both for the field and garrison Upon their second arrivall these horse with a party of foure hundred foot were drawne out with two small pieces of Ordnance and advanced into the Enemies quarters first with a purpose to seeke out Colonell Min who was lodged in the nearer parts But upon the report of our march he fell back from Newent and hastned to Rosse where he began to fortify the Church with his own and Sir Iohn Winters Regiments The Governour made forwards into Herefordshire and kept his head quarters at Ledbury to appeare unto the Enemy and in their own Country provoke them to action and in the meane while to fetch in monies for the supply of the Souldier and to ease our Neighbourhood which till then did beare the whole burden Our horse that lay neer upon their garrisons had some encounters but with no considerable party From Hedbury an hundred and fifty Musketiers with the whole strength of horse were drawn towards Hereford to command the Country and face the garrison which feared our approach and for that cause fired a lone house neer the City but none did adventure to sally forth or fall on the Reare in our retreat so we marched through the greatest part of the County but the grand Malignants were fled with the best of their substance The Governour resolved to attempt the lesser garrisons but the noyse of our march had reached Prince Rupert who thereupon was come to Evesham with as great a strength of Horse and Dragoones as he could draw together with a purpose to fall over Upton-Bridge and get between Gloucester and our forces whilst Colonell Min and Sir John Winter held us in play in these parts Wherefore being advertised of the Princes march and suspecting his intention he drew back the party as well to refresh and preserve his men as to make the Enemy secure But within foure daies the like number were againe drawne out towards the Forrest side to attempt and act something upon Myns forces and first they came up upon Westbury once our owne garrison but betrayed into the hands of Sir John Winter Here the enemy held the Church and a strong house adjoyning The Governour observing a place not flanked fell up that way with the Forlorne hope and secured them from the danger of shot The men got stooles and ladders to the windowes where they stood safe cast in Granadoes and fired them out of the Church Having gained the Church he quickly beat them out of their workes and possest himselfe of the house where he tooke about foure score prisoners without the losse of a man The enemy had an other guard at Little-Deane whither the Governour commanded a party of horse to give them alarms whilst he fell upon Westbury These horse found the enemy stragling in the Towne and upon the discovery of their approach shuffling towards the garrison which the Troopers observing alighted and ran together with them into the house where they tooke about twenty men Neere unto which guard Lieutenant Colonell Congrave Governour of Newnham and one Captaine Wigmore with a few private Souldiers were surrounded in some houses by the residue of our horse These had accepted quarter ready to render themselves when one of their company from the house kils a Trooper which so enraged the rest that they broke in upon them and put them all to the Sword in which accident this passage was not to be forgotten that expressed in one place an extreame contrariety in the Spirits of men under the stroke of death Congrave died with these words Lord receive my soule and Wigmore cryed nothing but Dum me more Dame me more desperately requiring the last stroke as enraged at Divine revenge Colonell Massie pursued the successe whilst his owne men were full of life and hope that the confidence of the enemy might be dashed by a quicke surprisall And the very next day came before Newnham where a strong party of Sir John Winters forces kept garrison in the Church and the Fort adjoyning of considerable strength who at that instant where much daunted and distracted by the losse of Congrave their Governour Our men were possest of the Towne without opposition and recovered the houses by which they got neere the workes The Governour commanded a blind of faggots to be made athwart the street drew up two pieces of Ordnance within Pistoll shot and observing a place not well flanker'd where he might lead up his men to the best advantage himselfe marched before them and found that part of the worke fortified with double pallisadoes the Souldiers being provided with Sawes to cut them down and having drawn these close within a dead angle and secure from their shot and drawing the rest of his force for a storme the enemy forthwith desires parley and to speake with the Governour which he refused and commanded a sudden surrender In this interim some of the enemy jumpt over the workes and so our men broke in upon the rest who ranne from the out-worke into the Church hoping to cleare the mount which we had gained But our men were too nimble who had no sooner entred the mount but rushed upon them before they could reach home and tumbled into the Church all together Then they cryed for quarter when in the very point of victory a disaster was like to befall us a barrell of Gunpowder was fired in the Church undoubtedly of set purpose and was conceived to be done by one Tipper a most virulent Papist and Sir John Winters servant despairing withall of his redemption being a prisoner before and having falsified his engagements This Powder blast blew many out of the Church and sorely singed a greater number but killed none The Souldiers enraged fell upon them and in the heate of blood slew neere twenty and amongst others this Tipper All the rest had quarter for their lives save one Captaine Butler an Irish rebell who was knocked downe by a common souldier and an hundred prisoners taken The service was performed without the losse of a man on our side After this dispatch the Governour marched to Lidney house with purpose to attempt according to what he should finde meet and in the first place summoned the same to a surrender which being refused and he finding the house exceedingly fortified and no lesse provided with victuall and force engaged not upon it And understanding that Col. Myn with a considerable strength of horse and foot assisted by the Lord Herberts forces and Sir John Winter was come as far as Coford he was enforced with more expedition to draw off for the gaining of the hill towards them there expecting the enemies advance till towards evening when he marched off his wearied men to Gloucester first having fired Sir John Winters Iron-mils and Furnaces the maine strength of his estate and garrison After these things many Gentlemen of the County began to looke towards the Parliament and tender their obedience desiring Protections from this government
neglect in the State and were taken off the persuite of a just revenge upon those cursed Rebels to warre against their native Countrey and teare the bowels of the mother that bare them and therein act a part and cast in their lot with the Rebels themselves Some of these Irish Forces landed at Bristoll and thence fell down upon Gloucestershire Colonell Min and Sir William St. Leger with both their Regiments making up eight hundred or a thousand Foot and a hundred Horse all resolved men with eight Piece of Ordnance advanced to Thornbury Colonell Massey proclaimed entertainment to all such as would tender their service to the Parliament and many private souldiers resenting the difference of the cause came over daily About the twentieth of December a party of two hundred horse and Dragoones commanded by Captaine Backhouse were designed to beat up their quarters at Wotton where they were lately arrived from Thornbury Wherefore the party advancing thither suddenly fell in among them and found eight hundred men charged up to the maine Guard and for a while were masters of foure Piece of Ordinance but over-matched and borne down by their numbers were forced to retreat yet having first slaine wounded and taken many of them without the losse of a man At the same time some of Colonell Vavasours Forces undertook to settle at Upton upon Seaverne but at the first shew of an approach from Gloucester quitted those quarters Once more doe the clouds gather round about the storm threatned by the enemies fury and more violently driven by the malice of some Countrey Gentlemen begins to arise The Malignant Gentlemen of Cotswold provide Armes and garrison strong Houses Forces from Oxford were expected at Painsewick and Stroud the Irish were to lie on this side Berkely the Lord