governour who by his white flag invites a Parle which concluded the Resignation of the Fort first with 15 barrels of powder and eight pieces of Ordnance And Sr. Samuel Argall designed to be the Incendiary of the ships in Harbour and the land-men to come a shore for recreation and fresh water to forage the County and guard those that were at other work which was in summe to turn drunkards for being each one a Master Vintner of his Celler in despite of sober commands to the contrary which miserable condition not to be recovered in their short time of stay but by ease and sleep hastened them the sooner to their ships lest the Spainard should take them napping as they might have done with little Intelligence and cut all their throats Their next design was to sea and to seek the Plate-fleet from the West-Indies and sending for Argall his account was in that that the Spanish ships were couched under the Port-Royall and some Vessels sunk in the channel to hinder their income Their purpose thus defeated they set sail southwards intending to stay twenty dayes and seek out for silver but sickness increasing monstrous contagion no hail-men sufficient to handle a sail an hundred and fifty bed-red in the Admirall To cure them they were exchanged by couples into all the severall ships for so many sound men which so increased Infection that sent them over-board by thousands and hasted the Navi's return but four dayes before the silver fleet came after this kind of success flew home by land and sea ere we saw our Commanders who suffered under several censures The Parliament blamed for not supplying the Kings necessities whereby the Navy sailed forth too late October being the worst Moneth for our expedition at sea which was the time we should have been there and so were saluted with storms as soon as they set out Others draw the evil event from the Dukes youthfulness with a presaging Aphorism Never to be well with England while the sea is under the command of an Admiral so young and so unexperienced And another is bestowed on the King and fathered upon Captain Bret who should say to the Duke That the fleet was not like to succeed better where there went along Bagges without money Cook without meat and Love without charity when in truth Bret was not then in being as a Captain the other three he calls Captains but for Sr. Iames Bag he never was any Nor was he or the other two in that Expedition but afterwards in the voyage to the isle of Ree and there perhaps we may afford his observation to the like purpose But indeed Wimbleden suffered under several strict examinations not permitted to see the Kings face for many Moneths after of which he complains to the Duke excusing himself upon the disobedience of the Mariners and Souldiers and plainly condemning the Earl of Essex who he said suffered the Spanish ships to escape being in his power to have sunk them all and ought to be thereof questioned But the main cause of ill successe must be supposed that Sr. Robert Mansell was neglected who is pretended to have an unquestionable right in all Expeditions in the Admirals absence A monstrous errour for Mansell was Vice-Admiral of the Narrow-seas that 's his office and there indeed he succeeds to the Admiral But our Vice-Admirals of the South and of the West of Cornwall at home have place before him and he no interest there at all So hath not the Admiral of England right in the Ocean Nor he nor any other but as impowred by special Commission from the King which he may grant to whom he please The infected City London could not entertain Michaelmas Term which was adjourned to Reading where November the eleventh the Judges were Commissioned for executing Laws against Recusants and Proclamations published in Churches to that purpose with letters to the Arch-Bishops for discovery of Iesuites Seminary-Priests and Recusants offenders in that kind for indeed their insolencies exceeded descretion with contempt and scorn of our discipline and Church duties in times of divine service But it became the Kings serious consideration not to be wanting to himself to set out soveraignty to the nearer sence of his subjects in that necessary solemnity of setting the Crown on his own Head which by right of blood and succession the Son and Heir apparant was to take which is yet performed with some solemnities and settlement called Coronation with conditions and ceremonies And the more orderly the more expresse and certain among Christians and established with more-sacred and religious kind of union by Oaths mutual of Prince and People And the whole Action done by Bishops and Prelates The Greek Emperours of Constantinople after the Emperour was translated thither by Constantine the great and first Christian Emperour Antequam coronaretur fidei confessionem scriptam qua polliceatur se in dogmatibus Ecclesiasticis nihil esse Novaturum c. se nulla Ecclesiae instituta violaturum The first Latine Emperours Charles the great and his Posterity successive were brought by the Primate of Germany to the high Altar where he takes oath by holding up his hand to Heaven and then adorned with the Ensignes and Robes of the Empire And so Rex perfusus oleo sancto coronaretur diademate aureo ab Episcopis ab eisdem ad solium Regale ducitur in eo collocatur But a in Synod at Rome Pope Gregory the fifth by consent of the Emperour Otho the
his voyage which might have been done in one And that no Artifice may be wanting he sent some dissembling Renegadoes to tell us that he passed a contrary way and to compound some truths with some lies the better to deceive us This Fleet was of 35. sail 150. Mariners 300. Souldiers 60. of chief Nobility and many Noble Commanders At four a clock at night they set out which was Sun-setting they stuck in the way all night and day following The night come and the word given Vive le Roy pass or perish about eight a clock they spread sayl yet here remained till the second watch Manpase leading the rest and got by day light into St. Martins Haven onely one ship fell into our hands yet some of our ships upon the Renegadoes report kept watch with all silence The Earl of Lindsey in his Ship-boat without Company drawing somewhat nigh made the first discovery of their fleet and alone pursued them but their nimble ships far out-went him The light appearing and Buckingham on the Watch and at the first view observing the Enemies nimble vessels He entred into a Ship boat with Sir William Courtney and shewes himself to them all who suspecting the English fleet might be neer them hastily got into the next Haven easier for them to escape then we to follow Now did the English abound in the want of all thing especially Health and therefore sent a fire ship instantly towards the midst of the French Fleet which fired it self to nothing ere it came to them But when day light was open we paid their Fleet with our Great Guns as their own letters intercepted do specifie to their miserable losses They confess a score of their Ships spoiled and we retreated The English angry at the heart for though it were in the power of Buckingham to give or receive conditions of Surrender and so voted by the besieged themselves and so promised to Buckingham That very hour wherein Stancius and Soubrane promised to return with the conditions signed they insolently shewed us their Rundlets of Wine Turkies Capons and other Viands upon the head of their Pikes and Spears For an Enemy to alter Resolutions as the fate and affairs of War admits and sometimes to falter in their promises but basely to forswear and deny a Contract and to boast thereof is perfect perfidy But Buckingham now too late repents his gentle clemency not so fit in a Commander as never seasonabler then when an Enemy falls under his foot and to hug a Viper in his own Bosome And therefore to recover himself he hastily supports his Mine with traverse Timber-beams and reducing it into water banks and filling it with barrels of powder with fire match under all blew up it self with the earth but being not enough vanished in smoke without any hurt at all That night is spent in Council and concluded with all speed to raise the siege and be gone out of the Island and preparing publick removes and Carriages gave the enemy assurance of our neer departing Which the Rochellers also foreseeing with Subiez humbly beseeching not to desert the siege to which they were ready to contribute all assistance But they were told the consult of Council had concluded and their general necessities enforced yet the Arrival of Dolbier from England at this instant assured that the Auxiliaries were at hand being to disembogue when he came away The siege is renewed fourteen of our lesser ships and as many Rochellers are to ancher before St. Martins Port to guard it against Supplyes To sink some ships laden with stones before the Haven and now too late the Rochellers are forward in all aid with an eye also and evermore to their own more special affairs But a long time spent in expectation of supply and none come from England the Cannons were again shipped The scene thus often altered King Lewis comes to the Camp to add more courage to his Army there and Abbot Marsillane dispatch a new subsidiary Fleet for indeed though we were in shew and too likely to depart yet the fame of fresh supplyes from England publisht over all France to be coming under command of the Earl of Holland gave the French good caution to secure their affairs in this Island And therefore this their fresh Fleet consisted of 15. good Ships and 19. smaller Boats part to Saint Martins and the rest to the Medow-Castle and thus got in increased the English trouble Nay seven more got to the Medow Fort by Bellamounts command But Manpasius in his return from his last auspitious supply with all his fellow-helpers perished in the Sea Fresh Companies are sent to the Medow Castle with all manner of provisions and to lengthen the ditch and Trench without to raise the Towers and all forsooth for the Kings Army of 6000 foot and 300 horse to be received with all speed which shew that the French were afraid we meant not to steal away for now again Buckingham continues the siege in hope of the certain and neer approach of Holland and again began to batter and with all wisely to provide for his departure with certain Muniments and places of safe retire all which was discovered to the Enemy In the mean time upon some mischievous mistake one Refuge was preposterously raised at the very mouth of a Narrow Caus-way which denied all Entrance in the South Isle by which we would neither fight on our side nor retire on the other And when the besieged saw our Ensigns remove and our great Guns drawn off they with ingenious fear suspected some fresh stratagem or deceit And theâ—fore Toras having a strong imagination of good strength at the Medow Castle sends four Gallants Samprelle Lougalin Ravinione and Villachartres an Islander as by a sudain Eruption to break through our Camp and so to make an escape to the Medow Castle And at the instant when some issued out on our part counterfeiting an Eruption and sudain assault upon us Another part pursued as though they fought under ours and not their colours crying Kill Kill At length to make their free escape they shot but sure enough above their heads so long till they got beyond the reach of our watch for we first saw them upon the sand neer the Sea whither wee indeed did often retire to provoke the enemy to fight and so mistrusting some of their party to be our own and loth to indanger ours to hurt them we suffered them all to escape but Lougalin who by a fall from his Horse fell into our hands the rest got clear away The French King Lewis wondrous diligent in his Camp and so set out by his own Authors by over acting his part shews him ridiculous Their ignorance in Arts Military affording his Attributes of Industry improper for a General to act himself But to ballance both Enemies see their different Forces Their Fear and our Courage what mighty designs they had to drive us
a way that were departing The King himself Orders all things four thousand elected out of all the Host besides Volunteers of the first rank that in all French Warrs catch at all occasions for honour and fame to whom came all the besieged whom Samprule Numbers 11100. and all the Islanders to gain them favour of their old Masters We had not 3300 foot scarce 60. horse half starved with their Grooms so that their foot exceeded Ours by two parts and their Horse by five I reckon not by colours or Captains some not 20. Onot 12. in a Company and those sickly If in all these hardships the French had but the heart to try Mastry in open field we should never have denied there some glimpse of glory This last fresh collected Army for expedition was mustred in the Haven of the Continent the shortest cut over to the Island and committed to the Duke Shawbergh with Marilane his Lieutenant General who would needs be landed with 80 Ships at Oleron less guarded by the English on that side Nay a third Fleet is preparing under command of brave Bassompiere and Haliere with 800. of their Kings Life Guard 150 of the Country thereabout 30. of the Kings horse and 3. great Brass pieces land at the Medow Castle and their Authors Fr. Mercury pag. 114. and Isnard pag. 193. assure us there were one hundred thousand loaves of bread and other proportionable provisions so it seems they were in fear to be rid of the English Bold Buckingham begins the assault selects 500. foot and 40. horse and holding it a high point of wisdome to be quick Neer the approach the French under the Meden fort and newly landed take the Alarm The first Rank meet the Charge at a distance with some loss which drew up the rest to battall and coming close to the fight the French were put to it to fly into the Castle with such fear as Isnard who saw it he sayes and never saw the like and as our English generally reported at their return home for in the flight of the French a Reformed French man on our side pursues his Country man with kill kill Another of theirs encourages his Runawaies to stand to it with Courage Messieurs Se ne sont que de francois as if the English were terrible And in a word had totally routed them had not their Guides directed them their waies which the dark night drove us into durty quagmires Isnard saies fifty of ours fell The Mercury saies but 38. how many of theirs we may guess in the dark by their own number of their principal Commanders Monsane Persemore Baville Pensamonte and others and so with this Victory Buckingham retreats to his Camp where finding our former Trenches possessed with the French he sends Stanley to recover them with a fierce fight neer the Bulwark of Antioch and with main force beat them out again with loss on both sides As we were packing away A Party of our Horse commanded by the Lord Mountjoy took a small Troop of theirs this Person Isnard terms â—meritus Miles qui jam functus est suo munere but it may be scandal Him they endeavour to surprize with six Horse in show who were chased to the Meden Castle when we discovered their Ambuscado of many more but we retired The French came over from the Continent by Shoals it was ingenious gallantry for us to stand our ground yet we assailed them Among many Approaches this for one We fell upon a Party in a dark night not discernable each from other and so mingled that by mistake we fell into their Camp a prey to the Enemy and so invincible Necessities enforced us to depart whether Conquerors or conquered from the Isle of Rhe Soldiers and Seamen so infeebled that sickness was the Physician of our want and want our sickness and death the onely cure So that Noble Buckingham had no other cause to stay but only that which might put any other to a flight ashamed to go away He denounces the Battail and the very set time and that by an Herauld resolving to assault St. Martin Castle to enjoy their Victual in despair of slow supply from England Upon intelligence that they were weak within decayed by death and their walls on the further sâ—de not finished to their intended height The French Prisoners many Gentlemen were commanded aboard and from thence to bring some scaling Ladders and other materials for use Toras hath this by intelligence the night before commands his shot to their stations in Coats of Male and his Guns in order and signified so much to the Medow-castle who upon our three times discharge of our Cannon should march up to the English which by their discovery would be about midnight Our Ladders but 40. and too short in one place we assayled in another and in another also At Toras Fort which yet we set up two yards under which we boldly assaulted not so ambitious perhaps of victory as of honourable death climbing to the upmost round there we stuck unmoveable untill opprest by shot which felled us to the ground not with one or two shot and other wounds but till they all together became deadly and then more dropt and not till Isnard confesses That Toras himself considered our Gallantry in impossibilities so much our valour wrought upon wonder Somewhat we did too for by the force of but eight hundred we drove the besieged from their place of strength fenced with a ditch and fort and thence into their inner Compass where they lay hid in the very foot of their Castle to their great loss and hitherto only as impossible any more our fury became abated And so unwillingly not therefore because unwilling we withdraw but not till brave Buckingham was assured of the Enemies sudden supply he commanded a Retreat by sound Early the next Morn in a well composed figure their Army with the new come French marches towards our Camp At La Flotta they met a small Troop of our Horse led by the Lord Mountjoy who with leisurely order retreated before the enemy untill time brought assistance of our other Souldiers before the Tower who suddainly marshalled into order the enemy in our face they make a Holt and streight way they turn to the Medow-castle Buckingham pursues this moving Army as far as La Flotta but only with five hundred and recovering that Village supposing our selves far enough and freed from the French we passed to our Camp I say not how easie it had been for their numbers and advantages to have done much more then they did if they durst to have dared our Resolution though we dropt one hundred fourty seven dead saies Isnard and of theirs he names many Gallants and a score more but our accompt reckons them far above ours which it seems he consents unto not killed but by heat of fight fell down dead Buckingham will be gone and what the Enemy could not do
by Courtney Hawley and Bingley Part of these two Companies about two hundred a piece stood at the mouth of that Causway which bore not above five a Brest The other part was placed at the side of the Causway not far from Damier Our horse in the mean time by reason of these companies so dispersed one Troop thereof consisted of not above 30. and the other but 38. to receive the enemies first charge amongst those were some of the Reformed as it were to inclose the Companies and all this the enemy knew and what companies could not come to assistance To Schomburgh comes Marilane and requires the word yet he intended not presently to fight us but to afflict and take our last as a noble Gallant confessed for there they appear to approach the Causway not so by a strait but by oblique course The French now advance a pace and are stoutly received by us but overprest by multitude they underwent diverse fortune For one part of our Horse fell amongst whom was that gallant and unrevenged Cunningham Another part yielded amongst whom was the Lord Mountjoy and he civilly used Others by the Enemies numerous power and their own weight in a steep place were forced to fly and whiles thus hurryed through the straits of the Causway into Ditches and Salt pits we were thrown The way thus opened the French pursue and made no small slaughter upon us For with very long pikes they pierced some of us already in the dirt whose face not long before they scarce durst behold And those by our own horse to whom onely they could give place were thrust besides the top of the Causway and so pierced by the enemies spears Those Companies next the horse at Damiere with their colours flying fought a while but as the former overpowred with the number fell or fled Amongst these the Reformed by uneven and turning paths made their way to the furâ—her bridge with much danger For the Enemy spared none that they met with And in truth here was a very great Slaughter Buckingham did much by direction and example Nor did the diversity of their thoughts suite well some endeavouring to fly others forbad it they rendred themselves by turns to the enemies pleasure and endeavouring by heaps to pass the Bridge one stopping another and so forced the contrary way until mutually knitting together they were thrown into the Sea And in truth Rich and Bret and many other Noble souls defending that bloody bridge encombred and prest perished in the waters and as many as fell to the French were surely destroyed Beyond the Bridge was ammunition for which Crosby contended but by a promiscous torrent of fliers and pursuers forced away having no leasure to distinguish Friends from Foes But upon a turn of fortune the French were forced beyond the Bridge Marilane leading them whom Sir Thomas Fryar and Hacksvil with gallant Spirits fall upon and Crosby with the next stand and rallied force assist and so wrested the victory from the enemy And herein not to be partial consult with their own writers they confess it and name their gallants slain This nimble victory makes us consult to pursue the French but the paucity and fewness of our men night also come caused us to forbear and themselves say Their return so disturbed and altered the French affairs that Marilane forsaken by his runnawayes could neither by fair means nor force of Sword detain them It may be suspected so few to put to flight the French but remember heretofore the battails of Cressie Poictiers Agencourt small handfuls of ours vanquished theirs the French Naturally they must confess it spend all their fury at Assault and without fear given create fear to themselves for they chill their internal strength and run headlong into danger the cause in themselves I must confess the victory which we claim was as I may say but lamentable which yet the Law of Arms allows us No man perished of ours but who desired to dy pent up to fight not to fly we fought for French against French theirs not our own quarrel The number of ours lost are now in question We say but 500. they reckon of us 1100. and how By the old Breeches which we cast off and the miserable beseeches bought of the Islanders to make a shew and fill up their Accompt And for their purchase of our number of Colours an oversight of us not to send them away with our Guns I told you before how we were weakned not a dozen left to an ensign and for the French who buried their own accompt but two or three hundred we cannot disprove them The night as I said came on they are fled we not able to pursue We were to make good our design to depart the Isle of Rhe not to be forced to be gone Yet still we stand expecting fresh Assaults from the French which they might easily do but did not and returned We went on and Crosby had the Watch Guard that night and order at the third Watch to burn the bridge which he did without damage The next day Buckingham minding his departure sends Fryar and Bret to demand the dead bodies and Dolbier to treat about Exchange of Prisoners Schomburgh consents to the first but refers the second to his Kings pleasure and so some tiÌ„me after all were returned without ransome to either friends We make aboard but here the question the glory of the field who of our own to stay last upon the shore to avoid dispute it was ordered by lot and on ship too we weighed not anchor till eight daies dared the enemie with their numerous fresh Fleets to fight And so saies Schomburgh to the King He intends himself to declare to his Majesty the English state and stay in the Anserne Island ere they departed Buckingham aboard calls a Council and demands their opinions freely if enough had been done in honour to depart All consented in one and that truly we had done well But Buckingham offered his desire to land and force the Continent and somewhat might be conceived in safety to the Rochellers and their affairs who were concluded under such a condition no douâ—â— as rendred them in appearance as yet Neuters to our Design or at least under pressure of submission and so to secure themselves might betray us The 9. day we hoised sail and met the Earl of Holland neer our Western Coast where at Plymouth the whole Fleet came to ancher and our Duke posted to Court to the King who received him with extraordinary welcome after three Moneths stay in the Isle and some weeks and odd daies from the hour he went from England The ordinary Prisoners on both sides were upon former Treaty to be returned home And therefore it is not well recited to say That Lewis gratiously dismist them as an offertory to his Sister the Q. of England and refused the Lord Mountjoys round sum of his ransom
the States preferred to the Throne and a fair occasion was offered to signalize his Inauguration and to be the terrour of his enemy the Muscovite who having done much spoyl in Lituania besieged the Polish Town of Smolensko The War was high and either party endeavour their succour Both of them in this quarrel indifferent to Great Brittanes Interest unlesse the Scots will afford the Pole their favour for countenancing their pedling trade of Land Merchandizing from Fair to Fairs And indeed they have reception there also for such of them as have been souldiers of fortune But the English upon a double account have increased their Naval trade to the Muscovite and our Merchants thereby inriched into an Incorporate Company setled in the time of Queen Elizabeth and so that great Duke or Emperour solicits King Charles for Assistance in his intended War and siege of Smolensko where because the English and Scots both had entertainment on either side they shall not want a Remembrancer The King of Swede at his first descending into Germany fomented this quarrel willing he was to engage Poland and all our neighbour Princes and States in any War the better to prevent their assistance to the Emperour countenancing and enâ—â—uraging divers of his own Officers strangers to take pay on either side The Muscovite sends abroad his Ambassadours for aid with particular Letters to King Charles for Men and Officers who recommended Colonel Thomas Sanderson which for a compleat double Regiment of two thousand English by the North Cape the first that ever transported Military men to that Nation by sea to the Town of Arch Angel the North part and Port to the Musco and the place where all Merchants strangers keep their Staâ—le There they land the sixth of August 1632 Commissioners are appointed to receive them upon such conditions as never were more noble for Souldiers the Colonels own single pay near 200 l. sterling a Moneth And being received and Carressed at Musco the whole Army march to Smolensko a strong Town in the borders of Poland formerly taken by Sigismund from the Muscovite with a two years siege like that of Ostend in Flanders if we consider the length of the siege and the number of the slain which amounted as Authours reckon to more than twenty thousand men and now was the Muscovite resolved to bid fair for the Game with an Hoast of fifteen hundred thousand Souldiers And being come after some Skirmishes the King of Poland in person draws down his whole Army thither to besiege the Besiegers Entrenching himself which was all he could do for the present against such a powerful Army of 120 thousand and so by degrees he cuts off all provisions which put the Musco General to quicken the siege and to make several attempts upon the strong Town And at last having summoned his Councel of War And amongst them of several Nations Colonel Sanderson Colonel Alexander Lesly a Scot differing in opinions fell to quarrel which the General opposed saying These that will not fight the Enemy let them keep their own quarters But gave command to countenance Colonel Sanderson with 3000 Foot to fall upon the Polish quarters weakened by drawing off their choisest Horse and Foot to Dorogobuse to prevent their Muscovite provision of relief and the General privately took Sanderson crosse the River to get a secret view for the best advantage of the designe When suddenly an Alarm came to the General who commanded Sanderson with speed to his quarters who passing by the brow of an Hill where Lesly drew out into Order and seeing Sanderson without any guard with a dozen of Horse followed him that took no heed of any Treason but minding his enemy before his face Lesly came close behinde him and with a brace of bullets shot him by the nape of the neck into the head stark dead the second day of December 1633. Upon which Murther the English drew into a Body with resolution of revenge upon Lesly and his Scots but for the instant were both commanded into a truce with great protestation that the Murtherer should be subject to severe punishment and so submitted him to a Guard of which the enemy having knowledge takes the advantage falls upon the Muscovite and in this disorder put them to a great losse and kills six thousand enforcing them to a Parly and to these base unheard-of conditions That an Army of an hundred and twenty thousand should cast their Arms and Colours at the feet of this King a Monster of Victory He pardons them all the strangers near fourteen thousand are never to bear Arms against the Crown of Poland and all Arms and Ammunition submitted to the Conquerour And not long after the general peace was ratified between them That the King of Poland should relinquish his Title and pretensions upon the great Duchy of Musco and the grand Duke his upon Smolensko and other such places formerly depending on the Muscovite These dishonourable conditions fell heavily upon the General who was at his return home soon-beheaded His Son the Lievetenant General whipt to death about the streets and his family banished for ever into the Countrey of Ibera there to catch Sables for the Emperours profit a customary punishment of such as have relation and dependance upon Traitours Nay the King of Swede had called in the Turk who to besiege Poland was entred into the Countrey but the King had timely gotten this Victory to put fire in the Turks tails beating them out again and forcing them also to beg a peace upon most honourable terms for the King at that same time when the third part of Constantinople was burnt to the ground with incredible losse a Prodigie threatning the Turk with that misfortune which afterward befel him The Murtherer Lesly after some time of imprisonment with great summes of money wrought his release there and to be sent Prisoner to the justice of King Charles whose subject he was Here he was cast into prison and suffered under the trial onely of the High Court of Honour where being arraigned he produced the Kings pardon who was pleased thus to excuse and that truly That being the Murther was committed in a foreign Nation the Laws of England could not reach to punish with death which said the King having passed a formal Tryal may give caution to his Subjects not to execute the like The pardon being onely to shadow from publick knowledge the weakness of our Laws against such foreign Offenders But the Hand of Heaven prosecuted this Murther for He wandring in foreign Wars came over hither again with some command in the Queens forces which She brought over from Holland for assistance of the King in the late Civil War where upon his first service he was 〈◊〉 and maimed in his Murtherous hand Then he returns into Muscovia where but for suspicion of Treachery he was imprisoned in a Tower and from the top was flung 〈◊〉 sharp stakes and lingred out a reasonable time of
long here retarded his service of Lieutenant of Ireland commissioned the Earl of Ormond Lieutenant General of the Forces there and presently after he received a confirmation of that charge from the King in Scotland together with the sum of twenty thousand pounds in Spanish pieces of Eight which passed there in Ireland for four pence more in each piece which the Merchants had for assuring the Money thither and all landed safe when upon the one and twentieth of November News came that the Rebells were in March and in sight of Tredagh which expected a present Siege to whom some small Relief was sent Novemb. 17. The Mill Mount in the Town of Tredagh the most defensive for the Guard of Meath side was fortified with four Guns The whole County of Louth scarce a Gentleman that was not a Papist excepted were drawn into this Conspiracy so that they were beset on that side of the Town Northward with five thousand or as their own List reported eight thousand The Infection spread over the Town One Stanley a Parliament Burgess there and created a Captain and many others nay the Sheriff of the County revolted Knight of the Shire also from us to Rebellion He with Stanley were used Commissioners from them to the Town upon pretended Treaties but to espy upon our Actions who were received not amiss as to protract time They pretended to Accommodation in respect of their Estates in the Town professing extraordinary affection to the Lord Moor advising him to retreat to his house Mellifont or any of their Castles where his Father lived secure during Tyrone's Rebellion and proffered him to be their General of all Meath and Louth and satisfaction forthwith to him and his Tenants for any Detriments this they did to draw from the Protestants such a noble and right faithfull Commander And so much cunning the Conspiratours used every where at the first that the State had sent aid into several Counties even unto such as proved Enemies which were understood by the Lord Moor and prevented in their way above more than a thousand Arms. The Lord Gormonston by petition procured five hundred Arms to his own house for securing of Meath which the Enemy waited to surprize but was discovered and the Arms brought to Tredagh by the Lord Mainman with a Fortnights pay for the Regiments which served them for twenty Weeks after The Parliament now drawing on the Lord Moor came to Dublin making most noble offers to raise six hundred men more Clothes and Pay till Supplies from England conditional that the four Companies in Tredagh not yet affixed to any Regiment might be added to his command there to make up a thousand by which Dundalk Aberdy and the whole County of Louth might have been secured but this not accepted yet the very offer being publick the Rebells thereat enraged took opportunity likewise of his absence and plundered his Estate to the purpose He was the onely Protestant Lord of the Pale except the Earl of Kildare and the Lord Hoath It was of a Sunday November 21. in the Morning that Mellifont three Miles off was beset and therefore two hundred Foot and a Troop of Horse was commanded out of Tredagh to aid the Forces there already when the Enemy marches down Tallihascot Hill with a thousand which gave a stop and the Men designed were staid in expectation of the Enemy to fall upon the Town which proved but to divert whilest fifteen hundred from several parts were drawing towards Mellifont The Forces there were but four and twenty Muskets and fifteen Horse some Servants and two Scouts abroad one of them cut off the other pursued to the Gates with a Note in writing from Mac Mahon directed to the Warders of the House to surrender upon Quarter and withall a Bullet for a Token The Quarter-master of the Troop boldly bid his Master do his worst they would never yield to Traitours The Enemy was lodged on the top of the hill their foot by marching over the Garden sides in multitudes whom those few from the house forced to retreat four or five times and ere long killed 140. and might have been made up to many hundreds had they not wanted powder having but six shot a peece cutting their bullets in halfes and to make even with their powder rammed in five or six together and did great execution Not a Man lost till all their powder was spent At their entrance the Serjeant did his best with his Halbert thrust some through others their braines broken out These at last yielded upon quarter whom yet they threw out of the window the horse unable to hold out opened the Gates made a desperate charge through the thickest and came safe to Drogheda The Enemy slew in all thirteen And one the next day being alive with fourty wounds they hacked him to death with their skeens An old Gentleman of eighty years they seized to shew them the house who brought them into the wine cellar and having well drunken they run him through and so to another blind Man they cut his throat so inraged they killed the dogs plundered and defaced the house to the loss of 2000. l. stripped the women and so departed so did another ruder rabble of the Tenants devastating all in one night And yet after all this the Lord Moor authorized by Parliament to treat with them they proffered to him all assurances of satisfaction on his part if he would turn to their side offered a Cessation till a Messenger might be â—ent to the King but all their pretences were feigned talking of the Kings prerogative That the Lord Deputy might be of their own Nation of their own pressures to have freedom of Religion which they alwaies confidently avouched confessing that their Priests and Fryars instigated them to this Rebellion as indeed was too true There was a rumour that O relies having taken Kebs Abracen and the Navan advanced from the County of Cavan towards Tredagh whereupon the State sent supplies thither but miscarried The two and twentieth of November 600. foot and 50. horse seâ— out of Dublin towards Tredagh marching but six miles that night to Swores and had advice to hasten thither the next day accordingly the Governour issued out with a sufficient force of foot and horse to meet them but in a Mutiny the other souldiers would go no further than Balradbury six miles more the next day somewhat on this side the bridge of Gillingstone in a great stubble field they were met with 2000. of the Enemy and in a fog were within Musket shot ere diâ—cried The Captain drew up the Rebels making a stand did so also And although his men seemed forward to fight yet commanded a Counter march in which compelled to take a ditch the Enemy misjudging it a flight began to shout which so afrighted them into confusion that they were charged and the most slain Two Captaines killed and the other three in all with one ensign escaped the 50.
