up to the gates of Gloucester to the utter devastation of the parts adjacent with fire and plunder and to burn up the corn on the ground it being then neer harvest Hereupon the Governor marched back with his troops to Gloucester from whence he commanded two hundred and twenty Musketiers and ordered an hundred Muskettiers from Tewksbury to meet him on the march to prevent this great noised Army Whilest the orders for the march were giving forth to the Officers of horse and foot there fell out a sad accident between Major Gray and Major Hammond which was like to dash the whole action The heat of a quarrell then brake forth by occasion of a verball contestation at a Councell of Warre the same day when both had orders to march and were commanded to their particular charges Major Gray began to question Hammond for his hasty language and to require satisfaction This challenge at the present was refused or sleighted wherefore impatient of the supposed injury and full of revenge he smote him on the face with his fist upon this to swords they went in the street and after a little clashing Gray received his deaths wound by a thrust in the neck and expired in the place This miserable accident was like to beget a greater mischief among the Souldiers who being in Arms and ready to advance came back with full streame of violent resolution for the present revenge of Grays blood that the whole City and garrison was not farre from an uproar It rested on the Governors sole care to allay that violence of the Souldier who used his best art and industry to appease them whilest the Officers indulging their own discontent at the losse of their Major fell quite off the hinges After an houres dispute and intreaty the tumult was in some measure qualified that the most were perswaded to march as it was high time when the Enemy came on within three miles of the City with a resolution if not to lay waste by fire as they threatned yet to plunder and take away the persons of men their goods and cattell The businesse was put forwards but with little help from the discontented Officers Late in the afternoon our party began to advance and at High leaden passage got over the brook The Enemy were quartered in Hartpury field and commanded to lie close Our men came up to a bridge within a quarter of a mile of them in the dark night gave them an alarme and took ten prisoners and an other party of our horse that quartered neer the Lawne took divers that were sent that way to plunder But their main body evaded us and with great speed marched that night to Redmarley and we after a tedious wandring to find them out came to Eldersfield two miles from their quarters where we rested two or three houres to refresh ourselves and horses At break of day we prepared to advance upon the enemy when the beating of their Drums minded us of an early march and by six of the clock we came up to their randezvous their horse consisted of an hundred and sixty and their foot of eight hundred and fifty and of them six hundred and fourty Muskettiers by their own confession all drawn up into battalions and the hedges lined with Muskettiers To beat them out of their advantages the Governor divided the Foot into two bodies and drew out the Horse into single troops because the frequent inclosures would not make roome for a larger forme the Enemy in the mean while plying us with small shot and having disposed of his own troop with the hundred Muskettiers from Tewkesbury newly come in and many of the Countrey inhabitants armed with Muskets and good resolutions to one part of the Town he drew the Gloucester Muskettiers about an hundred and sixty for the rest remained at home ready to raise a mutiny for the misfortune of Grayes death and the greatest part of the horse to an other place of best advantage Himself advanced with this party and led the Van which consisted of three troops these were seconded with three other troops left to the command of Captain Backhowse Some of the Foot were placed in each Flank of the Horse and one single troop with the rest of the foot brought up the Reare They were drawn out into this posture marched up to the face of the Enemy the Governor in the Van next unto him Collonel Harley in the head of his own troop gallantly and in good order gave the charge beat them from their ambuscadoes put their horse to flight and in the instant of time got into the Van of their foot cut down and took them prisoners that few escaped our hands The Horse and Foot both Officers and Souldiers plaid their parts with resolution and gallantry The Enemy was left to our execution and their whole body broken and shattered many wounded and slain but more taken Major Generall Min was slain on the place with an hundred and seventy Among the Officers Leiftenant Collonel Passy then mortally wounded Major Buller seven Captains foure Leiftenants five Ensignes twelve Sergeants and neer three hundred common Souldiers were taken prisoners Some troops advanced in the pursuit fiue miles from the place of the sight but upon the view of a strong party from Worcester that came to joyn with Collonel Min