against them and far lesse then twice Musket shot distance from them They began their battery against us with their great Guns above halfe an houre before we could get any of our Guns up to us our Gunner dealt very ill with us delaying to come up to us our noble Colonell Tucker fired one peece of Ordnance against the enemy and aiming to give fire the second time was shot in the head with a Cannon bullet from the enemy The blew Regiment of the trained Bands stood upon our right wing and behaved themselves most gallantly Two regiments of the Kings Horse which stood upon their right flanke a far off came fiercely upon them and charged them two or three times but were beat back with their Muskettiers who gave them a most desperate charge and made them flie This day our whole Army wore green boughes in their hats to distinguish us from our enemies which they perceiving one regiment of their Horse had got green boughes rid up to our regiments crying Friends friends but we let flie at them and made many of them and their horses tumble making them flie with a vengeance The enemies Canon did play most against the red Regiment of trained Bands they did some execution amongst us at the first and were somewhat dreadfull when mens bowels and brains flew in our faces But blessed bee God that gave us courage so that we kept our ground and after a while feared them not our Ordnance did very good execution upon them for we stood at so neer a distance upon a plain field that we could not lightly misse one another We were not much above halfe our Regiments in this place for we had 60 Files of Muskettiers drawn off for the forlorn hope who were ingaged against the enemy in the field upon our left Fank Where most of the Regiments of the Army were in fight they had some small shelter of the hedges and bankes yet had a very hot fight with the enemy did good execution an 〈◊〉 to it as bravely as ever men did When our two regiments of the trained Bands had thus plaied against the enemy for the space of three hours or thereabout our red Regiment joyned to the Blew which stood a little distance from us upon our left Flank where we gained the advantage of a little hill which we maintained against the enemy halfe an hour two Regiments of the enemies foot fought against us all this while to gain the hill but could not Then two regiments of the enemies horse which stood upon our right Flank came fiercely upon us and so surrounded us that wee were forced to charge upon them in the front and reere and both Flanks which was performed by us with a great deal of courage and undauntednesse of spirit insomuch that wee made a great slaughter among them and forced them to retreat but presently the two regiments of the enemies foot in this time gained the hill and came upon us before wee could well recover our selves that we were glad to retreat a little way into the field till we had rallied up our men and put them into their former posture and then came on again If I should speak any thing in the praise and high commendations of these two regiments of the trained Bands I should rather obscure and darken the glory of that courage and valour God gave unto them this day they stood like so many stakes against the shot of the Cannon quitting themselves like men of undaunted spirits even our enemies themselves being judges It might be expected that something should be spoken of the noble and valiant service performed by the rest of the Regiments of the Army both horse and foot but their courage valour it self speaks which was performed by them that day our men fighting like Lions in every place the great slaughter made amongst the enemies testifies My noble and valiant Captaine George Massie who was with the forlorn hope received a shot in the back from the enemy of which wound he is since dead This 26. of September hinc illae lachrymae we lost about 60 or 70 men in our red Regiment of the trained Bands besides wounded men we having the hottest charge from the enemies Cannon of any regiment in the Army Also that worthy and valint Gentleman Capt. Hunt was slain in this battell whose death is much lamented These two poore regiments were the very objects of the enemies battery that day and they have since made their boast of it It is conjectured by most that the enemy lost four for one 70. chief Commanders were slain on their side This is most certain that they did acknowledge themselves to be beaten It is credibly informed by those that were this day in the Kings army that the King himself brought up a regiment of Foot and another of horse into the field and gave fire to two peeces of Ordnance riding up and down all that day in a souldiers gray coat The next day I viewed the dead bodies there lay about 100 stript naked in that field where our 2 regiments stood in battalia This night the enemy conveyed away about 30. cart load of maimed and dead men as the towne-people credibly reported to us and I think they might have carried away 20 cart load more of their dead men the next morning they buried 30 in one pit 14 lay dead in one ditch this battaile continued long it begun about six aclock in the morning and continued till past 12 aclock at night in the night the enemy retreated to the towne of Newbury and drew away all their Ordnance we were in great distresse for water or any accommodation to refresh our poore Souldiers yet the Lord himselfe sustained us that we did not faint under it we were right glad to drink in the same water where our horses did drink wandering up and downe to seek for it Our word this day was Religion theirs was Queen Mary in the field The great goodnesse of God in giving us victory this day is so much the more remarkable from these three considerations First that great disadvantage we had this day in case we had been beat by the enemy we having no place of retreat for safety neerer then Glocester which was above 30 miles whereas our enemies had possession of Newbury and in a manner of the whole Countrey round about secondly we had great scarcitie of provision for our Army having marched many dayes and nights with little food or sleep or any refreshment had not God fed us with the bread of our enemies which we took at Ciceter we could not without a speciall providence of God have been able to subsist whereas our enemies had the town of Newbury and the Country all about for their relief Thirdly we had a great disadvantage by giving battell in that place the enemy had made choice of their ground planted their Ordnance gained all advantages they could desire Beside many other
