him we may justly receive at his hands heavier Judgments than these yet our Innocence will plead Not Guilty to the face of any Man who shall object against us any Civil Misdemeanors whereby we can more justly be deprived of our Fellowships than any free Subject in England of his fee Simple if they please to say he is guilty of Misdemeanors And as it hath pleased our gracious Master whose Ministers we are to make us examples though but of suffering to the rest of our Brethren So we hope he will continue unto us his grace of humilation under his mighty hand as an earnest of his exalting us in due time And in the interim that he will lay no more upon us than he shall be pleased to strengthen our infirmities to bear And that he will still preserve unto us a good conscience that whereas our persecutors speak evil of us as of evil doers they may be ashamed that falsly accuse our good conversation in Christ. FINIS Mercurius Belgicus OR A briefe Chronology of the Battels Sieges Conflicts and other most remakable passages from the beginning of this Rebellion to the 25 th of March 1646. Together with A Catalogue of the Persons of Quality slain on both sides CICERO Incerti sunt exitus pugnarum Marsque esi communis qui saepe spoliantem jam exultantem evertit perculit ab abjecto Printed in the Year 1685. The Preface Readers YOU have here a canded and impartial Epitomy of an unnatural War Subjects banding against their lawful Prince Brother against Brother and Father against Son Read but the said ensuing Story and therein consider the number and quality of Persons slain the destruction of Houses and Families the desolation of Cities and Towns the increase of Widows and Orphans the Tyranny and inhumanity of our new Legislators over their own Fellow-Subjects and you will easily conclude of these as Cicero did of Sylla's time Nemo illo invito nec bona nec patriam nec vitam retinere potueirt In earnest it may well be wondred whence these men have their minds God nor man nor Nature ever made them thus To be short the Reader may here see the flux and reflux of Fortune de la Guerre now this party flourisheth and that goes down anon that flourisheth and this goes down as if the guilt of our sins were drawing a heavy Judgment from Heaven upon this Land and these Rebels were ordained for the instruments of it But let us hope for better And particularly that God in the richness of his mercy will look down upon these macerated Kingdoms and periodize these distractions That Religion may again flourish in its purity maugre the Plots and impieties of all Seditiaries and Schismaticks That His Sacred Majesty may be re-established in His just Rights and Prerogatives that Parliaments may move in their own and known Centre the Ancient Laws of the Land re-inforced and freed from fellow-subjects Tyranny and Arbitration and the Subject re-estated in his Ancient Liberties freed from Murder Rapine and Plunder which that we may quickly see let it be the Subject of ever good Christian Prayer Memorable OCCURRENCES since the beginning of this REBELLION Anno Dom. 1641. IN December 1641. The House of Commons published a Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom therein setting forth all the errors of his Majesties Government a meer design to alienate the affection of his Subjects from him The tenth of January following his Majesty with the Queen Prince and Duke of Yorke left White-hall and went to Hampton Court to avoid the danger of those frequent tumults then hazarding the safety of his Royal Person February the 23 d. the Queens Majesty took shipping at Dover having been driven before from White-hall by the frequent tumults of the Rebels And soon after His Majesty went to New-market and from thence to Yorke where after the Rebels had Guards for three Months before the Gentry of the Country raised a Guard for his Majesties Person Anno Dom. 1642. MAY the 20 th it was voted by both Houses That the King intended to levie War against the Parliament which they did on purpose to excuse themselves for raising a Rebellion against His Majesty as appeared within few days after July the second the Kings ship called the Providence Landed in the Creek of Kenningham near Hull till which time His Majesty had not a Barrel of Powder nor any Arms or Ammunition whatsoever July the 12 th the pretended two Houses Voted that the Earl of Essex should be General of their Army and that they would live and die with him August the first the Earl of Essex caused all the men then raised being in number about 10000 to be committed to Officers and divided into Regiments which men had been raising ever since the 12 th of July 1642. at which time he was made General of the Rebels August the sixth the Earl of Bedford having fruitlessely besieged the Lord Marquess of Hertford in Sherburn Castle for four days before retreated to Yevell the Noble Marquess sallied after him and with a small number fell on that great body of the Rebels Kill'd above 140 whereof 9 Commanders took divers Prisoners and routed the rest so as he marched away and after divided his small Forces going himself into Wales and Sir Ralph now Lord Hopton into Cornwall of both which there followed so good an effect August the 22 d. His Majesty set up his Standard Royal at Nottingham for raising of Forces to suppress the Rebels then marching against him September the 23 d. Prince RUPERT with about 11 Troops of Horse gave a great overthrow to the Rebels in Wikefield near Worcester where Colonel Sands that commanded in chief received his mortal wound Major Douglas a Scot and divers other Captains and Officers slain and drowned Captain Wingate a Member of the House of Commons with four Coronets taken and two more torn in pieces This body of the Rebels was observed to be the flower of their Cavalry October the 23 d. was that signal great battel fought between Keynton and Edg-hill by his Majesties Army and that of the Rebels led by the Earl of Essex wherein the Rebels lost above 70 Colours of Coronets and Ensigns and His Majesty but only 16 Ensigns and not one Coronet The exact number that were slain on both sides in this Battel is not known But it is certain that the Rebels lost above three for one Men of eminence of his Majesties Forces who were slain in the Battel were the two Noble and valiant Lords Robert Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain of England and George Lord D. Aubigney Brother to the Duke of Richmond and Lenox Sir Edmund Verney Knight Marshal to His Majesty with some other worthy Centlemen and Soldiers but besides these three named there was not one Noble Man or Knight kill'd which was an extraordinary mercy of Almighty God considering what a glorious sight of Princes Dukes Marquesses Earls Viscounts Barons Knights and
took 2000 Prisoners with all the Horse Arms and Ammunition which either the Rebels found in the Town or brought thither with them Hereupon the Rebels deserted the Town of Hallifax and presently after Sir Hugh Cholmely fell upon Beverly and took it for his Majesty July the 5 th Master Tomkins and Master Challoner were most barbarously Murthered by the Rebels in London for their Fidelity to his Majesty And the same fifth day there was a fight on Landsdown-hill betwixt His Majesties Forces under the command of the Marquess of Hartford and the Rebels under Sir William Waller who after 11 hours fight stuck their lighted matches in the hedges and ran quite away leaving behind them above 500 Musquets 14 barrels of Powder a whole Stand of Pikes with good store of all sorts of Arms. Their Foot were absolutely routed and all dispersed his loss of Officers and horse was great many hundreds of his men were killed His Majesties forces having the pillage of the field And here was that most valiant Knight Sir Bevill Greenvill unfortunately slain in the Front of his men with some others of less Quality The 13 th of July about four a Clock in the Afternoon the King and Queens Majesty met at Edge-hill where the Rebels had received their main overthrow and the same day and hour His Majesties Forces under the Command of the Lord Wilmot Lieutenant General of the Horse the Earl of Carnarvon the Earl of Crawford and the Lord Biron obtained another great and strange victory upon Round-way-down with 1500 horse and two smal pieces of Cannon only wherewith they totally routed the Rebels Army under the Command of the old-beaten Soldier Sir William Waller consisting of above 2500 Foot and 2000 Horse besides 500 Dragoons with 8 pieces of Brass Ordnance slew 600 of them in the place took above 900 Prisoners all their Cannon Arms Ammunition Waggons Baggage and Victual 28 Foot-Ensigns 9 Cornets and left not one Rebel but what was either killed taken Prisoner or narrowly escaped Upon the 24 th of July his Highness Prince Rupert having joyned his Forces to his Brothers and the whole body of their strength being brought together they sate down before Bristol and began their Batteries And the 26 day with unexpressible valour they gained the Out-works and the 27 day following the City and Castle was delivered up to His sacred Majesty with all the Ordnance Arms and Ammunition At this siege were slain on His Majesties part Sir Nicolas Slanning one of the Lunsfords with some few others and that valiant Lord the Lord Grandison did here receive a wound August