in the Reare in the left wing were about 20. Troops of Horse commanded by Sir JAMES RAMSEY their Commissary Generall In this posture they stood when the other Army advanced toward them the strength of their Horse being as aforesaid on their right wing opposite to the left wing of the Parliament Army The Canon on both sides with a loud thunder began the Fight in which the successe was not equall the Parliaments Canon doing great execution upon their Enemies but theirs very little The Earle of Lindsey Generall for the King with a Pike in his hand led on the maine Body of that Army in which was the Kings owne Regiment incountred by the Lord Generall Essex who exposed himselfe to all the danger that a Battell could make first leading on his Troope then his owne Regiment of Foot and breathing courage into them till being disswaded by divers from ingaging himselfe too farre he returned to the rest of the Army to draw them on The chiefe Regiments having begun the Battell Sir PHILIP STAPLETON with a brave Troope of Gentlemen which were the Generals Life Guard and commanded by him charged the Kings Regiment on their right flanke within their Pikes and came off without any great hurt though those Pikemen stoutly defended themselves and the Musqueteers being good firemen played fiercely upon them The Battell was hot at that place and so many of the Kings side slaine that the Parliament Army began to be victorious there they tooke the Standard Royall the bearer thereof Sir EDMUND VARNEY being slaine and the Generall the Earle of Lindsey sore wounded was taken Prisoner But the same fortune was not in every part for the Kings right wing led by Prince RUPERT charged fiercely upon the left wing of the other consisting most of Horse and prevailed altogether for the Parliament Troops ranne almost all away in that Wing and many of their Foot Companies dismayed with their flight fled all away before they had stood one Charge Colonell ESSEX being utterly forsaken by that whole Brigade which he commanded went himselfe into the Van where he performed excellent service both by direction and execution till at the last he was shot in the thigh of which he shortly after died some part of their disheartning was caused by the revolt of their owne side for Sir FAITHFULL FORTESCUE at the beginning of the Fight instead of charging the Enemy discharged his Pistoll to the ground and with his Troope wheeling about ranne to the Kings Army to whom he had formerly given notice thereof by his Cornet The Parliament Army had undoubtedly been ruined that day and an absolute Victory gained on the Kings side if Prince RUPERT and his pursuing Troops had been more temperate in plundering so untimely as they did and had wheeled about to assist their distressed friends in other parts of the Army for Prince RUPERT followed the chase to Keynton Towne where the Carriages of the Army were which they presently pillaged using great cruelty as was afterward related to the unarmed Waggoners and labouring men A great number of the flying Parliament Souldiers were slaine in that Chase which lasted two miles beyond Keynton and so far till the Pursuers were forced to retire having met with Colonell HAMBDEN who marched with the other Brigado of the Army that brought on the Artillery and Ammunition before spoken of Colonell HAMBDEN discharged five Peeces of Canon against them some were slaine and the rest ceasing the pursuit retired hastily to the field where they found all their Infantry excepting two Regiments quite defeated for in the meane time Sir WILLIAM BALFORE Lieutenant Generall of the Horse with a Regiment of Horse charged a Regiment of the Kings Foot before any Foot of his owne side could come up to him and breaking most bravely into it had cut most of them off and afterward by the assistance of some Foot who were come up to him he defeated another Regiment and so got up to the greatest part of the Kings Ordinance taking some of them cutting off the Geeres of the Horses that drew them and killing the Gunners but was inforced to leave them without any Guard by reason that he laboured most to make good the day against severall Regiments of the Kings Foot who still fought with much resolution especially that which was of the Kings Guard where his Standard was by which Sir WILLIAM BALFORES Regiment rode when they came back from taking the Ordnance and were by them mistaken for their owne side passing without any Hostility was the cause that immediately afterward Sir WILLIAM riding up toward the Lord Generall ESSEX his Regiment of Horse they gave fire upon Sir WILLIAM BALFORES men supposing them to be Enemies but soone discovering each other they joyned Companies and were led up with halfe the Lord Generals Regiment by his Excellency himselfe against the Kings maine strength where a terrible and bloody incounter happened At the same time Colonell BALLARD who led a Brigado there of the Lord Generals Regiment and the Lord BROOKS his forced a stand of the Kings Pikes and brooke thorow two of his Regiments In this great conflict the Standard Royall as aforesaid was taken and Sir EDMUND VARNEY slaine the Earle of Lindsey with his Sonne taken Prisoners together with Colonell VAVASOR Lieutenant Colonell of that Regiment Colonell MUNROE also was there slaine The Standard thus taken and put into the Lord Generals hand was by him delivered to his Secretary Master CHAMBERS but the Secretary after he had carried it some time in his hand suffered it to be taken from him by an unknowne person and so privately it was conveyed away There also was great service performed by the Lord GRAY Sonne to the Earle of Stamford and Sir ARTHUR HASLERIG and a considerable help given to the turning of the day by defeating a Regiment of the Kings called the blew Regiment By this time all the Kings Foot excepting two Regiments were dispersed and the Parliamentarians had gotten the advantage of the winde and that ground which their Enemies had fought upon Those two Regiments of the Kings retiring themselves and finding their Ordnance behind them without any guard tooke stand there and made use of their Canon discharging many shot against their Enemies But at that time the Parliament Foot began to want powder otherwise as was observed by a Commander in that Army they had charged them both with Horse and Foot which in all probability would have utterly ruined the Kings Infantry consisting in a manner but of two Regiments Thus the Parliament Army partly for want of Ammunition and partly being tired with so long a fight for the whole brunt of the Battell had been susteyned by two Regiments of their Horse and foure or five of their Foot made no great haste to charge any more The Kings Horse who had been long pillaging about Keynton by this time had leisure to come about on both hands and joyne themselves to their Foot but as