of ours who was pistold by one that took him prisoner we killed 2. or 3. of them Saturday Septemb. 16. we advanced from Ciceter five miles to a village called Letton where our London-Briggade was quartered that night the Lord Generall with his Army quartered a mile further at a Market-towne in Wiltshire called Cricklet at the village aforesaid were ten cart-load of Cavaliers who were sick and lame and brought thither to be quartred who when they heard we were marching to this place they then found their leggs and run away this day we had a wet march and in the night a false alarm Sabbath day Septemb. 17. we marched from Cricklet to a Market-towne called Swindowne 8. miles This morning newes was brought that the Cavaliers were come to Ciceter and had taken and kild many of our men who stayed behind drinking and neglecting to march with their Colours who are not much to be pittied this day we drove along with our army about 1000 sheep and 60 head of Cattell which were taken from Malignants and Papists in the Country for the maintenance of our army 87 sheep was allotted for our red Regiment but wee afterwards lost them all when we came to fight it being every mans care then to secure himselfe and to see to the safetie of the Army this night our London-Briggade was quartred 2 miles beyond the Lord Generalls quarters at a little poore village called Chizelton where wee could get no accommodation either for meat or drink but what we brought with us in our snapsacks most of us quartred in the open feild it being a very cold frosty night wee marched away hence the next morning Munday Septemb. 18. we advanced from this village about two miles to a place called Abern-chase where newes was brought to the Lord Generall that the enemy was coming upon us with a great body of horse which caused the Lord Generall to make a stand our whole Army being in a deep valley and the enemy upon the hills on our left flank we drewup all our Army into a body to the top of the hill where we had a full view of the enemy over against us there appeared a great body of their horse if was conceived there was 7 or 8000 but no foot that we could discerne we stood a while and faced them then one small body of horse as a forlorn hope marched up the hill to them and fired upon them and then retreated to their main body in the valley the enemy followed our horse in their retreat firing at them all the way very feircely then we fired some Drakes at their horse but did little execution then our body of foot was drawne downe from this hill to the top of another high hill where we stood and faced the enemy having a full view of all that was don between our horse and theirs our foot were not ingaged at all in this fight except two Regiments onely Then Collonell Meldrams and Colonell Harvies troops drew up in a body gave the enemy a very feirce charge which was performed with as brave courage and valour as ever men did and then wheeled about to a Regiment of our foot that stood in the reer of them the enemy pursued them in their retreat skirmishing one at another all the way what number was slain in this fight is not yet known here Cap. Willet received a shot from the enemy of which wound he is since dead we lost no other man of note in this fight one man of great note and esteem of the enemies partie was here slaine Marquesse de la Veel his father is Lord high Marshall of France and chiefe Commander in the feild we took up his body and carried it to Hungerford I viewed his wounds he received three shot in his body from us one in his right pap another in the shoulder and a third in the face from this place all their horse gathered into a body when it begun to be dark and so ours likewise and wee marched away that night to Hungerford 5 miles our red Regiment with some other Regiments were quartred a mile on this side Hungerford at a little village called Shelton those that marched in the reer of the Army were marching this 5 miles all night we were much distressed for want of sleep as also for all other sustenance it was a night of much raine we were wet to the skin this day we took 25 Cavaliers at Hungerford whereof one was slaine Tuesday Septemb. 