Prisoners and a hot skirmish hapned between the Kings party and Essex's men near Causum Bridge wherein the former was worsted and obliged to retâ—â—â—t with some loss and in May divers sâ—â—â—mishes with various success hapned in the West between Sir Ralph Hopton who commanded there for the King and Sir Geo. Chudleige for the Parliament though the former for the most part had the advantage nor did Hostilities cease in other parts for in June divers skirmishes hapned between Prince Rupert and Essex the most material of which was in Chalgrave-field in Oxford-shire where the Prince furiously charging a body of the Parliament Horse routed it killing and wounding a great part of the Enemy and amongst the latter John Hambden who soon after dyed of his Wound as did some others and on the fifth of July Sir Ralph Hopton with a few Forces of the Kings under his Command engaged Sir William Waller who had double his number maintaining the fight from two in the Afternoon till about one the next Morning whereupon Waller perceiving him resolved to obtain the Victory or dye in the place left the field yet soon after being ashamed of the retreat he followed Sir Ralph to the Devises in Wilt-shire whither he was marched with a Resolution to set upon him of which the King having notice sent 1500 Horse from Oxford where he lay encamped to his assistance but upon the Comjunction Waller not thinking it convenient to try the event in that place drew off to Roundway-down but being hotly charged he was in a short time broken and disordered whereupon with his Horse he fled in great Confusion leaving his foot to the mercy of the Royallists who were most of them slain in the fight or taken Prisoners together with four pieces of Cannon all the Amunition and Baggage nine Cornets and 28 foot Colours so that by this fatal blow given on the 13th of July Waller having lost his Army most of the Horse deserting him in his flight he hasted to London with the lamentable story of his defeat Essex by this time with a powerful Army having relieved Glocester and surprized a Convoy of the Kings which fell into his hands through mistake marched to Newberry where the King remained as yet with his Army and had prepared to receive him in the best order the short time of notice would give leave or opportunity so that on the 20th of September 1643 both Armies confronting each other the charge was immediately sounded and seconded by the thundring of the Cannon and Vollies of small shot on either side whilst Prince Rupert with his Squadron forced the main battel and put it into great disorder but whilst he pursued his good fortune he found himself charged by two squadrons of Horse that descended from the Hill where till now they had been posted so that the fight was doubtful and bloody on all parts it being in many places brought to the Sword so that the Lord Jermin who commanded there a Regiment of horse for the King being over charged by number was obliged to force his way not without great hazard through the Battalions of foot yet was the fight maintained with considerable slaughter on either part till Night put an end to the fury both Armies keeping the field till the next day and then retired from each other as by consent The Persons of Note slain were the Earls of Carnarvan and Sunderland the Lord Viscount Faulkland and in all on both sides near six thousand In March Sir Thomas Fairfax and Mitton were set upon by Prince Rupert at Drayton in Shropshire and routed as likewise was Sir John Meldrum who had entred England with his Scotch Forces in favour of the Parliament forced to leave Newark which they had besieged with the loss of their Canon Ammunition and all their Baggage which was Relieved by Prince Rupert and only permitted to depart with their Lives But now Sir William Waller having gotten another Army Anno 1644 fell upon the Lord Hopton's Forces near Winchester at unawares and over-pow'ring him in number cut off divers of his men and obliged him to leave the field whereupon Winchester surrendred but Waller was soon after overthrown by the King's forces at Crop-ready Bridg and Essex with the gross of the Parliament Army blocked up in Cornwall and now the Earl of Newcastle being besieged in York Prince Rupert advanced with an Army of Horse and Foot to Relieve the City upon whose approach the Besiegers drew off and were upon their retreat hotly pressed and charged by a Sally from the Town when the Garrison under the command of the Earl joyning with the Prince they with conjunct Forces followed the Parliament forces to a place called Marston-Moor where both Armies drew up and with great sury joyned battel which continuing with much effusion of bloud for the space of four hours victory in the end declared against the Royalists and in this fight called by many the bloudy fight of Marston-Moor 9000 men on both sides are computed to be slain after which battel York surrendred and almost all the Towns in the North so that for a while nothing but Skirmishes happened But on the 27 of October both Armies meeting a second time near Newbury an obstinate fight ensued but the