the conditions were that all might have liberty of person and passe to their owne houses leaving their Armes behind and taking an Oath never to serve against the Parliament they compounded also for the goods in the house for which they were to pay five hundred pounds within sixe daies or to leave them a free prize to the Souldiers Within two daies after Prince Rupert faced Sudely with about foure thousand Horse and Foot pretending an attempt to regaine it but in the meane time marched his Artilery towards Cirencester Lieutenant Colonell Massie made provision to maintaine the Castle by taking in water and store of Hay and Corne and having left there Lieutenant Colonell Forbes with a sufficient Guard himselfe retreated to Gloucester the Prince with his Forces kept the Hills and after three daies fell before Cirencester a stragling and open Towne neither well fortified nor capable of defence The champaine Country round about was most advantagious to the Horse in which the Enemies strength did chiefly consist and which was then wholly wanting to that Garrison for their Horse and Dragoones were sent to the taking of Sudely most of their Officers were drawne out upon that service except the Captaines of the Volunteers and Lieutenant Colonell Karre was the onely experienced Souldier left there their Canoneers were wanting the common Souldiers quite off the hinges either cowardly or mutinous The storme rose when least feared by the miserable people who had not ended the joy of their late deliverance from as great a power but strangely diverted and though they were still in the same danger upon the reverse of the Army yet were they not capable of the least distrust till the storme hovered againe either supposing themselves invincible or by defiance to have bafled a wary Enemy that falls backe and waites his time to returne with greater fury On the second of February the Towne was assaulted and taken the first and maine assault was made on a house a flight shot from the Town which was defended by a hundred Musketeers for an houres space against two Regiments of Foot and a Regiment of Horse which were led on by the Prince till at length having drawne up their Musketeers and by Granadoes fired the Barnes and Ricks and smoothered the Guard the Enemies Horse drove their Foote before them entred the streetes by maine force and possest themselves of the Garrison within two houres yet it cost them the lives of many amongst whom the Welch-men were reported to suffer the greatest slaughter who in that Army were a continuall sacrifice to the Sword Each Guard made resistance according to the Officers valour and experience the Souldiers of the Earle of Stamfords Regiment had acted the best part but that they were most put to the sword when the Towne was entred except those that by flight had their lives given them for a prey Some few besides defended their Guards a while but the passages were many and open and the enemy soone came upon their backes as for the Country-men their houre was not yet come neither had they quitted such imployment as did infeeble their spirits nor entred the Schoole of War to study indignation revenge and bloud that alone can overcome the terrour of an Army It so fell out that in the midst of the service they were at their wits end and stood like men amazed feare bereft them of understanding and memory begat confusion in the minde within and the thronging throughts did oppresse and stop the course of action that they were busied in everything but could bring forth nothing few of ours were slaine in the fight but many murthered after the taking of the Towne eleaven hundred taken prisoners and at least two thousand Armes lost which the Country had there laid up as in a secure Magazine the miserable Captives were entertained with all despight and contumely according to the Enemies accustomed cruelty in the beginning of the warre Commanders and Gentlemen had no better quarter then the common Souldiers but were all thrust into the Church to be reserved for a triumph and trampled upon in a base and impotent revenge whether the first fury of a civill warre and the jarres of Brethren prove most outragious or the cause of Religion had blouded their minds Not a man could be released though the price of his redemption were paid till he had first attended the triumph at Oxford that an unfortunate King might view the aspect of such innocent Subjects that should presume to claime those rights wherein they were borne when reason might easily evince that no slight matter could engage such a people in a open warre as were ever willing to deceive themselves into a Supererrogation of Loyalty The whole Country was quickly full of this disaster and in vaine did thinke to recover what was lost by weakenesse of spirit or errour in the chiefe manage of the businesse thousands of men armed and unarmed flocked together and resolved to undertake the Enemy under the conduct of a grave and well-minded Patriot but the desired Leader was conscious of the peoples madnesse and knew well that they made a loude cry a farre off but if once brought up to the face of the Army they would never abide the fury of the first onset Wherefore he refused to engage himselfe and them upon a certaine destruction neverthelesse the people bitterly railed against him and curst him as a Traitor to his Country neither could the experience of these times dispossesse them of that absurd conceite The very next day after the losse of Cirencester the City of Gloucester was demanded by Prince Rupert the Summons found the people extreamely dashed at the strange turning of things and so much amazed that they could not credit the report of this blow though confirmed by sundry eye-witnesses the hearts of many sunke very low and began to lye flat Zeale and Religion upheld some all had a kinde of will but the strong sidelity and resolution of the Souldier at that time and in all extreame hazards upheld the Garrison The Prince therefore received a short answer from Lieuten ant Colonell Massie and the principall Officers that they were resolved with their lives and fortunes to defend the City for the use of the King and Parliament and in no wise would surrender at the demand of a forraigne Prince Another answer was returned from the Mayor of the City for the Martiall Command was not fully setled that he was resolved according to his Oath and Allegiance to keepe the City in his Majesties behoose and would not deliver the same according to this summons Whereupon a second summons was sent from the Prince which could not alter the case in their judgement who held the Towne and seeming withall to perswade and solicite them out of their Hold did easily beget an opinion of the Enemies weakenesse and their owne considerable strength since neither Religion nor modesty could with-hold from bloud that enraged Party but onely the
fifteenth of February the 〈◊〉 time is come nine of the clocke at night is the houre appointed the guards are to be drawn off from the further Bridge and the Sentinells to be taken in Prince Rupert is to advance with fifteen hundred horse and foot and it would be very satisfactory if Captaine Brickhouse met them with his own Troop pretending to beat up a horse quarters but this they urge not it it be found inconvenient In the evening a Messenger is dispatched from Gloucester to the Enemies quarters with the watch word for their assurance and some private directions for their march up the Town while himselfe waited at the Gate which he undertook to set open if they came by nine of the clock or within half an houre-after After the messengers dispatch the ports were shut up round the City carefull Sentinells set The Governour called a councell of War acquainted the Officers with the Plot gave order that aswell Citizens as Souldiers should continue that night in Armes drew to the Westgate three peeces of Ordnance and a strong guard of Musketiers well provided with Granadoes and commanded foure stout men in a boate under Ouers Bridge halfe a mile distant from the gate to lie under the maine Arch with direction that upon the firing of the first Ordnance they should out a cable rope which being done the Bridge would fall into the River By which meanes they had all been killed drowned or taken being cooped up in an Island open to our shot without possible meanes of escape In this preparation and posture we continued all night watching the time to have delivered our selves from the future mischiefe of such bloud thirsty Enemies They advanced with their whole body of horse and foot but before they came within a mile and a halfe of the City it was open day when having lost the time by the slownesse of their manch they durst not come on but instantly retreated to Newent from thence Captaine Backhouse was informed by letters of the reason of their faylings which induced us to believe that the Enemy did not yet know that their designe was destroyed Wherefore we indeavoured secrecy and the next day suffered no man to passe the ports desired to salve the matter and bring them on once more but the whole frame quickly fell asunder though the languishing enemy gave some cold entertainment to a few patching letters because they were ashamed to acknowledge such a strong delusion As they had all justly perished in their own hellish mischiefe so are they deservedly branded with notorious folly in the whole mannage and the chiefe undertakers might have learned not to indulge their hopes of faire conclusion by their own subtilty cogitations and the shew of a neate contrivance when nothing beneath a like mutuall engagement and strong necessity doth deserve assurance and confidence Neverthelesse the pregnant hopes of this maginary treason as it brought forth a lie to the contrivers thereof so it wrought much good for this garrison and the common service of the State The imbracing of the motion held up the desires of the enemy and made them lesse active elsewhere It preserved the Country till our succours came which were every day expected Neither was this plot the cause that the power of the enemy did beare hard on the Countrey for here was the confluence of their Winter quarters but since we must beare their burden it made it the lesse grievious 'T was impossible to keep out an Enemy but all the skill was to allay his fury and hinder the acting of mischiefe which was carried on with violence by the Malignant Gentry and that party that were not privy to or disliked the Plot inso much that Sir William Vavasour was complained of reviled and cursed and at once lost the opportunity of action and advancement in the Kings Service The Enemy swarmes in every corner except the County of the City and Whitstone hundred that each day creates new troubles and the Governour constrained on one side or other continually to draw out strong parties to defend our selves maintaine our Markets and incourage that part of the Country which is yet clear All advantages were taken to ingage the people and herein did the Governors industry put forth it selfe in setling the Country in a posture of defence when the command of the City did not reach above three miles some wayes and not above seaven miles on the best side At severall Randezvouzes published the nationall Covenant and Declaration of both Kingdomes expressing their mutuall care of repayring our breaches and perseverance in their maine undertaking which gave great satisfaction to such as were damnityed in this cause and confirmed unto them the vigor and strength of the Parliament By which meanes the nearer parts became wholly ours not only yeilding a supply of maintenance but engaging themselves on their own and our defence And some of them that did not seem to confide in the State were drawne in being first enraged by the Enemeis cruelty which discontent and desire of revenge the Governour cherished and raised to an open Declaration and unawares of the multitude put them beyond the hopes of a faire retreate So that these men observed the Enemy upon every motion sent alarms to the City and in a great part took off the feare of a sudden surprizall Amidst these things the expectation of the London supply and the dayly hopes of money strongly upheld the common Souldiers by a meere delusion its delay became a greater advantage since its reall strength had before bin crumbled to dust No part of the Kingdome was capable of better service by a considerable number yet a meane and slender reliefe did not onely not shake off the burthen but disgrace the businesse and contract and sinke the mindes of men when hope doth enlarge and beare up The Governour therefore advised the stay of the Convoy and was willing to expect such a party as might inable him to beare off the Enemy fifteen miles round about Want of Ammunition was the greatest exigence and the preserving thereof till a supply came was the maine hinderance of all designes Neverthelesse we had perpetuall Bickerings that the Enemy might not grow upon us and our dayly nimble performances were unto them as a continuall dropping Amongst others a party of horse and Dragooners issued forth as far as Marshfield fell upon a Troope of horse quarters there and brought thence a Lieutenant Cornet and Quartermaster with a few common prisoners and such horse and Armes as the Troop did yeild Whilst Colonell Ueales foot and the Lord Incheequeenes horse lay in and about Berkely and sorely oppressed the Country we fell into a horse quarter of Incheequeenes Regiment and took a Major and two Captaines three Lieutenants two Cornets with two Colours and other inferior Officers and Souldiers to the number of three and twenty all this while the strength of the Kings army is lodged between us and Warwick to intercept
our relief and in thought have already divided the spoyle Sir William Vavasour willing to act something in the latter end of the day to repaire his credit in the Kings Army desired a greater strength with a sufficient Artillery to distresse and straiten Gloucester and having obtained two Culverins from Oxford with a proportion of powder he advanced with a strong Brigade towards Painswick with unusuall preparations and expectation Their march afflicted the Country and indangered our out-garrisons The enemy were confident to the last that extremity would compell us to yeild up all to their mercy Sir William Vavasour entred Painswicke with as gallant horse and foot as the Kings Army did yeild Here the Governour had placed a guard in a house neer the Church into which the Church also was taken in by a Breast work of Earth The intention of the guard was to command contribution and keepe off a plundering party and order was given to the Lieutenant which commanded to maintaine it against a lesser party but if the maine body and Artillery advanced upon them to relinquish it and retreate down the Hill to Bruckthrop where the Governour had set a guard to prevent the Enemies falling down into the bottome for which purpose they were assisted with a Troop of horse to make good such a Retreate if need were But the Lieutenant more confident of the place and not understanding the strength of the Army and not willing to draw off before the last minute was inforced by the Enemy to engage himselfe and many willing people of the Neighbourhood in that weak hold and upon the first onset deserted the house being the stronger part and betook himselfe to the Church which wanting flankers the Enemy had quickly gained by firing the doores and casting in hand-Granadoes some few were slaine in defending the place and the rest taken prisoners We lost three inferior Officers seaven and thirty common Souldiers and many Country men At that season the Governour had commanded to Stroud another guard of fifty Musketiers to support and strengthen the place in its own defence But Ammunition was their only cry which struck us dead and constrained the Governour to withdraw that party to the garrison at Essington For our Magazine did then yeild no more then six single barrells of powder by which meanes he was wholly disabled to encounter the Enemy Only to preserve the bottome he drew forth the greatest part of both Regiments with their Colours display'd to flourish at a distance and summoned the Volunteers of the Country whom himselfe had engaged in a posture of defence These were to increase the appearance of strength by day and at night to guard the severall passages So that the Enemy durst not adventure below the Hills nor seek us in our advantages nor was it safe for us who wanted horse to set upon them in those large and open places Either party kept their own ground They wasted the Hill Countries whilst we secured the Vale and the Souldiers sustained hard duty in marching to and fro to give the Country satisfaction where the Enemy prevailed they plundered to the bare walls and this was the accomplishment of the great service so long expected from Sir William Vavasour This Brigade upon the defeate of Sir Ralph Hoptons Army by Sir William Waller at Charrington Down was commanded hence and instantly marched for Cirencester and so to Oxford our horse made after them but could not recover the Reare only they lighted upon some straglers and in the whole businesse we killed and took near fifty men This diversion relieved Gloucester which else had bin blocked up to the Gates and cast into as great necessity as ever In this pinch we received twelve horse loade of Ammunition strangely conveyed between the Enemies garisons only by the Carriers and a foot post when their designed convoy that set forth a little after and missed them gave them for lost and returned to Warwicke The residue of the relief was stolne by parcells through the enemies Quarters for though their greater body was drawn off yet were we still vexed with their garrisons Not long after there arrived another portion and three Troopes of horse to make up the Governours Regiment At length came Lieutenant Colonell Ferrar that had the command of these succours with a little long expected pay for the Garrison As for the Foote Souldiers that came with him out of London in regard they came severall wayes and at severall times in a lingering march with want of pay and some taken prisoners about fifty came to Gloucester and of the rest no good account could be given When Vavasour was called off the Enemy revived and grew bold under a more active Leader Colonell Nicholas Min who commanded the Irish Brigade In the first entrance hee began to lash out and made assayes of action cut down the Bridge at Masemore allarmed the City from the Vineyard Hill and took divers of our men that issued out upon a sally over the River in a boate At this present there came dayly cries for the reliefe of Brampton Castle in the remote parts of Herefordshire which held out a long time in the midst of the Enemies Country to the expense of much time and bloud And their succour was the more importuned by the rage of the Enemy which had lately acted their cruelties upon fourty prisoners of the same command taken by Colonell Woodhouse in Hopton Castle which were basely murthered after the surrender Colonell Massie had no forces under his command to undertake a march through the midst of the Enemy when they pressed hard on our own borders and the Brigade of horse assigned for the Convoy and commanded by Commissary Generall Bher were unwilling to undertake the service Yet while these horse remained here the Governour desired to set them a worke that they might not act only to the spoyle of the Country Wherefore they joyned with a party of our foot and made an attempt upon Newent Colonell Mins garrison but were called off in the midst of the service by a speciall order from the L. Generall The Enemy have lost the hopes of their Winter action and this garrison made the best of a bad game in continuall petty services and small parties yet beyond the strength of the place not to conquer but live nor to destroy the Kings Forces but to stave off or delude them But to enable Colonell Massie to march with a better strength Colonell Purefoy with his Regiment of horse about the first of April 1644 was by the Committeè of both Kingdome commanded into these parts and the maine designe was to remove or take in the garrisons that lay round the City These horse having brought but a slender part of the Ammunition and none of the Armes that were sent from London were remanded to Warwicke for the Convoy of Match and Powder The Governour resolving not to undertake a march or action of time without a proportion of Powder
both for the field and garrison Upon their second arrivall these horse with a party of foure hundred foot were drawne out with two small pieces of Ordnance and advanced into the Enemies quarters first with a purpose to seeke out Colonell Min who was lodged in the nearer parts But upon the report of our march he fell back from Newent and hastned to Rosse where he began to fortify the Church with his own and Sir Iohn Winters Regiments The Governour made forwards into Herefordshire and kept his head quarters at Ledbury to appeare unto the Enemy and in their own Country provoke them to action and in the meane while to fetch in monies for the supply of the Souldier and to ease our Neighbourhood which till then did beare the whole burden Our horse that lay neer upon their garrisons had some encounters but with no considerable party From Hedbury an hundred and fifty Musketiers with the whole strength of horse were drawn towards Hereford to command the Country and face the garrison which feared our approach and for that cause fired a lone house neer the City but none did adventure to sally forth or fall on the Reare in our retreat so we marched through the greatest part of the County but the grand Malignants were fled with the best of their substance The Governour resolved to attempt the lesser garrisons but the noyse of our march had reached Prince Rupert who thereupon was come to Evesham with as great a strength of Horse and Dragoones as he could draw together with a purpose to fall over Upton-Bridge and get between Gloucester and our forces whilst Colonell Min and Sir John Winter held us in play in these parts Wherefore being advertised of the Princes march and suspecting his intention he drew back the party as well to refresh and preserve his men as to make the Enemy secure But within foure daies the like number were againe drawne out towards the Forrest side to attempt and act something upon Myns forces and first they came up upon Westbury once our owne garrison but betrayed into the hands of Sir John Winter Here the enemy held the Church and a strong house adjoyning The Governour observing a place not flanked fell up that way with the Forlorne hope and secured them from the danger of shot The men got stooles and ladders to the windowes where they stood safe cast in Granadoes and fired them out of the Church Having gained the Church he quickly beat them out of their workes and possest himselfe of the house where he tooke about foure score prisoners without the losse of a man The enemy had an other guard at Little-Deane whither the Governour commanded a party of horse to give them alarms whilst he fell upon Westbury These horse found the enemy stragling in the Towne and upon the discovery of their approach shuffling towards the garrison which the Troopers observing alighted and ran together with them into the house where they tooke about twenty men Neere unto which guard Lieutenant Colonell Congrave Governour of Newnham and one Captaine Wigmore with a few private Souldiers were surrounded in some houses by the residue of our horse These had accepted quarter ready to render themselves when one of their company from the house kils a Trooper which so enraged the rest that they broke in upon them and put them all to the Sword in which accident this passage was not to be forgotten that expressed in one place an extreame contrariety in the Spirits of men under the stroke of death Congrave died with these words Lord receive my soule and Wigmore cryed nothing but Dum me more Dame me more desperately requiring the last stroke as enraged at Divine revenge Colonell Massie pursued the successe whilst his owne men were full of life and hope that the confidence of the enemy might be dashed by a quicke surprisall And the very next day came before Newnham where a strong party of Sir John Winters forces kept garrison in the Church and the Fort adjoyning of considerable strength who at that instant where much daunted and distracted by the losse of Congrave their Governour Our men were possest of the Towne without opposition and recovered the houses by which they got neere the workes The Governour commanded a blind of faggots to be made athwart the street drew up two pieces of Ordnance within Pistoll shot and observing a place not well flanker'd where he might lead up his men to the best advantage himselfe marched before them and found that part of the worke fortified with double pallisadoes the Souldiers being provided with Sawes to cut them down and having drawn these close within a dead angle and secure from their shot and drawing the rest of his force for a storme the enemy forthwith desires parley and to speake with the Governour which he refused and commanded a sudden surrender In this interim some of the enemy jumpt over the workes and so our men broke in upon the rest who ranne from the out-worke into the Church hoping to cleare the mount which we had gained But our men were too nimble who had no sooner entred the mount but rushed upon them before they could reach home and tumbled into the Church all together Then they cryed for quarter when in the very point of victory a disaster was like to befall us a barrell of Gunpowder was fired in the Church undoubtedly of set purpose and was conceived to be done by one Tipper a most virulent Papist and Sir John Winters servant despairing withall of his redemption being a prisoner before and having falsified his engagements This Powder blast blew many out of the Church and sorely singed a greater number but killed none The Souldiers enraged fell upon them and in the heate of blood slew neere twenty and amongst others this Tipper All the rest had quarter for their lives save one Captaine Butler an Irish rebell who was knocked downe by a common souldier and an hundred prisoners taken The service was performed without the losse of a man on our side After this dispatch the Governour marched to Lidney house with purpose to attempt according to what he should finde meet and in the first place summoned the same to a surrender which being refused and he finding the house exceedingly fortified and no lesse provided with victuall and force engaged not upon it And understanding that Col. Myn with a considerable strength of horse and foot assisted by the Lord Herberts forces and Sir John Winter was come as far as Coford he was enforced with more expedition to draw off for the gaining of the hill towards them there expecting the enemies advance till towards evening when he marched off his wearied men to Gloucester first having fired Sir John Winters Iron-mils and Furnaces the maine strength of his estate and garrison After these things many Gentlemen of the County began to looke towards the Parliament and tender their obedience desiring Protections from this government