horse of the Lord Ormonds Troop made their way through without loss of a man A great loss to us and a greater gain to the Rebells of Ammunition and monies and now it appeared plain who were the Enemies in the Pale heretofore Neuters The Governour of Drogheda upon our Scouts intelligence issued out with 600. foot and two Troopes of horse but came too late and now it became certain that whilst the Commissioners were in the Treaty at the Town they themselves were of this Plot. Not long after the Enemy took another advantage The Master of a Chester Bark corrupted by some Popish Merchants abroad he run her on ground at the Skerms in faire weather riâ—â—ing the English Passengers of store of money and fraughted with powder and Ammunition designed for Dublin At the which Landing of the English the Lord Netherfield as in favour to them sent them to Dublin assuring them that he would take Tredagh the next morning which was believed at Dublin before the Account and evermore in these surprisals the Enemy would boast of the special hand of Gods providence in their successes and likelyhood to deliver the Kingdom unto Catholiques The Lords and Gentlemen of the Pale being secretly the first contrivers of the Rebellion and had now drawn the Rebells down from the North into the Pale and that presently after the defeat of the English at Gelianston bridge the Lord Germanston a secret conspiratour summons the County at Dulick and after to the Hill of Crofty to the number of 1000. persons to whom came divers of the chief Leaders of the Northern Rebells where they are associated to live and die in their quarrel And a week after the like summons was to all the Lords and Gentry of the County of Meath to meet at the Hill of Taragh where multitudes assembled And now by reason the Northern Rebells had setled their Camp within the River of Boyne besieging Tredagh between that and the City of Dublin and all entercourse of the Pale interrupted the passages stopt so that the State were ignorant of what passed there They therefore called a grand Council of the Lords within distance of Dublin and so Letters were posted to them in effect That the State had present occasion to confer with them concerning the present estate of the Kingdom and the safety thereof And pray and require to his Lordship to be at Dublin the eight day of this Moneth at which time others of the Peers will be here From his Majesties Castle of Dublin the third of December 1641. To our very good Lord Georg Earl of Kildare Your very loving friends William Parsons John Buclaâ—r c. And the same day to other several persons who near about that time had made the publick Combination with the Ulster Rebells And there they frame their General answer thus in effect May it please your Lordship We have heretofore presented our selves and freely offered our advice and furtherance which was by you neglected c. Having received advertisement that Sir Charls Coot had uttered at the Council-board some speeches tending to execute upon these of our Religion a general Massacre by which wee are deterred to wait on your Lordships not having security for the safety of our lives but rather to stand upon our Guard till we shall be secured from perills Nevertheless we all protest to continue faithfull advisers and furtherers of his Majesties service concerning the present state of this Kingdome and the safety thereof Your Lordships humble servants Fingale Germaston Slame Dunsany Netervile Oliver Lowth Trimbleston Dec. 7. 1641. To this Letter the State gives answer by Proclamation with all satisfaction to the Lords to remove all misunderstandings and clear Sir Charls Coot from any such pretended speeches or any intention thereto and pray the Lords to attend the Board on the seventeenth day after But not prevailing Netervile and others of the Pale gather forces and quarter at Swores within six miles of Dublin and there encamped To whom the State send theiâ— warrant Immediately upon sight hereof to disband and separate and that Netervile and six other principal persons amongst them do appear to morrow morning at ten a Clock before the Council upon their utmost perills  Ormond Ossery c. Dec. 9. 1641. To which they answer That for the safety of their lives they were constrained to meet and resolve so to continue till they might be assured of their lives Hereupon by publique Proclamation the Earl of Ormond Lieutenant General of the Army hath warrant to suppress them and to bring up such shipping and vessels to the new Crane at Dublin and to destroy the rest the fourteenth of December The Rebels now declare Germanston general of their forces in the Pale Hugh Birne Lieutenant General and the Earl of Fingale General of their Horse and several Commissions to raise forces and in a very seemly order and proportion frame an Army with all manner of provisions accordingly The sad condition of Ireland was very often recommended to the King and Parliament of England with a proposition 10000. Scots to be sent over from Scotland with Letters met the King at his return from thence to London And Commissioners out of Scotland arrived at London to treat with the Parliament therein they make offer of 10000. men provided to receive forth an advance of 30000. l. of brotherly assistance to be afforded them by the Kingdom of England to have shipping for their transport and upon Landing in Ireland to have 100 horse joyn with each 1000 foot but to receive order and to obey their Scotish General which was condescended unto and great hopes of the effeâ—ts specially that the Parliament was so very often urged thereto by his Majesties several speeches as that of the fourteenth of December 1641. More he could not say or offer to do in person therein But ah alas all was delaied and nothing performed for the Parliament was more busied to quarrel their priviledges with the King and the house of Commons utterly refused to send any English Forces which the Lords proposed to be 1000. Foot so that Dublin began to be nearly distressed All the provinces of Munster likewise in rebellion The State therefore again send over Letters into England That the Rebells were formidable 20000 in a Body besides several other Brigadoes in divers Counties and complain that of the 20000. l. lately sent to them they received but 16000. But in fine the last of December arrives Sir Simon Harcourt with his Regiment out of England Tredagh was now beset on all sides by Sea and Land all ways of entercourse to Dublin stopped divers designs were devised for conveyance of intelligence thither And now upon this grand confedaracy of Meath and Lowth they style themselves the Catholique Army The Town increased their Fortifications Breast works before each Gate Platforms in convenient places where the walls were defective centinels put to their stands Ordnances mounted abundance
of morning-stars so called terrible weapons on the walls A world of Crescets for lights to the Town An iron chain cross the River warning to all Neighbours to draw in their Corn and Hay which was prevented the Enemy at midnight firing the worth of 1000. l. yet some grain was with much hazzard brought in and fired all our out houses from sheltring the Enemy At the beginning of December the first fruits of Skirmish at St. Lawrence Gate and west Gate The Town â—allied out 350. foot and two Troops of Horse for securing some carriages sent out for Corn from the Green Hills within half a mile the Enemy having intelligence from within and met in the middle way in a mighty Fog standing in Batalia and numbred to be 3000. At their shout the English Officers advised to retreat and no sooner said but the horse in the Rear ran back to the Gates discouraging any supply to speed for their succour yet the Governour Titchburn in this confusion the more resolute alighted and led the Foot forwards to the Succour advanced the Shot to the Hill and placed the Pikes in the narrow passage of the Lane to open for the Horse and so soon made ready The Rebells by this time had charged twice without doing hurt but the Aid being come up they charged them so full and effectual that without standing to the shock they fell back and fled chased a Mile and more in sight of the Town Walls with loss of two hundred and not one of the English hurt Amongst the Dead were one priest and three Captains one of them near a Kin to the Earl of Tyrone with pillage of some money Cloaths and Arms very useful to the Assailants Such of them Prisoners were often ransomed and if returned were well fed by their Town-sisters and so fully supplied as if they had been Martyrs Those of ours from them had been crouded in Dungeons fed with Garbage and Offals Dogs meat without Salt or Fire with Cabbage-stalks or a Sheaf of Beans and being returned almost starved seldom recovered Such of the Town Souldiers that were Papists were so poysoned by the Priests that they stole over the Walls at Mid-night by Dozens But after their usual manner with affording us false Allarms The Enemy sent an extraordinary Embassage by a Frier one Father Darcy lately a Prior of the Dominicans in that Town his Companion was a Captain of his own name beating a parley was admitted to the Captain of the Port who received his Commission in effect That the General and Captains of the Catholick Army had sent Father Darcy with others to treat with the Governour und Captains of the Town of Drogheda to whom they were to give credit as in their Names desiring safe Conduct and Return under the Governours hand before they would enter But ere it could be considered the Frier upon the bare word of an Officer presents himself By which he was told the safety of his life yet being imputed to his inconsiderate Act not skilled in arms he had Audience And his Arrand no less than the absolute surrender of the Town for his Majesties use and service assuring them beside of such Projects and Forces by Land and Sea as would confirm it impossible to be relieved The Governour and Council told him of their Commission from the King of such a Date to defend it against them but if theirs were of a later Date from his Majesty or the Lords Justices they would submit In the mean time they were better able to keep the Town than the Countrey was to keep them No such distress within to admit of so mean a thought were it by Sword or Famine to endure the most extremity And so having this â—nswer to his Arrand he took leave giving to the Governour a Copy of the Oath lately taken by the Lords of the Pale and by the rest of the Catholicks I A. B. in the presence of Almighty God and all the Angels and Saints in Heaven promise vow swear and protest to maintain and defend as far as I may with my life power and estate the publick and free exercise of the true Catholick Roman Religion against all persons that shall oppose the same I further swear that I will bear faith and true Allegeance to our Sovereign Lord King Charls his Heirs and Successors and that I will defend him and them as far as I may with my life power and estate against all such persons as shall attempt any thing against their royal Persons Honours Estates and Dignities and against all such as shall directly or indirectly endeavour to suppress their Royal Prerogatives or do any Act or Acts contrary to royal Government as also the power and Priviledges of Parliament the lawfull Right and Priviledges of the Subject and every person that makes that Vow Oath and Protestation in whatsoever he shall do in the lawfull pursuance of the same And to my power as far as I may I will oppose and by all ways and means endeavour to bring to condign punishment even to the loss of life liberty and estate all such as shall either by force or practice Counsels Plots Conspiracies or otherwise do or attempt any thing to the contrary of any Article Clause or any thing in this present Vow Oath and Protestation contained So help me God Upon this the Governour and Council thought fit to draw up a Protestation and Oath as followeth The Protestation Whereas we are beset with such who pretend their Attempts in taking of this Town to be for the advancement of his Majesties service which notwithstanding is but a pretext to delude the vulgar we the Governour and Captains for the further manifestation and approbation of our loyalty and faithfulness to his Majesty by whose immediate command we are charged for the defence of his royal Title in it doth likewise hereby unanimously make this following Protestation and Oath The Oath To defend this Town against all outward and inward attempts whatsoever for his Majesties service And discover any Plot Conspiracie or Combination which may or shall come to my knowledge from without or within which may be any way intended to the prejudice of the whole Town or Governours and Council Nor consent that the Town shall be givâ—n up upon any pretence or cause whatsoever without the consent of the Governour and Officers or without the special command from his Majesty or chief Governour or Governours of this Kingdom But Master Mayor and Aldermen after time allowed for consideration utterly refused this Oath pretending that thereby they might hazzard the favour of a fair Quarter and two chief Officers papistical yet having taken the Oath and afterwards stealing over the Wall the one brake his Back the other his Neck and sundry others none escaped without Maims The Siege growing hot yet thâ— weather cold about the end of December friezing the River Boyn in one night a boy was taken very early upon the
Ice and confessed that four Aldermens Wives sent him over to the Rebells with assurance that they might come over the Ice that night and for which service they had given him money and promised him more and confessed that the Rebells Answer was that they expected Intelligence from the men whose judgments would more prevail and fearing some Plot of the Governour they desired a better Token and Assurance On New-years day very early four of the Town-companies with a Troop of Horse resolved to visit some Quarters Northward but the Gates so frozen hindered the opening onely Captain Martin with his Company getting over the Wall killed fifteen and a Centinel and returned had the other got out they might have made them up as many hundreds so secure were the Enemy and ever flying any Aâ—sault left that Village and another to the fury of fire A Week after three hundred Foot and eighty Horse passed out at Saint Iohn's Port killed an hundred and forced an hundred into the River and drowned them amongst them one Art Ro Mac Moghon a great Commander they took fifty Arms Cows and other Booty burnt their Lodgings and pursued the Run-aways two Miles and not a Man of the English lost and so retreated And now the Town-victual was scarce confined to Herrings and Water without any Bread at all some Corn found stored up in Stacks was threshed and ground but by Querns not able to serve so many thousands Souldiers and Inhabitants the milch Cows killed and divided Coals grew scarce all firing of Wood whatsoever was spent all Provision for Horse failed which made them droop and unfit for service Sickness and Death raged every where Famine increased It was the eleventh of Ianuary that Relief came in a Pinnace a Frigot a Gabbard with two Shallops and another small Vessel all laden with Bisket and Munition of both extremely wanting But the wonderfull showres of the Enemies shot from each side the River and the Town Ordnance playing upon whole Companies which did execution on them but none of the English hurt yet the Enemy had sunk a Bark in the Channel to prevent Relief which was carried into the Sea with the Frost and chained the Channel which succeeded not coming in one Tide up the River to the Key without casting Anchor seldom seen before And in midst of the Towns jollity for this seasonable Blessing the Enemy took opportunity to make Invasion upon them This nights mirth made the Souldiers drunk Watches and all invited by the false Brethren Aldermen to strong Ale freely the Friers drawing in the Centinels from their Guards to be merry and securely asleep the Enemy at the early morning made a Breach in the Wall and were entered five hundred of the chief Commanders an hour and more undescried by the help of a dark night their Watch-word was Klan Patrick Saint Patrick's Childe and their own shout being come to the Key was the first Allarm rather by them intended to rouse their secret Friends being almost assured of their Design The Governour instantly ran out unarmed save with a Pistol in his hand caused a Drum to beat came to the Main Guard his own Company which his Ensign drew down to the Bridg and so met the Enemy whose Pikes being shorter by a yard charged them home to a Retreat after they had overturned a Drake The Governour having gotten more strength came to the God-speed and in the dark meets the Enemy which he took to be his own and by his tongue was known so that a Rebell le ts fly at him and hurt a Souldier beside him all give fire so effectual that the Enemy ran back the Lord Moor was this instant come in with but fifteen Horse which served the turn to chase them up the Hill others were lost in by-lanes and streets but by the light were soon discovered and paid dear for sculking and two hundred slain many of them principal Officers for it was their work of Gallantry and promised succesfull It may be imagined what mistakes happened in the dark of each other for but by their flight it was not discerned where the Breach opened for thâ—ir entrance an obscure place in an Orchard directed thither no doubt by intelligence from the Town-traitours without the Town were thousands expecting the opening of some Port which had been promised which being apprehended and to catch them in â—oils the Town set up a Bag-piper of theirs upon one of the Gates who merrily made them make more haste as if all were wone and upon other Gates they waved their Bonnets as signs of mirth It was some sport to see companies of straglers leaping Ditches for the nearer way and out of breath to get in with the first were buried and taken by Dozens and brought in a Rope till the Prisons were glutted Nor would they be enlightened with the truth till a Gun or two from the Mill Mount swept away thirty of them about the Walls Winde and Weather inviting our Pinnace prepared for her Voyage to fetch more Provision many a shot she scaped but a Fisher-boat in the rear steered on ground and was taken with thirty pounds of Pouder two Slings and one Harquebush and fourteen Prisoners who were exchanged The Pinnace also at an Ebb lay dry and was approached by an hundred men under shelter of Cart-loads of Furze ran under her very Stern with Pick-axes and Iron Crows began to bulge her but were beaten off by Captain Stutfield with Hand-granadoes killing many besides the execution of Musket and Cannon in their flight to the number of threescore the Pâ—nnace by lightning her Ballast and a change of Winde got off safe into the Pool and so the third day bid farewell In this time some hurt was done to the Lord Moor's Lands firing his Tenements Many Drum Parlies followed with Letters some so transcendent beyond all sense others vaporous and vanished into non-sense Two nights after there marched out fourty Musketiers under conduct of Lieutenant Greenham and twenty Horse commanded by Cornet Constable to fetch in some Stacks of Corn discovered by the Scouts these unexpectedly meet with five hundred in a Body newly come from the North and charge within half Musket-shot fought well at the first but shortly shogged and were routed threescore with a Lieutenant and an Ensign were killed nine Prisoners and one Ensign several Serjeants and two Colours marching home with this Triumph One of the Prisoners of quality was begirt with Saint Francis's Girdle as a Benediction for his Soul not for his Body for it scaped not the Bullet through the devoted Knots which was dyed from Grey to Bloud-red The next days Sally had better success firing three Villages took some Prisoners the English feasting themâ—elves with such countrey fare which their laden Backs could not bring home and new-cloathed with such Apparel as heretofore had been taken from their Fellows at Mellifont February the fourteenth a fresh Encounter by Sally invited the
Provisions also from Sea and good success in all the Sallies made the Besiegers finde themselves besieged The Lord Moor would needs visit his own Rebell Tenants at Tallaghhallon protected by Callo Mac Brian he had but four hundred Foot and eighty Horse the Enemy were three for one whom Colonel Byron with the Foot attached but after the reply of the Rebells to three or four Ranks they fled four hundred men with seven Captains were slain Moyle Mac Moghan his Head valued in the Proclamation beyond his merit was taken Prisoner stripping himself naked was taken among the Dead sculking perswading himself that his Life should secure the Lady Blany and her Children not one of the English slain And the next day the Governour marched firing and pillaging round about the Enemy not appearing For the Rebell Generalissimo O Neal with all his Commanders were privately risen and gone leaving the Countrey to mercy and many of his secret Conspiratours in Tredagh to answer for all The Enemy now fled towards Dundalk and this Town now set open Gates and Ports for all the Countrey to come in with abundance of Provision to the refreshed Souldiers the 20. of March ending this year 1641. with News of their new Markets Eggs fifteen a Penny Hens two Pence a piece a milch Cow five Shillings twelve pence a good Horse Wheat the finest of eight Shillings a Barrel As the Enemy marched and fled they cut throats of all English Men Women and Children at Aberdee and Slane The Earl of Ormond Lieutenant General was marching to finde out an Enemy with three thousand Foot and five hundred Horse burning the County of Meath and so visited Drogheda which was now able to bid his Army welcome Here a Council of War was called the Lord Moor the Governour Sir Tichburn Sir Thomas Lucas Sir Simon Harcourt Sir Robert Ferrald with other Colonels and Captains resolved to pursue the Rebells but the Lord Ormond was called back by the Lords Justices to Dublin vvhich gave heart to the Rebells to gather again at Aberdee and Dundalk vvhither thousands resorted from all parts of Meath and Louth To unkennel them the Lord Moor marches out vvith a thousand Foot and tvvo hundred Horse tovvards Aberdee about a Mile from thence the Enemy appears in tvvo Divisions of tvvelve hundred a piece betvveen vvhom and the Tovvn a party of Horse gets and another party besides them and a Bog a Forlorn of an hundred scoured some Ditches stumbled on an Ambuscado beat them out and fell upon their Body vvho fled and four hundred slain but if my Intelligence and Authours tell truth here as in many the like Defeats not a man of the English slain sometimes for hundreds of the Rebells and here as it is recorded not one man lost onely an Horse-man shot in the Heel and an Horse in the Hoof. It may be supposed that the Protestants are partial to themselves but in assurance to the contrary take this for truth the Rebells naturally traiterous to their Sovereigns treacherous to each other their falsity brings them to covvardice and fear makes them cruel vvhere they prevail But on they go the English burning all about and marched tovvards Dundalk the Receptacle of Magazine and place of Protection for the County Provisions vvhich vvas assaulted the next Day fortified vvith double Walls double Ditches Marshes on the one side and the Sea on the other The next morning all the poor Protestant Prisoners vvere clapped up close vvith an intent to have hanged them all if the Tovvn came to hazzard The English approached about nine of the clock in the Morning their Ordnance planted upon a small Hill not far from the Gate vvhich vvere manned vvith five hundred men the Protestants Forlorn Hope of an hundred gave fire to the Gate vvere beaten avvay but came again a Division of three hundred commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Waiman began to pick-ax the Wall vvho fired the Defendants and entered the Breach the Horse follovving upon the Spur but made a Stand against three Brass Pieces maintained by five hundred men and therefore the Assailants retired but out of a small Castle they slevv ten of the English and three Officers and an Horse-man and here also was Ensign Fortescue eldest Son to Sir Faithfull Fortescue slain a hopefull Gentleman and the first of that Rank lost in any Fight But it was no time to delay having won the out-Town then fired all the houses about that Castle carrying the smoak and fire to the very Tower and Castle and so undescried got under the Walls to the very Gate blew it open and those within choaked and fired leaped out at the Windows A Serjeant with five men by promise of Pillage enter and were Masters of the Castle and thirty good Musketiers manned the Streets drew up Ordnance against the inner Gate and with ten Wool-packs ready in the Castle with which making a kinde Defence the Enemy fled leaving their Guns loaden Their Generalissimo O Neal now in the Town stole away with others over the River Tichburn enters killing all before him and sends to the Lord Moor that the Town was deserted who entered another way and were Masters of all by seven a clock at night above an hundred slain and of the Assailants but fourteen But by this O Neal had fled to Bally Muscomilen a Castle of the Lord Moor's and in revenge burnt it This Victory was the Break-neck of the Rebellion Northwards And the Lord Moor had Commission from the Lords Justices to be Governour thereof In this time Captain Gibson commanding the Garrison at Bewby harrased the Countrey killed many Straglers so that the whole Countrey lay at the Protestants mercy And thus far we have proceeded in the intire story of the Irish Rebellion for this year But we must look back to England and see what they did here from the Kings return out of Scotland the latter end of November 1641. The King returns from Scotland magnificently feasted by the City of London and he at Hampton Court caresses them with a Banquet and dubbed divers Aldermen into the honour of Knighthood but how well they deserved forthwith we shall finde their merit The King convenes both Houses and the second of December tells them in effect That although he had staid longer than he expected four Moneths yet he kept his word in making so much haste back again as his Scotish affairs could any way permit In which he hath had so good success that he hath left that Nation a most peaceable and contented People but he is assured that his expectation is much deceived in the condition wherein he hoped to have business at his return for since that before his going he had settled the Liberties of his Subjects and gave the Laws their liberty he expected to have his People reaping the fruit by quietness But he findes them distracted with Iealousies and Allarms of Designs and Plots That Guards have been set to defend both Houses He
from the west Indies the onely facile way to prevail against the Spainard to an expenceful successless attempt upon Cales 4. The precipitate breach with France taking their goods and ships without recompense to the English whose goods were confiscate in that Kingdom 5. The peace with Spain without consent of Parliament the deserting the Palsgraves cause mannaged by his Enemies 6. The charging of this Kingdom with billeted Souldiers with the Design of German Horse to enslave this Nation to Arbitrary Contributions 7. The dissolving of the Parliament 2 Caroli and the exacting of the proportion of five Subsidies after the Parliament was dissolved by Commission of Loan and such as refused imprisoned some to Death great Sums of Money required by Privy Seals Excise the Petition of Right blasted 8. The Parliament dissolved 4 Caroli imprisoning some Members fining them and others Sir Francis Barington died in Prison whose bloud still cries for vengeance of those Ministers of State The publishing of false and scandalous Declarations against the Parliament And afterwards Injustice Oppression and Violence broke in The enlargements of Forests contrary to Charta de Foresta Coat and Conduct Money c. And then the Remonstrance ravels into all the particular pretended Designs corrupt Councils and the effects of what ever happened or usually doth happen in any Nation of Government even to Clerks of the Market and Commissions of Sewers Brass Farthings Projects Monopolies c. Then upon all the mis-actions of Courts of Iudicature Council-Table and all And principally against Bishops and their Proceeding by all their subordinate Officers their Writings Preachings Opinions in conjunction with Papists and Prote stants in Doctrine Discipline and Ceremony And endeavouring to reduce Scotland thereto and an Army was raised against them by Contribution of Clergy and Papists the Scots enforced to raise an Army for their Defence but concluded in Pacification and throughout excusing the Scots palliating all their Insurrections as necessitated to defend themselves against malignant Councils and Counsellours calling them Scots Rebells and the English War Bellum Episcopale Then to make a progress into Reformation the Remonstrance tells us what they have done by their care wisdoms and circumspection removed some Malignants suppressed Monopolies and all the aforesaid Disorders in an instant taking away High Commission and Star-Chamber Courts c. Procuring Bills of Triennial Parliament and continuance of this which two Laws they say are more advantageous than all the other Statutes enforce And in a word what ere the King hath done amiss they are not sparing to publish it what gracious favours he hath afforded by several Bills the Parliament ascribe to their own wisdoms and promise to the King and whole Kingdom more honour and happiness than ever was enjoyed by any his Predecessours And this the Parliament instantly printed and published contrary to the Kings desire though his Answer was speedy to the Petition and Remonstrance thus in effect That having received a long Petition consisting of many Desires of great moment together with a Declaration of a very unusual nature being confident that their own reason and regard to him as well as his express Intimation by his Controller to that purpose would have restrained them from publishing of it untill his convenient time of answer and tells them how sensible he is of this their disrespect To the Preamble of the Petition he professes he understands not of a wicked and malignant party admitted to his Council and Imployment of Trust of endeavouring to sow amongst the People false Scandals to blemish and disgrace the Parliament c. All or any of which did he know of he would be as ready to punish as they are to complain To their Petition the first part concerning Religion and consisting of several Branches as for that of Popish Designs he hath and will concur with all the just Desires of his People in a Parliamentary way To the depriving of the Bishops of their Votes in Parliament their Right is grounded upon the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom and Constitutions of Parliament For the abridging of the inordinate power of the Clergy The taking away of the High Commission Court moderates that and if there continue Usurpations in their Iurisdictions he neither hath nor will protect them And as to the clause of Corruptions in Religion Church-government and Discipline c. That for any Innovations he will willingly concur for the removal if any be by a National Synod but he is sorry to hear of such terms Corruptions since he is perswaded that no Church can be found upon Earth professing the true Religion with more purity of Doctrine than the Church of England doth which by the grace of God he will maintain not onely against all Invasions of Popery but also from the Irreverence of those many Schismaticks and Seperatists wherewith of late this Kingdom and this City abounds To the second prayer of the Petition concerning the Removal and choice of Counsellours that by these which he hath exposed to Trial there is none so near to him in place and affection whom he will not leave to the Law and to their particular charge and sufficient proof That for their choice of his Counsellours and Ministers of State that were to debar him the natural liberty which all Free-men have being besides the undoubted Right of his Crown to call to his Council whom he pleaseth being carefull to elect persons of ability and integrity To the third prayer concerning Ireland Not to alienate the Forfeited Lands thereof he concurs with them but then whether it be now seasonable to resolve before the Event of War be seen that he much doubts of but thanks them for their chearfull Ingagement for their suppression of that Rebellion upon which so many hazzards do depend And for their Conclusion and promise to apply themselves for support of his royal Estate c. he doubts not thereof from their Loyalties to which he will add his assistance The Kings Declaration to all his loving Subjects Although he doth not believe that the House of Commons intended by their Remonstrance to put him to any Apology for his past or present Actions yet since they have thought it so very necessary to publish the same he thinks it not below his Kingly Dignity to compose and settle the affections of his meanest Subjects He shall in few words pass over the narrative part wherein the Misfortunes of this Kingdom from the first entring to the Crown to the beginning of this Parliament are remembred in so sensible expressions And that other which acknowledgeth those many good Laws passed this Parliament To which he saith that as he hath not refused any Bill for redress of Grievances mentioned in their Remonstrance so he hath not had a greater Motive thereto than his own Resolution to free his Subjects for the future And possibly they may confess that they have enjoyed a greater measure of happiness these last sixteen years both in peace
with Mr. Hotham who was in ill case to continue but must be forced to retreat to Hull The Forces of the West in Cornwall for the King began to form into a Body near Pendennis Castle the Governour thereof Sir Nicholas Slaning a gallant Gentleman and assisted 〈…〉 others Sir Bevil Greenvile who possessed themselveâ—â—â—aunston the County Town of Cornwall but not long after Sir Ralph Hopton appears in chief command over the Cavaliers The Parliament had Plymouth the neighbour Port Town of Devonshire bordering Cornwall in the South and Sir George Chudly a Stickler for them for a time onely The Kings party increased in Mid-Wales and descending Southwards as he marches the Welch come to him from all parts of Hereford Monmouth mightily increasing by the power and industry of the Earl of Worcester their Brigades reaching to Oxford and round about where Prince Rupert commanded who took Powder and Match marching through Staffordshire to reprieve Manchester The Parliament party lay about Warwick Coventrie Worcester Buckingham and their Brigades round about even to Glocester Some Arms for the King are landed at Newcastle and ten thousand pounds in Money to raise Dragoons in Northumberland and to fall into Yorkshire which appeared for the King The King on his march from Wales descended Southward and now being near Stafford the Parliament order That the Citie of London be strongly guarded and Posts Bars and Chains be erected and set up in places and by-lanes of the Parishes of St. Margarets Westminster St. Martins in the Fields St. Clements Savoy Holborn St. Giles Covent-garden St. Johns Street â—lerkenwell Criplegate Shoreditch White-chapel Islington Mile-end Southwark Lambeth or any other places necessary at the charge of the Parish by equal Assesment Octob. 22. And the Parliament declare a solemn Protestation to all the world In the presence of Almightie God for the satisfaction of their Consciences and the Discharge of that great Trust which lies upon them That no private passion or respect no evil intention to his Majesties person no Design to the prejudice of his just Honour and Authoritie engaged them to raise Forces and take up Arms against the Authours of this War whereof the Kingdom is now inflamed And after they have by clearing themselves lodged the occasion upon the Contrivers Papists about the King for extirpation of the Protestant Religion wherein principally this Kingdom and Scotland are concerned as making the greatest Body of Reformation in Christendom they conclude For all which Reasons they are resolved to enter into a solemn Oath and Covenant with God to give up themselves lives and fortunes into his hands and defend this his cause with the hazzard of our lives against the Kings Armie according to a form agreed upon and to be subscribed and to associate and unite with all the well-affected of the Citie of London and other parts of his Majesties Dominions 〈…〉 expect their dear Brethren of Scotland that they will help and 〈◊〉 defence of this Cause which if the Popish partie prevail must needs involve Scotland in the like alteration of Religion and engage them also in a War against this Kingdom to defend their own Religion And this they do again they say protest before the everliving God to be the chief end of all their counsels and resolutions without any intention to injure his Majestie either in his person or just power Octob. 22. And the Battail of Edg-hill the next morning being Sunday After the Kings party had beat the Enemy at Worcester Fight the three and twentieth of September he joyns all his Brigades near hand and marches to meet General Essex hovering thereabout to watch the Kings Designs who lodged on Saturday night October 22. at Sir William Chancies six miles near Keinton and Essex at Keinton And early the next morning being Sunday the three and twentieth drew up into a Body near Keinton and ascending the top of Edg-hill with his Prospective Glass took view of Essex his Army in the Vale of the Red Horse about a Mile distant but before the King could draw into order he was saluted with three Pieces of Cannon from the other side with three Shouts of their Souldiers And being asked by his Officers what his Majesty meant to do To give him Battel said the King it is the first time I ever saw the Rebells in a Bodie God and good mens prayers to him assist the justice of my cause And instantly ordered the Fight by the return of two Shot of Cannon in answer to theirs about two of the clock after noon the Word was God and King Charls his greatest Body of Horse was on the right Wing and on the left some Horse and Dragoons The Parliaments Army was put into this order the Foot a good space behinde the Horse when the Charge began three Regiments of Horse on the right Wing the Generals Regiment commanded by Sir Philip Stapleton Sir Balfore's Regiment who was Lieutenant General of the Horse and the Lord Fielding's Regiment which stood behinde the other two as a Reserve Sir Iohn Meldrum had the Van with his Brigade Colonel Essex the middle the General 's Regiment the Lord Brook and Colonel Hollis had the Rear in the left Wing were twenty Troops commanded by Sir Iames Ramsey Commissary General And thus they stood The Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain of England was the Kings Captain General but the Fight was ordered by the Lord Ruthen since made Earl of Forth a Scotish man and the General lead on the main Body with a Pike in his hand it is said that General Essex lead on his Forces also but then it is confessed that he was advised to retire from Danger and so he escaped when the other was killed The Forlorn Hope was commanded by Major Baâ—stake and Captain Hamond both of them Officers in Sir Lewis Diveâ— Regiment of Foot and drawn down the Hill to the side of a Ditch lined with Musquetiers and both sides had no sooner fired but that the Kings Cannon followed and discharged six or seven Shot Prince Rupert General of the Horse commanding the right Wing routed their left Wing and followed them in chafe to Keinton Town and two Miles beyond killing all whom they overtook the Lord Ruthen ordered the left Wing of the Kings Horse with the Lord Wilmot both of them doing gallant service 't is true Prince Rupert presumed that he had left a sufficient Reserve of Horse behinde under command of the Earl of Carnarvan with some other Troops who seeing the Enemies Horse and Foot to run his spirit not accustomed to stand still followed too far and left their own Foot naked of Horse which Essex espying took the advantage and with his Horse fell upon the Foot including these Regiments the Lord Generals Colonel Fieldings and Colonel Bowels a Regiment raised by the Lord Paget and did much execution upon them this service being done by Colonel Hurry afterwards Major General for the Parliament The Lord General Lindsey