Royalists having done all that could be expected from true valour and still oppressed with fresh numbers of the Enemy were forced in the end to give way to necessity and leave the field in some disorder nor is it guessed that on both sides less than 4500 were slain after which nothing more happened in England this year but the skirmishing of Parties and taking of Towns and Castles but in Scotland the Marquess of Montross with inconsiderable forces raised by virtue of a Commission from the King routed divers Armies of the Covenanters putting all Scotland in fear of being Reduced to its obedience by his Prowess Anno 1645 Essex having laid down his Commission it was taken up by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Cromwel was made Lieutenant General most of the prime Officers of the Army being changed yet the King's party strugled strongly for the Royal cause though many finding things in a manner desperate had retired from the Army and passed the Seas for besides divers skirmishes Collonel Massey in April was routed by Prince Rupert at Lidbury with considerable loss But in June following the King's forces were defeated at Langport where about 200 were slain and 1400 taken Prisoners which occasioned soon after the surrender of Pomfret Scarborough Bath and Bridgwater yet in August the Parliaments Quarters with some slaughter on both parts were beaten up about Tame and the Scots defeated at Kielsieth in Scotland by Montross and in September Montross was defeated at Phillipphaugh in the said Kingdom and the King's forces in England were Routed on Routon heath near Chester and in October the Lord Digby was likewise defeated at Sherborn in the County of York and in March following the Lord Ashley was
that purpose whilst the remainder continued the siege furnished with Ordinance and all other Necessaries to impeach or hinder their march their Army consisting of 15000 effectual men part of which were sent over the River â—ar below the Town to relieve it whilst the rest intended only to skirmish with the Kings Army and so to make their retreat as well as they could when the Business was effected for the besieged were indeed in a great Straight for want of Provision when the King to shew the little dread he had of the French not so much as taking down his Tents but leaving the Lord Darcy with a small Train to guard them advanced his Standard the Horse marching a mile before the Foot which the Germans that were in the Kings Army perceiving on a sudden imbattelled by themselves on the Right which gave some suspition that they intended to revolt though it proved otherwise yet by this means they left the front of the Kings Battel unguarded but that undaunted Monarch not to be amuzed nor in the least doubting the Victory which never yet had failed him kept on his way and before he came within sight of the French was met by Maximilian Emperour of Germany who had for his Guard 30 men at Arms well appointed and wearing Red Crosses when a Council being called it was agreed that divers pieces of Ordnance being commodiously planted to incommode the Enemy in their approach the Horse in the head of which the King would have marched but at the intreaty of his Nobles was perswaded to remain with the Foot as safest with him stayed the Emperour and amongst the Avaunt-guard were mounted divers Archers which Resolves of the Council were scarce put in Execution before the French Army appeared marching in three long or extended battels whereupon the Earl of Essex who commanded the greater part of the English Horse and Sir John Pechey with another Squadron of English and Burgundian Horse marched in the Valley with Banners display'd whilst the Lords Wallon and Ligney with the Burgundian Horse made a squadron seperate and the foot moved in a gross battel and so ascending from the lower to the higher Ground Sir Henry Guilford under whose charge the Archers on Horse-back were to the number of an 100 drew out as the forlorn hope and skirmished with the Avaunt-guard of the French till the rest of the Horse came up at what time they alighted and strongly intrenching served as part of a Wing to flank the Foot and the Battel joyning with great fury so that the English Horse-men crying St. George charging in the Front and the Archers continually pouring in their shot of Arrows the French battel was in a manner over-set at the first charge for many of their Standards being overthrown and some that commanded slain they in great Confusion began to shrink together and such as could conveniently disrank at that time fled throwing away their Weapons and cuting off the Barbs of their Horses to fly the lighter whilst the English who were far inferior to them in number of Horse viz. scarce one to ten had little to do but follow the Execution and take prisoners for though the Burgundian Horse came not in till the Battel was in a manner won yet such was the fear of the French that those who were in the Rear perceiving the Vaunt-guard in rout fled without striking a stroke as likewise did divers Troops who were not come to the Battel for having notice of what had hapned