Herbert and Sir Iohn Winter in the Forrest the Lord Chandos at Cheltenham Sir William Vavasour and Sir Walter Pie at Tewkesbury so that by them our destruction is decreed and seemes as a thing done Every corner of the Country is pestered with the enemies Garrisons as Newneham Lidney Monmouth Hereford Worcester Dimmock Newent Highleaden Tainton Tewkesbury Sudely Saperton Beverston and Berkely Opposite to these was the Governour constrained to erect petty Garrisons as many and as neare as possible for the Kings Forces were againe advanced out of Herefordshire with a greater strength and well prepared Sir William Vavasour Sir Walter Pie and Colonell Wroughton are arrived at Tewkesbury and began to fortifie having a great power with them till the Town was setled and made strong yet still disturbed by continuall Alarums from Gloucester though the Land-flouds hindred our design upon them The Irish Regiments rose from Wotton and thence made over the Hills for Tewkesbury And because their march was interrupted by our parties the Lord Chandos horse joyned with them to strengthen and secure their advance to Cheltenham whether they came with foure small Piece of Ordnance Our men still flirted upon them And a Party of Horse and Dragoones commanded by Major Gray fell that night into Charlton Kings and had surprized the Lord Chandos in his quarters had he not made a private escape where the search after him caused the losse of seven or eight private souldiers yet they slew some of the enemy took ten prisoners and some few horse The next day the Horse and Foot bended their course to Tewkesbury our men waited upon the march and kept them up close that those parts of the Countrey received but little dammage when these had joyned with the other Regiments they were supposed to make neare upon two thousand six hundred Horse and Foot After a little stay a part of these forces were drawn off towards Warwickshire to joyne with the enemy that there waited the intercepting or surprizall of our supplies from London then long and earnestly expected and noised abroad our powder being welnigh spent and necessity constrianing us to use a kind of match made of Bast. Sir Walter Pies Foot and Col. Wroughtons Horse remained at Tewksbury to block up the City on that side in and about which Town fifteen hundred Horse and Foot were constantly quartered Colonell Washingtons Regiment kept Garrison at Evesham and a Regiment of Horse lay at Parshore besides a considerable strength at Sudely These thought to swallow up our approaching succours or if they did not come speedily to compell us to yeeld up the City for it was reported with the enemy and believed by many that we suffered extream penury And though provisions were not much wanting being in a fat Countrey yet the reall exigences of the Garrison were great for lack of pay the discontents of the Souldiers were desperate and endlesse In most of the Officers a generall neglect of duty who for the least check would throw up their Commissions to the Governours great discontent and trouble Many inferiour Officers forsook us and common Souldiers ranne to other places that yielded a large and constant entertainment and required lesse service whilst honest and gallant men that did not desert their Colours were exposed to misery and want yet could we not want men who daily offered themselves to the service had wee moneys to pay them Neither had wee any power of men to raise moneys for the Garrisons maintenance Our out-guards as Presbury Wesbury Essington Frampton Froster set to preserve the Countrey and keep the Markets open did eat up the greater part of the Contribution and consume our men and ammunition besides the daily sending out of parties T was a kinde of shifting life and wonderfull that the Officers command should finde the least measure of obedience Some Offcers did expend their own meanes to keep their Companies entire the Governour was necessitated at his own charge to billet above threescore Souldiers besides the charge of a Troop The Countrey was impoverished the Commission of Excise was not setled and brought in no considerable summe The Citizens were restrained of Trade and the wayes of Commerce stopped up and therefore at present they were quite left to the Garrison Besides the slownesse and low reports of our succours did exceedingly dis-hearten the people Many Countrey Gentlemen that were not the Confidents of the contrary Faction were about to comply with this Government especially upon the Parliaments Declaration of pardon but the notice of those slender supplies and the thought of the States supposed neglect turned them off and made them more violent against us For this lasting suspense and bondage under two parties did vex them wherfore his Majesty was again importuned to destroy and fire the Countrey if he could not lodge his forces so neare as to block us up The Garrison neverthelesse did not only defend its own territories but made sundry adventures and inrodes upon the Enemies quarters staved off and kept them within their bounds The Governour had built a Friggot for service upon the River to secure the Countrey near Gloucester on that side Seavern because the Enemy commanded greatest
part of the River and landed at their pleasure upon our quarters from Bristoll and Wales This Friggot was sent down Seavern manned with Sea-men and a party of Souldiers for whatsoever attempt sudden opportunity should offer and arriving at Chepstow our musketteers hasted ashore and entred the Town where they surprized most of the Officers of Colonell Oneales Regiment raysed under the command of the Lord Herbert These never dreamed of an enemy from Gloucester in that corner of the Land at such a distance And this was the advantage of the service that by the surprizall of the Officers it prevented the raysing of that Regiment of horse which shortly after would have plagued the Countrey Our men having secured their prisoners and ready to made homewards another prize fell into their hands where they took a Vessell laden from Bristoll with Oyle Wine Sugar and other commodities These little services were answerable to the times and upheld the esteem of the Garrison in that low ebbe This Expedition gave an Alarum to Bristoll and all Wales who to prevent the like inrode sent up divers Friggots to guard the River At this time Sir William Vavasour began to appeare from Tewksbury and made an attempt upon Bodington House a petty Garrison of ours only to preserve the Countrey Hither he came up with five hundred foot and two peeces of Ordnance fired his Gunnes against the House and engaged himselfe in an assault The place was maintayned by them within till a small party drew from Gloucester the report of which at three miles distance caused Colonell Vavasour to draw of and return back to Tewkesbury with the losse of eight or ten men before the House Neither did Vavasour seem to act with that violence which the out-side of the enemies design did look for whether retarded by the dulnesse of nature or the notice of some close contrivance However the slownesse and ill successe of his actions rendred him obnoxious to the jealousies of his own Party which suspition was easily encreased by the intercourse of civility between him and Colonell Massie when the known fidelity and constant indeavours of the one could inable him without offence to his own side to disport with an enemy in such complements as the other had not the liberty to use Such neglected passages have a great weight in the ballance of reputation and honour since the minde is not revealed by it selfe and wise men as well as fooles oft-times have only the event to guide their judgements On the other side of the Town we had continuall skirmishes with Colonell Veale newly made Governour of Berkly Castle and assisted with the Lord Inchequeens Regiment of Horse This enemy was no way formidable nor mischievous in any thing save the plunder of the Countrey by whom hee was oft-times beaten back and kept in awe by the assistance of Frampton garrison The Church at Newnham was againe fortified and defended by Sir Iohn Winter with a sufficient strength of men and foure Pieces of Ordnance whence hee might runne up to the Gates of Gloucester rob the Countrey and take mens persons at pleasure only we kept a guard at Arlingham to hinder his passage over Seavern Colonell Man lay strong at Newent Highleaden and Tainton The Governour could doe little on that side only he placed a Garrison at Hartpury Court both to preserve Cosselawne and to endeavour the engagement of Colonell Min. Our Garrison