ESSEX his Army was so much wasted by sicknesse and other distresses that he could not at all straiten Oxford nor hinder any Forces from issuing thence under the conduct of the Lord VVILMOT was utterly defeated scattered and ruined as was before mentioned He himselfe for security at the present retired into the City of Bristoll from whence within few daies he rode accompanied with some Gentlemen toward London and was there received with great affection and many promises of their best indeavour to set him forth with another Army The Kings Forces seemed now to have done the greatest part of their worke being in a manner sole Masters of the VVest and most Northerne Counties of England and having ruined the Lord FAIRFAX and Sir WILLIAM WALLERS Armies Yet in all Counties the fortune was not alike in many places those Gentlemen which adhered to the Parliament were able not onely to guard themselves but get ground upon their enemies though those actions were for the most part performed in skirmishes between small parties in preserving their owne strengths or taking Townes from the other side such as had been in Cheshire Lancashire Staffordshire Derby Leicester Notingham and other places which I shall briefly touch anon after I have related in how contrary a condition to the North and West which had beene the seat of a fierce warre and a prey to the greatest and most potent Armies of either side and how much happier then those other Counties which had beene alwayes molested with Alarms and Skirmishes and suffered by pillaging on both Parties the Easterne Counties of England had remained all the foregoing VVinter and continued so during the whole progresse of this bloody VVarre which were the Counties of Suffolke Norfolke Cambridge Essex Hartford Huntingdon c. who never were made the seat of any part of this civill VVarre These parts of the Kingdome had joyned themselves in an Association by Authority of Parliament with power to defened each other and leavy Forces against all enemies to that cause this great happinesse of peace and quiet that they enjoyed may be supposed to flow from the unanimity of their affections which carried them all the same way and true it is that there was as much unanimity of opinion and affection in those Counties among the people in generall as was to be found in any part of England but it was especially among the common people for a great and considerable number of the Gentry and those of highest ranke among them were dis-affected to the Parliament and were not sparing in their utmost indeavours to promote the Kings Cause and assist his Force against it which might have throwne those Countries if not wholly carried them to the other side into as much distraction and sad calamity as any other part of the Land had felt nor could that Association have been possibly made if those Gentlemen had not been curbed and suppressed by that timely care which the Parliament tooke and more particularly by the successfull services of one Gentleman Master OLIVER CROMWEL of Huntington a Member of the House of Commons whose wisdome valour and vigilancy was no lesse availeable in this important businesse then remarkable afterwards in the highest services and greatest battels of the whole Warre Of this mans Actions because it pleased God to raise him afterward into the greatest commands and prosper in so high a measure all his undertakings that he became within few yeares one of the chiefe props on which the Parliament leaned and greatest scourges of the other sid let it not seeme amisse if I discourse in a continued Serâ—es during those Moneths that intervened the Battell of Keynton and that low ebbe of the Parliament which preceded the siege of Gloucester The first Action that CROMWELL undertooke was to secure the Towne of Cambridge for the Parliament about the middle of January Universities were of all places most apt to adhere to the Kings party esteeming Parliaments and especially this the greatest depressors of that Ecclesiasticall Dignity in hope of which they are there nurtured Upon which reason they were packing up a large quantity of the Plate that belonged to all the Coledges to send it away to the King which would have made a considerable summe This was foreseene by CROMWELL who by a Commission from the Parliament and Lord Generall Essex had raised a Troope of Horse and came downe into that Country with authority to raise more Forces as occasion served he came to Cambridge soone enough to seize upon that plate which was going to Oxford but before his arrivall there he performed by the way another service Sir THOMAS CONESBY lately made High Sheriffe of Hartfordshire had received a Proclamation from the King to proclaime the Earle of Essex and all his adherents Traytors and was then at St. Albons upon a Market day proclaiming of the same CROMWELL with his Troope seized upon him and sent him up to the Parliament Not long after he collected in convenient time the