they were enforced to leave the pursuit and prepare for a second encounter And a strange hand of providence kept asunder the Hereford and Worcester forces whose joyning would have proved unto us an inevitable destruction For Leiftenant Collonel Passie who commanded this fresh partie of an hundred and fiftie horse and five hundred foot just upon the beginning of the fight was riding up to Mins Brigade to bring news of their arrivall but happily intercepted and wounded by our Scouts and left for dead So that neither Enemy had the knowledge of each others condition But the Worcester forces advanced within two flight shot of the place whilest our men were scattered here and there in the chase of a vanquished Enemy nor did the Governor when the first brunt was over expect an after-birth The first discovery was made by Collonel Broughton and Captain Backhowse upon whom a blunt fellow charged up from the head of the main body in the entrance of a crosse-lane Him they surprised in the name of friends drew him aside from the view of the company and informed themselves of the strength at hand Forthwith they make a noise in the Enemies hearing pretending to fall on with a body of ours ready for a charge by the sudden out-cry daunted and drove back that strong party and made way for the Governors retreat and those with him which were now dispersed secure of the victory and following the chase Our stragling persuers were gathered together drew back to the place of the fight and there expected the charge choosing rather to make good the victory atchieved upon so great hazard and disadvantage then venture all
to provide for the attendants of a march that onely a proportion seemed to be cared for that might live within the walls of Gloucester and nothing to further such action that might restrain and lessen the strength of the Enemy preserve the Countrey and passe withall to the relief of remote garrisons Neverthelesse the establishment of such a power was required in these parts as might check the Enemy in all his marches and recruits and this strength far greater then the stint of that constant number which the garrisons took up In this extremity the Governor was constrained to act and marched on in the pursuit of the Enemy who kept randevous neer Hereford with fourty two troops of horse resolving to passe the Severne at Aust not daring to adventure over the hill Countrey And to guard the passage Prince Rupert sent into the Forrest a commanded party of five hundred horse and foot These began to fortifie Beachly for a lasting guard a place of extreme difficult approach being a gut of land running out between Seaverne and Wye and the onely commodious passage from Wales to Bristoll and the Western parts being the maine entercourse of the Kings Army and a strong reserve for the last exigence It was high time therefore to crush this designe and nip the bud of so great hopes The Governor advanced upon them some foure dayes after they began their fortifications and had drawn the trench half way from the banks of one River to the other when the other part was well guarded with an high quick-set hedge which they lined with Muskettiers and a ditch within with a fair meadow beyond wherein they had made a re-intrenchment The strength consisted neer of six hundred horse and foot which at the first coming on lighted upon a partie of horse from Chepstow took some and drove the rest into the River then faced the Enemy within Musket shot that Evening and so continued the next morning waiting the opportunitie of an assault for at high water the place was inaccessible by reason of their ships which guarded each River with Ordnance lying levell with the banks and clearing the face of the approach from Wye to Seaverne Wherfore the Governor taking the advantage of lowe water drew forth a party for the on-set These were brought neer the place of entrance where the Enemy intended a draw-bridge with order to storme the works which as yet were not finished Out of the forlorn hope the Governor had selected ten Musketiers to creep along the hedges and thenceto fall into the very breach These gave the first alarme and caused the Enemy according to the meaning of the plot to spend their first shot in vain And when the first volly was given ere they could recharge their Muskets the Governor gave the signall by the discharge of a Pistoll on went the Forlorn-hope and the Reserve following the Trumpets sounding and the Drums beating run up the Works rushed in among them and fell upon the hack when the whole and each part of the action was carried on without interruption and the Souldiers went up in such a regular march and so great solemnity that it seemed more like the pomp of a triumph then the confused face of a fight Of the Enemy some were killed and the rest taken prisoners besides some few that recovered the boats and many of them that took the water were drowned And to grace the service it was performed in the full view of a multitude on Chepstow side whilest the great guns plaid from each River which cast beneath the banks by the lowe ebbe did no execution but by