being too forward in the Fight and incompassed by the Enemy his noble Son the Lord Willoughby hastned to his rescue not staying for greater assistance than such by chance about him and were both over-powred and taken Prisoners the Father â—ore wounded and evil intreated died the next day Sir Edmund Varney Knight Marshal and Standard-bearer was killed and the Standard ingaged till a gallant Gentleman Mr. Iohn Smith instantly shot him dead and rescued it for which service he was presently dubbed Knight and Bannoret the first of that Honour and bore the Standard after and relieved Colonel Fielding with some others of quality repulsing their Enemies Horse and followed the pursuit The Foot on both sides continued hot fiering untill the Day was spent and Night five a clock parted the Fight which no doubt was fairest on the Kings side had he enjoyed the Light somewhat longer to have increased his advantage towards a Victory It must be acknowledged that the General Essex his Regiment of Foot Colonel Hollis and Colonel Hambdem's stood the brunt of the Battel most of their Men being London Prentices fresh and good Firers did bold service Among the Plunder General Essex his Waggon Saddles Cloke-bags and Cabinet were taken and therein some Letters and Papers of Intelligence sufficient to discover one Blake a secret Traitor in the Kings Court for which he was forthwith hanged in the high way a sign to all Traitors betwixt Oxford and Abingdon this Fellow had been a Merchant and for some service at Sallie in Barbarie releasing English Slaves purchased repute at home which shadowed him from any suspition to be an Intelligencer at the Kings Court to divers his Corresponds City Friends for which he so suffered After the King had given the first Word espying one to steal to the Enemy he altered it to God and King Charls The Kings Troop consisted of an hundred and twenty Noblemen and Gentlemen able to expend an hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year of their own and these charged first with much courage and so performed it that Day commanded by the Lord Bernard youngest Brother to the Duke of Richmond and afterwards created Earl of Lichfield Sir Arthur Aston commanded the Dragoons and gave notice to him the Lord Bernard how he should order his Charge which was to second him and to follow the Dragoons who beat off those that lined the Hedges having that Intelligence of Sir Fortescue's Cornet who was come from Essex's Army with assurance that his Captain would follow with his Troop as he did at the first of the Fight The Kings Army was about twelve thousand the Parliaments sixteen thousand men exceeding well armed and furnished with excellent Ammunition compleat The loss by view of the dead might be between five or six thousand between them The King certainly lost the lesse in number but the most of value men of great merit but not the most in place and Office of Command But now the question will be who had the better If you will not admit it a drawn Battel consider these particulars following The Kings design was to March on his way and Essex resolution was to attach him which he did not but rather Skirted his Marchings and gave the occasion that the King encountred him though being met he began the Challenge After the Battel the King kept the field in his Coach all that Night with great fires and the next day in the Fâ—eld Proclaimed several Pardons to such of the Enemy that would submit And then Marches to Aino the seven and twentieth of October where he dated his Proclamation of Grace and Favour to the Cities of London and Westminster The King without Interruption of his Enemy buries the dead Marches to Banbury Took the Town and Castle and they take Arms under him so then he was Master of the Field commanding his own way and doing his own work which he came about and Marches to Oxford His Enemy General Essex wheeles towards Warwick does no more and retreats to London where hâ—s Army Lodges for Recruits The next day after the fight the King sends Sir William Neve Garter Herald to Essex to exchange the Lord Willoughby Earl of Lindsey for the Lord St. Iohn Hue Bullenbroke of Bletso but ere iâ— could be dispatched St. Iohns dies by which he paies the first of his debts to his Creditors and the last debt to sin and death with the undoing of many of his Country worthy Gentlemen men bound for him in great sums of Money Colonel Essex Lieutenant Colonel Ramsey both slaine But to go on with the story The King Prince and Duke that Night retreated to the side of the Hill resting in their Coach all Night keeping divers fires but could discern but one fire from their Enemy so that it was supposed their General was Marched away untill the Morning discovered them to be drawn out and Colonel Brooks Regiment of Foot and others coming to joyn with them The King draws up also upon the Hill and about noon Essex Marches away The King at Edge-hill Proclaims his pardon to the Rebells now in Arms against him so be they will come in to him and seek it the four and twentieth of October And in Aino the seven and twentieth of October He sends his gracious Proclamation of Pardon to his Cities of London and Westminster excepting therein Alderman Fulk and Manwaring On Tuesday Morning at nine a clock the King forth with his forces faced the Town of Banbury being ready to fall on Captain Marrow who Commanded the Castle treated a while and by twelve a clock delivered up the Town and Castle though there were therein two Regiments of Foot blew coats belonging to the Lord Rochford and Peterborough and Captain Saiers Troop of Horse The Prince with three peeces of Cannon and some Foot and Horse Marched against Broughton House belonging to the Lord Say and at the first shot of Ordinance through and through it was delivered up From thence to Southampton The Earl of Essex retreated this while to Warwick and so the other way Marched to London But the Kings Forces returned to Oxford so through Abington and to Henley where they refreshed two or three daies then to Mâ—idenhead Windsor and Stains Saturday being a misty morning the Kings Forces made their Rendevouz on Hownslow Heath the Parliaments Forces being that morning drawn out of Kingston giving Liberty to the King to Command both sides of the River Thames who about eleven of the clock forced the Enemy out of Brainford but ere we go on let us return to some Civil affairs which were Acted by both parties after Edge-hill fight however controverted amongst parties Interested The King Publishes his Delaration to all his Loving Subjects after his late Victory against the Rebels on Sunday the three and twentieth of October 1642. Ascribing the preservation of him â—nd his Children in the late bloody Battel with the Rebels to the Mercy and
Parl. and hath seen their Declaration sent to his Subjects in Scotland unjustly taxing the King and his Government and in a manner challenging assistance from Scotland to make War against the King making their clame by a late Act of Pacification to which he did chearfully consent And tells them of the other Scandal upon him and his Army of being Papists and sends to them his former Declarations in answer to the Parliaments wonted Scandal in that particular protesting against any intent of his to bring in Foreign Forces and doubts not of a dutifull concurrence in all his Subjects of Scotland And requires this his Declaration to be published to all his people there General Essex having lain quiet since the late Battel of Edg-hill and his Souldiers squandered from their Quarters to incourage them it is declared That if they return to their Quarters within an hour after this publication each Foot-souldier shall receive as the rest half a Crown addition and each Trooper five shillings increase to their pay Which sent them packing to their Quarters And because their General may not be discouraged by the last Battel doubtfully disputed the Parliament is pleased to set out a Declaration concerning the late valourous and acceptable Service of his Excellencie Robert Earl of Essex to remain upon Record in both Houses for a mark of Honour to his person name and familie and for a Monument of his singular virtue to posteritie The Parliament having assured confidence in his wisdom for the defence of Religion King Parliament and Kingdom and he managing this Service with so much valour in a bloudie Battel near Keinton in Warwickshire which doth deserve their best acknowledgment and they shall be readie to express the due sense of his merit and this to remain upon Record to him and his posteritie Nov. 11. 1642. But let us see what becomes of the Parliaments Address to the King The safe conduct was sent from Reading the sixth of Novemb. with such Exceptions as you have heard just and reasonable and yet the very next day November 7. the Parliament vote Not to accept of this safe conduct and resolve That the Exception in the safe conduct is a Denial and Refusal of a Treatie Of which they order a Committee to acquaint the City Common Hall and thereby to quicken them to a Resolution of defending their Liberties and Religion and thereafter to frame a Declaration to all the World of the Kings refusal of the Parliaments petition and yet receives petition and address from the Rebells of Ireland And of this Message the eighth of November is sent the Lord Brook and Sir Henry Vane junior to Guild-hall where his Lordship tells the Mayor and Aldermen That the Kings Foot were near Stains his Horse at Kingston and that the Parliaments Foot are marching that way who couragiously had the late Victory and killed two thousand without the loss of an hundred unless Women Children and Dogs be numbred then indeed there might be with all them two hundred But it was Gods work of mercy and wonder Truly he is assured that we said he are a dear people exceedingly beloved of God But his second Speech surpasses take it at length and printed somewhat like the same again Gentlemen I have but one word more to trouble you with This noble Gentleman Sir Henry Vane hath exprest so fully all that was in the Message that truly I should wrong him and my self too if I should say any more therefore I shall now speak to you of another thing it is not fit any thing concerns you should be concealed from you I came this day to this place to this house about another business I have already communicated to my Lord Mayor and the Aldermen and the Committee I think it will not be unfit you should know it I have the consent of some that understand this business very well to this I now shall do Gentlemen the Message was this it was a Message from his Excellencie it is to let you know how near the Danger is at hand that so you may gird up the Loins of your Resolution and do like men of courage Gentlemen Citizens of London better than whom no man did in that Armie we had abroad the Enemies the Foot as we understand are very near Stains the Horse they are about Kingston we cannot tell you that all are there but that there are both Horse and Foot too and it is certain our Foot are going to it so that the question is now What is to be done Certainly this is a certain truth among all Souldiers that you must keep evil as far off you as you can you must not let it come near your doors you must not think to fight in the sights and tears and eyes and dâ—â—â—â—actions of your Wives and Children but to go out and meet it valiantly as you have done God hath shewed himself a God of love and mercie and truly we must give him all the honour of that day certainly it is the greatest Victorie that ever was gotten near two thousand I love to speak with the least on their side slain and I am confident not an hundred on our side unless you will take in Women and Children Car-men and Dogs for they â—lew the very Dogs and all If you take in Women Children Carmen and Dogs then they slew about two hundred but that an hundred should be slain on one side and two thousand on the other side is a very miraculous thing he that dealt so wonderfully heretofore it were to distrust him if we did not think he would do so again Truly he hath a people among us exceedingly beloved and what is it we fight for it is for our Religion for God for Libertie and all and what is it they fight for for their lust their will for tyrannie to make us slaves and to overthrow all Gentlemen me thinks I see a face and spie you readie to do any thing and the Generals Resolution is to go out tomorrow and to do as a man of courage and resolution and never man did like him for he was not onely General but Common Souldier for he led up his own Regiment and he led up his own Troop with his own person and when the left Troops of Horse deceived him he brought up the right Troops he himself will go out again and do again as much as he hath done and all this is for your sakes for he can be a free-man he can be a Gentleman he can be a great man go where he will therefore it is onely for your sakes he is resolved to go out to morrow his Forces are wearie his Forces are spent some came but last night into Town some marched twenty miles March which is a great March as some that know what it is can tell but as wearie as they are he is resolved to go out but if you will affect the cause and joyn with him hand and heart
Yorkshire this Account came to the Houses that Sir Hugh Cholmley for the Parliament hath carried himself gallantly giving several Defeats to the Enemy at Malton and on the sixteenth of Ianuary joyning his Forces to Sir Matthewâ—Bointon they fell upon Colonel Slingsbie at Gisborough who was defeated and six hundred Horse and Foot that had done much spoil in the North. Slingsbie taken Prisoner and an hundred and fourty persons besides many killed and two hundred Arms recovered About Bradford and Hallifax God hath blessed my Son Sir Thomas says the Lord Fairfax having seized the Lord Savil's house at Howley and his Design against Leeds was thus he drew out from Bradford thither where Sir William Savil commands in chief after Summons the Assault began with great resolution on his Sons part the Town being fortified on all sides furnished with two Brass Sakers and manned with fifteen hundred Souldiers yet they forced an entrie in two Hours fight with loss on both sidesâ— not more than fourtie men but Sir Thomas took four Colours and five hundred Prisoners of which six are Commanders many Arms the Sakers and all their Munition On the Parliaments part were lost thirteen men Captain Brigs and Lee sore wounded The people observed he says that Sir William Savil and the chief Commanders on the other side soon after the Fight began fled by secret ways towards Pomfrait and their men after them by degrees but by the way Serjeant Major Beaumont was drowned crossing the River and Sir William narrowly escaped the like Sir Thomas intended to have marched to Wakefield where Sir George Wentworth commanded but the Enemie in fâ—â—â— was fled to Pomfrait and so Wakefield is invested for the Parliâ—â—â—nt The five and twentieth of Ianuary the Kings Forces marched out of Doncaster which was soon taken up by six Companies of Foot till more Forcesâ— shall come from the South to keep it The Earl of Newcastle hath drawn down all his Forces from the South of Yorkshire excepting those that keep Pomfrait Castle and yesterday marched from Sherborn to York with six and thirty Colours two Pieces of Cannon and three and fourty other Carriages and supposed to meet the Arms and Munition coming from Newcastle or to prepare for the Queens entertainment at York Selbie Ian. 26. 1642. Fer. Fairfax There had come forth two Proclamations the one from the Earl of Cumberland dated the first of December last the other from the Earl of Newcastle Ianuary 17. last publishing Ferdinando Lord Fairfax Sir Thomas Fairfax Sir Edward Loftus Sir Matthew Bointon Sir Henry Forbes Sir Thomas Malleverer Sir Richard Darby Sir Christopher Wray Sir Henry Anderson Sir Iohn Savil Sir Edward Rodes Sir Hugh Cholmley Sir Thomas Rennington Sir Thomas Norcliffe Knights Io. Hotham Tho. Hatcher Will. Lister Iohn Legard Io. Dudsworth Iohn Wastel Iohn Perce Willâ—White Iohn Robinson Arthur Beckwith Thomas Robinson and Thomas Stockdel and divers others and their Adherents to be Traitors which the Parliament resenting do as much against the Earls and so are alike quit upon that score The King had proposed a Treaty February 3. together with the cessation of Arms sixteen days since to which he received no Answer but puts them in minde thereof again whereupon the Parliament vote That there shall be a Treaty upon the Propositions before the disbanding and to begin March 4. next for twenty days and no more and a safe conduct desired by the Parliament for their Commissioners the Earl of Northumberland Lord Say Mr. Perpoint Sir William Ermine Sir John Holland and Mr. Whitlock But the King excepts against the Lord Say having been proclamed Traitor the third of November at Oxford and by Writ to the Sheriff to proceed agaisnt him for high Treason and so he was not admitted the rest were March 3. Oxford The Cessation of Arms was thus limited That all Arms Victuals Money Bullion and all commodities passing without safe conduct may be seized on either sides and the persons so passing That the Kings Forces in Oxfordshire shall advance no nearer Windsor than Wheatly and in Buckinghamshire no nearer to Alisbury than Brill and in Barkshire either Forces to contin â—e as they are The Parliaments Forces in Oxfordshire to advance no nearer to Oxford than Henley In Buckinghamshire no nearer than Alisbury The Kings Forces shall take no new Quarter nearer than twelve miles from Oxford any way nor the Parliament twelve miles from Windsor where the Parliaments Armie lay That no Siege shall be against Glocester but the Kings Forces to return And that the Parliament Forces remain as they are in Glocestershire c. February 28. And having treated without any success the Committee returns to the Parliament the seventeenth of April after During this Treaty comes out a weekly Assessment from the Parliament of England and Wales which amounted unto thirty three thousand nine hundred eighty one pounds thirteen shillings vast sums additional to the former and others subsequent In this time the Queen in Holland now imbarques for England the sixteenth of Feb. and with contrary windes and foul weather was forced back again and thereafter with much hazzard anchored at Burlington Bay the nineteenth and lands at the Key the two and twentieth wiâ—h Officers Munition and Money To her comes the Earl of Montrose and Lord Ogleby with two Troops of Horse being now received at York and the Queen forming a pretty Army whereof she hath the command and meets the King hereafter at Edg-hill three moneths hence Indeed she had been in very great danger in her passing out of Holland of which the King assures her he shall not be out of apprehension untill he may have the happiness of her company Thinking it not the least of his misfortunes that for his sake she hath run so much hazzard which it is impossible for him to repay but his heart being full of affection for her and admiration of her and impatient passion of gratitude to her he could not but say some thing leaving the rest to be read by her out of her own noble heart Oxford Febr. 13. 1642. The County of Glocester being mostly engaged in the Parliament service in the midst of their Enemy Oxford being the Kings head Garison Herefordshire his Forces Worcester entertain'd a strength Wales under power of the Lord Herbert The Earl of Essex and his Army drawn to London the Parliaments Forces in the West have their hands full two Regiments at Bristol and one at Glocester this County the most likely game for winter action but the strength of the County drawn to Cirencester a Frontier Town towards the Kings head Quarters and now made a Garison and Colonel Thetiplace that commanded a Regiment and two Companies of Foot added after some Horse and Dragoons raised by the Countrey and the rest of the Militia were to assist in danger more voluntary than regular but resting chiefly on Sir Robert Cook Sir Iohn Seymer Mr. Stephens and Mr. Hodges with
Companies of Horse under command of Sir Charls Cavendish Brother to the Earl of Newcastle the Enemy having left within Nottingham a thousand Foot The Queen marched with three thousand Foot thirty Companies of Horse and Dragoons six Pieces of Cannon and two Morters Mr. Iermin commanding all these Forces as Colonel of her Guard and Sir Alexander Lesley a traiterous cowardly murderous Scot ordered the Foot and Sir Gerard the Horse and Captain Leg the Artillery and her Majesty Generalissima extremely diligent with an hundred and fifty Wagons The King and Queen met at Edg-hill the first time since she landed out of Holland and so to Oxford where she continued till the seventeenth of April the next year and then she took her last leave of the King at Abington for the West and was brought to Bed at Exeter of a Daughter the sixteenth of Iune named Henrieta Maria and afterwards in Cornwall she passed over to France lands at Brest the fifteenth of Iuly and so to Paris where she since continues a sad sorrowfull afflicted Princess with incomparable sufferings which she hath undergone And now comes over an Ambassadour from France Monsieur Harcourt to mediate an Accommodation between the King and Parliament but prevailed not and so returned it being rather a flourish from the policy of Cardinal Mazarine to pry into the Actions of this great Difference and so to set them at a greater distance for it was Richlien's Master-piece to frame the Quarrel first and now for Mazarine not unlike to put them far asunder And presently after is Sir William Armin sent to Edinburgh from the Parliament to hasten the Scots Army hither having first sworn to the Solemn League and Covenant each to other The English Presbyters now scotiâ—ied throughout take Example by the Brethrens Principles in their former Insurrections of Scotland and therefore as they did heretofore so now the Parliament engage that Nation in a strict solemn League by Vow Oath and Covenant taken by the Parliament and afterwards sent down to all the Counties in England and Wales upon which the King observes That the Presbyterian Scots are not to be hired at the ordinary Rate of Auxiliaries nothing will induce them to engage till those that call them in have pawned their Souls to them by a solemn League and Covenant Where many Engines of religious and fair pretensions are brought chiefly to batter or rase Episcopacy This they make the grand evil Spirit which with some other Imps purposely added to make it more odious and terrible to the Vulgar must by so solemn a Charm and Exorcism be cast out of this Church after more than a thousand years possession here from the first plantation of Christianity in this Island and an universal prescription of time and practice in all other Churches since the Apostle's times till this last Century But no Antiquity must plead for it Presbytery like a young Heir thinks the Father hath lived long enough and impatient not to be in the Bishop's Chair and Authority though Lay-men go away with the Revenues all Art is used to sink Episcopacy and lanch Presbytery in England which was lately buoyed up in Scotland by the like artifice of a Covenant Although I am unsatisfied with many passages in that Covenant some referring to my self with very dubious and dangerous limitations yet I chiefly wonder at the Design and drift touching the Discipline and Governmet of the Church and such a manner of carrying them on to new ways by Oaths and Covenants where it is hard for men to be engaged by no less than swearing for or against those things which are of no clear moral necessity but very disputable and controverted among learned and godly men whereto the application of Oaths can hardly be made and enjoyned with that judgment and certainty in one's self or that charity and candour to others of different opinion as I think Religion requires which never refuses fair and equable Deliberations yea and Dissentings too in matters onely probable The enjoining of Oaths upon People must needs in things doubtfull be dangerous as in things unlawfull damnable and no less superfluous where former religious and legal Engagements bound men sufficiently to all necessary duties Nor can I see how they will reconcile such an Innovating Oath and Covenant with that former Protestation which was so lately taken to maintain the Religion established in the Church of England since they account Discipline so great a part of Religion Bâ—t ambitious mindes never think they have laid Snares and Gins enough to catch and hold the Vulgar credulity for by such politick and seemingly pious Stratagems they think to keep the populacie fast to their parties under the terrour of perjurie Whereas certainly all honest and wise men ever thought themselves sufficiently bound by former ties of Religion Allegiance and Laws to God and Man Nor can such after-contracts devised and imposed by a few men in a declared partie without my consent and without any like power or precedent from God's or Man's Laws be ever thought by judicious men sufficient either to absolve or slacken those moral and eternal bonds of dutie which lie upon all my Subjects consciences both to God and me Yet as things now stand good men shall least offend God or me by keeping their Covenant in honest and lawfull ways since I have the charity to think that the chief end of the Covenant in such mens intentions was to preserve Religion in purity and the Kingdoms in peace To other than such ends and means they cannot think themselves engaged nor will those that have any true touches of conscience endeavour to carry on the best Designs much less such as are and will be daily more apparently factious and ambitious by any unlawfull means under that title of the Covenant unless they dare prefer ambiguous dangerous and un-authorized novelties before their known and sworn Duties which are indispensible both to God and my self I am prone to believe and hope That many who took the Covenant are yet firm to this judgment That such later Vows Oaths or Leagues can never blot out those former Gravings and Characters which by just and lawfull Oaths were made upon their Souls That which makes such Confederations by way of solemn Leagues and Covenants more to be suspected is That they are the common Road used in all factious and powerfull perturbations of State or Church where formalities of extraordinary zeal and piety are never more studied and elaborate than when Politicians most agitate desperate Designs against all that is setled or sacred in Religion and Laws which by such Scrâ—â—es are cunningly yet forcibly wrested by secret steps and less sensible degrees from their known Rule and wonted Practice to comply with the humours of those men who aim to subdue all to their own will and power under the Disguises of holy Combinations Which Cords and Wit hs will hold mens Consciences no longer than force
greatest should not be without one And so a new one was framed engraven thereon the Picture of the House of Commons and Members sitting Reversed the Arms of England and Ireland Cross and Harp Palie And presentlâ— after Mr. Henry Martin a Member without much authority forced an entrance into the Abby Church at Westminister with spoil upon the utensils and ornaments of the Church and broke open two Doors into a private Room near the place where the Regalia Crowns Scepters and other Ensigns of State used at Coronation of their Sovereigns but finding some obstacle that barred his entrance till Mr. Wheeler shewed him the secret that opened the passage to their seizure only prevented for that time by the Earl of Holland and some of the Commons House perswading Mr. Martin to forbear till further pleasure of the Lords concurring which he did by sealing up the Doors His Assistants saying Let us take the Crown and set it upon the Duke of Glocester 's head whom we have with us Tush quoth Martin ye are Fools to talk of Crowns or Kings of which there will be so little use hereafter But after dispute at a Conference the Lords were brought to this Reason That many superstitious things amongst the Regalia were sit to be removed as no longer usefull Whereto one unhappily made a prophetick Reply He doubted the King himself will ere long be some superstitious Monument of decayed Divinity and so thought fit to be removed the King not making the Crown but the Crown the King which being now in their hands they may bestow the Kingdom on whom they please The Earl of Essex hovering about Tame gave Orders about to Buckingham Forces to allarm the Kings Forces some Skirmishes had been on Saturday night Iune 17. and the nex moâ—ning Prince Rupert provokes a Body of Horse to appear early the next morning whom he wasted many Prisoners Captain Sheiffield Son to the Earl of Moulgrave the chiefest but their chief Commander Serjeant Major Gunter shot dead in the place and Mr. Iohn Hambden a principal Member of the fire died a Week after of those wounds he had in this Fight Iune 18. He was a Gentleman of good Descent in Buckinghamshire the great Incendiary from the first of these Troubles setting the Wheel on work in the great Sute of Ship-money against the King and so forward in Junto with the five Members so troublesome to the Kings proceedings then he takes Arms and is made a Colonel for Buckinghamshire whose interest in that County together with his subtilty fairly shadowed by his civil carriage he became the ablest Actor of all though Mr. Pym spake more in the Parliament this man gave best counsel And now he dies on the Bed of Honour being a Souldier but unfortunate and before he had brought his Engines to some end he had buried his Son and Heir and two Daughters and his Grand-childe two onely Sons surviving the one a Criple the other somewhat at like a Lunatick He received his deaths wound in Chalgrave Field the place where he first appeared to draw up his Men to shew himself a Commander in this unhappy War It was before that Captain Hotham had been taken Prisoner and escaped ten Days since from Nottingham thence to Lincoln and recovered Hull so opportunely that together with his Father Sir Iohn they were both seized upon and sent Prisoners to the Parliament and the Commissioner Sir Matthew Bointon for his pains therein took possession of the Town and Command for he coming thither unsuspected being Hotham's Brother in Law and much intrusted makes himself Master of the Magazine and the affections of the Souldiers eâ—e Sir Iohn had espied the practice but then too late he got out to Beverley where he was set upon by his own Souldiers corrupted by Bointon who pursued him back to Hull and at the Town-gate called Beverley the very place where he acted against the Kings person heretofore was himself knocked off his Horse by the But end of a Musket and taken Prisoner seizing hâ—s Wife and Children rifled his House and legally plundered him of all his Treasure which he had raked together in the Ruine and Ransack of his neighbour Subjects to the value of ten thousand pounds sending him and his Son Wife and Children in a Ship Prisoners to the Parliament to the effect of their future sufferings on the Scaffold the first of Ianuary 1644. Thus were the military actions managed this way whilest Sir William Waller was in the West with his whole Body upon the hither end of Lands-down in a place of great advantage whence he sent out a good party of Horse and Foot towards the Cavaliers Sir Bevil Greenvile and Sir Nicholas Slaining two gallant Gentlemen of Cornwall lining the Hedges towards their Champain and there advanced a strong party of Horse under protection of his Musketiers so that some of Greenvile's Horse being drawn out within Musket-shot retired in some disorder towards the Rear of his Foot whereupon the Cornish Foot advanced and bravely beat them out of the Hedges and the former Horse speedily rallying again recovered their ground Then a strong party of Waller's Horse drew into a large Field upon their Adversaries left Wing which were charged by their Horse and intirely routed the Cornish Foot likewise driving theirs from Hedg to Hedg through Woods and down steepy Hills back to their main Body and at last forced them from the brow of a Hill which they had barracadoed and whereon they had planted Cannon for the ground they had was advantageous an high Hill walled behinde and on both sides with Works on the Front the passage up very narrow and dangerous one side Wood the other side Hedges and both lined with Musketiers This ground Waller had got and stood in an intire Body his Foot within the Flank of stone-laid Walls through which he had made places for his Horse to sally being drawn up in Battalia at the Rear of his Foot before the other party Horse and Foot could be drawn up in order Waller charged them with his Horse played so thick with his Cannon and Muskets that he forced them from the Hill which yet was again assaulted twice nay thrice and the fourth time with very great difficulty the Hill was regained which Greenvâ—â—e himself maintained with a Stand of his own Pikes against the power of the others Horse and Foot and Cannon to the acknowledgment of his Gallantry and Honour even by his Enemies where he was unfortunately slain in the Front of his men with his Serjeant Major and Captain Lieutenant dead at his feet and in earnest I have heard it confest with as much Honour as ever was conferred on an Enemy Then the Cavaliers rallied their Horse and drew up their Cannon it growing dark but shot on all sides till Mid-night when their Adversaries stuck light Matches on the Hedges which received Volleys from each part of the Body but in stead
of answering these they ran quite away leaving the Field with five hundred Muskets fourteen Barrels of Pouder a whole Stand of Pikes with some Arms but their Cannon they got off This Fight lasted form two a clock afternoon till one the next morning These aforesaid we finde slain with eight Officers and some Gentlemen of note Mr. Leak Son to the Lord Daincourt found dead at day-light with his Enemies Colours about his arm Mr. Barker Lieutenant Colonel Wall Serjeant Major Lower Captain Iames Captain Chalwell and Mr. Bostard But then it is said that Waller's Foot were absolutely dispersed or cut off with great loss of Officers Horse and Foot modestly reported onely it is assured the Cavaliers kept the Field Arms and Pillage and such other signs of Victory And this was done the fifth of Iuly Whilest Waller fights their General Essex solicites the Parliament with Letters inclining to petition for a Peace which though it took well with some Lords yet being read to the Commons Mr. Vassal a London Burgess desired that their General should be pressed to speak more plainly and that if after the expence of two Millions of Treasure he had a minde to lay down Arms he should let them know it that as good a Souldier as he should take them up meaning Sir Will. Waller who was generally cried up by the City untill they heard of his Defeat near the Devises Round-way-down whither the King having sent some Troops of Horse towards the West which came within three Miles of the Devises were met with by Waller's Forces being on the Down between the Cavaliers and the Town to hinder their joyning with the rest of the Army Some Regiments of Horse on each side began the fight with equal success till Waller's Horse made â— Retreat to their Strength which lay on a Hill where he was and drew out his Foot and commanded the Onset but his Horse not enduring the hazzard left the Foot to their Enemies Sword or mercifull Quarter hundreds of them slain and more Prisoners taken four fair Brass Guns Ammunition and Baggage eight and twenty Colours and nine Corners I wonder at this Defeat for Sir William Waller had advantage of number in Men and Arms five Regiments of Foot six of Horse five hundred Dragoons eight Brass Guns It is confest that the Cavaliers were but fifteen hundred Horse additional to the other Forces with two small Pieces of Cannon And to adorn the Victory the Queen made her triumphant Entry into Oxford that day her Return from beyond Seas And on the other side to encourage Sir William Waller at this time when their Generalissimo was suspected the Parliament voted to make and confirm Leases of the Office of Botelier of England a Place of good profit and credit both The twelfth of August the Earl of Lindsey Great Chamberlain of England was welcomed to Oxford from his Restraint and Imprisonment since Edg-hill Fight being now received by the Queen Council and Court with all Expressions of Honour to him and more could not be done for the present in respect of the Kings absence at Gloâ—ester Siege The five and 20. of August the Earls of Bedford and Holland went from London towards Oxford and being gotten to Wallingford intrusted themselves with the Kings Forces untill their coming to submit to his Majesty in the mean time they are received by the Governour Colonel Blagge with honourable respect and so at last they were brought to the King professing their Duty and Allegeance and acknowledging their Errours this long time whom the King received with favour and forgiveness They held not out in this their Protestation but fled back again to the Parliament The Committees of Nottingham and Lincoln held intelligence with some Prisoners of theirs in the Marshals â—ustody at Newark whom they designed to blow up or to surprize the Magazine there whilest they had some favour and freedom of the Goaler their Letter conveyed to the Imprisoned discovers as much as will be necessary to know the men more than the matter Gentlemen and Prisoners for the Lord Jesus our long laboured Design is now ripe Your care is expected according to your faith and promise We doubt not but the opportunity of the Liberty afforded you may advance the good Cause The Magazine is near enough to you Give notice to our Brâ—thren under the Provost Marshall Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall finde so doing Matth. 24. 46. The appointed time holdeth which we hope to our hands Lift up your heads for your Redemption draweth nigh Luke 21. 28. Whereâ—ore comfort one another with these words 2. Thess. 4. 18. The rest will we set in order when we come 1 Cor. 11. 24. Greet all the Brethren 1 Thess. 5. 26. The Lord establish the Work of our hands upon us Work of our hands establish he it Psal. 90. is the Prayer of Yours in the Lord The Committee of Nottingham and Lincoln Scripture is often made use of by the Sectaries to factious and seditious ends and here to the hazzard of Murder the easiest terms I can afford them The Lecturers were the most busie meddling men even so as ever have been the Kiâ—kmen of Scotland and therefore Mr. Saltmarsh a seditious Minister contrived certain Propositions of Counsel which were read in the House amongst many were these 1. That all means should be used to keep the King and his People from sudden union 2. To cherish the War under the Notion of Popery as the surest means to engage the People 3. If the King would not grant their Demands then to root him out and the royal Line and collate the Crown upon some body else This last was too harsh to be swallowed by reasonable good men who excepted against it but Mr. Henry Martin said He saw no reason to condemn Mr. Saltmarsh adding That it were better one Family should be destroyed than many To which Mr. Nevil Pool replied That Mr. Martin might explain what One Family he meant Martin bold and beastly answers The King and his Children For which Speech before the time was ripe to discover that Secret he was voted a Prisoner to the Tower Mr. Pym himself urging upon him his extreme lewdness of life but this punishment was but to cool the heat of the House for that time for Martin was soon released upon the change of the Lieutenant of the Tower forthwith following The Recruits of the Army fell heavy upon the City of London who were caressed with all kindness to finish the Work and to set out Sir William Waller again and to win upon them Sir Edward Coniers was commanded to surrender his Lieutenancy of the Tower unto Pennington the Mayor of London and so Mistris Mayoress was quit with Mistris Ven that she should be Governess of Windsor Prison as she called it and thereby command over Souldiers which was a power she now might equal with hers