a rocke Colonell Massie caused a blinde to be made crosse the street to bring up the Ordnance within Carbine shot when on the sudden the fancie of an Alarm seized upon our men in the heate of the businesse that the enemy were sallying out upon them which was nothing so This unexpected accident strucke those men that at other times would brave it in the face of an enemy with such distraon and feare that they all fled and left their Cannon in the open street This meere conceit was like to overturne all but they within observed not After a while the Souldiers recovered themselves regained and kept their ground and the Governour resolved to storme the Towne in three places at once The severall parties were drawne out to the places of assault but this designe miscarried through the mis-understanding of the signall The parties returne unto the Governour who resolved to make the assault at breake of day in one place where himselfe kept the onely passage into the Town having no draw-bridge at the entrance but onely a Turn-pike whereas the other parts were almost inaccessible guarded by a steepe descent and double channell round about The houses within Pistoll shot of the workes were our maine advantage by which meanes our men were brought safe under the shelter of their workes And the Governour observing the late effects of a panick feare amongst his owne men gave the charge that they should fall on all together with a sudden and confused noise to amaze the enemy and disturbe the command of the Officers The forlorne hope advanced seconded with a good reserve all put on together came up to the Turn-pike and threw in Granadoes the enemy made many shot at randome in the disadvantage of a rainy night and their muskets lying wet on the workes So that our men came all in a croude to the narrow passage and thronged in and not a man slaine or wounded in the storme One onely was killed the night before in helping to make the blinde Colonell Howard was taken at the workes after three shots received in severall parts of his garment each of which missed his body An hundred musketiers were taken prisoners many having escaped besides those of Beverston-castle who came hither for refuge the day before This service was performed gallantly by our men after three daies continuall march Upon the first entrance Colonell Massie preserved the Town from plunder nor at any time did he suffer his souldiers to ransacke any place that he took by storme giving this reason that he could judge no part of England an enemies Countrey nor an English Town capable of devastation by English souldiers After a little stay to settle the garrison and Countrey and to command in some moneys for the satisfaction of the souldiers and present supply of the brigade he returned to Gloucester and the Warwickeshire horse were called off into their owne Countrey After few daies the Governour having breathed himselfe and his men resolved to attempt the taking of Tewkesbury a bad neighbour to our head garrison and where he had suffered the repulse twice before He was able to draw forth an hundred and twenty horse and about thirty dragoones with three hundred foot For his strength was no more then the standing forces of the City a great part of which were now swallowed up by the garrisons lately taken in The horse and dragoones commanded by Major Hammond advanced some few houres before the Foot and Artillery and were to alarm the enemy till the foot came up They made a hault a mile from the Town and drew out a pretty strong forlorne-hope conceiving they might possibly surprize them if they had not as yet tooke the alarm and first three men were sent before to espy if the Draw-bridge were down and six more behind went undiscovered next unto these marched the forlorne hope and the maine body in the reare In this posture they advanced up to the Town where they found the Bridge down the guards slender the enemy without intelligence and supinely negligent On went the first party killed the Sentinels a Pikeman and a Musketier without match and made good the bridge the forlorne-hope rushed in and after them a full body of horse and dragoones fell upon the guards came up to the maine-guard before the alarm was taken overturned their Ordnance and charged through the streets as farre as the bridge Worcester way where they tooke Major Myn the Governour of the Towne The enemy threw down their Armes many escaped by flight and many were taken prisoners Colonell Godfrey was slain in the first charge as also Colonel Vavasours Quartermaster-generall and a Lieutenant all Papists besides a Sergeant with about six common Souldiers Our Officers and Souldiers supposing themselves wholly victorious dismounted and went into the houses some in the vanity of their humour others for plunder whilst all sleighted their owne guards and the making good of the bridge at which they entered and neglected the taking and disarming of the maine-guard which lay in the heart of the Towne and cleared every street Whereupon those at the main-guard observing the horse not seconded with foot took courage to charge some of our horse now in confusion and many of the enemy out of the houses ran to the guard and so strengthned it that they issued out upon our men put them to a retreat beat them out of the Towne and took some few prisoners But before they were beaten out they had cut down two Draw-bridges and secured the Governour Major Myn who was passed over Severne with a small party that tooke him beyond the Town By this time Colonell Massie was come up with a few horse halfe a mile in the Van of the foot which hasted after to make an assault in this instant of time But the bridge towards Gloucester was againe drawn up and the workes manned on that side here the governour placed his company of dragoones and gave order to fire upon them whilst he drew his men round the Towne it being now darke night but before he could reach the farther end where he entered about midnight the enemy were fled towards Worcester being daunted at the first assault made by the horse observing withall our foot now brought up their owne Governour lost their Officers slaine and most of the common Souldiers already runne away The Townesmen through feare durst not give the least intelligence of what had hapned By which meanes they were past the recovery of our horse already tyred besides the night and darke weather hindred the pursuit Onely we tooke some scattering foot to the number of foure and twenty with a Lieutenant Upon our entrance we found eighteen barrels of Powder left by their haste an hundred twenty skeyns of Match two hundred new Pikes foure thirty large hand-Granadoes good store of Musket-shot and two brasse Drakes Most of their Muskets were thrown about in the fields ditches and rivers many of which were afterwards
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
Muskettiers were drawn thence with eight troops of our poore horse unto Clurewall expecting there to meet the Newnham foot drawn off for this designe the garrison supplyed in the interim by the Countrey Voluntiers In the close of the next evening they approached neer the Enemy where no good presage did favour the busines The horse failed six houres of the time appointed whom the constant want of pay and hands bound up from plunder made irregular and disabled the Commander in chief to reward or punish Himself must manage the designe not by advice onely but personall action and act a part in the duty of each inferior Officer That night we beat up their ambuscades forced them within their works and by frequent alarms kept them waking yet as much as possible from working The next morning at break of day was the time reserved for a storme but the foot were all stragling and could not be gathered up insomuch that the Governors own troop with no more then fourscore Muskettiers made the onset and by Gods help performed gallantly They found the Enemy well prepared the works followed with dexterity and diligence with much art and cost on pallisadoes and breast-works and the most defective places from Wye to Seaverne defended with a tall quick-set hedge a ditch within the Pinnaces riding in each River with Ordnance to play upon us and the line so strongly guarded with hammer Guns Murtherers placed on the Flanks at either end that it seemed impossible to storme the same by day without apparent great losse yet was the Governour to wait for lowe water that the Guns from the ships might not reach us which happily fell out at the opening of the day yet were we in the reach of the Ordnance planted on the Weleh shore and equall to our height He laid holdon the instant of season with a small party in a silent march came close to the works wherupon after the taking of the alarme when the Enemy had spent many shot our men forced two or three Pallisadoes that some of the foot and the forlorn hope of horse brake in but finding themselves at a stand between the Pallisadoes and the quick-set hedge lined with Muskettiers began to face about when there was no looking back nor passing forwards by reason of the continuall shot In this party was the Governor engaged who now became the Leader of the Forlorn-hope and with not a little difficulty forced his own horse over the hedge fell in among them was recharged furiously his head-peece knocked off with the but-end of a Musket strangely preserved till three or foure foot and some horse brake over the hedge after him then there came up a full body of horse and foot and by maine force bore down before them a resolved and prepared Enemie slew thirty and tooke prisoners a Leiutenant Colonell one Major two Captaines three Leiutenants three Ensignes with other Officers and common Souldiers to the number of two hundred and twenty They forced Sir John Winter downe the clift into the river where a little boate lay to receive him and convey him thence into the ships riding within Musket shot of the shore with many Musqueteers and great shot Many tooke the water some whereof were drowned and others saved themselves by recovering the boates Prince Rupert the Patron of this designe was expected there the next high water being then upon the river but extreamely prevented and crossed in the height of his desire and confidence It was a brave exployte and true victory upon such an eminent disadvantage over a formidable enemy They were stronger within the Fortifications then sixe times the same number in the open field The storme that hovered was blowne over we calme and secure in the possession of Monmouth But as for this necke of land so fortunate and famous to the Government of Gloucester for two remarkable victories though Sir John Winter and the VVelsh forces had their eye continually upon it yet the neglect of the place was no oversight in our Garrison but caused by the incapacity of the place it selfe it being impossible to be held by us till we were Masters at Sea because at every floud the ships on the Seaverne lay levell with the highest ground Wherefore it was resolved by a Councell of Warre that the buildings should be demolished and all trees and hedges cut downe The taking and securing of Manmouth was a faire beginning and almost the possession of halfe Wales But as yet the County became unserviceable to us and we made loosers by enlarging our bounds The Substance of Gloucestershire was expended in maintaining the Garrison foote and the Horse left wholly unfurnished yet bounde up from plunder and rapine neither did we finde that assistance in the County as was expected and promised considering which with our meane forces and slender pay no progresse could be made in gaining the Countrey but the time was spent in light skirmishes and surprizals betweene petty parties on both sides and we sustained some losse by Colonel Broughtons Captaine Leiuetenant who with fifty souldiers undertooke to garrison a house neare Godridge Castle neither obvious to releife nor caring to fortify or store the place with victualls This was done in the Governours absence without order disavowed by all and owned onely by the Captaine himselfe whose plea was that he had no support for his men and was enforced to get his living there But within a few dayes his house was fired upon him and he and all his carried prisoners to Hereford before releife could reach them Notwithstanding our necessitous condition the Parliament were informed of great multitudes and a burden of supernumerary Officers and Souldiers and seemed to require out of the superfluity of those parts an assistance more ample then the maine strength of the place It was hard to take a just and full view at such a distance and peradventure perpetuall action and the great things effected here might multiply the numbers of the Garrison and represent things in the largest forme But the voyce of the people gave out that we were kept low by the malice of misinformations and that the souldiers cry could not be heard because they were apt to be thought ever craving and querulous Wherefore at that season there came some particular commands from the Powers above which did not correspond with the State of our Affaires or the ground of the enjoyned Service November the tenth Colonell Massie received Instructions from the Committee of both Kingdomes to march with all the strength he could make into the Borders of Oxfordshire to prevent the joyning of the Welsh forces under the Conduct of Colonell Gerrard with the rest of the Kings Army or to take advantage of the enemy or joyne with the Parliaments Army as occasion did offer This command found him overwhelmed with manifold imployments and in that instant of time some Monmouthshire Gentlemen tendred their assistance to the taking in of Chepstow
intentions of tyrannie unto which they onely are moulded who detesting a close hardy and industrious way of living doe eate their bread in the sweat of other men and neglecting a secure estate rejoyce rather in the height of fortune though inconstant and dangerous Such is the predominant humour of Gentlemen in a corrupted age Besides the Country-man had of his owne and did not live by the breath of his great Land lord neither were the poore and needy at the will of the Gentry but observed those men by whom those Manufactures were maintained that kept them alive By which meanes it came to passe that neither they of the middle ranke nor the needy were de voted to the examples of the Gentlemen who turned back betrayed their trust and are alwaies more apt to be corrupted or mistaken in judging of the common interest but had learned to reverence their Liberties and to acknowledge their native happinesse But some higher cause had a greater influence on the endeavours of many for a well-bounded Freedome and regular Priviledges a knowledge of things pertaining to Divine Worship according to the maine Principles of the Christian profession Which Religion is not according to the will of man but grounded upon an unchangeable and eternall Truth and doth indispensably binde every soule to one Law perpetuall and constant This therefore doth strongly implead the necessity of externall priviledges in her Professors and though it doth not destroy the Kingdomes of the World nor usurpe a greater liberty then humane Lawes will easily grant yet it will not give away its native right and it hath moreover in its nature an irreconcileable emnity against Arbitrary Government and will worke its selfe out of bondage when the felicity of the times shall give power and a lawfull call And in this kinde of knowledge this City and County was more happy then many other parts of the Kingdome by meanes of a practicall Ministry which hath not onely its powerfull working in Divine things but doth also inable vulgar capacities more fitly to apply themselves to such things as cenverne the life of a morall man and although each Person thus informed reacheth not the depth of the reason yet he can comprehend the truth thereof and jealousie makes him the more quick-sighted Thus have we found that the common people addicted to the Kings service have come out of blinde Wales and other dark corners of the Land but the more knowing are apt to contradict and question and will not easily be brought to the bent For this cause the ambition of the times hath endeavoured the undermining of true Religion to promote a blind and irrationall worship that might bring forth an ignorant and slavish generation of men which kinde of bondage the meanest person that performes a reasonable service cannot but resent and feare Yet something there was that might debase and infeeble their spirits the plague and mischiefe of the whole Realme a grosse ignorance and supine neglect of Military Discipline there being no ground for the study and exercise of Armes that might keepe the body of the State in health and vigour Nor is it unlikely that extreame vassalage was the end of that long sluggish Peace when the Nation could not have been more happy then in some just and honourable warre with forraigne parts though now none more miserable by reason of these civill broyles that teare the bowels and eate up the strength of the Kingdome 'T is no shame in the progresse of time to looke backe upon the beginnings of action The Trained Bands accounted the maine support of the Realme and Bulworks against unexpected invasions were effeminate in courage and uncapable of Discipline because their whole course of life was alienated from warlike imployment in so much that young and active spirits were more perfect by the experience of two daies service Wherefore these men might easily repine at oppression and have a will to preserve themselves yet a small body of desperate Cavalliers might over runne and ruine them at their pleasure Some professed Souldiers were sent downe from the Parliament to settle these and the Militia bands who had this onely according to the Rules of warre to be gathered under severall Captaines and many of them into the forme of a Regiment which disposition might fit them for a suddaine service and the very posture conferre something of a warlike spirit Within the City of Gloucester one Company of Volunteers was added to the Trayned Band and some Peeces of Ordinance obtained from London and Bristoll which were then received with universall amazement by an Inland people though not long after they grew familiar with their terrible executions meane while the City was open on three parts at least and had no considerable defence onely capable thereof by advantage of scituation The Citizens did mainely shew their care and affection in fortifying the Towne a worke both expensive and tedious being of great compasse and raised from the ground During these things the Enemy came not neere our dwellings we heard of them a farre off but little thought that the cloud of blood should be blowne from the North and settle over us upon whom it afterwards brake into so many showres that this place should become the seate of Warre and the Stage of action that then lying open to a free commerce with the World it should be shut up sometimes in strict custody but still under a larger confinement and beleagured at a distance in the midst of the Kings head Garrisons At that time the rumours of Warre and first acts of Hostility quickly filled the eares and tongues of people Alarms were then taken at a greater distance and the first was given from the neighbour City of Worcester by five hundred of the Kings Horse which entred the Towne and at that season were not the least part of his Majesties forces His whole strength could not amount to the number of a just Army according to the slender proportion of those times neither could they march like a set and perfect body but flasht through the Land as the Lightning that strikes from one quarter of the Heaven to the other The noyse of a nearer Enemy raised the Volunteers of the Country who marched under the conduct of some Gentlemen towards Worcester expecting to meete Colonell Nathaniel Fiennes with a strength of Horse but Colonell Fiennes had faced the Towne and drawne off before the advance of our Foote and they also retreated having done nothing but so meanely prepared for the service that they were much bound to the Enemy that they fell not out of the City and cut them in peeces The same Volunteers came on the second time and were to joyne once more with Colonell Fiennes who returned with a greater strength of Horse and Dragoones under the Command of Colonell Sands and now also prevented our Foot they attempted the onset and approached the Towne with much speed and confidence on the Welch side of
