best thing in it selfe for the beeter the thing is in nature the worse it is corrupted And that being the highest Court over which no other hath jurisdiction when t is mis-informed or mis-governed the Subject is left without all remedy But I have done I forgive all the world all and every of those bitter Enemies which have persecuted me and humbly desire to be forgiven of God first and then of every man whether I have offended him or not if he do but conceive that I have Lord doe thou forgive me and I beg forgivenesse of him And so I heartily desire you to joyne in Prayer with me O Eternall God and mercifull Father look down upon me in mercy in the riches and fulnes of all thy mercies look upon me but not till thou hast nailed my sins to the Crosse of Christ not till thou hast bathed me in the bloud of Christ not till I have hid my self in the wounds of Christ that so the punishment due unto my sinnes may passe over me And since thou art pleased to try me to the uttermost I humbly beseech thee give me now in this great instant full patience proportionable comfort and a heart ready to dye for thy honour the King's happinesse and this Churches preservation And my zeale to these far from Arrogancy be it spoken is all the sinne humane frailties excepted and all incidents thereto which is yet known to me in this particular for which I now come to suffer I say in this particular of Treason but otherwise my sins are many and great Lord pardon them all and those especially what ever they are which have drawn down this present judgement upon me and when thou hast given me strength to beare it doe with me as seems best in thine owne eyes and carry me through death that I may look upon it in what visage soever it shall appear to me Amen And that there may be a stop of this issue of bloud in this more then miserable Kingdome I shall desire that I may pray for the people too as well as for my selfe O Lord I beseech thee give grace of repentance to all Bloud-thirsty people but if they will not repent O Lord confound all their devices defeat and frustrate all their designes and endeavours upon them which are or shall be contrary to the Glory of thy great Name the truth and sincerity of Religion the establishment of the King and his posterity after him in their just rights and Priviledges the honour and conservation of Parliaments in their just power the preservation of this poore Church in her truth peace and patrimony and the settlement of this distracted and distressed People under their ancient Lawes and in their native Liberties And when thou hast done all this in meere mercy for them O Lord fill their hearts with thankefulnesse and with religious dutifull obedience to thee and thy Commandements all their dayes So Amen Lord Jesus Amen and receive my Soule into thy Bosome Amen Our Father which art in heaven c. Jan. 11. Sir Henry Gage Governour of Oxford marched thence with a party of horse and foot towards Abingdon with intention to raise a Fort at Cullom bridge but Browne having treacherous notice of the design was prepared accordingly which begat a hot skirmish wherein the Rebels lost Major Bradbury and at least 30 others slaine and on his Majesties part not above 7. common souldiers but by great misfortune Sir Hen Gage himselfe marching in the front of his men did here receive a fatal shot whereof within few hours after he dyed His Body was afterwards interred at Oxford with funebrious exequies and solemnities answerable to his merits who having done His Majesty speciall service was whilst living generally beloved and dead is still universally lamented His daily refreshed memory makes me trespasse on the Readers patience with this ELEGIE Vpon the never-enough lamented death of Sir HEN GAGE the most desired Governour of Oxford SO Titus called was The worlds delight And straight-way dy'd The envious Sisters spight Still the great favourite The darling head Unto the Fates is alwayes forfeited Our Life 's a Chase where though the whole Herd fly The goodlyest Deere is singled out to dye And as in beasts the fattest ever bleeds So amongst men he that doth bravest deeds He might have liv'd had but a coward feare Kept him securely sculking in the reare Or like some sucking Colonell whose edge Durst not advance a foot from a thick hedge Or like the wary Skippon had so sure A suit of Armes he might besieg'd endure Or like the politick Lords of different skill Who thought a Saw-pit safer or a hill Whose valour in two organs too did lye Distinct the ones in 's eare th' others in his eye Puppets of War Thy name shall be divine And happily augment the number Nine But that the Heroes and the Muses strive To owne thee dead who wert them all alive Such an exact composure was in thee Neither exceeded Mars nor Mercurie T was just though hard thou shouldst dye Governour Of th' Kings chiefe Fort of Learning and of War Thy death was truly for thy Garrison Thou dy'dst projecting her Redemption What