at Frampton was removed to Slimbridge within foure miles of Berkley we had other guards likewise at Essington and Froster to preserve and enable the people to contribution Thus was the City pestered on every hand and fetched its livelihood out of the fire with continuall hazard forcing the enemies quarters and defending its own parties were daily drawn out by the Governour who then could not aime at victory nor expect any great performance though the common people repined that he did not alwayes conquer when it was conquest enough to keep the enemy in action and prevent their extravagances to beare up the hearts of our friends and signifie to the world that we were yet alive Though the Governour was not invited abroad yet he strove to make opportunities according to the stock of Ammunition that was left him that councells might spring out of the midst of action He drew out upon Tainton with two hundred Musketiers and with a hundred horse faced the house only to keep in or amaze them but when the horse marched off some of their Troopes fell on the Reare-guard and charged the Governour who re-encountred and charged home some distance before the rest of the Troop and by the breaking of the curb his horse carryed him amongst the enemies Troopes with whom for a while he grappled and was rescued by the gallantry of a common Trooper by which time our Musketiers were brought up and beat them back without losse to us The Governour choosed rather to make work for the enemy and to seek him in his own quarters then lie at home to expect the challenge yet did he play a wary game and though zealous of honour yet more true to the maine chance and tender of the lives of men wherefore hee advanced againe with foure hundred Musketiers and fifty horse came before Tainton and with a small party faced the house having laid some Ambuscado's with a purpose to allure them into the snare and cut off their men as well to encourage the Countrey as weaken the enemy but they did not adventure out When we drew thence our men beheld a faire body of horse at Highleaden whereupon a forlorn hope of our Musketiers with twenty horse advanced upon them and found their Horse and Foot drawn out of Highleaden House These were to joyn with Colonell Min who at that instant was marched out of Newent with a purpose to fall on Hartpury Garrison Here at the first some few of our horse gave the charge hurried the enemy and beat up their Ambuscadoes then they drew out their whole Garririson and sell on Their horse did not stand to it but with their foot there was an hot skirmish almost an houre And though our seconds were slow in comming up yet did the forlorn hope drive them from hedge to hedge and after a while our body comming on beat them in and pursued them up to the very house took some few prisoners and came off with the losse only of two men Such multitudes of the Kings Forces lay upon us to oppresse the Countrey and intercept our reliefe that they were extremely straimed of quarter and enforced to look forth for livelihood Whereupon two thousand Horse and Foot marched from Tewkesbury to Painsewick to gather contribution and rob the Countrey about Stroudwater The Governour drew out two hundred Musketiers with an hundred horse and marched to the top of Bruckthrop Hill expecting the enemy whom he found divided into three bodies and himselfe born down by their multitude for whilst two parties faced him
the third stole down an hollow lane and had almost surrounded him unawares by the negligence of the Scouts so that our whole body was brought into great danger driven to a sudden and confused retreat and the Governour himselfe left deeply engaged yet most of our men got off being preserved only by the gallartry of a few resolved men that stood in the breach and of them Captaine George Massie striving to retard the pursuit grappled with three together hand to hand received a sore wound in the head and was happily rescued by a Serjeant of the company of ours two Lievtenants and sixteen private Souldiers were taken prisoners the rest in disorder ran down the steep through a rough and narrow lane and recovered an house at the foot of the Hill where a party was left to make good the retreat and the enemy durst not pursue by which meanes all the bottome was preserved from spoyle next day they retreated to Few esbury laden with plunder Suddenly after this repulse we lost two small Garrisons at Westbury and Huntly by the treachery of Captaine Thomas Davis who sold them at a rate to Sir John Winter This Davis commanded the Guard at Huntly where himselfe by night some distance from the house attended the enemies comming went in before them as friends from Gloucester gave them possession and having accomplisht that peece of treason immediately marched to Wesbury where he was received for a friend and led in his traine of Cavaleers that both places were surprized in two houres and above eighty men and armes lost in that great exigence This Villaine was posted on the Gallowes in Gloucester and the Lord Generall was desired that his name might stand upon the Gibbet in all the Parliament Garrisons During these things a Treason of higher nature was plotted by the Enemy to a self-delusion in the close a greater birth requiring more time to bring forth It was first conceived the nineteenth of November and for near ten weeks had the prime influence on their whole course in these parts and is now ripe for action All the force they can make from Oxford and the Irish are drawn together The Lord Herbert Colonell Vavasour and Sir Iohn Winter lie upon us and Prince Rupert himselfe lying at Newent hoping to effect this great Design Fifteen colours of horse arrived at Cirencester and five hundred horse and foot advanced to Saperton and Musarden within ten miles of this Garrison There were of the Enemies forces round about near six or seven thousand The failing of their endeavours and hopes in the late siege brought forth a despaire of reducing the City by storme and put them upon the wayes of treachery who therein illuded themselves and were over-acted in their own councels One Edward Stanford an Esquire and a grand Papist assaulted the fidelity of Captain Backhouse once his friend and acquaintance He presumed that former friendship might make way to admit the plot and Backhouses power and interest in the Governour made it in his conception very feasible Wherefore in a private Letter he tendred the renewing of ancient love not only to the procuring of the Kings pardon but a greater advancement and fortune then the condition of those whom he served could rayse him to This might be purchased by the delivering of Gloucester into their hands which was not hard for him to perform considering the nature of his employment And the honesty of the enterprize was grounded on the old proverb fallere faltentem non est fraus An hasty and abrupt temptation and the tempters irrationall confidence did befool him in the first onset who knew not either to propose or expect such grounds of assurance as the thing did require but set upon a knowing man without the knowledge of any imbred inclination to treason or present provocation Except a strange levity a minde set on mischief the conscience of delinquency or desire of revenge vain glory or riches are the sole aimes of a Traytor and the hopes of either must appear large and certain but here an attempt is made on such a one who neither by feare was compeld to provide for himselfe nor enraged against his own party but acknowledged a present felicity in the work in hand as though it were possible to perswade a man wittingly to contrive his own overthrow The Letters were no sooner received but communicated to the Governour who advised to embrace the businesse and hold a correspondence with that party practizing that rule by themselves propounded for these reasons First t was a delight and glory to take them in the snare which themselves had layd and the advantage was great 2. That this treason already secured might prevent other conspiracies against the City so long as they had faire hopes of prevailing by this lest the contrivance of a second should confound the disposition of the first 3. That the Countrey under the command of this Garrison which upon the petition of the malignant Gentry was devoted to destruction might be preserved and spared by the Enemy in hope to enjoy the benefit thereof themselves for the embracing of this plot did not draw on the Enemy but held his hand and suspended the execution of his fury 4. To spin out the plot and feed their expectation