inferiour Officers with about forty private Souldiers taken Prisoners All the strength of these parts are now driven into the Walls of Gloucester onely Barkly Castle is held still for an entercourse between us and Bristoll This City was accounted one of the chiefe Holds of the Kingdome and far from the well-spring of succour yet was there no care of a competent Brigade or Magazine a common defect by which the State hath received much detriment that through the penury of men Armes and Ammunition remote Garrisons are left in dispaire or the intention of the maine Army must be diverted for their relief Our succours were yet to be raised or selected out of severall commands and come on slowly the people were held up by false reports and to stave off the Enemy the Governour was to put the best face on a bad matter Meane while a great power of the Welch Army advance towards Gloucester and setled at Hignham house within two miles of the City and began to intrench The Governour placed a Guard at the Bishops house to keepe them at a distance Sir Jerome Brett their Major Generall had the confidence to demand the Towne but the summons was received with scorne from a Welch Brigade and became ridiculous when Prince Rupert had beene twice refused besides an inveterate hatred derived by fabulous tradition had passed betweene the Welch-men and the Citizens of Gloucester Such slight and irrationall passages prevaile much with the common people in whom opinion beares rule Those Forces were said to expect Prince Ruperts approach on the other side else it cannot be imagined to what end they lay five weekes in a stinking nest They were basely basled never attempted our out-Guard never undertooke the least Party that issued forth Meanewhile the Prince was conceived to waite upon other designes The Bristoll Plot offered it selfe upon which his person did attend before the Gates of that City Thence he was drawne off to stop Sir William Wallers advance for our reliefe who deceived the Prince by strong reports and night marches and happily drilled along his small Army to the place of action The Governour could attempt nothing but onely make good the Guard at the Bishops house and flourish with some slender Sallyes he had not an hundred Horse and the Enemies foot were double the number of those in the Garrison at length an addition of two hundred Horse and Dragoones from Bristoll under the command of Captain John Fiennes gave some life to the businesse hereupon severall Parties at sundry times were drawn out which never failed to beat the Enemy into their works kill and take prisoners although treble the number of our strongest Party So that the name of our Blew Regiment became a terrour to those miserable Welch-men who were partly constrained to take up Armes partly allured with the hope of plunder Certainely they were deceived out of their owne Country not to fight but to take Gloucester by which meanes they could act an impotent villany and cruelty but nothing of a Souldiers gallantry Immediately after the taking of Malmesbury Sir William Waller bent his course towards Gloucester and laid his designe for the surprize of the Welch Army he gave notice of his advance unto Lieutenant Colonell Massie with directions instantly to draw forth both Horse and Foot before Hignham and to keepe them in continuall action that they might not understand his approach He gave order likewise that those Flat-bottomes which were brought from London upon Carriages for service upon the River Seaverne should be sent downe to Frampton passage sixe miles below Gloucester where both Horse and Foot were arrived by noone passed over the River before night and unawares of the Enemy got between them and home tooke them in a snare and intercepted their flight The Governour performed according to the intention of the Plot drew forth all the Horse and a Party of five hundred Foot brought up the Ordnance neere the house and kept them in the heate of play till the Evening at night he set Guards round the house with that straitenesse and confidence that the Enemy durst not stirre nor a Spy steale out although they lay fifteene hundred strong At Sunne rising they had a fresh Alarme by our Ordnance and were held to it by our Musket shot This morning their Horse issued out attempting to force their way through the Horse Guard which they did and put some of our Horse rashly charging and upon disadvantage to a disorderly retreate but comming up to a Foot Guard received a repulse and to the reliefe of that Guard which was thought too weake a Party was drawne from the Artillery and that againe by this meanes much neglected in so much that the same instant the enemy fell out upon our Ordnance then like to be deserted but were beaten backe by the gallantry of some few that kept their ground In this point of action Sir William Waller came up and shot his warning-peece on the other side which dasht the Enemy and so revived our men that they ran up with fury stormed a redoubt and tooke in it two Captaines and above thirty private Souldiers which service had a maine influence upon the surrender of the house Sir William placed his Army to the best advantage for shew and displaid the Colours of two Foot Regiments reduced to a hundred and fifty men drew neere the house and made some few shot with his Canon After his approach not a man of the Enemy was slaine or hurt yet the common Souldier would doe any thing but fight when they were well fortified and had a sufficient Magazine they sounded a Parley and sent forth some Officers to treat which had this result that they should render the house and themselves as prisoners and the Officers should receive respect and quarter according to their quality Upon the returne of these termes some advised to break through which the common Souldiers utterly refused and neglected the advantage of a dark and rainy night The persons that treated dealt the second time in a kind of begging way but at last accepted the former conditions and gave up the Welch Army into the hands of men quite spent with continuall marches and watching Divers persons of quality were here taken the most powerfull Gentry of Herefordshire some of those that in scorne were stiled the Nine Worthies who in the first opening of the great breach affronted the Parliament with a scandalous remonstrance the next day being the twenty fift of March neere fifteene hundred were led Captive into Gloucester as great a number as Sir William Wallers Army with the Garrison Forces could rise unto Thus the first fruites of Wales were blasted the strength of the nearer parts almost vanquished and the effects of this Victory had been more lasting had it been used to the best advantage The Kings Party had a notable faculty in the improvement of Victories by strict imprisonment and inhauncing the rate of their Captives
their usuall fiercenesse did extract great Ransomes or unequall exchanges and disposed them to detaine their Captives in extreame misery and to neglect their owne friends in the like thralldome of which those that were taken at Cirencester gave a full testimony But the Parliament Garrisons knew not how to keepe a correspondence in this case but groaned under the burthen of miserable prisoners were prone to exchange or set free upon easie termes And by this meanes most of the common souldiers then taken within tenne daies were sent backe into their owne Country with an Oath never to serve against the Parliament others that tendred themselves were entertained in the service who for the most part proved Runnegadoes the Commanders and Gentlemen came off some with a Ransome and Oath which they quickly violated and the residue were wholly lost at the surrender of Bristoll The whole successe of the former action happily complyed with the maine Plot and extreamly dashed the Kings affaires in these parts The generall fame did increase and heighten the repute of Sir William Waller and the enemy possessed there with began to draw back on all sides Sir Matthew Carew forthwith quitted the Towne of Tewksbury which within twelve houres was repossest by our Forces Captaine John Fienes was commanded thither with a slender strength of Horse and Dragoones with whom the well-affected of the Town that abode in Gloucester began to returne The undertaking was hasty and confused without the observance of the Enemies motion or distance or any rationall assurance of defending the place Our Party had no sooner saluted the Towne but received an Alarme that the former Forces were returned with a greater power 'T was a gallant Brigade of Horse commanded by the Lord Grandeston which immediatly came from Cheltenham whereof our men had not the least intelligence it seemed by the event that the Enemy expected none from Gloucester however there was quicke dispatch on both sides yet Captaine Fienes with his whole Party had bin surprised had not those Horse been kept off at a miles distance by a ridiculous accident It so fell out that they met a man comming alone from the Towne whom they fell to question whether any Forces were there of what strength and by whom commanded the man intending nothing lesse then the escape of our Party but supposing them a part of the Parliament Forces and willing to curry favour begins to talke of a maine strength and vast numbers with so many Guns and all kind of preparations and withall defies the Cavalliers with much affected indignation which words so farre prevailed that they presently held a Counsell of War and once were about to fall back This delay gave an houres respit to those within to prepare for a flight who had no sooner recovered the end of the Towne but the Enemy had entred amazed to see themselves so miserably deluded When Sir William Waller had refreshed his men some few daies about the first of Aprill 1643. he advanced towards Monmouthshire at the solicitation of divers Gentlemen of that Country with a promise of concurrence in reducing those parts to the obedience of King and Parliament When he came neere the Towne of Monmouth where the Lord Herbert had began to place a Garrison the Souldiers did not abide his comming but all shifted for themselves by flight Sir William entred the naked and open Towne where he stayed a while and sent many Parties abroad the Country for supplies of money thence marched to Vske where he set free some prisoners kept there but the reducing of the Country came to nothing for the Gentlemen did not perform and he found there what usually comes to passe in such cases that men desirous of alterations invite upon ample promises but never make good and feldome appearein the businesse till the Souldier hath done the worke to their hands or they have gotten some stronge Hold to secure their ingagements So that the well-affected would not declare themselves because a running Army could be no lasting support and they had no strong Hold nor the stream of the people which were at the devotion of the Earle of Worcester almost an universall Land-lord in that County Whilst these things are acted Prince Maurice enters Tewksbury with a power of Horse and Foot added to those former under the command of the Lord Grandeston resolving to make after Sir William Waller and to intercept his return out of Wales for he was gotten into such a nooke of the Land in the Enemies Country that the Prince might easily drive him to a Nonultra Wherefore a bridge of Boates was made over Seaverne at Tewksbury that they might passe to and fro nearer the retreat of our Army Here the Prince marched over with a body of two thousand Horse and Foot confident of this designe and therefore too remisse slow in his advance Sir William was nimble in the retreat caused his Foot and Artillery to passe over Seaverne at Chepstow and himselfe with his Horse and Dragoones passed through the lower part of the Forrest of Deane neare the River side and before the Enemy had notice of his march sent forth two Parties to fall upon two of their maine quarters which was performed whilst the maine body slipt between both and a Party was left to face them and make good the retreat which came off something disorderly and with the losse of a few private Souldiers 'T was an exquisite conveyance and unexpected felicity that brought them out of the snare through those intricate waies This Alarme quickly reached Gloucester and Lieutenant Colonell Massie drew out three hundred foot and two troops of horse to fetch off our men but if he found them dis-ingaged for a further designe This Party met them within two miles of the Towne where the Governour made knowne to Sir William Waller his purpose to set upon Tewksbury and taking the opportunity of the Princes absence and the Enemies jollity at our supposed totall defeate instantly advanced upon them and by break of day brought up his men before the Towne one part whereof fell in to the Ham seased upon the Guard left with the bridge of Boats and cut off that bridge the Horse with the rest of the Foot came up Gloucester way the Forlorne Hope surprised and slew the Sentinell climbed over the workes and cut down the draw-bridge whereupon both Horse and Foot-rushed in and the party on the other side of Avon ready to enter there were left in the Towne neere three hundred men commanded by Sir Matthew Carew whom the triumph of yesterdaies conceived Victory laid asleepe and the sudden Alarme roused up first into a shuffling fighting posture and after halfe an houre to a nimble escape Sir Matthew Carew fled and many escaped the hands of our men who wanted numbers to surround the Towne but most of the common Souldiers and some valuable Officers were taken Oxford was as miserably gulled in these passages and in a few
houres extreamely affected with contrary reports for the jocund newes of the vanquishing of Sir Wil. Waller arrived early in the morning but before noone an expresse came of the losse of Tewksbury which was cast upon the heat of the first report like cold water into a boyling pot The same day a Party of Prince Maurice his Horse appeared from the top of a Hill neere Tweksbury and intimated the approach of his whole Army whereupon Sir William VValler marched thither that Evening and resolved to breake downe or make good the bridge at Upton upon Seaverne besides which there was no passe nearer then VVorcester but the Scouts gave notice that the Prince had recovered the bridge and set a guard upon it The next morning Sir VVilliam advanced towards the Prince and found him in Ripple Field with his Army drawn up and divided into three bodies besides the hedges lined with Musketeers Here our Forces faced the Enemy in a large field and could hardly reach the third part of the Princes strength brought up their Gunnes having neither shot prepared nor Cannoneers that understood the businesse nor the assistance of Foot save only a part of the Governours owne company besides the wind and Sun were against them and no retreat if need were but through a narrow Lane of two miles long and whereas they might stand upon the top of a rising ground to deceive the Enemy with the semblance of a greater power behind they descended a little on the side of the Hill and discovered their weaknesse to a full view In this posture some perswaded to fight and began to make some shot with the Ordnance which gave no shew of the least execution But some other Officers examined the Cannoneere and finding neither fit Bullet nor any convenient shot but all things at randome earnestly disswaded either to make the onset or expect the enemy in that place and advising likewise the tryall discovered their Ambuscadoes within the hedges Hereupon Sir VVilliam VValler fell back and entred the narrow Lane commanding a Party of Dragoones to face the Princes Army and the Musketeeres to stand at the corner of the lane within the hedges to make good the retreat The enemy fell on not a man of those Dragoons would stand to receive the charge but hurried away broke over the hedge fell among and disordered our owne Musketeers the Enemy clapt in after them cut down foure or five of the Foot and tooke as many Prisoners Lieutenant Colonell Massie kept close to his Foot and instantly dispatcht to Tewksbury for a supply and Sir Arthur Hazelrigg prevailed with his owne Troope to charge and in his owne person performed gallantly the Foot with those Horse put the Enemy to a stand and in part tooke off the foulenesse of the retreat through that straite passage When they came to the next open place our men had the advantage of a ditch to stay the persuit and in the heat of the chase one Foot Souldier at the command of the Governour turned upon the Enemy a gate then cast of the hinges which barred their entrance enabled our men to draw up for a charge here for a while they stood in a maze but on a suddain faced about ran flock-meale the Enemy upon their backs and the close of this action was like to be miserable but at the entrance a strait passage neere the Myth Hill a supply of Foot from the Town opportunely met them gauled the Enemy and put them to a stand once more whilst the Governour charged the leader of the forlorne hope hand to hand and was rescued by the gallantry of some Officers when of ours onely a small Party of Horse remained in the field the rest being got off in great confusion Yet the escape might equall a Victory and the saving of the Forces passe for cleare gaine Prince Maurice did not attempt the regaining of Tweksbury the Government whereof was intrusted to Sir Robert Cooke who had newly raised a Regiment of Foot by Commission from sir VVilliam VValler At that season the main strength of the Kings Army was drawn from these parts when Redding was beleaguerd by the Earle of Essex by which meanes the Parliament forces had a large and free game in this Countrey went on with a full stream of successe driven with a gentle gale of providence and a kinde of unimitable happinesse in unbloody victories The fortune of the former did over-rule the event of the succeeding action and the name and presence of Sir William Waller did include more then a thousand men Neither was he wanting to himselfe but made the best use of his present fame and kept it up by constant active endeavours lest a little intermission might permit the enemy to recollect himselfe or the reall weaknesse of this Army be discerned It was therefore suddenly resolved for Hereford whither he advanced with a thousand Horse and Dragoons assisted by the Governour with the greatest part of the Lord Stamfords Regiment there were also the beginnings of Colonell Thomas Stephens his Regiment The maine body of Horse and Foot were drawn up before Bisters gate on the North side of the Town stood aloof off and shot at random till the Lievtenant Colonell commanded Captain Grey with a party of musketiers over the River towards Wie Bridge whose march was secured by a rising bank under the walls These were ordered to make shew of an assault and if need were to fall back unto the water side where seconds were placed for their reliefe The enemies horse sallied out upon them whom that party having gallantly kept off and forced back into the City with-drew thence and gained a Church within Pistoll shot of St Owens gate whence our Musketiers plaied on the walls and exceedingly terrified those within But the main rest of the businesse was the name of a conquering army which Sir William Waller improved to the best advantage by all expedition and industry And to help forward Massie drew up two Sakers in a strait line against Wigmarsh gate not without extream hazard by shot from the walls himselfe gave fire and the first Canon shot entred the gate took an Officers head from his shoulders and slew some few besides More shots were made each of which scoured the streets and so daunted the enemy that they presently sounded a parley which was entertained by Sir William Waller and hostages given on both sides the Parley lasted almost the whole day whilst most of the common souldiers ranne over Wie bridge into Wales only the Commanders and Gentlemen remained and were reported to be held in by the Townsmen to sweeten the surrender and obtaine better quarter Next morning they rendred the chiefe prisoners here taken were the Lord Scudamore Colonell Coningsby Sir William Crofts c. few horse and private souldiers but store of Armes and Ammunition The Town compounded was secured from plunder and after fourteen dayes deserted Sir William Waller obtained many faire victories but had
no power to make them good because his field was too large for that strength and the State made an inconsiderable number of men the only stay of the remote parts These could over-run the enemies Countrey but get no ground master no strong hold nor reduce a people naturally malignant that were dashed at present but did flourish again in the reverse of the Kings Army The next attempt was made upon Worcester whither all the horse and the greatest part of the blue Regiment were drawn They at Oxford were said to have yeelded that Town for lost and to give out that Sir William was gone to take possession of his purchase For at that time Treason was the pretended cause of every losse on both sides especially if weak and unworthy Both horse and foot came up before the City where they lay a day and a night effected nothing and were drawn off at the noise of the Lord Capels advance at which instant Sir William Waller was taken off these parts and ordered to march into the West with all speed to prevent the joyning of Sir Ralph Hoptons forces with the rest of the Kings Army Sir Robert Cooks Regiment was called off from Tewksbury for the Western expedition and that Town once more slighted Hitherto Lievtenant Colonell Massie governed the City of Glocester by deputation from the Earle of Stanford whose returne was not expected wherefore the thoughts of the Citizens began to enquire after a Governour They thought well of a man neare home and cast their eye upon a knowne Patriot Neverthelesse more intelligent men upon the serious review of the Cities continuall hazard found that the necessity of this place did require a tried Souldier and that such a one might possibly be found faithfull but a timorous or unskilfull man must needs ruine all Wherfore they reflected on Massie whose good services gave them also a competent assurance of his fidelity that by the happy choice of the Citizens and the Lord Generals Commission he was appointed Governour To enable the City to defend it selfe a foot Regiment was raised by Commission from Sir William Waller out of the Townsmen for the major part both Officers and Souldiers under the Command of Colonell Henry Stephens The first intention of this Regiment was to defend the City only within the walls according to the infancy of warre but the hard service of this place did suddenly require and exact the full duty of Souldiers At this instant the City was well becalmed only there hapned one passage of inferiour nature but full of the fortune of warre The Governour with a party of an hundred and twenty Horse and Dragoons advanced towards Stow in the wold to beat up the enemies quarters By break of day he fell into Slaughter took a Lievtenant twelve Troopers horse and armes and thence marched to Odington a mile beyond Stow where he surprised a Captaine of a Troop with forty men and horse and so made homewards neglecting the residue of the enemy who drew out of their quarters with all speed The remainder of their Regiment fell upon the reere of our men neare unto Slaughter with some slight execution but were beaten back The Governour being confident he was able to fight with them upon any ground made no haste to march off till the enemy had received a supply of Horse from Sudely Castle and again charged him at Andovers foord whom our men received gallantly and repulsed without any losse The Captaine that led the Van was slain by the Governours hand and the rest wheeled about whereupon the Governour dismounted the Dragoons and divided his men into three bodies the horse to the right and left wing in this posture resolving to march up to the enemy who would gladly rid their hands of the businesse but having advanced a little distance and looking back to bring on his men saw the greater part in a strange hurry occasioned by the faceing about of some cowardly spirits and himselfe with those dismounted men desperately engaged for a while he shuffled amongst the enemies Troopes till observing himself eyed by some he sprang forth fired in their faces and came last off the field upon the maine roade He offended here by affecting too much gallantry and was deceived in his new raised men who were not hardned by the sight of an enemy Besides no ordinary care was had of securing the prisoners who were all recovered back Four of ours were slaine many wounded Colonell Stephens a Lievtenant with five and twenty private souldiers taken prisoners The springing hopes of Colonell Stephens failed unfortunately when his eager minde engaged him in the action without order and against the will of the Commander in chiefe he had no command in the action but hasted after as greedy of the service he was led captive to Oxford and a while after breathed his last in that poysonous ayre where many Gentlemen were observed in those dayes to expire Amidst these things Sir Iohn Winter a zealous Papist began to declare himselfe A subtile wit that pretended innocency till his houre was come and had almost perswaded the world that he durst deny himselfe and commit an unpardonable sinne against the Catholike Cause His house in the Forrest of Deane was at first neglected when it was in the power of this Garrison to ruine his designe But under hand he prepared for defence suddenly clapt in his owne Confidents and with a little labour made it inaccessible but with apparent great losse and maintained his den as the plague of the Forrest and a goad in the sides of this Garrison These things were acted about the time of that blow almost fatall to the Parliaments cause in the vanquishing of Sir William Wallers Army at the Devices which defeat cast these parts of the Kingdome into a miserable plight when the State had placed the whole game in the successe of this Army never providing a reserve The King became master of the field the Parliament left without an Army that could check the enemy who came up to our gates and by threats would seeme to shake the walls of the City Many began to prepare for flight whose presence no reall necessity but the peoples opinion did require They at Bristoll disclosed their feares and gave no good presages And when that City was yeelded Gloucester did stand alone without help and hope The Lord Generals Army pined away Sir William Waller at London for a recruit The Earle of Stamford shut up within the walls of Exeter The Kings Countrey reached from the utmost Cornwall to the borders of Scotland and he was able to divide his Army one part for Exeter and the other for Gloucester That sudden surrender of Bristoll which was almost beyond our feares brought forth a dark gloomy day to the City of Gloucester The mindes of people were filled with amazement and the failing of such a promising Government made most men infidels or at least to question all things But here was