19. we advanced from Hungerford to a village called Embry about a mile and halfe from Nubury the Lord Generall had intent to have quartered at Nubury that night but the King got into the Town that day before and so we were prevented This morning a Trumpetter came from the King to the Lord Generall to desire that Chyrurgions and Doctors might have free accesse from them to the Marquesse that we had taken But the Messenger came to late for the Marquesse was past their cure The Lord Generall told him if they pleased to send for his body they might have it The death of this Marquesse hath much inraged the enemy being one whom they did highly esteem This night our whole Army quartered in the open field we had no provision but what little every one had in his Snapsack We had now marched many dayes and nights with little food or any sustenance and little sleep This night the King sent a challenge to the Lord Generall to give him battell the next morning which accordingly was performed and in the night our enemies gained the hills where they intended to give us battell they planted their Ordnance got all advantages they could desire before our Army marched up to them Yet now wee see there is neither wisedome nor policie nor strength against the Lord yea had not the Lord himselfe been on our side they had swallowed us up quick so great was their rage and fury stirred up against us they being confident of the victory before we came to fight But let not him that puts on his harnesse boast as he that puts it off For it was not our owne arme that saved us but the right hand of the Lord became glorious in that day to get himselfe a glorious name The next morning Septem. 20. very early before day we had drawn up all our Army in their severall Regiments and marched away by break of day and then advancing towards the enemy with most cheerfull and couragious spirits The Lord Roberts souldiers had begun to skirmish with them before we came up to the enemy which we hearing put us to a running march till wee sweat again hastening to their reliefe and succour When wee were come up into the field our two Regiments of the trained Bands were placed in open Campania upon the right wing of the whole Army The enemy had there planted 8 pieces of Ordnance and stood in a great body of Horse and Foot wee being placed right opposite
day before without any sustenance neither durst we kindle any fire though it was a very cold night Munday 3 Septemb. we got some refreshment for our souldiers which was no sooner done but news was brought to us that the enemy was within halfe a mile of the Town which proved to be true for presently one rid downe to us having his horse shot in the neck all bloody and told us the enemy was at the towns end also one Trooper slaine a quarter of a mile above the town one of our souldiers stript him and brought his clothes to us It was a little open Village the enemy might have come in upon us every way therfore we conceiving it not safe to abide in the town drew up our Regiment presently into a body and marched into a broad open field to the top of the hil the blew Regiment of the train'd Bands were quartered within lesse than half a mile of us but came not up to us Being come into the field we saw about 4 or 〈◊〉 of the enemies horse surrounding of us one rid post to my Lord Generall to informe him of it One great body of their horse stood facing of us upon the top of the hill at our townes end within lesse then a quarter of a mile from us another great body of their horse was in the valley upon our right flank as we stood and a third great squadron of their horse were going up to the top of a hill in the reere of us by all which it appeares they had an intent to have surrounded our City Regiments and to have cut us off we stood and faced one another for the space of halfe an houre then 6 or 7. of our men who had horses rod up to them and came within lesse then musket shot florishing their swords daring them and one or two of our men fired upon their forlorne hope we had lyned the hedges with musketeers which they perceiving did not move towards our body but only stood and faced us Then some of the Auxiliary forces came up to us at whose coming we gave a great shout and then by and by after we saw my Lord Generals forces comming down the hill about a mile and halfe behind us my Lord drevv out the forlorn hope upon the hil as they came dovvn who fired 3. or 4. Drakes against the enemies horse that were neer themon the top of the hil that were coming upon the reer of us and made them retreat to the rest of the body their intent was to have compasted us in on every side but the Lord prevented them they might have spoiled our whole Regiment had they in the morning come down upon us when we were taking a little food to refresh our selves the enemy being then but half a mile off a great many of the Cavaliers lay all night within lesse then a mile of us which we perceived in our march the next day I hope the mercy of that day wil not bee forgotten When this was done my L. Generals forces marched up to our Brigade when they were come we drew forth our Forlorn hope and marched up to the body of their Horse that stood facing us on the top of the hill we fired some Drakes at them they retreated then the Lord Generall drew up his great Guns they faced us againe we fired two great Peeces of Ordnance at them and then they retreated up to the Towne of Stow and drew up all their horse into a body and stood upon the side of the hill facing us then we let flye two or three of our greatest Ordnance at them they all fled and wee pursued them and followed them three miles Then they stood and faced the Lord Generall againe about the going downe of the Sun we fired at them a great while marching up towards them five or sixe Regiments together all in a body about 800 or 1000 abrest sixe deep we having roome enough it being a brave champian country which goodly shew did so much the more daunt the enemy that as it is reported Prince Rupert swore hee thought all the Round-heads in England were there In the first Skirmish we lost but one man who was flaine by our owne Cannon through his owne negligence and another sore burnt and hurt by the same Peece When we came to Stow the Cavaleers reported that they had killed twenty of our men and we two of theirs but we heare there were sixe of their men slaine some horses killed and five prisoners taken Prince Rupert was there and some say the Lord of Holland also Our men pursuing them skirmished till nine of the clocke at night wee marched after them till