their noise and semblance of terror both raised the Souldier and conduced to the majesty of the victory This good successe and the season held forth a fair opportunitie to compasse an other designe at that time in agitation Some overtures were made by Lieutenant Collonel Kyrle of the delivering of Monmouth into our hands Many did urge the present acceptance of the plot and an hasty performance and were discontented in that which they called slacknesse in the Governor when as neither the method of the plot was propounded in the generall the circumstances being left free nor the present state of things gave leave to manage the businesse when the following Army of P Rupert was to be intercepted a work of greater concernment and more beseeming a publick spirit then this latter But at that time t was the usuall mistake of particular Associations to confine every enterprise to their own Counties and divide the Common-wealth into so many petty kingdoms And in this did Collonel Massie deny himself in spending the latter part of the Summer in prosecuting a lesse plausible and appearing service though of larger concernment But having now pursued the Princes horse into Wales and destroyed the Enemies project in fortifying Beachly he quartered with his horse and foot neer Monmouth on the Forrest side and receiving an answer to a message lately sent to Lieutenant Collonel Kyrle propounded unto him and followed this way That he would feigne a Post from Gloucester side to desire a sudden return with his forces thitherward to secure that part of the Countrey from the Enemy which was already fallen out from Bristoll and Berkley and this message was to come to his hands at Mr. Halls house of High meadow a grand Papist where it would take wings for its dispatch to Monmouth by which means Kyrle commanding the horse might easily draw forth some troop to follow the Rear of our party Hereupon the Governor feigned a sudden retreat to Gloucester and having marched back three miles lodged his forces in a thicket of the Forrest sending his Scouts abroad prevented the Enemies discovery In the mean while the intelligence reaches Monmouth Leift Col Kyrle draws out whom the Governour surprised at midnight in High meadow house with his troop of thirty horse and with as little noise as possible advanced thence to Monmouth Neverthelesse t was not so deep a silence but the alarme was given by the Cornet of the troop who escaped the surprisall and the attempt made the more difficile if not desperate The Town took the alarme stood upon their guard expecting an Enemy Notwithstanding this Kyrle with an hundred select horse arrived at the Towns end confidently came up to the draw-bridge pretended a return with many prisoners taken perswaded the guards and prevailed with Coll Holthy the Governor of the Town by the Officers of the guard to let down the draw-bridge which was done but with much jealousie and a strong guard the bridge presently drawn up again insomuch that the first party were like to be held prisoners in the Town Our forlorn hope saw that it was time to lay about them they declare themselves over-power the guard and make good the bridge and in this there wanted not those that kept a strict watch over Kyrles deportment who acted his part with dexterity and valour Our body of
losse advance to the further parts where they kept their Randevouze and which they laide wast plundering the houses to the bare walls driving all the cattell siezing upon the persons of men and sending them Captives to Monmouth and Chepstow except such as escaped to us by flight as many did with their Armes and some few that saved themselves in Woods and Minepitts The enemy did not adventure into the lower and neerer places where our foot lay ready and resolved to undertake theirs if they came on Our Neighbouring parts of Hereford and Worcestershire runne the like fortune with these in the Forrest and looke blacke upon this Garrison which was not able to preserve them The Kings forces returned the second time into the Forrest and tooke the gleanings of the former Harvest yet the neerer parts are still prrserved The enemy raised themselves to a great power already reputed sixe thousand horse and foote and seeme to endeavour Northward wherefore the Governour intending to helpe the Countrey by driving up the Reare of their march or to put in for any service advanced to Lidbury with foure hundred horse and five hundred foot his whole marching strength notwithstanding the addition of two hundred and fifty Horse from Northampton and Warwicke and with this party attended the enemyes motion Hither Prince Rupert advanced with the best part of his Army of whose approach neither spye nor Scout from the Out-guards made the least discovery till they came within halfe a mile of the Towne horse and foote to surprize or at least to surround us The Governour instantly commanded the Horse to mount and drew up the foote though not in so good order as he might by reason of the sudden Alarme and suspecting what he afterwards founde that the Prince would endeavour to compasse him in he marched off the foot