once entred a breach there they were instantly possest of the highest part of the Town On this side therefore were their Ordnance brought up and first two Culverin of sixteen pound bullet were planted on the East side a little out of musket-shot where they made some store of shot but did no execution Next they planted three pieces of Ordnance of foureteene and five and twenty pound bullet upon their battery in a square redoubt on the South-side and began to batter the corner point of the wall and a brick house adjoyning where one of our men was killed without more harme Then they played upon our Ordnance mounted against their battery point blanck and made some slight breach which was quickly stopped up with wooll-packs and Cannon baskets By this time they had drawne the trench neer the moate where they made a kind of mine to drain it and sunk much of the water and attempted to cast faggots into the moate but were beaten off by our musketiers At severall times they shot large Granadoes out of their Morter-pieces many fell into houses and brake but did no harme and one that fell in the street had the fuz quenched before it came to ground was takenup whole and found to weigh three score pound After the Welch and Worcester forces came up foure peece of Ordnance were drawn a good distance before the place of their leager and one planted against the Awnegate and the Sconces thereunto adjoyning Wherefore a party of about foure hundred Musketiers commanded by Major Pudsey and Captaine Gray assisted by Captaine Faulkner and Captaine Massey sallied forth of the Norrhgate Meane while a Lieutenant with fifty Musketteers was sent over the works to give them an Alarm whilst the greater party got behinde their Cannon and breastworkes fell upon their maine guard slew many Officers two Canoneers with about a hundred common Souldiers mortally wounded took a Lieutenant with foure more prisoners nayled their Cannon and retreated with the losse only of two slaine and about foure taken prisoners The Enemy having planted three pieces of Ordnance against the Southside and now three more on the Eastside and two more neer the Eastgate within Pistoll shot of the Town wall began a most furious battery upon the corner point and made above an hundred and fifty great shot against it whereby the stones were sorely battered but the Earth workes stood firme By all this shot only two persons were hurt for the Battery was so neare that if the Bullet missed the wall it flew quite over the Town or lighted at randome yet in the intervalls of the great shot after each discharge our musketiers playd hard and killed foure principall Cannoneers neither were the people daunted at the noyse of Cannon which by the slender execution became so contemptible that at that very time women and children wrought hard in lining the walls and repairing the breaches The enemy continued the storme by sending Granadoes which were guided by the hand of providence into by-places and sometimes falling upon the houses did rend and teare the buildings when the people within were preserved After ten dayes siege two severall parties were designed for the nayling of the enemes cannon These were commanded to fall into the trenches and march on till they met each other The one party of about two hundred Musketiers of the Town Regiment commanded by Captaine Stevenson and Captaine Moore sallied forth at the Northgate to have fallen into their Trenches at the East Port but by the mistake of their guide over a marish ground and full of ditches were brought round about to Sir Iacob Ashleys quarter where most of them came not up only fourty Musketiers encountred with five Colours of the Enemy slew divers of them took two Lievtenants prisoners forced back the rest and marching a little farther faced and fired at eight Colours more and so retreated In the retreat two Troopes of the Enemies horse came on the Reare whom our men facing about and charging forced to fall back and made good their own retreat in this distracted skirmish two of ours were killed three hurt and a Sarjeant taken prisoner The other party of the Lord Stanfords Regiment commanded by Captaine Blunt and Captaine White sallied by boat down the River on the Southpart of the Town towards the maine Leagre marched up to a Square redoubt our Cannon in the mean while playing upon the houses in the Suburbs beat them thence killed a Major with some common Souldiers and advanced to meet the other party But the design failing through the misguidance of the other party they were called off and by the help of our Ordnance made a faire retreat without losse of any onely two wounded The failing of the enterprize crossed a brave exploit and seasible they might have scoured the Trenches under the shelter of our Walls Neither did the Enemy take care to prevent them by turning the mouthes of any one piece of Ordnance upon the entry of the entrenchment Neverthelesse the crosse event did much amaze them that a small party should runne up to their Head-quarters force their men and recover back without a sensible losse Certainely the care of a higher providence preserved and brought off those many severall parties when the vanquishing of any one of them must needs run the City upon extream hazard for our whole strength remained upon the works day and night except the reserve of a hundred and twenty men at the maine Guard One rare and slender Rank were to receive the storme without seconds yet the safety of the whole did require those frequent sallies a desperate remedy to a despairing City not only to cast back the enemies preparations but to amaze them that the Souldiers should be held up in such heigth of resolution and cause them to expect more hot service from within the works Our men likewise were to be kept in the heat of action to prevent the fainting of the spirits Their hands also imbrued in bloud did the more enrage them Nor by safer meanes could they overcome the terrour which by the reputation of the Kings Army might possesse their minds The Enemy were kept waking by continuall Alarums to waste and weary them And t was the care of the Governour to cause a perpetuall noise that whensoever their Cannon had been silent for a while one or two of our Guns gave fire to disturbe the calm and signifie to the Country that we were yet alive for the besiegers ever and anon scattered reports of the taking of the Town with a purpose to prevent our reliefe All things within did presage a deliverance The sadnesse of the times did not cloud the countenance of the people they beheld their fortunes with a clear brow and were deliberate and chearfull in the endeavours of safety No great complainings were heard in our Streets no discontent seized on the Souldiers at other times prone to mutiny men of suspected fidelity did not faile in action Every
so confident were the enemy of their own strength that many thought his Majesty ill-advised in not fighting with the Earle of Essex neare Gloucester wherefore the Generall was to secure this retreat to take heed lest he be penned up in these parts and with that speed made after the Kings Army which by this time had gotten some miles in the Van of our Army that some horse and foot out of the remote quarters marched above thirty miles before they rested They came up before Cirencester where the King had left a strong party The forlorne hope entred the Town whilst the rest surrounded it killed the Sentinell sleeping marched up to the Market Place without opposition the enemy supposing them Prince Maurice his Forces that night expected till they entred the houses and surprized them in bed took foure hundred men and thirty Cart-loades of bread cheese and other provisions a great reliefe in a wasted Countrey and the only support of the Souldiers against the Battle at Newbery The successe of which Battell did close up with honour that happy and gallant undertaking of the Lord Generall and the Citizens of London As brave a service as these Warres can shew forth enobled by its wonderfull rise lively progresse nimble expedition admirable fortune and honourable conclusion Notwithstanding his Excellency had hereby disabled and broken the Kings Army and secured the Garrison of Gloucester from a sudden reverse yet his own Army was sorely bruised and retiring to London left but a little burthen upon the Enemy on that side By which meanes they were free to molest these parts and this Garrison left to beat the brunt provide for it selfe and run the danger though not of an other siege yet of blocking up and ruine by the spoyle of our Countrey which that party decreed to destruction and the Enemy at the doore and the distance of our friends did threaten no lesse Not a man could be left by the Generall to encrease our strength nor money to content the Souldier there was only an assurance of help from the Parliament when the arreares of Officers and Souldiers were large the Governour made certaine propositions to the Parliament concerning the support of this place That since at such a distance he could not expect a constant supply they would send down at once ten thousand pounds and a thousand men farre below the places due according to the termes of the Souldiers entertainment might set things in a thriving way and enable the Souldier to act of themselves without those continuall cravings and out-cryes against the State Vpon which termes the activenesse of this Government gave assurance of the framing of an Army to master the Countrey then enthralled to the enemy yea to lie upon the enemies quarters consume their store distresse their cheife Garrisons of Bristoll and Oxford and endanger the rest as Hereford and Worcester and stop their supply of men and money Such a strong beginning had been more then halfe way to the end of the work But the State seemed to walk in a frugall course and desire a daily dropping of reliefe rather then to entrust much which is not the way of great performance nor can bring to the end of the design when as this rationall adventure might give the encrease of an hundredfold and upon the failing hereof the greatest mischiefe could bee no more then the losse of that expence Wherefore they voted a supply and raised men and moneys in a languishing way that those five hundred listed for Gloucester were reduced to a fifty ere they could reach us and the greatest part of the money squandred away without a sensible advantage to this Garrison After Newbery fight Sir William Vavasour was sent to Hereford with a strong party to raise Forces in those parts with Commission to command in chiefe in the Countreys of Gloucester and Hereford and a command from his Majestie to distresse Gloucecester on the Welch side and to Garrison Tewkesbury Colonell Massie was not satisfied in keeping his own Garrison but eager of continuall service to destroy or disable the enemy for which no other place in the Kingdome was conceived capable of the like advantage Wherefore by himselfe urged he set upon the Parliament with importunate complaints that for lack of strength great opportunities of service to us and disservice to them were lost And a greater mischiefe did exercise this government the want of men and money and ammunition to defend it selfe upon which extreme scarsity of provision was like to follow and in these hopes did the enemy blesse themselves so that the advantage and honour of maintaining the City against the violence of an Army was like to vanish in the lingring death of the place And the Governour was about to embrace an other command in the Generalls Army yet reserving a submission to the Parliaments pleasure who required him to continue his service in this Government This charge was surrounded with difficulties and each day brought forth some new birth When the enemy begirt us in their Winter quarters the hopes of our promised succours were past without the Convoy of an Army Not one Gentleman of the Countrey durst be seen to assist us no Member of Parliament did reside here to encourage the businesse All things rested upon the Governours sole care both to store the Garrison with provisions and raise money out of that small pittance of the Countrey out of the enemies hands The discontent of the Souldier was now heigthned and ready to cause a disbanding To make good the place was the Parliaments command and inevitable necessity was the cheifest law to support it Wherefore apprehending more misery then in the late siege the Governor was constrained to lay some easie taxation on the Countrey to supply the present exigence whilst the enemies power extended on all sides almost to the Gates of Gloucester Hereupon daily complaints were brought before him that the taxes were unequally rated by the Officers of the severall Parishes that such as were broken by the enemy were rated as high as if their Estates were entire The Governour represented these things to the Parliament earnestly begged their direction in his intended course which by them was not in one syllable contradicted Wherefore at a Councell of Warre the condition of the Countrey was debated upon and an order made that some Officers Citizens should be intreated as a Committee to hear and rectifie the complaints concerning assessements and to use that moderation which reason did require Not long after a petition was presented to the Governour in the name of the Countrey That one Monthly rate without other charge might be imposed upon them likewise that the rate might be made according to equity and the poore spared that the money might bee paid in to the common Treasurer whence it should issue as necessity required and that a choyce Committee might be appointed to over-see all the money rated received and disbursed The Governour to
them put them to a retreat and slew some few without any losse to our party who drew off expecting the opportunity of a greater strength About this time Sir John Winter entred upon the Government of Newnham whereupon he took the courage to plunder the Villages neare Gloucester his Horse came within three miles of the City and drove away store of the Countrey cattle The Governour receiving intelligence drew forth his small number of Horse not exceeding seventy made after and pursued them to the entrance of their new Garrison where they had already secured their plunder in the retreat five Troops of the Lord Herberts Regiment fell on the reare our men drew up in a narrow lane ready to receive the charge fired upon them and put them to a running retreat An Officer with twelve Troopers made the pursuit took one horse colours and some prisoners and killed a Cornet and Quartermaster which event made Sir Iohn Winter for present quit that government with much distraction At that time there was no lofty stage of action because the present enemy did yeeld no gallant opportunity Sir Iohn Winter was wise for himselfe nimble in inferiour businesses delighted rather in petty and cunning contrivance then open gallantry referred all his industry to his own house or the limits of the Forrest vexed his neighbours more then weakned his enemy and advanced the Catholike Cause no other way then by the plague and ruine of the Countrey On the other side of the City the enemy was imboldned to erect new Governments at Tedbury and Wotton Underedge These did invite the Governours march that way who withall had his eye upon Beversione Castle newly garrisond and commanding the rich Clothiers of Stroodwater hither he advanced with a party of three hundred foot and foure score horse These horse sent before were so formidable to the enemy at Tedbury that the Governour Horatio Cary with his whole Regiment were put to flight and dissipated with the losse of fourteene of their men slaine and taken prisoners Colonell Massey brought up his men and two Sakers against Beverston Castle where having surrounded it hee planted his Guns within Pistoll shot of the Gate and gave fire severall times Fifty Musketiers ran up to the Gate at noone-day and fixed a Petarre which neverthelesse failed in the execution Those from within threw Granodoes amongst our men but hurt none who although thereby forced from the Gate yet they ran up the second time being open to the full shot of a secure enemy and brought of the Petarre with much gallantry The design was not feazible for a quick dispatch for the Gate was barricado'd within the night came on and those remote parts did promise no security to so small a party likewise the state of the City required them nearer home wherefore after twelve houres the party was drawn off and in the retreat advanced towards Wotton Underedge where the enemy had placed a kind of temporary Garrison with a Regiment of horse they prepared for the coming of our Forces drew up on a Hill before the Town to face them and at night retreated to their Garrison Where our men arrived somewhat late and found the enemy all mounted sell upon them and put them to flight of whom about six were slaine and twelve taken prisoners the rest escaping to Bristoll The next day by an over-ruling hand of providence our party was led back to Gloucester contrary to the hope of Sir Iohn Winter and his Complices These having intelligence of the Governours absence with a stronge party and supposing the Garrison thereby weakned sent to all the quarters of the Forrest Monmouth and Herefordshire to draw together and advance for the surprisall of Gloucester It was afterwards suspected a complotment to be managed by the assistance of Malignants in the City Late at night the Governour had notice of the enemy in the Forrest Thereupon he commanded Captain Crispe to draw fifty Musketiers from the Guards and march three miles that way making good a house that stood on the passage As yet there was no suspition of a Plot but before our party had passed a mile and halfe they encountred the enemy who were drawn up Horse and Foot in a broad lane neare Highnam House instantly fired upon them slew a Captaine and some foure common souldiers The enemy were amazed at the sudden and unexpected encounter forced back with feare and retreated to Huntly where Sir Iohn Winter had secured his own person But distracted by the strange repulse marched off in great confusion at the approach of fifteene horse that fell in amongst the whole Brigade slew seven or eight and took ten prisoners This discomfited the enemy and dashed the designe yet the Hereford and Monmouthshiere Forces kept their randevouz at Coford in the Forrest and still threatned the City No meanes for the reducing of this place is left unattempted and at this present treachery was the grand design and over-ruled all their proceedings and prevented many mischievous acts of open hostility which might easily have destroid us for divers Malignant Gentlemen of this County went about to cast this City into extreme poverty and exigence by the Countreys ruine Wherefore conceiving the present enemies not sufficiently cruell they importuned his Majesty that Colonell Charles Gerrard might quarter upon us with his Brigade to devour spoyle and burn besides the expectation of all the mischiefe the Lord Herbort and Vavasour can doe But this malitious councell and instigation though most opportune for the Kings purpose was afterwards crossed by their own party waiting upon the successe of a close design About this time was the act of Pacification made by the King with the Irish Rebels which began to undeceive the world and wipe of the Varnish of the former Oathes and Protestations The world could not believe that any command or power could so soone allay and quell those Irish stormes but that word which raised them up Then did the effect declare the cause of those rare and slow Proclamations against that bloudy Rebellion and strange intercepting of reliefe sent from the State to the distressed Protestants The greatest admirer of the Kings Declarations could judge no lesse then that those Rebells did better comply with his intentions then the Parliament of England since his Majesty having two enemies is resolved to make peace with one to crush the other he will fall in with that party that carries least contradiction to his maine designe and this was the Rebell of Ireland whose chiefe aime likewise his Majesty must not abhorre for there can bee no lasting compliance without a mutuall engagement Besides the heads of that Rebellion were brought over not as accessaries but principals in the Kings warre and admitted to the secret Councell And to colour the Pacification the losse of that Kingdome and all the sufferings of the English Protestants were charged upon the Parliament The English Forces in Ireland were possest with the opinion of
neglect in the State and were taken off the persuite of a just revenge upon those cursed Rebels to warre against their native Countrey and teare the bowels of the mother that bare them and therein act a part and cast in their lot with the Rebels themselves Some of these Irish Forces landed at Bristoll and thence fell down upon Gloucestershire Colonell Min and Sir William St. Leger with both their Regiments making up eight hundred or a thousand Foot and a hundred Horse all resolved men with eight Piece of Ordnance advanced to Thornbury Colonell Massey proclaimed entertainment to all such as would tender their service to the Parliament and many private souldiers resenting the difference of the cause came over daily About the twentieth of December a party of two hundred horse and Dragoones commanded by Captaine Backhouse were designed to beat up their quarters at Wotton where they were lately arrived from Thornbury Wherefore the party advancing thither suddenly fell in among them and found eight hundred men charged up to the maine Guard and for a while were masters of foure Piece of Ordinance but over-matched and borne down by their numbers were forced to retreat yet having first slaine wounded and taken many of them without the losse of a man At the same time some of Colonell Vavasours Forces undertook to settle at Upton upon Seaverne but at the first shew of an approach from Gloucester quitted those quarters Once more doe the clouds gather round about the storm threatned by the enemies fury and more violently driven by the malice of some Countrey Gentlemen begins to arise The Malignant Gentlemen of Cotswold provide Armes and garrison strong Houses Forces from Oxford were expected at Painsewick and Stroud the Irish were to lie on this side Berkely the Lord Herbert and Sir Iohn Winter in the Forrest the Lord Chandos at Cheltenham Sir William Vavasour and Sir Walter Pie at Tewkesbury so that by them our destruction is decreed and seemes as a thing done Every corner of the Country is pestered with the enemies Garrisons as Newneham Lidney Monmouth Hereford Worcester Dimmock Newent Highleaden Tainton Tewkesbury Sudely Saperton Beverston and Berkely Opposite to these was the Governour constrained to erect petty Garrisons as many and as neare as possible for the Kings Forces were againe advanced out of Herefordshire with a greater strength and well prepared Sir William Vavasour Sir Walter Pie and Colonell Wroughton are arrived at Tewkesbury and began to fortifie having a great power with them till the Town was setled and made strong yet still disturbed by continuall Alarums from Gloucester though the Land-flouds hindred our design upon them The Irish Regiments rose from Wotton and thence made over the Hills for Tewkesbury And because their march was interrupted by our parties the Lord Chandos horse joyned with them to strengthen and secure their advance to Cheltenham whether they came with foure small Piece of Ordnance Our men still flirted upon them And a Party of Horse and Dragoones commanded by Major Gray fell that night into Charlton Kings and had surprized the Lord Chandos in his quarters had he not made a private escape where the search after him caused the losse of seven or eight private souldiers yet they slew some of the enemy took ten prisoners and some few horse The next day the Horse and Foot bended their course to Tewkesbury our men waited upon the march and kept them up close that those parts of the Countrey received but little dammage when these had joyned with the other Regiments they were supposed to make neare upon two thousand six hundred Horse and Foot After a little stay a part of these forces were drawn off towards Warwickshire to joyne with the enemy that there waited the intercepting or surprizall of our supplies from London then long and earnestly expected and noised abroad our powder being welnigh spent and necessity constrianing us to use a kind of match made of Bast. Sir Walter Pies Foot and Col. Wroughtons Horse remained at Tewksbury to block up the City on that side in and about which Town fifteen hundred Horse and Foot were constantly quartered Colonell Washingtons Regiment kept Garrison at Evesham and a Regiment of Horse lay at Parshore besides a considerable strength at Sudely These thought to swallow up our approaching succours or if they did not come speedily to compell us to yeeld up the City for it was reported with the enemy and believed by many that we suffered extream penury And though provisions were not much wanting being in a fat Countrey yet the reall exigences of the Garrison were great for lack of pay the discontents of the Souldiers were desperate and endlesse In most of the Officers a generall neglect of duty who for the least check would throw up their Commissions to the Governours great discontent and trouble Many inferiour Officers forsook us and common Souldiers ranne to other places that yielded a large and constant entertainment and required lesse service whilst honest and gallant men that did not desert their Colours were exposed to misery and want yet could we not want men who daily offered themselves to the service had wee moneys to pay them Neither had wee any power of men to raise moneys for the Garrisons maintenance Our out-guards as Presbury Wesbury Essington Frampton Froster set to preserve the Countrey and keep the Markets open did eat up the greater part of the Contribution and consume our men and ammunition besides the daily sending out of parties T was a kinde of shifting life and wonderfull that the Officers command should finde the least measure of obedience Some Offcers did expend their own meanes to keep their Companies entire the Governour was necessitated at his own charge to billet above threescore Souldiers besides the charge of a Troop The Countrey was impoverished the Commission of Excise was not setled and brought in no considerable summe The Citizens were restrained of Trade and the wayes of Commerce stopped up and therefore at present they were quite left to the Garrison Besides the slownesse and low reports of our succours did exceedingly dis-hearten the people Many Countrey Gentlemen that were not the Confidents of the contrary Faction were about to comply with this Government especially upon the Parliaments Declaration of pardon but the notice of those slender supplies and the thought of the States supposed neglect turned them off and made them more violent against us For this lasting suspense and bondage under two parties did vex them wherfore his Majesty was again importuned to destroy and fire the Countrey if he could not lodge his forces so neare as to block us up The Garrison neverthelesse did not only defend its own territories but made sundry adventures and inrodes upon the Enemies quarters staved off and kept them within their bounds The Governour had built a Friggot for service upon the River to secure the Countrey near Gloucester on that side Seavern because the Enemy commanded greatest