the 3 d. Corf-castle in the Isle of Purbecke which had been so often before besieged by Sir Walter Earle but had always beaten off the Rebels and killed their Cannoniers was once more fallen upon by the Rebels who were so bravely received by Captain Laurence that 60 of them were kill'd in the place the rest hearing of the most valiant Earl of Carnarvons approach ran away Soon after the Earl of Carnarvon Summoned Dorchester which was thereupon delivered up to his Lordship with all the Arms Ammunition and Cannon which were disposed of for His Majesties use About the 9 th of August the Castle and Isle of Portland were reduced again under His Majesties command And the Town and Haven of Weymouth and Melcombe submitted to His Majesty August the 20 th Colonel Jo. Digby defeated the Rebels of Biddeford and Barnstable killed 100 of their Foot took 211 Officers and common Soldiers Prisoners most of which were miserably wounded two pieces of Ordnance six barrels of Powder 400 weight of Bullet 200 and a half of Match and above 300 Arms besides all the Foot-Officers horses Pursued their horse to the very works of Biddeford and returned victoriously without the loss of more than one man not one of the rest of his Soldiers being so much as hurt all that day Upon the 2 d. and 3 d of September the Towns of Biddeford Appleford and Barnstable delivered up their several Garrisons to His Majesty Upon the same 3 d. of September Prince Maurice gave a very hot assault upon the City of Exeter and battered the Walls whereupon the Rebels desired Parley but refusing the conditions the assault was afterwards eagerly pursued and the next day after won the great Sconce turned the Ordnance there against the Town Whereupon the Rebels craved to be admitted unto those conditions which before they rejected and obtained the same delivered up the Town and Castle to the Prince his Highness with all the Ordnance Arms and Ammunition after it had been blockt up and besieged about six weeks September the 17 th the Rebels Army stealing out of Gloucestershire towards London surprised part of a new raised Regiment of His Majesties horse at Cirencester but were overtaken by Prince Rupert with His Majesties horse near Auburne in Wiltshire where he gave them two charges the one by a commanded Party under Colonel Urrey the other by the Queens Regiment commanded by the Lord Iermin who performed it so well on the Rebels whole Army that many great bodies of Foot were routed and many of them slain in the place without any loss to His Majesties Forces save two common Soldiers killed and the Marquess de la Vienville taken Prisoner who was afterwards Murthered by the Rebels in cold Blood and the Lord Digby and Lord Iermyn lightly wounded by which two charges the Rebels Army was so retarded that His Majesty had time to overtake them with his Foot and on Wednesday after the 20 th of this month upon an Hill near Newberry and Enborne-heath His Majesty fought with the Rebels who were seated in the most advantageous place imaginable yet in despight of all their Cannon Foot and Horse His Majesty beat them from their ground gained the Hill and one piece of their brass Ordnance and quickly routed all their horse upon the Heath The most that were killed in this fight of His Majesties Forces exceeded not the number of 300 though above 600 of the Rebels were slain and a very great number wounded In this fight were slain the most Noble and valiant Earl of Carnarvon the Earl of Sunderland the Lord Viscount Faulkland Col. Morgan Captain William Symcots with some other Gentlemen and Commanders After this fight the Rebels were further pursued and routed again so as they fled into Reading where they durst not stay but left the Town for His Majesty September the 25 th That pernicious confederacy called the National covenant was taken by the Members of the House of Commons at Westminster in S. Margarets Church October the 18 th the Pince of Harcourt Lord Ambassadour Extraordinary from the French King and Queen Regent after he had been most barbarously used in his passage by the Rebels came safe into Oxford where he had entertainment more suitable to the worth of so great a Personage In this month of October His Majesties Forces under the command of the Lord Widdrington
A party of Rebels near Uttoxeter in Staffordshire were routed by His Majesties Forces who slew Captain Watson their Commander in chief with Captain Hard-staffe and divers others and took 60 Prisoners but more Horses and good store of Arms. In this action His Majesty lost Captain Sares only of Note and three Troopers Feb. 26 th His Majesty sent a ninth Letter to Westminster to desire an Answer of his former Letters still pressing for Peace Feb. 16 th The strong Castle of Corf which had been lately relieved was delivered into the hands of the Rebels by the Treachery and perfidiousness of one Lieutenant Colonel Pitman March the 2 d. A party of His Majesties Forces from Oxford entred the Town of Abbington seised upon the Ordnance and Magazin yet for want of a sufficient supply were forced to retreat with some Prisoners and few slain on either side March the 12 th The Lord Hopton being much overpowered by the Rebels in the West was necessitated to accept of Conditions for the disbanding his Army c. March the 21 st the Lord Ashley commanding a Brigade of horse and foot from Worcester-shire which were intended for Oxford were set upon by an aggregate body of the Rebels on the edg of Gloucestershire and defeated the foot most taken with my Lord himself and some of the horse the remainder escaped and got to Oxford Thus had His Majesty two Armies defeated in less than a fortnight yet we are confident when Almighty God hath sufficiently punish'd the sins of this Nation he will in his good time restore a pious King to his just rights and his bleeding Kingdoms to peace and union in despight of all Sectaries and Opponents March the 23 d. His Majesty never weary in acting any thing tending to Peace sent his tenth Message to this effect That in case he might have the faith of his two houses of Parliament for the preservation of his Honour person and estate and that liberty might be given to all those that do and have adhered to His Majesty to enjoy their Estates without any sequestration or being compelled to take any Oaths not enjoined by Law he would then disband his forces dismantle his Garrisons return to and reside with his two Houses of Parliament c. And could more be offered by or expected from a Gracious King If the Ears of the Parliament continue deaf to so reasonable a motion the World will easily perceive their intentions are not conform to their often professions And His Majesty will be abundantly cleared before God and man for any ensuing miseries that shall by want of an Accommodation befal these Kingdoms whereunto God of his goodness afford Peace and Truth Reader THere remains now nothing to compleat this short sad story but a Catalogue of the Persons of Note slain in these last four years not to speak of those many thousands of inferiour Rank which may well challenge even from an adamantine heart the tribute of a bleeding eye the rather since there 's hardly any story can parallel these calamities which if truly resented will exact from all good Christians an earnest and continual supplication that Almighty God would please to avert his anger from us and set a period to these distractions A Catalogue of the Names of all or the most part of the Lords Knights and men of Quality slain or Executed by Law-Martial on both sides since the beginning of this Unnatural War to the 25 th of March 1646. On His Majesties part slain EArl of Lindsey Earl of Northampton Earl of Carnarvon Earl of Sunderland Farl of Litchsield Earl of Kingstone Marquess de Vieuville a French man Lord Viscount Faulkland Lord d' Aubigny Lord John Steward Lord Grandison Lord Cary eldest Son to the E. of Monmouth An Outlandish Lord slain at Nottingham who was a near kinsman to the Prince of Orange Sir Edmon Verney Sir Bevill Grenvile Sir Nicholas Slannyng Sir Richard Lawdy Sir Ingram Hopton Sir William Butler Sir William Clark Sir Thomas Metham Sir Anthony Maunsell Sir Anthony St. Leger Sir Henry Gage Sir John Girlington Sir William Mainwaring Sir John Digby Sir William Crofts Sir John Smith Sir Thomas Gardiner and his Brother Sir Peter Brown Sir Thomas Dallison Sir Bernard Ashley Sir Richard Crane Sir Richard Hutton Sir Gilbert Gerard. Sir William Wentworth Sir Cha. Blunt by Mutiny Sir Jo. Scudamore in a Duel Colonel Blague Col. Windebank Sir Job Cademan Executed by Martial Law The first for Treachery the second for Cowardise and the third Beheaded at Bristol for killing an Officer there Col. Howard Col. Lunsford Col. Trevanian Col. Morgan Col. Eure. Col. Cavendish Col. Townley Col. Herne Col. Ferdinando Stanhop and Col. Stanhop Sons to the Earl of Chesterfield Col. Marrow Col. Prideaux Col. Mynne Col. Mannyng Col. Slaughter Col. Bernard Col. S. George Col. Taylor Col. Bawd Col. Carnaby Col. Bentall Lieut. Col. Markham Master Sackvile Son to the Earl of Dorset Persons of Note slain on the Parliaments part where the Reader may observe that as His Majesty had on his side ten Gentlemen at least for every one on their side it must by consequence follow that he must lose many more of Note than they THe Lord S. John