Forces of that County and invited the neighbour Counties of Essex Suffolke and Norfolke to their assistance against an invasion of the Lord CAPELL who should have been seconded by Prince RUPERT also to invade that place and hinder the Association which had been done if that timely prevention had not been used This made them forbeare their intended invasion and retire to other parts About the beginning of March CROMWELL having raised a Regiment of Horse consisting of 1000. marched into Suffolke with much celerity upon intelligence of a great and considerable confederacy held among those Gentlemen which adhered to the Kings Party at a Towne in that County called Lowerstost a place of great consequence He surprized them unawares gained the Towne with small difficulty and no shot at all In which he tooke Prisoners Sir THOMAS BARKER and his Brother Sir JOHN PETTUS Master THOMAS KNEVET two of the CATLINES Captaine HAMMOND Master COREY Master TURRILL Master PRESTON and about 20. others of quality and substance In that Towne he gained good store of Ammunition Saddles Pistols Powder Shot and severall Engines for Warre enough to have served a considerable Force And certaine it was that if CROMWELL had not surprized them in that nick of time it had proved a matter of great danger to the County for within one day after as many more Knights and Gentlemen that were listed before had met at the same place This was a timely service to the Parliament and a great discouragement to all that Party in Suffolke and Norfolke which adhered to the Kings side But when the Spring grew furâ—her on and it was seasonable to make longer Marches about the beginning of Aprill CROMWELL having well setled the businesses of those Associated Counties for the Parliaments use and not confining his care and services within those parts onely raised a greater Force of such as came freely and heartily in to him with whom he marched along towards Lincolneshire with purpose to assist those of
King goeth toward York and is followed with a Petition from the Lords and Commons to Theobalds and another Declaration to Newmarket The King is denyed entrance into Hull by Sir John Hotham 38 CHAP. IV. Many Members of both Houses leave the Parliament and repaire to the King Nine of the Lords who first went away are impeached by the Commons and censured by the Peers The Great Seal is carried away from London to York Some Votes of Parliament concerning the Kings Proceedings A Petition with nineteen Propositions sent from the Parliament to the King 58 CHAP. V. An Order for bringing in of Plate and Money into Guild-Hall The Kings Declaration to the Lords about him Their Profession and Protestation to him The King layeth Siege to Hull but raiseth it again The Earl of Warwick taketh possession of the Navy as Lord Admirall The Earl of Essex is voted in Parliament to be Lord Generall of all their Forces 83 CHAP. VI. A brief Relation of the condition of divers Counties in England when the Parliaments Ordinance for the Militia and the Kings Commission of Array were put in execution With a mention of some Lords and otherswho were actors on either side The Lord Mayor of London committed to the Tower and sentenced by the Parliament A mention of some Declarations Messages and Answers that passed between the King and the two Houses of Parliament 99 BOOK III. CHAP. I. PRince Rupert and Prince Maurice arrive in England The Earl of Essex taking leave of the Parliament goeth to his Command The King increaseth in strength at Shrewsbury A Skirmish at Worcester The great Battell of Keynton is fought 1 CHAP. II. The Parliament send to the King concerning an Accommodation A fight at Brainford Another Treaty with the King begun and broken of Reading besieged by the Lord Generall Essex and surrendred to him A Conspiracy to betray Bristoll A treacherous Plot against the Parliament and City of London discovered and prevented 29 CHAP. III. Matters of State trans-acted in Parliament touching the Assembly of Divines The making of a new Great Seale Impeaching the Queen of High Treason and other things The Lord Generall Essex after some Marches returneth to quarter his wasted and sick Army about Kingston The Kings Forces Masters of the West The Earl of Newcastle his greatnesse in the North. Some mention of the Earle of Cumberland and the Lord FAIRFAX 47 CHAP. IV. Some Actions of Sir Thomas Fairfax in the North. The Queen lands in England The revolt of Sir Hugh Cholmley and the two Hothams The state of this Warre in the Westerne parts The condition of the Associated Counties A short relation of Sir William Waller his Actions of Colonell Cromwell Sir William Brereton and Sir John Gell. 63 CHAP. V. The death of the Lord Brooke and of the Earle of Northampton A short mention of some Actions in divers Counties The low condition of the Parliament at that time The Siege of Gloucester 85 CHAP. VI. The Expedition of the Lord Generall Essex for reliefe of Gloucester