by some that fled they faced about and fled foremost so that the chace being hotly made for the space of three miles the Earl of Essex upon such an easie Victory fearing some Ambush caused the retreat to be sounded and returned to the Kings Battel which had not fought bringing many Prisoners of Note and much Riches for in this Battel fought on the sixth of August were taken the Duke of Longuvile the Lord Cleremont and other Noble-men and Gentle-men to the number of 242 besides what the Burgundians took and concealed in order to release them at lesser Ransomes than otherwise would have been taken As for the slain they were not above 800 wherefore in consideration of the small resistance and cowardly flight the French-men have nam'd it the Battel of Spurs Nor did those that were appointed to attack the Earl of Shrewsbury's Camp succeed better for being no sooner skirmished with by Sir Rice ap Thomas but they faced about and fled and though the besieged sallied yet were they valiantly repulsed by the Lord Herbert who with considerable slaughter pursued them to the Gates of the Town so that despairing of Relief they yielded up the Place to the King as likewise did the famous City of Tournay Thus fail'd French Valour thus the English sought By Gallick Pow'rs the Dastard Nation fought And they soon Conquer Nations that the Field Will leave for threats or un-try'd Battels yield That th' English are not such Fames Scroles make good Oft writ in France like Draco's Laws in Blood. A Description of the Great and Memorable Battel fought on the Banks of the River Boristhenes between Bassilius the Great Duke of Moscovy and Constantine General of Sigismund King of Poland Anno 1514. BAssilius the Great Duke of Muscovy having taken Smolensco from the Poles by surprize not contented therewith advanced with an Army of 40000 Horse to waste Lithuania to oppose whose Progress King Sigismund sent Constantine his General a Man of great Experience in Martial Affairs and under his Command 2000 men at Arms 12000 Lithuanians mostly Archers and 3000 Foot-men Pikes intermixed with Harquibusiers nor did the Great Duke hinder their passing the River Boristhenes supposing by that means to have them the surer in his Power but making a moving Oration to incourage his Souldiers he detached about 7000 Horse-men whom he commanded by a great compass fetched about to place themselves at the Rereward of the Poles that when the Battel was joyned and hot on all parts they might break in upon them with strict order to cover themselves till an Opportunity offered in a Neighbouring Valley overshadowed with Woods and the rest of his Army he divided into three squadrons placing a Wing of 12000 Horse-men on the Right commanded by Michael Golujza the second he placed as a left Wing but somewhat at a distance under the Hills that it might be as a reserve or Battel of Succour and the middle Battel himself commanded where was his Baggage and therein he placed the Strength of his Army Whilst this was doing Constantine was not Idle but proposing to himself that the unarmed Moscovites would be much Inferior to him in Prowess though Superior in number if he could bring his Men into such Order that they might without any great damage sustain the first shock of the Archers and suddenly bring the Battel to be tried by the Sword wherefore he placed the men at Arms in the front ranging them in wedged Battel making two
the Duke finding the Day lost used what Industry he could to make an orderly retreat into the Neighbouring Wood but by reason his Array was broken the Imperialists entered with him making great slaughter of his men and pressed so furiously upon him that although he stoutly defended himself yet at length he was taken Prisoner by Hippalito a Venetian and disarmed as likewise were a great number of his men and some prime Commanders In this Battel 2000 foot were slain as likewise 800 Horsemen and 700 wounded on the part of the Saxons but of the Germans the slain exceeded not 500 there were likewise taken 42 Ensigns with all the Plate Jewels Baggage and Furniture of the Camp though the Saxons made a kind of a marching or running fight for the space of fifteen miles in all continuing about eight hours and after this Victory all the Country of Saxony submitted to the Emperours Pleasure as soon after did most of the other Estates and Principalities that combined to withstand and oppose him Thus Saxony in her own Confines prest Through one great loss is many years distrest Labâ—ring with War till Peace at last gave rest A Description of the Memorable battel of Muscle-borough-field fought in Scotland between Edward Seimour Duke of Somerset and James Hamilton Earl of Arran Regents of England and Scotland Anno 1547. A Great difference arising between the two Nations upon the Scots refusing as it had been agreed upon in the days of Henry the Eighth to give their young Queen Mary sole Heiress to the Crown of Scotland to Edward the Sixth King of England c. The English under the leading of the Duke of Somerset and other Nobles entered that Kingdom resolving by War to prosecute them for their