away all night The Reere-Guard of the Lord Generals Army some Ordnance and Ammunition stayed on the top of the Hill by reason of the steepnesse thereof darknesse of the night and tempestuousnes of the weather whereby besides a famine of Victuals the whole Army had for three daies March before extremely suffered through a Country that their Enemies had already destroyed But the Lord Generall marched from thence to Cheltenham though during his March the Kings Forces skirmished with some Parts of his Army and divers times beat up his Quarters whilest he stayed at Cheltenham which was two daies till the eight of September when he marched with his whole Army to Gloucester and was there with great expressions of joy and much honour received by that long besieged and now rescued City The Generall much extolling the skilfull valour and indefatigable industry of Colonell MASSEY and praising the patient constancy of the City They on the other side highly honouring his Excellency for bringing them this reliefe thorow so many difficulties discouragements and disadvantages both joyning in thanks to Almighty God for his divine providence over them and great mercy in sending so timely a deliverance The Lord Generall lodged two nights in Gloucester furnishing the City with Ammunition Money and other necessaries and from thence marched to Tewksbury staying betwixt the Kings Forces and that Garrison foure daies to give them more time to furnish themselves better with Provision of Victuall which was to be brought from Herefordshire and parts beyond the Severne since the other parts had been before ransacked by the Kings Forces When the Generall with his whole Army arose from Tewkesbury and intended to quarter at Cheltenham he was advertised that a Body of the Kings Army were then in Cirencester which were reported to be Prince MAURICE his Forces and had there layed in great store of Provision for their Army Upon that advertisement the Generall his want of Victuals and necessaries still continuing and miserably increasing upon his whole Army made a long March with the Van-guard of his Army to fall upon them which he did about one of the clock in the night sending in a Party of Horse to seize upon the Centinels and Guards whilest himselfe with the rest of the Horse begirt the Towne and a Forlorne hope of Foot with his owne Foot Regiment entred the Towne and surprized two Regiments of Horse belonging to Sir NICHOLAS CRISPE and Colonell SPENCER which were by the confession of some Prisoners taken intended for raising a Commotion in Kent The Lord Generall at that Towne of Cirencester took forty Loads of Victuall which under Gods providence was the preservation of his Army untill the day that the great Battell of Nembury was fought He tooke there likewise six Standards all the Officers except the two Colonels which were absent with divers other Gentlemen of quality above 300. Common Souldiers and 400. Horse The Generall from Cirencester in short Marches not above five miles a day went to Cricklade and to Swinden from thence intending to passe to Hungerford But when the Van and Body of his Army had marched almost all over Aâ—burne Chase a gallant Body of the Kings Horse consisting of about 6000. approached hard to the Reere-guard of his Army which not being a sufficient number to resist them indeavoured to make an orderly retreat to the Body of their Army But the Kings Horse pursued so hotly both on Reere and Flanke that those Horse Regiments of the Generals Reere-guard could not retreat but with confusion and some losse But being come to the Body of the Foot they were drawn up againe into order and faced their Enemies untill all the Foot were marched Neverthelesse the Kings Horse againe advancing put their Enemies the second time into the like disorder till some of the Generals Regiments facing about towards them charged the Forlorne Hope of the Kings Forces consisting of 500. Horse and put them wholly into disorder and then charging the two Regiments which seconded that Forlorne Hope they routed them likewise but the Kings Horse came on bravely with fresh Bodies and stopt their Enemies further pursuit Immediately followed a brave Charge made by two of the Parliaments Regiments which was incountered with as much Gallantry on the other side so that they both retreated at one time Another Charge was made by some Regiments of the Parliament Army and so answered by the other that they were forced to retreat to their maine Body at which time Sâ—r PHILIP STAPLETON who had the Van-guard of the Parliament Army that day came purposely back and drew up his Regiment to succour his friends which caused the Kings Forces to retiâ—e altogether and the night stopt any further proceedings On the Kings Party in these hot encounters were slaine the Marquesse De Vieu Ville with other Officers of good quality whose worth and valour appeared highly though I finde not their names recorded Many Common Souldiers were there slaine and one Lieutenant Colonell two Lieutenants and a Cornet taken Prisoners On the Parliaments side were slaine of Officers Captaine MIDDLETON and Captaine HACKET divers Officers were wounded some Common Souldiers slaine and Coâ—onell SHEFFIELD lost a Standard The Lord Generall Essex marched that night with his Army to Hungerford Sir PHILIP STAPLETON who before had the Van bringing up the Reere The next day the famous Battell of Newbury was fought which Battell may deserve because the condition of the whole Kingdom so much depended on the successe of it to be related in a large and particular manner But because I have found nothing written of it by those of the Kings Party and that there was a punctuall Narrative published by some Colonels of the Parliament Army Gentlemen of great and unstained Reputation concerning this Battell which Narrative I have heard some of their Enemies confesse to be full not onely of modesty but truth in the Generall or for the most part let the Reader be pleased to take it from their Relation If any thing may hereafter appeare of greater truth it will not trouble any honest man to see it published Neither is it a thing unheard of for men to describe their owne actions with impartiall truth since JULIUS CAESAR is acknowledged to have written his owne Commentaries not onely of the Gallike but Civill Warre with so much cleare integrity that his Enemies had nothing to blame in it Take it therefore in their Language On Tuesday the nineteenth of September 1643. we marched from Hungerford towards Newbury and when we approached within two miles of the Town we might discover the Enemies Forces upon an hill their whole Army having prevented us were gotten to Newbury and possest the Towne But the next morning being Wednesday by break of day order was given for our March to an Hill called Biggs Hill neere to Newbury and the onely convenient place for us to gaine that we might with better security force our passage But when his Excellency perceived
that the Enemies Forces had possest themselves of that hill marching himselfe upon the head of his owne Regiment Colonell BARCLAYS and Colonell HOLBOURNES Brigades he charged so fiercely that he beat them from the hill and kept it rather gaining then losing ground the whole day His Excellencies Regiment and those other Brigades all the while they continued there were hotly charged by the Enemies Horse and Foote whilest much prowesse was shewed on both sides The Generall in Person bestirred himselfe giving directions where-ever there was occasion and present in all places of danger discharged the part of an excellent Generall as the Enemies themselves witnessed But he considered not the danger of his Person whilest he laboured to maintaine that place which of all others was most advantagious for his prospect By this time came up the two Trayned Bands of London who though they were often charged by the Horse and Foot stood to it with undaunted resolution The Battell thus begun by the Foot Sir PHILIP STAPLETON with his Excellency his Guard and Regiment of Horse advanced upon the plaine of the Hill when he had no sooner drawne up out of the Lanes end seconded by Colonell DALBEIRES