eldest Son to the E. of Bullingbrook Lord Brook Sir Charles Essex Sir William Fairfax Sir Charles Fairfax Sir John Meldrum Major Gen. Crawford Col. John Hampden one of the 5. Members Col. Sands Col. Armyne Col. Thornton Col. Lister Col. Meldrum Col. Malevory Col. Cockeram Lieutenant Col. Stanley Lieut. Col. Quarles Lieut. Col. Harrington Lieut. Col. Gurdon Major Dowglas Doctor Scudamore Executed on the Parliaments side by Law-Martial not to speak of the E. of Strafford and the Arch-Bishop of Cant. Sir Alexander Carew At LONDON Sir John Hotham and his Son At LONDON Master Tomkins At LONDON Master Chaloner At LONDON Master Bourchier At BRISTOLL Master Yomans At BRISTOLL FINIS THE TABLE OF Mercurius Rusticus ARcher Preaches Rebellion up and Gentry and Learning down pag. 35 Articles of Surrender broken 49 51 65 76 Sir Henry Audley Plundered 13 14 B. Doctor Bargrave Plundered 79. c. dies of grief 81 Barnard an ungrateful Schismatick 145 Sir Tho. Barrington for bids the Preaching of Divine Truth 20 21 Master Bartlets house five times Plundered 186 c. Doctor Beale Doctor Martin Doctor Sterne imprisoned and barbarously used on Ship-board 132 Beale a Rebel Plundered by the Rebels 91 A Bear more merciful than the Rebels 94 Bible abused 213. Blasphemy 43 123 124 Sir Wllliam Boteler Plundered 7. His Steward tortured 10 Bowlstrodes Prayer 157 Sir Wil. Brooke stormes a Gally-pot 9 John Brown tortured 3 Burton intruded into Mr. Chestlins Living 177 Master Bykar Murthered because he was a Parsons Son 57 C Sir Ralph Canterills man Tortured 149 Cathedral Churches Prophaned and abused at Canterbury 119. Rochester 136. Chichester 139. Winchester 146 c. Westminster 154. Exeter 158 159 Mr. Chaldwel and his Wife barbarously used and his Servant Murthered 104
am confident the honourable Houses of Parliament being rightly informed herein will provide against the like abuses and impieties in other places in the mean time we submit with patience to the providence of him who can and will bring good out of evil which is the earnest Prayer of Christ-Church Cant. Aug. 30 1642. Your Lordships most Obliged Servant Thomas Paske WHat effect this just complaint wrought how it prevailed either with that Lord to whom it was addressed or with the pretended Houses of Parliament whose authority and assistance was implored to prevent further outrages either here or elsewhere we have too clear testimony not only in the like sacrileges and prophanations every day acted without any the least check or restraint from the heads of this Rebellion but more especially from their Votes and Ordinances for the abolishing all remainders of Popery and Superstition as they call it in all which Intelligi malunt quam Audiri they would have their creatures understand more than they speak being certain politick Litotes in which minus dicitur plus intelligitur signifying more than the Grammatical construction will permit an carry in them a hidden secret sense and meaning which their own Emissaries know how to interpret and inlarge according to the full intention of the Authors But before we pass from the relation of this horried Sacrilege committed on the Church of Canterbury I could not free my self from being guilty of that great sin of obscuring the great manifestation of Gods Justice if I should in silence pass over that most examplary vengeance which persued to death that unfortunate Gentleman Col. Sandys the ringleader to that Rebellious rout which were Actors in that more than Barbarous outrage Whether the cunning perswasions of others or his own ambitiom first imbarked him in this fatal undertaking is uncertain but as himself confessed on his death-bed to a friend and Kinsman of his who asked him what he meant being a Gentleman of so fair an Estate to ingage himself in this Treason he answered That he was so far drawn in before he was aware that he knew not how to come off without the danger of his head So usual it is for one sin to ingage the sinner for a second having therefore once lifted up his hand against his Sovereign the Lords Anoynted he thought the way to be secure from the punishment of Rebellion was to presevere in his crime and go on in Rebellion in pursuance therefore of so black designs being Colonel of a Regiment of Horse in Sept. 1642. with the rest of the Rebels Army under the Conduct of the Earl of Essex he advanced towards Worcester and making some excursions with ten Troops of Horse from the body of their Army at Wickefeild near Worcester accidentally were met by Prince Rupert accompanied by Prince Maurice and some others Lords and Gentlemen of His Majesties Cavallry being thus by chance met The Prince glad of any opportunity to express the braveness of his resolution charged the Rebels with incomparable valour In this short but fierce conflict Colonel Sandys was wounded and being dismounted his Horse became Prisoner to the Kings party Being thus wounded and as then was conceived mortally he began to reflect upon himself and finding so little warrant in his now unbiass'd conscience for his undertaking which had brought him into this condition his perplexed Soul brake out into many sad expressions of remorse crying out Woe Woe to evil Counsel and happy are they that do not take it And being put in mind by a Reverend Doctor in Divinity and Chaplain to Prince Rupert of the heinousness of the sin of Rebellion he acknowledged himself to have faln into that sin and that God was just in his Judgments for finding him out in his iniquity professing withal his hearty sorrow and repentance for it whereupon the Doctor replyed that if he recovered perhaps the same perswasions from others or inconsiderateness in himself might again ingage him in his Rebellion at which words a little lifting up his hand he professed He would rather have it cut off then ever again lift it up against the King He freely acknowledged the Justice of the Kings cause and that he had observe the blessings of God to accompany it and when the Doctor desired leave to testify his Repentance to the world he freely gave him leave asking God and the King forgivness praying for a blessing upon him and his proceedings In this mind he continued while Prince Rupert and the Kings forces with him staid in Worcester and whether after the Earls possessing himself of Worcester by the impetuous sollicitations of those Murtherers of Souls those Factors for Hell their Schismatical Lecturers who make men twofold more the Children of the Devil than themselves he fell off and turned Apostate from his newly resolved Loyalty as repenting of his Repentance is uncertain Those that were about him and saw his weakness ever declining from the first hour he received his wounds must testify to the World that he had neither strength of hand to write nor so much composedness of spirit to be the Author of that Spurious Supposititious Vindication Published in his name Oct. 11. 1642. He being whatsoever that forgery pretends as unable to vindicate himself with his Pen as his sword but if he had his heart as well as hand subscribing to that Atheistical resolution where they thus bring him in foaming out his own shame The Apprehension of death never hitherto so nearly touched me but if God shall once restore me to my former strength I shall by his help with as much alacrity and I hope courage endeavour to defend and maintain with my dearest blood this so good a cause meaning this present Rebellion as ever I was at first engaged in it If I say they had his heart as well as his hand to that Resolution I am afraid it was too evident a Symptom of a wretched man given up to a Reprobate sense which of all spiritual judgments questionless is the greatest and might justly call for those Torments of body which afterward as a Gangreen devoured and eat up his flesh and those pangs of Conscience which I am afraid were but the earnest of a worse condition to insue for as the Psalmist saies As for such as turn back unto their own wickedness the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity Psal. 125.5 but I Remember that of S. Paul Judg nothing before the time until the Lord come 1. Cor. 4.5 And therefore while on Supposition I writ my fears positively I determine nothing not knowing whether God might not give him the grace of Repentance at the last which if he did he only I dare say that gave the Grace knew of it concerning his eternal condition therefore I shall leave him to the Judgment of that Righteous God that judgeth Righteous Judgment and gives to every man according to his works and only inform the World in what condition