Covenant that the same be done by joint advice of the Committees of both Kingdoms and afterwards agreed upon by Votes of both Houses 3 That the Earl of Leven Lord General of the Scotish Forces in Ireland being now by the Votes of both Houses agreed to be Commander in chief over all the Forces as well British as Scots according to the fourth Article be desired with all convenient speed to nominate and appoint a Commander in chief under his Excellency over the said Forces to reside with them upon the place And a joynt Committee of both Kingdoms are appointed to reside with the said Forces and enabled with joint Instructions of both Kingdoms for Regulating the said Forces and carrying on of the war and accordingly the Committee were sent and so remained there Glocester now relieved the loss of their Enemy the Earl of Essex leaves with them three Culverins 46. barrels of powder and sets the Garison in order with the plunder provision of the Country filling their Granaries very plentifully and so departs The London Trained bands having done their work would needs go home but must pass the Kings pikes first and how their General also could escape the Kings Ingagement of a return was difficult not to be penned up in those parts and so made speed after the King who was Marched some miles before and passed by Cirencester leaving there a strong party where Essex his forlorn hope came and entred the Town whilst his Army surrounded it killed the Centry sleeping Marched up to the Market place without opposition being supposed Prince Maurice his forces that night expected entered their houses and surprized the people in their beds without any Allarm seized four hundred men and thirty Cart loads of Provision their onely support of the Souldier against the next battel at Newbery From thence Essex Marches to Chilleton the Cavaliers facing them on Mavarn hills but to amaze them Essex seems to retreat but sent out a party of horse who met and fired but were fain to wheel off with loss then the foot came on with a gallant charge accompanied with a volley of Dragoons and were answered as bravely by the King for an hour without ceasing and but time for Essex to bring on the Trained bands and Auxiliaries without any effect for night parted the fray and so from hence he Marches the next day to Newbery where the King being before hand had the advantage of the ground and planted his Ordinance with all the forces thereabouts On Wednesday the twentieth of September early as the sun the General takes a view of the Cavaliers set in Battalia at Newbery Common draws up and falls to firing for notice being brought to the King with his forces at Eversham that the Earl of Essex was returning from Glocester gave order to follow him and on the eighteenth of September his Majesties foot marching towards Wantage Prince Rupert with the whole body of horse advanced on the right hand to finde out Essex and got view of them that afternoon in a bottom near Aubern in Wiltshire and gave them two charges by the commanded party of Colonel urrey falling upon Essex Rear of his Horse where both encountred with equal loss Essex stands in Battalia for an hour and then marches the Prince overtakes him with a second charge adding the Queens Regiment as a reserve to the commanded party and his own Brigado to follow both Essex's horse appointed to bring up the Rear hastned forward within the Foot and brought Ruperts so near that it was necessary to decline them by falling off to the Right hand where two great Bodies of Essex's Horse came down a Hill and in excellent order received the others charge and after with eithers swords where the Lord Iermin received a slight wound on his Arm and the Lord Digby a shot on his head piece with loss of some men then those wheeling about ingaged the Lord Iermin with part of his Regiment almost to a loss but that they forced through some Bodies of Foot and got the better at that encounter onely with loss of Colonel Constable and that brave Gentleman the Marquess de la Vienville who was first taken prisoner and in cold blood unhandsomely slain and so night made either party retire The Kings Infantry was now at Wantage from whence Rupert desired them to march directly to Newbery with all speed the Horse refreshing at Lambern and Essex towards Hungerford arrived there the next morning six miles off so to Newbery but the King being come up before prevented them of accommodation there and lodged there himself that night all his Horse and some Musketiers were immediately drawn out beyond the water towards Essex his Army his whole body being within two miles and a half so as the parties fell to skirmish till dark night On goes Essex and surprizes the Kings new raised Troops at Cirencester scarce warm in their quarters And the twentieth of September the King saw his Enemy seated in a place the most advantageous the Horse Foot and Canon so planted for safety to themselves and annoyance of the King that it was conceived his Majesty was forced first to fight for a place â— to fight on which he did and gained the Hill the other pelting upon them from chosen groundâ— bushesâ— and hedges This Hill near Newbery and Enbarn-heath were the places where the most of this fight was performed The chief Commanders of Horse for the King besides Prince Rupert and the Lord Wilmot his Lieutenant General were the three Noble Lords the valiant Earls of Carnarvan and Northampton and the Lord Chandoys Sir Charls Lucas Colonel Charls Gerrard and Lieutenant Colonel Oneal In which fight were slain couragious Carnarvan whose memory since his undertaking to be a Commander is precious in Acts of honour and he that killed him lived not an instant after So was there slain the Noble Earl of Sunderland Colonel Morgan Lieutenant Colonel Fâ—ilding and many Gentlemen voluntiers by name Mr. Stroud and there were hurt of the prime Officers the Lord Andover Sir Charls Lucas Colonel Gerrard Colonel Ivers And of the Voluntiers the Earls of Carlisle and Peterborough Mr. Iohn Russell Mr. Edward Sacvile Mr. Henry Howard Mr. George Porter Mr. Progers The Kings foot were commanded by Sir Nicholas cholas Byron and the Horse by Sir Iohn Byron The chief Officers hurt were Colonel Dervy Lieutenant Colonel George Lisle who led on the forlorn hope and Lieutenant Col. Edward Villiers and here at the dispute of the Hill was slain that learned Lord Viscount Falkland Secretary of Estate The number slain on both sides are uncertain for what is confessed of the Cavalier supposes more of their Enemies I would there had been less then there were of either Only thus much is notorious not a Lord of the other side but in earnest we must give assurance many of their chief Officers were killed The slaughter fell foule on the London Trained bands
and Auxiliaries as being put upon the worst of service for their former ingratefull abuse and nicknaming their Noble General Now for the Honour of the field The General Essex Army marched away but left their heavy carriages behind some Barrels of shot Surgeons chests and their dead bodies to the view of the Cavaliers which the General Essex gave warrant to bury viz. To Mr. Fulk Minister and the Constables of the Parish of Enburn These are to will and require you forthwith upon sight to bury all the dead bodies lying in and about Enburn and Newbury-wash upon your peril if disobeying the one and twentieth of September 1643. Essex But the Kings care also appeared to the dead and wounded thus Our will and command is that you forthwith send into the Towns and Villages adjacent and bring thence all the sick and hurt Souldiers of the Earl of Essex's Army and though they be Rebells and deserve the punishment of Traytors yet out of our tender compassion upon them as being our Subjects Our will and pleasure is that ye carefully provide for their Recovery as well as for those of our own Army and then to send them to Oxford the one and twentieth of September 1643. To the Mayor of Newbery And so they were buried on both sides Many colours of the Kings Cornets were brought to London amongst them one was a draught of the Parliament House with the heads of the two Gun-powder Traytors set upon it with this Motto ut extra sic intus and being concluded to be of Colonel Spencers he and his Posterity were voted to be extirpated out of the Kingdome but yet it proved not his Colours The King and Queen stood the day upon the Hill and saw the fight a harder bout to both sides than that of Edge Hill Essex his aim was but to get through and pass to London so on they march homewards but Colonel Hurry makes after with a good party of Horse and fall upon theirs that brought up the Rear and daring to stand directly ran forwards quite through their own Foot and being in a narrow lane pressed them under the Horse heels routing themselves to the full so that the Cavaliers had less need to raise any courage for their Enemy suffered exceedingly whilst they clambred over or through the hedges took the shot or the sword at pleasure of the Assailants then indeed those that were gotten into the field did their part and forced the Horse to return backagain The success of which Battel gave much grace to the General Essex and repute to the London Trained bands a piece of service gallant on all sides enabled by its wonderfull rise lively progress nimble expedition Brave adventures but more advantage to the Parliaments party by which advance they might have framed an Army easily to have mastered the Country and distressed all the Kings Chief Garisons now reduced to those thereabout Bristol and Oxford and to engage the rest as Hereford and Worcester by stopping their supply of men and money And after Newbery fight the King sends Sir William Vavisor to Hereford with a strong party to raise Forces in those parts and to command in Chief in that County and Glocestershire to distress Glocester on the Welch side of the County and to Garison Teuxbury which he did coming from Hereford with seven hundred Horse and Foot carressed the Country with all candour but could not work upon them and therefore retyred back again yet the King had Garisons round about Snidley Castle maintained by the Lord Chandos stopt the entercourse with Warwick which was the only way of commerce with London Berkly Castle also for the King and kept by a Scotish Captain In the Forrest of Dean was Sir Iohn Winter strongly setled and to boot a Garison was put into Beverston Castle which enlarged their Quarters and stopt the Parliaments parties contribution and especially from Glocester who to subsist were forced to seek forrage placing a company at Frampton house to stop the incursions from Berkley Colonel Devereux his Regiment garisoned a strong house at Presbury within four miles of Snidley Another guard was set at Westbury on the edge of the forrest to affront Sir Iohn Winter who from the Pen secretary to the Queen was put to the pike and did his business very handsomely for which he found the enmity of the Parliament ever after Indeed he was assisted with the Lord Herberts Horse and threatned the Enemy out of the Forest and had made a passage over the Severn and New haven for that purpose Some weeks after the departure of the siege from Glocester Massie marched with hisâ— two Troops to Berkley Castle the Musketiers faced and kept in the Castellians whilst the Horse designed to fetch in Malignants but met with the Lord Herberts Troop and one hundred and fourty Horse besides which came to relieve the Castle which were fought with and retreated so did the Enemy return home again Sir Iohn Winter now entered upon the Government of Newnham and plundered all the Villages about and came within three miles of Glocester driving away store of Cattel Massy draws out seventy Horse pursues them to their Garison where they were entered with all their plunder five Troops of the Lord Herberts fell on Masseys Rears which stood them with advantage but Sir Iohn Winter chiefly respected his former secure Garison his own Horse in the Forrest and plagued the whole Country On the other side of Glocester the royall party erected new Governments Tedbury and Wootten-under-edge Massy marches that way with an eye upon Beverston Castle newly garisoned against him and commanding the rich Clothiers of Stroodwater hither he advanced with three hundred Foot and eighty Horse which did execution at Tedbury put to flight Sir Horatio Cary's Horse but with loss of twenty men slain and taken prisoners Massy brings up his men and two sakers against Beverston Castle surrounded it and planted his guns within pistol shot of the gate fifty Musketiers fixing their Pittar upon the Gate which failed and were forced back but the gate was not forceable and night coming on they drew off and advanced to Wotton-under-ege a temporary Garison of a Regiment of Horse which drew out upon a tilt retreated in at night but Issued out again fought Massy with indifferent success and so retreated to Bristol In this absence of Massy from Glocester Sir Iohn Winter taking that oportunity gathered forces from Monmouth and Hereford for surprizal of Glocester not without some Overtures from within Late at night Massy had Intelligence drew out fifty Musketiers from the Guard and sent them out with Captain Crisp three miles off to strengthen a good house in the passe but within a mile they were encountred by Horse and Foot drawn up in a broad lane near Higham house who retreated to Huntley The Welch forces though kept their Randevouz at Cofford in the Forrest and threatned Glocester divers of the Cavalier party in the
flanked with some Horse were wheeled to the right by and by into a medow at their coming the enemy drew all their Horse and Foot within their Spittle-work and coming up against this place both sides saluted one another at too far a distance with a short volley but Colonel Tilliar was not to stay here as being by his Orders to march up to the very Rivers side to recover the boat-bridg from the enemy but this being too well guarded he was glad to go off making a stand without reach of Cannon In this time were divers more Bodies of Foot brought down into the Field who charg'd up to the enemies Works and killed many Loughborow's being left upon the hill for a reserve Thus was the valley be spread with the Princes Battaglions and in this posture stood the Army Sir Richard Byron Governour of Newark likewise before this had sent part of his Garrison both Horse and Foot into another ground on the South-East side of the Town And by this time had the Prince notice given him by a Prisoner and by one of theirs that came over to him how they were so distressed for want of victualls that they were not able to live there two dayes Whereupon He began to resolve upon other councells esteeming it cheaper to block up their trenches then to storm them And block't up they were already in a very narrow room no more then the backside of the Spittle towards the River Besides which they were on all sides surrounded by His forces On the South side by the Town on the East by the Prince and on the North by Colonel Tilliar Into the Island on the West had the Prince sent five hundred Horse besides two hundred of the Newark Troopers Thus the late blockers found themselves now besieged yea without much hope of sudden relief or safe means to sally For so well had the Prince ordered them that had they sallied forwards He had then fallen upon their first issuing out both in Front and Flanks with his Army and the Town had charged them upon their Rear Had they offered to escape over their Boat-bridg those in the Isle had disturbed their passing and others entertained their coming over By this time had the Prince commanded Sir Richard Byron with his own and Sir Gervase Eyres Horse-Regiments with eight hundred of Sir John Digbyes Foot to advance so high into the Island as to put in betwixt the enemies two bridges By which interposition was all intercourse cut off betwixt them their greater Body at the Spittle and those at Muskham bridg upon this those eight Colours at the bridg retreated as aforesaid Under favour of these Town-forces too was Rupert resolved to cast up a Redoubt that night betwixt the bridges but going now to view the ground the enemy sent out a Trumpet to desire a Parley To make way for this and the more to sweeten and oblige the Prince had Sir John Meldrum some hours before sent home Colonel Gerard yet upon the parole of a Souldier and a Gentleman to return himself a Prisoner when ever he should be called They having sent out to parley quit their bridg which his Highness presently possessed by a hundred Musquetiers For the parley was appointed Sir Richard Crane Captain of his Life-guards with Sir William Neale Scout-master General the other sending Sir Miles Hobard and Sir John Palgrave into the Town Now true though it be that the enemies were distressed yet very wise Generals have not thought it safe to make such men desperate Besides which being now in the midst of their own Garrisons they might possibly be relieved And to confesse the truth the Princes Horse were so over-marcht and his Foot so beaten off their legs that He found his men lesse able for the present for them and the enemy were more then was believed For these reasons and for that as by intercepted Letters it appeared the Lord Fairfax and his Son Sir Thomas being both commanded by the Council of State to march other places might ere long have need of his presence the Prince at length condiscended to these Articles 1. That all Match Bullet Powder Cannon and all other Fire-arms belonging to the Artillery be delivered 2. That all Souldiers march away with their Swords by their sides and Colours and Drums 3. That all Officers march without molestation with Their Arms and Horses for themselves and Servants and all Bag and Baggage Money and whatsoever doth truly belong to Themselves 4. That all Troopers and Dragoons march with their Swords Horses and Colours 5. That his Highness send a Convoy to protect us from any injury two Miles from the utmost of his Highness Quarters March 22. 1643. Because we may conceive that the 22. Divines appointed to reform might do something in order to their Pensions the latter end of this Year produced the effects A Protestation by them for setling of the Church and their particular Exceptions against the Liturgie not that the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England should be utterly abolished but purged of Innovations and Absurdities And first of the later part the Innovations and Absurdities they make to be these I. Because there be some things in it of which we know not how to make any reasonable sense viz. 1. Whatsoever is manifest the same is light Ephes. 5. 13. See Epi. 3. Lent 2. In the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity See Col. Trin. 3. Every Parishioner must communicate thrice a year and also receive the Sacraments and other Rites See Rubrick after Communion 4. God is said to be Father of all that is called Father in Heaven Ephes. 3. 15. See Epist. 16. Trinity 5. This is the sixth Moneth which was called Barren Luke 1. 28. See Gosp. Annunc 6. Or ever your Pots be made hot with Thorns so let indignation vex him as a thing that is raw Psalm 58. 8. See Gosp. Annunc 7. When the company of the Spear-men and multitude of the Mighty are scattered abroad among the beasts of the people that they humbly bring pieces of Silver and when he hath scattered the people that delight in War Then shall the Princes c. Psalm 68. 30. II. Because as far as we are able to discern there is contradiction in it 1. To the Book of Articles which denieth that Confirmation hath any visible Sign whereas the last Prayer in Confirmation makes Imposition of Hands a Sign to certifie the Children of God's favour and gracious goodness towards them 2. To it self by affirming in the Catechism that there are but two Sacraments and yet ascribing to Confirmation all things that are required to the being of a Sacrament either in that Book or in the Book of Articles III. Because to our best understanding it seemeth to contain in it some untruths 1. Innocents are said to be Gods Witnesses and to have confessed and shewed forth his praise not in speaking but in dying See Col. Inno. 2. It
who whilst Waller hunted the King was gotten Westward and to please the Lo. Roberts with advice of his Iuncto Counsel a Committee of Members is perswaded into Cornwal to credit Roberts for getting his Rents his main end hitherto obstructed by the power of the Cavaliers in that County The King comes to Kingsmore in Somersetshire Iuly 23. and passed Tamer at Palton-bridge in Cornwal Aug. 1. and so to Liskard 8. miles disâ—â—nt from Essex who was at Lesttithyel in Cornwal 5. Aug. there he is encompassed his Majesty and Prince Maurice at Bonnock on one side and Sir Richard Greenvile in Bodmin and Sir Iacob Ashley at Haul which commands Foy Haven But so soon as his Majesties Army drew from Liskard he faced the enemy in their Quarters at Listithiel who had strongly fastned their Foot Quarter on one side of the Town and placed most of their Horse and some Foot on the hills beyond The Town is situate in a valley and Tyde flows up from Foy to the Bridg so as it is not Fordeable but at one passe between that and the Sea Upon sight of the enemy his Majesties Army was full of courage and desired to be engaged but that was not thought fit to be done and the way of distressing the enemy for want of Provisions was resolved on as the most secure and so drew into Quarters the King to Boconnocke the Lord Mohuns House his Army between him and a Heath that parted his Quarters and the enemy at Listithiel the distance between both being â—ot above a mile Assoon as his Majesty had fastned his which was quickly done every enclosure here being Cannon-proofe most of the chief Officers of both Armies subscribed a Letter to Essex by his Majesties consent notwithstanding his Majesties Gracious Letter to him immediately before was not vouchsafed an answer To the Letter sent by the Commanders he returned a Negative yet his denyal wrought no great effects on his Majesties Army for in this posture between the expectation of Sir Grenevile's assistance who was coming on from the West the starving of the enemy and many debates but no positive results His Majesty spent above eight dayes putting little in execution but drew out often on the Heath had some light skirmishes with the Horse Guards and so drew into Quarters again at last Sir Richard Grenevile came with his Force then the Army began more seriously in the prosecution of the design Grenevile fastning his Quarter at Lanhetherocke the Lord Robert's house beyond the River three miles West of his Majesty and possessed Leprin Bridg on the same River a mile above Listithiel and his Majesty on the other side placed Guards on all the passes on the River leading from his Quarters and Listithiel to Foy and possessing a house of the Lord Mohun's over against the Town and a Fort that commandes the very mouth of that Haven being there but half Musket-shot over this was the first work which conduced to his Majesties advantage which proved fatal to their Army they being thereby deprived of an Harbor to bring them in provisions or supplies which they had plentifully before and now they had only a small Creek at Mimibilley and Saint Blases Bay but neither of those safe for Ships yet they still possessed a large space of ground West-ward which made his Majesty after few dayes expectation conclude that he could not starve them in so short a time as was imagined and therefore drew nearer to their Quarters and fastned his Army within Encloâ—â—res on the Wings of theirs within Musket-shot each of the other between which lyes part of the Heath there not half a mile over At the farthest extent of the Kings Quarters on that Heath he built a Fort that by Cannon very much anoyed theirs though they returned daily twenty great shot for one of his the same day Grenevile on the other side of the River drew near to Listithiel took Lesterman Castle a strong Fort and a Passe underneath it little more then half a mile from the Town and hereby his Majesty bettered the communication of his Forces when he had secured these and his Quarters he lay still again expecting the event but the ill weather coming on he resolved on a new design which was to attempt on some of their Quarters by surprise and thereupon Prince Maurice's Army was ordered to have fallen on two dayes successively on the next Quarter to them but the first day it was thought neither easie to get nor advantageous being got and the next by delay and the enemies discovery of the design nothing was effected to the trouble and dislike of many who thought the same more easie then perchance it was yet that failing necessity forbad any longer idlenesse and so again his Majesty resumed the former design of starving them to which purpose General Goring with most of the Horse and Sir Thomas Basset with fifteen hundred Foot of Prince Maurice his Army were sent West to stop all provisions coming in at Saint Blase and to reduce them to straits by keeping their Horse and Foot close together This wrought the expected effect for on Friday night came intelligence that they were drawing their Cannon and Baggage towards Foy whereupon his Majesty made ready not knowing what they had done with their Horse who the next morning before day in great fear marched between his Majesties two Quarters being about two thousand five hundred commanded by Balfour but his Majesties Horse followed them though they made so great hast as that they were timely at Saltash near which Sir Edward Waldgraves brigade lay and was almost surprised but the gallant old man got his men together Flanked them slew a hundred took Major Abeâ—cromy and many prisoners Being well bruised here they laboured to transport themselves over the River for Plymouth their Horse being very weak and tired but in the afternoon that day General Goring and most of the Horse had order to pursue them and timely notice was given to all Forces in the Southern parts to meet them in the Front but failed Their Foot Army drew out likewise on Saturday and by eight in the morning marched away towards Foy his Majesty presently followed and having got the Bridg and Town of Listithiel advanced the Hill where he found two rare pieces of Cannon and about a mile farther three or four more with powder and Amunition which in their hast they left behind them Thus marching after them his Majesty fell in their Rear two miles from Listithiel and from hedg to hedg enforced them to an hasty retreat at length having got some advantage of an inclosure they made a stand and with their remaining Horse regained some fields whence they were forced before whereupon the King sent presently Captain Brett with the Queens Troop who in the Kings view forced them to retire regained the ground lost got more and returned gallantly and in good order with the losse only of four men and
himsefe shot in the arm for this good service his Majesty presently Knighted him and he well deserved it His Majesty wanted only Horse to have utterly destroyed them for they were now unable to help themselves In this condition his Majesty pursued them all day getting still ground in the evening one whole Regiment of their Foot being Colonel Weyres staggared ran from field to field with their Cannon and Colours only at the appearance of but eight of his Majesties Horse and had not night come on all their Army had undoubtedly been destroyed The Gentlemen of his Majesties own Troop did most gallantly in that service being twice bravely led on by the noble and valiant Lord Bernard Stuart to the great terrour of the Rebels This no question caused their General Essex early the nex day to quit his glorious Command and in a small Boat to shift away by water some say for Plymouth as yet there is no certainty where he is nor of Roberts Meirick and others who are gone Thereupon yesterday his own Lieutenant Colonel Butler who was formerly taken Prisoner at the Lord Mohun's House and now exchanged for Sir John Digby came to desire a Parley which was accepted and Hostages interchangeably delivered the Treaty followed in the evening in the Kings Quarter the Treators for his Majesty Prince Maurice the Lord General and the Lord Digby Theirs Colonel Barkeley an insolent Scot Colonel Whichcott a zealous City Colonel and Colonel Butler after high demands the conclusion brought forth these Articles 1. It is agreed That all the Officers and Souldiers as well of Horse and Foot under the command of the Earle of Essex being at the time of the Conclusion of this Treaty on the West side of the River of Foy shall to morrow being the Second of September by eleven of the clock in the morning deliver up near the old Castle in their own Quarters All their Cannon and Train of Artillery with All Carriages Necessaries and Materials thereunto belonging and likewise All the Arms offensive and defensive both of Horse and Foot and all Powder Bullet Match and Amunition whatsoever unto such Officers as the General of His Majesties Artillery shall appoint to receive the same except only the Swords and Pistols of all Officers above the degree of a Corporal who are by this Agreement to wear and carry the same away 2. Secondly It is agreed That immediately after the delivery up of the said Artillery Arms and Amunition c. that all Officers and Souldiers both of Horse and Foot of the said Army shall march out of their Quarters to Listithiel with their Colours both of Horse and Foot Trumpets and Drummes And that all Officers of Foot above the degree of Serjeants shall take with them such Horses and Servants as properly belong unto themselves as also all reformed Officers their Horses and Arms not exceeding the number of fifty and likewise to take with them all their Bagge and Baggage and Wagons with their Teemes of Horses properly belonging to the said Officers 3. Thirdly It is agreed That they shall have a safe Convoy of a hundred Horse from their Quarters to Lestithiel and thence in their March the nearest convenient way to Poole and Warham provided that they secure the said Convoys return to Bridgwater or His Majesties Army and that in their march they touch not at any Garrison 4. Fourthly It is agreed That in case they shall march from Poole to any other place by land that neither they nor any of them shall bear Arms more then is allowed in this agreement nor do any Hostile act untill they come to Southampton or Portsmouth 5. Fiftly It is agreed That all the Sick and wounded Officers and Souldiers of that Army who are not able to march shall be left at Foy and there secured from any violence to their persons or goods and care taken of them untill such time as they can be transported to Plymouth 6. Sixtly It is agreed That all Officers and Souldiers of that Army for the better conveniency of their march shall be permitted to receive all such Monies Provisions of Victuals and other accommodations as they shall be able to procure from Plymouth To which end they shall have a Passe granted for any Persons not exceeding the number of twelve whom they shall send for the same 7. Seventhly It is agreed That there be no inviting of Souldiers but that such as will voluntarily come to his Majesties Service shall not be hindred MAURICE BRAINFORD Phil. Skippon Christ. Whitchcott According to these Articles his Majesty possessed himself of all the enemies train of Artillery viz. 49. Pieces of fair Brass Ordnance taken then and the day before among which was the great Basilisco of Dover 200. and odd Barrels of Gunpowder Match Ball c. proportionable above 700. Carriages and bewixt 8. and 9. thousand Arms Horse and Foot Amongst the Baggage were found a world of empty Bottles belonging to his Excellencies own Quarter As for their persons his Majesty out of his wonted Clemency was unwilling to shed blood they were his own Subjects which caused so many thousands of them instantly to desire imployment in his Majesties Cause to fight especially against them who had led them into all this and at last run away from them To speak truth this is the most high inexpiable piece of cowardize that ever was committed by one who took on him the name of a General to lead an Army of above ten Thousand men into such miserable necessity all which they endured through his Lordships conduct and then to steal away in a poor little boat by night leaving all his flock to starve or submit to the mercy of another Army But the Earl to excuse himself accuseth the Lord Roberts for betraying him into this County of Cornwal where he promised the people would rise upon his coming which they did to some purpose The Lord Roberts saies 't was the Earls own headinesse to advance Westward expresly contrary to the Ordinance of both houses adding that the Earl might have preserved all if he would have but entertained a Treaty with his Majesty by which pretence he might have gained time till relief had come The inferiour Officers accuse them both and both Officers and Souldiers say 't was long of Sir William Waller for not advancing who twenty to one will fault them at Westminster for not recruiting him and the Members must needs lay it upon the Citizens who would not by any means come forth with Waller And yet Sir William would never have run away by Sea nor his Excellency at Roundway-down you see now what hath been the old difference betwixt the Earl and the other the one for a Race-horse the other for a Cock-boat Though truly 't is a wonder that the Earl would take water when he should take possession of Ten thousand pound per annum which the Members voted him out of the Lord Capel's Lands And in his way as the King
ten times over Here they remained pretending a Peace but in earnest to settle Trade and to see which way the Game went and having leave to go to the King they caress him with their Masters the States great inclination to cement these Differences but the King knew their mindes not to engage for him and so they returned in the end of this year The Marquess of Newcastle had been besieged above nine Weeks by the Parliaments Forces in the North for the raising of which Prince Rupert advances out of Shropshire marching with his Army through Lancashire raises the Siege of Latham House takes three Garisons Stopford Bolton and Leverpool he came forward towards York and on Sunday last of Iune enquartered at Knaresburgh fourteen Miles off the next morning over Burrough-bridg and that night along the River to York upon whose approach the Besiegers quit their Quarters and those in York pursue the Rear and seize some Provisions the next morning Iâ—lie 2. the Prince advances after them resolving to give them Battel by noon yet was it almost seven a clock ere they began and upon disadvantage enough for the Parliaments Forces had choice of the Ground and stood it on a Corn Hill on the South side of Marston Moor four Miles from York and so the Prince taking their leavings fell on upon their Horse who began to shrink and their right Wing of Horse and Foot were routed by the Princes left Wing commanded by General Goring Sir Charls Lucas and Major General Porter And thus confessed by themselves Our right VVing of Foot say they had several mis-fortunes for our right VVing of Horse consisting of Sir Thomas Fairfax 's Horse in the Van and the Scots Horse in the Rear wheeled about and being hotly pursued by the Enemies left VVing came disorderly upon the Lord Fairfax his Foot and the Reserve of Scotish Foot broke them wholly and trod the most of them under foot The Fight was sharp for three hours till night put a period Some of the Prince's Horse followed execution too far and none advancing to supply their absence the Enemy rallied and did the work and many slain on both sides and Prisoners also taken three Prisoners of quality on the Cavaliers party Lucas Porter and Colonel Tilliard The Scots were the Reserve in all their three Armies but smarted at last because their Van both of Horse and Foot not standing brought execution upon them The Parliament printed two Relations the one a Scotish Captain says That Prince Rupert had got the Ground with VVinde and Sun of the Scots when it is certain it was late in the Evening that the loss of men of qualitie upon their parts was but one Lieutenant Colonel and some few Captains And yet he says that the Earl of Eglinton's Regiment lost four Lieutenants the Major the Lieutenant Colonel and the Earls Son mortally wounded that the number of their slain about three hundred and that of the Cavaliers almost three thousand that Prince Rupert took all the Ordnance out of York and lost them in this Fight which Sir William VVallar says were eight and twentie Pieces Another Relation five and twentie And another says twentie That in this Fight were taken ten thousand Arms. Sir VVilliam Waller says six thousand Another Scots Captain says three thousand For Colours they shew a Scene of 47. Colours The truth is that the Horse of both Armies were sufficiently scattered by night next morning the Prince marched towards Thursk and can onely say That he relieved York with some Cattel raised the Siege and was soundly beaten Yet from thence he marched with six thousand Horse and three thousand Dragoons into Lancashire But from the last Fight divers of the Kings party took leave to depart the Kingdom and landed at Hamburgh the Letters from thence names them the Earl of Newcastle lately made Marquess with his two Sons and his Brother Sir Charls Cavendish General King the Lord Falconbridg the Lord VViddrington the Earl of Cranworth the Bishop of London Derrie Sir Edward VViddrington Colonel Carnabie Colonel Basset Colonel Mozon Sir VVillam Vavasor Sir Francis Mackworth with about eighty other persons Sir Thomas Glenham was Governour of York a gallant Gentleman maintaining it against the Siege of all the main Northern Forces of the Parliament the Earl of Manchester the Lord Fairfax and his Son And although Prince Rupert had so far relieved the City as to send them in some Cattel but neither Men nor Amunition so that after his fatal Blow at Marston Moor and now marched away the City left utterly from further expectation of assistance and the Parliaments Forces now resolving to fall upon the storming which the Governour opposed with as much gallantry as his necessitous condition could afford but being over-powered and his wants increasing he was inforced to surrender the City upon honourable terms on the sixteenth of Iulie 1. That all Officers and Souldiers â—hall march out on Horse back with their Arms flying Colours Drums beating Matches lighted Bullets in Mouth with Bag and Baggage 2. VVith a Convoy to Skipton 3. The Sick to depart at pleasure 4. That no Souldier be plundered or enticed away 5. The Citie to enjoy their Trade 6. The Garison to be two parts of three Yorkshire men 7. The Citie to bear Charges with the Countie as usual 8. To dispose and enjoy their Estates according to the Laws of the Land without molestation 9. The Gentlemen there to dispose and carrie away their Goods at pleasure 10. That the Churches be not defaced no man plundered justice to be administred by the Magistrate as before 11. That all persons whose Habitations are within the Citie though now absent shall enjoy the benefit of these Articles The Parliament ordain new Levies to be raised ten thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse and one thousand three hundred Dragoons out of nineteen Counties South Counties Suffolk Norfolk Huntington Oxford Berks c. Not only to raise these thousands but must advance as much money as will pay them during their imployment so as it was said that the two Houses at Westminster would devour all the Houses in London It was murmured that as these two had ruined all the rest so ere long they would pull down one the other for the Lords were daily baited by the Commons as Peers which yet doe but should not sit above them so as Mr. Blaston lately told the Lower Members That the Lords had been allowed too long to domineer and we see said he how often they have been defective the Lower stickling to heave out the Higher by the strength of whose Votes and Number the Committee of State is newly reared up which at long running will be too hard for them both and then that very Committee will perchance split into two Factions when our Northern Brethren may prove the better Gamesters because the Elder at this kinde of Contract untill at the last the whole Cause will appear in its