till the Countrey had vented in the markets their spare provisions of Corn and Cattle 5. That the Enemy possest and taken up with the gayning of the City might give the Parliaments Forces in other parts of the Kingdome a greater freedome to execute their designes 6. That a flattering promise might allay their fury till the winter were past or our reliefe come and we be able to feed them with harder meat and that themselves might taste the cursed fruits of Treason to a selfe-shame and confusion The Design was communicated to Captain William Singleton Alderman and Captain Read For these and the like reasons Backhouse undertook the businesse and returned an answer in a liberall garb protesting that he honoured his Majesty with his soule and was ready to perform all reall service He seemmed withall to promote the plot by requiring sworn secrecy and agreeing upon a trusty messenger and that he might seem more deeply to rellish the matter catcht hold on the promise of Reward and required some unquestionable assurance that he might not play an after game poorely Thus the fraud is returned upon them by one that strives to maintayn the repute of integrity conceiving it no transgression of Military Honour to deceive them into a snare by verball equivocation as well as by a doubtfull action the common way of the Stratagems of Warre This confident Reply and the palpable discovery of a sudden change did not render him suspected but beyond all reason gave the complotters great contentment who did not enquire into the conviction and change of his thoughts by due degrees Stanford desired him forthwith to expresse his conditions propose the way and descend unto the particulars
their usuall fiercenesse did extract great Ransomes or unequall exchanges and disposed them to detaine their Captives in extreame misery and to neglect their owne friends in the like thralldome of which those that were taken at Cirencester gave a full testimony But the Parliament Garrisons knew not how to keepe a correspondence in this case but groaned under the burthen of miserable prisoners were prone to exchange or set free upon easie termes And by this meanes most of the common souldiers then taken within tenne daies were sent backe into their owne Country with an Oath never to serve against the Parliament others that tendred themselves were entertained in the service who for the most part proved Runnegadoes the Commanders and Gentlemen came off some with a Ransome and Oath which they quickly violated and the residue were wholly lost at the surrender of Bristoll The whole successe of the former action happily complyed with the maine Plot and extreamly dashed the Kings affaires in these parts The generall fame did increase and heighten the repute of Sir William Waller and the enemy possessed there with began to draw back on all sides Sir Matthew Carew forthwith quitted the Towne of Tewksbury which within twelve houres was repossest by our Forces Captaine John Fienes was commanded thither with a slender strength of Horse and Dragoones with whom the well-affected of the Town that abode in Gloucester began to returne The undertaking was hasty and confused without the observance of the Enemies motion or distance or any rationall assurance of defending the place Our Party had no sooner saluted the Towne but received an Alarme that the former Forces were returned with a greater power 'T was a gallant Brigade of Horse commanded by the Lord Grandeston which immediatly came from Cheltenham whereof our men had not the least intelligence it seemed by the event that the Enemy expected none from Gloucester however there was quicke dispatch on both sides yet Captaine Fienes with his whole Party had bin surprised had not those Horse been kept off at a miles distance by a ridiculous accident It so fell out that they met a man comming alone from the Towne whom they fell to question whether any Forces were there of what strength and by whom commanded the man intending nothing lesse then the escape of our Party but supposing them a part of the Parliament Forces and willing to curry favour begins to talke of a maine strength and vast numbers with so many Guns and all kind of preparations and withall defies the Cavalliers with much affected indignation which words so farre prevailed that they presently held a Counsell of War and once were about to fall back This delay gave an houres respit to those within to prepare for a flight who had no sooner recovered the end of the Towne but the Enemy had entred amazed to see themselves so miserably deluded When Sir William Waller had refreshed his men some few daies about the first of Aprill 1643. he advanced towards Monmouthshire at the solicitation of divers Gentlemen of that Country with a promise of concurrence in reducing those parts to the obedience of King and Parliament When he came neere the Towne of Monmouth where the Lord Herbert had began to place a Garrison the Souldiers did not abide his comming but all shifted for themselves by flight Sir William entred the naked and open Towne where he stayed a while and sent many Parties abroad the Country for supplies of money thence marched to Vske where he set free some prisoners kept there but the reducing of the Country came to nothing for the Gentlemen did not perform and he found there what usually comes to passe in such cases that men desirous of alterations invite upon ample promises but never make good and feldome appearein the businesse till the Souldier hath done the worke to their hands or they have gotten some stronge Hold to secure their ingagements So that the well-affected would not declare themselves because a running Army could be no lasting support and they had no strong Hold nor the stream of the people which were at the devotion of the Earle of Worcester almost an universall Land-lord in that County Whilst these things are acted Prince Maurice enters Tewksbury with a power of Horse and Foot added to those former under the command of the Lord Grandeston resolving to make after Sir William Waller and to intercept his return out of Wales for he was gotten into such a nooke of the Land in the Enemies Country that the Prince might easily drive him to a Nonultra Wherefore a bridge of Boates was made over Seaverne at Tewksbury that they might passe to and fro nearer the retreat of our Army Here the Prince marched over with a body of two thousand Horse and Foot confident of this designe and therefore too remisse slow in his advance Sir William was nimble in the retreat caused his Foot and Artillery to passe over Seaverne at Chepstow and himselfe with his Horse and Dragoones passed through the lower part of the Forrest of Deane neare the River side and before the Enemy had notice of his march sent forth two Parties to fall upon two of their maine quarters which was performed whilst the maine body slipt between both and a Party was left to face them and make good the retreat which came off something disorderly and with the losse of a few private Souldiers 'T was an exquisite conveyance and unexpected felicity that brought them out of the snare through those intricate waies This Alarme quickly reached Gloucester and Lieutenant Colonell Massie drew out three hundred foot and two troops of horse to fetch off our men but if he found them dis-ingaged for a further designe This Party met them within two miles of the Towne where the Governour made knowne to Sir William Waller his purpose to set upon Tewksbury and taking the opportunity of the Princes absence and the Enemies jollity at our supposed totall defeate instantly advanced upon them and by break of day brought up his men before the Towne one part whereof fell in to the Ham seased upon the Guard left with the bridge of Boats and cut off that bridge the Horse with the rest of the Foot came up Gloucester way the Forlorne Hope surprised and slew the Sentinell climbed over the workes and cut down the draw-bridge whereupon both Horse and Foot-rushed in and the party on the other side of Avon ready to enter there were left in the Towne neere three hundred men commanded by Sir Matthew Carew whom the triumph of yesterdaies conceived Victory laid asleepe and the sudden Alarme roused up first into a shuffling fighting posture and after halfe an houre to a nimble escape Sir Matthew Carew fled and many escaped the hands of our men who wanted numbers to surround the Towne but most of the common Souldiers and some valuable Officers were taken Oxford was as miserably gulled in these passages and in a few