The great Battell of Newbury described 101 THE HISTORY OF THE PARLIAMENT OF England CHAP. I. Wherein is a short mention of Queene ELIZABETH King JAMES and the beginning of King CHARLES his Reigne his two first Parliaments Of the Warre with Spaine and France The death of the Duke of BUCKINGHAM And the third Parliament of King CHARLES QUeene ELIZABETH of glorious Memory together with that great Stock of Wealth and Honour which her prudent and just Government had brought to the English Nation had enriched them besides with a greater Treasure which we may justly account the cause of all the rest Religion reformed from Popish Superstition That Reformation engaged the Queene in a new Interest of State to side with the Protestants against those Potent Monarchs of the other Religion which seemed at the beginning as much danger and disadvantage to her as it proved in conclusion security and Honour so impossible it is for any disadvantage to prevaile over them that helpe the Lord against the Mighty That Storme from France which so much threatned the weake beginnings of her Reigne was suddenly blowne over by the death of HENRY the second and some few Moneths after of his Sonne FRANCIS who had married the Queene of Scotland the danger which remained greatest was from Spaine where PHILIP the second then reigned a Prince not greater in Dominion Treasure and Armies then deeply engaged against the Protestant Religion by the instigation and assistance of the Jesuites an Order which in the Age before had beene highly counrenanced by Pope PAUL the third in opposition to the Gospell-Doctrine that then began to spread apace in Germany and other parts The whole Order of Iesuites as endeavouring to set up one Temporall Kingdome of Christendome suitable to the Papall Hierarchy applyed their service altogether to the Monarchy of Spaine as being then far the greatest in Europe and fittest for their purpose by the late uniting of so many Kingdomes and Dutchies under the person of CHARLES the Emperour who by a fortunate birthright inherited together with Casule and Arragon and all the great Acquisitions of his Grandfather FERDINAND in Italy and the West Indies the rich and usefull patrimony of his Father PHILIP Burgundy and the Netherlands all these he had left intirely to his Sonne PHILIP who to so large a Territory had made that strong addition of the Kingdome of Portugall and might seeme an Enemy too mighty for England and all the Protestants of Europe to oppose But Queene ELIZABETH had woven the interest of her own State so inseparably into the cause of Religion it selfe that it was hard to overthrow one without the ruine of the other And God who had given her so much grace and courage as to rely wholly upon him did with that Almighty hand not onely hold her up from sinking but lift her above the heads of all her enemies By what degrees and means she atchieved the great Actions of her reigne and brought so much prosperity to her Nation it is not the scope of this discourse to relate at large for her History is not the worke in hand but only in briefe to declare that before her death she was the happy instrument of God to promote the Protestant Religion in all parts She curbed the Spanish greatnesse by supporting France from ruine to give some balance to the other as she preserved Scotland from being swallowed up by the French before She protected the Hollanders against him vanquished his Armies both by Land and Sea with many other such things as might seeme too much to be the atchievements of one Reigne And last of all she reduced Ireland wholly to obedience notwithstanding all the subtill machinations of Spain and open assistance given in Armes to her Irish Rebels All which she accomplished by the justice and prudence of her government by making the right use of her Subjects hearts hands and Purses in a Parliamentary way as also securing
Army This Petition he carried to Northampton to the Generall to be by him presented according to the Parliaments desire to His Majesty in a safe and honourable way In which Petition nothing at all according to their former Declarations is charged upon the King himselfe but only upon his wicked Councell and the former mis-governments briefly mentioned and that this wicked Councell have raised an horrid Rebellion and Massacre in Ireland and ever since by opposition against the Parliament hindered the reliefe of that Kingdom and at last drawne his Majesty to make a War upon his Parliament leading an Army in Person to the destruction of his people depriving his good Subjects of his Majesties protection and protecting those Traytors against the Justice and Authority of Parliament WE the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament have for these are the words of the Petition for the just and necessary defence of the Protestant Religion of your Majesties Person Crowne and Dignity of the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdome and the