and both marched in sight of each other a great Bog between only hindring their Engagement though the Cannon plaid on both sides Cromwel drew forth a forlorn to charge them leading them on in person and coming near their body one that knew the General fired at him with a Carbine but timerously which Cromwel observing called out and told him That if he had been one of his Souldiers he would have cashiered him for firing at such a distance This action of his was thought to have more of courage in it than discretion the Scots unwilling to ingage returned back to their Quarters Next day Aug. 28. the great Guns from the English Camp plaid hard upon the Scots and greatly annoyed them all which could not provoke them to fight but still kept within the protection of their Bog the English being in some want of provisions marched to their old Quarters at Pencland-hills and from thence with much difficulty to Muscleborough to recruit and then drew off their Forces quitted their Garrisons and marched to Hadington The Scots attending on their right wing fell into their Quarters with a resolute party and were as valiantly repulsed by a Regiment of Foot commanded by Collonel Fairfax Sept. 1. The Scots being advantagiously drawn up at the West-end of the Town the English drew Eastward into a fair and Champion ground fit for both Armies to ingage in but after several hours expectation of the Scots approach finding they would not follow them but only watched their advantage they marched towards Dunbar the Scots moving apace after them and at a pass attempted 〈◊〉 fall upon the Reer which the English perceiving faced about to fight them whereupon the Scots drew off to the Hills to endeavour to hinder the English at the pass at Copperspeth which they accordingly effected and then boasted they had the English in Essex's pound as King Charles the First had that General at great disadvantage in Cornwal in 1644. this pass being a place where ten stout men may obstruct the passage of forty thereby to hinder them from any relief from Berwick or perhaps to keep the English from running away so confident were they of victory being lately reinforced with three Regiments and from the Hills that incompassed this sickly remnant look'd down on them as their sure prey And indeed the English were invironed with all manner of apparent dangers their Forces were lessened their Bodies weakned with Fluxes their strength wasted with Watchings in want of drink always troubled with wet and cold weather and much impaired in point of courage two thousand at least being disabled for present service were sent to Berwick On the other side the Scots were stout and hearty in their own Country and upon advantagious ground and double the English in number they being six thousand Horse and sixteen thousand Foot whereas the other were but seven thousand five hundred Foot and three thousand five hundred Horse General Cromwel and his Council of Officers finding the Army unfit for further delays resolved the next morning Sept. 3. to force a passage through the Scots right wing or perish in the attempt and being in Battalia by break of day they fell unanimously upon the enemy with Horse and Foot who to hinder the English at a pass drew up all the Horse upon their right wing and valiantly received the Onset The word of the English was The Lord of Hosts that of the Scots The Covenant The English prest forward vigorously and resolved to vanquish or dye After one hours dispute the Scots were wholly routed the Horse fled and left the Foot exposed to all dangers who were most of them slain or taken prisoners the pursuit continuing eight miles from the Field of Battel Of the Scots were slain about three thousand and ten thousand taken prisoners many desperately wounded among whom were ten Collonels twelve Lieutenant-Collonels nine Majors forty seven Captains seventy two Lieutenants eighty Ensigns besides Cornets and Quarter masters with two hundred Colours twenty two Cannon several Field-pieces and fifteen thousand Arms. Those of Quality taken were the Lord Libberton and his Son the Lord Cromstown Sir James Lansdale Lieutenant-General of the Foot and divers others and the Purse to the Great Seal of Scotland The prisoners were so numerous that it seemed troublesome to keep as to take them so the General discharged near five thousand most sick and wounded the rest being about the same number were conveyed to Berwick by four Troops of Collonel Hackers Horse General Lesley escaped by flight to Edenburgh by Ten a Clock that morning the fight happened and carried the news of his own defeat to his Masters which so daunted them that Edenborough was presently deserted by its Garrison and Leith resolved to receive the Conquerors because they could not keep them out Sept. 7. Four Regiments of Foot marched into Leith where they found thirty seven Guns mounted on Platforms some Shot and Ammunition with store of Wealth The same day Cromwel drew the rest of his Army both Horse and Foot into Edenburgh without any loss save the Arm of a souldier taken off by a Cannon bullet from the Castle After which the Lord General sent a Trumpeter into the Castle to invite the Ministers to come and preach in their Churches which they refusing the English supplied their places He then caused a protection for Markets and liberty of Trade in Edenburgh and Leith to be proclaimed by Drum and Trumpet and marehed thence with his Army to Linlithgow leaving Collonel Overton with his Brigade behind and