houres extreamely affected with contrary reports for the jocund newes of the vanquishing of Sir Wil. Waller arrived early in the morning but before noone an expresse came of the losse of Tewksbury which was cast upon the heat of the first report like cold water into a boyling pot The same day a Party of Prince Maurice his Horse appeared from the top of a Hill neere Tweksbury and intimated the approach of his whole Army whereupon Sir William VValler marched thither that Evening and resolved to breake downe or make good the bridge at Upton upon Seaverne besides which there was no passe nearer then VVorcester but the Scouts gave notice that the Prince had recovered the bridge and set a guard upon it The next morning Sir VVilliam advanced towards the Prince and found him in Ripple Field with his Army drawn up and divided into three bodies besides the hedges lined with Musketeers Here our Forces faced the Enemy in a large field and could hardly reach the third part of the Princes strength brought up their Gunnes having neither shot prepared nor Cannoneers that understood the businesse nor the assistance of Foot save only a part of the Governours owne company besides the wind and Sun were against them and no retreat if need were but through a narrow Lane of two miles long and whereas they might stand upon the top of a rising ground to deceive the Enemy with the semblance of a greater power behind they descended a little on the side of the Hill and discovered their weaknesse to a full view In this posture some perswaded to fight and began to make some shot with the Ordnance which gave no shew of the least execution But some other Officers examined the Cannoneere and finding neither fit Bullet nor any convenient shot but all things at randome earnestly disswaded either to make the onset or expect the enemy in that place and advising likewise the tryall discovered their Ambuscadoes within the hedges Hereupon Sir VVilliam VValler fell back and entred the narrow Lane commanding a Party of Dragoones to face the Princes Army and the Musketeeres to stand at the corner of the lane within the hedges to make good the retreat The enemy fell on not a man of those Dragoons would stand to receive the charge but hurried away broke over the hedge fell among and disordered our owne Musketeers the Enemy clapt in after them cut down foure or five of the Foot and tooke as many Prisoners Lieutenant Colonell Massie kept close to his Foot and instantly dispatcht to Tewksbury for a supply and Sir Arthur Hazelrigg prevailed with his owne Troope to charge and in his owne person performed gallantly the Foot with those Horse put the Enemy to a stand and in part tooke off the foulenesse of the retreat through that straite passage When they came to the next open place our men had the advantage of a ditch to stay the persuit and in the heat of the chase one Foot Souldier at the command of the Governour turned upon the Enemy a gate then cast of the hinges which barred their entrance enabled our men to draw up for a charge here for a while they stood in a maze but on a suddain faced about ran flock-meale the Enemy upon their backs and the close of this action was like to be miserable but at the entrance a strait passage neere the Myth Hill a supply of Foot from the Town opportunely met them gauled the Enemy and put them to a stand once more whilst the Governour charged the leader of the forlorne hope hand to hand and was rescued by the gallantry of some Officers when of ours onely a small Party of Horse remained in the field the rest being got off in great confusion Yet the escape might equall a Victory and the saving of the Forces passe for cleare gaine Prince Maurice did not attempt the regaining of Tweksbury the Government whereof was intrusted to Sir Robert Cooke who had newly raised a Regiment of Foot by Commission from sir VVilliam VValler At that season the main strength of the Kings Army was drawn from these parts when Redding was beleaguerd by the Earle of Essex by which meanes the Parliament forces had a large and free game in this Countrey went on with a full stream of successe driven with a gentle gale of providence and a kinde of unimitable happinesse in unbloody victories The fortune of the former did over-rule the event of the succeeding action and the name and presence of Sir William Waller did include more then a thousand men Neither was he wanting to himselfe but made the best use of his present fame and kept it up by constant active endeavours lest a little intermission might permit the enemy to recollect himselfe or the reall weaknesse of this Army be discerned It was therefore suddenly resolved for Hereford whither he advanced with a thousand Horse and Dragoons assisted by the Governour with the greatest part of the Lord Stamfords Regiment there were also the beginnings of Colonell Thomas Stephens his Regiment The maine body of Horse and Foot were drawn up before Bisters gate on the North side of the Town stood aloof off and shot at random till the Lievtenant Colonell commanded Captain Grey with a party of musketiers over the River towards Wie Bridge whose march was secured by a rising bank under the walls These were ordered to make shew of an assault and if need were to fall back unto the water side where seconds were placed for their reliefe The enemies horse sallied out upon them whom that party having gallantly kept off and forced back into the City with-drew thence and gained a Church within Pistoll shot of St Owens gate whence our Musketiers plaied on the walls and exceedingly terrified those within But the main rest of the businesse was the name of a conquering army which Sir William Waller improved to the best advantage by all expedition and industry And to help forward Massie drew up two Sakers in a strait line against Wigmarsh gate not without extream hazard by shot from the walls himselfe gave fire and the first Canon shot entred the gate took an Officers head from his shoulders and slew some few besides More shots were made each of which scoured the streets and so daunted the enemy that they presently sounded a parley which was entertained by Sir William Waller and hostages given on both sides the Parley lasted almost the whole day whilst most of the common souldiers ranne over Wie bridge into Wales only the Commanders and Gentlemen remained and were reported to be held in by the Townsmen to sweeten the surrender and obtaine better quarter Next morning they rendred the chiefe prisoners here taken were the Lord Scudamore Colonell Coningsby Sir William Crofts c. few horse and private souldiers but store of Armes and Ammunition The Town compounded was secured from plunder and after fourteen dayes deserted Sir William Waller obtained many faire victories but had
no power to make them good because his field was too large for that strength and the State made an inconsiderable number of men the only stay of the remote parts These could over-run the enemies Countrey but get no ground master no strong hold nor reduce a people naturally malignant that were dashed at present but did flourish again in the reverse of the Kings Army The next attempt was made upon Worcester whither all the horse and the greatest part of the blue Regiment were drawn They at Oxford were said to have yeelded that Town for lost and to give out that Sir William was gone to take possession of his purchase For at that time Treason was the pretended cause of every losse on both sides especially if weak and unworthy Both horse and foot came up before the City where they lay a day and a night effected nothing and were drawn off at the noise of the Lord Capels advance at which instant Sir William Waller was taken off these parts and ordered to march into the West with all speed to prevent the joyning of Sir Ralph Hoptons forces with the rest of the Kings Army Sir Robert Cooks Regiment was called off from Tewksbury for the Western expedition and that Town once more slighted Hitherto Lievtenant Colonell Massie governed the City of Glocester by deputation from the Earle of Stanford whose returne was not expected wherefore the thoughts of the Citizens began to enquire after a Governour They thought well of a man neare home and cast their eye upon a knowne Patriot Neverthelesse more intelligent men upon the serious review of the Cities continuall hazard found that the necessity of this place did require a tried Souldier and that such a one might possibly be found faithfull but a timorous or unskilfull man must needs ruine all Wherfore they reflected on Massie whose good services gave them also a competent assurance of his fidelity that by