Regiment of Horse no other Horse being advanced to the place but the Enemy perceiving this advantage being all drawne already in severall great Bodies of Horse part of them advanced immediately and charged our Horse whom we so well received giving no fire till we joyned close with them that the Enemy was wholly routed and pursued with much execution neere to the place where their whole Body of Horse stood From thence by order we drew back to our first ground by occasion whereof opportunity was gained to bring up the remainder of our Horse which had the Van-guard that day whereupon the Enemy drew out some fresh Regiments of his Horse and with all possible speed advanced againe upon Sir PHILIP but received no bettter entertainment then before being againe routed by him By that time that he had drawne up his Regiment againe into some order the other Regiments RAMSEY HARVEY GOODWIN were come up to him when the Enemy with their whole Body charged upon them bravely and were as well received Sir PHILIP STAPLETON was here charged both in Front and Flanke his whole Regiment having spent both their Pistols and was so incompassed that the Enemy and ours with both our whole Bodies were all mixed together and in this confusion many were slaine on both sides and our men at last were forced towards the Lanes end where they first came in which being neere our Foot the Enemies indeavoured to dis-ingage themselves and drew back to their owne Forces Those that entred the Lane with ours were most of them slaine We tooke three Colours of Horse compleat and a peece of another Colours In the first Charge Colonell DALBEIRE and Commissary COPLEY charging stoutly were both wounded In the third Charge Captain HAMOND Captain FLEETWOOD Captaine PYM and Cornet DOILY were all wounded Captaine DRAPER who had a Forlorne Hope of Sir PHILIP STAPLETONS men did good Service as Captain ABERCROMY and Captain SHIBBORNE did with their Dragoones The left wing of our Horse commanded by Colonell MIDDLETON and the right wing of the Enemies Horse could not be ingaged but in small Parties by reason of the hedges The actions of our Horse thus described wholly because we were loath to interupt the Series for the Readers clearer understanding returne we to the Foot Major Generall SKIPPON in the morning when his Excellency as aforesaid was ingaged upon the hill hastened to the top of the hill where our Van-guard was in fight having before ordered the March of our Traine of Artillery and those that attended it which were the Lord ROBERTS his Brigade and his owne Sir WILLIAM SPRINGERS Colonell MANWARINGS and the red and blew Auxiliary Regiments to be neere to his Excellency Looking from the Hill toward Newbury he perceived a great strength of the Enemy both Horse and Foot in divers great Bodies advancing directly toward the way which all our Traine was of necessity to march To prevent therefore what he suspected which was that the Enemy would fall upon our Traine or upon the Reare of those that fought on the hill or gaine that hill behinde us our last nights Quarter or all he speedily disposed which his Excellency did also send him a Command to do Forces in places most convenient Meane while the Generall sending for more Foot that Brigade wherein his Regiment and SPRINGERS were with the red Auxiliaries were sent up placing the Lord ROBERTS his Brigade with foure small Peeces just where the Enemy advanced who gave them so warme an entertainment that they made them run and the Lord ROBERTS possest the ground which the Enemy came first up unto His Lieutenant Colonell was shot in the face That Forlorne Hope which he had commanded the night before being now strengthened with 300. Musketeers and led by Major FORTESCUE Major Generall SKIPPON placed on the left of the Lord ROBERTS his Brigade upon the high way that came from Newbury just upon us upon which way foure Drakes were likewise placed and well defended though the Enemies came up so close that they tooke away a Limmer of one of our Peeces but it was with losse of many of their lives Colonell MANWARINGS Regiment was placed on the right hand betweene the hill and the Lord ROBERTS his Brigade This Regiment his Excellency a while after commanded away to the reliefe of his owne Regiment Colonell BARCLAYS and Colonell HOLBORNES Brigades which had been foure houres upon very hot Service It fortuned that this Regiment was no sooner brought on but they were overcharged with two great Bodies of Horse and Foot so that they were forced to retreat and lose that ground which the forenamed Forces had gotten which Colonell HOLBORNE perceiving with his Brigade gave the Enemy a Round Salvo and instantly his owne and Colonell BARCLAYS Brigades and the Generals Regiment againe advancing beat back the Enemy regained the ground and made good the place all the day after The blew Auxiliary Regiment was commanded to relieve and assist the Forlorne Hope which had been three or foure times in their turnes at the point The Fight all along the Valley more then half a mile in lenth was continued as long as in any other part of the Army which was till ten a clock at night about which time the Enemy gave a good Round Salvo upon Colonell BARCLAY and Colonell HOLBORNS Posts These things ordered the Major Generall rode up to the top of the hill where he espyed an advantage to bestow eitht or nine Demi-Culvering shot upon the Enemy who out of an house pelted the forenamed Gentlemen at neere distance Then he rallyed the two Train-Band Regiments into one Body drew them up and placed them before where the Traine of Artillery did afterwards draw up to the top of the hill and desired Major BOTELER to draw the
a Popish Army in England For not long before this time the Queene with Armes and Ammunition from the Low-Countries and Commanders of Warre from thence had landed in the North of England been entertained there by the Earle of Newcastle and by him and others with strong Forces conveyed to the King at Oxford whereof more particulars will be related hereafter Divers other Articles were framed against the Queene upon which within few Moneths after she was impeached of High Treason by the House of Commons and the Impeachment carried up by Master PYMME to the House of Peeres where it stuck for many moneths but was afterward passed there also and may be further discoursed of in the due time It had been likewise before Ordered by both Houses and was now accordingly put in execution that the King and Queenes Revenue comming into the Exchequer should be detained and imployed to the Publike Service of the Common-wealth a Committee was chosen of Lords and Commons to dispose of it to the best uses Divers necessary charges of the State were defrayed by it and among others which seemed a kinde of just retalliation many Members of both Houses of Parliament whose whole Estates had been seized upon by the Kings Armies were in some measure relieved at London out of his Revenue and thereby enabled to subsist in that Publike Service to which they had beene called But so exceeding great by this time were the charges growne for supportation of so spreading a Warre that no Contributions nor Taxes whatsoever were thought sufficient unlesse an Excize were imposed upon Commodities according to the way of the Netherlanders such as Beere Wine Tobacco and Meat which was taken into consideration by both Houses and this Summer agreed upon But the Excize was layed with much gentlenesse especially upon all Victuals of most common and necessary