unto Basing twice successefull spirit Was done th' hast effected here in merit The Bridge was broken downe The Fort alone GAGE was himselfe the first and the last stone Goe burne thy Faggots Browne and grieve thy Rage Lets thee out live the gentle grasp of GAGE And when thou read'st in thy Britanicus The boasted story of his death say thus The Valour I have shewne in this was Crime And GAGES Death will brand me to all Time In this moneth a faire new Ship called the John of London belonging to the East-India Merchants was brought to Bristol by the loyalty of Captain Mucknell and the rest of the Officers and Mariners of the Ship for His Majesties service wherein were 26. Peeces of Ordnance mounted 17000. l. in money besides some other good commodities For which good service the said Captaine Mucknell had the honour to be the first Knight that ever the Prince of Wales made And within a few dayes after another Ship called The Fame of London of burthen 450. Tunnes with 28. Peeces of Ordnance mounted was by Tempest forced into Dartmouth where she was seized on for His Majesties service as lawfull prize being bound for Dover or London This Ship had been abroad 4 yeares and was now returning homewards from the West-Indies laden with Bullion Oyle Couchaneille and other rich commodities to the value of 40000. l. at least Jan. 30. The Treaty began at Uxbridge wherein the candour of His Majesties reall intentions and desires of Peace was very perspicuous For His Majesty did not only arme his Commissioners or any ten of them with a very large and powerfull Commission to treat of conclude and settle a firme Peace in all His Dominions but did also by Proclamation appoint a solemne Fast on the 5. day of February
then next for a blessing on that Treaty with a Forme of Common-Prayer set forth by His Majesties speciall command to be used in all Churches and Chappels within this Kingdome One of which Prayers drawne by His Majesties special direction and dictate I here afford the Reader THE PRAYER O Most mercifull Father Lord God of Peace and Truth we a People sorely afflicted by the scourge of an unnaturall Warre doe here earnestly beseech Thee to command a Blessing from Heaven upon this present Treaty begun for the establishment of an happy Peace Soften the most obdurate hearts with a true Christian desire of saving those mens blood for whom Christ himselfe hath shed His Or if the guilt of our great sinnes cause this Treaty to break off in vaine Lord let the Truth clearly appeare who those men are which under pretence of the Publick good doe pursue their owne private ends that this People may be no longer so blindly miserable as not to see at least in this their Day the things that belong unto their Peace Grant this gracious God for his sake who is our Peace it selfe even Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Feb. 9. Sir Walter Hastings Governour of Portland Castle for His Majesty took the great Fort at Weymouth and within two dayes after Sir Lewis Dives took the middle Fort and Towne of Weymouth and in a skirmish there slew Major Sydenham a forward Rebell with some others This Towne and Forts were not many dayes held by His Majesties Forces but were as unfortunately lost as happily gained Feb. 15. Rowdon house neere Chippenham in Willshire after 9 dayes siege was taken by His Majesties Forces and in it 120 good Horse above 200 Foot with their Armes and Provisions Col Stevens the Mock-Sheriffe of Gloucestershire 6 Captaines and above 20 inferiour Officers all at mercy Feb. 20 The Lord Macguire an Irish Baron was executed by the common hangman at Tyburne by command of the Members at Westminster In the history of which execution recorded in many of their owne Pamphlets written then and upon that subject the Reader may observe two Questions asked by Master Gibbs one of the Sheriffes of London and answered by that Lord the very instant before his death The first was Whether he knew of any Commission the King had granted to the Irish Rebels for the commotion they had raised in their countrey he answered That he never knew nor heard of any The second was Whether there was not some agreement made by the Irish Commissioners before the Rebellion first brake out with the Recusants of England he answered That to his knowledge there was never an one in England either Catholique or Protestant that knew of it but one and he was an Irish-man and a Protestant and he came to the knowledge of it but by chance not as he was an actor in it Out of which and out of that delivered by the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury on the Scaffold immediately before his death the world may evidently see His Majesty irrefragably cleared by two acts of the Rebels owne cruelty from two of the most scandalous aspersions by which the malice of these forging Rebels hath from time to time endeavoured to make His sacred Majesty odious to his people Salutem ex inimicis nostris may the King