Obstinacy and oblige them if possible to the performance of what they without any Colour or Reason had refused whereupon on the third of September Anno 1547 the Lord Regent passed the Tweed with an Army consisting of 10000 foot of which 600 were Harquibuses 4000 men at Arms and Demilances with 2000 light Horse-men of whom 200 were Harquibusiers mounted and 1300 Pioneers the Train of Artillery consisting of fifteen great pieces besides a Fleet of sixty five Vessels whereof a great Gally and thirty four Ships were well appointed for War the rest being Victuallers and Tenders and on the ninth of September incamped within two Miles of the Scotish Army under the command of the Earl of Arran who the next Morning dislodged as likewise did the English and advanced towards each other though the former had but a bad welcome for some of the English Ships riding at Anchor in the River let flye so soon as they came within reach of their shot and killed a Captain together with twenty five Souldiers which made the Battalion of Archers commanded by the Earl of Argyle retreat nor could they be perswaded to advance which made the whole Army change the intended course by marching more Southwardly nor stayed they till they had possessed themselves of the Hill called Fauxside-Bray which made the duke of Somerset the English General send some Troops thither to secure the Hill it being of great advantage to those that possessed it and so successful was he therein that he procured in a short time several pieces of Cannon to be mounted thereon which afterward proved very serviceable in battering the Enemies Ranks and in the Emergency the Council debated on Horse-back what was to be done as not having liesure otherways to do it and came to result this viz. that the Lord Grey of Wilton Marshal of the Army and Captain General of all the Horse-men should with his band of Bulloiners and other Troops to the number of 1800 Horse-men advance to charge the Enemy in the Front whilst Sir Ralph Vane and Sir Thomas Darcy Captains of the Pentioners and Men at Arms together with the Lord Fitz-Walter and his band of Demilances to the number of 1600 should be ready to support him that so by a furious charge they might break or disorder the thick front of the Enemies Pikes and although this was a hazardous undertaking yet the Captains disputed not the Order only the Lord Grey desired the General that if he should miscarry in the Enterprize he would be good to his Wife and Children and so taking leave he advanced to meet the Scots who with no less speed came on in so thick a Wedge that it appeared very difficult if not impossible to pierce their Array for the Earl of Angues who commanded the Vaunt-guard had in his Battel 8000 Men and four or five pieces of Cannon which served as a flank on his Right and on his Left he had 400 Horse men and was supported with 10000 Highlanders and in the Rear-ward was the Earl of Huntly with 8000 Scots and 4000 Irish Archers who served as a Wing unto them both being furnished likewise with Ordnance as in the other battel nor was this all for the English had the difficulty of a great Slough or miry Ditch to struggle with in their Passage which not only obliged them to break their Ranks but mited divers of them that were not skilled in leaping yet surmounting these they came to a furious charge insomuch that although at the first onset the battel was not broken yet it swaied and gave back to Admiration so that the English gained Ground apace but the Lord Marshal finding he was not at that time capable of forcing their Ranks he made a softly retreat towards the Hill that they might disrank to follow him and he thereby have an opportunity to give a second charge before they could fall into order in which retreat he lost twenty five of his men and had divers wounded many of them Persons of Quality as the Lord Generals Son and Sir Thomas Darcy c. Nor did they fail to lay hold on the Kings Standard borne by Sir Andrew Flammock but it was so well defended that they only broke the Staff and carried away the nether end but the English Commanders having rallied their Troops and by moving Orations dissipated the fear the late slaughter occasioned and being re-inforced Peter Meucasa Captain of a Company of Harquibusiers on foot drew up in the front of the Enemies battel and was seconded by Peter Gamboa a Spanish Captain who commanded 200 Harquibusiers on Horseback who with their shot made such slaughter that the Scots durst not advance and by that means the English Archers had time to march on the Right-hand of our foot-men and feather them with their flights of Arrows and the great Ordnance playing transverse within Musquet-shot and the foot-men who had been obscured by the Horse advancing in good array the Scots began to shrink together though they were far superior to the English in number and quickly losing all Courage betook themselves to open flight their General the Earl of Arran flying foremost nor did Angues stand to it but followed with great Celerity so that the