use insomuch that it was little felt either by the rich or poore people and yet amounted monethly to a very considerable summe though the Kings Quarters were then the greatest part of England for the City of London was within the Parliament Quarters To returne againe to the Lord Generall ESSEX His Excellency in May 1643. having as aforesaid received intelligence of the defeat given to the Parliament Army in the West and in what condition things there stood not being able with his owne Forces to give them reliefe sent order to Sir WILLIAM WALLER whose actions shall be anon mentioned in a Series by themselves to march thither in assistance of the Devonshire Forces and writ his Command to the Governour of Bristoll to aid him with such Horse and Foot as he could conveniently spare out of his Garrison But things could not at that time be put in execution according to his desires and before Sir WILLIAM WALLER could get farre into the West Prince MAURICE Marquesse HARTFORD and Sir RALPH HOPTON were joyned all together The Lord Generall since it was much desired by the City of London from whom the supplies of money were to come that he should move with his whole Army towards Oxford was content though somewhat against his judgement to proceed in that Designe and marched with the maine Body to Thame to meet there with the Forces sent from the associated Counties to his assistance from whence as a person whose care and Command extended over the whole Kingdome which was now overspread with a generall Warre and wasted by many Armies at once he granted a Commission by direction of the Parliament to the Lord FIELDING now Earle of Denbigh by the late death of his Father who was slaine in a Skirmish fighting against the Parliament to be Generall of foure Counties Shropshire Worcester Stafford and Warwick-shire to leavy Forces there and conduct them into any part of the Kingdome against the Kings Power according to directions from the Parliament or Lord Generall He granted also at the same time another Commission in the like manner to Sir THOMAS MIDDLETON to raise Forces as Generall of all North Wales At Thame the hand of God in an extreme increase of sicknesse hundreds in a day desperately ill did visite the Lord Generals Army and by strange unseasonablenesse of weather and great raine continuing fourteene daies the place being upon a flat moist and clayie ground made it impossible for him to advance from that Quarter In which time the Army was by sicknesse and departure of most of the Auxiliary Forces brought to a number utterly unable to attempt the former designe without certaine ruine the situation of Oxford upon the River of Thames considered for the Lord Generall conceived it impossible as himselfe expressed to block up the Towne without a double number to what he then had But when the raine ceased and the waters were so much abated as to make the waies passable intelligence was brought that Prince RUPERT had drawne out his Horse and Foot toward Buckingham with his Canon also and had called in the Country making open profession before them that he would give Battell to the Generall The Generall marched with some speed toward Buckingham to fight with him When he came within two miles of that Towne he found the case farre otherwise and had intelligence that the Prince had quitted Buckingham in a kinde of disorderly manner that the night before he had horsed his Foot and marched away leaving some of his Provisions behinde him The Lord Generall understood well that it was not possible for him with his Traine of Artillery and Foot Companies to follow the Enemy to any advantage For if he had been at that time strong enough in Horse his desire was to have hindered Prince RUPERT from joyning with the Queene who then was marching with a good Convoy of Horse from the Northerne parts of England where she had arrived from the Netherlands toward Oxford But being not able to follow that designe he desisted from his march to Buckingham sending into the Town a Party of his Horse to quarter there that night and to bring away that Provision which the Enemy had left there He himselfe with the rest of his Army marched to great Brickhill a place most convenient to lye betweene the Enemy and London to defend the Associated Counties to assist or joyne with the Forces of the Lord GRAY of Grooby Sir JOHN MELDRUM and Colonell CROMWELL to whom he had before written that if they could possibly they should fight with the Queens Forces and stop her passage to the King But it seemed that the businesse could not be done that the Queene and Prince RUPERT were suffered to joyne together with all their Forces Sir WILLIAM WALLER had beene long victorious in the West yet now the Parliaments fortune almost in every place began to faile and intelligence was brought to the Lord Generall that Sir WILLIAM having almost gained the whole West and besieging Sir RALPH HOPTON in the Devizes a Towne of Devonshire was on a sudden by unexpected Forces from Oxford under the conduct of
described WHilest Gloucester was thus besieged and the Siege so straight that no intelligence could possibly arrive at it the Parliament who after serious considerations and debates had for the present resolved upon the reliefe of that City as the onely meanes to preserve the Kingdome were as much straightned how to proceed in the businesse with that expedition which was required To recruit an Army so much wasted as the Lord Generals was seemed too slow for this Service and therefore the Trayned Bands of London and their Auxiliaries must of necessity be made use of Those that were well affected to the Parliament incouraged each other to the Worke The disaffected on the other side laboured in all discourses to breed despaire of the Atchievement and to discourage the Lord Generall from marching false reports were every day raised in London that Gloucester was taken The Lord Generall Essex was fourescore miles off with no present or visible Army at that time his March lying thorow those Countries which were already harrowed by the Enemy Insomuch that all considered it was a question which was more wonderfull that he undertooke it or that he did it The Parliament was at that time so farre sunke both in strength and reputation and so much forsaken by those who followed fortune that nothing but an extraordinary providence could make it againe emergent The Cause and very being of it was now at stake by the successe onely of this Expedition to be redeemed or quite lost But it pleased God that according to that extremity the resolutions of men were fitted The City Regiments and Auxiliaries came cheerefully in to performe the Service and that poore remainder of the Lord Generals old Army was with all speed recruited An Army was likewise intended to be speedily raised for Sir WILLIAM WALLER to march after as a Reserve But that was not so suddenly done as the occasion required if it had and that Sir WILLIAM could as was intended have come in with a supply at Newbury it was the opinion of most men that the Kings side had received an irrecoverable Defeat On the 24. of August the Lord Generall Essex on Hownslow Heath ten miles from London mustered his men where almost all the Members of both Houses of Parliament rode with him to survey the Army and toward evening tooke leave of their Generall who marched on and that night lodged at Colebrooke Upon intelligence of this Armies advance Prince RUPERT with the greatest part of the Kings Horse drew off from Gloucester