well say seeing his enemies actions turned to his justification quite contrary to their intendments The first was an imagined inclination in His Majesty to Popery The second a pretended commissionating of the Irish Rebellion In the first the Arch-Bishop of Cant. In this the Lord Macguire both at their very dying houres have rendred His Majesty as innocent as the Rebels intended him odious I say innocent because we know the worst of Rebels cannot but credit those persons especially testifying at such time when they were immediately after to give an account of all their actions to the knower of all hearts Nor can any one beleeve but the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury who was daily conversant with His Majesty in matters of Religion must needs know the very depth of his heart therein And the Lord Macguire who was privy to the first motion of the Irish Rebellion must likewise of necessity have knowne of the Kings Commission if any such thing had been Feb. 22. The Treaty at Uxbridge was broken up though His Majesty sent a particular message and his Commissioners did earnestly desire that the same might be continued In this Treaty His Majesties Commissioners condescended much but those of Westminster would abate nothing of the rigour of their first unheard-of Propositions which was the cause the Treaty took no better effect Feb. 22. The Towne of Shrewsbury was by treachery in the night delivered to Col. Mitton the rebellious Governour of VVem Here you may see the Rebels master-piece in hatching this treacherous plot in the time of Treaty wherein they used the name of Peace onely as a masque for their designes but intended nothing lesse In this Towne the Rebels did most barbarously execute 13. of His Majesties souldiers which his Highnesse Prince Rupert did soone after justly requite lege talionis by hanging up a like number of theirs which he had taken without Quarter given Feb. 25. Sir Marmaduke Langdale routed a great Body of Rebels consisting of at least 1200 Horse and Dragoons commanded by Col Rossiter a Scot neere Melton Mowbray in Leicest shire killed above 30 of them took 46 Prisoners with 4 Colours of horse with the losse of Sir John Girlington a gallant Knight Capt. Gascoigne and not above 6 or 7 common Souldiers on his Majesties part Feb. 25. Colonel Roger Molineux with a party of Horse from Newarke took the Rebels Committee at Wirksworth in Darbyshire where they were gathering contribution viz. Master Wigfall Sir John Gells sonne in law Master Edward Charleton Master Buxton Major Molins Captaine Harstaffe Lieutenant Boteler about 70 Troopers and Dragooners with all their Horse and Armes and 400. l. in money In this action some of the Rebels were killed whereof Master Sellors a busie Sequestrator was one and on His Majesties part onely one man lost Feb 26. Sir William and Sir Charles Compton Brothers to the noble Earle of Northampton with 300 horse routed 400 of the Rebels horse of Northampton neere Daventry in that County killed 13 wounded many took 36 prisoners with 50 Horse and good store of Armes In the latter end of this month a party of His Majesties Forces from Hereford took Castle-ditch a Garrison of the Rebels on the borders of that County and in it Colonel Hopton the Governour sonne to Sir Richard Hopton his Under-officers above 60 Foot Souldiers with their armes and provisions and some horse March 1. Pontfract Castle that had been long besieged not without much losse to the Rebels by frequent sallyes made by the Defendants and otherwise was relieved by Sir Marmaduke Langdale who there utterly defeated the Lord Fairfax whole Army killed 300 on the place besides many drowned took above 700 Prisoners
Lord Wilmot Lievtenant Generall of the horse the Earl of Carnarvon the Earle of Crawford and the Lord Biron obtained another great and strange Victory upon Round-way-downe with 1500 horse and two small peeces of Canon onely wherewith they totally routed the rebels Army under the command of the oldbeaten souldier Sir William Waller consisting of above 2500 Foot and 2000 horse besides 500 Dragooners with 8 peeces of Brasse Ordnance slew 600 of them in the place tooke above 900 prisoners all their Canon Armes Ammunition Waggons Baggage and Victuall 28 Foot-Ensignes 9 Cornets and left not one rebell but whatwas either killed taken prisoner or narrowlyescaped Upon the 24 of Iuly his Highnesse Prince Rupert having joyned his Forces to his brothers and the whole body of their strength being brought together they sate downe before Bristoll and began their Batteries And the 26 day with unexpressible valour they gained the Out-works and the 27 day following the City and Castle was delivered up to his Sacred Majesty with all the Ordnance Armes and Ammunition At this siege were slain on his Majesties part Sir Nicholas Slanning one of the Lunsfords with some few others and that valiant Lord the Lord Grandison did here receive a wound August the 3 