Gentlemen of all Orders were not only present but engaged themselves against the Rebels as much or more than Common Soldiers which they most cheerfully did by example of His sacred MAJESTY whose Royal undaunted Courage put life into every man exposing His Sacred Person to so much danger as all good men do tremble to remember His Royal Sons the two young Princes CHARLES Prince of Wales and JAMES Duke of Yorke being also in the field in very much danger if God whose cause it was had not covered their heads in the day of Battel The Rebels as they had few men of quality to lose so those they had were sensible of their guilt which then they expressed by their flight some sculking into holes and Saw-pits and others running out before they were well in the field They lost of note the Lord St. John eldest Son to the Earl of Bullingbrooke Sir Charles Essex with many inferiour Officers October the 27 th His Majesty to compleat his Victory in Keynton field drew his whole Army before Banbury but after the firing of one piece of Ordnance the Rebels submitted to His Majesties mercy which were in number about 800 Foot of the Earl of Peterboroughs and Lord Says Regiments with 10 Colours and a Troop of Horse and yeilded the Town and Castle to the King at which time the Earl of Essex with his shattered Force were crept over the River Aven into Warwick full eight Miles backward from the place where they were beaten there to secure those few he had left under the protection of the strong fituate Town and Castle leaving behind him above 20 Waggons loaded with Powder and other Ammunition November the 12 th His Maiesty after four hours fight forced the Town of Brainford where Lieutenant Colonel Quarles that commanded in chief was slain and at least 400 more of the Rebels kill'd and drowned as many taken Prisoners with little loss to His Majesties part these thus taken and kill'd were observed to be the best foot Soldiers the Rebels had November the 13 th being Sunday certain of the Rebels had come down the Thames from Kingston with 13 pieces of Ordnance which so soon as they could see they fired against Sion house and His Majesties Train of Artillery but did little or no harm Whereupon Order was presently given for drawing down some Pieces into the Meadow and to the River side against them which was accordingly done and likewise a Demy-Cannon planted near the South-end of the Town All which were so judiciously plied that they shot through their Boats and Barges and at last fired the Powder in one of them which blew up divers of the Rebels Those Rebels which escaped took them to their heels leaving behind them their mangled Boats and Barges with all their Ordnance and the remainder of their Ammunition on which His Majesty presently seised and afterwards made an honourable and safe retreat to the City of Oxford December the 5 th His Majesties Forces under the command of Lieutenant General Wilmot having his own Regiment of Horse with the Lord Grandisons and Lord Digbies and Sir William Pennimans and Colonel Blagues Regiments of Foot and Colonel Ushers and Colonel Grayes of Dragoons took the Town of Marlborough defended by Robert Ramsey a Scot and about 500 Foot Ramsey and divers of the chief Rebels brought Prisoners to Oxford all their Arms taken and four Colours On the same 5 th day the Earl of Newcastle laid siege to Tadcaster where at that time was all the strength of the Rebels in Yorkeshire excepting Hull and by several assaults on the Town from Ten of the Clock in the morning till Seven at night kill'd Cap. Lyster and about 60 more of the Rebels who found such hot service that they stole away in the night to Cawood and Selby leaving Tadcaster fortified for His Majesties service January the 19 th a great Victory was obtained by the Lord Hopton near Bodmin in the County of Cornwal where was slain in the pursuit 200 of the Rebels and 700 taken Prisoners amongst whom was Sir Shilston Colmadee and eight Colours good store of Ammunition an five excellent brass Guns and one of Iron January the 22 d. the Lord Hopton assulted Saltash forced the Town where he took Ten pieces of Ordnance 700 more Prisoners 4000 Arms and a Ship with sixteen pieces of Ordnance January the 27 th certain of the Rebels under the command of Master John Hampden to the number of 1800 Foot and seven or eight Troops of Horse with two pieces of Ordnance came before Brill and made an assault upon it But were so bravely repulsed by His Majesties forces there under the command of Sir Gilbert Gerard the then Governour thereof that they made all possible hast away His Majesties Horse having the pursuit of them for above 4 miles about 80 of them being sound dead and betwixt 40 or 50 men wounded which they had left together in a private House February the 1 st Lieutenant General King and Lieutenant Geâ—eral Goring coming from Newcastle with a great Convoy of much Arms and Ammunition and being faced at Yarum with 400 Foot three Troops of Horse and two pieces of Ordnance of the Rebels fell upon them slew many took the rest of the Foot and most of the Horse Prisoners with their Ordnance and Baggage February the 2 d. Cyrencester or Cicester in Gloucester-shire was taken by his Highness Prince Rupert with the loss of less than 20 men of his Army there being above 300 of the Rebels slain and near 1200 taken Prisoners Of Colours taken one Coronet two of Dragoons and fourteen Foot Ensigns together with all their Ordnance Arms and Ammunition February the 13 th the QUEENS Majesty left the Hague and went to Sciveling And on the 16 day Her Majesty imbarked again in the Princess Royal of Great Brittain And on the Sunday after came within sight of Flamborough-head February the 20 th She cast Anchor in the Harbour of Burlington-bay And the 22 d. day following upon fight of 1000 of his excellency the Earl of Newcastle's Horse landed at Burlington Key Fibruary the 24 th in the morning four Ships and a Pinnace in the Rebels service which came over night into the Road made above 100 great shot at the houses in the Key for two hours shooting Cross-bar-shot and Bullets of twelve pound weight all of them aiming so near as they could at the house were the Queen lay Insomuch that her sacred Majesty was forced to make what hast she could out of Her Bed and to get under an hill to save Her life from the fury of those Bloody Rebels who endeavoured to Murther Her But God Almighty preserved Her Majesty both by Sea and Land March the 18 th and 19 th was a great Battel on Hopton-heath in Staffordshire wherein Gell and Brereton two cowardly Rebels were routed by His Majesties Forces under the command of the Right Honourable Spencer then Earl of Northampton in which fight
Sir Charles Lucas Col. Porter and Col. Tillier Prisoners In this Battel were slain on His Majesties part the Lord Cary Sir Thomas Metham Col. Ewer Col. Townley with some others of note and about 1500 common Soldiers On the Rebels part were slain Sir Charles Fairfax younger son to the Lord Fairfax with many other of their Commanders and at least 3000 common Soldiers This done the Rebels rally and sit down again before Yorke which was valiantly defended for three weeks after by Sir Tho. Glenham and then delivered upon honourable conditions to march away with Arms Bag and Baggage which conditions were most persidiously broken by the Rebels July the 6 th The Lord Hopton routed 350 of the Rebels near Warmister which were pursued above 20 miles by Sir Francis Dodington July the 15 th The King came to Bath with his Army which day the Queens Majesty arrived safe at Brest in Britanny notwithstanding 50 great shot made at her by Batty the Rebels Vice-Admiral July the 23 d. The King made His speech to the Summersetshire men on Kings-moore who came in to His Majesties assistance very cheerfully July the 31 st Middleton the Scot furiously assaulted Denington Castle and received a most shameful repulse leaving dead behind him one Col. eight Captains one Sergeant Major with many inferiour Officers and Soldiers August the 1 st His Majesty with his Army passed into Cornwal over Tamar at Polton bridg in pursuit of the Earl of Essex whom he had now chased through Devonshire August the 25 th The King gained from the Rebels the Castle of Lestithiel where their Army lay strongly encamped and in it took Col. Butler and some others Prisoners August the 30 th The Rebels horse in the night passed between His Majesties Quarters and fled towards Plymouth August the 31 st The Rebels Foot making towards Foy were beaten from five pieces of their Ordnance September the 2 d. The Rebels being deserted by their General the Earl of Essex who with the Lord Roberts fled to Plymouth in a Cock-boat the night past this day yeilded up to His Majesty all their Train of Artillery viz. 49 pieces of fair brass Ordnance 200 and odd barrels of Gunpowder with match ball c. proportionable above 700 Carriages and betwixt eight and 9000 Arms. His Majesty out of his wonted Clemency granting them their lives September the 5 th His Majesty having obtained so compleat a victory over the Rebels did as formerly after the defeat of Waller from Tavestock send his second message of Peace to Wistminster In the beginning of this month His Majesties forces in Scotland under the command of his Excellency James Lord Marquess of Montrosse and General Major Mackdonald who not long before landed in that Kingdom with 1000 Irish obtained a great victory over the Rebels there upon Newbigging Moore near S. Johns Town where were kill'd above 1200 Rebels among which was the Laird of Rires and some others of note and seven brass Pieces taken this done His Majesties forces pursued them to S. Johns Town and took it and therein and in the battel took 2000 of the Rebels Prisoners with two pieces of Ordnance more all their Arms Ammunition and Baggage and this done with the loss of not above 60 men on His Majesties part The Rebels in this battel were commanded by the Earl of Tullibairne the Lord Drummond the Lord Elcho and Sir James Scot of Rossy their word was Jesus no Quarter And within a fortnight after this