to oppose their March and take what advantages he could against it But the King with his maine Army continued the Siege resolving so to do till the last houre hoping that every moment might worke somewhat for his end either by failing of the Townes store of Ammunition or some other want that might happen Neither was that hope without reason And so much more wonderfull was the fortune of that Towne to be relieved at such a nick of time when their Ammunition was so farre consumed that but three single Barrels of Powder were left in their Magazine On Saturday the 26. of August 1643. the Lord Generall Essex began his March from Colebrooke to Beckensfield and so forward to Beerton where he cloathed his Army and marched on The City Regiments and Auxiliaries joyned not with the Lord Generals Army till the first of September when the generall Rendezvouze was on Brackley Heath But before the joyning of all their Forces a small Party of the Kings Army consisting of 400. Horse had faced a part of the Parliament Army and skirmished with them about Bicister but soone retreated upon the approach of greater numbers The Generall taking up his Head Quarter at Aynow sent a Regiment to quarter that night at Deddington under the Conduct of Colonell MIDDLETON who hearing there of two Regiments of the Kings Horse sent two Companies of Dragoones and a Party of Horse to approach the Towne But the Kings Horse retreated to a passage toward Oxford where the Lord WILMOT was with 50. Troops more The next morning two Parliament Regiments conducted by MIDDLETON and Sir JAMES RAMSEY advanced to that passe where their Enemies stood in two great Bodies and after some Skirmish gained the passe placing Dragoneers to maintaine it But the Kings Forces drew up againe toward it and were received with a very hot Skirmish which lasted many houres till at last the Kings Forces made a retreat but perceiving that Colonell MIDDLETON marched back toward the maine Army which he did by the Lord Generals Command they sent a Party of Horse to fall on his Reare who followed them thorow Deddington but were beaten back thorow the Towne in some confusion The losse of men in these Skirmishes was not much on either side neither could it certainly be knowne but was imagined by the Parliament side to be more on their Enemies Party then on theirs The Lord Generall with his owne Regiment of Horse and the Lord GRAY quartering at Adderbury upon intelligence that some of the Kings Horse from Banbury were abroad sent out a Party from both Regiments who beat them in againe and pursued them into Banbury Towne whence they tooke divers Horses and Prisoners those in the Castle not daring to stirre out The Generall marched from thence to Chipping Norton where some of the Kings Forces appeared againe but soone retreated as they did almost every day during the March of that Army On the fourth of September when the Lord Generall marched toward Stow the old he sent Colonell HARVEY with his Regiment of Horse and two Regiments of Foot to advance a little before toward the right hand and the City Regiments upon the left under the Conduct of Lieutenant Colonell BAILY Generall Adjutant of the Foot Prince RUPERT appeared with about 4000. Horse drawne up on the Hills facing the Parliament Forces and sent a strong Party of Horse into a bottome neere Stow on the old to incompasse Colonell HARVEYS Regiments Which being perceived three Regiments from the Vanne of the Parliament Army advanced to his rescue and made that Party of the Kings Forces retreat to their maine Body Many Skirmishes there happened but little losse on either side From thence the Generall marched in the Foot of his Infantry Sir JAMES RAMSEY in the Reare and Sir PHILIP STAPLETON had the Van Guard When the Kings Horse againe appeared and were by Sir PHILIP STAPLETON and others of that Army encountered with divers Skirmishes but they retreated in a great Body and still appeared before the Parliament Army as they marched on for the space of seven miles On the fifth of September the Lord Generall advanced and came to Presbury Hills where he drew up his whole Army in view of the City of Gloucester and discharged foure Peeces of great Ordnance to give them notice of his approach Soone after he might discover the Kings Quarters on fire For upon the Lord Generall his advance they deserted the Siege and marched
Musketeers of his Regiment on the right hand before the two Demy-Culverings that were placed at the end of the Lane on the top of the Hill and the red Auxiliaries he placed on the left hand of those Peeces which before were slenderly guarded The Artillery was well ordered that day by the skill and care of Sir JOHN MERRICK While this was acting two Peeces which belonged to the Major Generals Regiment and one Drake of Sir WILLIAM BROOKES were by the Generals Regiment under the Command of Major BOTELER with the assistance of 200. Musketeers recovered and the Enemy drew away from their Pikes which with their Colours kept standing with many great Bodies of Horse to guard them five or six hundred Musketeers besides Dragoones to encompasse our men on the right hand among the hedges just at which time his Excellency sent to have 300. Musketeers of the Forlorne Hope to go to the reliefe of Colonell BARCLAY and Colonell HOLBORNES Souldiers But then the Enemy falling on upon our right hand diverted them who with other of our Musketeers thereabouts beat the Enemy off who else had done us great mischief This was about foure a clock in the afternoone when all our whole Army of Foot was ingaged in the Fight But then he also caused some of the red Auxiliary Regiment to draw neerer to Colonell BARCLAYS Post as he himselfe required At length night drew on when the Enemy both Horse and Foot stood in good order on the further side of the Greene where we expected their stay till next morning and that they were working as was reported to place their Canon to make use of them against us when day should breake Against which supposed encounter we encouraged our Souldiers before hand and resolved by Gods help the next day to force our way thorow them or dye But it pleased God to make our passage without blows for the Enemy was gone by night so that the next morning we marched quietly over the same ground where the Battell was fought and where the Enemy stood for on Thursday early his Excellency gave Command for the Armies March towards Reading to which purpose it was all drawne up upon the Heath where the Battell was fought and after that his Excellency had given order for burying the dead about ten a clock we began to march Colonell MIDDLETON with his owne and three Regiments more Lord GREY SHEFFIELD MELDRUM and 400. commanded Musketeers under Colonell BARCLAY had the Reere-guard During which March the Enemy at a great distance shot from severall hedges but troubled us not When we came to a long Heath we drew up the whole Army severall times and no Enemy appeared But at the entrance of a narrow Lane toward the evening the Enemy fell upon us with 800. commanded Musketeers and most of their Horse who caused our Horse then in the Reare to make a very disorderly and confused retreat But when Colonell MIDDLETON with the rest of the Commanders in the Reare hasted to charge the Enemy with our Foot he made them retreat with as much confusion over the Heath as they had us before the losse not great on either side Lieutenant BROWNE was taken Prisoner After this the same evening the Lord Generall drew up the Army to Theale