Corf-Castle in the Isle of Purbecke which had been so often before besieged by Sir Walter Earley but had alwayes beaten off the rebels and killed their Cannoniers was once more fallen upon by the rebels who were so bravely received by Captain Laurence that 60 of them were killed in the place the rest hearing of the most valiant Earle of Carnarvons approach ran away Soone after the Earle of Carnarvon Summoned Dorchester which was thereupon delivered up to his Lordship with all the Armes Ammunition and Cannon which were disposed of for his Majesties use About the 9 of August the Castle and Isle of Portland were reduced againe under his Majesties command And the Towne and Haven of Weymouth and Melcombe submitted to his Majesty August 20 Colonell Io. Digby defeated the rebels of Biddeford and Barnstable killed 100 of their Foot took 211 Officers and common souldiers prisoners most of which were miserably wounded 2 peeces of Ordnance 6 barrels of powder 400 weight of Bullet 200 and a half of match and above 300 Armes besides all the Foot-Officers horses Pursued their horse to the very workes of Biddeford and returned victoriously without the losse of more then one man not one of the rest of his souldiers being so much as hurt all that day Upon the 2 and 3. of September the Townes of Biddeford Appleford and Barnstaple delivered up their severall Garrisons to his Majesty Upon the same third of September Prince Maurice gave a very hot assault upon the City of Exeter and battered the walls whereupon the rebels desired Parley but refusing the conditions the assault was afterwards eagerly pursued and the next day after wonne the great Sconce turned the Ordnance there against the Town Whereupon the Rebels craved to bee admitted unto those conditions which before they rejected and obtained the same delivered up the Towne and castle to the Prince his Highnesse with all the Ordnance Armes and Ammunition after it had been blockt up and besieged about six weeks September 17. the Rebels Army stealing out of Gloucestershire towards London surprised part of a new raised Regiment of his Majesties horse at Cirencester but were overtaken by Prince Rupert with His Majesties horse neare Auburne in Wiltshire where hee gave them two charges the one by a commanded party under Colonell Urrey the other by the Queens Regiment commanded by the Lord Iermin who performed it so well on the rebels whole Army that many great bodies of Foot were routed and many of them slaine in the place without any losse to his Majesties Forces save two common Souldiers killed and the Marquesse de la Vieuville taken prisoner who was afterwards murdered by the Rebels in cold bloud and the Lord Digby and Lord Iermyn lightly wounded by which two charges the rebels Army was so retarded that his Majesty had time to overtake them with his Foot And on Wednesday after the 20 of this month upon an Hill neare Newberry and Enborne heath His Majesty fought with the rebels who were seated in the most advantageous place imaginable yet in despight of all their Canon Foot and horse his Majesty beat them from their ground gained the hill and one peece of their Brasse Ordnance and quickly routed all their horse upon the Heath The most that were killed in this fight of his Majesties Forces exceeded not the number of 300 though above 600 of the rebels were slaine and a very great number wounded In this fight were slaine the most noble and valiant Earle of Carnarvon the Earle of Sunderland the Lord Viscount Faulkland Colonell Morgan Captain William Symcots with some other Gentlemen and Commanders After this fight the rebels were further pursued and routed againe so as they fled into Reading where they durst not stay but left the Town for his Majesty September 25. That pernitious confederacy called the Nationall covenant was taken by the members of the House of Commons at Westminster in Saint Margarets Church October 18. the Prince of Harcourt Lord Ambassadour Extraordinary from the French King and Queen Regent after he had been most barbatously used in his passage by the rebels came safe into Oxford where he had entertainment more suitable to the worth of so great a Personage In this month of October his Majesties forces under the command of the Lord Widdrington and Colonell Henderson a Scot received a defeat neare Horne-castle in Lincolneshire by the rebels under the command of Manchester Cromwell and Fairfax there were taken prisoners neare 600 of his Majesties forces Sir Ingram Hopton and some few others slain not without some considerable losse to the rebels it cannot be said that in any other battaile since this rebellion but this that his Majesties forces made a dishonourable retreat where the fault was I cannot say November 11. An Ordinance for authorizing the counterfeit great Seale November 21. Sir William Armine and others sent by the Houses at Westminster arrived at Edenborough with Articles of accord and advance money to hasten the Scots Invasion November 27. The Kings Messenger hanged at London for discharging his duty in serving his Majesties Writ Decemb. 