the happy choice of the Citizens and the Lord Generals Commission he was appointed Governour To enable the City to defend it selfe a foot Regiment was raised by Commission from Sir William Waller out of the Townsmen for the major part both Officers and Souldiers under the Command of Colonell Henry Stephens The first intention of this Regiment was to defend the City only within the walls according to the infancy of warre but the hard service of this place did suddenly require and exact the full duty of Souldiers At this instant the City was well becalmed only there hapned one passage of inferiour nature but full of the fortune of warre The Governour with a party of an hundred and twenty Horse and Dragoons advanced towards Stow in the wold to beat up the enemies quarters By break of day he fell into Slaughter took a Lievtenant twelve Troopers horse and armes and thence marched to Odington a mile beyond Stow where he surprised a Captaine of a Troop with forty men and horse and so made homewards neglecting the residue of the enemy who drew out of their quarters with all speed The remainder of their Regiment fell upon the reere of our men neare unto Slaughter with some slight execution but were beaten back The Governour being confident he was able to fight with them upon any ground made no haste to march off till the enemy had received a supply of Horse from Sudely Castle and again charged him at Andovers foord whom our men received gallantly and repulsed without any losse The Captaine that led the Van was slain by the Governours hand and the rest wheeled about whereupon the Governour dismounted the Dragoons and divided his men into three bodies the horse to the right and left wing in this posture resolving to march up to the enemy who would gladly rid their hands of the businesse but having advanced a little distance and looking back to bring on his men saw the greater part in a strange hurry occasioned by the faceing about of some cowardly spirits and himselfe with those dismounted men desperately engaged for a while he shuffled amongst the enemies Troopes till observing himself eyed by some he sprang forth fired in their faces and came last off the field upon the maine roade He offended here by affecting too much gallantry and was deceived in his new raised men who were not hardned by the sight of an enemy Besides no ordinary care was had of securing the prisoners who were all recovered back Four of ours were slaine many wounded Colonell Stephens a Lievtenant with five and twenty private souldiers taken prisoners The springing hopes of Colonell Stephens failed unfortunately when his eager minde engaged him in the action without order and against the will of the Commander in chiefe he had no command in the action but hasted after as greedy of the service he was led captive to Oxford and a while after breathed his last in that poysonous ayre where many Gentlemen were observed in those dayes to expire Amidst these things Sir Iohn Winter a zealous Papist began to declare himselfe A subtile wit that pretended innocency till his houre was come and had almost perswaded the world that he durst deny himselfe and commit an unpardonable sinne against the Catholike Cause His house in the Forrest of Deane was at first neglected when it was in the power of this Garrison to ruine his designe But under hand he prepared for defence suddenly clapt in his owne Confidents and with a little labour made it inaccessible but with apparent great losse and maintained his den as the plague of the Forrest and a goad in the sides of this Garrison These things were acted about the time of that blow almost fatall to the Parliaments cause in the vanquishing of Sir William Wallers Army at the Devices which defeat cast these parts of the Kingdome into a miserable plight when the State had placed the whole game in the successe of this Army never providing a reserve The King became master of the field the Parliament left without an Army that could check the enemy who came up to our gates and by threats would seeme to shake the walls of the City Many began to prepare for flight whose presence no reall necessity but the peoples opinion did require They at Bristoll disclosed their feares and gave no good presages And when that City was yeelded Gloucester did stand alone without help and hope The Lord Generals Army pined away Sir William Waller at London for a recruit The Earle of Stamford shut up within the walls of Exeter The Kings Countrey reached from the utmost Cornwall to the borders of Scotland and he was able to divide his Army one part for Exeter and the other for Gloucester That sudden surrender of Bristoll which was almost beyond our feares brought forth a dark gloomy day to the City of Gloucester The mindes of people were filled with amazement and the failing of such a promising Government made most men infidels or at least to question all things But here was
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
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
Agent Sir John Winter bestirre themselves to patch up the lingring life of the Garrison at Lidney and have procured from Prince Maurice at Worcester a regement of horse and dragoones by whose assistance he was confident to have beaten up our small guards in the Forrest and enlarge his owne quarters to bring the Forrest once more under his power to the destruction of the people and the great advantage of the Kings Army and Bristoll in speciall furnishing them with iron wood coales The reminding of so great a mischiefe to the Parliaments Service made the Governour carefull to prevent him and with an answerable number of horse and foote advanced into the Forrest towards Lidney where Sir John and his party got in before him But after a few small skirmishes to no valuable losse on either side the Governour set guards upon all the passages and imprisoned the Enemy in their own strong hold and again drew off the maine body in the view of the Garrison The Enemy observing his march and supposing the expedition for Gloucester sallied out upon Sully-House at a miles distance and a temporary garrison for the blocking up of Lidney In the instant of time the Governour returnes to this guard and understanding by the Scouts their neere approach drew out a forlorne hope faced and charged them retreated alittle and faced them againe with the exchange of few shot till the Enemy were brought up so high that they discovered our body Hereupon they make a sudden retreate our forlorne hope fall on and the body followes turned their horse to flight who forsooke the foote and left most of them to our mercy Here wee tooke one Captaine with five and twenty common souldiers having slaine a Captaine two Leiutenants and twenty sixe souldiers The whole action upon those forces from Worcester was performed onely with the losse of twenty horses and a few men surprized in their quarters which neverthelesse cost the Enemy the life of a Major The passages from Lidney are all guarded by our horse to starve those within and preserve the Forrest from their plunder The Governour having his hands and thoughts filled with these distractions was yet more perplexed by a fresh and unknowne engagement of Colonell Stephans in Wiltshire It happened that about this time the enemie had garrisoned an old but repaired Castle at the Devizes And to prevent the spoyle of the Country neere Malmesbury Colonell Deveraux had erected a garrison at Rouden House between the Devizes Malmesbury and before it was setled or well furnished with Ammunition and Provision it was set upon sorely straightened Colonell Stephens being newly made Governour of Beverston Castle was desired to give aide to the reliefe of the house and sets upon the service without Colonell Massies Order or knowledge in those his manifold preingagements wherefore hee advanced to succour the besieged with three Troopes of his owne Regiment and some Malmesbury foote and though he failed of a parry of horse to be sent from Colonell Devereux undertooke the businesse broke through the Enemy with much difficulty and hazard and relieved the house with provision and powder but failed in the concluding part for when he might with farre lesse difficulty have forced the way back through a troubled enemy he alighted unwarely and went into the house to refresh himselfe thereby giving the besiegers time to rally and to cast up a breast-worke before the passage that hee with the rest being foure hundred horse and foote were all cooped together and the poore besieged are most desperately straitened by this