Scots entered England as far as Durham when King Edward preparing to meet them marched to York and there making a halt sent the Lord Montacute to oppose and hinder their further Progress but being encountered on Hedgly Moor by the Lords Hungerford and Ross together with Sir Ralph Peircey he after a sharp dispute took Sir Ralph Prisoner which success incouraged him to pass on and give battel to King Henry who lay encamped at Hexam where both Armies striving to do their utmost devoir a bloody conflict ensued but many being slain and much blood spilt divers of the Commanders wounded and disabled and taken Prisoners Victory declared against King Henry who finding himself unfortunate in War fled into Scotland in this battel 5600 were slain and the Duke of Somerset with three other Lords and one Knight taken Prisoners who were all beheaded And now King Henry returning privately into England in disguise was taken Prisoner and carried to the Tower so that Edward seem'd established in his Throne yet Fate not satisfied with English Blood though the wounded Nation had bled such Streams as made her faint and languish another cruel War arose and the Factions began again to bandy as fierce as ever for Warwick who was called afterwards the make King of those Times being sent to solicite a Marriage between King Edward and the Lady Bona Daughter to Lewis Duke of Savoy and having finished his Negotiation to the liking of the Lady and her Father found upon his return thaâ— the King was married to Elizabeth the Widdow of Sir John Gray slain in upholding the Cause of King Henry at which the Eatâ— supposing his Honour that had been ingaged in the Savoiards Court greatly to suffer grew much inraged and finding mean to withdraw himself joyned with diver Nobles raised a Power and proclaimeâ— King Henry declaring for him and epousing his Interest growing on a suddeâ— so strong that King Edward was forced tâ— draw out his Army and march against him pitching his Camp at Wolney four Milâ— from the Plain on which Warwick was encamped but his Guards being negligent and the Earl having notice thereof entereâ— the Kings Camp and took him Prisoner yeâ— used him very courteously allowing him for his Keeper his Brother George Nevilâ— Arch-Bishop of York who suffering him tâ— ride abroad a hunting and to follow otheâ— Recreations till one day being with a slender Guard far from the Castle and meeting a great Troop of his own Men those thaâ— were with him durst not speak to him 〈◊〉 returning to his Confinement but were glaâ— to leave him behind them and escape for their Lives so that being again at Liberty he was received by his Army with great Joy and passed to London to the great discontent and dislike of the Earl of Warwick Things being at this pass Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells raised an Army of 30000 consisting mostly of the Commons of Lincolnshire on the behalf of King Henry in revenge of which King Edward caused the Lord Wells and Sir Thomas Dimmock his Kinsman to be beheaded and so marched to fight Sir Robert when charging furiously upon the unexperienced Plebeans they scarcely sustained the second shock but throwing away their Coats and Weapons fled for their Lives from whence it was called the Battel of Loose-Coat-Field and the Execution â—eing hotly pursued by the inraged Soulâ—iers 10000 of them are accounted to be â—ain As for Sir Robert Wells and Sir Thomas Deland who commanded under him â—hey were taken Prisoners Upon the News of this Defeat the Earl of Warwick and the Duke of Clarence Brother to King Edward â—ed to Callais but being denied entrance â—hey departed thence to the Court of France where they found Queen Margaret where gathering great Forces they returned to England every where proclaiming King Henry so that the People from all parts hasted to their Standart as well the Nobles as the Commons viz. the Earl of Pembrook the Lord Faulconberg and others so that marching towards London and King Edward finding his Mandates in many places disobey'd thought it not convenient in that juncture to attend the Sequel but with divers of his trusty Friends leâ—â— England and fled to his Brother-in-Law the Duke of Burgundy who had a little before married his Sister so that King Henry waâ— Re-in-throned but continued not long iâ— that Estate before King Edward returned landing in the North with a small Army proclaiming King Henry as he passed and pretending he came only as a private maâ— to possess himself of his Inheritance bâ— which means deceiving the People hâ— surprized the City of York and having garrisoned it pulled off the Vizor and marched towards London reconciling himself by the way thro' the means of a Maiâ— who had been brought up by the old Dutches of York to his Brother the Duke of Clâ—rence whereupon the Citizens opening their Gates and every where proclaiming him King Henry was again taken Prisoner anâ— send to the Tower and now the whole weight of the War lying upon Warwicks shoulders he desperately resolved to carry the day or fighting courageously dye in the Bed of Honour and thereupon directed his March towards London out of which King Edward drew his Forces to meet him and on