4. Hawarden castle surrendred to his Majesties Forces December 8. John Pym died de morbo pediculoso at Derby house in Westminster in which place the medley Scots and others sit and hatch their contrivances for support of the present rebellion December 12. Beeston castle assaulted and taken for his Majesty December 21. Lapley house taken by Captaine Heavenningham for his Majesty December 28. Colonell Nathaniel Fines one of the first that appeared in this rebellion was in a court of Warre at Saint Albans by his fellow rebels sentenced to bee hanged for a coward December 29. The stately Screene of copper richly gilt set
ruine Iune 5. The Earle of Essex went this day as far as Chipping-Norton after the King Iune 6. But unwilling to lose his labour any longer returned to Burford where hee deputed Sir VVilliam VValler to proceed in the adventure of King-catching that himselfe might have the sole honour of taking in Lesâ—ithiell Iune 11. Dudley castle which had been gallantly defended by Lieutenant Colonel Beaumont for 3 weeks before was releived and the siege raised by his Majesties forces sent from VVorcester who took a colours of the rebels horse 2 Majors of foot 2 Captains 3 Lieutenants killed about 100 in the fight and took above 50 common souldiers prisoners without any considerable losse on his Majesties part Iune 12. Colonell Gage with some forces from Oxford took in Borstall house a Garrison of the rebels in Buckinghamshire Iune 18. His Majesty in VVorcestershire having intelligence that the rebels Armies were now severed whilst Sir VVilliam VValler to get before the King ran into Staffordshire resolved to reinforce himselfe with the Regiments left at Oxford and encounter Sir William to which end he returned and came this day to Witney Iune 20. His Highnesse Prince Rupert being then in Lancashire clearing the county Colonell Shuttleworth with 400 rebels came to beat up some of his quarters and fell in at Blackburne Where that vigilant Commander Sir Charles Lucas was so ready for him that hee killed and took above 100 of the rebels making the rest run for their lives Iune 22. Sir VVilliam VValler having run himselfe out of breath gave over the pursuit of the King the rather for that his Majesty was provided for him whereupon his Majesty directed his march towards the rebels associated counties and came this night to Buckingham where he received the joyfull newes of his Queenes safe delivery of the Princesse Henrietta who was borne at Exeter the 16 of this month June 25. Sir Charles Lucas hearing Colonell Shuttleworth had gathered 300 horse and 100 Dragoones at Colne on the borders of Yorkeshire marched to him and fell on with such skill and courage that he totally routed all the rebels both horse and Dragoones had execution for 3 miles wounded Shuttleworth himselfe who with very few others escaped all the rest Sir Charles killed and took and brought their colours with the prisoners to Prince Rupert June 26. VValler to recruite his weary Army from the Garrisons of Gloucester VVarwick Coventry Northampton and Kenelmworth Castle had this day a rendezvouz in Keinton field whereof the King having notice turned his march towards him and quartered this night at Brackley June 28. This day the King comming before Banbury found VValler drawne up in Battalia Westward from the Towne on the side of Crouch hill taking advantage of the hils bogs and ditches June 29. His Majesty discerning that VValler would not come into the plaine nor could be assaulted as he lay but with much disadvantage removed somewhat Northwards to see if thereby he could draw him from his station which succeeded accordingly for Waller likewise advanced on the other side the river whereupon the King at Cropready marched further off the river leaving the Bridge in hope to draw them over which Waller greedily apprehending as an advantage put over 2000 horse and a great body of foot with 14 peeces of cannon The Rebels being thus divided were immediately charged by the Kings Reare The brave Earle of Clevelands horse and Sir Bernard Astleys foot routing all that had past the bridge whilst the Earle of Northampton charged the rest of the Rebels horse that were fording over In this fight were slaine at least 300 rebels and many of them taken prisoners with their 14 peeces there were slain on his Majesties part two gallant Knights Sir William Butler and Sir William Clarke and not above 14 common souldiers besides and so much for Wallers Army this Summer July 3. The King having thus defeated one of the Rebels Armies bent Westwards after the other and came this day to Evesham to refresh his souldiers after their hard duty from whence he sent to Westminster his message for Peace of the 4 of Iuly In the beginning of this month his Highnesse P. Rupert marched out of Lancashire with a considerable