with all due speed that the enemyes right or left wing might not get before us which they endeavored by sending one party to the Towns end to keep us in action there whilst two other parties fetched a compasse upon either hand In the meane while he brought up those few horse that were not upon the Out-guards to charge the enemy at their first entrance and placed an Ambuscado of twenty Musqueteeres to make good the retreate But the businesse was acted so that the Governour in person with the Field Officers and Captaines were enforced to entertaine the enemy with severall charges and beare their brunt alone till the foote had ridde some ground before them In this part of the skirmish their losse was the greatest for number of ours only Major Backehouse mortally wounded the Governour whom the Prince aimed to charge had his horse wounded under him by two severoll shots Our men drew off as was meete made good the retreat three or foure miles to the enemyes losse till they came up to a place of shelter when hasting to get before the right wing of the enemyes horse they were put into some confusion And the Horse having no great desire to fight neglected the advantage of the place to stop the pursuit though the Governour endeavoured what he could to engage them That the enemy fell in among the Reare Guard of the foote where he lost neare two hundred men taken prisoners many Country men being taken in to make up the number This businesse cost them the lives of some gallrnt Officers and the Prince missed his aime of surprizing Colonell Massye but the Governour supposed the stay of the Princes march an advantage to the Service Neverthelesse the Army continued some dayes after betweene Hereford and Worcester recruiting dayly and seeme to put much confidence in the Country whom they cause not onely to abjure the Parliament but binde over to themselves by solemne oath swearing in the presence of God That they beleeve no power of Pope or Parliament can depose the King and obsolve them from their naturall obedience to his Royall Person and Successors that the two Houses of Parliament without the Kings consent have no power to make Lawes or to binde or oblige the subjects by their Ordinances that they beleeve the Earl of Essex and Manchester and Sir Thomas Fairsaxe Sir William Waller Colonell Massie together with all such as have already or shall hereafter take up Armes by Authority or commission from the members of Parliament at Westminster pretending to fight for King and Parliament doe thereby become actuall Rebells and as such ought with all their adherents and partakers to be presented and brought to condigne punishment that they will never beare Armes in their quarrell but will if they be thereto called assist their Soveraine and his Armies in the defence of his Royall Person Crowne and Dignity against all contrary forces to the utmost of their skill and power and with the hazard of their lives and fortunes that they will not discover the secresies of his Majesties Army unto the Rebells nor hold any correspondence with them and all designes of theirs against the Kings Army for the surprizing or delivering up of the Cities of Hereford or Worcester or any other of his Majesties Forts they shall truly discover to those whom it shall concern so soone as it comes to their knowledge That his Majesties taking up Armes for the causes by himselfe so often declared in Print is justly necessary That they shall endeavour all they can to hinder popular tumults risings randevouzes meetings confederacies and associations of the people townes hundreds and countries which are not warranted to assemble by his Majesties expresse commission or by power derived from him by vertue of his Commissions and in the sense he meanes it and that they detest from their heart that seditious and traiterous late invented nationall covenant and protest never to take it All these particulars they vow and protest sinceerely to obsolve without Equivocation or mentall Reservation This Pretestation was strictly injoyned by the Princes to be taken by all without exception in the Counties of Mounmouth Glamorgan Breeknoâ—ke Radnor Hereford and Worcester Neverthelesse this constained act could not knit the hearts of a male-contented Country to the love of that side nor could the State permit the enemies exaction and violence by this vow eternally to binde up the people from well-doing The Princes Army is the maine rest of the Kings Affaires which they strengthen daily by impressing the Countrey taking in lesser Brigades and draining the Garrisons and a part of Gorings Army passed over the Seaverne from Bristoll into Wales and so to Rupert at Hereford After a little stay to perfect the recruite the enemy drew thence the Infantery and Artillery lay betweene Worcester and Beaudly commanded by Sir Jacob Ashley whilest Rupert and Maurice with the horse and some select foote fetch off the King from Oxford assisted also with Gorings Horse and Dragoones who left his Majesty at Stew and marched backe over the hills into the West through our Borders The Governour received another dropping