Easter Day joyned Battel near Barnet since known by the Battel of Barnet-field where either of the Generals impatient of so tedious a War drew on their Forces with great force and fury Warwick charging upon the Kings Squadron broke in with his Sword and made such Distruction that they fled on that part and the Battel had gone on his side had there not been a mistake in part of his Men who by mistaking their Cognizances charged upon their fellows which making them suspect some Treason or sudden Revolt they threw down their Weapons and fled which Warwick perceiving and not finding it in his power to retain them or restore the Battel though he laboured by Example and Perswasion to do it resolving not to out-live the day â—he rushed furiously amongst the Squadrons of the Enemy and there fighting valiantly fell upon the heaps of the slain and with him died his Brother the Lord Montacute and three other Lords were slain on the part of King Edward and of the meaner sort on both sides 20000. The News of this defeat made known to Queen Margaret and Prince Edward her Son by such as fled the field she took Sanctuary in the Abby of Ceerne but the Lords that escaped the Battel of Barnet rallying their scattered Forces gave King Edward another Battel at Tewxbury in which they were overthrown with the loss of 3000 men and of Note the Earl of Devonshire and the Duke of Somerset's Brother there likewise Prince Edward was taken and soon after stabbed by Crook-back'd Richard Duke of Glocester in the Presence of King Edward and soon after King Henry was murthered and his Queen taken from Sanctuary and put to a great Ransom Thus stop'd the Stream of Blood
Mantua Vasey Courtain and Roche du Maine the Rhinegrave the Count Rochfocault the Lords Obigney the two Birons Montbrun and Merne and about 4000 taken Prisoners with all the Bagage and Ammunition whilst on the part of the Spaniards not above 1000 were slain the chief being the Sieur Binecourt Master de Camp and two Noblemen of Germany Count Mansfield was wounded in the thigh and Count Monbrey in the knee After this Battel the strong Town of St. Quintines fell into the hands of the Spaniard as likewise did Haron and Chastellet they ranging freely in those parts for that Summer without any interruption Out of Notalis Comes c. Thus VVars sad Chance we see in blood is writ And Vict'ry flies to whom she thinks most fit VVhilst mighty Realms contend for Soveraignty By the devouring Sword brave Heroes dy Mix't with Plebean deaths the Nobles ly A Relation of the great Sea-fight fought off the Coast of England between the English and Spaniards in the year 1588. vulgarly called the fight of the Spanish Invasion KIng Philip of Spain fretting in his mind at the prosperous success of Elizabeth Queen of England both abroad and at home and more especially resenting her assisting the Flemings in their Wars held against him in the Low-Countries as also the depredations made by Sir Francis Drake and others in the West-Indias he at the Instigation of Pope Sixtus V. and some English Fugitives prepared a great Navy to Invade England for whose vastness and seeming strength it was named by the Spaniards the Invincible Armado though in the sequel it proved otherwise This great Fleet at its setting out consisted of 130 Galleoons Gallies-men of War and Tenders containing 57808 Tuns where in were 8405 Marriners 19295 Souldiers or Landmen and 2088 Gally-slaves furnished with 220000 great shot 4200 Kintaâ—s of Powder 1000 Kintals of Lead for small bullets 1200 Kintals of Match 7000 Musquets and 10000 Halberts with Partisam Field-Pieces and other Provisions requisite for such an undertaking of which the Duke of Medina Sidona was Admiral and was to be joyned by the Prince of Parma Governour of Flanders and to be supplied with further necessaries which accordingly he provided and prepared in all parts of those Provinces upon notice of which and the other preparations the Queen whom they thought by reason of the close carrying on of their design to surprize unprovided for so important a defence caused her Navy Royal immediately to be fitted out under the command of Charles Lord Howard of Effingham whom she constituted Lord Admiral and Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admiral with a Squadron was dispatched to the West of England there to cruze and observe the motion of the Enemies Fleet whilst Henry Lord Seymour second Son to the Duke of Somerset stood with Forty Sail to the Coast of Flanders to prevent Parma's joyning with Medina and thereupon mustered an Army of Land-Forces consisting of 10000 Horse and 32000 Foot with part of which she not only Encamped at Tilbury in Essex but with the rest secured the Places that seemed to Render the Enemy the easiest Access of Landing though through many distresses and disappointments the Spaniards had met withall it was confidently reported and believed by some that they could not in any convenient time make their intended attempt or enterprize yet contrary to the expectation of the English they on the 11. of July cast Anchor in the Chanel and from thence sent a Dispatch to