Priviledges and power of Parliaments taken up Armes appointed and authorized ROBERT Earle of ESSEX to be Captaine Generall of all the Forces by us raised to conduct the same against those Rebels and Traytors to subdue and bring them to condigne punishment And we do most humbly beseech your Majesty to withdraw your Royall Presence and Countenance from these wicked persons and if they shall stand out in defence of their rebellious and unlawfull attempts that your Majesty will leave them to be supprest by that Power which we have sent against them And that your Majesty will not mix your owne dangers with theirs but in peace and safety without your Forces forthwith returne to your Parliament and by their faithfull advice compose the present distempers and confusions abounding in both your Kingdomes and provide for the security and honour of your selfe and Royall Posterity and the prosperous estate of all your Subjects Wherein if your Majesty please to yeeld to our most humble and earnest desires We do in the presence of Almighty God professe That we will receive your Majesty with all Honour yeeld you all due obedience and subjection and faithfully indeavour to secure your Person and Estate from all dangers and to the uttermost of our Power to procure and establish to your selfe and to your People all the blessings of a glorious and happy Reigne According to this Petition were those Directions from the Parliament to the Lord Generall sent at the same time wherein the Lord Generall is required by the Houses to use his utmost indeavour by Battell or otherwise to rescue the Kings Person the Persons of the Prince and Duke of Yorke out of the hands of those desperate persons now about them Another Direction was That if his Majesty upon this humble Petition should be pleased to withdraw himselfe from the persons now about him and returne to the Parliament that then the Lord Generall should disband and should serve and defend his Majesty with a sufficient strength in his returne Another Direction was That his Excellency should proclaime pardon to all those who were at that time seduced against their Parliament and Country if within ten daies after that Proclamation they would returne to their duty doing no hostile act within the time limited Provided that this should not extend to admit any man into either House of Parliament who stands suspended without giving satisfaction to that House whereof he was a Member and excepting all persons impeached for Delinquency by either House and those persons who have been eminent Actors in these Treasons and therefore impeached in Parliament of High Treason such as were at that time declared and there named the Earles of Bristoll Cumberland Newcastle and Rivers Secretary NICHOLAS Master ENDYMION PORTER Master EDWARD HIDE the Duke of Richmond the Earle of Carnarvan Viscount Newarke and Viscount Fawkland These were the persons at that time voted against and declared Traytors though afterwards others were added to the number of them and many of these left out as occasions altered Such Directions and others for the advantage of the Army and behoose of the Countries thorow which he was to march were given by the Parliament to his Excellency but above all things to restraine carefully all impieties prophannesse and disorders in his Army The Generall arriving at Northampton was there possessed of a great and gallant Army well furnished at all points consisting of about twenty thousand with those that within few daies were to come thither An Army too great to finde resistance at that time from any Forces a foot in England for the Kings side had then small strength What they had consisted of Horse who in small Parties roved up and downe to make Provision and force Contribution in severall places Prince RUPERT especially like a perpetuall motion with those Horse which he commanded was in short time heard of at many places of great distance The care therefore which his Excellency especially tooke was so to divide his great Army as to make the severall parts of it usefull both to annoy the stragling Troops of the Enemy and ptotect those Counties that stood affected to the Parliament as also to possesse himselfe either in his owne Person or by his Lieutenants of such Towns as he thought might be of best import if this sad War should happen to continue From Northampton he marched to Coventry to make that considerable City a Garrison for the Parliament and from thence to Warwick and having fortified that Towne marched away towards Worcester upon intelligence that the King himselfe intended to come thither with his Forces for his desire was to finde out the King and the Parliament to whom he imparted his designe by Letter approved well of his advance towards Worcester The City of Worcester as well as the whole County had beene in great distractions by reason not only of the dissenting affections of the Inhabitants but the frequent invitations from both sides if