many Arms and Ladders Hovvever they doe their best vvith Granadoes and great Shoâ— 154. of the first and of Canon above 800. Wherefore Lieutenant Colonel Green sallied out slevv and vvounded more and no doubt the Castle lost many But the Earl of Northampton for the King vvith good strength of Horse came from the Rendezvouz near Newbury quartering at Farnborough and then to Beechen-tree to meet Colonel Gage from Oxford vvhose Horse vvere commanded by Colonel Webb the Foot by Lieutenant Colonel Gerard and Major Kirke and all joyning they march to Aderbury and came to Banbury October 25. finding Colonel Fines his Horse in several bodies dravvn up on the South side of the Tovvn Here they stand a vvhile and face the Earl but soon retreated to the West side tovvards Hanwel their Foot novv come out of the Tovvn in some disorder follovved their Horse having sent their Baggage and Artillery that vvay the night before The Earl pursued them vvith three Regiments of Horse the Earl of Brainfords the Lord Wilmots and his ovvn and some Dragoons Colonel VVebb being sent on the left hand round about Crowth-hill with the most part of Oxford Horse to face or charge them in the Flank In the mean time Colonel Gage vvith the Foot enters Banbury Tovvn and relieves the Castle Northampton overtakes his Enemies neer Hanwel a Forlorn-hope being dravvn out by Captain Brown and joyning vvith Gages Oxford Horse but vvere valiantly opposed so that they vvithdrevv to the Ear◠〈◊〉 main Body vvith him and after a long and round dispute to 〈…〉 the enemy retreated somevvhat hastily and neer Hanwel they dispersed some to Copredy Hanwel Tovvn Broughton and Compton leaving their Carriages one Field piece and three Wagons of Arms and Amunition vvhich vvere sent to Banbury Castle and thus much it cost them for these vvere slain Captain Brown Captain Tylly the Earl of Brainford shot in the mouth and Colonel Webb vvas hurt in the hand so was Lieutenanant Colonel Smith and one Boteler commended for his gallantry was slain nine Troopers and many Common Souldiers killed and hurt But they that fled must needs be more the high waies could testifie many prisoners Cap. Vint and Lieutenant Vernon four Cornets of Horse many Horses and six Barrels of Powder Match and Shot c. Glocester being recruited by â—olonel Stephens with three Troops of Horse and tvvo Troops of Colonel Harlyes Regiment they drew out against Colonel Myn an active Cavalier and perpetual vexation to Massie who had discovered that some Forces out of Wales vvere to passe at Ast and advanced thither and missed narrowly of the Lord Herbert these being abroad Colonel Myns design was that their Forces in both Counties of Hereford and Worcestershire should joyn at Casselane and so march to the Gates of Glocester Massie therefore returns homewards from whence he sends for 220 Musquetiers and 100. more from Tewxbury to meet him on the march to cope with Myn. But being arrived and all things prepared to set out a dispute increased betvveen two of their own Majors Grey and Hamond and after a box on the ear they drew and for the blow Hamond kills him whose Souldiers now in Arms ready to advance turned back to the revenge which the Governour had much adoe to pacifie which gave the Enemy time to come on within three miles of the Town and to prevent their further advance Massies men at Highleaden passed the Brook and finde the Cavaliers quartered in Hartpury Fields quiet and still but was upon them by dark night took ten prisoners and some Forragers their main Body being gon that night to Redmarly and were followed to Eldersfield two miles from them At break of day Massie marches and by six a clock advanced to their Rendezvouz being 160. Horse and 850. Foot drawn up into Batalia and the Hedges lined with Musquetâ—ers The other divided his Foot into two Bodies and drew out his Horse into single Troops the Inclosures not giving room for a larger form and having disposed one Troop with the Tewxbury shot he drew out the remain to another place of advantage Massie leads the Van of three Troops being seconded by three other Troops commanded by Backhouse and thus drawn out they march to their Adversaries charging suddainly put them from their Ambuscado's beat their Horse to a flight and so got into the Van of their Foot and worsted them bâ—oke their whole Body many wounded and slain and some prisoners Myn slain in the place and 170. Major Buller seven Captains four Lieutenants five Ensignes twelve Serjeants and near 250. common Souldiers taken Prisoners But in this encounter Myn was alone for the Hereford and Worcester Forces were not joyned which was hourly expected and had done the deed as they designed it and so Myn was lost and those with him for Lieutenant Colonel Passy who commanded a fresh party of 150. Horse and 500. Foot just at the close of the fight was comâ—ng post to Myns Brigade to bring news of the others arrival but he was met by the Scouts and wounded and taken so neither of their parties had knowledge to prevent this mischief But up they did come being first discovered by Colonel Broughton met with some straglers in the pursuit such they cut off but the Body got home with all their prisoners Myns body was carried to Glocester and for his worth and honour they vouchsafed him burial his death much lamented with the losse of the English Regiment from Ireland Englishmen not Irish as many would now make the world believe them to be of the Irish Rebels but most untrue this defeat ruined the Kings power in South Wales Prince Rupert's Forces lay stragling between Shrewsbury and Worcester a while after the great Northern defeat at Marston Moor which were now rallied into an Army for the close of this Summers action To make a diversion from the West part and so to befriend Essex all the Glocester Forces that could be spared were drawn out towards Bathe with a thousand Horse and Foot Waller having returned to him the former Forces which he borrowed on purpose to disturbe the Kings Quarters and so to enforce him to withdraw a part of his main Body to enable Bristol and Bathe and hoped likewise to encounter Prince Rupert from Bristol who was there in person but in few dayes upon knowledge of the utter losse of Essex his Army in the West all these designes flatted But indeed it was time for Massie to return and look to himself for Prince Rupert had commanded Colonel Charles Gerrard out of Wales with other Forces to break their way through Glocestershire into the Western parts these were suppose◠〈◊〉 lye neer Worcester and to march to Cotswold Hills or by the borders of Herefordshire to make into Dean Forrest and thence over at Ast passage and to hinder these designes Massie retreats and in his return falls down before Berkley lodged in the Town two dayes and
and therefore at midnight with eight Troops and a hundred Musquetiers drew up to Clinewall to meet the Newnham Foot appointed for this design And in the close of the next Evening they came near the Cavaliers and that night forced their Ambuscado into their Works and the next morning make the onset and here Massie made one Principal being so put to it his Head piece knocked off with the Butt end of a Musquet but rescued and so the full Body coming up they had the better and so prevented the joyning of the Parties for that time During this time Colonel Broughton out of Glocester undertakes to Garrison Godridge Castle where he rousted with great undertakings Skirmishes and surprisals as all the other Garrisons usually did one from the other successefully Some Hereford Forces hearing of it drew out a small Party Summoned him Stormed and took him and his prisoners and carried them all above one hundred to Hereford nimbly done without any noise The King in his march out of the West sent part of his Army upon several Services yet still his Adversaries marched before him towards London as far as Basing near which place their strength were gathered into one Body the General Essex the Earl of Manchester and Sir William Wallers marching to a general Rendezvouz Wednesday October 23. but did not hazard their Forces against Basing House but left it after their Outguards were rowsed by Captain Markham with a Party of Horse The Kings Forces then at Kingscleer and the Enemy in Aldermarston Park and on Thursday night came privately over the Water at a Ford near Padworth and the next morning drew to Bucklebury five miles from Newbury where the King then was On Bucklebury Heath the Enemy made their Rendezvouz having refreshed their Army from Reading from hence they sent out several Parties to have fallen upon the Kings Horse Quarters but were repulsed by Lieutenant Colonel Bovel About twelve a clock on Friday they drew down their whole Army between Thatcham and Shaw where by strong Parties they attempted to force the Horse Quarters at Shaw but were Skirmished with a Part of Prince Maurice Horse some killed between them and then drew back to a Field before Shaw leaving some Foot and Dragoons to dispute the Hill vvhich vvas done till Midnight On Saturday morning Essex dravvs his Canon vvith four great Bodies of Foot and some Horse to that Hill there they stand in Batalia and shot with their Ordnance all that after-noon to loss in which time they drew the rest of his Army through Winterburn towards Boxford to have girâ— in the King which was all they did that night Early on Sunday morning October 27. about a thousand of the Earl of Manchester's Forces and London Trained Bands came down the Hill to pass over that part of the River Kennet which runs betwixt the Hill and Newburie these passed the River Eastward and therefore undiscerned of some of the Kings Foot who kept a Pass at a Mill Westward of the place where the Enemy passed over it being then not fully break of day and advanced upon those few Foot at the Pass over-pressing them with numbers had much the better untill Sir Bernard Astley Son to the Lord Astley came up with four hundred Musquetiers and fell on them to a Rout the while two other Bodies hasted over the River to second the first but the other rout their Seconds and both run through the River and some drowned The rest of Essex's Army consisting of his own Regiment and VValler's whole Forces with part of the E. of Manchester's Horse pursue their Design in surrounding the King towards Spine and about three a clock after-noon four thousand of their Horse and Dragoons with five hundred Pikes and some Cannon appeared on the West side of Newburie where the Cornish Foot and the Duke of York's Regiment commanded by Sir VVilliam St. Leaguer were setled with five Field Pieces and a Brigade of Prince Maâ—rice's Cornish Horse charged home and got ground at first till they were beaten back which some affirm to be the reason why the Foot retreated to the East side of Spine which place they made good till their Enemy left the Field but those Guards were spread so thin there and so many thousands of their Adversaries pressing on the Advantage that they there gained the Kings five small Pieces which they hastily drew off Essex's Horse having forced back the King 's advanced with a Body of five hundred Horse part being Essex's Life-guard and a sufficient Strength of Musquetiers betwixt Newburie and Spine where the King's Life-guards and Sir Bennet's Brigade were drawn up Major Leg was sent with a party of Horse towards those of the Enemy who finding himself over-powred made a Retreat whereupon the other advanced with Musquetiers on their right hand towards the River there being three small Inclosures betwixt Colonel Bennet and them which made him wheel off which his Enemy calls a Routing but indeed though his Enemy came on upon him yet when his Regiment came up not ready before he faced and charged handsomly as the other confesses and was seconded by the Lord Bernard Stuart Brother to the Duke of Richmond and Lenox fell upon their Flanks and routed them and execution followed among whom was the Commander of the Earl of Essex his Life-guard whom Bennet shot dead and others slain The King lost Captain Catlin of Sir VValgrave's Regiment and some Troopers Captain VValgrave Sir Edward's Son was dangerously hurt and their Adversaries advanced to that ground again and thus it happened with Essex's Forces on the West side of Spine But those on the East side were more confident of Success having setled three Bodies of Foot in certain Inclosures advanced over a Ditch with a great Body of Horse hoping to break in through the Kings Guards but were prevented by General Goring who instantly drew up the Earl of Cleveland's Brigade put himself in the Head of it together with the old valiant Earl and his other Colonels of his Brigade Colonel Thornhill Colonel Hamilton Colonel Culpeper and Colonel Stuart the General told them they must now charge home and suddenly advanced up to the Gap where about fourscore of the Enemy were come over these he fell upon and forced them back and followed them over the Ditch but hastily and not in order the Enemy killed many untill a new Body came to second them and both together joyned and ordered forced their Enemy to scatter and there they had the better and killed Major Urrie Colonel Urrie's Kinsman In this Charge it was that the good Earl of Cleveland he deserves a better Title for in earnest he was always valiant and faithfull to his Principals and now engaged and over-powered he was forced their Prisoner These Particulars are confessed in the most Pamphlets but it were not much amiss if either side would forbear over-triumphing when no cause is given for this I must say not partially No English
and three times storming it was fain to retreat to Farnham with much dishonour of his bruised Army and but two lost in the Garison and some small injury of battering the Chimnies and so gave time and liberty for further fortifying it able to do injury to their Enemies Trade and Forces and being sufficient against surprize or storm they resolve to starve it setling their several Forces six weeks together round about in the Neighbour Towns harrowing the Countrey untill they marched to Oxford And now comes Colonel Norton with Forces by intelligence of a run-away Souldier defeats a party drawn out to Odiam with divers Prisoners faced the house and quartered at Basing-stoak with a Regiment of Horse and Dragoons after him comes Colonel Morleys blew Regiment from Sussex Sir Richard Onslowes with five Ensignes of Red from Surrey and two more of White from Farnham are all drawn up upon the South side of Basing-stoak and distribute their Forces the White to Sherfield Onslow to Anwell house Morley with Nortons horse in Basing-stoak often skirmish but alwaies with loss to themselves and each of these had a Troop attending For in the Garison were these Gallants two Majors Cuffand and Langley two Lieutenant Colonels Iohnson and Peak and Colonel Peak sallying out oftentimes with Execution on their Enemy but very little loss to themselves So that now the besiegers suffering too much by being loose they contract their Quarters into the Park the Lane and the Close three sides with the Foot on their Horse on Cowdreys down and at night break gtound Onslow in the Lane had set up a Demy Culverin till a shot from the House silenced his Gun But these without had in this time run their Line within half Musquet shot However the Garison got out and fell upon Onslow whose Irish Souldiership was beaten his petty Culverin dismounted many killed till four Companies of Red came to his rescue more Forces come from Southampton and four fresh Companies two daies before Morley ambitious of some honour in the absence of their chief Norton sends this summons My Lord To avoid effusion of blood I send your Lordship this Summons to demand Basing House for the use of the King and Parliament if this be refused the ensuing inconvenience will rest upon you and your speedy Answer My Lord Your humble Servant Herb. Morley And had this sodain Answer Sir it is a crooked Demand and shall receive a sutable Answer I keep the House in the Right of my Sovereign and shall do it in despight of your Forces Your Letter I reserve in testimony of your Rebellion Winchester This is returned by a Drum with direction Haste haste haste post haste upon the Letter And whilest Morley plaies on the Water-house with his Guns the Garison got out but eight Foot-men fetcht in six Beasts grazing before Onslow's works and he looking on When Norton returns from Sir Waller's defeat at Cropredy Bridge and findes a Captain of Morley's shot dead at his â—oot from those within The hurt within is not much the Marquess hurt two men killed by chain shot the Carriage of their Cabonet broke from their Culverin and by excess of rain the Medowes floting the Besiegers widen more open from the Towers and receive much hurt whilest under covert of a Blinde they sally out again upon Onslow so luckily that he is forced to fly which daies work ends the year of their first Garisons and the second Moneth of the Leaguer These within are tyred with over duty of eight and fourty houres and therefore divide their reliefs every four and twenty the Gentlemen and Troopers doing the same duty of Foot within and without with Musquets or Brown Bill and for seven weeks keep their Horse with Grass and Sage which in the night they were forced to fetch under the Enemies Works And knowing their intentions by Prisoners rather to starve than to storm the doubt of more Forces removed they within resolve to make sallies A party therefore of Horse under Command of Cuffard falls upon some of their Foot lying at hazzard upon Cowdrey's Down whilest Cornet Bryan also about twenty Horse apeece riding at a rate falls in betwixt them and the Hedges rout them flying to Basing-stoak and are pursued with Execution with loss of Colours Trumpets seven Horses and three Troopers many slain and returning under command of their own Cannon not a man slain Then comes additional Forces with Colonel Whitehead's new raised Regiment to Cowdrey's Down the next morning Major Cuffard gets out with six Files of Musquetiers and twenty Troopers and some Brown Bills fall into the Park and attach their out-lines burn their Blinds and their Baskets bring off one of their Morter Peeces whilest Lieutenant Snow with twenty Musquetiers and twelve Bills fall upon the Lane Quarter of Onslow with execution on them break their Demy culverin fire their Guard and return with Arms and Ammunition and Match to their dishonour And therefore Oram Captain of the Guard for vindication must be called to a tryal for neglect or cowardize and evermore for holding correspondence with the besieged is cashiered their service They without are angry and with fifty Musquetiers fall upon the New Works of the Besiegers but soon draw back sixty more get to the Ditch under the Platform but being answered by the Bulwark flanking the ditch they return in hast leaving their Arms for they had three Guns with case shot pouring on their Rear In the Evening Cuffand and Cornet Bryan each with twenty Horse and fourty Musquetiers sally out upon the Down beating the Foot from their Workes and the Horse-guard from their Post pursuing them to Basing-stoak whence strengthned with Irish Horse force the other to retreat take Bryan and a Troop wound three and kill Ensign Emery And the other came home Lieutenant Cooper a Corporal and seven more From whom they are assured that divers were hurt the day before in the Trenches and Morley shot in the shoulder For a fortnight the Besiegers fall to battering having torn the Towers they fall upon the House side next the Town making a work within Pistol shot and because of short commons within some of cowardize get out to the Enemy Whilest necessities increased no beverage but water no bread but of Pease and Oats other Corn all spent Then comes this Summons My Lord These are in the Name and by the Authority of the Parliament of England the Highest Court of Iustice to demand the House and Garison of Basing to be delivered to me and hereof I expect your Answer by this Drum within one hour In the mean time I rest yours to serve you Rich. Norton And had Answer Sir whereas your demands pretend Authoritie of Parliament I answer that without the King there can be no Parliament but by his Majesties Commission I keep this place and without his command shall not deliver it to any pretender whatsoever Winchester Sept. 2. Which Answer findes no other Reply but
six score shot Canon and Culverin and the next day but twenty their Cannon over heat and faulty is drawn to Farnham No relief came according to promise from Oxford desperate they sally out Snow Byfield and Ontram each with twelve Troopers Brown Bills and eighteen Musquetiers and fall upon Onslow who seldome scaped the scowring gain his redoubt draw off his Demy Culverin with so many Prisoners as filled the Goal within with loss onely of three men and one hurt and retreat Whilest Sir William Waller with two Troops arrived at Basing-stoak and came out with his Horse faced the House had his Captain killed and many more from the works within so that this daies service is accounted with loss without sixty killed and twelve hurt two Gunners and two Lieutenants Those that sallied lost were six slain and but six wounded The Besiegers are re-inforced with two Companies two Waggons and twelve Troops of Horse the next day two Regiments their Artillery ten Guns followed with one Company For Sir Waller's whole Army appeared going to the West took their Leaves of the Leaguer for the King was sending relief from Oxford and Waller would not stay The Messenger Edward Ieffery being returned with this good news that they were advanced to Alder-Maston for there was ten out of a Company of Commanded men drawn out of several of the Kings Garisons of Oxford Wallingford Winchester and Dennington Castle amounting to fourteen hundred men the most part Foot but some were mounted Dragoons And all these commanded by Colonel Gage who by a still march in the night and yet many hazards by seven a clock September 12 was come to Chinham-down where he findes Colonel Norton by an Alarm standing ready in a Body and from him the Alarm went on to Colonel Morley and so to all their other Quarters And notwithstanding the advantage of ground which Norton had men fresh and prepared against tired Troops and wearied Foot a thick Fog also to blinde his Ambuscadoes against the Cavaliers that were strangers and could discern no way nor pass more than what their valour and the sword could cut out But Gage makes his approach appearing first on a Hill near the High way which leads to Andover Whereupon Norton charges with great courage and broke through the others Horse who having a reserve of Musquetiers and with more than ordinary valour to give them their due saies their Adversaries forced Norton to retreat or rather to fly to Morley's Quarters as far as the Church and so through Basing-stoak The day by this time clearing up Lieutenant Colonel Iohnson with some Musquetiers sally out of the Garison beat them at the Grange from their Line and pursue them to the Hill thence to the Delve clearing that Quarter with so small defence as is not easily to be believed nor their loss to be credited the slain are not numbred but the Prisoners brought in were counted sixty four common Souldiers two Serjeants one Lieutenant but indeed the suddain supply and boldly managed had amazed the Besiegers The relief consisted of many Horse Loads of Powder and Match a Drove of Cattel besides Plunder from Basing-stoak The Ammunition brought in the Convoy return to Cowdrey's Down and the Enemies Horse retreat to Chinham and forced from thence they finde in the Town fourteen Barrels of Powder one hundred Arms with good provisions of all sorts which are sent in also to the Garison Major Cufford and Hull marched out and take in Basing side Onslowes fatal place and quarter and in it two Captains Iarvas and Iephson one Lieutenant two Serjeants and thirty Souldiers who were made to draw Onslowes Demy-Culverin into the Garison their Tents and Huts fired and hastening away from their Works Colonel Morley's Cornet lost his Colours with this Motto Non ab Equo sed in Aequo victoria not from their Horse for they fled but in the equity of their Cause who had the victory All done with the losse of the Garrison Souldiers but fifteen and some hurt whereof five died and so Gage goes home again to Oxford by the way of Reading leaving their quarters in Blaze and only one left them quiet for Intelligence came to him that the Parliament Forces were drawing together neer Silchester and Kingscleer Lieutenant Colonel Iohnson was a Doctor of Physick but besieged and in this hazard for his life became a Souldier was now shot in the Shoulder whereof contracting a Feaver he died valiant in that Profession and learned in the other both Herbalist and Physician After this for many daies the Garrison had room and courage to march out and meet their Enemy in several Parties several times and return with Booties sometimes Arms otherwhile Cattel with losse to their Enemie when in October they might see from off their Towers the Van of the Earl of Manchesters Army march to Basing-stoake and Shefield the next day eight Regiments of Foot and some of Horse drawn to the South of Basing Troop to Farnham Sir William Wallers Regiment and others of the General Essex joyn to the Leaguer draw into Battalia the next day march towards Reading But in fine the besiegers wearied with twenty four weeks diseases and now Winter seizing them their Army wasted from two thousand to seven hundred the evil news from the General Essex Army in the West of England Newburie Battel lately passed the King come to Bulington Green raised Dennington Siege and now advanced to Hungerford from thence to Oxford and the Parliaments Forces leaving the Field the Besiegers at Basing began to consider and to resolve to rise and be gon At morning Sun the 16. of Novem. the Besiegers draw off their Wagons and Guns the Foot march to Odjam and fire their Huts for it was but time they had intelligence that Colonel Sir Henry Gage with one thousand Horse brings in Amunition and provision and so were quit of any opposers A Siege where the Souldiers within suffered all inconveniences incident thereto want of provision supplied as by miracle having no lesse then one hundred and fourty uselesse persons Sir William Waller harrowing with his Forces at Farnham Norton able to bring three times the Force against the the supplies yet all failed and Basing House now at liberty When at London it was confidently reported it was lost And the Lady Onslow reporting that the Parliament had considered their good service in the Cause and therefore had given Basing House to her Husband and hoped the world should then see them in a better condition but it proved otherwise he being forced out of his Lines of Communication On the tenth of Ianuary comes to the Scaffold William Laud Doctor of Divinity Arch Bishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England To begin the Story of his Life at the hour of his Death would be tedious and out of time and tune some have done it well and given him his due Nay Mr. Prynnes Breviate published on purpose to defame him to the
little darknesse upon nature but thou by thy mercies and passion hast broke through the jawes of death So Lord receive my soul and have mercie upon me and blesse this Kingdom with peace and plenty and with brotherly love and charity that there may not be this effusion of Christian blood amongst them for Iesus Christ his sake if it be thy will Then laying his head upon the Block and praying silently to himself he said aloud Lord receive my soul which was the signal to the Executioner who very dexterously did his Office at a blow This one Note I may not forget as a truth from an Honourable person then present upon the Scaffold that though the Chinks were stopped yet there remained a small hole from a knot in the midst of a Board and in which his finger of the right hand happened to fall into and to stop that also that his desire might be fulfilled lest his blood might descend on the peoples head his soul ascending to Heaven and leaving his body on the Scaffold to the care of men imbalming it with their tears His body was accompanied to the earth afterwards with great multitudes of people whom love had drawn together to perform that Office and decently Interred in the Church of Allhallows-Barking a Church of his own Patronage and jurisdiction according to the Rites and â—eremonies of the Church England He deserved that honour at his death being the greatest Champion of the Common Prayer Book whilst he lived Nor need Posterity take care to provide his Monument It being well observed by Sir Edward Deering He who threw the first stone at him that St Pauls Church will be his principal Monument and his own Book against the Iesuite his lasting Epitaph and so I leave him to that comfort which the Psalmist gives him The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance and shall not be affraid of any evil report Psal. 112. 6 7. Take this though for the present Thy brave attempt on Pauls in time to come Shall be a Monument beyond a Tombe Thy Book shall be thy Statua where we finde The Image of thy Nobler part thy Minde Thy Name shall be thy Epitaph and he Who hears or reads of That shall publish Thee The Kings Party had Garisoned a repaired Castle at the Devises and Colonel Devereux had a Garison at Roudon House between the Devises and Malmsburie being set upon and Besieged Colonel Stephens in Wiltshire newly made by the Parliament Governour of Beverston Castle was willing to give aide to the Besieged at Roudon and sets upon the Besiegers with three Troopes of his own and some Malmsburie Foot without staying for Devereux assistance broke through the Cavaliers and Relieves the House with Provision and Powder and alighting would needs eate and refresh himself with his friends giving time to the Cavaliers Party to Rally and cast up a Brestwork before the passage and so he with 1400. Horse and Foot cooped up all together and so the Besieged more straitned then before News gets to Glocester from whence comes sixty Horse well commanded and were to joyn with one hundred Horse and Dragoons from Malmsburie to break through the Cavaliers and these added to the four hundred and thirty within the House were conceived to force a Passage through the first Sconce But then comes Sir Iacob Ashlie with three thousand Massie raises the County about Strodewater doing what he could to face the Garison at Cirencester and to divert the danger of the Besiegers but nothing prevailed and so they were faine to Surrender upon bad quarter The Cavaliers grow strong on all sides and a stream of ill success rushes in upon their enemies upon Colonel Hopton having raised sixty Horse and fourty Foot Garisoned Castle-ditch near Lidburie in Herefordshire a Party from thence of three hundred Horse and Foot in twenty four houres took him Horse and Foot Prisoners to Hereford Sir Iohn Winter hath Guards set round about upon him to straiten his Garison his own House in the Forest of Deane but they break out through all those Guards and joyn with a Party of Foot from Cheystow which Landed at Lancaught intending to make good the Passe over Wye and so to issue out of Wales at pleasure To oppose them all the Guards drew together thither Sir Iohn violently charged the Forlorn of Foot who gave back to let in their Foot and so both Horse and Foot fell upon him some were slain Colonel Gamne and Vangerris Colonel Pore of Berkley Castle drowned but Sir Iohn and his escaped being the industrious enemy to all his Parliament neighbours These things happened the latter end of the year February about the time of surprizing Shrewsburie by the Parliament Prince Rupert falls back out of Shropshire and comes upon Herefordshire with all his Army the greatest in the Kingdom being a confluence of these Forces his own formerly Prince Maurice Colonel Gerard Lord Hastings Lord Ashlie and Sir Marmaduke Langdale and yet impresse more men in aboundance in all the neighbouring Counties with store of Arms necessity casting them in such waies of violence and coercive power prest-men of suspected fidelity and lesse value often deceiving them in Battle yet the King was forced to these waies for conducing to the sudden forming of an Army when the Kings affairs became desperate and so thrust in with the old Volunteers made up the bulk of a great Body when the Parliament had no such necessity to enforce rather a more cunning way to win upon that party the City of London being the undrained Magazine of Men and Money the common Asse that bare the burden and so ends this year A continuance of the brief Narrative of the Kings Affairs Military in Scotland under Conduct of the Marquesse of Montrose Montrose with considerable Forces enters Scotland 13. April 1644. comes to Dunfrize seises that Town expecting Antrims Irish but being there in some danger returns to Carlisle with his men for the Earl of Calander had raised a new Army in Scotland to second General Leslie in England and now besieging York Montrose having beaten a Garison out of Morpith pillaged the Castle and took a Fort at the mouth of Tine He plentifully sent Victuals to Newcastle which come from Almwick And is now sent for by Prince Rupert then in his way to raise the siege of Yorke but could not possible get to him till the retreat from that unfortunate Battle of Marston-moor and so returned back to Carlisle with a few but faithful gallant men He sends the Lord Oglebie and Sir William Rollock into the heart of Scotland in disguise who return with sad news that all Strengths in Scotland were possessed by the Covenanters The Earl of Traquair contrary to his Oaths and promises to the King was an Agent for the Covenanters Yet this man was more in the Kings Favour then any Scotish except the Hamiltons Montrose in these Difficulties sends Oglebey with his earnest