Army for the releife of Yorke which had bin two months besieged by an aggregate body of Rebels consisting of the Earle of Manchesters Army the Lord Fairfax and the rebellious Scots under command of Lesley The Prince had no sooner releived Yorke but drew forth after the Rebels and in Marstone Moore there began a terrible fight wherein his Highnesse had at first much the better took the Rebels Ordnance and many of them prisoners insomuch that Lesley and the Lord Fairfax thinking all had been lost fled many miles from the place where the battell was fought and never came to the remainder of their Armies till 2 dayes after the fight but in conclusion whether by fate which attends the event of war or by neglect I know not the fortune of the day turned and the Rebels recovered their lost Ordnance and took some of the Princes baggage and with it Sir Charles Lucas Colonell Porter and Colonell Tillier prisoners In this battell were slaine on his Majesties part the Lord Cary Sir Thomas Metham Colonell Ewer Colonell Townley with some others of note and about 1500 common souldiers On the Rebels part were slaine Sir Charles Fairfax younger sonne to the Lord Fairfax with many other of their commanders and at least 3000 common souldiers This done the Rebels rally and sit downe againe before York which was valiantly defended for 3 weeks after by Sir Tho Glenham and then delivered upon honourable conditions to march away with Armes begge and baggage which conditions were most perfidiously broken by the Rebels Iuly 6. The Lord Hopton routed 350 of the Rebels neare Warmister which were pursued above twenty miles by Sir Francis Dodington July 15. The King came to Bath with his Army which day the Queens Majesty arrived safe at Brest in Britanny notwithstanding 50 great sho made at her by Batty the rebels Vice-Admirall Iuly 23. The King made his speech to the Sommersetshire men on Kings-moore who came in to his Majesties assistance very cheerfully Iuly 31. Middleton the Scot furiously assaulted Denington Castle and received a most shamefull repulse leaving dead behind him one Col. 8 Captains 1 Sergeant Major with many inferiour Officers and Souldiers August 1. His Majesty with his Army passed into Cornwall over Tamar at Polton bridge in pursuit of the Earle of Essex whom he had now chased through Devonshire August 25. The King gained from the Rebels the Castle of Lestithiel where their Army lay strongly encamped and in it took Col Butler some others prisoners August 30. The rebels horse in the night passed between his Majesties Quarters and fled towards Plymouth August 31. The rebels foot making towards Foy were beaten from 5 peeces of their Ordnance September 2. The rebels being deserted by their
whereof 44 Officers 22 Colours of Foot being all the Rebels had and 26 Standards of Horse with 34 double barrels of Powder and a proportionable quantity of March and Bullet and 2500 Foot Armes besides Horse Armes and other spoile In this action were slain many of the Rebels chiefe Officers as Colonel Armyn Col Thornton Col Malevery with others On His Majesties part no Officer slaine and but very few common Souldiers March 6. Sir Charles Compton with his Regiment of horse took 72 Pack-horses at Hawford on the borders of Warwickshire being richly laden with the rebels wealth of Gloucester and intended for London with these Sir Charls also took their Convoy of at least 100 Horse and neere 70 Prisoners with a Lieutenant 1 Cornet and his Colours having first killed 12 Rebels on the place without losse of any one man and but one hurt March 7. Major Abercromy a rebellious Scot was slain neere Stratton Audley in Buckinghamshire and 17 of his men taken by a party from his Majesties Garrison of Borstall house March 14. Colonel Long the High Sheriffe of Wiltshire with his owne Regiment of horse onely gallantly charged a great body of Wallers horse neere the Devizes and did good execution on them but being much over-powered by the Rebels numbers was at length taken Prisoner with some part of his Regiment which was within few dayes after sufficiently requited by the Lord Goring who took above 700 of Wallers horse in those parts March 15. A party of his Majesties horse from Pontfract Castle fel on Colonel Brandlings Quarters at Badsworth foure miles from Doncaster took 67 rebels Prisoners whereof 13 Officers 130 Horse and 1000. l. in money March 18. The Earle of Northampton with his three young brothers in all whom Gallantry is hereditary routed a great Body of the rebels horse of Northampton neere Abthorp killed neere 30 rebels whereof Captaine Lidcote was one and hurt many more took 26 Prisoners and this with the losse of 5 Troopers onely on his Majesties part The same 18. of March Beeston castle in Cheshire that had been bravely defended for 17 weeks before by Capt. Valot and as vainly besieged by Sir VVilliam Brereton was opportunely releeved by Prince Ruperts approach into those parts March 24. The