and taking some refreshment there marched the next morning being Fryday with the whole Army to Reading where he stayed till the Sabbath was past and gave publike thanks for the great Victory This was a Victory not denyed to the Parliament nor at all disputed although the Lord Generall Essex for want of Victuals marched away to the necessary reliefe of his Army and could not stay to pursue the Victory which he had gotten The number of slaine in that Battell were judged to be by those who speak most moderately foure times as many of the Kings Party as of the Parliaments but others have spoken of a farre greater difference Divers Captains as Captaine MASSY and Captaine HUNT with others were slaine on the Parliament side but scarce any of higher ranke Three of the Nobility fell on the Kings side the Earle of Carnarvan the Lord SPENCER newly made by the King Earle of Sunderland and the Lord Viscount Fawlkland After this Victory the Lord Generall was received at London with great joy and Honour The Trayned Bands and Auxiliaries of London marched home in full Companies and were welcomed by their friends and met by the Lord May or and Aldermen at Temple Barre And now the face of things seemed much to change and the reputation of the Parliament rise higher At the time of this Expedition for reliefe of Gloucester a Cessation of Arms was made by the King with the Irish Rebels of which together with the great Victories which small numbers of the English Forces obtained over great multitudes of those Irish Rebels before the time of that Cessation which was here omitted as not to interupt the Relation of proceedings in the English Warres there may be a larger Discourse in the continuation of this History as also of the Covenant which the Parliament and that part of the Nation which adhered to them about this time entred into with their Brethren of Scotland for maintenance of the Religion Lawes and Liberties of both Kingdomes FINIS In the English Pope Sir Ioh. Temple
of State and Government and Hull is the place which must now bear the first brunt of his armed indignation The King with an Army of three thousand foot and one thousand horse was removed from York to Beverley a Town distant from Hull six miles and intending to besiege Hull by Land expecting also that Sir JOHN PENINGTON with some of his ships should stop the passages and cut of provisions from relieving the Town by Sea though that expectation were made frustrate by the Earl of Warwick his seizing on the Navie Royal proclaimed that none on pain of death should convey any provision or relief thither He disposed many men in cutting of Trenches to divert the current of fresh water that ran to Hull and sent two hundred horse into Lincolnshire under the command of the Lord WILLOUGHBY son to the Earl of Lindsey and Sir THOMAS GLENHAM to stop all relief of it from Burton upon Humber Sir JOHN HOTHAM perceiving the King's intentions and endeavours and knowing him to be in person within an hour and halfs march of the Town having first sent three Messengers one after another with humble Petitions to him who were all laid fast by the King and not suffered to return called a Councel of War in which it was debated Whether or not they should permit the enemies to march neer the Town with their Ordnance holding them play from off the Walls and Out-works until the Tide came to its hight and then draw up the Sluce and let them swim for their lives But a more merciful advice prevailed which was for prevention of so many deaths to draw up the Sluce presently having the advantage of a Spring-tide and drown all the Countrey about Hull But Sir JOHN HOTHAM before it was done gave the inhabitants and owners of land thereabout sufficient and timely notice to remove their Cattel and all their goods and assured them which was ratified by the Parliament upon the Publike Faith that whatsoever damage they received thereby should be repaired by the authority of Parliament out of the estates of those persons who had been most active and assistant to the King in that designe Sir JOHN by Letters informed the Parliament in what condition the Town was desiring onely so it might speedily be done a supply of Money and Victuals with five hundred men Upon which by command of Parliament Drums were beat up in London and other adjacent places for Souldiers to be sent to Hull by Sea The Earl of Warwick was desired by the Houses to send two of the King's ships from the Downs to Hull to do as Sir JOHN HOTHAM should direct for his best assistance And Sir JOHN MELDRUM a Scotish Gentleman an expert and brave Commander was appointed to assist Sir JOHN in that service The King's Army were not confident to carry the Town by plain force making their approaches with great difficulty and disadvantage and those for the most part in the night-time when undiscovered they burnt two Mills about the Town they therefore had recourse to subtilty and knowing some within the Walls sit for their purpose a Plot was therefore laid to fire the town in four places which whilst the souldiers and inhabitants were busie in quenching two thousand of the King's Army should assault the walls The signe to those within the town when to fire those places was when they discerned a fire on Beverley-Minster this should be assurance to them within the town that they without were ready for the assault But this treason had no successe being discovered by one of the instruments and confessed to Sir JOHN HOTHAM Many particular services were done both by Land and Water by Barks and Boats upon the River Humber The towns men of Hull were so far provoked by this treacherous designe of their enemies and so much animated against them that they all entered into Pay and now the Walls could not contain them but five hundred of the town conducted by Sir JOHN MELDRUM issued out about the end of Iuly upon their besiegers who seeing their approach prepared couragiously to receive and encounter them but they were but a small part of the King's Forces which were resolute to fight the other part which consisted of the Trained Bands of that Countrey were not forward to be engaged against their neighbours the King's Horse and most resolute assistants seeing themselves deserted by the Foot retired as fast as they could to Beverley but Sir JOHN MELDRUM pursued them slew two and took thirty prisoners in the pursuit And not long after when the supplies from London arrived at Hull Sir JOHN MELDRUM with a greater Force made so fierce a sally upon his enemies as caused most of the Leaguer to retire disorderly one and twenty of them being slain and fifteen taken prisoners Sir JOHN MELDRUM following the advantage of his successe with a swift motion arrived suddenly at a Leaguer-town called Aulby between three and four miles from Hull where the King's magazine was kept in a Barn in which was a great quantity of Ammunition Powder and Fire-bals and certain Engineers employed there for making of Fire-works Sir JOHN suddenly set upon it in the night drove away the Guard who consisted most of Trained Bands and other York-shire men bearing no great affection to the War and therefore ran more speedily away leaving their Arms behinde them mu of the Ammunition and other Arms they took away with them fired the Barn the Powder and Fire-works and what else they could not carry with them and returned safely again into Hull The King calling a Councel of War and considering the ill successe of his proceedings and the preciousnesse of that time which he