part of the River and landed at their pleasure upon our quarters from Bristoll and Wales This Friggot was sent down Seavern manned with Sea-men and a party of Souldiers for whatsoever attempt sudden opportunity should offer and arriving at Chepstow our musketteers hasted ashore and entred the Town where they surprized most of the Officers of Colonell Oneales Regiment raysed under the command of the Lord Herbert These never dreamed of an enemy from Gloucester in that corner of the Land at such a distance And this was the advantage of the service that by the surprizall of the Officers it prevented the raysing of that Regiment of horse which shortly after would have plagued the Countrey Our men having secured their prisoners and ready to made homewards another prize fell into their hands where they took a Vessell laden from Bristoll with Oyle Wine Sugar and other commodities These little services were answerable to the times and upheld the esteem of the Garrison in that low ebbe This Expedition gave an Alarum to Bristoll and all Wales who to prevent the like inrode sent up divers Friggots to guard the River At this time Sir William Vavasour began to appeare from Tewksbury and made an attempt upon Bodington House a petty Garrison of ours only to preserve the Countrey Hither he came up with five hundred foot and two peeces of Ordnance fired his Gunnes against the House and engaged himselfe in an assault The place was maintayned by them within till a small party drew from Gloucester the report of which at three miles distance caused Colonell Vavasour to draw of and return back to Tewkesbury with the losse of eight or ten men before the House Neither did Vavasour seem to act with that violence which the out-side of the enemies design did look for whether retarded by the dulnesse of nature or the notice of some close contrivance However the slownesse and ill successe of his actions rendred him obnoxious to the jealousies of his own Party which suspition was easily encreased by the intercourse of civility between him and Colonell Massie when the known fidelity and constant indeavours of the one could inable him without offence to his own side to disport with an enemy in such complements as the other had not the liberty to use Such neglected passages have a great weight in the ballance of reputation and honour since the minde is not revealed by it selfe and wise men as well as fooles oft-times have only the event to guide their judgements On the other side of the Town we had continuall skirmishes with Colonell Veale newly made Governour of Berkly Castle and assisted with the Lord Inchequeens Regiment of Horse This enemy was no way formidable nor mischievous in any thing save the plunder of the Countrey by whom hee was oft-times beaten back and kept in awe by the assistance of Frampton garrison The Church at Newnham was againe fortified and defended by Sir Iohn Winter with a sufficient strength of men and foure Pieces of Ordnance whence hee might runne up to the Gates of Gloucester rob the Countrey and take mens persons at pleasure only we kept a guard at Arlingham to hinder his passage over Seavern Colonell Man lay strong at Newent Highleaden and Tainton The Governour could doe little on that side only he placed a Garrison at Hartpury Court both to preserve Cosselawne and to endeavour the engagement of Colonell Min. Our Garrison at Frampton was removed to Slimbridge within foure miles of Berkley we had other guards likewise at Essington and Froster to preserve and enable the people to contribution Thus was the City pestered on every hand and fetched its livelihood out of the fire with continuall hazard forcing the enemies quarters and defending its own parties were daily drawn out by the Governour who then could not aime at victory nor expect any great performance though the common people repined that he did not alwayes conquer when it was conquest enough to keep the enemy in action and prevent their extravagances to beare up the hearts of our friends and signifie to the world that we were yet alive Though the Governour was not invited abroad yet he strove to make opportunities according to the stock of Ammunition that was left him that councells might spring out of the midst of action He drew out upon Tainton with two hundred Musketiers and with a hundred horse faced the house only to keep in or amaze them but when the horse marched off some of their Troopes fell on the Reare-guard and charged the Governour who re-encountred and charged home some distance before the rest of the Troop and by the breaking of the curb his horse carryed him amongst the enemies Troopes with whom for a while he grappled and was rescued by the gallantry of a common Trooper by which time our Musketiers were brought up and beat them back without losse to us The Governour choosed rather to make work for the enemy and to seek him in his own quarters then lie at home to expect the challenge yet did he play a wary game and though zealous of honour yet more true to the maine chance and tender of the lives of men wherefore hee advanced againe with foure hundred Musketiers and fifty horse came before Tainton and with a small party faced the house having laid some Ambuscado's with a purpose to allure them into the snare and cut off their men as well to encourage the Countrey as weaken the enemy but they did not adventure out When we drew thence our men beheld a faire body of horse at Highleaden whereupon a forlorn hope of our Musketiers with twenty horse advanced upon them and found their Horse and Foot drawn out of Highleaden House These were to joyn with Colonell Min who at that instant was marched out of Newent with a purpose to fall on Hartpury Garrison Here at the first some few of our horse gave the charge hurried the enemy and beat up their Ambuscadoes then they drew out their whole Garririson and sell on Their horse did not stand to it but with their foot there was an hot skirmish almost an houre And though our seconds were slow in comming up yet did the forlorn hope drive them from hedge to hedge and after a while our body comming on beat them in and pursued them up to the very house took some few prisoners and came off with the losse only of two men Such multitudes of the Kings Forces lay upon us to oppresse the Countrey and intercept our reliefe that they were extremely straimed of quarter and enforced to look forth for livelihood Whereupon two thousand Horse and Foot marched from Tewkesbury to Painsewick to gather contribution and rob the Countrey about Stroudwater The Governour drew out two hundred Musketiers with an hundred horse and marched to the top of Bruckthrop Hill expecting the enemy whom he found divided into three bodies and himselfe born down by their multitude for whilst two parties faced him
the third stole down an hollow lane and had almost surrounded him unawares by the negligence of the Scouts so that our whole body was brought into great danger driven to a sudden and confused retreat and the Governour himselfe left deeply engaged yet most of our men got off being preserved only by the gallartry of a few resolved men that stood in the breach and of them Captaine George Massie striving to retard the pursuit grappled with three together hand to hand received a sore wound in the head and was happily rescued by a Serjeant of the company of ours two Lievtenants and sixteen private Souldiers were taken prisoners the rest in disorder ran down the steep through a rough and narrow lane and recovered an house at the foot of the Hill where a party was left to make good the retreat and the enemy durst not pursue by which meanes all the bottome was preserved from spoyle next day they retreated to Few esbury laden with plunder Suddenly after this repulse we lost two small Garrisons at Westbury and Huntly by the treachery of Captaine Thomas Davis who sold them at a rate to Sir John Winter This Davis commanded the Guard at Huntly where himselfe by night some distance from the house attended the enemies comming went in before them as friends from Gloucester gave them possession and having accomplisht that peece of treason immediately marched to Wesbury where he was received for a friend and led in his traine of Cavaleers that both places were surprized in two houres and above eighty men and armes lost in that great exigence This Villaine was posted on the Gallowes in Gloucester and the Lord Generall was desired that his name might stand upon the Gibbet in all the Parliament Garrisons During these things a Treason of higher nature was plotted by the Enemy to a self-delusion in the close a greater birth requiring more time to bring forth It was first conceived the nineteenth of November and for near ten weeks had the prime influence on their whole course in these parts and is now ripe for action All the force they can make from Oxford and the Irish are drawn together The Lord Herbert Colonell Vavasour and Sir Iohn Winter lie upon us and Prince Rupert himselfe lying at Newent hoping to effect this great Design Fifteen colours of horse arrived at Cirencester and five hundred horse and foot advanced to Saperton and Musarden within ten miles of this Garrison There were of the Enemies forces round about near six or seven thousand The failing of their endeavours and hopes in the late siege brought forth a despaire of reducing the City by storme and put them upon the wayes of treachery who therein illuded themselves and were over-acted in their own councels One Edward Stanford an Esquire and a grand Papist assaulted the fidelity of Captain Backhouse once his friend and acquaintance He presumed that former friendship might make way to admit the plot and Backhouses power and interest in the Governour made it in his conception very feasible Wherefore in a private Letter he tendred the renewing of ancient love not only to the procuring of the Kings pardon but a greater advancement and fortune then the condition of those whom he served could rayse him to This might be purchased by the delivering of Gloucester into their hands which was not hard for him to perform considering the nature of his employment And the honesty of the enterprize was grounded on the old proverb fallere faltentem non est fraus An hasty and abrupt temptation and the tempters irrationall confidence did befool him in the first onset who knew not either to propose or expect such grounds of assurance as the thing did require but set upon a knowing man without the knowledge of any imbred inclination to treason or present provocation Except a strange levity a minde set on mischief the conscience of delinquency or desire of revenge vain glory or riches are the sole aimes of a Traytor and the hopes of either must appear large and certain but here an attempt is made on such a one who neither by feare was compeld to provide for himselfe nor enraged against his own party but acknowledged a present felicity in the work in hand as though it were possible to perswade a man wittingly to contrive his own overthrow The Letters were no sooner received but communicated to the Governour who advised to embrace the businesse and hold a correspondence with that party practizing that rule by themselves propounded for these reasons First t was a delight and glory to take them in the snare which themselves had layd and the advantage was great 2. That this treason already secured might prevent other conspiracies against the City so long as they had faire hopes of prevailing by this lest the contrivance of a second should confound the disposition of the first 3. That the Countrey under the command of this Garrison which upon the petition of the malignant Gentry was devoted to destruction might be preserved and spared by the Enemy in hope to enjoy the benefit thereof themselves for the embracing of this plot did not draw on the Enemy but held his hand and suspended the execution of his fury 4. To spin out the plot and feed their expectation till the Countrey had vented in the markets their spare provisions of Corn and Cattle 5. That the Enemy possest and taken up with the gayning of the City might give the Parliaments Forces in other parts of the Kingdome a greater freedome to execute their designes 6. That a flattering promise might allay their fury till the winter were past or our reliefe come and we be able to feed them with harder meat and that themselves might taste the cursed fruits of Treason to a selfe-shame and confusion The Design was communicated to Captain William Singleton Alderman and Captain Read For these and the like reasons Backhouse undertook the businesse and returned an answer in a liberall garb protesting that he honoured his Majesty with his soule and was ready to perform all reall service He seemmed withall to promote the plot by requiring sworn secrecy and agreeing upon a trusty messenger and that he might seem more deeply to rellish the matter catcht hold on the promise of Reward and required some unquestionable assurance that he might not play an after game poorely Thus the fraud is returned upon them by one that strives to maintayn the repute of integrity conceiving it no transgression of Military Honour to deceive them into a snare by verball equivocation as well as by a doubtfull action the common way of the Stratagems of Warre This confident Reply and the palpable discovery of a sudden change did not render him suspected but beyond all reason gave the complotters great contentment who did not enquire into the conviction and change of his thoughts by due degrees Stanford desired him forthwith to expresse his conditions propose the way and descend unto the particulars
found but the place it selfe was of greatest consequence and worthy of the service being now a strong Frontier-town securing that side of the County and commanding a good part of Worcestershire and in this nicke of time extreamly crosse to the intentions of the Kings Army The enemy confest themselves to be neer seven hundred strong when our whole body could not reach that number That very day Colonell Myn was to march from Hereford to ayd this Town but prevented by our possession These things were acted here while the Earle of Essex and Sir William Waller lay neere Oxford with both their Armys and compelled His Majesty to withdraw himselfe from his strongest hold The King having shifted between them both by a close and nimble conveyance and being on a swift march over Cotswood hils had this Town of Tewkesbury in his thoughts for his owne passe and a stop to the pursuing Army not understanding his losse till within a daies march of the place The intelligence of this surprisall and that Upton-bridge was made unpassable perplexed the King and turned aside the course of his flight towards Evesham where he quartered for a night and rose thence in great distraction and caused all the bridges in those parts to be broken down after him to hinder Sir William Waller in the pursuit whom he expected in the Reare every hower In such a hurry confusion and feare did the Enemy run that a smaller party of horse only with the report of the foot comming after in a constant and close pursuit might have consumed and dissipated the whole army which neverthelesse remained a body with life in it selfe and quickly grew up to the perfection of parts The Governour had reduced these parts into a reasonable condition of ease and security made a convenient passe for the Parliaments forces through the heart of the Kings Country and blocked up the course of the Enemy almost on every side unlesse the maine Army did march Malmesbury and Beverston-Castle lie in the Roade from Oxford to Bristoll and inforce the lesser parties to fetch a compasse by Worcester and Hereford thence round about into Wales and at last to passe the River of Severne below Berkely Castle When the King had winded himselfe out of the snare Sir William Waller could not well follow the chase with his foot and a traine of Artillery though the horse might performe gallantly to the ruine of those who resolved rather to flie before them then fightupon any tearmes Wherefore he made some pause by the way with a purpose to march his great Ordnance to Gloucester and appointed Colonell Massie to meet him before Sudeley where he performed an acceptable service to this Country The Governour forth with faced the Castle beat in the Enemy and took twenty horses from under the Castle walls expecting the arrivall of Sir Wil. Waller who came up within few houres with a strong party of Horse The Enemy within discharged their Ordnance and fired their out-houses like men resolved upon extremities rather then to yeild up or lose the garison In the evening Sir William Waller summoned the Governour of the Castle and it fell out that the very name of his Army and presence strooke them to the surrender of that hold that might have expended the lives of many and much time then pretious in that great advantage on the Kings distressed Army yet they refused to render at the first summons The Battery was planted within halfe Musketshot But the great pieces did little execution upon the soft and yeilding stone nor could the Castle be taken by battery but one shot by chance took off the head of their Cannoneer and exceedingly daunted the common souldier and the Governour Sir William Morton did in his owne thoughts incline to a surrender whether out of a naturall feare or free choice He was knowne to be active and violent in the Kings service of an high spirit and bold bearing before him the semblance of valour and supposed by an high degree of enmity most obnoxious to the justice of the Parliament one that had the repute of a knowing man able in the profession of the Law and versed in the wayes and actions of men He was likewise more strongly linked unto that cause by the late honour of Knighthood which by the State is held no better then a note of infamy to stigmatize those persons that have been eminent in the disservice of the common-Wealth Notwithstanding this being lost and desperate in the opinion of the Parliament he gave up that strong hold and himselfe into their hands having not provided for the indempnity of his own person when by his own party likewise he must needs be branded with treachery or cowardize and so lost on all hands So that no faction seemes to be assured of its principall confidents and that no resolved nature or judgement can secure the strongest enterprize to a wise and honorable conclusion After the surrender Sir William advanced thence to seek out the Kings Army and left the Castle to be kept by the Gloucester forces By this time the Enemy had no footing in the County save Berkely-Castle and Lidney house And as this government had by maine force gained every step of its command so no lesse skill and vertue is required to maintaine the victories we have the possession of Gloucester Tewkesbury Sudely Newneham Beverston and Slimbridge all to be defended and maintained at so great distances only by two Regiments of foot For Malmesbury was kept by Colonell Deveraux his Regiment who was appointed Governour under the command of Colonell Massie unto whom the disposition and settlement of that garrison was intrusted by the Parliament For want of money the City Regiments were weake and uncertaine in duty and service and the Souldiers ranne dayly to other garrisons where they found alwayes constant pay and lesse hardship But the Governour could find none so rationall as to clap them in Irons or give them back to his justice For this cause he was perplexed in each designe uncertaine of the atchievement and could not waite for a regular disposition and traine of circumstances but nimble in the secret and sudden motions of the time and season and sometrue resolving upon the sole guide of providence but in this never running a greater hazard then the shame of a non-performanee These many garrisons having taken up the whole strength for want of a marching brigade we were deprived of the fruit of our labours in the supplies of monies to be commanded out of the Enemies quarters and disabled to relieve the remote parts that were by this time united under the power of this government So that the first fruits were nipt in the bud and we remaine miserable after so great enlargements being inforced to cry to the Parliament for help which we should have held a disparagement had we received a stock to improve to a larger support and livelyhood Wherefore the house of Commons taking notice of