Lower Members at Westminster Vote the clause for preservation of His Majesties Person to be left out in Sir Thomas Fairfax his Commission Thus doe the Rebels 1. Sweare to live and dye with their owne General Essex yet upon second thoughts they disoblige themselves from that Oath and casheire him of his command 2. Covenant to preserve His Majesties Person and Authority and yet afterwards authorize Sir Tho Fairfax to kill him if he can 3. They vow to maintaine the Protestant Religion yet condemne and discountenance the essentiall parts thereof and introduce Irreligion and Prophanesse Now tell me Reader what Tropologicall sense can save this jugling from flat and literall Perjury not all the addition of their Abrogative to their Legislative power For this is indeed to abrogate Christianity as wel as Loyaltie out of the world To give leave to kill the Kings Person in the field and yet to cheat men into a conceipt of preserving His Majesty in VVilliam Lenthalls chaire To make the world beleeve they are Protestants when they permit and authorize an illiterate Assembly of Non-Divines to discountenance the 39 Articles dispute about expunging the fift Article of the Apostles Creed To antiquate the Lords Prayer out of the Church Service and turne out the long-setled Service of Common-Prayer out of the Church to give way to a long-winded extemporary non-sense in the roome thereof O tempora O mores Are not these sine Law-makers who violate the Lawes of God and holy Church as well as those themselves were borne unto to make way for their owne Chymeraes Would not any true Zelot pawne his soule upon these mens consciences who make no conscience of breaking their owne oathes Would not any wise man melt his Fortunes to maintain these mens Cause who have no cause for what they doe Yes he that could be made to beleeve Perjury were Fidelity Treason Loyalty Blasphemy Sanctity Atheisme Religion the Speakers Cushion the Kings Majesty may likewise possibly beleeve that these Rebels intend the Churches Kings and Common-wealths good Post-monita THe Reader may take notice of two omissions The first in Feb. 1642. about which time His Majesties Forces from Hereford commmanded by Sir Rich: Lawdy encountred the rebels of Gloucester at Cover on the borders of that County routed their whole Body killed and took most of the Rebels Commanders and many common Soldiers with 4 Drakes yet this Victory came not off without some losse for Sir Rich: Lawdy himself was here slain by a shot out of a window in Cover Town with 5 common Souldiers onely on his Majesties part The other in the beginning of July 1643. about which time Colonel now Lord Jermyn with those Forces that guarded her Majesty out of the North assisted by Colonel Hastings now Lo Lowghborough took Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire by assault wherein there was taken Col Houghton the Governour with all the inferiour Officers above 400 common Souldiers 8 Peeces of Ordnance and good store of Ammunition and this done without any considerable losse The End
a wound whereof he afterwards died Aprill the 11 there was a fight neare unto Ancaster in the County of Lincolne betwixt the Kings Forces under the command of Colonell Cavendish and the rebels of that County under young Hotham their then Generall in which fight the most part of the rebels were slaine and taken prisoners their Generall put to flight and their whole Body totally routed On the 21 day being Friday the Close at Lichfield after three wekees siege and the losse of some men was yeilded upto Prince Rupert together with the Ordnance and Ammunition all sorts of Armes except the Horse-mens Armes and a certaine number of Musquets and all such Treasure which had been formerly conveyed in thither and did not properly belong to the Souldiers there These souldiers were part of those Forces under the command of the late Lord Brook a great Leader in this Rebellion and a malicious enemy to the Church who was killed in his assaulting this Church by a shot into the eye on Saint Chads day who was the first Bishop of this See in memory of whom this Cathedrall was built and called Saint Chads Church The last day of Aprill his Excellency the Earl of Newcastles Forces encountered with and totally routed a whole Body of the rebels consisting of above 3000 men which were going to releive the Towne of Leedes killed 150 of them in the place took 240 prisoners 3 peeces or Ordnance together with all their victuall Ammunition May the 6 Iames Earle of Northampton the true heire of his Fathers Loyalty and valour encountered with a Body of the Rebels in Middleton Cheny Town-field near Banbury consisting of about 700 foot and 5 Troops of Horse where he wholly routed their Foot killed 217 upon the plaine took above 300 prisoners all their Ordnance and Ammunition 416 Musquets 150 Piques and above 500 swords pursued the fugitive horse and killed and took many of them the rest made what hast they could