success his Excellency the Marquess of Montrosse and Major Gen. Mackdonald obtained a second victory over another body of Rebels in that Kingdom commanded by the Lord Forbes Burly and others near Aberdeen wherein the Marquess kill'd and took Prisoners at least 1000 with three pieces of Cannon and all their baggage without any considerable loss on His Majesties part among the Prisoners taken by the Marquess there was Sir William Forbes of Craigyvar and John Forbes of Boynly with others of note And soon after the Marquess took the Town of Aberdeen with all the Ordnance Ammunition and Arms and many of the fugitive Rebels therein September the 11 th The Garrison of Basing after 18 weeks siege wherein the Rebels lost many hundreds of their men was relieved from Oxford by Sir Henry Gage Septemb. the 12 th Ilfercombe in Devonshire rendered to General Goring for His Majesty September the 17 th Barnstaple in Devonshire that had revolted upon the Earl of Essex this approach submitted to His Majesty and obtained from him their second pardon September the 23 d. Col. John Fines having besieged the Castle of Banbury above a month before hired his men to storm it in five places in all which they were shamefully beaten off with great loss October the 7 th in the night Sir Richard Greenvile took the Town of Saltash by storming wherein 400 Rebels were kill'd and at least 300 taken Prisoners with their Arms this Town had been quitted by His Majesties forces not long before without any considerable loss October the 25 th The Earl of Northampton and Sir Henry Gage raised the siege of Banbury Castle fell upon Col. John Fines his flying Troops slew about 60 of them took above 100 Prisoners with about 200 horses one piece of Ordnance all their Ammunition and many Arms. October the 27 th The Rebels having thus lost two of their Armies called the third under the Earl of Manchesters command out of the Associated Counties and forced other Regiments out of London to withstand the King who was now advanced to Newberry with part of his Army where the Rebels apprehending a great advantage in regard that the rest of His Majesties forces were not come up fell upon His Majesties quarters but were beaten off with the slaughter of above 1000 of their men whereof Major Urrey with some other of their prime Commanders were part with the loss of Sir Anthony St. Leager and less than 100 others on His Majesties side who had the pillage of the field here the valiant Earl of Cleveland was casually taken Prisoner having his horse first kill'd under him November the 6 th His Majesty had his rendezvouz on Bullington-green betwixt Wallingford and Oxford November the 9 th His Army came to Dennington Castle which since His Majesties marching thence had been again besieged by the Rebels and raised the siege the Rebels not daring to withstand his Army November the 17 th The King having some days expected the Rebels who it seems were loth to hazard the last stake advanced towards them to Hungerford upon whose approach the Rebels left the field Whereupon His Majesty sent Sir Henry Gage with a party to supply the wants ef Basing that had been besieged all this Summer by five Colonels and their Regiments but the Rebels had raised the siege before his approach November the 19 th Monmouth that had lately been betrayed by Kirle was bravely regained by the Lord Herbert and Ragland wherein was taken the Rebels whole
above 300 of the Rebels were taken and kill'd at the least 200 more wounded abve 300 of their Horse taken four pieces of Cannon and a case of Drakes with some Ammunition here was the most Noble and valiant Earl of Northampton unfortunately slain with C. Middleton and some few others on His Majesties side March the 23 d. Grantham was taken in by some of His Majesties Forces under the Command of Colonel Charles Cavendish wherein were taken 360 Prisoners with all the Captains and Officers three foot Ensigns two Cornets together with three loads of Arms and Ammunition And afterwards the works demolished Anno Dom. 1643. APRIL the third Prince Rupert entered and possessed that seditious Town of Burmingham wherein was 300 Foot and two Troops of Horse who being gallantly charged by the Welch-men in less than half an hour forsook their Breast-works and retired to their Barricadoes within the Town wherein they found such slender defence that they took them to their heels and that so fast that though they were pursued as soon as the Prince had possessed the Town yet few of their Horse were overtaken only about 80 of the Rebels were kill'd and as many Prisoners taken together with about 150 Musquets and betwixt 4 and 500 Swords and three Colours In this service the Noble Farl of Denbigh received a wound whereof he afterwards died April the 11 th there was a fight near unto Ancaster in the County of Lincoln betwixt the Kings Forces under the command of Colonel Cavendish and the Rebels of that County under young Hotham their then General in which fight the most part of the Rebels were slain and taken Prisoners their General put to flight and their whole Body totally routed On the 21 st day being Friday the Close at Lichfield after three weeks siege and the loss of some men was yeilded up to Prince Rupert together with the Ordnance and Ammunition all sorss of Arms except the Horse-mens Arms and a certain number of Musquets and all such Treasure which had been formerly conveyed in thither and did not properly belong to the Soldiers there These Soldiers were part of those Forces under the command of the late Lord Brook a great Leader in this Bebellion and a maliciious enemy to the Church who was kill'd in his assaulting this Church by a shot into the eye on S. Chads day who was the first Bishop of this See in memory of whom this Cathedral was built and called S. Chads Church The last day of April his Excellency the Earl of Newcastles Forces encountered with and totally routed a whole Body of the Rebels consisting of above 3000 men which were going to relieve the Town of Leeds killed 150 of them in the place took 240 Prisoners three pieces of Ordnance together with all their Victual and Ammunition May the 6 th James Earl of Northampton the true Heir of his Fathers Loyalty and valour encountered with a Body of the Rebels in Middleton Cheny Town-field near Banbury consisting of about 700 Foot and five Troops of Horse where he wholly routed their Foot killed 217 upon the plain took above 300 Prisoners all their Ordnance and Ammunition 416 Musquets 150 Pikes and above 500 Swords pursued the fugitive Horse and killed and took many of them the rest made what hast they could to Northampton In this fight his Lordship lost but three men and those not of any note Nor had above one Officer so much as hurt Upon the 16 th of May the Lord Hopton assaulted the great Rebellious Body then intrenched near Stratton on the Borders of Devonshire fought with them full ten hours and having spent his Ammunition insomuch that he had not powder left to serve one hour longer fell upon the Rebels with Swords Pikes and Musquets stocks And with unexpressible valour wholly routed the Rebels Army killed many hundreds of them in the place wounded many more took 1700 Prisoners whereof above 30 Commanders all their Cannon being 11 pieces of Brass Ordnance and 4 of Iron 2 Morter pieces 75 Barrels of Powder with Shot and Match proportionable betwixt 2 and 3000 Arms and 3000l in mony there being not above 46 of the Kings Forces killed and hurt and amongst those not any one Commander or Gentleman of Quality May the 23 d. The Queen was most traiterously voted a Traitour for her love so exemplarily expressed to the King Her Husband May the 30 th Master Robert Yeomans and Master George Boucher two Citizens of Bristoll were there publickly Murthered by Colonel Nathanial Fines for their Loyalty to His Majesty June the 18 th 1643. His Highness Prince Rupert beat up the Quarters of the Rebels at Postcombe and Chinner in Oxfordshire killed some 50 of the Rebels there Quartered took about 120 Prisoners almost all their Horses and Arms and three of Sir Samuel Lukes Dragoon-Cornets obtained a great victory in Chalgrove field and utterly defeated the Rebels Horse-men and Dragooners slew divers of their Commanders especially Colonel John Hampden one of the five Members accused of high Treason who in this fight received his mortal wound in this very Chalgrove field where he first Mustered and drew up men in Arms to put in execution the Rebellious Ordinance for the Militia On Friday the last of June His Excellency the Earl of Newcastle obtained a great victory against the Northern Rebels under the Lord Fairfax upon Aderton-heath within the County of Yorke In which fight my Lord soon put the Rebels into such confusion that they could not be reduced again into any Order until he had gained all their five pieces of Cannon which he presently turned against them the sight whereof did so terrifie them that they made what hast they could towards Leedes But finding that his Excellencies horse had intercepted that passage their last shift was to recover Bradford which was done in such a disorderly manner that his Excellency in the pursuit of them killed and took above 2000 whereof above 1500 Prisoners As for their General Fairfax he with much adoe made shift with one poor Troop of Horse to get at night into Leeds leaving the rest to the mercy of the Victor July the 1 st The Earl of Essex being with his Army at Tame in Oxfordshire sent Colonel Middleton with 500 horse and Dragoons to Padbury to way-lay Prince Rupert and his Forces from returning from Buckingham to Oxford while Essex with his Army fell on the Prince but Sir Charles Lucas by his Scouts discovered the Rebels design and accordingly met them with three Troops of his own Regiment wherewith he routed all Middletons 400 horse and Dragoons pursued them to their pass at Werthillbrook followed them through the foard in despight of all their Musquettiers there slew above 100. took 40 Prisoners and prevented the Rebels hopeful design The same day the Marquess of Newcastle besieged Bradford bestowed upon it above 40 shot from his great Artillery and the morrow after made himself Master of the Town In which he