Parma in the King's name to joyn his Forces with them and send such necessaries as were convenient to further the Expedition but on the 20th following about noon being discried by the English they hasted out of the Harbours and on the 21. of the same instant viz. the Lord Admiral Howard Drake Hawkins and Forbisher the most expert in Maritime Affairs that Europe then afforded played furiously in the Rear of the Enemy who were drawn up in the form of a half Moon and so battered Rechalde who commanded a Gally of great force that he his Squadron being put to the worst was so disabled that he had fell into their hands had he not been Received shatter'd as he was into the middle of the Armado as likewise was the Catharine of Spain a Ship of great burthen although the Spanish Admiral declined fighting as much as was possible bulwarking the smaller Vessels with those of greater force bearing from the Coast of England towards Calais so that a great Ship of Biscay commanded by Don Oquendo being fired on the 22. of June a great Gally commanded by Pedro Valdez fell into the hands of Sir Francis Drake in which beside the Commander Don Pedro de Valdez were Vasques de Sylvas and Alanzo de Saijs and other Noblemen the whole number of Men on Board according to their own computation being 430 which were made Prisoners and disposed of in divers places till they were afterward Ransomed nor fared the Vice Admiral De Oquendo better for his Ship having received great damage by fire she was taken with much treasure and carried into Plymouth and although hitherto it had been a kind of a moving Fight the Spaniards shewing an unwillingness to Ingage before they Received their Succours and supply from the Prince of Parma who was indeed blocked up at the same time by the Hollanders who stood upon their guard on the Coast yet now the English Admiral pressed their towring Castles with his shot so furiously that many of them were miserably rent and torn with small damage to the English for that the Spaniards being high built could not well bear their Canon upon the English Ships whose hulls were much lower and when at any time they did the Commanders with their nimble Ships shifted and tacked to a better and more commodious station of anoying the Enemy and so incessantly the Batteries were made that nothing was heard but the thundring of the Canons and the cries of Men whilst ascending smoke made dark the Skies But the Lord Admiral not thinking it convenient to graple with such strength who had a strong Army on board After he had taken and sunk Twelve of their Ships and Gallies and killed them above 5000 men whilst they lay at Anchor before Calais in vain expecting the Prince of Parma A stratagem was found out to break and disperse them which took more effectually than what had before been put in practice viz. into Eight of the oldest and least serviceable English Vessels were put Pitch Tarr Rosin Hemp Flax and other combustible matter their Guns charged and rammed higher than usual with stones crossbar-shot pieces of Iron and the like when in the Night time the wind standing fair they were sent amongst the thick Squadrons of the Spaniards under the Conduct of two expert Sea-Captains viz. Mr. Young and Mr. Prowess with a command to fire them so soon as they were within Musquet-shot of the Enemy and let them drive which by Trains lay'd for that purpose they accordingly did with
defeated near Stow and Dening surrendred to the Parliament yet the great blow that caused the Royal Cause so much to decline was the unfortunate battel of Naseby fought near the Town of that name and so as it was the saddest I shall conclude with the description of it this unfortunate War. The Armies meeting near Naseby and the King in a Council of War resolving to give battel to Fairfax who had for some time followed him in the Rear he so ordered it that himself commanded the main Body and Prince Rupert assisted by his brother Prince Maurice the right Wing and the Lest was committed to Sir Marmaduke Langdale there were likewise two Reserves the one commanded by the Earl of Lindsey and the Lord Ashley and the other by the Lord Bards and Sir George Lisle of the Rebels Army Fairfax and Skippon commanded the main Body the Right Wing was committed to Cromwell and Collonel Rossiter and the left to Ireton there were in the Army likewise two Reserves under the charge of Collonel Pride Rainsborrough and Hammond The Armies being in array the Charge was sounded whereupon Prince Rupert advanced with great Resolution charging the Left Wing commanded by Ireton which after some Resistance was forced to give ground in this conflict Ireton was wounded in the face and thigh and had his Horse shot under him and was taken Prisoner so that the Prince pursuing this advantage followed the chace even to the Town of Naseby and upon his return summoned the Baggage and Artillery to surrender but without success in the main for by reason of the Prince his not timely returning to the battel Cromwel had the best opportunity to charge the King 's Left Wing which he did with such fury that he soon broke and disordered