to Northampton In this fight his Lordship lost but three men and those not of any note Nor had above one Officer so much as hurt Upon the 16 of May the Lord Hopton assaulted the great rebellious Body then intrenched neare Stratton on the Borders of Devonshire fought with them full tenne houres and having spent his Ammunition insomuch that he had not powder left to serve one houre longer fell upon the rebels with Swords Piques and Musquet stocks And with unexpressible valour wholly routed the rebels Army killed many hundreds of them in the place wounded many more took 1700 prisoners whereof above 30 Commanders all their Canon being 11 Peeces of Brasse Ordnance and 4 of Iron 2 Morter peices 75 Barrels of Powder with Shot and March proportionable betwixt 2 and 3000 Armes and 3000l in mony there being not above 46 of the Kings Forces killed and hurt and amongst those not any one Commander or Gentleman of Quality May the 23. The Queen was most traiterously voted a Traitour for her love so exemplarily expressed to the King her husband May the 30. Master Robert Yeomans and Master George Boucher two Citizens of Bristoll were there publiquely murthered by Colonell Nathaniel Fines for their loyalty to His Majesty Iune the 18 1643. His Highnesse Prince Rupert beat up the Quarters of the rebels at Postcombe and Chinner in Oxfordshire killed some 50 of the rebels there Quartered took about 120 prisoners almost all their Horses and Armes and three of Sir Samuel Lukes Dragoon-Cornets obtained a great victory in Chalgrove field and utterly defeated the rebels horse-men and Dragooners slew divers of their Commanders especially Colonell Iohn Hampden one of the five Members accused of high Treason who in this fight received his mortall wound in this very Chalgrove field where he first mustered and drew up men in Armes to put in execution the rebellious Ordinance for the Militia On Friday the last of Iune His Excellency the Earle of Newcastle obtained a great victory against the Northern rebels under the Lord Fairfax upon Aderton heath within the County of Yorke In which fight my Lord soon put the rebels into such confusion that they could not be reduced again into any Order untill hee had gained all their 5 peeces of Canon which hee presently turned against them the sight whereof did so terrifie them that they made what hast they could towards Leedes But finding that his Excellencies horse had intercepted that passage their last shift was to recover Bradford which was done in such a disorderly manner that his Excellency in the pursuit of them killed and took above 2000 whereof above 1500 prisoners As for their Generall Fairfax hee with much adoe made shift with one poore Troop of horse to get at night into Leedes leaving the rest to the mercy of the Victor Iuly the 1. The Earle of Essex being with his Army at Tame in Oxfordshire sent Colonell Middleton with 500 horse and Dragoones to Padbury to way-lay Prince Rupert and his Forces from returning from Buckingham to Oxford while Essex with his Army fell on the Prince but Sir Charles Lucas by his Scouts discovered the rebels designe and accordingly met them with three Troops of his own Regiment wherewith hee routed all Middletons 400 horse and dragoons pursued them to their passe at Werthill brooke followed them through the foard in despight of all their Muskettiers there slew above 100. took 40 prisoners and prevented the rebels hopefull designe The same day the Marquesse of Newcastle besieged Bradford bestowed upon it above 40 shot from his great Artillery and the morrow after made himselfe master of the Town In which he took 2000 prisoners with all the Horse Armes and Ammunition which either the rebels found in the Towne or brought thither with them Hereupon the rebels deserted the Towne of Hallifax and presently after Sir Hugh Cholmely fell upon Beverly and took it for his Majesty Iuly the 5. Master Tomkins and Master Challoner were most barbarously murthered by the rebells in London for their Fidelity to his Majesty And the same fifth day there was a fight on Landsdown-hill betwixt his Majesties forces under the command of the Marquesse of Hartford and the rebels under Sir William Waller vvho after 11 houres fight stuck their lighted matches in the hedges and ran quite avvay leaving behind them above 500 Musquets 14 barrells of povvder a vvhole Stand of Piques vvith good store of all sorts of Armes Their foot vvere absolutely routed and all dispersed his losse of Officers and horse vvere great many hundreds of his men vvere killed his Majesties force having the pillage of the field And here vvas that most valiant Knight Sir Bevill Greenvill unfortunately slain in the Front of his men with some others of lesse quality The 13 of Iuly about 4 a clock in the afternoone the King and Queens Majesty met at Edge-Hill vvhere the rebels had received their maine overthrovv and the same day and houre his Majesties Forces under the Command of the