by seeking out a fresh and doubtfull Enemy with our few and weary Souldiers Onely three or foure slain five or six wounded amongst whom Collonel Harley received a shot in the arme The successe of this designe cut off the maine strength of the Kings forces in South-wales and secured the Countrey from our plundering neighbours on the Welch side The body of Collonel Min was brought to Gloucester and vouchsafed an honorable buriall His death was by his own party much lamented together with the losse of a brave Regiment that were commanded from Ireland to fight here a gainst the justice of that cause upon which the Irish war was held up and owned by the whole Kingdom And it hath been observed that as the Irish Pacification was unlucky and reproachfull to the outside of the Kings actions amongst his Protestant party so the Commanders that came thence were unfortunate in all their designes and in the end miserable When the Governor had setled his affaires at home in reasonable security his desires and aime was to put in for the advantage of a more generall service and pitched upon these two proposals the one to make a diversion from the Lord Generals Army then blocked up in the West the other to keep back Prince Ruperts stragling forces which then lay between Shrewsbury and Worcester a little after the great Northern defeat And these the Prince earnestly desired that upon this rubbish he might frame an Army for the close of the Summer action Wherefore if possible to endeavour a diversion from the West-parts the Governor drew towards Bath with one hundred horse and foot the Forces lent to Sir William Waller being in part returned with a purpose to disturbe the Kings quarters and withdraw a part of the maine Army to inable Bristoll and Bath On the hils likewise he might expect to encounter Prince Rupert from Bristoll who fled thither with about three hundred horse presently after the discomsit in the North. But within a few dayes upon advertisement of the miscarriage and disaster of the Lord Generals Army he drew back and the rather having intelligence that the Prince had commanded Collonel Charles Gerrard out of Wales and the reliques of his own Army to break their way through our countrey into the Western parts These were reported to lie neer Worcester waiting there for a clear passe and by all means to escape Collonel Massie They were to take their course over Coltswold Hils or by the borders of Herefordshire to make into the Forrest of Deaue and thence over the River at Aust. Wherfore the Governors maine businesse was to prevent this this Conjunction and block up either passage In his retreat towards Gloucester he fell down before Berkely and lodged his men two dayes in the Town summoned the Castle and made shew of an assault but this was taken up in the way besides the intention of the designe and though the losse of six or eight men by their own folly gave Collonel Veale occasion of boasting yet for all the pretended great service in maintaining the place that was never attempted he was immediately after cashered that Government by the Princes order But before Collonel Massie drew thence he caused the boats to be fired at Aust passage and intending to passe over Seaverne at Frampton to meet Prince Ruperts Forces received an alarme that they were already in Gosse Lawne whereupon our marching Brigade hasted to Gloucester where they found that many of those troops under the command of Sir Marmaduke Langdale were newly come into Herefordshire and that a party of them joyning with Collonel Lingens horse had advanced within six miles of the City of spoil and plunder those Parishes that were joyned in one Association to a mutuall defence and the aid of this Government The Governor persued his designe drew forth towards the Lawne and stopped their course on that side Seaverne Where upon they took their course through Worcester where they obtained an additionall strength from Collonel Sandys his horse and Sir William Russels horse and foot with all the foot that Dudly Castle and those parts could afford them And now conceiving themselves able both in power and advantage of the march having as they supposed left Collonel Massie beyond Seaverne and too farre in the Reare to reach them resolved to break forth hoping both to passe clear and relieve Banbury in the way But the Governor being certified of their march forthwith conveyed his men over Seaverne at Tewkesbury and recovered the hils as farre as Stanway and got before them in the meane while gave notice to the Major of the Earle of Denbighs horse that lay neer Tewkesbury in Worcestershire who the Jame day brought up two hundred horse to joyn with our party on the hils Neverthelesse the Governor understanding nothing but that the Enemy was marched to Stratford upon Avon and so beyond his reach sent back the Foot almost tyred with tedious and continuall marches and with his horse resolved to joyn with Collonel Fines at Banbury But he found at the return of the Scouts that about five hundred horse neer at that instant got over the River on this fide Evesham and made their approach neer his quarters and that a party of Foot were left at the Bridge to make good the repasse one half of the Forces in the mean while lying at Evesham and the other neer Parshowe Our men appearing on the hils the Enemy took the alarme retreated suddenly and for a while lodged themselves beyond Worcester Their number was computed by such as beheld them to be about five and twenty hundred horse ill armed and the surviving part of the ruines of the Northern Army Again to prevent their incursions into the remote parts of the County beyond Seaverne a competent strength of horse and foot were commanded over and withall to attend the Enemies motion In the midst of this and other designes of consequence at that time depending the Governor with all the Officers of horse and foot were much distressed for lack of that support which the necessity of the service did require and the extreme want of the common Troopers drove them daily away Every performance in the whole course of this Government was filled with much distempers and though the exigence of the Souldier hath been great in many places yet the gleanings of other Brigades have been better then our vintage No Officer had any portion in the Contribution money no pay for the troops for many moneths together no allowance for Scout Spie or Intelligencer who observe onely the liberall and open handed nor the hopes of reward to incourage the Souldiers gallantry That the indeavours of the Governor in keeping together and increasing the Forces were nigh lost Neither was any means allotted to the supply of the necessary attendants and Officers of a marching Brigade And in the heat of service the nature and terms of the Governors command were disputed and t was very questionable whether
horse and foot were at hand had a large entrance subdued the Town in a moment and spared the blood of the surprised Souldiers But the dark and rainy night fitted the governour of Monmouth with the major part of the garrison for an escape over the dry graft We took one Major three Captains and divers inferior Officers threescore common Souldiers five barrels of powder and some arms but the Town it self was the best prize being the key of Southwales and the onely safe entercourse for the Kings Army between the West Wales and the Northern parts The taking of Monmouth gave a fearful alarme to the whole Countrey especially to the Earl of Worcester at Ragland Castle who raised the Countrey and called in Prince Ruperts horse to their assistance The Ragland Papists made the poore Welch believe that we came to put man woman child to the sword and filled their fancies with as many strange conceits of the Roundheads as the poore Spaniards had of the English after their revolt from Rome it being easie to perswade an irrational and stupid people Forthwith they appear in arms against us Wherfore two dayes after our entrance the Governor sent out a small party of Muskettiers commanded by Capt Rochford to quash the rising of the Countrey Our men find out the randevous with a kind of guard defended by Captain Gainsford with his ragged Regiment These upon the first onset were all put to flight ran an hundred wayes like a barbarous people were pursued by our horse about twenty knocked on the head and sixteen taken prisoners To revenge this losse Sir Will Blaxton with his brigade of horse joyns with the Countrey Trainhands and the forces from Ragland and Chepstow making according to the best relations five hundred horse and twelve hundred foot Of this preparation we were not advertised till they fell upon one of our horse quarters in a strong house neer Monmouth where we lodged two troops and by good hap ten Muskettiers to secure the quarters The house was made good by the resolution of Captain Bayly and Leift Page till the Major of the horse had drawn up the troops faced the Enemy whilest the Governor commanded out of Monmouth a hundred and fifty Muskettiers But before our foot could reach the house their horse drew thence encountred with a party of ours being recharged by Major Backhowse were beaten back to the foot By thistime our Musketiers were brought up and in the first charge put the Enemy to a confused running retreat slew seventy and wounded many took threescore prisoners Of the Officers a Major of horse and two Captains were slain one taken and Sir William Blaxton shot in the thigh But the pursuit had an early stop by a small river which the Enemy passed plucked up the bridge or their foot had been wholly routed and taken The prisoners that were of the Countrey people the Governor entreated kindly and after a few dayes sent them home by parcels and each man with a little note or letter directed to his master or the severall Parishes to signifie that the intention of the Parliament and the present government was not to destroy or enslave their persons or take away their livelihoods but to preserve their lives and fortunes to open the course of justice free them of their heavy burthens under the forces of Rupert a Germane Prince At the free discharge of the captives they began to resent the Governors humanity as before by the slaughter of their men they had felt the force of arms And the dispersed papers did in part undeceive the people and dislodge their fears our horse marching peaceably and doing no spoil or violence After the appeasing of the Countrey tumults the indeavours of the Governor were to reduce that people to a willing and cordiall obedience He dispatched many letters of invitation to the gentlemen of the Countrey and gave assurance to the best affected of his purpose to defend make good the Town But all were silent and not two valuable persons did own the businesse On the other fide they did not stir a foot at the summons of the Earl of Worcester and in confidence of the justice of this party they frequented our markets wheras at our first approach they drove away all their cattell into the remote parts of the county yet most of the gentlemen fled from their houses The greatest part of P Ruperts forces lie stil under our arrest in Wales where they decrease and drop away discontent and burden the Countrey between whom there arise perpetuall quarrels And the truth is even those people whose affections comply with the Kings designe could never correspond with the Souldier of that faction with whom there is no dealing for very friends Insomuch that the generall hatred of the souldier might drive in to the Parliament a moderate enemy and such as breathe a more cool spirit of malignity when the State shall reach out the hand to clear the way and make good the engagement Collonel Massie seems now to have spread the Branches of his government beyond the sap and strength of the root and the extreme parts grow burdensome to the main body He had neither horse nor foot to maintain what was gotten considering the strivings of the Enemy to repossesse themselves of Monmouth For which end the whole power of Southwales that is fit for the march under the command of Collonel Gerrard are come as far as Abergenny Vske and Ragland Sir John Winter must bring forth his master-peece to the world and once more assisted with four hundred from Bristoll purchased at a high rate and added to a hundred of his own men with all the aid Prince Rupert can send undertakes to fortifie Beachly The noised strength of the Enemy round about did contribute to the designe with all fiercenesse fince the want of a guard upon this passage did render all Southwales of little value And it highly concerned us to indeavour the preventing this project which threatned the ruine of the Forrest the intercepting of the passage between Gloucester and Monmouth and to render that garrison in great part uselesse The Governor had a hard game to play alwayes put upon desperate hazards without a sufficiencie to accomplish or make good For the case was questionable whether to desert Monmouth or seek to maintain it having no competent number for a Town yet unfortified generally malignant in an Enemies countrey at a great distance and with a difficult passe but that the wonderfull successe of Beachly twice fortunate determined the doubt The businesse was not capable of deliberation nothing but a quick dispatch had the shew of safety Gerrard was to be kept from joyning his fortes with these in the Forrest who when once fortified were not to be beaten out having all the advantages of Sea and land And although his Forces hovered about the Countrey pretending to fall upon Monmouth yet about midnight Octob. 13. one hundred
so neere Bristoll and farre from releife especially in the Winter Nor at that season could they draw off without a stronger Guard and Convoy To this end the Governour marched to Kingscoate with three hundred Horse and Dragoones intending to send a party to bring off that Garrison but receiving advertisement of a Regiment of Horse quartered that night in Sâ—dbury he fell downe thither where he found an enemy there arrived to the assistance of Colonell Gernard against Tate-House here he resolved to undertake them that night and had no sooner appeared at the Townes end but the first Guard fledde and our men marched into the Town one by one because of the enemyes baracadoes went up to the maine Guard consisting of forty Horse who being surprized daunted at the sudden entrance of our men and not confiding in their owne strength quitted the place and left the rest in their quarters most of which escaped on foote by the backe side of the Towne We tooke fourescore Horses many Armes twenty prisoners and of them two Captaines and the next morning brought off the forlorne Garrison In the depth of Winter when each parcell of the Parliaments Army had retired into London or the securer parts of that Association and the Kings forces were dispersed into the severall quarters Cirencester and the hill Country of Gloucestershire was assigned to Sir Jacob Ashley having the Command of three Brigades of foote and assisted with the Queenes Prince Ruperts Prince Maurices and the Lord Wilmots Regiments of Horse with others His designe was to destroy the Countrey and live upon the ruines thereof whose incursions on that side and the Bristoll forces about Berkely with the Worcester Hereford and Monmouth forces on the other side act something daily to the spoyle of a miserable Countrey which is left as the Kingdomes forlorne hope and croucheth daily betweene two burdens The distressed Neighbourhoode did seeme to challenge those severall Armyes then in being which lay rusting in their quarters to keepe the Associated Countyes where no feare was when they might prevent the ruine of their freinds and starve the enemy who live upon our fatnesse when they might hinder the Kings Recruits disturbe their Winter calmes and make them fight for the possession and enjoyment of their owne Territoryes But in the deepe silence of that part of the Kingdome these parts are borne downe by the maine Bulke of the Kings Army without the least inablement at present or the hopes of future releife The enemyes whole burden rests upon this Government Colonell Massie placed a Guard at Lypiat commanded a party of Horse and Dragoones to Strouds a place most exposed to spoyle and set Guardes of Horse at severall places of advantage These Guardes affronted Sir Jacob Ashley in the stoppe of Contribution and Plunder the indignation whereof drew him out of Cirencester with foure Regiments of Horse to Hampton Roade where he divided his men and sent them out three severall wayes to surprze our Horse in their quarters and plunder the Countrey Each party fayled of the designe through the favour of Providence to that well affected people At each Guardes some few that tooke the Alarme did encounter and stave off the enemyes first violence till the rest of a few slender troopes were drawne up and encouraged by the Governours fortunate arrivall from Gloucestershire at that instant charged and overcame a farre greater power which were also engaged to fight by their heavy plunder and difficult returne In the whole about eight or nine slaine and twenty of the best men of the Queenes and Princes Regiment taken prisoners and of these one Captaine and Cornet The successe did revive and engage the Countrey Yet after a few dayes Sir Jacob Ashley marched out of Cirencester with a greater power of Horse and Foote and assaulted the Guard at Lypiat in the absence of the Captaine that commanded there with instructions from the Governour to draw off if at any time an Army fell downe But the House being unfortifyed was soone taken and uncapable of defence where we lost a Lieutenant and fifty private Souldiers At which very time we had lodged three hundred foote within Muserden House sent thither the day before with orders to defend it as a Garrison who had no knowledge of the enemyes approach till they came within halfe a mile They remained in the House according to command but in no defensible posture neverthelesse expecting the Onset every moment The surprizall of these men was prevented by a meere accident of the Governours Arrivall who faced the great Body with no more then sixty Horse till the Foote were drawne off the Hills That the strength of the Kings Army should lie upon us was not strange but that no care was had of a competent provision for a deserving Country was beyond the conceit of them that beheld our misery The enemy were strong in horse and our few divided into so many parcells and swallowed up in the petty guards that no sooner could we drawe to the rescue of one side but the forces on the other hand fell on to the ruine of the poore people The Governor knowes no remedy but by daily shifting motions and becomes an Ubiquitary He can attempt no designe but first in his owne person faceth the Enemy on the contrary side and fills them with the alarme of his presence Sir Jacob Ashley sends Warrants for contributions to the gates of Gloucester The forces from Hereford were marched forth to Canon-Froome towards Lidbury whereupon the Governor advanced with a party of horse and foote as farre as Bosbury waiting for action but staied onely for a night having placed guards towards Worcester and Hereford in the most passible wayes for the Enemies approach and fell into one of their quarters tooke a Captaine and his Cornet with some common Troopers and fifteene horses the Enemy falling downe from Cirensester suddenly fetches home this party Whiles these things happened the Governour received a command from the Committee of both Kingdoms to attempt Campden House newly Garrisoned by the Kings forces under Sir Henry Bard and the horse of Warwicke and Coventry by command of the same Committee were to aide and receive Orders from him in the prosecution of this designe Colonell Massie tooke courage to resolve them of the incapacitie of that service for the present since it could not be done without greater losse to the State then the fortune of the action could countervaile for it was a worke of continuance that required our whole strength and that side of the Country from which we drew must be given up to destruction and the Enemy waited no greater advantage then to fasten the Governor upon a tedious enterprize besides the intendment was unvailed in all those parts that were required to send aide and before the Orders of the grand Committee came to his hand the London Mercuries had proclamed it to the world The Earl of Worcester the Lord Herbert and their
Agent Sir John Winter bestirre themselves to patch up the lingring life of the Garrison at Lidney and have procured from Prince Maurice at Worcester a regement of horse and dragoones by whose assistance he was confident to have beaten up our small guards in the Forrest and enlarge his owne quarters to bring the Forrest once more under his power to the destruction of the people and the great advantage of the Kings Army and Bristoll in speciall furnishing them with iron wood coales The reminding of so great a mischiefe to the Parliaments Service made the Governour carefull to prevent him and with an answerable number of horse and foote advanced into the Forrest towards Lidney where Sir John and his party got in before him But after a few small skirmishes to no valuable losse on either side the Governour set guards upon all the passages and imprisoned the Enemy in their own strong hold and again drew off the maine body in the view of the Garrison The Enemy observing his march and supposing the expedition for Gloucester sallied out upon Sully-House at a miles distance and a temporary garrison for the blocking up of Lidney In the instant of time the Governour returnes to this guard and understanding by the Scouts their neere approach drew out a forlorne hope faced and charged them retreated alittle and faced them againe with the exchange of few shot till the Enemy were brought up so high that they discovered our body Hereupon they make a sudden retreate our forlorne hope fall on and the body followes turned their horse to flight who forsooke the foote and left most of them to our mercy Here wee tooke one Captaine with five and twenty common souldiers having slaine a Captaine two Leiutenants and twenty sixe souldiers The whole action upon those forces from Worcester was performed onely with the losse of twenty horses and a few men surprized in their quarters which neverthelesse cost the Enemy the life of a Major The passages from Lidney are all guarded by our horse to starve those within and preserve the Forrest from their plunder The Governour having his hands and thoughts filled with these distractions was yet more perplexed by a fresh and unknowne engagement of Colonell Stephans in Wiltshire It happened that about this time the enemie had garrisoned an old but repaired Castle at the Devizes And to prevent the spoyle of the Country neere Malmesbury Colonell Deveraux had erected a garrison at Rouden House between the Devizes Malmesbury and before it was setled or well furnished with Ammunition and Provision it was set upon sorely straightened Colonell Stephens being newly made Governour of Beverston Castle was desired to give aide to the reliefe of the house and sets upon the service without Colonell Massies Order or knowledge in those his manifold preingagements wherefore hee advanced to succour the besieged with three Troopes of his owne Regiment and some Malmesbury foote and though he failed of a parry of horse to be sent from Colonell Devereux undertooke the businesse broke through the Enemy with much difficulty and hazard and relieved the house with provision and powder but failed in the concluding part for when he might with farre lesse difficulty have forced the way back through a troubled enemy he alighted unwarely and went into the house to refresh himselfe thereby giving the besiegers time to rally and to cast up a breast-worke before the passage that hee with the rest being foure hundred horse and foote were all cooped together and the poore besieged are most desperately straitened by this kinde of reliefe They without are five hundred strong the newes runnes to Gloucester and calls for helpe which had not needed had Colonell Stephens imparted the businesse to the Governour as he ought and waited to have set the Country in a posture on all sides to face the Enemy whose inrodes in the meane while were expected from each quarter They were already drawne out of Cirencester Farfard and Leehlade and keept their Randevouz on the hills by Cirencester From Hereford they stirre with a great strength on that side and in the Forrest those that are penned up in Lidney strive to breake prison Notwithstanding this at our first alarme the Governour sent his owne Captaine Leiutenant and threescore of the choise horse well appointed and all that could be spared unlesse he would ruine the Forrest and now the worke of releeving this place is made more difficult the Enemy round about being drawne together with a purpose to swallow them up or more gladly to fight with Colonell Massie at such advantage on the hills and farre from home yet the best face is put on a bad matter the threescore horse were to joyne with an hundred horse and dragoones from Malmesbury to breake through the Enemy and these added to the foure hundred and thirty within the house were conceived able to force a passage through the midst of the first five hundred But now a greater power are come up to the house at least three thousand men Sir Jacob Ashley did contribute much to the strength of the besiegers by draining his quarters at Cirencester whom the Governour could not prevent nor follow except with the losse of his interest in the Forrest onely he raised the Country about Stroudwater to face the Garrison of Cirencester our horse advanced up to the first guard and slew the Sentinell hoping by this alarme to draw backe the residue from Rowden House And though the weather dispersed and drove backe the Country forces yet such hopes did revive the businesse that two rainy nights might be an opportune and active season for Colonell Stephens to breake through and then which no greater could be expected Our second party of horse went on for Malmesbury to releeve the besieged at Rowden and by the way releeved Beverston Castle with Ammunition but came too late for the maine designe for the more potent Enemy had so strongly guarded the passages that the releefe of the house became desperate and they within presently surrendred upon quarter for their lives The Regiments of horse are much broken and reduced to an inconsiderable number the Enemy growes strong and a streame of ill successe flowes in upon us Colonell Hopton for whom the Governour procured a Commission upon his promise of raising foure hundred horse and armes at his owne charge without the helpe of the State or Country having got together about threescore horse and forty foote undertooke with these men to garrison Castle-ditâ—â— neere Ledbury in Herefordshire having neither order nor directions from the Governour who conceived the house not to be defended and required him to desist the enterprize the order is neglected But not many dayes after a party drawne out of Hereford had not lain before it foure and twenty houres but he with his forty foot and twenty horse were taken and carried prisoners to Hereford ere the Governor could come with releefe who lighted neverthelesse upon a