of Dundee It was a Fight of four hours space equal till Montrose his Men got the Advantage which soon after proved a Victory Could it be otherwise when a ragged Irish man having his Leg broke with a great Shot On my Comrades quoth he I am sure now to be mounted a Trooper and with his Skene cut off the skin by which it hung bidding his Fellow to bury it lest the hungry Scot feed on my flesh Then Montrose enters Aberdine affording his Souldiers two days rest When News comes that Arguile was at hand assisted by the Earl of Lothian with fifteen hundred Horse therefore Montrose removes to Kinton twelve miles off and from thence sends Sir William Rollock with News of his good Success to the King at Oxford and withall to get Supplies against so potent Enemies every day increasing so that he was forced to bury his great Guns in a Bog quit his heavy Carriages and to get into the High-land Mountains where the Enemies Horse could not come and for Foot he feared none to that end he marches to the River Spey at Richmursie ruined Castle and there incamps On the other side he findes the Countrey in Arms about five thousand to hinder his passage till Arguile might come at him Montrose was now fain to turn aside to Badenoth a rocky place where he lay sick some days but being recovered he returns to Athole and sends Mac-Donel with a party to the High-lands to win the people by fair means or to fight them by force himself marches through Angus and gets over the Grainsbane a perpetual Ridg of Mountains that parts the East and West of Scotland and so into the North and leaving Arguile so far behinde who by his slow Marches meant not to fight goes to Strathboggy to meet with the Gordons and perswades them to engage but they were hindered by Huntly himself their Chief out of malice to Montrose his Success and the Lord Huntly's eldest Son was detained by Arguile his half Uncle the Earl of Alboin the second Son inclosed within the Siege of Carlisle and Lewis another Son was forced with the Enemy so that the Gordons had no one of their Famâ—ly to fight under Here Montrose quarters sometime skirmishing abroad and evermore with Booties but doing no good as to get aid he in the end of October goes to Favy Castle and possessed it when on the sudden he hears that Arguile and Lothian were within two miles with two thousand five hundred Foot and twelve hundred Horse Montrose now Mac-Donel being gone had but fifteen hundred Foot and fifty Horse In this exigent and the best way he draws his Men up to a Hill rough ground Hedges and Diâ—ches as good as Breast-works and here such of the Huntly's Dependents fairly forsook him and up the Hill the Enemy mounts Lothian charging with five Troops and were no sooner encountred but retired and other of their Foot were beaten from a Fastness leaving some Bags of Powder behinde and towards night Arguile retreats two miles off and slept not it seems till the next day for then he did nothing neither to any purpose This while Montrose in mighty want of Shot melts all his Vessels into Bullets but Arguile was gone marcht off over the River the very same way he came three miles off back again like a Coward as he came and Montrose returns towards Strathboggy but is pursued by Horse which entertains Skirmish with his Rear till Arguile gets up to Montrose who was mounted on a Hill and which induces Arguile to come to a Cessation of Arms that they both might treat and whilest they confer Montrose is bought and sold for Silver to betray him which he could not better secure than resolving to march away by mid-night as far as Badenoth but sent away his Carriages before when on the sudden Sibbals his old Friend and first Comrade stole away with a Prisoner to Arguile but Montrose instantly posts his Command to his Convoy of the Carriages to return by which he meant to amuze the Enemy with longer stay that the Fugitives might not be believed untill after four days he with great skill and courage marched away to Balveny where most of his Men of Birth and Quality by Arguile's corruption and Bribe fell off from him onely that noble Lord Ogleby and his two Sons never forsook him nay the Irish and High-landers professed themselves the more intirely faithfull Montrose returns from Balveny to Badenoth and hears that Arguile with his Foot onely lay at Dunkeldon in Athole thither goes Montrose in wondrous haste one night twenty four miles through ways untroden untill'd waste full of Snow and never inhabited by mortal man but ere he gets thither and sixteen miles off Arguile had knowledg by Scouts and up he rises and runs away in wondrous Disorder they whither they would but himself goes into Perth a strong Garison By this time returns Mac-Donel with the Macarenolds five hundred Men and Patrick Graham from the Funeral of his Chief with some choice men of Athole and with this Recruit he marches to the great Lake the Head of the River Tay and so through Bradalbain into the Countrey of Arguile Why he did so is too tedious to tell but he never did any thing without Reason for his Resolution for in a word Arguile was powerfull tyrannous and cruel amongst the Highlanders formidable to any of the Kings Friends forcing the Countrey to fight against their wills and yet hated him in their hearts the Low-lands of the Kingdom garisoned with Covenanters and great Bodies of Horse and so Montrose had no other place to winter in and therefore with a minde beyond extraordinary through long and foul Winter way with incredible speed he comes to Arguile The Earl was listing Souldiers at a Rendezvouz secure by the Castle Innerare supposing no Enemy within an hundred miles nor was it imaginable that an Army could ever get thither when the trembling Cow-herds told him Montrose was within two miles and so scared him into a Fisher-boat and flies away leaving his Friends and Fortunes and his own Countrey to the mercy of a provoked Enemy a Countrey barren of Corn and mountainous but Pastures and Cattle which Montrose visits round about with three several Brigades of his Army by himself one Mac-Donel another and the chief of the Macarenolds the third they range and waste all kill all in Arms that will not submit and drive all serviceable men out of that Territory fire the Villages level with the ground with that like usage as Arguile had done to the Kings Friends he being the first of any that prosecuted with Fire and Sword and thus was Montrose forced to do from the thirteenth of December 1644. to the last of Ianuary following and so departing through Lorn Glencow and Aber he came to Logh-ness And here he meets with new-raised Forces of the Enemy the Earl of Seafort with the Garison of Inerness and the whole
both Armies and with his Rhetoriâ—k stops the onset and so both Hosts retired and Torstenton takes leave and returns to his party in Germany Gallasso lets him passe but follows him to the like intention as when he let the other goe oftentimes able to attach the other and to worst him just like that of the Danish Admiral and as deserving to forfeit his head as corrupted by the Swede Truly Galasso was a gallant man and better judgements may excuse him not to advance unlesse the Leaguer men first concluded upon Terms as between the French and Swedes which the Dane as was conceived could not refuse in regard the Emperour came in to extinguish the fire amongst them but left it flaming at home and being Leaguer'd together things might become as in the former condition before the War since the interest of Denmark seemed to require it and all to abase and weaken the Swede The good King was thus deceived upon respective interests of each Party and so the overtures of the Dunkerk failing the Emperâ—alists returned home leaving the Dane to himself in distresse for the losse of six stately Ships four taken and two fired the King not Master of himself having to do with his own States of different sense with his and the successe of affairs thereafter The Swedes almost Conquerours but the Kings virtue over-mastering such misfortunes gathers his Fleet at Copen-haven to preserve Zeland when the Hollander religious in nothing more then their Interest of gain both to see the Swedes to swell too big and to get the Sound arrived with a Fleet at Copen-haven land an Ambassadour who resumed the heat which Tuillery had left so hot and never left powring on the water of good counsel until he had cooled the Swede with threats also that made the Swede agree to a peace with much advantage to the Dane and gave the good King Christian quiet to end his daies in peace after that he had reigned above fifty years lodging all his malice into a Record until time come to be quit with the Swede for those encounters And thus we take leave of the year 1644. The great Ordinance for calling the Members of both Houses from Military and Civil affairs and places was with exception of such and such persons and places mentioned therein And a particular Commission was ordered by Parliament for the General Fairfax to execute all Martial jurisdiction and fight with and slay such as shall oppose him and to suppress all such Forces as are not raised by authority of Parliament And because sundry ill-affected persons had fomented discontents between the two Houses in relation to this new model of the Army and so report that the Commons went to undermine their Lordships priviledges which intention they do disclaim and abhor and do acknowledge the many Noble and Renowned Actions performed by their Lordships Ancestors in defence of the liberty of the Commons This Speech was made to the Lords by Sir Iohn Evelin from the Commons and concluded to assure them that the House of Commons consisted of no other persons but such as were Gentlemen c. And a Declaration was left by him unto the Lords from the Commons to publish to the world what he hath spoken on their behalfs The Kingdome of Sweden now under the Regency of the young Queen onely Daughter and Heir to Gustavus took this time and opportunity of the jealousie of the Parliament against the Crown of Denmark for assisting the King of Englands party to send Ambassadours to the Parliament for a Treaty of League and Amity with them which was heartily accepted and fixed into Articles so that by this we are accounted both as one And now comes Colonel Mitton into the House of Commons to receive Publick thanks for his fidelity to the State especially for that gallant Service in surprizing Shrewsbury In had been the Kings chief Garison and faithfull to his Interest and of long time had endured the vexation of a powerfull Enemy which they quitted by often sallies and plundering their Adversaries thereabout but was lately Feb. 22 last surprized by the Committees of Wem and Oswestrie being assisted with four Companies and four hundred Horse from the Neighbour associations and three hundred Staffordshire Foot and one Company under command of Colonel Bowes and all these under the general command of Mitton about fifteen hundred men But without all this adoe in numbring up their Forces it was in a word betrayed to the Parliament with many persons of quality the manner I could never well understand nor would they print the shame of treachery The Prisoners were eight Knights and Bâ—ronets fourty Colonels Majors Captaines and others of quality two hundred common men one Captain and five Souldiers slain They took fifteen pieces of Ordnance many hundreds of Arms divers Barrels of Powder Prince Maurice his Magazin the Town the Castle and all the works and without the loss of three men For they say there were but two killed by chance So that a day of thanksgiving was set apart for the Parliaments successes in taking Scarborough Plymouth Weymouth and Shrewsbury within a moneth The old General Essex lately laid aside took his retirement out of Town from the noise and clamour of his Officers now discarded And although their merits were much to the service of the Parliament yet divers of them also upon what account we may imagine were questioned and committed without their Arrears And others of them the wiser way gave up their Commissions to save the labour and dishonour of being taken per force Prudently considering that a new Model of manners in the main of the Militia must necessarily require a mutation and change of men to manage that service answerable to the mindes of such as command in chief For indeed Essex was not at all Presbyterian nor could he preach And therefore it was resolved by himself and his Counsellours for him to surrender his Commission together with the Earl of Manchester's and the Earl of Denbigh's two General Commanders before they should be thereto required They did it on a day together in the Lords House And Essex therewith delivers a Paper which spoke his sence April 2. Having received this great Charge in obedience to the commands of both Houses and taken their Sword into my hand I can with confidence say that I have for this now almost three years faithfully served you and I hope without loss of Honour to my self or prejudice to the Publick supported therein by the goodness of God and the fidelity and courage of a great many gallant men both Officers and Souldiers But I will neither trouble you nor my self by repeating either the difficulties or danger we have overcomed or the service that I have done you I see by the now coming up of these Ordinances that it is the desire of the House of Commons that my Commission may be vacated and it hath been no particular
testimony thereof if it shall please you to expresse it to us wherein we may be useful to the States our honoured neighbours and Predecessors in the like sufferings Sir Iohn Winter was up again and obtains from Prince Rupert two thousand Horse and fifteen hundred Foot and so manages his business as drawes all Glocester Forces upon him marching to Westbury quartering within a mile of Winter but then Massie not able to do much against six thousand Horse and Foot drove after the rear of their march and attending their motion with petty Forces of fifteen hundred Horse and Foot and some Forces from Northampton and Warwick was got to Lidbury whither came a part of the Army within half a mile of the Town to surprize or summon it Massie commands his Horse to mount and marches off the Foot that the Cavaliers right or left wing might not get before him which they endeavoured by sending one party to the Towns end to keep him play whilest two other parties fetched a compass on either hand but Massie was enforced to entertain the other with several changes Here was Backhouse mortally wounded Massie's Horse shot under him but Prince Rupert plyed him so close that Massie drawes off retreats and then flies a sore day to Massie being in the instant of surprize but escaped Here the Prince being to form sufficient powers summons the County to this Protestation as the Parliament had done in the like President That they believe no power of Pope or Parliament can depose the King and absolve them from their natural obedience to his royal 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 believe the Earls of Essex and Manchester Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir William Waller together with all such as have already or shall hereafter take up Arms by Authoritie or Commission from the Members of Parliament at Westminster pretending to fight for King and Parliament doe thereby become actual Rebels and as such ought with all their adherents and partakers to be presented and brought to condigne punishment That they will never bear Arms in their quarrel but will if they be thereto called assist their Sovereign and his Armies in the defence of his Royal person Crown and Dignity against all contrary Forces to the utmost of their skil and power and with the hazard of their Lives and Fortunes That they will not discover the secrets of his Majesties Armie unto the Rebels nor hold any correspondence with them and all designs of theirs against the Kings Armie for the surprizing or delivering up of the Cities of Hereford or Worcester or any other of his Majesties Forts they shall truly discover unto those whom it shall concern so soon as it comes to their knowledge That his Majesties taking up of Arms for the causes by himself so often declared in Print is justly necessary That they shall endeavour all they can to hinder popular Tumults Risings Rendezvouz Meetings Confederacies and Associations of the people Townes Hundreds and Counties which are not warranted to Assemble by his Majesties express Commissions and in the sence he means it and that they detest from their hearts the seditious and traiterous late invented National Covenant and protest never to take it All these particulars to vow and protest sincerely to observe without Equivocation or mental Reservation This was conceived by the people very just and reasonable for it was a Riddle to the meanest understanding for the King to fight against those that pretended to fight for him This Protestation therefore taught them how to distinguish that the Parliament borrowed the Kings name to amaze the people Prince Ruperts Army the main rest of the Kings affairs draining Garisons and taking in to him the lesser Brigades Colonel Goring's Brigade passed from Bristol over Severn to the Prince at Hereford And now Rupert drawes thence the Infantry and Artillery lay between Worcester and Bewdly commanded by Sir Iacob Ashly whilest Rupert and Maurice with the Horse and some select Foot fetcht off the King from Oxford assisted also with Goring's Horse and Dragoons who left his Majesty at Stow and marched back over the Hills into the West through the Glocester-shire Borders Glocester association in much want received three hundred and fourty Auxiliaries in two Troops from the Grand Garison Newport Paynel out of Buckingham-shire and with all thâ—se and their own were hardly able to keep their Counties from daily distresses surprizal and imprisonments Sir Iohn Winter having with much resolution and providence maintained his House Lidney a Garison against several assaults of his Adversaries and now called away to publick service into the body of the Army and not willing to leave his House a prey to his Enemies advantage deserted and fired it having weakened his adverse party round about and left them nothing to live upon naked and ruined And now comes a larger supply of Horse to Glocester from the remainder of Colonel Beke and Dalby's Regiments commanded by Major Baller and so was enabled for some enterprize Evesham had much distressed VVorcester hindering the Parliaments Committee for establishing that County Massie therefore drew forth before it with five hundred Foot from Glocester and two hundred from VVarwick who belonged to the VVorcester Committee with a strong able Brigade of Horse and summoned Colonel William Leg Governour of Evesham to make a speedy surrender of the Garison with all Persons Arms Ammunition and Provision which he there held against the King and Parliament and the Iustice of them both Or upon the refusal to expect such Iustice as Fire and Sword would inflict To which he received this Answer You are hereby answered in the name of His Majesty that this Garison intrusted to me I will defend so long as I can with the Men Arms and Ammunition therein being nothing terrified with your pittifull summons perceiving that you are a stranger and slenderly acquainted with our strength and resolution not admitting any further Treaty but you to do your worst The Assault was to be made upon each part of the Town VVorcester side was to be stormed in five places and one place of the Bridge on the other side of the River The commanded parties of the Foot were lead on by the several Captaines and seconded by the Horse divided into three Bodies After the disposition of the Design and the night spent in Alarms the signal was given a little after break of day when Horse and Foot fell on both together in a furious assault broke up the Pallasadoes filled the Grafts with Fagots made sundry passages recovered the works and stood firm on the Parapet whilest the Musquetiers from within played furiously on the Assaylants The Foot having recovered the shelter of the Ditch beat off them within got up by Scaling Ladders stood upon the breast Works and some entered but were bravely
beaten off and afterwards were driven on again by the Horse up to the top of the Works where they stood firm and fired but then again beaten off by the violent charge of the Horse within until a party of the Assaylants Horse on that side drew up close and having a small breach made for their entrance fell in and beat off those within from that Bulwark this while another Party had made a breach and entred near the Bridge and now they tumble over the Works on all sides and charge up both Horse and Foot with equal gallantry bore down those within and mastered the Garison This Conflict was hot and difficult for almost an hour and maintained by the Garison with wondrous courage and resolution The Assaylants lost many men two Officers and a dozen private Souldiers there and in other places more than they within The Prisoners taken were about five hundred of whom two Colonels one Major thirteen Captains and other Gentlemen Reformadoes The evening before the assault about a hundred Horse were sent to keep off any approaching Horse from Worcester and kept guard five miles from Evesham faced a Party of Horse who gave the Alarm to Worcester where they finde four great Guns to summon the County This was Massie's last action to take leave of his Government at Glocester where he did very diligent and acceptable service but was evil requiâ—ed by the Parliament and after other publick actions took his farewell at London and got over beyond the Seas taking part with the Royalist against the Parliaments designs ever after to this day And hereupon it was ordered by the Parliament that Master Luke Nurse Maior of Glocester Alderman Singleton and Colonel Blunt or any two of them shall have the command of the Garison of Glocester and of the Forces and Garisons in Glocester-shire as Colonel Massie had untill the appointed Governour come down there or the Parliament take further order The King marching as we said towards Chester the fear of his approaching made Brereton quit the siege and so the Kings Work being done wheeled about and sat down before Leicester and after sumons not long about it with great courage in an instant fell to storming the last of May the first news whereof sends away Fairfax thither leaving the siege of Oxford to Brown onely for Cromwel is gone to the Isle of Ely his old Garison to order them into a frame But Leicester though not able to withstand the potency of the Kings entrance yet they held fight for three hours in the Market-place having their Cannon at the cross to oppose the Assaylants But being overcome were killed the Committee men imprisoned the Scotish Reformadoes and Dalbin's men slain Major Emis Barchly and some others fled and escaped to Rochingham Castle The Governour Colonel Gray and Hacker taken Prisoners and much Ammunition and Plunder of the Town sent to the Kings Garisons thereabout as Newark Belvoir Ashby de la Zouch This was a notable advantage to the Kings affairs for the present and gave him good cause to say in a Letter to the Queen I may without being too much sanguine affirm that since the Rebellion my affaires were never in so hopefull a way And thus it seemed to the Parliament themselves and therefore Fairfax is sent for out of the West who comes to Newport Pagnel Cromwel from Ely their Forces about Oxford called off opened that City to more Elbow room All the Forces of the associated Counties are called into a Body with the help of the Scots also and all to Rendezvouz at Brickill Friday the 5 of Iune and Scouts sent out who bring word of the Kings being about Daventry And now was Cromwel called for who by the late Ordinance was near his time limited to quit the field and to come to counsel the civil affairs in Parliament But there was need of his valour and interest in the Army and therefore Fairfax beseeches the Parliament to spare his return and to Authorize his continuance in the Army as also to Commission him Lieutenant General of the Horse and Skippon ordered to draw the form of a Battel for now they meant to fight Whilst the King drives the Countrey of Cattel and Plunder and sends all to his Garison of Oxford Himself and Army now near Northampton Fairfax at Geslington the Scots come down to Notingham And so near each Army to other that the twelfth of Iune their Forces Skirmish with equal successe and sufficient to Alarm each other for now they mean to fight The King continued about Daventry and quartered upon Burrough-hill Fairfax is come within four miles at Gilborough advancing directly upon the King who was abroad not a Hunting as is surmized and the Souldier not very careful having expected the Enemy and took leasure to have them nearer And now take Alarm towards night and there it rested till the next day But Fairfax rides about his Guards at midnight heedful to observe and coming to an Horse Quarter he had forgot the Word Excusing himself to be their General and desired the Centinel to give it him who refused to take notice of any mans person nor to give but to take the Word and so the General was stopt in a great shower of rain till he had aid from the Captain of the Guard to give the Word to the General for which judgement and discretion the Centinel was preferred but this was in the dark night The Duke of Buckingham Lord General and Admiral was so served at Portsmouth his brave Fleet ready to disembarque there He would needs skip from Dinner with his Courtiers about him and to 〈◊〉 a sight at Sea but mounting the Works was charged to stand till a Corporal was called who took him by the Coller set his Sword point to his breast and carried him prisoner to the Guard without any respect or reverence to his person indeed the Duke was angry for by that stop he lost his desire and of which he complained to the Governour who said himself would have done so and to make all friends the Corporal was well rewarded About five a clock in the morning Iune 13. the King drew off from Burrough Hill towards Harborough and Pomfrait that if the Enemy followed they might fight him at more advantage further Northward but Cromwel is come in from the Associated Counties and brings six hundred good Horse and Dragoons and bids them draw out to Battel each one ordered to his Port. The Van of the King was at Harborough the Rear within two miles of Naseby It was midnight when the King raises Prince Rupert quartered near hand and calls a Councel of war and all conclude speedily to give Battel and because Fairfax had been thus forward on his way the King resolved not to stay for him but to finde him out And Saturday Iune 14. Fairfax had marched from Gelling towards Nasebie and by the morning sun-shine might see the King puting his Army
with four thousand being seven or eight Regiments of Foot was quartered at Martobe who advanced to the very Rear of Goring fell upon them took some Prisoners but few slain Fairfax by this time was come up with his Horse Brigade within a Mile of the Cavaliers Head Quarters at Lang-port not knowing of the Ingagement of Massie who was quartered on the other side of the River Fairfax early the tenth of Iuly drew out seven Regiments of Horse in Sutton Field and a great part of his Foot likewise upon whose Advance Goring seeing the Resolution against him possest himself of a Pass very advantageous by the Hedges which he lined with Musquetiers this Pass lying between his Enemies Armies and hindered the conjunction and served his own turn to draw off his Ordnance and Provisions for Bridgwater with an honourable Retreat if need were but his Foot were soon beaten away from their Post and those that lined the Hedges and so with more security advanc'd their Horse Major Bethel the first man that forced the Pass with a single Troop the rest followed and charged Goring's Body that were ready in a Lane to receive them with as gallant a Charge as good Souldiers should do and forced them to a Retreat to their Body for more help when Colonel Desborough being at hand supplied that loss and with about four hundred Horse of the General 's Regiment gave a smart Encounter and turned the Scale of Fortune for Goring not able to endure their fresh Assaults and expecting more retreated to Bridgwater there were eleven hundred slain on both sides and prisoners to each party equally But Fairfax pursuing and the other disorderly retiring the Victory was more evident for Goring had the worst Men and Horse taken many Colours two Pieces and some Carriages for Ammunition And the News of these two Fights of Massie and Fairfax were presented to the Parliament by Major Harrison from the Army Goring marches away from Bridgwater towards the North of Devonshire Barnstable to whom Greenvile and Berkley hastening out of Cornwall and Devonshire to joyn with him met at Miniard six thousand strong and Prince Charls Hopton and the Lord Wentworth were gone into Cornwall to raise the County And the General Fairfax turns aside to salute the Club-men two thousand in a Body between Bristol and Bridgwater to whom he offers Propositions That the Kings Forces in Bridgwater might not be supplied by them that his men should have nothing of them but for necessary subsistence and to be paid out of the first moneys which was expected daily from the Parliament and justice shall be done to any that offends them But they continue in a Body and return him a doubtfull Answer More News of Success to the Parliament came poast from Pomfret Castle in the North Major General Poins having with much cost and time spent now at last receiving it by Surrender on the one and twentieth of Iuly upon honourable terms for the Surrender and with liberty to march to Newark with a safe Conduct to Doncaster and the military power of this Castle voted to be invested in the Gen. Fairfax which Northern Association had some limitation in his Commission but indeed it was suddenly done to prevent the Lords who had bestowed the command on Poins for his labour but the Commons Vote was first and so the Lords came too late We left Fairfax near Bridgwater which he meant to besiege and to plain his way four miles off he takes in a Garison Fort of the Kings called Burroughs upon good Quarter to march off not more than an hundred and fifty therein Then he sits down against Bridgwater rather to rest for he does nothing till his Money come from the Parliament to encourage his Army somewhat sullen for Pay which being come the three and twentieth of Iuly and the Army paid he surrounds the Town he had sent his Summons to the Governour but was answered with much courage being affisted by Council of gallant persons his Companions therein Sir Hugh Windham Sir Iohn Digby Sir Francis Courtney Tom Eliot was there too Sir Iohn Stowel and Sir Iohn Hales well fortified and fitted with Men and Ammunition and endured the first Onsets of their Enemy with Success which made the General to consult whether by Siege or Storm but he was told by the Renegadoes of their strength within and excellent store of good Victual which confirmed his Resolve to storm the Souldier animated the Day before by Mr. Peters preaching to them the piety of the Cause then the Foot towards Evening were drawn out and that Night spent in ordering for the Storm which began early at two of the clock in the Morning the one and twentieth of Iuly the General 's Regiment led on to the Work and gave not over till they had mastered the top and fixed his Colours gaining that Plat-form and the Guns and let down the Draw-bridg for a Captain one Reynolds to enter with a Forlorn of Horse scouring the Streets but with much loss forced the Besieged from the hither to the upper part of the Town Massie endeavoured to do his duty and did his good will on the other side but excuses himself not so ready at the time appointed and vvas beaten off and the Tovvnsmen had the better this lasted but an hour and being before day the Assailants escaped some of the great Shot that flevv over head and did no harm The hither Tovvn being vvon the Defendants vvere the more couragious to the admiration of the Assailants flinging their Granadoes and other combustible Shot that fired the hither Tovvn upon their Enemies heads not a house left standing so that vvhat vvas got vvas in fire vvhich put the General to a second Summons and to a Parley sending his Trumpet to tell them That he was moved in compassion to spare the effusion of more bloud and to save to the Inhabitants what was left from confusion This vvas in the Evening at six a clock But the Defendants vvould not stoop to a Treaty resolving sooner to die than to yield vvhich put Fairfax to a Resolution to vvin them by force and the next Morning early for Massie to begin the second Storm on that side of his Quarters Iuly 22. at the davvn of the day he fell on so did Fairfax on the other side but the Tide vvas up and high vvhich hindered the intention for a time and indeed Massie did but alarm and yet lost some men and the General put to it mightily troubled for this ill success and therefore summons them again pretending a Treaty in favour of the Women and Children from this horrid Destruction giving Cessation for that purpose till 4. a clock afternoon and so the Lady Governess a gallant person was intreated to quit the hazzard of an enraged Enemy with her went out the Lady Haule Mrs. Maire and divers others of quality but not prevailing by Storm they try by firing all their
not a day produced less than double Sallies upon me Nay shall I say oftner than we eat it was my Meat and Drink to beat them alwaies back again c. But the manner of the Storm how he got up and then got in paying and pelting untill not many left alive c. He took all he found Then have we the numberless number of Arms and Ammunition by thousands Bullets by Cart-loads wondrous provisions even unto the Beans and Bacon And such a Bed-role of the slain and the most of them Commanders ten Colonels fourteen Majors twenty Captaines and other Officers but names none least they should prove alive again to requite him Basing House had been first attempted in August 1643. again by VValler in November after and then with considerable Forces from Iune 14. in the year 1644. and relieved 11 September after then continues very considerable Forces constantly besieging it and yet could do no more till now that Cromwel comes to storm and take it The Batteries well placed and each Brigade ordered to their Posts Dalbier the long time Besieger to the North-side next the Grange Pickering on his left to VValler Sir Hardress and Mountague next him After six a clock the signal given they all fall on at once took the two out-Houses Pickering stormed the new House passed through and got the Gate of the old House which put them within to a parley but the fight was hot and the noise great the souldier could not hear and recover the inner Court of Guard and a whole Culvering with that Work And drawing their Ladders after got over another Work and the House Wall ere they could enter And take all with the gallant Marquess honourable and an honest Faithfull Subject to the interest and cause he alwaies undertook and shewed himself a noble Enemy and therefore Cromwel treats him kindely It is much wonder how it held out so long It can not require less than a thousand men to manage it It was not considerable for publick service for it is no Frontire The Country poor all about not worth the defence nor able to support a Garison And now indeed so defaced and weakened with Batteries and Morter-pieces and a fire upon it that chanced since the surrender for these reasons and perhaps a more fit place for a Garison Indeed this House was now utterly slighted and this goodly antient Fabrick pull'd down to the ground And accordingly as Cromwel commanded the whole Garison of Farnham some men from Chichester and those Foot of Dalbier who was soon laid aside and with these to make a strong quarter at Newburie with some Troops of Horse were sufficient to curb Donnington and serve as a Frontier to all those parts For Newburie lies upon a River which secures it from any incursion of Donnington Wallingford or Farrington and to advance the common Trade between Bristol and London And as a true rule the County will rather maintain Garison on the Frontier then in their Bowels less charge and more safety The Wealth of Basing House was of greater value then any single Garison could be imagined in Money Plate Jewels Houshold-stuffe and Riches One Bed valued at fourteen hundred pound and so orderly under rate of others Chambers the most compleat for Furniture And for help to the House Inigo Iones was gotten thither He was an excellent Architector to build but no Engineer to pull down and but one woman amongst so many men Doctor Griffiths daughter a godly Divine Protestant for protection mixed with some Popish Priests profession One common man had plundered a bag of three hundred pound in silver And to make sport with this raw souldier his Comrades pillaged him by pâ—ece meal to an half Crown coin The King had gotten into a good Body of Horse the 10 of Octo. and marches to Texford thence to Welbeck and quartered part of his Army at Blits the 13 day being Munday and had a Rendezvouz at Walsop the next day where he divides his Army and himself retreats his own Brigade to Warwick Appointing the Lord Digby and Sir Marmaduke Langdale with considerable Forces to march North-ward in some design to joyn with the gallant Marquess Montrose in Scotland for the King and that night went through Doncaster lodging upon Scawsby-lees and by long marches from Blits Walsop and Balrick amuzed the Parliaments Forces who attended their motion supposing that they were designed for Chester but certainly the intent was for Scotland And here they wheel beat off a guard near Sherburn and gave an Alarm but had appointed a Rendezvouz before at Bramton Bierly The Parliaments Forces commanded by Copley march by day-light towards Ferry-Bridge to keep that pass secure and to joyn with some Foot And therefore he sends away Post to Pontefract to give notice to draw off the Foot to Caywood least Digby should surprize them This warning came out to them though it came to Pontfract so the Cavaliers got to Ferrie-bridge before their Enemy and marched on amain surprizing seven hundred Foot and more at Sherburn and Milford with their Arms shattered Colonel Wrens Regiment of Horse and took many Prisoners and slew more having no conveniency to carry them away But Copely comes to Pontefract Castle who tels him the Cavaliers are passed whereupon he drawes out a strong Forlorn to joyn with that which is sent before with Orders to advance with all speed and bring the Cavalâ—ers to a stand hoping thereby to have saved his Foot he marches with this Body fairly after to Milford where from the Forlorn he heard that his former Foot were all lost Hereupon he drawes out and means to fight not being able otherwise to retreat with honour or safety And durst not march through Milford fearing there might be some Dragoons but wheel'd about the West end of the Town thinking to keep his Bodies firm and so all march to Sherburn to fight them there and by the way light on a deep Ditch un-passable and could not draw up but in haste and disorder which heeded not for the Cavaliers were busily imployed about their prize and were thereby in more disorder but drew up towards each other and at once ready at once give fire charging together Bodies to Bodies and Copley's Regiment paid for all who was soundly beaten but having reserves and the other none over-powring with fresh men the Cavalier in fury fell to retreat and giving ground turned their back and fled through the Town with loss North-ward and Copeley comes home again intending South-ward and joyn with Rossiter and the associate Horse with design to meet with the King who is supposed about Newark with fifteen hundred Horse Some persons of quality slain and taken The Prisoners were four or five Colonels Captains and Officers a dozen three hundred Troopers taken as many Hâ—rse the Countess of Nidsdale was taken Digbie's Coach and Horses The Forces were equal in number but the Cavalier not so fresh nor