we may call that an invitation which is made by armed force Sir JOHN BYRON had first entred Worcester for the Kings side whom Master FIENNES Sonne to the Lord SAY had opposed for the Parliament and afterward Prince RUPERT with five hundred Horse not farre from the City was encountred by Master FIENNES who commanded another Body about that number the skirmish was but small and not above twelve men slaine as the report was made at London But before the Lord Generall could arrive at Worcester who was marching thither from Warwick as was before expressed there happened a fight there not to be omitted in regard of the persons that were there slaine or wounded though the number of men in generall that fell were small Prince RUPERT was then at Worcester with twelve Troops of Horse when about that City divers of the Parliaments Forces were though not joyned in one Body but dispersed The Prince marched out of the City into a greene Meadow and there set his
at this time highly intrusted by them for he was Governour of Scarborough a place of great importance He falsely betrayed his Trust and forsooke the Cause he had undertaken going to the Queene with 300. men Upon which he was impeached of High Treason by the Parliament but it was not his fortune to suffer for that offence as others did who about the same time failed in their Trusts The Towne of Scarborough was left in possession of a Parliament Captaine who was usually called Browne Bushell a man that some thought would have kept it to the Parliaments use he likewise revolted and delivered it to their Enemies Upon the landing of Generall KING and the Queene presently after a suspition began to arise by some circumstances that the two unfortunate HOTHAMS the father and the sonne were false to the Parliament Which by the strict observation of some vigilant men on that side was further discovered and began at last to be discoursed of with as little beliefe for a long time as CASSANDRAES Prophecies and when it came more plainly to appeare with as much not onely wonder but sorrow of honest men that so much unconstancy should be found The particulars of this discovery and how much the Parliament if not timely prevented had suffered by it there will be time hereafter to discourse of more at large But they were both accused to the Parliament seized upon at Hull and sent up to London where they long remained Prisoners in the Tower before the time of their Tryall and Execution Not all these disadvantages by the growth of Enemies and revolt of friends could dishearten the Lord FAIRFAX and his Sonne who still persisted with great courage and raising the Clubmen of the Country to piece up those small Forces which remained with them were able for a while to make considerable resistance and performe divers services against some parts of the Earle of Newcastles vast Army But one Victory was gained by Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX at Wakefield which may be termed rather miraculous then strange though I shall relate nothing save knowne truth such a Victory against so much odds and so many disadvantages as may serve to teach how much successe may possibly crowne bold attempts and justifie that old saying Audaces fortuna juvat The Lord FAIRFAX Generall of the Parliaments Forces in the North on the 20. of May gave Order for a Party to be drawne out from the Garrisons of Leedes Bradford Halifax and Howley They marched 1000. Foot three Companies of Dragoneers and eight Troops of Horse Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX commanded in Chiefe the Foot were commanded by Sir WILLIAM FAIRFAX and Serjeant Major Generall GIFFORD the Horse divided into two Bodies foure Troops whereof were commanded by Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX himselfe the other foure by Sir HENRY FOWLYS From Howley which was their rendâ—zvouze they marched away and by foure a clock in the morning came before Wakefield Those of the Towne were ready for them and sent out some of their Horse to encounter with theirs and Musqueteers to line some hedges even to the very Towne There were in Wakefield 3000. Foot and seven Troops of Horse besides Colonell LAMPTONS Regiment which came into the Towne after that the Parliaments Forces entred into it But at the first encounter the Parliaments Forces beat their Enemies Horse back and their Foot also drove those Musqueteers from the hedges even into the Towne which they assaulted in two places called Wrengate and Northgate After an houre and an halfe fighting recovered one of their Enemies Peeces and turned it upon them and withall entred the Town in both places at the same time When the Baracadoes were opened Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX with the Horse also fell into the Towne and cleered the street there was a cruell and fierce encounter in which place Colonell GORING was taken Prisoner by Lieutenant MATTHEW ALURED brother to Captaine JOHN ALURED a Member of