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
a leaguer proceeded from the desire of saving their foot with this presumption that there was no power to raise the siege which confidence deceived them till too late for their foot after those many knocks and the first fury spent were not so capable of the service without the help of many tedious preparations Wherefore besides their mine and battery they framed great store of those unperfect and troublesome engines to assault the lower parts of the City Those engines ran upon wheels with planks musket proof placed on the Axel-tree with holes for musketshot and a bridge before it the end whereof the wheels falling into the ditch was to rest upon our breast works Our reliefe seemed slow and the straitnesse of the siege debarred all intelligence Only two Spies which we sent out returned from Warwick and brought newes of the advance of the Lord Generall The report of his Excellency who then lay under a cloud did give no great assurance The truth is the sense of the depth of our distresse did not reach us Sir William Waller upon whom the Citizens of London cast their favour had not the reliques of an Army The Generals Army crumbled away the malignants of London fomented tumults in the City and insurrections in Kent distracted the businesse The house of Lords voted a treaty with the King the house of Commons debated the matter The resolution of Gloucester turned the stream whose succour was resolved upon as the Kingdoms safety The recruit of the Army was too slow for the service The London trained Bands or none must relieve us but could not agree who should undertake the businesse Essex was not favoured but the more prudent saw that he must be the man That none might decline the service upon whom the lot fell the shop windows were commanded to be shut up and trading for a time suspended The expedition was hasted in every pulpit carried on with continuall fasting and prayer an Army was framed in an instant and marched with incredible swiftnesse Prince Rupert with the greatest part of the Kings horse drew from Gloucester to retard their march but still appearing in the Van did no more then drill them along The enemy stayed before us till the last houre judging every particle of time a great advantage not knowing what a moment might bring forth They within not satisfied with the former intelligence sent out two other Spies with a double signall first one fire on the side of a hill to signifie their escapes and two fires on the same place if they heard good newes which latter was accordingly performed and beheld by us The fifth of September was appointed for a publike Fast to be kept by such as might be spared from labour This day we discovered their carriages marching from the leaguer and their horse and foot marching after yet we were not confident of the raising of the siege till the men were drawn out of the trenches and the reer-guard fired their huts We then perceived that God had sent a deliverance and that in the close of a solemn Fast as a gracious returne of prayer This evening the Lord Generall came to the brow of the hills seven miles from the Town and fired a warning piece but by reason of the contrary winds the report was not heard neither did the newes reach us that night Wherefore we did not venture upon the Reere of the enemy with our slender and wearied forces but kept as strong and watchfull guards as any time before presuming that reliefe at hand had raised the enemy yet suspecting that in point of honour they would attempt something worthy of a Royall Army But abiding before us to the last extremity they were driven away with great confusion after so many vowes of victory and revenge when their mines batteries and engines were in readinesse This hurry preserved the Countrey from injury which by them was devoted to ruine His Majesty was forced to leave the Town behinde him and constrained to a tedious march in that tempestuous rainy night their carriages were not got up the hills till the next morning which distraction was not known to us and the Generals Army was tired with long and continuall marches The admirable care of providence was beheld in the season of our reliefe when all things were prepared by the enemy for a generall storme our ammunition consumed but three single barrels of powder left in our magazine and not so much more elsewhere in the little harm done by their Cannon and Morter-pieces that sent amongst us so many terrible messengers Our lost men taken or slain did not amount to the number of fifty and of these but two Officers were slain Captain Harcus and the Governours Ensign yet we killed of the Enemy who never ventured an assault above a thousand men by the lowest confession The King expended much in Ammunition Engines and keeping together the discontented Souldiers besides the losse of his pretious time in that full tyde of Victory Here was a bound set to the swelling of those proud waves and the rock that split that Army when the Queen was sayd to be transported with passion because her counsell was not followed who advised the King to wave Gloucester and advance for London whilst the Parliament had no Army in the field the number of Malignants in the City did equall the rest began to rayse tumults and the actions of State were unresolved This City diverted the enemies thoughts from that rare opportunity which not so conscious of the Kingdoms weaknesse held up beyond reason and gave a breathing time to the State to effect its own reliefe Great was the failing of the Kings hopes in this defeat who by the gaining of this town would have held an undivided uninterrupted command and the granary of the Kingdome in the heart of his Country on the West bounded with the Sea cleare through the middle of the Land to the Northerne parts where also the Earl of Newcastles Army prevailed and in breadth reaching from the utmost Wales to the London Association and backed with Ireland with whom an Accommodation was then preparing Neverthelesse the raising of the siege was but an unperfect deliverance The successe of the Generals Army with the supply of our wants were to make it compleat For the enemy continually lay at our doores commerce was clean taken away and we farre distant from the fountaine of future supplies Wherefore during the stay of his Excellency parties of horse were continually sent abroad to fetch in provisions out of the Enemies quarters and Malignants estates The Granary was quickly filled The Generall left three Culverins forty single barrels of Gunpowder and set the Garrison in order The London Train-Bands and Auxiliaries supposing the work already done and the date of their Commission expired earnestly contended homewards yet must they break their way through the Kings Army and give him some further blow to secure and perfect the reliefe of this Garrison for