few straglers in the reare and tooke thirteene prisoners Meane while Sir John Winters releife lyes under the arrest yet so as we would gladly ridde our hands for the Guards set round his House to the safety of the Forrest did alwayes distract our designes These Horse are impatient of a longer imprisonment and after a sore distresse breake their way through our quarters into the utmost parts of the Forrest towards Chepstow and joyne with a partie of foote from Chepstow landed at Lancaught where they intended to fortify and to make good the Passe over Wye by which meanes they might issue out of Wales at their pleasure The place containes foure hundred acres having a very straight entrance Hereupon our severall Guards drew together and summoned the Country to aide and came up to the enemy who were divided in opinion one part held it meete to make good the passage the rest perswaded to draw out into the Field and fight These latter prevailed and for a while both parties faced each other Our men drew out a forlorne hope of Foote the place so requiring next unto these a forlorne hope of Horse and the rest were appointed for a reserve Their Horse violently charged our forlorne hope of Foote who were ready to give backe when our Horse came in opportunely and played their parts whereat the foote tooke courage and fell on all together and with one charge turned the enemy to flight that they killed few on the place but drove them up to the River side and fell upon the hacke in the pursuite and so cooped them up that few escaped their hands About fourescore were slaine of whom were Colonell Gamme and Colonell Vangerris of the residue some adventured the River to recover the Frigate many were drowned of whom Colonell Poore Governour of Berkely Castle but Sir John Winter and his brother with some few besides escaped onely of an hundred men from Chepstow and an hundred and fourescore Horse and Dragoones from Lidney House The remainder fell into our hands an hundred and twenty taken prisoners of whom two Leiutenant Colonells foure Captaines and divers inferiour Officers This was the last blow of three which Sir Iohn Winter received one in the necke of another These things happened about the time of the taking of Shrewesbury which called off the Kings forces from these parts Sir Jacob Ashly marched from Cirencester and Prince Rupert out of Herefordshire to releive his brother Maurice neere Chester The Governour was imployed in observing the enemyes motion but with a strength every day more slender having lost most part of his own troope with some peeces of others by an other miscarriage in fetching our Armes and Ammunition from Warwicke and in the Conveying of some Clothiers Packes of great value which were taken betweene Campden and Banbury through the misguidance of the Officer that commanded Neverthelesse he advanced into the neerer parts of Herefordshire with two hundred Horse and five hundred foote to startle the enemy or make some diversion supposing they bent their course to the releife of Westchester Here he found great multitudes of the Countrey people appearing in Armes but standing on their owne Guard and declaring themselves for neither side It was hoped neverthelesse they might be made of good use and the best affected of them gave Colonell Massie that satisfaction as was meete by whom he understood the condition of their engagements The Governour of Hereford sending for hay and contribution to his Garrison was so farre denyed by the Countrey that it came to blowes The people rising to resist some few men and as it was reported women and children were slaine and some carried prisoners to Hereford also some of the Hereford forces were taken by the Countrey men The next day the Alarum went throughout that side of the County and some parts of Worcestershire The people gather into a Body and march to Hereford Here they stayed some dayes with a resolution to have certaine Articles granted by the Governour of that Garrison The summe of their demaunds were to this effect that such of theirs as were held prisoners there should be delivered forthwith that satisfaction be given to the Country for the losse they sustained by plunder as also to the wives and children of those that were slaine that the Countrey might be freed from Contribution and all manner of Payment to the Souldier that since the present forces of Hereford were not able to defend the County they forthwith quit the Garrison and leave it to be kept by the Countrey who are able to defend the same and the whole County with lesse charge These and the like triviall passages did they discover to the world as it is wont to happen in such popular Commotions In the meane while severall Posts were dispatched to Colonell Massie at Ledbury and letters returned from him to them and in particular to some Gentlemen the cheifest and best affected These letters received by the Country people tooke well with some but the generall vote was that they needed not his helpe to gaine Hereford which they conceived would be delivered up by the Citizens whom they knew to be of one minde with them Other messengers came from them with intreaties to march up to Hereford promising concurrence in assaulting the Towne others would have him fall upon another Garrison at Canon-Froome The Governour made answer to the severall Messages that he desired to conferre with some of their best intrusted Gentlemen and Yeomen expecting meete security that either by Protestation or taking the Nationall Covenant they give him an assurance of their standing with the Parliament requiring them to cast off the enemy and receive orders from him to act nothing of themselves without the consent and approbation of Parliament without which engagement he could not joyne or act with them To this they replyed that they held it a thing of evill consequence and dangerous to declare themselves and they knew their ability of themselves to performe what they had resolved intreating him to march backe with his men giving assurance that they were our friends but could not declare for either side this act of theirs being a just defence against the unjust proceedings of the Committee and Souldiers of Hereford and to secure the Countrey from contribution and quarter The Governour makes answer to this resolve That the course they had taken was neither safe nor legall for it in this confused manner they should gaine Hereford it would doe them little service unlesse they were able to keepe it from the Kings Army and be able of themselves to beate them wholly from that side Seaverne that no incursion could be made on their Countrey from any part that they would distresse themselves without releife because their illegall way would not be owned by the Parliaments forces for though they have undertaken the preservation of the Kingdome yet they can give no protection to any that will not joyne with them in that way
which the representative Body of the Kingdome thinks fit For a third party cannot be in England And therefore they have no way of safety or justification in this action but a speedy declaration for the Parliament from whom they would finde security and protection and after assurance of fidelity a setling of the Countrey to their owne likings He gave them likewise to understand that the charge of the Parliament in maintaining the Souldiers and of the Countrey in contribution did thence arise that the people being disingaged in person might looke to their Husbandry declaring withall that the disunion of the Country not understanding their interest in the Parliament was the sole cause of the entertayning of Souldiers For had the whole Kingdome rose in time and expressed themselves of this opinion that they would stand up as one man against the Popish partie and enemy of their Countrey the worke had beene long since done But their drawing backe put the Parliament upon this way of raysing Armes upon their stocke and expence or the Kingdome must needs fall He minded them likewise that if they lost this opportunity of closing with the Parliament nothing but destruction would follow that if they closed with Hereford and composed the difference this compliance might last till Prince Ruperts returne and then they must looke to pay for this rebellion but if they purpose at last to fall in with Rupert it would hasten their bondage yet givethem no security This kinde of entercourse passed betweene Colonell Massie and the Countrey people meane while he drew backe to Rosse waiting the event of this commotion but not engaging himselfe amidst a promiscuous and doubtfull multitude He represented likewise to the Committee of both Kingdomes what advantage the gaining and disadvantage the losse of this opportunity might be to the whole worke that their expressions of their esteeme of himselfe and his gentle dealing with them were great that the weaknesse of his forces cheifely of Horse was the maine businesse that caused the Major Part to decline his invitation importuning them if they desired to gaine this partie as also a leading party to the whole Kingdome to send a considerable strength of Horse and if the forces saide to be intended had come to him when fifteene thousand appeared in Armes before Hereford and of them sixe thousand Musqueteers and some well mounted he had gained a full testimony of compliance with the Parliament and drawne them with ease to aide him against Prince Ruperts Army when they were in the moode so farre incensed and inraged And to compleate the designe a Recruite for the Regiments of Horse was necessary and that the Auxiliaries should bring along their meanes of entertainment for the sending of strength without money did more wound then heale us for the Souldiers challenge their pay or plunder And as it was hatefull to the Governour so the State of the Countrey would not permit him to spend his time in gathering contribution But for want of a just and due supply these men were lost to us and to themselves also concluding a peace with the Governour of Hereford and obnoxious and open to the Kings Army Hereupon Colonell Massie marched from Rosse and passed the Seaverne towards Berkely purposing to joyne with Sir William Waller who was noysed to be come into the Borders of this Countrey when the day before some of the Berkely forces had issued out towards our Garrison at Slimbridge but ere they could retreate to the Castle the Garrison forces fell upon them slewe twelve wherof one Captain an Irish Rebell and took twenty five prisoners whereof two were Captaines and one Leiutenant The Governour with his party advanced thence towards Chipping-Sodbury where Colonell Strange with a party of Horse began to fortify but upon the notice of our Advance retreated to Berkely No sooner had the Herefordshire men disbanded and returned to their owne houses but Prince Rupert falls backe out of Shropshire and comes upon them with his whole Army The noise of his Arrivall doth hasten the Governours returne to Gloucester who drew thence two hundred Horse and five hundred foote into the Borders of Herefordshire where many of the Countrey people resorted unto him some with fire weapons some with others but the want of strength especially of Horse render'd him of little capacity to preserve them The people having good desires but daunted with the greatnesse of the enemy and the slendernesse of our forces were wholly lost Sir William Waller was importuned to draw this way or to send a strong party which might prove of the greatest advantage to the Kingdome when the Princes designe was to lye on that Countrey to recruite his Army with men horses and money for the Spring action and the approach of the Parliaments Army and would not onely bring in the Countrey and make them firme to their service but disappoint if not destroy Prince Ruperts Army at that time the greatest in the Kingdome being a confluence of the forces of Prince Rupert Prince Maurice Colonell Gerard Lord Hastings Lord Ashly Sir Marmaduke Langdale These men beare all before them take mens Persons spoyle their Estates disarme the Countrey reape the benefit of the late insurrection and extract money by force and terrour from the poore people whose destruction as well as their late rising in Armes is wholly lost to the Parliament and serve onely to make up the enemies recruite The Princes impresse men in great abundance in Hereford Monmouch Worcestershire raise great summes of money get good store of Armes necessity in part casting them upon such ways of violence and coercive power And though the prest men were of suspected fidelity and lesse value and had often deceived them in the heate of battell yet they conduced to the sudden forming of an Army when the Kings Affaires grew desperate and thrust in with the old Volunteers made up the bulke of a great Body Thus both the strength and the ruines of the Countrey are left to the enemy when by the aide of twelve hundred Horse in the beginning of this insurrection the hopes of the businesse might without vanity promise the Parliament many thousand fighting men of all sorts besides those already in pay Sir John Winter the plague of the Forrest once more importuned the releife of Lidney House and obtaines from the Prince about two thousand Horse and fifteene hundred foot who breake in to destroy the Countrey and disarme the Inhabitants The Governour with what strength he can make marched to Wesbury and quartered within a mile and a halfe of the enemy and gave order to the Guards that beset Lidney that the foote be drawne off to the Garrison of Nast and Highmeadow and the Horse repaire to the Randevouze which was done without losse when the Forrest was full of the enemy He preserved likewise the lower parts neere the river but for want of horse wherein the enemy did abound could not without extreame hazard and
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
by the addition of two Troops from Newport-Pagnell the Auxiliaryes were in all three hundred and forty his owne so few weake and ill armed that he could scarce muster a hundred fighting Horse and those much discontented observing the rest in good equipage but themselves in the constant action of Souldiers naked and miserable These are imployed in attending the enemyes march to preserve the Countrey what they may yet they disturbe it with frequent Alarmes and sometims beate up the lesser partyes and upon sundry attempts tooke one Colonell divers Captaines with inferiour Officers and souldiers Sir John Winter despairing of longer subsistance and livelyhoode deserted and fired his house at Lidney having first spoyled the Forrest and so before hand with revenge By this time the Counties round about are cleared of the Kings Army and Colonell Massie received a larger supply of Horse from the remainder of Colonell Bher and D'albeirs Regiments commanded by Major Buller and thereby inabled to undertake some important Service Evesham was beheld as the most opportune and of greatest concernment in distressing Wor cester and establishing the Committee by Order of Parliament for that County Wherefore the Governour drew before it with five hundred foote from Gloucester and two hundred from Warwicke who belonged to the Worcester Committee with a strong able Brigade of Horse and in the name of the King and Parliament summoned Colonell Robert Legge Governour of the towne to make a speedy surrender of the Garrison with all Persons Armes Ammunition and Provision which he there held against the justice of them both or upon refusall to expect such justice as fire and sword would inflict And to this he expected a speedy answer Colenell Legge sent backe the Summons with this answer You are hereby answered in the name of his Majesty that this garrison which I am intrusted to keep I will defend so long as I can with the men armes and ammunition therein being nothing terrified by your summons I perceave you are a stranger to our strength and resolution further treaties will be troublesome Upon this returne the Governour prepared the designe and ordered to each Officer his charge in the storme The assault was to be made on each part of the towne The side that lookes towards Worcester was to be stormed in five places with one place at the bridge on the other side of the river The commanded parties of the foote were lead on by the severall Captaines and seconded by the Horse devided into three Bodies After the disposition of the designe and the night spent in Alarmes the Signall was given a little after breake of day when both horse and foote fell on together with life and heate in a furious assault broke up the Pallisadoes filled the grafts with faggots and other preparations made sundry passages recovered the workes and stood firme on the Parapet whilest the Musqueteers from within played furiously The foot having recovered the shelter of the ditch beate off the enemy got up by scaling ladders stood on the breast workes and some entred but were againe driven up by the Horse to the top of the workes where they stood firme and fired but after a while ready to be beaten off by the violent charge of the enemies horse till a party of our horse on that fide drawing up close and having a small breach made for their entrance fell in and beate off the enemy from that bul warke whilest another party made an entrance neare the Bridge And now they tumble over the works on all sides and charge up both horse and foote with equall gallantry bore downe the enemy and mastered the Garrison The conflict was hot and difficult for almost an houre and maintained by the enemy with much resolution The lives of the Officers and Souldiers were wonderfully preserved in that violent storme when each man was exposed to the hazard of the most daring enemy Of the Officers two onely wounded and ten private souldiers slaine and twelve of the enemy The prisoners taken in the garrison were five hundred and fifty on the list of whom two Colonells one Major thirteene Captaines with other Officers and Gentlemen reformadoes to the number of seventy Many Gentlemen and Officers that charged with the Governour acted their parts with courage and spurd on the valour of the souldiers The reserve of foot devided into three bodies to second the assaylants performed as became resolved men and the whole action was compleate according to the Idea Platforme of the designe The Evening before to keep off an approaching enemy from Worcester about a hundred horse were drawne out and kept guard five miles from Evesham faced a party of horse from Worcester whose hasty and distracted retreat gave such an alarme to the whole City that they fired foure peece of Ordnance before day and alarmed the Countrey round about when the Conquest was already secured and the Parliament Masters of Evesham This performance was the concluding honour of Colonell Massies government after his remove from the present command was resolved by both Houses of Parliament when the desires of promoving the publike service made him to hazard the fame of his former atchievements by the doubtfull issue of the last action Some dayes before hee had an honourable invitation from the Westerne Gentlemen and the same day that he entred Evesham received a Commission from the Lords and Commons to leade an Army in the West The Parliaments command found the Governour absolutely free in affection and choice willing to comply with their pleasures neither longing to stay nor eager of a change but in any place ready to spend his blood in the Kingdomes Cause if he might not spend it in vaine Neverthelesse the City and County of Gloucester did much resent it and something repine that their Governour should be snatched from such a people as had done much and suffered much in their fidelity and resolution without president considering the many assaults that had sacrificed their lives and fortunes in preserving this City and the Kingdome therein that had borne so much in the firing of the Suburbs in the burning of many houses neere the towne some by the Enemies malice and some by themselves for safety and the pressures of the Country under both Armies They cast up the consequence and concernment of the place being the Center Garden and Granary of the Kingdome the Blocke-house to the river of Severne and a barre to all passages betweene Worcester Bristoll and the Sea the stop of entercourse betweene Oxford and Wales the Key to open the passage upon the Welsh and their Frontiers and the locke and barre to keepe-out their incursions the onely refuge and safety for the Parliament party and friends in that part of the Kingdome and the Enemies sole hinderance from the command of the whole West Besides this they had strong desires of retaining their Governour having so long experience of his judgement to foresee dangers and care to