kinde of reliefe They without are five hundred strong the newes runnes to Gloucester and calls for helpe which had not needed had Colonell Stephens imparted the businesse to the Governour as he ought and waited to have set the Country in a posture on all sides to face the Enemy whose inrodes in the meane while were expected from each quarter They were already drawne out of Cirencester Farfard and Leehlade and keept their Randevouz on the hills by Cirencester From Hereford they stirre with a great strength on that side and in the Forrest those that are penned up in Lidney strive to breake prison Notwithstanding this at our first alarme the Governour sent his owne Captaine Leiutenant and threescore of the choise horse well appointed and all that could be spared unlesse he would ruine the Forrest and now the worke of releeving this place is made more difficult the Enemy round about being drawne together with a purpose to swallow them up or more gladly to fight with Colonell Massie at such advantage on the hills and farre from home yet the best face is put on a bad matter the threescore horse were to joyne with an hundred horse and dragoones from Malmesbury to breake through the Enemy and these added to the foure hundred and thirty within the house were conceived able to force a passage through the midst of the first five hundred But now a greater power are come up to the house at least three thousand men Sir Jacob Ashley did contribute much to the strength of the besiegers by draining his quarters at Cirencester whom the Governour could not prevent nor follow except with the losse of his interest in the Forrest onely he raised the Country about Stroudwater to face the Garrison of Cirencester our horse advanced up to the first guard and slew the Sentinell hoping by this alarme to draw backe the residue from Rowden House And though the weather dispersed and drove backe the Country forces yet such hopes did revive the businesse that two rainy nights might be an opportune and active season for Colonell Stephens to breake through and then which no greater could be expected Our second party of horse went on for Malmesbury to releeve the besieged at Rowden and by the way releeved Beverston Castle with Ammunition but came too late for the maine designe for the more potent Enemy had so strongly guarded the passages that the releefe of the house became desperate and they within presently surrendred upon quarter for their lives The Regiments of horse are much broken and reduced to an inconsiderable number the Enemy growes strong and a streame of ill successe flowes in upon us Colonell Hopton for whom the Governour procured a Commission upon his promise of raising foure hundred horse and armes at his owne charge without the helpe of the State or Country having got together about threescore horse and forty foote undertooke with these men to garrison Castle-ditâ—â— neere Ledbury in Herefordshire having neither order nor directions from the Governour who conceived the house not to be defended and required him to desist the enterprize the order is neglected But not many dayes after a party drawne out of Hereford had not lain before it foure and twenty houres but he with his forty foot and twenty horse were taken and carried prisoners to Hereford ere the Governor could come with releefe who lighted neverthelesse upon a
which the representative Body of the Kingdome thinks fit For a third party cannot be in England And therefore they have no way of safety or justification in this action but a speedy declaration for the Parliament from whom they would finde security and protection and after assurance of fidelity a setling of the Countrey to their owne likings He gave them likewise to understand that the charge of the Parliament in maintaining the Souldiers and of the Countrey in contribution did thence arise that the people being disingaged in person might looke to their Husbandry declaring withall that the disunion of the Country not understanding their interest in the Parliament was the sole cause of the entertayning of Souldiers For had the whole Kingdome rose in time and expressed themselves of this opinion that they would stand up as one man against the Popish partie and enemy of their Countrey the worke had beene long since done But their drawing backe put the Parliament upon this way of raysing Armes upon their stocke and expence or the Kingdome must needs fall He minded them likewise that if they lost this opportunity of closing with the Parliament nothing but destruction would follow that if they closed with Hereford and composed the difference this compliance might last till Prince Ruperts returne and then they must looke to pay for this rebellion but if they purpose at last to fall in with Rupert it would hasten their bondage yet givethem no security This kinde of entercourse passed betweene Colonell Massie and the Countrey people meane while he drew backe to Rosse waiting the event of this commotion but not engaging himselfe amidst a promiscuous and doubtfull multitude He represented likewise to the Committee of both Kingdomes what advantage the gaining and disadvantage the losse of this opportunity might be to the whole worke that their expressions of their esteeme of himselfe and his gentle dealing with them were great that the weaknesse of his forces cheifely of Horse was the maine businesse that caused the Major Part to decline his invitation importuning them if they desired to gaine this partie as also a leading party to the whole Kingdome to send a considerable strength of Horse and if the forces saide to be intended had come to him when fifteene thousand appeared in Armes before Hereford and of them sixe thousand Musqueteers and some well mounted he had gained a full testimony of compliance with the Parliament and drawne them with ease to aide him against Prince Ruperts Army when they were in the moode so farre incensed and inraged And to compleate the designe a Recruite for the Regiments of Horse was necessary and that the Auxiliaries should bring along their meanes of entertainment for the sending of strength without money did more wound then heale us for the Souldiers challenge their pay or plunder And as it was hatefull to the Governour so the State of the Countrey would not permit him to spend his time in gathering contribution But for want of a just and due supply these men were lost to us and to themselves also concluding a peace with the Governour of Hereford and obnoxious and open to the Kings Army Hereupon Colonell Massie marched from Rosse and passed the Seaverne towards Berkely purposing to joyne with Sir William Waller who was noysed to be come into the Borders of this Countrey when the day before some of the Berkely forces had issued out towards our Garrison at Slimbridge but ere they could retreate to the Castle the Garrison forces fell upon them slewe twelve wherof one Captain an Irish Rebell and took twenty five prisoners whereof two were Captaines and one Leiutenant The Governour with his party advanced thence towards Chipping-Sodbury where Colonell Strange with a party of Horse began to fortify but upon the notice of our Advance retreated to Berkely No sooner had the Herefordshire men disbanded and returned to their owne houses but Prince Rupert falls backe out of Shropshire and comes upon them with his whole Army The noise of his Arrivall doth hasten the Governours returne to Gloucester who drew thence two hundred Horse and five hundred foote into the Borders of Herefordshire where many of the Countrey people resorted unto him some with fire weapons some with others but the want of strength especially of Horse render'd him of little capacity to preserve them The people having good desires but daunted with the greatnesse of the enemy and the slendernesse of our forces were wholly lost Sir William Waller was importuned to draw this way or to send a strong party which might prove of the greatest advantage to the Kingdome when the Princes designe was to lye on that Countrey to recruite his Army with men horses and money for the Spring action and the approach of the Parliaments Army and would not onely bring in the Countrey and make them firme to their service but disappoint if not destroy Prince Ruperts Army at that time the greatest in the Kingdome being a confluence of the forces of Prince Rupert Prince Maurice Colonell Gerard Lord Hastings Lord Ashly Sir Marmaduke Langdale These men beare all before them take mens Persons spoyle their Estates disarme the Countrey reape the benefit of the late insurrection and extract