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
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
of the service assented to constant intercourse and assured him that none but the Lord Digby should be privy to the Design Captain Backhouse drew the modell of the plot in this following Letter to Mr Stanford SIR YOV desire my conceit in proposall of particular Propositions and of my Reward To both which I shall thus propose unto you to present to more mature judgements Whether I may not by drawing out my Troop in an evening as I can doe at any time meet with your forces and bring them in at the gate on the sudden in a moonshine night and so master the first guard which may easily be done and not discerned till too late my Troop being above three score who may be all in the reare and at your mercy though I my selfe shall lead in the force which cannot give the alarme in the night so soon as to prevent the designe Whether if I perswade the Governour with a strong party of Horse and Foot upon some designe to lie out all night eight or ten miles distant from the Garrison as I know I can doe and I my selfe stay at home in whose absence you may safely advance in the evening to the Towns side when I can come out to you and so bring you in under colour of our owne forces Whether if I finde out a place stenderly guarded and somewhat easie to come in at I may draw off the sentinels upon some pretence as I can do being known unto them all and there direct your entrance Whether if I send for hay and give you notice of the very time of its comming in which must be in the night I may not after the Carts bring in some men as Carters who may have snaphance muskets in the Carts and some Dragoons to fall in in the reare of the Carts who may master the first guard and possesse the Ordnance there and so let in both Horse and Dragoons who with such Ordnance may march through all the streets in the Town These severall wayes I propose for the present but I conceive that those who have been versed in the taking of Towns may make more choice of Propositions any of which if I apprehend it feazible I shall gladly undertake or render a reason of my dislike As for my reward I am right sensible of how great concernment the businesse is to your side and although it be utterly against my spirit to indent before hand especially with such gallant and noble personages But the straits I have beene put into for lack of money having received no pay for my selfe from those whom I serve and my estate and charge bids me look to that I shall expect two thousand pound to bee secured two or three hundred whereof I shall desire you as my friend to procure in hand that I may bee enabled to beare up my port and credit especially among the common souldiers and Vnder-Officers of the Garrison to whom I must be open handed and engage affection that they may be ready at my call Secondly to engage mine owne Troop and to binde such unto me with a silver cord as I shall finde fittest for my purpose and withall plentifully to reward the entercoursers between you and me that they may execute our commands with all celerity and trust This I leave to your consideration and mannage and hope that ere long we shall meet to discourse it when all the world shall not know R. B. These Propositions are sent to Oxford entertained by the Kings Cabinet-councell the Lord Digby becomes the great undertaker and ratifies the proposall of Captaine Backhouse in the following Letter SIR You having so farre declared your desires to serve His Majesty unto my very good friend Master Stanford I thinke it fit you should now receive some more authentick assurance of His Majesties gracious acceptance thereof then perhaps you will thinke his bare assurance to be Therefore I doe here solemnely engage my word unto you both as a minister of State and a Gentleman that if you shall performe faithfully what you promise there you shall punctually receive immediately after such a pardon as your selfe shall desire and the summe of two thousand pounds As for the three hundred you desire in present such a confidence I will have in your word that as soon as ever I shall have received your answer to this under your hand it shall be forthwith paid into whatsoever place you shall appoint or to what person As for the particular waies of effecting our designe those you propose are very rationall but the choice and disposition thereof must be between you and those that are to execute it with whom if it were possible you should procure a meeting at some unsuspected place I doe propose unto you the choyce of severall men and whom of them you shall like best and thinke fittest by reason of the place where his command is to him alone and to no other the businesse shall be imparted whether Sir William Vavasour commander in chiefe of the forces now in Gloucestershire or Colonell Myn Commander of a brigade of the English that come out of Ireland or Colonell Washington who is at Evesham or lastly whether the Governour of Berkley-castle As soon as you shall send me an answer you shall receive satisfaction from him who hopes you will so behave your selfe as to make me Your assured friend G. D. Here this degenerate Lord sels his honour and betrayes the esteeme of gallantry by promoving and engaging himselfe to reward the vilest treason and to insinnate himselfe into the close workings thereof when many brave spirits out of their abundant justice have disdained the proffer of so base a service And herein did hee derogate from the repute of an able Statesman in relying upon the doubtfull expressions of an unknowne person and whose condition could not invite any of the least ground of beliefe Hereupon a correspondency was held with the Lord Digby unto whom Backhouse made his reply that his Lordships directions suted with his owne former proposals made unto Master Stanford to wit that the Commander of the forces to be imployed herein must be conscious of the designe and as touching the choice of a chiefe actor on their part he conceived Sir William Vavasour the fittest man because he was neerest the businesse his men lying at Ledbury when the rest were more remote and of inconsiderable strength as also because he had the best advantage to make his approach undiscovered there being no suburbs nor house neere the City from his quarters nor any out-guard to give the alarm And for himselfe upon a few daies notice he would comply with their expectation as the actors should agree upon all circumstances Upon this they returned large expressions of reward and honour but the present payment of the three hundred pound was waved by Stanford as much as possible upon pretence of the danger of mis-fezance in the maine plot Backhouse would not admit the excuse importuned
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
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