came within a miâ—e of Sterling from whence Cromwel sent a Letter to that Garrison expressing the Armies constant affection and tenderness to the people of Scotland which though hitherto ineffectual yet being so far advanced into their country desired them to consider of it and deliver up that place to the Common-wealth of England The Trumpeter that carried the Letter was met by a Gentleman on Foot with a pike in his hand who told him They would not let him come into the storm nor receive his Letter In the Afternoon came a Trumpeter from the Scots desiring release of prisoners to which Cromwel answered That they came not thither to make Merchandize of men or to make gain to themselves but for the service and security of the Common-wealth of England The same day a storm was designed upon Sterling but it not being thought practicable the Army marched back to Linlithgow which they fortified and made a Frontier Garrison being in the heart of the country leaving there five Troops of Horse and six Companies of Foot and Cromwel with the rest returned to Edenburgh where the General and Officers kept a Fast The Kirk party also about this time appointed a solemn Fast declaring the occasion of it to be 1. To humble themselves for their too much confidence in the arm of flesh 2. For the malignity and prophaness of their Army 3. For the plundrings and wickedness of their
all communication between the Loyal Gentlemen of both Counties wherein he had the assistance of Coll. Ireton with whom he here became first acquainted The King in opposition to the Association which the Parliament had settled issued out his Commission of Array which was first designed to be put in Execution by Sir Henry Connisby High Sheriff of Hartford-shire at St. Albans who thereby intended to have raised the County for the aid of the King but 〈…〉 about to proclaim the Parâ—lâ—â—◠〈…〉 he was prevented in his purpose who coming suddenly into the Town with a party of Horse surprized Sir Henry and some other Gentlemen of his Assistants whom he sent to London Prisoners to the great satisfaction of the Parliament who were somewhat disturbed that such an attempt should be made so near the City and thereupon they returned him the thâ—nks of the House and from this time lookt upon him as a person of Meric and Conduct After which he soon angmented his Troop to a Thousand many being willing to adventure their lives with such a fortunate Commander and about this time hearing that some Knights and Gentlemen were met together at Lowers-Tost in Suffolk the chief of whom were Sir John Petus Sir Edward Baker c. designing to have made a Counter Association in that County and Norfolk for the Kings service with indefatigable diligence he marches thither seizing and securing them all which was a fatal blow to the Kings Interest and Lyn Regis which the Royalists maintained being soon after surrendred was so great a discouragement to them that during the whole War they could never after find any opportunity to shew their affection to the Kings Cause The Associated Counties being thus firmly settled for the Parliament Cromwel was made Lieutenant-General to the Earl of Manchester who had a separate command of those Associated Counties and was now ordered to march Northward with those Forces and join with General Lesly and the Scots assisted by Sir Tho. Fairfax for reinforcing the Siege before York then beleaguer'd by Lesly In his march he blocks up the Garrison of Newark and meeting some of their party at Grantham he charged them with such fury that though much superiour to him in number yet himself marching in the Van he soon put them to flight Having thus made a quick dispatch at Newark he proceeded to York in which the Marquess of Newcastle had put the best part of the Kings Forces The King having had an advantage against the Earl of Essex at Lestichell in Cornwall sent away Prince Rupert as General with a very powerful Army to raise the Siege of York which he judged to be of great Importance the three Generals Lesly Manchester and Fairfax drew off their Forces from the City to fight him as knowing if they got the day it must surrender to the Victor without blows The Prince having notice of their raising the Siege sent some of his Troops towards Hassam-More to face General Lesly and his Scots but in the mean time enters into York with two thousand Horse and all Provisions for their relief after which he resolved to fight the Parliamentarians though much disswaded by the Marquess of Newcastle knowing what hazard the Estates of the Kings Friends would run if he should miscarry and that upon the fate of this Battel the gain or loss of the North depended However the Prince pretending to march to Tadcaster Lesly with his Army followed him but returning again suddenly to Marston-Moor he takes what advantages of ground he thinks fit and Lesly soon coming up the Generals Marshall'd their Army in the best order they could for the shortness of time Fairfax and Leslies Horse making the Right Wing and the Scotâ—h Troops and Manchesters the Left under the command of Cromwel which charge was that day committed to him the Foot making up the main Body The Armies being drawn up in this form the first Onset was performed by Prince Ruperts Left Wing with such fury as they broke the Parliaments Right and persuing their advantage with much Vigour the Earth was soon covered with the slain In the mean while Cromwel being in the Left Wing and ignorant of the misfortune of the Right