May the 30 th The Rebels attempted to cross the River Charwell at Gosworth-bridge but were gallantly repulsed by a small party of His Majesties Forces that had the guard of that pass May the 31 st Waller attemping to pass Isis at Newbridg and being then repulsed retired to Abingdon where he to revenge himself demolished Abingdon Cross defaced the Church burnt all the Tables and Chess-boards in Abingdon and Plundered most of the People of their goods June the 1 st The Rebels did attempt in several places at once to cross the river Charwell but could speed at none being still beaten off with great loss and particularly at Gosworth-bridg where they lost above 100 men June the 3 d. His Majesty perceiving the Rebels intention to besiege Oxford left a sufficient strength for defence thereof and to disburthen the City of unnecessary force marched with the rest of his Army this evening towards Worcester June the 4 th the Earl of Essex perceiving the Kings Forces drawn away passed Charwell with his Army and hearing of His Majesties departure from Oxford hastned after but upon Campsfield near Woodstock there fell upon his Army such a prodigious and violent storm of hail and rain accompanied with such terrible thunder and lightening for the space of two hours that some of them took occasion to say that the Conjurers at Oxford had engaged all their Familiars to work them a despight there being some hail as big as Nutmegs Others more nearly touched with an apprehension of the wickedness of their actions confessed that they suffered the violence of Heaven No such storm being seen at Oxford nor in any the adjacent Villages But the besotted Rebels contemning this presage from Heaven went on to their own ruin June the 5 th The Earl of Essex went this day as far as Chipping-Norton after the King June the 6 th But unwilling to lose his labour any longer returned to Burford where he deputed Sir William Waller to proceed in the adventure of King-catching that himself might have the sole honour of taking in Lestithiell June the 11 th Dudley Castle which had been gallantly defended by Lieutenant Col. Beaumont for three weeks before was relieved and the siege raised by His Majesties Forces sent from Worcester who took two Colours of the Rebels horse two Majors of Foot two Captains three Lieutenants kill'd about 100 in the fight and took above 50 common Soldiers Prisoners without any considerable loss on His Majesties part June the 12 th Col. Gage with some forces from Oxford took in Borstall house a Garrison of the Rebels in Buckinghamshire June the 18 th His Majesty in Worcestershire having intelligence that the Rebels Armies were now severed whilst Sir William Waller to get before the King ran into Staffordshire resolved to reinforce himself with the Regiments left at Oxford and encounter Sir William to which end he returned and came this day to Witney June the 20 th His Highness Prince Rupert being then in Lancashire clearing the County Colonel Shuttleworth with 400 Rebels came to beat up some of his quarters and fell in at Blackburne Where that vigilant Commander Sir Charles Lucas was so ready for him that he killed and took above 100 of the Rebels making the rest run for their lives June the 22 d. Sir William Waller having run himself out of breath gave over the pursuit of the King the rather for that His Majesty was provided for him Whereupon His Majesty directed his march towards the Rebels associated Counties and came this night to Buckingham where he received the joyful newes of His Queens safe delivery of the Princess Henrietta who was born at Exeter the 16 th of this month June the 25 th Sir Charles Lucas hearing Colonel Shuttleworth had gathered 300 horse and 100 Dragoons at Colne on the Borders of Yoreshire marched to him and fell on with such skill and courage that he totally routed all the Rebels both horse and Dragoons had execution for three miles wounded Shuttleworth himself who with very few others escaped all the rest Sir Charles killed and took and brought their Colours with the Prisoners to Prince Rupert June the 26 th Waller to recruit his weary Army from the Garrisons of Gloucester Warwick Coventry Northampton and Kenelmworth-castle had this day a rendezvouz in Keinton field whereof the King having notice turned his march towards him and quartered this night at Brackley June the 28 th This day the King coming before Banbury found Waller drawn up in Battalia Westward from the Town on the side of Crouch hill taking advantage of the hills bogs and ditches June the 29 th His Majesty discerning that Waller would not come into the plain nor could be assaulted as he lay but with much disadvantage removed somewhat Northwards to see if thereby he could draw him from his station which succeeded accordingly for Waller likewise advanced on the other side the River whereupon the King at Cropready marched further off the River leaving the Bridg in hope to draw them over which Waller greedily apprehending as an advantage put over 2000 horse and a great body of foot with 14 pieces of Cannon The Rebels being thus divided were immediately charged by the Kings Rear the brave Earl of Clevelands horse and Sir Bernard Astleys foot routing all that had past the Bridg whilst the Earl of Northampton charged the rest of the Rebels horse that were fording over In this fight were slain at least 300 Rebels and many of them taken Prisoners with their 14 pieces there were slain on His Majesties part two gallant Knights Sir William Butler and Sir William Clarke and not above 14 common Soldiers besides and so much for Wallers Army this Summer July the 3 d. The King having thus defeated one of the Rebels Armies bent Westwards after the other and came this day to Evesham to refresh his Soldiers after their hard duty from whence he sent to Westminster his message for Peace of the 4 th of July In the beginning of this month his Highness Prince Rupert marched out of Lancashire with a considerable Army for the relief of Yorke which had been two months besieged by an aggregate body of Rebels consisting of the Earl of Manchesters Army the Lord Fairfax and the Rebellious Scots under command of Lesley The Prince had no sooner relieved Yorke but drew forth after the Rebels and in Marstone Moore there began a terrible fight wherein his Highness had at first much the better took the Rebels Ordnance and many of them Prisoners insomuch that Lesley and the Lord Fairfax thinking all had been lost fled many miles from the place where the Battel was fought and never came to the remainder of their Armies till two days after the fight but in conclusion whether by fate which attends the event of War or by neglect I know not the fortune of the day turned and the Rebels recovered their lost Ordnance and took some of the Princes baggage and with it
in the time of Treaty wherein they used the name of Peace only as a masque for their designs but intended nothing less In this Town the Rebels did most barbarously execute 13 of His Majesties Soldiers which his Highness Prince Rupert did soon after justly requite lege talionis by hanging up a like number of theirs which he had taken without Quarter given February the 25 th Sir Marmaduke Langdale routed a great Body of Rebels consisting of at least 1200 Horse and Dragoons commanded by Col. Rossiter a Scot neer Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire kill'd above 30 of them too 46 Prisoners with four Colours of horse with the loss of Sir John Girlington a gallant Knight Capt. Gascoigne and not above 6 or 7 common Soldiers on His Majesties part February the 25 th Col. Roger Molineux with a party of Horse from Newarke took the Rebels Committee at Wirksworth in Darbyshire where they were gathering contribution viz. Mr. Wigfall Sir John Gells Son in Law Mr. Edward Charleton Mr. Buxton Major Molins Capt. Harstaffe Lieutenant Boteler about 70 Troopers and Dragooners with all their Horse and Arms and 400 l. in Mony In this action some of the Rebels were kill'd whereof of Mr. Sellors a busie Sequestrator was one and on His Majesties part only one man lost February the 26 th Sir William and Sir Charles Compton Brothers to the Noble Earl of Northampton with 300 horse routed 400 of the Rebels horse of Northampton neer Daventry in that County kill'd 13 wounded many took 36 Prisoners with 50 Horse and good store of Arms. In the latter end of this month a party of His Majesties Forces from Hereford took