consumed there by their advice resolved to break up his siege before Hull and march away the chief men about him laying the fault of this failing upon the unskilfulnesse of the Countrey Captains and cowardice of the Trained Bands The King probably might have sped better if Sir JOHN PENINGTON could have brought part of the Navie to his assistance but that was seized by the Earl of Warwick of which it will be now time to speak more particularly The Earl of Warwick had in former times been so great a lover of the Sea-service and so well experienced in those affairs being besides a man of Courage of Religious life and known Fidelity to his Country that among all the Noble-men at this time he was esteemed by the Parliament in this important businesse of setling their Militia by Land and Sea the fittest man to take Command of the Navie as Lord Admiral According to that an Ordinance of both Houses was drawn up to confer the Office on him The King had given the employment to Sir JOHN PENINGTON a man who had long been Vice-Admiral and a successeful Commander and had written his Letters to the Earl of Warwick with a strict Command to quit the Place The Earl of Warwick was in a great straight between two such high Commands being
they came back on the left hand of their Enemies Sir PHILIP STAPLETON with his Horse gave them a terrible Charge which they were not long able to indure but finding a gap in an hedge got from him upon the Spurre as fast as they could to the rest of their broken Troops and so at last joyned with their Foot that stood by the Ordinance And now on both sides the Horse were gathered to their own Foot and so stood together both Horse and Foot one against another till it was night The Parliament Army being wholly possessed of the ground which their Enemies had chosen to fight upon stood upon it all night and in the morning returned to a warmer place neere Keynton where they had quartered the night before for they were much pinched with cold and the whole Army in extreme want of Victuals The Kings Army had withdrawne to the top of the hill for their more security where they made great fires all the night long About nine of the clock the next morning the Parliament Army drew out againe into Battalia and so stood about three houres untill the other Army was quite gone from the hill and then they withdrew themselves into their Quarter towards Keynton and to their other Brigado Artillery and Ammunition which being commanded by Colonell HAMBDEN and Colonell GRANTHAM as aforesaid was now come to Keynton and lodged there The King had drawne out his Horse upon the further side of the hill where he stayed till toward night whilest his Foot were retiring behinde the Hill and marching away A little before night his Horse also withdrew themselves and about an houre after the Parliament Horse marched quite away and went with the rest of the Army to Warwick to refresh themselves That going to Warwick was thought by a noble Gentleman of the Parliament side to be ill designed For saith he had the Army instead of going to Warwick marched toward Banbury we should have found more Victuals and had in probability dispersed all the Foot of the Kings Army taken his Canons and Carriages and sent his Horse farther off whereas now because we did not follow them though they quitted the field whereon they fought and left their Quarter before us yet they began soone after to question who had the day Howsoever it were true it is that the King no lesse then the Parliament pretended to be victorious in that Battell and so farre ascribed the Victory to his owne side that a Prayer of thanksgiving to God was made at Oxford for it A thanksgiving was also on the Parliament side for the Victory of that day And it is certaine that there were many markes of Victory on both Armies Colours and Canon were taken on both sides without any great difference of the number of them And though in Speeches made afterwards by either Party and Bookes printed there is no consent at all concerning the number of men slain but so great a discrepancy as it is almost a shame to insert into an History yet surely by the best account there were more slaine on the Kings side then on the other Those of quality that were lost on both Parties were of the Kings the Earle of Lindsey Lord Generall of his Army the Lord AUBIGNY brother to the Duke of Lenox Sir EDWARD VARNEY Standard-Bearer Colonell Sir EDMUND MONROY a Scottish Gentleman and Colonell LUNSFORD his Brother with other Gentlemen and Commanders besides Common Souldiers whose number as is before said would not be agreed upon yet I have heard that the Country people thereabouts by burying of the naked bodies found the number to be about six thousand that fell on both sides besides those which died afterwards of their wounds There were taken Prisoners of the Kings side the Lord WILLOUGHBY Sonne and Heire to the Earle of Lindsey Colonell VAVASOR Colonell LUNSFORD Sir EDWARD STRADLING with others of lesse note a George the Badge of a Knight of the Garter was found in the field by a Common Souldier besides that which the Lord Generall Lindsey wore and had about his neck when he was slaine and bought of him by a Captaine which was sent up to the Parliament there viewed and restored againe to the Captaine On the Parliament side were slaine onely these of marke and quality the Lord St. JOHN eldest Sonne to the Earle of BULLENBROOKE Colonell CHARLES ESSEX and Lieutenant Colonell RAMSEY and none of any great note taken Prisoners The Battell was fought with great courage on both sides both by the Generals and other Commanders besides some particular Regiments of Souldiers who were observed to performe their parts with great courage and bravery such as Colonell HOLLIS his Regiment of Redcoats and others too many to be all named in a short Discourse It could not but fall into the observation of many men that the yeare before upon the same day of the Moneth namely the 23. of October that this famous Battell of Keynton was fought the bloody Rebellion of the Irish broke out with that inhumane Massacre of the English Protestants in that Kingdom where the English by their owne losse and bleeding were sadly put in minde that they had too long deferred the revenge of their butchered Brethren in Ireland It was likewise observed by many men of the Parliament side who seemed to make no question but that the Victory was on their side as a further blessing of God to the Protestant Cause that on the very same day that this Battell was wonne in England the Sweads obtained a very great and notable Victory against the Imperialists and those of the Roman Religion in Germany But the King supposing himselfe victorious at Keyntonâ—ield â—ield immediately published a Declaration To all his loving Subjects for so it is stiled after his Victory against the Rebels Wherein though the expostulation be very bitter yet he indeavoureth that it should not seeme to be made against the Parliament it selfe but against some of them whom he termeth malignant malicious with such like Epithites as have laboured to lay aspersions upon him of things whereof he professeth himselfe altogether innocent Those aspersions he makes of two sorts the first is concerning his favouring of Popery and imploying Papists in his Army the second of raising that Army against the Parliament Both which he labours to wipe off with a recrimination against the Parliament For the first after a great Protestation of the truth of his Religion and his past present and future care for the better establishing of it in his Dominions with the extirpation of Popery though he cannot but acknowledge that some eminent men of that Religion are armed in his Service which he thinks excusable in so gteat a necessity and danger as he was in yet he tells the Parliament That in their Army there are more Papists Commanders and others then in his For the second That he leavyed his Army against the Parliament He seemeth to hope That none of his good Subjects will beleeve