it whereupon that Wing fled leaving the main battel wherein was the Person of the King open and unguarded in either flank so-that the Reserves not being able to make it good and Cromwel returning with his victorious party before the Prince charging in the flank whilst the battel of the Enemy did the like in the Front notwithstanding the great Resistance that was made the King's battel of Footmen became broken and disordered so that although it came to handy-strokes with much Resolution and obstinacy on either part yet fresh Supplies of the Parliament foot coming in and the Royal-Army considering the safety of the King who was pressed on all parts finding it self unable to make longer resistance retreated out of the Field as the Prince was advancing who perceiving the bad fortune of the King's Army since his absence and despairing to restore the battel retired likewise Fairfax pursuing the King till within two miles of Leicester though in the way a Retreating-fight was maintained on the part of the Royalists so that the King not thinking himself safe in Leicester marched without staying directly to Litchfield In this Fight about twenty Collonels and Officers of lesser note together with 600 common Souldiers were slain of the King's Party and many wounded amongst whom of note the Earl of Lindsey Lord Ashby Collonel Rastol c. but almost all the Foot together with their Officers were taken Prisoners and in all six Collonels eight Lieutenant Collonels eighteen Majors seventy Captains 4500 private Soldiers 200 Ensigns one of the King's Coaches with part of his Treasure and almost all the Waggons Ammunition and Baggage together with his Letters and Furniture with twelve Pieces of Ordnance 8000 Arms and the KING's Standard which quite broke the strength o◠the Royalists insomuch that they could no◠bring any formidable Army into the field afterward nor was it long before the King◠being besieged in Oxford made His escap◠thence and cast himself upon the Scotch Army who for a Summ of Money delivered Him up to the Parliament whose usage towards Him was so Inhumane that it cannot be mentioned without a deep sence of sorrow by any good Christian Wherefore in silence let us mourn His fate Who dy'd a Martyr for the Church and State. A Brief Description of the second Battel of Worcester fought on the Fatal Third of September Anno 1651. KIng Charles the Second of blessed memory being crowned at Scone in Scotland entred England with an Army for the Recovery of his Right in August 1651 and by easy Marches with little difficulty entered Worcester on the 22 of August being Joyfully received by the Town 's men who were glad of that opportunity to Return to their Allegiance and there it was solemnly debated whether he should stay there and expect the event or immediately march to London but in the end the former was concluded at least so long till the Soldiers had well Refreshed themselves which gave the Enemy advantage to gather about that City from all parts yet care was taken for fortifying the place and securing the advantageous Passages to which purpose a Line and several Mounts were raised yet Major-General Lambert who commanded for the Parliament sending suddenly a Party of Horse to discover the difficulty of the passage at Vpton where Major General Massey commanded 300 Horse and Dragoons for the King about fifty of them venturéd over on a piece of Timber accidentally left cross that part of the Bridge that was broken down and although the Royal party immediately took the alarum and beat them into a Church where they defended themselves yet so speedy was Lambert in sending over a greater number of men that after a hot dispute Massey having his Horse killed under him and himself shot through the Arm was obliged to Retreat and now Cromwell's Army that had followed the King in the Rear out of Scotland began to joyn with those Parties that were already gathered out of divers Counties making in all between 50 and 60000 Men when as the King 's whole Power exceeded not above 10000 so that with these numerous Forces he was in a manner encompassed and there being no hopes left of marching away without coming to a battel after divers Sallies with various success the fatal day drew nigh for Cromwell Fleetwood and others after the gaining the pass at Vpton endeavoured to make themselves a clear passage to the City that their Army might joyn in the Leaguer to which end two Bridges were ordered to be made the one over the Severn and the other over Thame over the last of which Fleetwood advanced to attaque the City on the West part which so Alarum'd the Royal Army that then lay within their Leaguer at St. Jones that to hinder the approach they sallied out with the greatest part of the Horse and Foot so that a hot dispute ensued till overpowred by number more than by true valour they were obliged to Retire again into their Leaguer But whilst this encounter was on the West side Cromwell passed his Army over Severn and marched directly towards the Wall which the King perceiving sallied at the head of the Horse and charged with so much courage and bravery that