Castle-ditch a Garrison of the Rebels on the borders of that County and in it Col. Hopton the Governour Son to Sir Richard Hopton his Under-officers above 60 Foot Soldiers with their Arms and Provisions and some Horse March the 1 st Pontfract Castle that had been long besieged not without much loss to the Rebels by frequent sallies made by the Defendants and otherwise was relieved by Sir Marmaduke Langdale who there utterly defeated the Lord Fairfax whole Army kill'd 300 on the place besides many drowned took above 700 Prisoners whereof 44. Officers 22 Colours of Foot being all the Rebels had and 26 Standards of Horse with 34 double Barrels of Powder and a proportionable quantity of Match and Bullet and 2500 Foot Arms besides Horse Arms and other spoil In this action were slain many of the Rebels chief Officers as Col. Armyn Col. Thornton Col. Malevery with others On His Majesties part no Officer slain and but very few common Soldiers March the 6 th Sir Charles Compton with his Regiment of horse took 72 Pack-horses at Hawford on the borders of Warwickshire being richly laden with the Rebels wealth of Gloucester and intended for London with these Sir Charles also took their Convoy of at least 100 Horse and neer 70 Prisoners with a Lieutenant one Cornet and his Colours having first kill'd 12 Rebels on the place without loss of any one man and but one hurt March the 7 th Major Abercromy a Rebellious Scot was slain neer Stratton Audley in Buckinghamshire and 17 of his men taken by a party from His Majesties Garison of Borstal house March the 14 th Col. Long the high Sheriff of Wiltshire with his own Regiment of horse only gallantly charged a great body of Wallers horse neer the Devizes and did good execution on them but being much over-powered by the Rebels numbers was at length taken Prisoner with some part of his Regiment which was within few days after sufficiently requited by the Lord Goring who took above 700 of Wallers horse in those parts March the 15 th A Party of His Majesties horse from Pontfract Castle fell on Colonel Brandlings Quarters at Badsworth four miles from Doncaster took 67 Rebels Prisoners whereof 13 Officers 130 horse and 1000 l. in Mony March the 18 th The Earl of Northampton with his three young Brothers in all whom Gallantry is hereditary routed a great Body of the Rebels horse of Northampton neer Abthorp kill'd neer 30 Rebels whereof Captain Lidcote was one and hurt many more took 26 Prisoners and this with the loss of 5 Troopers only on His Majesties part The same 18 th of March Beeston Castle in Cheshire that had been bravely defended for 17 weeks before by Capt. Valet and as vainly besieged by Prince RUPERTS approach into those parts March the 24 th The Lower Member at Westminster Vote the clause for preservation of His Majesties Person to be left out in Thomas Fairfax his Commission Thus do the Rebels 1. Swear to live and die with their own General Essex yet upon second thoughts they disoblige themselves from that Oath and cashier him of his command 2. Covenant to preserve His-Majesties Person and Authority and yet afterwards Authorize Sir Thomas Fairfax to kill him if he can 3. They vow to maintain the Protestant Religion yet condemn and discountenance the essential parts thereof and introduce Irreligion and Prophaness Now tell me Reader what Tropological sence can save this jugling from flat and literal Perjury not all the addition of their Abrogative to their Legislative power For this is indeed to abrogate Christianity as well as Loyalty out of the World To give leave to kill the Kings Person in the field and yet to cheat men into a conceipt of preserving His Majesty in William Lenthal's Chair To make the World believe they are Protestants when they permit and authorize an illiterate Assembly of Non-Divines to discountenance the 39 Articles dispute about expunging the fifth Article of the Apostles Creed To antiquate the Lords Prayer out of the Church Service and turn out the long-setled Service of Common-Prayer out of the Church to give way to a long winded extemporary non-sence in the room thereof O tempora O mores Are not these fine Law-maker who violate the Laws of God and holy Church as well as those themselves were born unto to make way for their own Chimeraes Would not any true Zelot pawn his Soul upon these mens Consciences who make no Conscience of breaking their own Oaths Would not any wise man melt his Fortunes to maintain these mens Cause who have no cause for what they do Yes he that could be made to believe Perjury were Fidelity Treason Loyalty Blasphemy Sanctity Atheism Religion the Speakers Cushion the Kings Majesty may likewise possibly believe that these Rebels intend the Churches Kings and Common-wealths good Post-monita THe Reader may take notice of two omissions The first in February 1642. about which time His Majesties Forces from Hereford commanded by Sir Richard Lawdy encountred the Rebels of Gloucester at Cover on the borders of that County routed their whole Body kill'd and took most of the Rebels Commanders and many common Soldiers with four Drakes yet this Victory came not off without some loss for Sir Richard Lawdy himself was here slain by a shot out of
about 200 others and at least 100 of the defendants slain many whereof in cold blood not without some loss to the Assailants October the 15 th A Brigade of His Majesties horse marchimg Northward under command of the Lord Digby and Sir Marmaduke Langdale surprized 800 of the Rebels foot at Sherborne in Yorke-shire but before they had disposed of the Prisoners and their Arms a fresh party encountred them rescued the Prisoners disordered His Majesties Forces slew Sir Richard Hutton and some others October the 16 th Tiverton Castle in Devonshire taken by assault by Sir Thomas Fairfax's Forces the Governour and the rest within all at mercy c. October the 27 th Shelford house in Nottinghamshire was taken by the Rebels by storm the valiant Governour Col. Stanhop defended it even to the last man himself and near 200 others were slain by the Merciless Rebels after they were entered the house having first lost about 60 of their men in the assault November the 5 th Boulton Castle in Yorke-shire hat had been long and gallantly defended by Colonel Scroop the Governour and owner of it was surrendred to the Rebels upon Conditions c. Novemb. the 16 th Beeston Castle in Cheshire after long siege was likewise surrendred to the Rebels upon Conditions Novemb. the 22 d. The stables and outworks of Belvoir Castle were gained by storm in which action the Rebels lost 100 of their men and more wounded the defendants retreating all into the Castle with the loss of 2 men only slain and some few hurt December the 1 st The house of Commons at Westminster Vote the King to confer several honours upon several Members of each house and inter alios a Dukedom on the Earl of Essex and the Heirs Males of his body lawfully begotten c. The same 1 st of December a party of His Majesties Forces from Ashby de la zouch took a Troop of horse and some foot Soldiers conveying certain Rebels goods from Darby to Leicester December ihe 4 th Latham house that had so long and gallantly defended it self and so often offended the Rebeis was surrendred to them upon conditions c. December the 5 th His Majesty sent to the Parliament at Westminster to desire that the D. of Richmond E. of Southampton Mr. Ashburnham and Mr. Palmer might have a safe Conduct to bring Propositions of Peace December the 18 th His Majesty sent a second Letter with the most powerful perswasions imaginable that a safe Conduct might be granted according to his desire in his former Letter but both had one denial in a Letter of the 25 th of Dec. December the 18 th The Loyal City of Hereford was by the persidiousness of some within and the bribery of others without delivered up to the Rebels without any siege or almost any bloodshed whereby the persons and goods of many Gentlemen of quality and other loyal Subjects fell into the hands of the merciless Victors December the 22 d. The Lords at Westminster to the eternal dishonour of that House put it to the Vote Whether Christmas day should be kept or no For truly to blot out that and the memory of Christs Passion is the nearest way to introduce Judaism Decemb. the 26 th His Majesty sent a third message wherein he offered to repair personally to London for concluding a Peace but this found no better acceptance than the two former Decemb. the 29 th His Majesty sent answer to the Parliaments Letter of the 25. of this month and did then again use the best perswasions he could to beget in them admittance of a Personal Treaty both which last received a denial from the Parliament by a Letter dated Jan. 13. 