twelve of the clocke at night we lay all in the open field upon the plowd-land without straw having neither bread nor water yet God enabled our Souldiers to undergoe it cheerfully there was not one feeble sicke person amongst us but was able to march with us the day following Tuseday September 25. we advanced from that field neare to a Towne called Prestbury within sight of Glocester about seven miles from it This day the whole Army marching together it fell to our red Regiment of the Trained-bands to march in the Reare of the Waggons and had charge of them about sixe of the clocke the Lord Generall comming to the top of a high mountaine or hill called Presbury-hill where we might see the City of Glocester he commanded foure or five great Peeces of Ordnance to be fired some say it was against the Cavaleers who were about a mile off in the Towne below the hill others say it was to give intelligence to Glocester of our approaching to their reliefe The Army marched downe the hill and hastened to the adjacent Villages for Quarter but before the Waggons could come to the top of the hill night drawing on it began to be very darke so that our Waggons and Carriages could not get downe the hill many of them were overthrowne and broken it being a very craggy steep and dangerous hill so that the rest of the Waggons durst not adventure to goe downe but stayed all night there sixe or seven horses lay dead there the next morning that were killed by the overthrow of the Waggons our red Regiment having charge of the Waggons were constrained to lye all night upon the top of this mountaine it being a most terrible tempestuous night of winde and raine as ever men lay out in we having neither hedge nor tree for shelter nor any sustenance of food or fire we had by this time marched sixe daies with very little provision for no place where we came was able to releeve our Army we leaving the Rode all the way and marching through poore little villages our souldiers in their marching this day would run halfe a mile or a mile before where they heard any water was such straits and hardship our Citizens formerly knew not yet the Lord that called us out to doe his worke
disadvantages on our part which I forbeare to relate yet God gave us the victory and made our enemies flie before us that we kept the field all night The Lord Generall deserves perpetuall honor by his wise valiant and worthy managing of this dayes battle as also no lesse praise and commendation to the rest of the councel of war Many more particular passages might here be inserted but I proceed Thursday Sept. 21. after we had buried our dead we marched frō this field with our whole army to a town called the Veal 11 miles and 4 miles from Redding where in our march this day our enemy pursuing of us fell upo our reer in a narrow lane about a mile and halfe from a village called Aldermason they came upon us with a great body of foot and horse our London Briggade marched in the reer and a forlorn hope of 600 Muskettiers in the reere of them besides a great number of cur horse but our horse which brought up our reere durst not stand to charge the enemy but fled running into the narrow lane routed our own foot trampling many of them under their horse feet crying out to them Away away every man shift for his life you are all dead men which caused a most strange confusion amongst us We fired 10 or 12 Drakes at the enemy but they came upon us very feircely having theirfoot on the other side of the hedges many of our waggons were overthrowne and broken others cut their traces and horse-harnesse and run away with their horses leaving their waggons carriages behind them our foot fired upon the enemies horse very bravely and slew many of them some report above 100 and not 10 of ours some that we took prisoners our men were so inraged at them that they knockt out their braines with the butt-end of their Muskets in this great distraction and rout a waggon of powder lying in the way overthrowne some spark of fire or match fell among it which did much hurt 7 men burnt and 2 kild the enemy had got 2 of our drakes in the reer had not our foot played the men and recovered them againe this was about 4 or 5 aclock at night many of our men lost their horses and other things which they threw away in haste wee marched on and came to the Veal about 10. aclock at night Fryday Sept. 22 we advanced from the Veal and came to Reading foure miles where we refreshed our Souldiers after our hard service and wearisome marchings We stayed here fryday saterday and sabbath day saterday night about 20 of the enemies horse came and gave us an alarm Sabbath day was celebrated a day of thanksgiving we marched away hence on munday morning Monday Sept. 25. wee advanced from Reading to Madenhead our Briggade was quartred here But the Lord Generall with his Army and all his train marched to Windsor Tuesday Sept. 26. we advanced from Maidenhead about 4 aclock in the morning having some intentiō of marching to London that night but came no farther then Brainford where we stayed the next day also being Fast day Thursday Sept. 28. we marched from Brainford to London where we were joyfully received home of all our friends and all that wish well to the Parliament and to the vexation of heart of all wicked malignants who had raised reports that we were all routed and slaine The Lord Mayor together with the Aldermen of the Citie met us at Temple-barr and entertained us joyfully many 1000 bidding us wellcome home and blessing God for our safe returne Thus God that called us forth to doe his worke brought us through many straits dilivered us from the rage and insolency of our adversaries made them turne their backes with shame giving us victory and causing us to return home joyfully FINIS