conscience of a selfe insufficiency the Souldier therefore began to acknowledge the remainder of power which did not appeare contemptible with the Kings Army Hitherto the City hath been lodged in the midst of many out Garrisons as the heart in the body but now it hath enough to doe in its owne safety and the remote parts must be pared off that a liberall nourishment might preserve and foster that place which was the seate and fountain of life unto these parts of the Kingdome Sudeley Castle was deserted the Garrison of Tewksbury which was defended onely with such slender Forces as Gloucester could spare out of its penury before the Enemy fell on the County was already surprised with feare both places could not be maintained when so great a power did urge and heare downe on every side Those of Tewksbury sent an expresse to the City to informe them of the State of their Towne and to request more aide likewise they dispatched Messengers to the Villages round about to acquaint them with the state of things and to try whether the Inhabitants would come in person or send in their Armes but there came neither the one nor the other and itwas resolved by the Counsell of Warre at Gloucester that the Forces Ordnance and Ammunition with all well-affected persons should forth-with repaire thither In the heate of this debate there came an invitation from Worcester by a Letter from Sir William Russell with intimation of conditions of Peace all which disposed that Towne to complyance with the Enemy Hereupon a Common Counsell being held and the Officers present 't was determined that the Gloucester order was to be obeyed The Towne thus deserted was willing to provide for its owne safety and chused rather to obtaine some reasonable termes of Peace then suffer it selfe to be quite ruined wherefore they drew up some Propositions to be sent to Sir William Russell yet before the dispatch they sent to Gloucester a second Message by the Minister of the Towne and an Officer of the Garrison with Sir William Russells Letter and their Answer These promised an early return but failing some houres of the time appointed in the meane while the Propositions were sent to Worcester This Message brought a countermand when there sprung an Alarum that Cirencester was regained and the spoile and prisoners recovered backe for this cause the Souldiers were detained a while but when the report was found untrue of themselves they began to quit the Towne In the Evening the Messenger returned from Worcester with the Propositions granted the subjection seemed unfortunate and dishonourable in them whose affections were engaged to this Cause neither did there appeare a meanes to prevent it for the transmigration of the whole Towne was impossible nor as yet did the condition of the warre require any such thing from one particular place for the Parliaments adherents as also the Malignant Faction did never at once forsake their habitations to be gathered into one body for a suddain conclusion but were brought peece-meale unto action and many lye under covert in the Enemies Country reserving themselves for future service Thus the people entertained gladly those conditions which though performed in part yet were a sufficient bondage did impoverish their spirits coole their zeale of Religion and lessen the former inclination to liberty after which by frequent changes under many Lords they became so feeble that they never durst confide in themselves to vindicate the Towne into its former happinesse but a long time remained averse to the fairest opportunities yea necessities of ingagement and desired an everlasting neutrality The deserting of this Towne encreased the forces of Gloucester by two hundred Foot and Dragoones and tooke off the feare of a greater mischiefe for though the quitting of the place caused us to resent our great distresse yet the taking thereof would have confounded our thoughts and hazarded the maine chance where the whole strength did not lye at stake The enemy breathed out threatnings many false friends sought cunningly to make us affraid the Country-men in generall were taken off who in their jocund beginnings still concluded on the Victory but never prepared for a blow that the whole businesse was dashed at one clap and especially when Cirencester was taken in which they did repose so much trust The issue discovered the weaknesse of the former proceedings in committing the whole fortune of the Country and the lives of so many men to such a poore defence and hazarding the maine rest where the strength of the game could not be managed Besides the Enemy had this great advantage in over-powring the minds of men who since their cause could not lay claime to justice nor themselves procure love sought to prevaile by terrour and by their late cruelties became dreadfull so that such spirits as wanted greatnesse of minde or strong fidelity to persevere did greedily comply with that Party supposing themselves secure from this side at least in respect of a deep personall suffering which supposals were grounded upon the Parliaments lenity and unto which peradventure they were bound that they might gaine affections in a voluntary warre The more zealous and active had no head under whom they might unite and grow strong the power of the Deputy Lieutenants was quite fallen a kind of command suitable onely to the infancy of Military affaires and the whole businesse was devolved on the Souldier whom the people then beheld as the professed servants of fortune and trusted not till after manifold experience so they sunke under the burden and gave up themselves to spoile and rapine The clouds gathered round the City the Enemy lay strong at Cirencester and Tewksbury our men were confined to the Towne walls the workes not halfe finished the Souldier within mutinous and desperate no monies came from the State and but small supplies out of the Country that the vilest mutineers were to be dealt with by intreaty their insolencies to be suffered with patience who tooke so great advantage by our extremity that their humours had a full vent and ran forth into incorrigible wickednesse the City was constrained to free quarter and great disbursements by way of lone and the Governour to use his skill in keeping together the male-contented Souldiers The Army raised in Wales by the power of the Earle of Worcester and his Son the Lord Herbert begins to appeare is designed for Gloucester and comes on at Coford in the Forrest of Deane three miles from Monmouth where Colonell Berrowes Regiment had made a kind of loose Garrison for the defence of the Forrest in an open Towne and with slender preparations Here the Welch fell on but their Officers with strange fury drove our party before them which was borne downe by their multitudes yet with a greater losse on their part divers Officers were slaine and with the rest their Commander in chiefe Sir Richard Lawdy Major generall of South-Wales of ours few slaine but Lieutenant Colonell Winter and some
manifest his desire of the peoples satisfaction and that things might bee carryed in a just and equall way ordered by the consert of a Councell of Warre that a Committee of Officers Citizens and Countrey Gentlemen should regulate the assessements of the Countrey according to their desires Some of which Gentlemen not long after were of the Committee for these Counties by Order of Parliament Moreover this Committee moved at a Councell of Warre for a further power to heare and determine such businesses as by the Governours speciall order should be referred unto them to examine upon oath and commit all such persons Officers and Souldiers only excepted as should offer contempt and this they enforced with these reasons 1. Because there was no Committee of Parliament then in being nor would any adventure such an undertaking in an oppressed and distracted Countrey and the necessities of the Garrison did admit of no delay 2. That this Committee consisting of Souldiers Citizens and Countrey Gentlemen would give satisfaction both to the Countrey men who payd their money when themselves were acquainted with its necessity and disposall and to the Souldiers who being privy to the receit of the money and the Countreys indigence might be contented with a slender entertainment that at once it seemed to prevent discontent in the Countrey and mutiny in the Souldier 3. That the Petitions of the Countrey pressed upon the Governour in such multitudes that a great part of his time which might be spent against the enemy to better purpose was taken up herewith or many persons must needs be exposed to injury and oppression 4. Because all course of Law from Westminster was then stopped not a Lawyer left in the Countrey no Court of Equity to relieve the oppressed or curb the extremity of the Law whose present want was not so much in setling estates and determining right as in providing for the support of the Garrison then like to be ruined of which the Kings partee had as great a confidence as before the Siege No Landlord could receive his Rent no intercourse of Trade between man and man whereby to enable them to pay taxations And for these reasons such an Order by the Councell of Warre was then assented unto In this the people never groaned under the Governours power their voluntary submission was a witnesse of his moderation And this authority had more of entreaty then constraint only the Sword had some influence of feare upon the injurious the proceedings of the Town-Court not suspended but sometimes entreated to forbeare upon equitable considerations And when the Governour began to observe some derogation from his intentions by this Committee he instantly sent a Prohibition T was never his thought to rule by the Sword but in a desperate case by the same to cut out a way wherein the rules of Law and Iustice might freely passe He was ever unwilling to take the charge upon him and by severall Letters requested the Parliament that the burthen of Government might be layd upon some other or if that charge must rest upon him that they would send down a Committee that might take off the former cares and permit him to look to the well ordering of his Forces for the safety of this place and to enlarge his quarters that the service here might not bee only to keep Gloucester but weaken the Enemy and beget friends daily to the Parliament Such was the face of Government within the City whilst the Enemy acted his part without and bore down by force on all sides From Hexeford Sir William Vavasour with about seven hundred horse and foot marched into Tewksbury with a purpose to garrison that Town A wide and open place not easy to be held by us who had neither competent strength nor time to fortify the Kings forces continually lying upon us Sir William made shew of setling the Garrison styled himselfe Governour of Tewksbury invited the Countrey with promises of moderation and candor in all his proceedings yet these Welch Forces had scarce taken up their quarters but received an Alarum from Gloucester by a party that went up in a Friggot And the common souldiers partly discontented with their Officers who had often deceived that innocent people and betrayed them to the Sword and partly repining for want of pay fell into a desperate mutiny forced their Commanders chose rather to be kild then to fight and constrained their flight out of the Town hasted over Vpton Bridge and did scarce look back till safe in their own Countrey and t was to be suspected that many late knocks had beaten out their spirits but chiefly that they were afraid of this Countrey ayre in which they could never thrive By this meanes the excrescence of Sir William Uavousors government was pared off and himself driven to retire into Hereford Neverthelesse we are cooped up with the enemies garrisons round about and wholly divided from the rest of the Parliaments Army Sudely Castle was maintained by the Lord Chandos a great stop to our entercourse with Warwick which was the only way of commerce with London that a Scout could not passe without extream hazard Berkley Castle was held for the King by a Scottish Captain and subdued the richest part of the County In the heart of the Forrest Sir Iohn Winter strongly fortified and defended his own House And now the enemy had put a garrison into Beverstone Castle resolving withall not to leave one strong house unguarded both to enlarge their own quarters and to stop our markets and contribution Our Governour began to look forth and first for want of quarters was enforced to send abroad his own Company which were placed in a defenceable house at Frampton upon Severn These were a stop to the incursions from Berkley and furthered the safety of that side of the Countrey An hundred and fifty Foot of Colonell Devereux his Regiment garrisond a strong house at Presbury within foure miles of Sudely Castle These sorely vexed the enemy in those parts did a little open the passage towards Warwick and the house proved a good resting place in the repasse Another guard was set at Westbury on the edge of the Forrest to affront Sir Iohn Winter a most active enemy and one chiefe Agent of the Popish Faction Sir Iohn assisted with the Lord Herberts Horse threatned us out of the Forrest and had made a passage over Seavern at Newnham to afflict those parts beyond the River Notwithstanding all this our small party by continuall action upheld their repute Some weeks after the raising of the siege the Governour marched with his two Troops and two hundred musketiers before Berkley Castle The musketiers faced and kept in the enemy whilst the Horse fell into the Countrey beyond to fetch in the persons of some principall malignants but in stead of them met with the Lords Herberts Troops and an hundred and fourty Horse besides which came to relieve the Castle Our Horse with some few musketiers fell upon
to secure themselves from spoyle and the souldiers violence Neverthelesse as the personall estates of all knowne delinquents within the reach of this command were seized and the profits of their Lands sequestred so these men were not to be ignorant or insensible of the value of their peace Concerning some the Governour desired the direction of the Houses yet granted Protections with strict provisoes onely to preserve their persons from the violence and their estates from the plunder of the common souldier for the advantage of the publique till a full conviction or the pleasure of the Houses were by themselves or their Committee made known And this he did according to the Parliaments undeniable justice and the example of other generall Officers As for the moderate offenders unlesse the state of things did require or permit their utter destruction he had no other way but to endeavour to make them our friends and confidents and since it was resolved they must live amongst us hee desired by love and gentle dealing to hold the way secure and open that they might imbrace the condition without discontent or feare and for these protections hee reserved nothing to himselfe but caused the moneys to be paid in to the publique Treasurer for the use of the garrison Neither was he sluggish in the spring of action but immediately fell upon another designe the surprisall of Tewkesbury by an unexpected onset For the enemy by the number of their men and the naturall strength of the place with the workes well begun were sufficiently provided to receive an expected and open storme and the Governour shun'd all desperate hazzards because he did not march with supernumerary forces but the maine strength of Gloucester Wherefore to deceive the enemy the foot were drawne forth at the West-gate bearing the shew of an advance into Herefordthire and the Horse kept their Rendezvouz and looked the same way But in the evening the horse came backe and marched through Gloucester towards Tewkesbury having first sent a guard to Upton-bridge while the foot came on beyond Severne The designe had taken effect had not the foot by their slow march or mis-guidance passed the houre which was breake of day for they came not before the Towne till an houre after Sunne rising when we were found not sit to assault a waking and prepared enemy To withdraw neverthelesse did seeme but a feeble businesse for such a faire body of horse and foot displayed before the Towne and carried before it the appearance of a baffle yet the Governour though naturally jealous of honour could digest such mis-fezance when the safety of his owne men required knowing that the opportunity of service would in good time cancell a mis-grounded ignominy and in his whole course whensoever the present exigence did not urge a greater hazzard neglected the hopes of those victories that could not be gained without the weakning of that party on which the maine rest did lie This party was presently sent over the River and marched toward Rosse to prevent the joyning of Colonell Myn now made Commander in chiefe in the roome of Sir William Vavasour with Sir John Winter and the Welsh forces as also to raise moneys for the garrison out of the remoter parts to enlarge our owne quarters engage the Countrey with us or to lie ready for all occasions of service There our horse and foot arrived with two pieces of Ordnance and found Wilton-bridge guarded by Captaine Cassie and thirty Musketiers from Gudridge-castle a party of our horse advanced upon them forced the River and got beyond them after some dispute beat off the guard wounded and tooke the Captaine slew many of his men and tooke the rest in the chase almost up to the Castle Our forces rested here a few daies and summoned the Countrey to appeare it being the Governours constant endeavour to adde daily friends unto the Parliament and to put the Countrey into such a posture that upon all alarms they might gather to an head for their owne defence and hereupon many came in and declared themselves by taking the Nationall Covenant Whilst the engagement of the Countrey was thus prosecuted some emergent occasions drew the Governour to Gloucester where he found a prisoner Captaine Oglethorpe Governour of Beverston-castle a man rendred odious to the Countrey by strange oppressions and tyranny and who lost himselfe basely being taken by some of our Scouts in a private house courting his Mistresse and when once taken not so high and sterne before but now as vile and abject By which meanes the Governour was made sensible of the weakenesse of the Castle but much divided in his owne thoughts whether to leave the Countrey that came on so fairely to a selfe-engagement and neglect the Contribution already levied but not payd in or desert the hopes of agallant service till at last considering the great command of the Castle that the gaining of it would free the Clothiers of Stroudwater from the bondage and terrour of that government might prove a great detriment and annoyance to the enemy in stopping or disturbing their passage from Oxford to Bristoll he turned his thoughts to the businesse put on and resolved to try for it Wherefore he drew from Rosse without delay and commanded his foot over Severne at Newnham passage whilst the horse marched through Gloucester the next day he came before Beverston and demanded the Castle in the name of the King and Parliament The Lieutenant that commanded at the first returne sent an answer of complyance farre from the language of a souldier and without one confident expression They quickly came to a parley and rendered upon conditions that both Officers and common Souldiers leaving their Armes Ammunition Bagge and Baggage should freely passe to whatsoever garrison of the Kings themselves desired onely foure Officers had the priviledge to take each man his horse So that without losse or danger we were possest of Beverston-castle to the great content and satisfaction of the Countrey round about 'T was lost unworthily on the enemies part who might have held it with ease Of so great simplicity was he conscious that commanded the Garrison as to aske the place whether our forces intend the next march expressing his doubts of Malmesbury and feare of being taken the second time Neverthelesse they required a conduct thitherward and were guard d along by two Troops of horse and that very day our forces fell before it Whilst the horse faced the Towne Colonell Massie sent in the Summons but this enemy put on the appearance of bravery fired upon the horse and Colonell Henry Howard Governour of the Garrison sent backe a resolute answer Thereupon our foot and artillery were brought up from Tedbury and within two houres drawne into the Suburbs and lower part of the Towne The foot broke their way through the houses till they came almost up to the workes and the onely place of entrance into the Towne which is built upon the levell of
Seaverne supposing the Earle of Essex at hand to assault the other side but were meerely deluded by a false Message from the Enemy with a signall accordingly given at which instant of time Prince Rupert arrived at Worcester By meanes of this deceit the Horse rush upon an Ambuscado when through the straightnesse of the passage first over a Bridge then through a narrow Lane neither the Reare could be brought up nor the Van make a Retreat 'T was an hot skirmish and performed with sufficient gallantry on our part by them that came up where persons of value were slaine and taken the rest wholly routed and fled in confusion farre beyond the reach of a persuite This Victory was of great consequence to the Enemy because the Omen and first fruits of the warre Upon this the Kings forces hearing of the approach of the Parliament Army immediately quitted the Towne so they shifted from place to place since their inconsiderable number would scarce allow them to erect any Garrison yet they encreased by their motion and quick dispatch gathered the strength of the Countries as they passed along and withall overcame the contempt of their small numbers and by frequent execution gained the repute of a Party not easily to be vanquished This they acted while the Parliament Army lay still or marched according to the slow paces of a greater Body The day after the Skirmish the Earle of Essex entred Worcester with his whole Power and there continued a moneths space sent forth severall Parties as the Lord Stanford to Hereford to prevent the Forces of South-wales whilst the King lay about Shrewsbury and raised himselfe to such an Army as was able to deale with and endanger that maine power raised by the Parliament After the famous Battaile at Edge-hill the first large field of bloud in these Civill Warres though the Kings Army was there much broken yet his strength increased and multitudes began to looke towards him as one at least-wise possible not to be overcome and in this strange confluence of men His Army seemed like that fabulous generation that sprung out of the teeth of the Cadmean Serpent buried in the earth The neglected Enemy becomes formidable and the Parliament Forces may desire their first advantage but have sufficiently learned that to give the first blow is not against the Law of a defensive warre the hopes of a subitaneous service are lost and the Kingdome is made sensible that their peace and liberty will cost much bloud Both the Armies begin to take up their winter quarters in the most defensible places and for the most part are setled according to the affections and ingagements of the people Colonell Thomas Essex marched into Gloucester with the Command of two Regiments of Foote as Governour of the Towne but as yet the Deputy Lieutenants had the sole Command of the County Foure weekes had not passed in this Government but Colonell Essex was commanded to Bristoll to secure and settle that City of so great concernment both by Sea and Land and at that time much distracted between the well-affected and malignant parties So it was that the Kings Cause and Party were favoured by two extreames in that City the one the wealthy and powerfull men the other of the basest and lowest sort but disgusted by the middle ranke the true and best Citizens Thus the present state of things had taught men to distinguish between the true Commons of the Realme and the dreggs of the people the one the most vehement assertors of Publicke Liberty but the other the first rise of Tyrannicall Government and the foot-stoole upon which Princes tread when they ascend the height of Monarchy In that City many of the rich men were dis-affected to reformed Religion and some more powerfull were conscious of delinquency others upbrayded themselves with their owne publicke disgrace and therefore did much distaste the waies of the Parliament and the needy multitude besides their naturall hatred of good Order were at the devotion of the rich men These therefore began to raise Commotions and hearing of the advance of the Forces from Gloucester flocked together after a tumultuary manner shut up the Gates but chiefly guarded that Port where they expected an entrance would be made and planted many Ordnance against the approach of our men with a full resolution to fire upon them They were expected in the Evening but Colonell Essex had intelligence of these preparations and from a Party within was directed that night to march to another Gate then neglected by the multitude that should be set open this was performed accordingly and betimes in the morning he entred the City with his two Regiments besides great numbers out of this County and in an instant surprized the mutineers and quashed the businesse without drawing of bloud The City of Gloucester was againe left naked till the Earle of Stamford marched hither with his Regiment of Foot and two Troopes of Horse from Hereford the Earle himselfe was commanded into the West upon his first arrivall but his Regiment designed for this City under the command of Lieutenant Colonell Massie first as Deputy Governour under the Lord Stamford afterwards with the power in himselfe which for the space of two yeares and sixe moneths continued an uninterupted and happy Government The providence of God and the felicity of the place so over-ruling that that Country which should endure the brunt fustaine so many violent shocks and beare up under the Kings whole Army should be defended by a Commander whose experience fidelity and valour with indefatigable care and industry might answer the expectation of so great a trust assisted with that Regiment whose very name proved a terrour to the Enemy and long enjoyed the honour of the most ancient Regiment in the Parliament Army though broken torne and worne out with extraordinary duty and service And because the meere pompe of Military preparations and the hopes of a sudden Victory being now past the warre hath put on a blacker visage and the sad effects thereof come home to these parts it is meete to expresse what was the state of the Country at that time The inhabitants of this County had openly engaged themselves in the State service nor as yet had they any thought of repenting though cast into the midst of an inraged Enemy Oxford is the Kings head Garrison Herefordshire possessed by his Forces upon the first removall of the Earle of Stamford into Gloucester Worcester hath already entertained a strength Wales rise on the Kings behalfe by the power of the Lord Herbert the Earle of Essex with his Army is drawne towards London the Parliament Forces in the West have their hands full and there remaine in these parts of the Kingdome onely two broken Regiments at Bristoll which was much distracted by intestine divisions and one Regiment at Gloucester so that the most slender Guard was left upon these parts where the Enemy resolved their chiefe game for the winter action And