money by force and terrour from the poore people whose destruction as well as their late rising in Armes is wholly lost to the Parliament and serve onely to make up the enemies recruite The Princes impresse men in great abundance in Hereford Monmouch Worcestershire raise great summes of money get good store of Armes necessity in part casting them upon such ways of violence and coercive power And though the prest men were of suspected fidelity and lesse value and had often deceived them in the heate of battell yet they conduced to the sudden forming of an Army when the Kings Affaires grew desperate and thrust in with the old Volunteers made up the bulke of a great Body Thus both the strength and the ruines of the Countrey are left to the enemy when by the aide of twelve hundred Horse in the beginning of this insurrection the hopes of the businesse might without vanity promise the Parliament many thousand fighting men of all sorts besides those already in pay Sir John Winter the plague of the Forrest once more importuned the releife of Lidney House and obtaines from the Prince about two thousand Horse and fifteene hundred foot who breake in to destroy the Countrey and disarme the Inhabitants The Governour with what strength he can make marched to Wesbury and quartered within a mile and a halfe of the enemy and gave order to the Guards that beset Lidney that the foote be drawne off to the Garrison of Nast and Highmeadow and the Horse repaire to the Randevouze which was done without losse when the Forrest was full of the enemy He preserved likewise the lower parts neere the river but for want of horse wherein the enemy did abound could not without extreame hazard and
so neere Bristoll and farre from releife especially in the Winter Nor at that season could they draw off without a stronger Guard and Convoy To this end the Governour marched to Kingscoate with three hundred Horse and Dragoones intending to send a party to bring off that Garrison but receiving advertisement of a Regiment of Horse quartered that night in Sâ—dbury he fell downe thither where he found an enemy there arrived to the assistance of Colonell Gernard against Tate-House here he resolved to undertake them that night and had no sooner appeared at the Townes end but the first Guard fledde and our men marched into the Town one by one because of the enemyes baracadoes went up to the maine Guard consisting of forty Horse who being surprized daunted at the sudden entrance of our men and not confiding in their owne strength quitted the place and left the rest in their quarters most of which escaped on foote by the backe side of the Towne We tooke fourescore Horses many Armes twenty prisoners and of them two Captaines and the next morning brought off the forlorne Garrison In the depth of Winter when each parcell of the Parliaments Army had retired into London or the securer parts of that Association and the Kings forces were dispersed into the severall quarters Cirencester and the hill Country of Gloucestershire was assigned to Sir Jacob Ashley having the Command of three Brigades of foote and assisted with the Queenes Prince Ruperts Prince Maurices and the Lord Wilmots Regiments of Horse with others His designe was to destroy the Countrey and live upon the ruines thereof whose incursions on that side and the Bristoll forces about Berkely with the Worcester Hereford and Monmouth forces on the other side act something daily to the spoyle of a miserable Countrey which is left as the Kingdomes forlorne hope and croucheth daily betweene two burdens The distressed Neighbourhoode did seeme to challenge those severall Armyes then in being which lay rusting in their quarters to keepe the Associated Countyes where no feare was when they might prevent the ruine of their freinds and starve the enemy who live upon our fatnesse when they might hinder the Kings Recruits disturbe their Winter calmes and make them fight for the possession and enjoyment of their owne Territoryes But in the deepe silence of that part of the Kingdome these parts are borne downe by the maine Bulke of the Kings Army without the least inablement at present or the hopes of future releife The enemyes whole burden rests upon this Government Colonell Massie placed a Guard at Lypiat commanded a party of Horse and Dragoones to Strouds a place most exposed to spoyle and set Guardes of Horse at severall places of advantage These Guardes affronted Sir Jacob Ashley in the stoppe of Contribution and Plunder the indignation whereof drew him out of Cirencester with foure Regiments of Horse to Hampton Roade where he divided his men and sent them out three severall wayes to surprze our Horse in their quarters and plunder the Countrey Each party fayled of the designe through the favour of Providence to that well affected people At each Guardes some few that tooke the Alarme did encounter and stave off the enemyes first violence till the rest of a few slender troopes were drawne up and encouraged by the Governours fortunate arrivall from Gloucestershire at that instant charged and overcame a farre greater power which were also engaged to fight by their heavy plunder and difficult returne In the whole about eight or nine slaine and twenty of the best men of the Queenes and Princes Regiment taken prisoners and of these one Captaine and Cornet The successe did revive and engage the Countrey Yet after a few dayes Sir Jacob Ashley marched out of Cirencester with a greater power of Horse and Foote and assaulted the Guard at Lypiat in the absence of the Captaine that commanded there with instructions from the Governour to draw off if at any time an Army fell downe But the House being unfortifyed was soone taken and uncapable of defence where we lost a Lieutenant and fifty private Souldiers At which very time we had lodged three hundred foote within Muserden House sent thither the day before with orders to defend it as a Garrison who had no knowledge of the enemyes approach till they came within halfe a mile They remained in the House according to command but in no defensible posture neverthelesse expecting the Onset every moment The surprizall of these men was prevented by a meere accident of the Governours Arrivall who faced the great Body with no more then sixty Horse till the Foote were drawne off the Hills That the strength of the Kings Army should lie upon us was not strange but that no care was had of a competent provision for a deserving Country was beyond the conceit of them that beheld our misery The enemy were strong in horse and our few divided into so many parcells and swallowed up in the petty guards that no sooner could we drawe to the rescue of one side but the forces on the other hand fell on to the ruine of the poore people The Governor knowes no remedy but by daily shifting motions and becomes an Ubiquitary He can attempt no designe but first in his owne person faceth the Enemy on the contrary side and fills them with the alarme of his presence Sir Jacob Ashley sends Warrants for contributions to the gates of Gloucester The forces from Hereford were marched forth to Canon-Froome towards Lidbury whereupon the Governor advanced with a party of horse and foote as farre as Bosbury waiting for action but staied onely for a night having placed guards towards Worcester and Hereford in the most passible wayes for the Enemies approach and fell into one of their quarters tooke a Captaine and his Cornet with some common Troopers and fifteene horses the Enemy falling downe from Cirensester suddenly fetches home this party Whiles these things happened the Governour received a command from the Committee of both Kingdoms to attempt Campden House newly Garrisoned by the Kings forces under Sir Henry Bard and the horse of Warwicke and Coventry by command of the same Committee were to aide and receive Orders from him in the prosecution of this designe Colonell Massie tooke courage to resolve them of the incapacitie of that service for the present since it could not be done without greater losse to the State then the fortune of the action could countervaile for it was a worke of continuance that required our whole strength and that side of the Country from which we drew must be given up to destruction and the Enemy waited no greater advantage then to fasten the Governor upon a tedious enterprize besides the intendment was unvailed in all those parts that were required to send aide and before the Orders of the grand Committee came to his hand the London Mercuries had proclamed it to the world The Earl of Worcester the Lord Herbert and their