yet suffers not your Majesties Service herein to proceed with that advantage it might do I conceive it not so fit to commit to Paper but I shortly send my Brother who shall fully inform your Majestie with all particulars and thereby rectifie your opinion and give you true 〈◊〉 who are your faithfull Servants I hope long ere this that â—â—ptain Bacon hath arrived with you since mine Enlargement and therefore I need onely tell your Majestie that my further Services intended for you will I hope without further crosses be suffered to go on though strange is the industrie used by many seeming Friends to hinder me therein but I am confident it shall not lie in their power your Majestie remaining still constant as I doubt not but you will to your favourable opinion and right interpretation of my poor Endeavours which if they may take place will procure you to be a glorious and happie Prince I having no other ends but to approve my self Your Sacred Majesties most dutifull and most obedient Subject and passionate devoted Servant Glamorgan Waterford Febr. 23. 1645. But in the mean time ere this last Letter of Glamorgan's was discovered the King had sent another Message Febr. 26. CHARLS R. His Majestie needs to make no Excuse though he sent no more Messages unto you for he very well knows he ought not to do it if he either stood upon punctilio's of Honour or his own private interest the one being already call'd in question by his often sending and the other assuredly prejudg'd if a Peace be concluded from that he hath already offered he having therein departed with many his undoubted Rights But nothing being equally dear unto him to the preservation of his People his Majestie passeth by many Scruples Neglects and Delaies and once more desires you to give him a speedie Answer to his last Message for his Majestie believes it doth very well become him after this very long Delay at last to utter his impatience since the Goods and Bloud of his Subjects cries so much for Peace Given at our Court at Oxford the six and twentieth Day of February 1645. For the Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore to be communicated c. The King hears of their Votes and Debates daily canvasing the Heads of Propositions and to remove these Remora's that stuck in their way he clears them by another Message and presses for his coming to London CHARLS R. Notwithstanding the unexpected silence in stead of answer to his Majesties many and gracious Messages to both Houses whereby it may appear that they desire to 〈◊〉 their ends by force rather than by Treatie which may justly discouraâ—â— his Majestie from any more Overtures of that kinde yet his Majestie conceives he shall be much wanting in his Dutie to God and in what he oweth to the safetie of his People if he should not intend to prevent the great Inconveniences that may otherwise hinder a safe and well-grounded Peace His Majestie therefore now proposeth that so he may have the Faith of both Houses of Parliament for the preservation of his Honour Person and Estate and that Libertie be given to all those who do and have adhered to his Majestie to go to their own houses and there to live peaceably enjoying their Estates all Sequestrations being taken off without being compelled to take any Oath not enjoyned by the undoubted Laws of the Kingdom or being put to any other molestation whatsoever he will immediately disband all his Forces and dismantle all his Garisons and being accompanied with his Royal not his Martial Attendance return to his two Houses of Parliament and there reside with them And for the better securitie of all his Majesties Subjects he proposeth that he with his said two Houses immediately upon his coming to Westminster will pass an Act of Oblivion and free Pardon and where his Majestie will further do whatsoever they will advise him for the good and Peace of this Kingdom And as for the Kingdom of Scotland his Majestie hath made no mention of it here in regard of the great loss of time which must now be spent in expecting an Answer from thence but declares that immediately upon his coming to Westminster he will applie himself to give them all satisfaction touching that Kingdom If his Majestie could possibly doubt the Success of this Offer he could use many Arguments to perswade them to it but shall onely insist upon that great one of giving an instant Peace to these afflicted Kingdoms Oxford March 23. 1645. For the Speaker of the House of Peers c. But not prevailing we shall end this years Proposals hoping by the next to finde the Parliament herein better disposed The Garison of Westchester for the King was of great consequence and therefore commanded by a Noble Person the Lord Byron the Port and Passage for Ireland the Countrey Contribution was of such a Circuit and sufficiencie that the Parliament now somewhat setled in successes resolved in the begining of August last to besiege it But ere their Forces undertook it they drew considerable strength into the Shire Quartering thereabout and Associating with other of their Garisons The work begins enduring many a brunt from Chester who were well appointed and vexed their Enemies with several repulses to resolve upon a design thus Col. Iones who commanded the Horse for the Parl in a Leaguer near hand at Beeston drew off with Col. Louthian at midnight who commanded the Foot and both making a Party of 1300. Horse and Foot came the next morning at 4. a clock before Chester on the East-side dividing their Forces into four parts to storm in 4. places and being so early and undiscovered Captain Ginbert got upon the Out-works at Forrest-street end Finch on the left hand Holt and Davis at two other places They were opposed by as gallant resolute Commanders but came too late for the Enemy was got in and paid dear for their purchase The Forrest-street and Lanes thereto was taken with the possession of the Mayors House Sword and Mace and the Sheriffs Wand and these sent to the Parliament for signal of thus much success Sept. 23. These Suburbs they possess against the Sallies of the Town daily incounters of either side within and without the Town The Kings Forces thereabout endeavouring with all possible waies to relieve this so useful Garison But then the Enemy enlarges by degrees almost block up the West-side of Chester Oct. 2 The distress comes close which troubles the King at Oxford who gives order to draw out from several Garisons of Hereford Ludlow Bridge-North and Worcester such considerable Forces as made up 1700. Horse and 700. Foot commanded by a Noble Knight Sir William Vaughan and got into a Body near Denbigh Castle twenty miles off of Chester when the Besiegers hear of this and go to Council whether to rest their near appoach or to fight them far off They resolve draw out 1400. Horse and
the purchasers then the sword had done before Eighty barrels of power did the work most terrible to the Assailants that dreamed not of such an Accident Upon the firing the Cavaliers gave a charge also in the amaze of their Enemy and commanded by Sir Iohn Digby did the execution resolutely and bid farewel at Eleven at night and marched away into Cornwal These were old Souldiers of Gorings and Greenviles and now scattered abroad by this encounter Hopton was shot in the Thigh and Digby in the Head some Prisoners and Horse taken of such as were slaine But the rest kept rendezvouz at Stratton the Prince at Lamiston and Fairfax follows The 25. of February he sends a party of 1000. Horse and 400. Dragoons before he came to Lamiston commanded by Colonel Basset a gallant Gentleman fell upon this forelorn-hope and after a hot skirmish and the whole Army coming near hand he quitted the Town And the Prince hears of this and the forces marching towards Pendennis Castle he quits the place and ships himself with the Lord Capel Lord Culpepper and Sir Edward Hide March the first to the Isle of Scilly The Lord Hopton with some small forces at Trurâ— in Cornwal the General sends him summons Sir Through Gods goodness to his people and his just hand against their Enemies forces being reduced to such condition as to my sense the hand of God continuing with us they are not like to have subsistence or shelter long to escape thence nor if they could have they whither to goe for better To prevent the shedding of more blood I have sent you this summons for your self and them to lay down Arms upon those conditions enclosed which are Christian-like Noble and Honourable to be accepted March 5. Some time was taken up in this Treaty and concluded That the Lord Hopton shall disband his Army in the West the General Fairfax excepting His Lordship to have fifty of his own Horse and fifty of Fairfax for his Convoy to Oxford all strangers to have Passes beyond Seas and to carry with them what is their own without Horses and Arms. All English Officers to go home to their Habitations or if they will beyond Seas Each Colonel to have his Horse and two Men and Horses to wait on them Each Captain one Man and Horse The Troopers Twenty shillings a piece and to goe where they pleased March 13. But Hopton hearing of the ill effects of the Propositions for peace takes shipping with divers other of his Officers and sailed into France where he remained many years after And the West being cleared Fairfax returns back again to the Siege of Bristol where we leave him to take breath And in this time also the Kings party spared not to weaken his Enemies Towns are retaken some surprised encounters answered defeats redoubled death and devastation that I dread to write of all It sufficeth that mostly we have named the Fields and Fights for I have almost done whilst I devote my self to his Majesties pious Meditations upon this subject The various Successes sayes the King of this unhappy war have at least afforded me variety of good meditations sometimes God was pleased to try me with victory by worsting my Enemies that I might know how with moderation and thanks to own and use his power who is only the true Lord of Hosts able when he pleases to repress the confidence of those that fought against me with so great advantages for power and number From small beginnings on my part he let me see that I was not wholly for saken by my peoples love or his protection Other times God was pleased to exercise my patience and teach me not to trust in the arm of flesh but in the living God My sins sometimes prevailed against the justice of my cause and those that were with me wanted not matter and occasion for his just chastisment both of them and me Nor were mine Enemies lesse punished by that prosperity which hardened them to continue that injustice by open hostility which was begun by most riotous and unparliamentary Tumults There is no doubt but personal and private sins may oft-times over-balance the justice of Publick engagements nor doth God account everie gallant man in the worlds esteem a fit instrument to assert in the way of VVar a righteous Cause The more men are prone to arrogate to their own skil valour and strength the lesse doth God ordinarily work by them for his own glory I am sure the event or success can never state the Iustice of any Cause nor the peace of mens consciences nor the eternal fate of their Soules Those with me had I think clearly and undoubtedly for their Iustification the Word of God and the Laws of the Land together with their own Oathes all requiring obedience to my just Commands but to none other under Heaven without me or against me in the point of raising Arms. Those on the other side are forced to flie to the shifts of some pretended Fears and wild fundamentals of State as they call them which actually overthrow the present fabrick both of Church and State being such imaginary Reasons for self-defence as are most impertinent for those men to allege who being my Subjects were manifestly the first assaulters of me and the Laws First by unsuppressed Tumults after by listed Forces The same Allegations they use will fit aâ—y Faction that hath but power and confidence enough to second with the Sword all their demands against the present Laws and Governours which can never be such as some side or other will not finde fault with so as to urge what they call a Reformation of them to a Rebellion against them some Parasitick Preachers have dared to call those Martyrs who died fighting against me the Laws their Oaths and the Religion Established But sober Christians know that glorious title can with truth be applied only to those who sincerely preferred Gods truth and their duty in all these particulars before their lives and all that was dear to them in this world who having no advantageous designs by any Innovation were religiously sensible of those Ties to God the Church and my self which lay upon their Souls both for obedience and just assistance God could and I doubt not but he did through his mercy crown many of them with eternal life whose lives were lost in so just a Cause the destruction of their bodies being sanctified as a means to save their soules Their wounds and temporal ruin serving as a gracious opportunitie for their eternal health and happiness while the evident approach of death did through Gods grace effectually dispose their hearts to such Humility Faith and Repentance which together with the Rectitude of their present engagement would fully prepare them for a better life then that which their enemies brutish and disloyal fiercenâ—sse could deprive them of or without Repentance hope to enjoy They have often indeed had the better against my side in the
Field but never I believe at the Bar of Gods Tribunal or their own Consciences where they are more afraid to encounter those many pregnant Reasons both from Law Allegiance and all true Christians grounds which conflict with and accuse them in their own thoughts then they oft were in a desperate bravery to fight against those Forces which sometimes God gave me VVhose condition conquered and dying I make no question but is infinitely more to be chosen by a sober man that duely values his duty his soul and eternity be yond the enjoyments of this present life then the most triumphant glory wherein their and my enemies supervive who can hardly avoid to be daily tormented by that horrid guilt wherewith their suspicious or now convicted Consciences do pursue them especially since they and all the world have seen how false and un-intended those pretentions were which they first set forth as the only plausible though not justifiable grounds of raising a War and continuing it thus long against me and the Laws established in whose safety and preservation all honest men think the welfare of their Country doth consist For and with all which it is far more honourable and comfortable to suffer then to prosper in their ruin and subversion I have often praied that all on my side might join true pietie with the sense of their Loialty and be as faithful to God and their own souls as they were to me That the defects of the one might not blast the endevours of the other Yet I cannot think that any shews or truth of pietie on the other side were sufficient to dispence with or expiate the defects of their Duty and Loialtie to me which have so pregnant convictions on mens Consciences that even profaner men are moved by the sense of them to venture their lives for me I never had any victorie which was without my sorrow because it was on mine own Subjects who like Absolom died many of them in their sin And yet I never suffered any Defeat which made me despair of Gods mercy and defence I never desired such victories as might serve to conquer but only restore the Laws and Liberties of my People which I saw were extreamly oppressed together with my Rights by those men who were impatient of any just restraint VVhen Providence gave me or denied me Victorie my desire was neither to boast of my power nor to charge God foolishlie who I believed at last would make all things work together for my good I wished no greater advantages by the War then to bring my enemies to moderation and my friends to peace I was affraid of the temptation of an absolute conquest and never praied more for Victorie over others then over my self VVhen the first was denied the second was granted me which God saw best for me The different events were but the methods of divine Iustice by contrarie windes to winnow us That by punishing our sins he might purge them from us and by deferring peace he might prepare us more to prize and better to use so great a blessing My often Messages for Peace shewed that I delighted not in War as my former concessions sufficiently testified how willingly I would have prevented it and my total unpreparednesse for it how little I intended it The conscience of my Innocencie forbad me to fear a War but the love of my Kingdoms commanded me if possible to avoid it I am guiltie in this War of nothing but this That I gave such advantages to some Men by confirming their power which they knew not to use with that modestie and gratitude which became their Loialtie and my confidence Had I yielded less I had been opposed less had I denied more I had been more obeied 'T is now too late to review the occasions of the War I wish only a happie conclusion of so unhappie beginnings The inevitable fate of our sins was no doubt such as would no longer suffer the Divine Iustice to be quiet We having conquered his patience are condemned by mutual conquerings to destroy one another for the most prosperous successes on either side impair the welfare of the whole Those Victories are still miserable that leave our sins unsubdued flushing our pride and animating to continue Injuries Peace it self is not desirable till Repentance hath prepared us for it When we fight more against our selves and less against God we shall cease fighting against one another I pray God these may all meet in our hearts and so dispose us to an happy conclusion of these Civil Wars that I may know better to obey God and govern my People and they may learn better to obey both God and me Nor do I desire any man should be further subject to me then all of us may be subject to God With this Paper all good men no doubt joyned hearts and hands for a blessing upon the intended Treaty of Peace which we refer to the next year being weary of this that now takes end Continuation of the Military Actions for the King in Scotland under Conduct of the Marquesse Montrose this year 1645. We left the last year at the Victorious Battle by Montrose against the Earl of Arguile at Campbells in the High-lands they being by this defeat loosened from the tyranny of Arguilâ— began to offer themselves more willingly to the Kings service Montrose refresheth his men here for a few dayes and measuring again Logh-Aber Hills and Westward to Logh-Nesse and by the way viewing Harrick Arnes and Marne came to the River Spey and passes to Elgin the chiefest Town of Minray beyond the Spey but the Enemy there fled at his aproach and he takes Elkin by surrender in February where the Lord Gordon Eldest Son to the Marquesse Huntley came openly with some choice friends and submitted to Montrose as the Kings Vicegerent who used him as an intire loyal friend Then he draws off his Army to raise the Counties of Ramgh and Aberdine and so with addition of men he now marched 2000. Foot and 200. Horse and passing the River Dee he came to Marne encamping neer Fettercarne At Brechen he meets Sir Iohn Hurrey General of the Covenanters Horse and the forces there who drawing out 600. Horse to take view of Montrose's Army who therefore made shew but of 200. Horse well lined with nimble Musketiers the Enemy draws up and charges but perceiving the Foot he retreats and brought off his men in the Rear most stoutly and fled twenty four miles to Dundee so far pursued with slaughter and then return to Fethercarne and the next day to Brechin and marches the convenient way by Gravesbane towards the River Tay and so for the Forth This design the Enemy knew and thither comes Hurrey with his Horse and one Baily of great account fetcht from England to be General here with a powerful Army yet Montrose offers them Battel but the others fell off so he went to the Castle Innecarity and Eliot and so into
so Montrose marches to Kinrosse and then to Sterling and encamps in that fatal field Kilsithe the Enemy comes three miles off Baily being their head with whom he must fight at disadvantage or stay to be undone by the Earl of Lanerick Duke Hamiltons brother Cassils Eglington and Glenearne who were raising men in great numbers In this field were some Cotages and his Forces four thousand five hundred Foot and five hundred Horse where he lodgeth some men and the Enemies first work was to beat them but were worsted and driven back encouraging the next to fall on without direction up the Hill engaging themselves one thousand not to be got off He saies to Airly My Lord yonder men of ours are in distress it is most proper for you that the error committed by unadvised young men may be corrected by your Lordships grave and discreet valour And on he goes guarded with a Troop of Horse by Ogleby of Baldby upon the face of the Enemy who giving the charge were disputed with very sharply for a good while but facing about fell upon their own Foot and hotly pursued routed and trod them down Then with a shout all fell upon the Horse first who not enduring a long Charge fled and the Foot discouraged followed and were pursued with execution fourteen miles not a hundred came off All their Ordnance Arms and Baggage to Conquerors who lost many of the Oglebies and some common Souldiers the Enemies Horse carried the swiftest to Sterling others to the Frith saved themselves by Vessels as Arguile now the third time got into a Cock-boat and so into a Ship The chife prisoners were Sir William Morray of Blebe Iames Arnol brother to the Lord Burghly two Colonels Dice and Wallis and many more men of worth this famous Victory at Kilsithe was 15. Septem 1645. and not lesse then six thousand of the Enemy slain and this famous Battle thus to be lost they lodge upon Bailies down-right treachery So now the Northern parts are secured on his back the way opened to him in the South the power of the Covenanters suppressed their chief Leaders driven out of the Kingdom and no considerable Party in Armes yet in the West there were some stirring for the Earl of Cassells and Eglington were raising four thousand men Wherefore Montrose marches into Cludsdale and so to Glascow the principal City receiving the same with acclamations of joy executing legally some chief Incendiaries there and remove to Bothwell where he received the personal addresses of some of the Nobility and of others by their Deputies willingly submitting the chief being the Marquess of Dowglasse the Earls of Limmuck Anuandale and Herefield the Lords of Seton Drummond Fleming Marterty Carnegye and Iohnston Hamelton of Orbeston Charte of Heinsfield Towers of Innerlegh Stuart of Resyth Dalyel a brother of the Earl of Carnwarth Knights and many more Then he sends Napier and Colonel Gordon with a party of Horse to Edenburgh to Summon that City to settle it in peace and to release all prisoners of Loyalty or to threaten them with fire sword And near the City they make a stand the City Assemble and send Delegates together with the chief of the prisoners to intercede Lodowick Earl of Crawford of the Family of Lindsies and a gallant Germane experienced Souldier imprisoned by the malice of the Earl of Lindsey who was to succeed to his Honors Iames Lord Ogleby Son to the Earl of Arlye singularly beloved of Montrose cursing themselves and posterity if ever they should again revolt from their Loyalty or be unmindful of Montrose's mercy Napier having by the way of his March set at liberty his dear Father his Wife his Brother in Law Keer and his Sisters at Linnuck being removed thither from Edenburgh Castle and so all together to Montrose The Delegates of Edenburgh with humble submission beseech Montrose to accept the surrender of their City promising Faith and Loyalty to their King for ever after That the infection of Plague now reigning there had wasted their men but they were ready to pay contribution heartily acknowledging their Treasonable Actions against their gracious King by the cunning contrivance of a prevailing party engaging them in this Rebellion Montrose accepted their submission with the rendering of Edenburgh Castle to the King and his Officers to renounce all future correspondence with the Rebels the prisoners were all released but as to all the other Protestations they fall to their wonted treachery and Rebellion He sends Macâ—donel and Drummond of Ball into the Western Coasts to disperse Cassels and Eglington with other of the Nobily there who fly into Ireland and lurk in by places All the Towns Aire Irwin and the County submit and the people come presently to his side Then the South parts submit and therein the chiefest Earls of Hume Roxborough and Traquair men the most obliged to the Kings high Grace and Favour raising them from private Gentlemen to Honours Wealth and Powers But it was boldness in the Earl of Lanerick Duke Hamilton's Brother who had deceifully practised under hand all the Treacheries and Treasons of this War against their Sovereign Now he openly returns answer That he would have nothing to do with that side never pretending friendship where he meaned not to perform This man acted above board but the others treacherously they inviting David Lesley out of England with the Scotish Horse and so to deliver up Mentrose to ruine Montrose had suspition of all this but could not prevent each mischief for having lain long incamped at Bothwell and no Enemy in Arms most of the Highlanders laden with Spoil ran away and returned home the very Commanders desired Furloghs for some time to setle their Families and to return with many more Men within fourty Days to such as he could not hold he willingly gave leave and appoints Mac-Donel their Countreyman and Kinsman ambitious to be their Guide and to conduct them back again with him went three thousand stout Men and an hundred and twenty Irish for his Life-guard whom Montrose never saw after But we shall meet the next year and so much for this It is most strange to these Times but Posterity can never comprehend how the Swedes come to this greatness and to make War in so many parts of Europe and from whence they got so many Men that Sovereignty indeed is large but very desert and dispeopled so that we may speak it a truth there never came from thence sixty thousand Men as one of their own Grandees assures us one reason was that all the Protestants in Europe leagued with them like Ivy to the Tree as believing the Ruine of the Swedes included that of all the Lutherans The other that in their Fortune all the rest had interest principally in regard of Plunder for it is most certain that in Count Horn's Army were many Women in Mens Apparel acting like Amazons and brave Souldiers with so much courage did prosperity inflame
of Lemster and Ulster Novem. 1646. That the exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion be in Dublin and Drogheda and in all the Kingdom of Ireland as free as in Paris in France and Bruxells in Flanders That the Council of State called the Councel-Table be of Members true and faithful to his Majestie and such as may be no fear or suspition to go to the Parliaments party That Dublin Drogheda Team Newby Catherly Carlingford and all Protestant Garisons be manned by their Confederate Catholicks to maintain and keep the said Cities and Garisons for the use of our Soveraign Lord King Charls and his lawful Successors and for defence of the Kingdom of Ireland That the present Councel of the Confederators shall swear truly and faithfully to keep and maintain for the use of his Majesty and his Lawful Successors and for defence of the Kingdom of Ireland the abovesaid Cities and Garisons That the said Councellors and all Generals Officers and Souldiers whatsoever doe swear and protest to fight at Sea and Land against the Parliaments and all the Kings Enemies and that they will never come to any convention or agreement with the said Parliamentiers or any of the Kings Enemies to the prejudice of his Majesties Rights or of this Kingdom of Ireland That according to our Oaths of Association we will to the best of our power and cunning defend the Fundamental Lawes of this Kingdom the Kings Rights the Lives and Fortunes of the Subjects Owen O Neal Tho. Preston The Lord Lisle designed Lieutenant General of Ireland is but now this day taking leave of the Parliament to goe to Ireland Ian-28 and ere we can hope of his arrival there he writes to the Parliament he is willing to return for they had Debated his return before and so he came home again April 1. But the Parliament Vote the sending over more Forces into Ireland and with all vigour to carry on a Defensive War in that Kingdom with seven Regiments of Foot consisting of eight thousand four hundred besides Officers with three thousand Horse and one thousand two hunded Dragoons And all these to be taken out of the General Fairfax Army which was the occasion of much distemper between the Armies and the Parliament as will appear the next year But according to our former Method we may not omit the Kings affairs Military in Scotland under the Conduct of the Marquess of Montrose this year 1646. Montrose his late successe made him famous abroad which soon came to the Kings knowledg and although he were not able to send him supplies sufficient to Arm against the great power of his Enemies yet it was thought very fit to comply with him in Complements and therefore the King ot caresse him in some way sends from Oxford several Letters and Messengers to Montrose whilst he continued at Bothwel four miles East of Glascow amongst whom was Andrew Sandiland a Scotish man but bred in England a Church-Man faithful to the King and beloved of Montrose with whom he continued to the end of the War Another was Sir Robert Spotswood Son President of the Session in Scotland and now the Kings Secretary for that Kingdom The Instructions by all of them were to this effect That it was the Kings Pleasure Montrose should joyn unto himself the Earls of Roxborough and Traquair and to confide in their advice and endeavours of whose fidelity there was no question to be made That he should hasten towards the Tweed the River that runneth to Barwick and divides the Kingdoms where he should meet a party of Horse instantly sent by the King out of England with which he might safely give Battel to David Lesly if he should march that way with the Covenanters Horse as was suspected he would Each Messenger said as much and the King evermore over credulous confirmed the same by his Expresse which Montrose resolves to obey And here he receives a larger Commission from the King by Spotswood wherein he was impowered to give the honour of Knighthood which he did to Mack Donel at his departure Montrose intends the Kings commands and Journies to Calder Castle when the Earl of Albony whether Montrose would or no carries away with him his own men and all others of the Northern Forces Montrose passing by Edenburgh led his small Army through Louthian and in Straithgal joyns with Dowglasse whose forces mouldred daily In that coast Traquair himself came to him pretending faith and Loyalty to the King and the next day sends to him his Son the Lord Linton with a gallant Party of Horse as if to be under his Command that by that like pledg he might the better shadow his Villany which he intended the ungratfullest person to him and in him also to the King And now Montrose within twelve miles of Roxborough and Hume without any caresse from them and therefore mistrusting he resolves to seek them out and to bring them to reason But they cunningly send to David Lesly who by that time was come to Barwick with all the Scotish Horse out of England and willingly give him leave to pretend to the seizing of the Earls as Enemies to the Covenanters which was done the day before Montrose came to them Then comes Lesly over Tweed marching East of Lothâ—â—â— Montrose knowing their Wiles and fearing to be blocked up from passing to the North and Highlanders marches into Armindale so to Niddesdale South-westwards and the County of Ayre to raise Horse the Enemies strength being therein And from Kelsor comes to Iedburgh and Selkirk where he Quartered busied in some dispatches all night to the King and although he appointed the best of his Scouts who it seemes were false and suffered the Enemy with all their Forces to come within four miles ere he had warning Lesly that day when Montrose departed from Iedburgh mustâ—ered his Men upon Gladsmar in Lothianshire and marched straight to Serathgale to surprize Montrose upon the borders of Tweed and Linton had private Order from Traquair his treacherous Father to withdraw his party of Horse from Montrose and the Enemy within half a mile with six thousand the most Horse charged his Wing disorderly got together but Valiantly defended themselves until the third charge disranked routed the Foot after some resistance and over powered many who were all put to the sword after by Lesly's peculiar command and so to the very Women and Horse-boyes most of the Horse and some Foot shifted well and came to Montrose the next day An honest Irish Man seeing one of the Kings Standards engaged valiantly rescued it and stripping the staff wrapped it about his middle and brought it to Montrose who honoured him with the bearing thereof ever after The other Standard also born by William Hie Brother to the Earl of Kinole stript it off the staff and conveyed it with him to the borders of England and after when the coast was clear brought it to the North to his General But in
comes the Marquesse Douglasse and Sir Io. Daliel with other his friends in this Extremity with a small Party of Horse not a hundred charged through the Enemy and escaped and being pursued he made his Stand slew divers and took Bruce a Captain of Horse and two Cornets with their Colours Prisoners Traquair Triumphingly reported Montrose and the Kings party totally defeated But Montrose was well and made the best use of his evil fortune and therefore marching easily with good guard and valiant hearts he marched Northwards forded over Cluid River where met him by the way many of his Souldiers with the Earls of Crawford and Airly and now he was strong two hundred Horse and some Foot and with convenient hast he resolves to go Northward into Athole and so passing over Forth River and then Erne he comes to Perthshire And in his way he had sent Dowglasse and Airly with Angus North East and the Lord Eisken into Marria to raise their friends and dependance and sent Daliel to the Lord Carnegy with Commissions to that purpose and Letters to Mac-Donel and to Aboin to return to him with their Forces About August the Atholâ— Men furnished him with four hundred good Foot to march Northwards and when ever he returned Southward he should command the whole County only they desired to be spared now for their harvest Montrose with wonderful speed and unspeakable toil clambers over Gransbane Mountains to meet with Aboin and Mac-Donel whom he expected and so the return of other his Messengers with their New Forces then to return Southward again to meet with the Kings Horse which by sundry Letters he was promised from England Aboin was of himself faithful and forward enough but restrained Ersken was sick and Huntly was returned home but with envy and ambition crossed under hand Montrose's designs but at last Aboin meets him with fifteen hundred Foot and three hundred Horse at Druminore a Castle of the Lord Forles and that his Brother Lewes was coming with more Thus impowered he instantly returns the same uncouth wayes over Gransbane Mountains and to take up Erskins and then Murries Forces and so to march Southward Lewis was come and marching together the first dayes Journey stole away the next with such Forces aâ—s followed him And the third day after his Brother Aboin with the rest of his Men desired leave to return pretending their Fathers Command the Marquesse Huntly whose County was in danger by the Enemy now about Marre and would suddainly ransack their Country but was content his Father should be treated with To him therefore Montrose sends Donald Lord Rose and Iermin kinsmen whom he had lately releived from Imprisonment Rose was honest and ashamed of his Kinsmans refusal fell sick and could not return Iermin most noble never forsaking Montrose to the death came back with doubtful Letters fast and loose And so Aboin must go home Montrose came down through the plaines of Marre and Scarschiock into Athole and so with increase of Forces he falls into Perth Here Aboin sends him word that he had got leave to return and would be with him before the time limited by his Forlough And here also meets him two Messengers after each other Captain Thomas Ogleby of Pomie and Captain Robert Nesbet with Commands from the King That if possible he should march Southward to the borders to meet the Lord Digby Son to the Earl of Bristol who was sent to him with a Party of Horse The same Bearers he dispatches with the Letters to Huntly and Aboin but in vain expectation he trifled away much time at Strath Erne in the Perth And here dies that gallant Man the Lord Napier of Marcheston truly Noble of an Ancient Family his Father and Grand-father Philosophers and Mathematicians Famous through Christendom But indeed this man exceeded them in Civil Affairs highly heretofore esteemed by King Iames and lately by K. Charls made Lord Treasurer of Scotland and advanced into the Rank of higher Nobility his Loyalty had suffered all the effects of his Enemies malice often Imprisoned Sequestred and Plundered of all his Substance whose Elaborate Discourses of the Rights of Kings and of the Original in the Turmoyls of Great Britain I have heard of and read some Manuscripts in Parcels but heartily wish may be publick Montrose is now passed the Forth and come into the Lands and Estate of Sir Iohn Buchanan a stiff Ring-leader of the Covenanters and descended from old Buchanan ingrateful Schoolmaster to King Iames and yet for his sake he and King Charles had advanced this man to what he was Hereabouts at Leven Montrose Encamps being so near Glasco that oftimes he forces the City on purpose to deter the Convention of the Coâ—enanters here who sat in Councel to arraign their Prisoners whom Montrose endeavoured to rescue Here they had for their Guard three thousand Horse and he not more than 3. hundred and fifteen hundred Foot wasting the Countrey without resistance Notwithstanding before he came they had executed three gallant men we may not neglect their memory The first was the afore mentioned Sir William Rollock Montrose his first Friend and Companion in Arms. He was sent to the King after the Battle of Aberdine and taken prisoner and condemned but upon Arguiles offer of life he was dealt with to murder Montrose whose life he valued far above his own and to save him he accepted this offer and so got loose and instantlyâ— found out by Montrose discovering all which saved Montrose for the present and was the cause of his own suffering promising upon his word that if he did not doe it to return prisoner by such a day which he did to the grief of Montrose and paid dear for it to the death The next was the aforesaid Alexander Ogleby Eldest Son to Sir Iohn Imercarrit descended from those Famous in the Scotish Chronicles he was not yet more then youth under eighteen but of a dareing Spirit and Loyal to the King for which he was executed Unless we admit him of the Family in deadly fewd with Arguile Then comes Sir Philip Nesbit I finde him the Son of Col. Nesbit a Regiment in the Kings service in England we may adde those two Irish men that suffered at Edenburgh some dayes before Colonel O-Cahen and Colonel Laghlin the crime of them all concentred in this new Treason against the King and Covenanters Montrose having long looked for six weeks his absent Confederates out of the North Mac-donel Alboin and others the Lord Digby's Forces defeated by the way and he not able to hold out a piercing hard winter Camp He the 20. of November departs from Levin Marching Northward over the Snowy Mountains of Taich through Woods and Loghes the Strathern and over the River Tay returns into Athole where he met Captain Ogleby and Captain Nesbit whom we told you he had sent with the Kings Letters to Huntly but prevailed not Here against Montrose sends to Sir Iohn Dalyel to mediate the