at this time highly intrusted by them for he was Governour of Scarborough a place of great importance He falsely betrayed his Trust and forsooke the Cause he had undertaken going to the Queene with 300. men Upon which he was impeached of High Treason by the Parliament but it was not his fortune to suffer for that offence as others did who about the same time failed in their Trusts The Towne of Scarborough was left in possession of a Parliament Captaine who was usually called Browne Bushell a man that some thought would have kept it to the Parliaments use he likewise revolted and delivered it to their Enemies Upon the landing of Generall KING and the Queene presently after a suspition began to arise by some circumstances that the two unfortunate HOTHAMS the father and the sonne were false to the Parliament Which by the strict observation of some vigilant men on that side was further discovered and began at last to be discoursed of with as little beliefe for a long time as CASSANDRAES Prophecies and when it came more plainly to appeare with as much not onely wonder but sorrow of honest men that so much unconstancy should be found The particulars of this discovery and how much the Parliament if not timely prevented had suffered by it there will be time hereafter to discourse of more at large But they were both accused to the Parliament seized upon at Hull and sent up to London where they long remained Prisoners in the Tower before the time of their Tryall and Execution Not all these disadvantages by the growth of Enemies and revolt of friends could dishearten the Lord FAIRFAX and his Sonne who still persisted with great courage and raising the Clubmen of the Country to piece up those small Forces which remained with them were able for a while to make considerable resistance and performe divers services against some parts of the Earle of Newcastles vast Army But one Victory was gained by Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX at Wakefield which may be termed rather miraculous then strange though I shall relate nothing save knowne truth such a Victory against so much odds and so many disadvantages as may serve to teach how much successe may possibly crowne bold attempts and justifie that old saying Audaces fortuna juvat The Lord FAIRFAX Generall of the Parliaments Forces in the North on the 20. of May gave Order for a Party to be drawne out from the Garrisons of Leedes Bradford Halifax and Howley They marched 1000. Foot three Companies of Dragoneers and eight Troops of Horse Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX commanded in Chiefe the Foot were commanded by Sir WILLIAM FAIRFAX and Serjeant Major Generall GIFFORD the Horse divided into two Bodies foure Troops whereof were commanded by Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX himselfe the other foure by Sir HENRY FOWLYS From Howley which was their rendâ—zvouze they marched away and by foure a clock in the morning came before Wakefield Those of the Towne were ready for them and sent out some of their Horse to encounter with theirs and Musqueteers to line some hedges even to the very Towne There were in Wakefield 3000. Foot and seven Troops of Horse besides Colonell LAMPTONS Regiment which came into the Towne after that the Parliaments Forces entred into it But at the first encounter the Parliaments Forces beat their Enemies Horse back and their Foot also drove those Musqueteers from the hedges even into the Towne which they assaulted in two places called Wrengate and Northgate After an houre and an halfe fighting recovered one of their Enemies Peeces and turned it upon them and withall entred the Town in both places at the same time When the Baracadoes were opened Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX with the Horse also fell into the Towne and cleered the street there was a cruell and fierce encounter in which place Colonell GORING was taken Prisoner by Lieutenant MATTHEW ALURED brother to Captaine JOHN ALURED a Member of the House of Commons yet in the Market place stood three Troops of Horse and Colonell LAMPTONS Regiment to whom Major Generall GIFFORD sent a Trumpet with proffer of Quarter if they would lay down their Arms. To which when they returned a scornfull Answer he fired a Peece of their owne Ordnance upon them and the Horse also falling in with great fury soone beat them out of the Towne and tooke all their Officers Prisoners They tooke withall 27. Colours of Foot three Cornets of Horse and about 1500. Common Souldiers They were likewise forced when they fled to leave behind them foure Peeces of Ordnance with Ammunition which the Parliament Forces carried away with them For when they had thus taken the Towne they found their number and strength too weake to keepe it and their Prisoners too And therefore they quitted the place and marched away with this brave booty This great Victory at Wakefield seemed according to the common saying like a lightening before death for not long after these Forces were quite broken by the Earle of Newcastle whose greatnesse overspread those Countries and was never incountered by any Enemy but in parts of his Army He had managed the whole businesse and attained his height of power by great skill and policy and now having no neere Enemy in the field was gone to besiege the Lord FAIRFAX in Hull which was by some talked of as an errour in him no lesse then besieging Gloucester soone after by the King was censured Such a continuall and sad Warre had the Northerne parts been forced to endure all the winter Nor was it their case alone scarce any County of England was free from it The whole West consisting of so many rich and flourishing Shires had been as sad a stage of civill Tragedies Many Armies and small Parties of either side too many for one History to describe at large or give particular due to the actions of every Gentleman had been ingaged without any intermission in those parts Of all Commanders there that sided with the King against the Parliament Sir RALPH HOPTON by his unwearied industry and great reputation among the people had raised himselfe to the most considerable height and continued the longest a Leader of Armies as the sequell of the Story will hereafter declare But his successes through the whole course of his Actions were very various and many ebbs and flowes were in his fortune The Marquesse HARTFORD though farre higher in Dignity and greater by power of his large Commission from the King of which before is spoken was not able to act so largely in the field as Sir RALPH did though he were seldome idle but busie about Townes and in small Parties They were both opposed in their beginnings not so much by any Noblemen or great Commanders imployed by the Parliaments Commissions as by private Gentlemen of those Counties the chiefe of which were Sir FRANCIS POPHAM and his Sons Master STRODE a Deputy Lieutenant there with others before named besides plaine Freeholders of the Country who seemed to understand their owne