with much Courage ingages the Princes Right Wing which quickly altered the Scene of Affairs and snatch'd the Victory out of the Princes Hand who seemed in probability to have obtained it for the Lord Fairfaxes Forces were totally dissipated and beaten out of the Field when Cromwel with his Troops fell on with such Resolution that he routed the Prince and his reserves and with the same Violence charged the Marquess of Newcastles Foot who yet stood till the Field was almost cleared and then were forced to give way to the number of their Enemies there were many slain especially in the persuit and Cromwel he obtained the Name of Ironsides from the Impenetrable firmness of his Troops which no force could separate or break It is thought to be the bloudiest Fight that happened during the War it being judged near ten thousand men were slain on both sides Upon this defeat Prince Rupert and his Followers charge the miscarriage upon the Marquess of Newcastle and he again upon them who thereupon left the Kingdom The consequence of this Victory was the rendition of York which being now afresh besieged and despairing of succour Sir Thomas Glemham the Valiant Governour was obliged to deliver it up This success raised Cromwels reputation higher still and the Parliament at Westminster were extreamly pleased with his Courage and Prudence that when he saw part of the Army routed yet with an undaunted presence of mind he took occasion from thence to animate his Souldiers to the more vigorous recovery of the Victory even when the Scots had timorously left the Field and of whom for this and other reasons he had no great opinion afterward Several other Exploits he was ingaged in both in the North and West even before he had any considerable command for while he was in the same quality under the Earl of Manchester he was ordered to return to the North to oppose the King then marching triumphantly from the West after the defeat of Essex who having been unfortunate in his Enterprizes Cromwel this successful Commander was joined with him who at the second Battel at Newberry about four months after that at Marston-Moor was favoured though not with a compleat Victory yet with such good fortune that where his Troops were the Royalists gave back with so much precipitation as greatly endangered the Kings person had not the Earl of Cleveland interposed and with much hazard prevented the persuit The War still continuing with much bloodshed and no period in probability like to be put to it the Parliament apprehended want of Conduct in some of their chief Commanders and therefore resolved to new model their Army and that no offence might be given to any of their own Members by being discarded they pass the self-denying Ordinance so
Prince Rupert and the Van of the Army were and a Council of War being summoned it was resolved on as being the Kings opinion that to secure his rear they should march no farther North but presently give the enemy battel depending much upon the Valour of the Foot who were lately animated by the plunder of Leicester This advice was followed though most of the Officers were for staying till the Lord Gorings Forces came up but the King being much stronger in Horse doubted not of success and the other were as ready to ingage so that both agreeing in discord a large Field near Naseby was the place chosen by both parties for the Stage of this woful Tragedy wherein Fathers fought against Sons and Brothers gave death to each other all obligations of kindred and friendship being laid aside occasioned by that unnatural spirit of division which Heaven for our crimes had sent amongst us The King had Intelligence that Fairfax for fear was retreating to Northampton but found it a mistake he being then imployed in marshalling his Army in Naseby field and waiting for his coming Cromwel and Whaliey commanding the right wing and Ireton the left The Kings front was composed of a gallant body of Horse the foot made a second body the right wing commanded by Prince Rupert and Maurice the left wing by Sir Jacob Astley and the Lord Langley commanded the Northern Brigade of Horse other ancient commanders who having been in the Low-countries having their several posts the King himself being Generalissimo These being drawn out with the reserves took up the whole bredth of the field The Parliaments foot made a firm body in the midst commanded by Major General Skippon secured by the Horse on each side Prince Rupert charged first with such fury upon Ireton notwithstanding their valiant resistance that the left wing which he commanded was utterly routed and his men put to flight and driven upon the Kings foot of which Ireton was wounded in the Thigh with a Halbert and kept prisoner during the fight and the field eleared on that side the Prince persuing them through the Town and then sell upon the Waggons where being repulsed he lost so much time that Cromwel and Fairfax who had not yet stirr'd from their ground but with short speeches and ejaculations were encouraging their men came up and Cromwel clapping spurs to his Horse charged clear through three bodies of Langdales Brigade and utterly routed them never ceasing till he had beat that whole wing of the Kings Army from their ground without any possibility of rallying so that having as it were raked the field before him dividing the Horse from the Foot they were rendred useless to each other In this encounter one of the Kings commanders knowing Cromwel advanced briskly before the head of