of Rochel doth fitly follow to shew how Malice when it is at the height is ordinarily accompanied for there are none but ignorant or forgetful men who know not that it was meerly the want of assistance from the two Houses of Parliament contrary to their pulick geneneral Engagement that lost Rochel and there is nothing more clear to any who hath known French Occurrences than that real assistance which the KING to the utmost of his power gave to those of the Religion at that time made the Cardinal of Richelieu an irreconcileable enemy to the King wherefore I cannot but say that it is a strange forgetfulness to charge the KING with that which was evidently other mens faults There as also other things that to any knowing man will rather seem jears than Accusations as the German Horse and Spanish Fleet in the year 1639. But my affection shall not so blinde me as to say that the KING never erred yet as when a just debt is paid Bonds ought to be cancelled so Grievances be they never so just being once redressed ought no more to be objected as Errors And it is no Paradox to affirm that truths this way told are no better than slanders and such are the Catalogue of Grievances here enumerated which when they are well examined every one of them will not be found such as here they are described to be Now as concerning those discourses which mention the beginnings of these troubles which are in two several places of this Declaration I will only say this That what the KING did upon those occasions was meerly to defend the Rights of his Crown which were and are evidently sought to be taken from him nor can I acknowledge all those Relations such as private Levies of men by Popish Agents Arming of Papists in the North calling in of Danish Forces and the like And as for the tale of calling up the Northern Army now renewed it is well known that the two Houses even at that time were not so partial to the KING as to have concealed a practice of that kinde if they could have got it sufficiently proved But if the Irish Rebellion can be justly charged upon the KING then I shall not blame any for believing all the rest of the Allegations against him And it is no litle wonder that so grave an assembly as the House of Commons should so slightly examine a business of that great Weight that the Scots great Seal did countenance the Irish rebellion when I know it can be proved by witnesseâ— without exception that for many moneths before until the now Lord Chancellour had the keeping of it there was nothing at all sealed by it Nor concerning this great point will I only say that the King is innocent and bid them prove which to most accusations is a sufficient Answer but I can prove that if the KING had been obeyed in the Irish affairs before he went last into Scotland there had been no Irish Rebellion and after it was begun it had in few moneths been suppressed if his directions had been observed for if the KING had been suffered to have performed his engagements to the Irish Agents and had disposed of the discontented Irish Army beyond Sea according to his contracts with the French and Spanish Ambassadours there is nothing more clear than that tâ—ere could have been no Rebellion in Ireland because they had wanted both pretence and means to have made one then when it was broken forth if those vigorous courses had been pursued which the KING proposed first to the Scots then to the English Parliament doubtless that Rebellion had been soon suppressed But what he proposed took so little effect that in many moneths after there was nothing sent into Ireland but what the KING himself sent assisted by the Duke of Richmond before he came from Scotland unto Sir Robert Steward which though it were little will be found to have done much service as may be seen by the said Sir Roberts voluntary Testimony given in writing to the Parliament Commissioners then attending the King at Stoak And certainly a greater evidence for constancy in Religion there cannot be than the KING shewed in his Irish Treaty for in the time that he most needed assistance it was in his power to have made that Kingdom declare unanimously for him and have had the whole Forces thereof imployed in his Service if he would have granted their demand in points of Religion they not insisting in any thing of Civil Government which his Majesty might not have granted without prejudice to Regall Authority and this can be clearly proved by the Marquess of Ormonds Treaties with the Irish not without very good evidence by some of the KINGS Letters to the QUEEN which were taken at Naseby that are concealed they too plainly discover the KINGS detestation of that Rebellion and his riged firmness to the Protestant profession Nor can I end this point without Remarking with wonder that men should have so ill memories as again to renew that old slander of the Kings giving Passes to divers Papists and persons of quality who headed the Rebels of which he so cleared himself that he demanded reparation for it but could not have it albeit no shew of proof could be produced for that allegation as is most plainly to be seen in the first book of the Collection of all Remonstrances Declarations c. fol. 69. 70. Thus having given a particular Answer to the most Material points in this Declaration the rest are frivolous and many of them groundless Yet one thing more I must observe that they not only endeavour to make Fables passe for currant coin but likewise seek to blinde mens judgements with false inferences upon some truths For Example It is true the King hath said in some of his Specches or Declarations that he oweth an account of his actions to none but God alone and that the Houses of Parliament joynt or separate have no power either to make or declare any Law But that this is a fit foundation for all Tyranny I must utterly deny indeed if it had been said that the King without the two Houses of Parliament could make or create Laws then there might be some strength in the Argument but before this Parliament it was never so much as pretended that either or both Houses without the King could make or declare any Law and certainly his Majesty is not the first King of England that hath not held himself accountable to any Earthly power besides it will be found that his Majesties position is most agreeable to all Divine and Humane Laws so far it is from being Destructive to a Kingdom or a foundation for Tyranny To conclude I appeal to God and the World whether it can be paralleld by example or warranted by Justice that any man should be yet denyed the sight of an accusation and so far from being permitted to Answer that if he have erred there is no way
him and the memory of his deceased Father His head on the Block he ended his life in these words Merciful Iesus gather my soul unto thy Saints and Martyrs who have run before me in this race He was learned in the Mystery of things Divine and Humane and in the knowledge of Eastern Tongues in History Law and Politiques and alike excellent for the intergrity of his life And preferred to this commendation by a neer observer of him that he loved the old fashion piety with his soul to explain his meaning he saies and yet Not a vain and Superstitious professor of it before others but to distinguish him a sound Protestant Professor and no new Fangler Hugh Scrimiger sometime his Servant had leave to bury his body and continuing sorrowful ere the Scaffold was taken away he passing by fell into a swound and being carried home dyed at his own door Then followed Andrew Gutlery Son to the deserving Bishop of Murrey and by his Judges hated the more for that Blair fell upon him also to repent for siding in the evil Cause He answered therefore came I here to suffer for a good Conscience and a good King which he embraced without fear and would dye without dread of death for his sins he trusted were satisfied by the merits of his Saviour to whom he recommends his soul. The last was William Murrey brother to the Earl of Tullibardin a youth of 19. years at the most who told them That this his day of suffering he accounted a meer honour to his House that he descended of that Ancient Family should deliver up his life for his good King and his Cause and desires that his Parents would not grieve at the shortness of his life being abundantly recompensed with the honourable death And so with his own and good mens prayers he suffered Execution also Montrose much troubled to hear of their deaths was extreamly importuned to sacrifice such Prisoners as he had being they said real Traytors indeed and for which Justice he had Warrant from Gods Vice-gerent the King But as he nere put any to death in cold blood as yet so he would never be said to break his word of Quarter by exchange or imprisonment All this time had Huntley trifled in Plundering as he Marched and gave way to the relief of Innerness and retreats to the Spye notwithstanding Montroses several Messages to him to return to the Siege or to joyn their Forces and to descend Southward and to oppose a new Enemy Major General Middleton Marching with six hundred Horse and eight hundred Foot as far as Aberdine but Huntley would not Although there came in to Montrose many friends and Tenants of the Earl of Seafort the L. Rose and from the farthest Northern Islâ—nds Sir Iames Mack-donel Mack-lins and Glengar the chief of Mac-renalds and many more And by this means before the end of March he might have Marched Southward with a greater Army then ever had been beheld in Scotland But for the present he surrounds and besieges Innerness for the commodious Haven and sent back three Troops of Horse to lodge about the Passes of Spye to have a Watch upon Middleton who was now eighty miles off And had timely warning to draw off from the Siege and from the Enemies strength of Horse and to Retreat beyond Nessa with some Skirmishes and equal loss and so passed by Benly into Rose and after through Long-Nasse Strath-glasse and Harrage into the bank of Sprey And being now not far from Huntley he takes a Troop of Horse and gallops to him twenty miles sending word before that he was coming to crave his Councel in the Kings affairs but Huntley took Horse and fled and the other returned the last of May. By whose example Seaford and others began to falter which put resolution in Montrose to force all the Northern Parts which he could easily doe having tried all the fairest means and failed therein for of late Middleton was entred into Aberdine with five hundred men whom Huntley had besieged and taken upon his own score in revenge to the Town which he plundered though the Kings friends and released all Prisoners that were of Middletons men Montrose busie about his Northern designe on the last of May comes a Herald from the King whose misfortune had as you have heard elsewhere cast himself upon the Scotish Convenanters Army at Newcastle this time twelve moneth 13. of May and commands Montrose to lay down his Arms and Disband and to pass over to France till his Majesties further pleasure The valiant man was amazed at this sad news being assured that they had forced this upon the Kings miserable condition with some secret hint to look to himself also But Montrose must obey and Summons all his Consederates whom he conceived this disbanding would concern and principally he sends Hurrey to Huntley that Montrose was willing to come to his Castle for to be present at this Consultation he Answered The K. had written to him of the same and that his Commands may not admit of second thoughts but to obey as he would They replyed that it was likely Montrose was of that opinion too however ever it might concern them all to provide for prevention of future mischiefs and the very joynt consult would advantage them even in the Enemies opinion He replyed that he had resolved for himself and would have nothing to doe with any body else Montrose sends his Answer to the King by Letters wherein he humbly presumed to be so far inquisitive of his condition with the Covenanters if safe in their hands whether his Majestie was stedfastly resolved to Disband that Army of friends who had exposed their lives and fortunes for his Cause whilst his Enemies were Armed in both Kingdoms what course should be taken for them and their safety not to be left to the mercy of murderous men and in a word whether his particular service might be acceptable in any other way To these he received no open Answer but had returned to him some Articles signed by the Covenanters which he in great regret refused as unconscionable and not vouchsafing to Treat therein he speeds the Messenger back to the King professing that as he had not taken up Arms but by the Kings Commission so he would have no Conditions prescribed him to lay them down by any mortal man but the King himself Therefore he humbly besought the King to sign the Conditions to which though perhaps very harsh he promised obediently to submit unto but disdained the Commands of any other Many of his Friends had underhand sought their peace with the Enemy and Huntley and his Party to please them resolved to force Montrose submission Antrim was arrived alone from Ireland without any Forces but sought to draw the Highlanders to himself calling Montrose in scorn the Governour of the Low lands But Montrose was to depart by the Articles before the first of September
that they should furnish him with Shipping and all things necessary these things were transacted the 1. of August and to imbarque at a port in Angus but their Ship not ready being so designed to engage his neglect he hired a Norway Man of Birgen thither he sends his friends Sir Io. Hurrey Iohn Dromond Henry Graham Iohn Spotswood Iohn Lily Patrick Melvin Geo. Wiseheart Doctor of Divinity Divid Gutlery Pardus La-sound a Frenchman Rodolph a German men pickt out for their abilities he sends them before and himself clad in a course suit he passed disguised as a servant to Iames Wood his worthy Chaplain from the haven of Montrose which flows to Brechen in Angus And from this time the State of Scotland had Elbow room without any Enemies at home The Scots Army being returned home out of England kept up a Body under colour of Civil diffentions there And their General David Lesley had Command of all and having notice that his Enemy Kilketto was retreated out of Arguile into Cantire and the Earl of Antrim into the Isles he drew off from Perth and came to Dundain and Arguile himself retreated to Inerne Castle quartering between Sterling and Dunkel The general Kirk Assembly of Scotland met Iuly 6. and ordered a publick Fast upon these Reasons That Gods hand is stretched out against them in the judgement of the Pestilence mainly increasing The great danger of Religion in the work of Reformation in both Kingdoms from the number and the Policy of Sectaries in England like to overturn the Foundation there laid with the expence of so much blood and pains And therefore they resolve to cleave to the Solemn League and Covenant against all the purposes and endeavours and underminings of their Enemy and pray for the Parliament of England and the Synod of Divines and the good effects and fruits of Truth and Peace which they now had for Montrose was gone But in this distempers of England the Scots increased their Forces and put England into fears and jealousies so that Allarm was often devised to see in what posture the English should be for seven thousand of the Scots were drawing Southward for fresh Quarters and are come over Spey River with Lesley Middleton in the East and Arguile's in the West and the Highlanders keep the Hills And not long after Lesley is come to Iaddard within fourty miles of Newcastle with fifteen hundred Horse and three thousand Foot for his part But notwithstanding the States of Scotland pretend to Disband unless their Kingdom be in danger of trouble the person of the King in any hazard or their Kingdom thereby dishonour'd and therefore for the present they raise two hundred thousand pounds Scotch for the present Sept. 27. but having knowledge by their Commissioners in England of the affairs here they will not Disband for at the beheading of the Lord Hart-Hill at Edenburgh one who had been for the King in the time of Montrose He scattered some Papers there to the people which mention the particulars of great troubles likely to be in England But to caress them and to see what they do 2. of the Lords and 4. of the Commons House are speedily to Post with Instructions to the Estates of Scotland where we leave them till the next year and proceed to a summary of the affairs of Ireland this year The Parliaments Commissioners are gon to Ireland to take possession of Dublin for the Marquess of Ormond and landed them the seventh of Iune and with them were Colonel Iones Captain Merridith Captain Parsons four hundred and fifty Hoâ—se and one thousand Foot commanded by Colonel Kinaston and four Captains mist at the time that Sir Charls Coot defeated a party of the Rebels The Parliament there now sitting gave good reception to the Commissioners in Iune Colonel Iones is made Governor of Dublin and much troubled by mutinies for advance mony and pay of arrears but were appeased and the old eleven Regiments of Foot reduced to seven viz. the Earl of Kildares Lord Moor Tichburn Benlace Willoughby Baily and Flowers in all about four thousand Many skirmishes are daily in several parts of the Provinces winning and loosing as the fate of war falls out but the complaint comes sad on the Parliament of England that their monies are gon their provisions in the field cannot last six daies and are forced to leave the field and go to garison for want of bread that Owen Roe the Rebel is with great forces in Connaught and Preston is marching against Dublin against whom Colonel Iones marches out with three thousand Horse and Foot and faced each other about twelve miles from Dublin the Enemy being eight thousand who fell on and forced Iones to retreat and then to fly and were pursued four miles taken prisoners and killed many the whole forces being in very sad condition But the eighth of August it was revenged by Colonel Iones upon Preston neer Trim killed five thousand four hundred and seventy Foot Souldiers three hundred of the Gentry seven thousand Arms taken four pieces of ordnance and great pillage with one hundred and fifty Oxen. About twelve a clock the Armies joyned battell continuing two hours Iones his Horse of two wings and some Foot having broken both wings of the Enemies the main body also advanced and did as much against theirs then the Enemy about three thousand drew up into a Bog and in abody whom Iones surrounded the Foot fall in and killed them those that came forth fell into the Horse and were all slain It was the greatest overthrow that we can boast of since the first war of the English against the Irish but not long after he rallies and joynes with Owen Oneal But the Lord Inchequin and his Souldiers understanding the differences of the Parliament and Army in England make their declaration and Remonstrance also yet they resolve to go on against the Rebels but will not admit of any alteration in Martial Government untill their arrears be paid them what is due both in England and Ireland And the Scots are called upon to Recall their â—orces out of Ulster in Ireland there being no further need of their forces the Parliament of England resolving to prosecute that war with the forces of England onely for Colonel Iones was successfull and had taken from the second of October to the nineteenth Castle Ricard Port Castle Athby Grucesfort the Mabber Belliloe Cabbrough Castle War Danmock Carrat Matrose Castle down and Castle Amoin And Inchequin hath his share of success in the Province of Munster the thirteenth of November neer Megallo and Clancard and killed two thousand five hundred upon the plain divers wounded and taken prisoners so that the Enemies loss is reckoned four thousand but at the close of these events the English cry out for recruit of men relief of Provisions and oft times ready to starve but the Kingdom of England are not at better leisure to help them being in much distemper at home
they maintained with hot dispute but were beaten from their stand with the loss of a thousand men and two thousand prisoners and were prosecuted to the very Bridge where a Message came by a Trumpeter from Lieutenant General Baily for a Capitulation which Lieutenant General Cromwel yielded unto and gave the other these terms To Render himself his Officers and Souldiers Prisoners of War and all his Ammunition and Horses upon quarter for life and so they yielded four thousand Prisoners and as many Arms these were of the infantry totally defeated Hamilton got away with three thousand Horse towards Nantwich where the Country folks took five hundred of them And post news was carried to all the Parliaments Commanders in those Counties adjacent to follow the Hue and Cry after the Scots who haste homewards intending to meet Monroe now in Cumberland upon his march Southwards It was concluded that the Scots had ten thousand Foot and four thousand Horse Sir Marmaduke Langdales Forces assisting them were not less then two thousand five hundred Horse and Foot the English not 10000. in all What uncertain number soever of the Scots were slain It was apparent that above eight thousand were taken Prisoners And this Victory was disputed and ended in three dayes time in Lancashire the 17 18 and 19. of August It was said for truth that so soon as the King was assured that Duke Hamilton commanded in chief he foretold their doom that they would be undone But the Lieutenant General Cromwel thought not fit to rest with this success whilst he was assured that Monroe was in March and how the scattered Forces might Rally and joyn together therefore he takes no rest but marches to meet him Having Ordered the Commanders of the Parliaments Forces in all Counties adjacent to follow Hamilton who with many of his men were met with at Uxeter surrounded with power and made to submit to mercy by the Lord Grey Hamilton is sent to Ashby de la Zouch the Lord of Loughboroughs strong hold And this Difeat of the Scots altered the Prince of Wales his resolution which was to sail Northwards from the Downs and to fight with the Parliaments Admiral and possibly to assist the Scots by landing in some Northern Coast. The County were troâ—bled with the numbers of prisoners and therefore a Committee is appointed to Treat with Merchants to convey them over to Foreign service and not to return back in Arms. The Scotish Ensigns Cornets and Colours are brought to Westminster Hall where they hang up the Trophies of the English Victories against the Scots Nation Cromwel is come to Durham Lambert in his Rear and in design to meet Monroe supposed to be six thousand strong and now at Morpeth where he receives Command from the Estates of Scotland to return home for indeed the Presbyterian party of Ministers had got the power of the Sword and set up Arguile their General with four thousand men already raised and refuse to administer the Eucharist to any for a whole year till the peoples sinnes for neglect to their Covenant be repented of by the Sacrifice of the Kirks Prayers and Preachings Monroe more in fear of Cromwel then obedience to his Masters hastens back again leaving his English Confederates to shift for themselves who make speed to Barwick but are refused to enter by the Governour Lodowick Lesly and tells them plainly the Marquess Arguile commands him to keep correspondence with the Parliament of England with whom their is a confederacie Indeed they were in mighty disorder in Scotland Monroe was got home and joyned with Lanerick there and both together may make eight thousand strong Arguile with his Forces near as many lye at Hadington twelve miles behind Edenburgh and all these lye upon Guard and suppose that they mean not to engage though they are within four miles of each other Old Leven is possessed of Edenburgh Castle David Lesly is Lieutenant General to Arguile and this is the news from Anwich 14. Septem But Cromwel being come to Tweed sends over Lambert to summon Barwick who refuse rather to surrender to Arguiles own party which the English may not suffer and yet to keep correspondence Agents are sent to Arguile to consult about assisting him and his and to compleat a lasting contract with that party and the Parliament of England And to that end Lieutenant General Cromwel publishes his Declaration at his entrance into Scotland Whereas We are Marching with the Forces of the Parliament of England into the Kingdom of Scotland in pursuance of the remaining part of the Enemy who lately invaded the Kingdom of England and for the recovery of the Garrisons of Barwick and Carslile These are to declare that if any Officer or Souldier under my Command shall take or demand any money or shall take any Horses goods or Victuals without order or shall abuse the people in any sort it shall be tryed and punished by a Council of 〈◊〉 death Septemb. 20. Cromwel And accordingly came to Cromwel Arguile Lowdon Leven the Layrd of Gramond and Major Straughan disliking of the Armie of Hamiltons coming into England as also of Monroes raising Forces to continue the said troubles and therefore desire the assistance of England to suppresse them to which Cromwel consents and that the publick enemy subdued and the English Towns to be delivered he will return And in all these particulars he is justified by the Votes of the Parliament of England And 27. Septemb. relates that his Van Quarters are within ten miles of Edenburgh and part of his Army is left behind to block up Barwick To which Town Arguile and others of Note had conduct and entrance to treat about the surrender thereof to the English but the Governour refused without Order from Lanerick and Monroe and therefore the English fell to storming and possessed Tweed Mouth and the Bridge-foot on the English side and blew up the Scots House-Guard upon the Bridge Then came an express from Leven and Lieutenant General David Lesly certifying Arguile that they were like to agree upon the old Treaty which was to hold no longer 1. That the Armies under Arguile and the other under Lanerick with all the Forces under any of the Garrisons in Scotland together with Barwick and Carslile be disbanded 2. That the setling of Religion at home and promoting Reformation abroad be ordered to the determination of the General Assembly and all Civil Differences be referred to a Parliament speedily to be called 3. That no party that were in the late Engagements against England be of the new Parliament or of the General Assembly And so the godly people of Scotland are good friends with the godly people of the Army of England acting together in the same Principles and are perswaded that so much of their power as the Princes of the Earth have lent to the support of that man of Sin God hath and will suddenly break and destroy And
on to Warwick and there refreshed fell upon Strafford Avon commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Wagstaff Colonel Croker and Trist a Dutchman and some Companies of Foot with these they made good the Bridg faced the Enemy but not able to endure the Ordnance made a safe Retreat and left the Town to the Enemy who in fear of some stratagem made a hasty plunder and retreated to Warwick and so to Staffordshire where his Lordship by his Reputation and presence sought to dissolve the Association of the Gentry there and reduce the County to the Parliament Being come to Lichfield he gets into the Town indefencible and unarmed but those Forces that were there under the Earl of Chesterfield retired to the precincts of the Cathedral called A Close a place more tenable Brook being Master of the Town gave on upon the Enemy and whilest they fought he was got up into a chamber-window and peeping at a loop-hole of the Window received a fatal Shot upon the Ey-ball of which he instantly sunk down and died The remarkable passage is that the Lord Brook was shot in the eye on Saint Chad's day the first Bishop of the Mercians of that Church and that by the Son of a Clergy man the Enemy of the Church was killed The Assailants having lost their Leader retired for a while but came on again and took the Church together with the Earl of Chesterfield and all his Souldiers being many and some good Ordnance The Report was constant that the Lord Brook had ordered his Chaplain at his setting forth to this Encounter to preach upon this Text If I perish I perish Hest. c. 4. And himself prayed and used this Execration upon himself and Souldiers That if the cause he followed were not right and just he might be presently cut off and that he hoped to live to see the day when one stone of Saint Paul 's Church in London should not be left upon another Should be killed in the Eye and not the Lid touched He that disliked the Letany for the Prayer against sudden Death should die stone-dead But on Sunday afterwards March 22. the Commanders of the Kings Forces besiege Lichfield received intelligence that Sir Iohn Gell and Sir William Brereton for the Parliament with a Body of three thousand were coming to the Relief of the Besieged they drew out eight hundred Horse and three hundred Dragoons and came upon them unexpected and the Parliaments Horse not able to endure the Charge were put to flight and the Foot seeing themselves deserted forsook the Field leaving the Victory intire to the Kings party many killed and Prisoners taken with Ammunition and Baggage some Ordnance and four Drakes but all these were full dearly bought for though the King lost but few men he had it at no less price than the Earl of Northampton's life a gallant faithfull Lord who charging in the Head of his Troop was so-ingaged that his own Saddle-horse being shot and failing he was unfortunately slain and though he lost his life yet Victory attended him to his grave vanquishing those by whom he suffered and died a Protestant professour contrary to the feigned Report devised on him But afterwards Lichfield Close was gotten for the King by Prince Rupert the one and twentieth of April who having sprung his Mine made a reasonable Breach which assailing and at the same time others scaled the Walls both which failing and he sent for to Court gave them a fresh Attempt as a Farewell at which they yielded Lieutenant Colonel Russel commanding in chief to depart with fourscore Horse Men and Arms as many Musquetiers with Colours flying a free Pass and eleven Carts for their Baggage to Coventry and all Prisoners taken on either side since the Lord Brook came into the Countrey should be released It was on Saturday April 17. that the General Essex sate down before Reading and the next day made an Attempt thereon but was beaten off by Sir Arthur Aston the Governour an old Souldier bred up in the Wars of Germany from his youth A second Onset followed and entered upon one of the Out-works and repulsed with loss and for that good service the King sent them thanks with a Supply of seven hundred Musquetiers and sufficient Ammunition which was conveyed to Dorchester and so by a considerable strength of Horse to the water-side just against the Town by break of day and by Boats got in the Besiegers seeing it done but far off to hinder it But the place not able to indure the several Attempts of so great an Army daily supplied with fresh men the City of London Trained Bands and plenty of all provisions the last Encounter of the Besiegers with their great Ordnance shooting into the Town the Governour got a dangerous Bruise on the Head by the fall of some Brick-bats and in much danger the command devolved on Colonel Fielding and by him the Town was delivered up to their Enemy upon noble Conditions All the Forces to march out in warlike manner with free passage to Oxford with fifty Carts for Carriage the Town not to be plundered and such as will may remove from thence within six weeks and this was done on May day Of which sudden Surrender Fielding was questioned and committed at Oxford and by a Council of War sentenced to lose his head but left to the Kings mercy and by importunity of his Kindred the Villiers he had pardon And Sir Arthur Aston recovered of his Mischance to do the King good service for many years after In May the Overseers for demolishing all Pictures Crosses and what not that were so idolatrous abominable concluded their Reformation in that Monument of Adornment to the City Cheapside the great Cross after the Multitude had defaced the excellent Statues thereon of former Kings and Queens they pulled down the whole Fabrick to the ground in hate to Idolatry as was pretended but more certainly they made good use of the Gold and Lead which the pride of the City formerly had set out with much cost and now as forward to pull it down for the benefit of the State service And the next good Act they voted the Queen a Traitor for taking part with her Husband for now she was ready to march with good Forces towards the King Captain Hotham the Son being imprisoned by the Parliament made his Escape and sent to the Earl of Newcastle that he would cast himself into his arms and that Hull and Lincoln should be rendered to him and is now gone to his Father at Hull and both of them stand upon their guard The Queen now at Newark with some Forces intends to lie at Werton and thence to Ashby and there resolve what to do the Enemies Forces from Nottingham being gone to Leicester and Derby to intercept the Queens passage The Queen before she departed left for the safety of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire two thousand Foot and Arms for five hundred more and twenty
strength of Murray Rosse Sutherland Cathnes and the Sept of Frasers were ready to meet him with a desperate Army of five thousand Horse and Foot Montrose had onely fifteen hundred for those of Clanrenold and Athole men hoping no use of them got leave to go home with the Spoil of Arguile and to return when he had occasion this was his comfort he had Souldiers brought up to hardness the others new raised raw and rude Nay if Montrose could be made afraid Arguile with three thousand Foot was at an old Castle Innerlogh upon the bank of Logh-Aber Montrose meant to fight him first where he knew the Coward lodged and leaguer'd to see the Game plaid over by the Northern men But Montrose now thirty miles off seeks him out not the ordinary way but about through unknown by-paths monstrous to imagine and killing the Scouts came upon Arguile ere he was aware yet in a fright he was allarm'd it was Mid-night but Full Moon light as day by which they skirmished whilest Arguile was got in a Cock-boat ready to quit all The Morn was Candlemas day and by the Sound of Montrose's Trumpets a sign that he had Horse though unusual there the Arguile's Sirname began the Battel but the common Souldiers in the front after once Discharge began to run when with a Shout eagerly pursued the rest were routed and ran all 9. miles upon execution fifteen hundred slain the chief of that Name fell in Campo Belli in the Field of War I cannot say in the Bed of Honour in that Rebellion and such as could be saved he used courteously and sent them home They did not fight but fly so as of Montrose's men but three killed and many hurt amongst whom was Sir Thomas Oglebey Son to the Earl of Arley of which he died after He had done good Service in England under his Father in Law the Lord Ruthen Earl of Forth and Branford and this Victory ended this year but opened a way to Montrose for future Victories The Queens industry in France had laboured out a Design of some Assistance from the Duke of Lorain who was at leasure with a rambling Army and Money in his Purse to do somewhat for any body and with Reputation to himself he thought not amiss to treat with the Queen of England now in the French Court at Paris and he with his Forces about Colein Much trouble there was in earnest which way to pass to the Water-side whether through France or Holland then where to land in England Westward or Northward But the Cardinal Mazarine was too wise for either he went on in Richlieu's former Rode to increase not to amend the English miseries and so the King was abused in the help from Lorain though it held on in hope the next year The King had treated with Denmark whose natural affection to him by bonds of affinity intended his assistance but he became suddenly imbroiled in his home-affairs by the ambitious success of the Swedes in Germany and so in their conquering condition fell upon Denmark upon the credit of that great Astrologer Ticho Brahe who had foretold That the good King Christian should be driven out of his Kingdom and that this mutable fate shouldâ— fall upon him 1644. The Design of the Swede was sudden in a word to snap some Ships and Barques at Anchor in the Haven and so entered into the Isle of Fune and craftily rendered themselves Masters of all unawares without a blow The King of Denmark strucken with amazement at this Invasion instantly gives notice to the States General at the Hague but the cause he could not unless that of Ambition and Treachery in a Neighbour Nation but we may ghess the reason and it was thus The good King Christian for so he was esteemed always endeavoured by solicitation to mediate the Mischiefs of Germany and to interpose his Arbitration as yet Neuter both Enemies accept him Umpire and the place Munster and their Ambassadours to meet there and in the mean time the Emperour was induced to withdraw his Garison from Wolfenbotel rendering the Town to the Duke of Luneburgh the Swede grew jealous of their cause to intrust it with the Dane as more affectionate to the Empire and so minding to be afore-hand sends no Ambassadour but marches with his Army into his Territories and hires Ships and Sâ—a-men in Holland General Torstenton for the Swedes advanceth into Holstein surprizes Kiel and with ease and speed seizes Iutland onely the Isle of Fune was made defensible the Approaches intrenched and Torstenton repulsed there The Dane on the sudden gets together a little Fleet which lay before Getenburgh prepares more Ships and Men and implores assistance from his Friâ—ns on all sides complaining of this treacherous Invasion without cause given or pretended and that in time of peace and kindness from this King but on the sudden the Swedes had surrounded their Adversaries and another of their Generals Coninxmark takes the Arch-bishoprick of Bremen belonging to the King when he was Prince so that the good old man hâ—d but two Islands left him Zeland and Fune and at Sea the Swedes had hired Vessels from Holland under Martin Ties whom yet the Dane drove into a Neighbour Port. The King was as full of courage as age threescore and seven years old and now his own Admiral himself in the fights and bloud round about him whose example exhorted all and forced the Swedish Fleet with â—ull sail to fly to the Haven of Kiel then comes the King a shore and becomes his own â—eneral by land waging the War by Skirmishes the Swedes having got the strong place Christian Pries leaving the King but two more Gluckstat and Cremp When in comes Gallâ—sso from the Emperour and arrives at Oldesto enters Hamburgh and Lubeck Treats with the Danâ—â— against the common Enemy the Swede The French Mediatour was the Ambassadour Monsiâ—ur de la Tuillerie his Outward Errand was so but his aime was otherwise to undoe the House of Austria by any means Richlieu's Maxime bequeathed to Mazarine The Dunkerkers took part with the Dane not willing to let goe the Sound a prey to be divided between the Hollander and Swede and so to give leave to all Traders into the Baltick Sea to which the King inclined and with those helps to attach his Enemies on all sides Now were the Politick Agents set on work to serve the Interest of their respective Masters French and Holland joyned Arguments against all Allies to deter the Dane from doting on the Emperialist ayd and so to endanger his amity with all other Potentates Enemies to that ambitious House of Austria During disputes on Land the Swedes Fleet got loose into the main Sea which cost Admiral Galdie his head for suffering their escape And the King Marches with sixteen thousand men all Germans into Scaâ—â— and there to give Gustavus Horne battel but the French Tuillerie seeing the odds against his Masters interest steps in between