1645. January the 1 st The Newarkers to welcome in the New year made a gallant sally upon General Pointz his Quarters at Stoke kill'd and took above 220. with good store of Arms and other Booty without any valuable loss Jan. the 14 th His Majesty sent a fifth Message inviting to Peace January the 17 th His Majesty sent Answer to the Parliaments Letter of the 13 th of January with many gracious expressions of his desire of Peace Jan. the 18 th Dartmouth was taken by Sir Thomas Fairfax part of it by storm and other part by Composition Jan. the 20 th Sir John Cansfield with a party of horse from Oxford beat up the Rebels Quarters at Marlborough took Col. Ayres the Rebels Governour of the Devizes Mr. Goddard a Committee-man Cap. White their Commissary General 3 Troops of Horse 100 Foot Soldiers with good store of Arms and Ammunition with the loss of but 3 or 4 men slain and not many hurt The same day a party from Ashby-de-la Zouche took Astley Castle in Warwickshire by Scalado and in it the Governour with some 30 others with good store of Arms. Jan. the 24 th His Majesty sent a seventh Letter in fuller Answer of the Parliaments Letter of the 13 th of this month with earnest desire of a satisfactory Answer to his former Letters the aim of all which still levelled at the peace and welfare of this bleeding Kingdom Jan. the 29 th His Majesty sent an eighth Letter to the Parliament with many gracious condescendings for Peace but their ears were still deaf to such pious motions Jan. the 30 th A party from Ragland Castle commanded by the Lord Charles Sommerset took the Town of Carlion in Monmouth-shire wherein were 200 of the Rebels Foot Soldiers and a Troop of Horse some of which were slain others drowned and the rest taken Prisoners Feb. the 1 st The same party also took the Town of Newport in that County after a sharp fight wherein 200 Rebels fell agd as many were taken Prisoners in the Town His Majesties Forces in this action not losing one man but had about 30 wounded Feb. the 3 d. Belvoir Castle that had been defended for near three months by Sir Gervas Lucas was now surrendred to the Rebels upon Honourable Conditions to march away with Bag and Baggage c. The same 3 d. of Feb. Westchester that had been gallantly defended by the Lord Byron above five months was likewise surrendred upon Conditions to march away c. Feb. the 6 th Dunster Castle in Sommersetshire that had been long besieged by the Rebels was relieved by that try'd Soldier Major General Webb Feb. the 7 th A party of His Majesties Forces entred the Town of Warham in Dorsetshire took Col. Butler the Governor two Committee men and some others and thence marched to Corf Castle then besieged which they relieved took a Mortar-Peice of the Rebels and made a safe Retreat without any Loss Feb. the 15 th A little but sharp encounter hapned between a party of His Majesties Forces from Titbury Castle and a like party of Rebels from Barton house in Darbyshire wherein after above half an hours dispute some slain and many hurt on each side the Rebels were Routed and many of them taken Prisoners Feb. the 18 th
and Colonel Henderson a Scot received a defeat near Horn-castle in Lincolnshire by the Rebels under the command of Manchester Cromwel and Fairfax there were taken Prisoners near 600 of His Majesties forces Sir Ingram Hopton and some few others slain not without some considerable loss to the Rebels it cannot be said that in any other Battel since this Rebellion but this that His Majesties forces made a dishonourable retreat where the fault was I cannot say November the 11 th an Ordinance for authorizing the counterfeit great Seal November the 21 st Sir William Armine and others sent by the Houses at Westminster arrived at Edenborough with Articles of accord and advance Mony to hasten the Scots Invasion November the 27 th the Kings Messenger Hang'd at London for discharging his duty in serving His Majesties Writ December the 4 th Hawarden-castle surrendred to His Majesties Forces December the 8 th John Pym died de morbo pediculoso at Derby house in Westminster in which place the medley Scots and others sit and hatch their contrivances for support of the present Rebellion December the 12 th Becston Castle assaulted and taken for His Majesty December the 21 st Lapley house taken by Captain Heavenningham for His Majesty December the 28 th Colonel Nathaniel Fines one of the first that appeared in this Rebellion was in a Court of War at S. Albans by his fellow Rebels sentenced to be Hanged for a Coward December the 29 th The stately Screen of copper richly gilt set up by King Henry the seventh in his Chappel at Westminster was by order of the House reformed That is broken down and sold to Tinkers Anno Dom. 1644. JAnuary the 16 th The perfidious Scots contrary to the solemn Pacification invaded this Kingdom January the 22 d. The Members of Parliament assembled at Oxford according to His Majesties Proclamation March the 2 d. The Scots came over the River of Tyne General King pursuing their rear forced them into Sunderland whereupon the Marquess of Newcastle sent for Sir Charles Lucas out of Yorkeshire who had been Ordered to stay there to fortifie Doncaster March the 13 th Hopton Castle in Shropshire taken by Col. Woodhouse for His Majesty March the 18 th Wardour Castle in Wiltshire after long siege was taken by Sir Francis Dodington for His Majesty March the 22 d. Newarke after three weeks siege was happily relieved by his Highness Prince Rupert in which action the Rebels forces there were totally defeated all their Arms and Ammunition consisting of 4000 Musquets 11 pieces of brass Ordnance 2 Mortar pieces and about 50 barrels of Powder c. were taken And soon after Lincoln Sleeford and Gainsborough were quitted by the Rebels and many pieces of Ordnance with good store of Arms left behind them March the 23 d. Sturton Castle in Staffordshire rendred to Sir Gilbert Gerard Governour of Worcester for His Majesty March the 24 th The Scots being much provoked to come out of Sunderland came to Bowdon-hill whence with great loss they were forced back into their Trenches but next morning they came with many of their horse and foot on the Marquess of Newcastles Rear and had so disordered it that the whole Army was endangered but Sir Charles Lucas who was then in the right Wing hasted to the Rear and with his own Regiment fell upon the Rebels Lanciers and routed them which made the rest fly from pursuing their advantage March the 24 th Apley house in Shropshire Garrisoned by the Rebels was taken by His Majesties Forces commanded by Col. Ellis April the 3 d. Longford house in Shropshire rendred to his Highness Prince Rupert wherein was taken 100 Musquets c. and about the same time Tongue-castle in the same County was likewise surrendred to his Highness April the 13 th The Rebels from Gloucester assaulted Newent then a Garrison commanded by Colonel Mynne but were gallantly repulsed and pursued leaving behind them two pieces of their Cannon and many dead bodies before the Works April the 17 th The Queens Majesty began her Journey from Oxford into the West April the 17 th Brampton Bryan in Herefordshire a Castle of Sir Robert Harleys after three weeks siege and the loss of 7 or 8 men summoned and rendred at mercy only to Sir Michael Woodhouse wherein was taken 67 men 100 Arms two Barrels of Powder some Plate and a whole years provision April the 17 th Dunfreize in Scotland taken in by the Marquess of Montross c. for His Majesty with all the Ordnance Arms and Ammunition April the 22 d. Stutcombe in Dorsetshire assaulted and entred by the force of his Highness Prince Maurice wherein was taken 5 Captains and 16 other Officers 114 Soldiers with all their Arms 6 Colours one piece of Cannon and two Murtherers good store of Ammunition and one Seditious Lecturer May the 6 th His Majesties Forces in Latham house in Lancashire made amongst divers others a most remarkable sally wherein they killed many of the besiegers in their trenches and continued the execution to the park side and slew near 300 Rebels took 3 great pieces of Ordnance having since the 10. of April then last taken 7 of their Cannon besides one Mortar-piece many Colours and killed above 600 of them May the 12 th The Rebels from Plymouth assaulting Mount-Edgcombe house in Cornwal which was only defended by thirty Musquettiers were bravely repulsed and eighty of them killed in the place May the 24 th The Rebels having formed 2. Armies consisting for the most part of the London Trained-bands and Auxiliaries under the command of the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller this day joyned about Blewbury in Berkeshire and bent their course towards Abingdon May the 25 th Prince Rupert assaulted and took Stopford a strong Garrison of the Rebels in Cheshire together with all their Cannon most of their Arms and Ammunition and about 800 of them Prisoners Hereupon Latham house after at least 18 weeks siege was timely relieved by his Highness Prince Ruperts approch into those parts May the 28 th His Highness Prince Rupert summoned Bolton the Geneva of Lancashire as the Brethren call it the first Town in that County and consequently in England that put in execution the Militia as the readiest means to ruin the Kingdom But they out of a zealous confidince Hanged one of the Princes Captains which they had not long before taken Prisoner whereupon the Prince stormed the Town and in the two attempt took it wherein were kill'd at least 800 Rebels 600 Prisoners taken with all their Colours Ordnance Arms and Ammunition The justice of which act was foreseen by Mr. Booker who about this time had noted it in his Almanack thus Authores dissentionum sanguinis profusionum absque dubio mercede sua mulctabuntur May the 29 th The Rebels Armies severed The Earl of Essex marching from Abingdon to Islip with purpose to distress Ozford on the North part as Waller at Abingdon on the South part