his Troops to exchange a single bullet with him and was with the like gallantry encountred by him both sides forbearing to come in till their Pistols being discharged the Kings Officer with a slaunting back blow of a broad sword happened to cut the ribbon that tyed Cromwels Murrion and with a draw threw it off his Head and now ready to repeat his stroke Cromwels party came in and rescued him and one of them â—lighting threw up ing and a little 〈…〉 at the chance 〈…〉 the wrong way on his head and so fought the rest of the day which proved highly fortunate to his side though the King managed the fight with much magnanimity and expertness and exposed himself to several threatning dangers in the Field The Horse being separated from the Foot as you heard fled toward Leicester Cromwel sent some few Troops in persuit to prevent their rallying and himself in the mean time joyning with his own foot so incompassed the Kings Infantry that notwithstanding the courage they had shewed that day so that their very enemies admired them yet being tired and hopeless of relief seeing death on every side they laid down their Arms and beg'd for Quarter This memorable Battel was fought June 14. 1645. The Parliamentarians word was God with Us. The Royalists God and Queen Mary and the success of it gave an absolute and undoubted Victory to the Parliament there being almost five thousand prisoners carried to London the Kings Standard and a hundred other colours were taken with all the Ordnance and a very rich Booty a great quantity of gold and silver and all the secret Letters of the King which were carried to London and publickly read before a great Assembly of Citizens where many Members of Parliament were present and leave was given to as many as pleased or knew the Kings hand to refute them if they were counterfeit But so few were slain in this fight that a Reader may justly wonder how so many prisoners should be taken and so much wealth gotten with the loss of so little blood for on the Kings side scarce four hundred were slain and on the Parliaments not an hundred and herein particularly the Kings dammage appeared very considerable that he had lost a brave Army lately heightned with success by the taking of Leicester and that there seemed no possibility of raising another the Victors prosecuting their advantage with so much vigilance and impetuosity for marching to Leicester it was soon delivered to them where Fairfax leaving a Garrison resolved to hinder the King from recruiting himself and followed him so close marching Westward both in persuit of him and to raise the siege of Taunton which had been a great while blockt up by the Lord Goring and held out to admiration but upon the approach of the Parliaments Army the siege was raised to their great joy who still persue Goring and overtake him near Lampert where they ingage and put them to flight but Cromwel would not suffer part of the Horse to persue till being all come-up together he himself led them on with such notable conduct that most of the foot were made prisoners and almost all the great Guns taken From hence he marched to Bridgwater which though of considerable strength and defended with much courage yet is soon taken by storm for Sir Tho. Fairfax sits down before it and after summons assaults the Town very desperately gaining the lower part thereof and then sends a second summons telling them That their denial wrought no other thoughts of compassion in him but only to Women and Children who might suffer by the Governours obstinacy Whereupon divers Ladies Gentlewomen and Children came out of the Town and then a second assault was made so effectually that the Governour capitulated and surrendred it there being a thousand Officers and Souldiers prisoners forty four barrels of powder fifteen hundred Arms forty four pieces of Ordnance and four hundred weight of match About this time a sort of people armed themselves in the West and took upon them the Name of Club-men declaring that they would permit no Armies to Quarter within their bounds and were so hardy as to make terms with
a Military life could hardly be reduced to their former Imployments Our new States-men to prevent any ill humours that might gather among them resolved to make them serviceable to their Country in the reduction of Ireland all that Kingdom except Dublin and London-derry being in possession of the Irish which neither were able to hold out without speedy assistance from England This Rebellion the most barbarous and bloody that ever happened upon earth acted by Devils in humane shape rather than men butchering two hundred thousand protestants in eight weeks space without the least offence or provocation given or without sparing of age or sex was perpetrated Oct. 23. 1641. and though contrived so secretly and acted so furiously yet was Dublin wonderfully preserved to be a refuge to those poor protestants who escaped the rage of their bloody persecutors Many of them fled to England but found little relief for here all things seemed to forebode the re-acting the same Tragedy yet in the midst of the differences between the King and parliament it was agreed to send some Regiments thither if possible to hinder the progress of those Assassines but this relief was so small that it had no effect for the King finding the parliament prevail against him recalled those Troops from Ireland many of the Rebels coming along with them to his assistance so that this Kingdom lay more exposed to these bloody Wolves than ever and thus they continued for some years But this new state having renounced Monarchy and Episcopacy resolve now to use the same Instruments to recover Ireland and to that end they ordered an Army to be sent thither The Marquess of Ormond was made Lord-Lieutenant by the late King and the Rebels had made a confederacy among themselves and upon condition to have the free Exercise of their Religion and divers other ample priviledges and advantages which the necessity of affairs obliged him to yield to they joined their Forces to his being also assisted by a considerable number of others raised by the Earls of Castlehaven Clanâ—ickand and the Lord Inchiquin so that they were the greatest united strength in that Kingdom but the confederates having broken their Articles with the Lieutenant and being ready to besiege Dublin which he was not able to defend rather than it should fall into the hands of the Irish papists he surrendred it to Collonel Jones for the parliament and came over to the King who was then carried from one place to another by the Army and from thence he went over to Prince Charles then at Paris But the Confederates surprized at the great preparations made against them in England sent Letters to the Prince humbly intreating him to send back the Marquess of Ormond with an absolute promise to submit entirely to the Kings Authority and to obey his Lieutenant At their request he returned into Ireland about a year before Cromwel came over and with their united Forces they had reduced the whole Country except London-derry commanded by Sir Charles Coot and Dublin the principal City wherein was Collonel Jones with no great strength and who was very jealous of the sidelity of his own men that often deserted and went over to the other party The Irish confederates with an Army of twenty two thousand men lay under the very Walls of Dublin and sent divers threatning summons into it requiring a speedy surrender but they had no effect upon the valiant Governour Jones who yet not insensible of the great danger he was in sent many earnest Messages to the parliament of England to aid him with all speed with Men and Ammunition or else all would be quickly lost and they knowing the difficulties of his condition hasten their assistance to him gave order for sending thither Iretons Scroops Hortons and Lamberts Regiments of Horse with Hewsons Deans Ewers and Cooks Regiments of Foot and five Troops of Dragoons all old tried Souldiers that feared no Enemy and led by victorious commanders with some other Regiments new listed to make a number sufficient to effect the business Nothing was now wanting but a General to command this gallant Army which the parliament being sensible of Cromwels conduct and fitness desired him to accept which he readily did declaring at the same time That he did not doubt but God would use him as an Instrument to execute his vengeance upon the bloody Irish with which answer the parliament were so pleased that instantly they give him a commission to be General of all their Forces and Lord Governour both in the Civil and Military affairs of Ireland and Collonel Jones was made Lieutenant-General of the Horse After which they march to their Rendevouz at Milford in Wales and July 10. 1649. Cromwel set forward from London in a Coach and six Horses attended with many of the House of commons council of State and principal Officers of the Army with a Life-Guard of fourscore who had been lately commanders very gallantly accoutred In this state he march'd to Brainford where these Gentlemen took their leaves with wishes for his happy success from thence he rides post to Bristol to put his men and Train of Artillery into the Transport-ships and afterwards goes into Wales having sent Reynolds Regiment of Horse and Venables and Monks Regiments of Foot before from Chester who with a fair wind soon arrived at Dublin to the great joy of the Inhabitants being about three thousand in all who were very careful to recover them from the fatigues of the Sea in hopes by their means to recover their Liberties And in this they found themselves not mistaken for Collonel Jones much animated with these recruits resolved to attack the besiegers with the first opportunity and accordingly Aug. 2 when the Irish with a strong party of Horse and Foot marched with much assurance to Baggor-field a little way Eastward from the city toward the Sea from whence they designed to run their Trenches towards the Works of the city to prevent the landing any more supplies from England the besieged sound a necessity to prevent them and with twelve hundred Horse and four thousand Foot fell upon the Enemies new Works and rout their Horse at the first encounter most of the Foot being also either kill'd or slain consisting of fifteen hundred besides their Horse which so incouraged the English that they pursued their victory to Rathunines where the Marquess of Ormond with his whole Army of nineteen thousand men were Incamped who hearing of it wished they would come that he might have some sport with them he soon had his wish but the sport was somewhat rude for in a short time his Army was utterly put to the rout four thousand being slain upon the spot and in the pursuit and two thousand five hundred and seventeen prisoners most persons of Quality with the Marquesses own brother all their Cannon and Ammunition with a wealthy Camp became the reward of the conquering Souldiers who made themselves Gentlemen with the spoils of the