the House of Commons yet in the Market place stood three Troops of Horse and Colonell LAMPTONS Regiment to whom Major Generall GIFFORD sent a Trumpet with proffer of Quarter if they would lay down their Arms. To which when they returned a scornfull Answer he fired a Peece of their owne Ordnance upon them and the Horse also falling in with great fury soone beat them out of the Towne and tooke all their Officers Prisoners They tooke withall 27. Colours of Foot three Cornets of Horse and about 1500. Common Souldiers They were likewise forced when they fled to leave behind them foure Peeces of Ordnance with Ammunition which the Parliament Forces carried away with them For when they had thus taken the Towne they found their number and strength too weake to keepe it and their Prisoners too And therefore they quitted the place and marched away with this brave booty This great Victory at Wakefield seemed according to the common saying like a lightening before death for not long after these Forces were quite broken by the Earle of Newcastle whose greatnesse overspread those Countries and was never incountered by any Enemy but in parts of his Army He had managed the whole businesse and attained his height of power by great skill and policy and now having no neere Enemy in the field was gone to besiege the Lord FAIRFAX in Hull which was by some talked of as an errour in him no lesse then besieging Gloucester soone after by the King was censured Such a continuall and sad Warre had the Northerne parts been forced to endure all the winter Nor was it their case alone scarce any County of England was free from it The whole West consisting of so many rich and flourishing Shires had been as sad a stage of civill Tragedies Many Armies and small Parties of either side too many for one History to describe at large or give particular due to the actions of every Gentleman had been ingaged without any intermission in those parts Of all Commanders there that sided with the King against the Parliament Sir RALPH HOPTON by his unwearied industry and great reputation among the people had raised himselfe to the most considerable height and continued the longest a Leader of Armies as the sequell of the Story will hereafter declare But his successes through the whole course of his Actions were very various and many ebbs and flowes were in his fortune The Marquesse HARTFORD though farre higher in Dignity and greater by power of his large Commission from the King of which before is spoken was not able to act so largely in the field as Sir RALPH did though he were seldome idle but busie about Townes and in small Parties They were both opposed in their beginnings not so much by any Noblemen or great Commanders imployed by the Parliaments Commissions as by private Gentlemen of those Counties the chiefe of which were Sir FRANCIS POPHAM and his Sons Master STRODE a Deputy Lieutenant there with others before named besides plaine Freeholders of the Country who seemed to understand their owne
that Towne but his designe was for Gloucester and had taken such provident care that the men in Gloucester had notice of his purpose and that with the help of his flat-bottomed Barges which thence were brought to him in the nature of Waggons usefull both by land and water he would transport his Forces over the River Severne beyond Gloucester and fall upon the Reare of the Lord HERBERTS Welch Forces when he was least feared or expected withall he gave notice to the Gloucester Forces to fall upon the Front of that Army as he would upon their Reare The Plot as it was wisely contrived was successefull in the event and tooke so good effect for him that when the Lord HERBERT was in skirmish with the Forces of Gloucester and confident to cut them all off being very few in comparison of his owne Sir WILLIAM with his Army neere Highâ—am their Quarter fell suddenly upon the Reare of the Lord HERBERTS men with such fury that they were all routed and would gladly have fled if they had knowne any way to escape There were slame of that Welch Army about 500. upon the place neere a thousand taken Prisoners with all their Armes and Ammunition the rest wholly dispersed and scattered the Lord HERBERT himselfe escaped by flight and got to Oxford Sir WILLIAM WALLER after this great Victory marched from thence to Tewkesbury at whose approach those of the Kings Souldiers that were Garrisoned there fled away and left it to him from whence marching further into the Country he surprized divers stragling Troopers of the other side with some Armes Pistols and Carbines together with sixteene thousand pound in Money and carried away his booty to Gloucester Within as short a distance of time he tooke Chepstow in Monmouthshire and seized upon divers of those that were Conspirators for the betraying of Bristoll of which Treason I have spoken before and who upon the discovery of it had fled from thence At that place he tooke a Ship called the Dragon of Bristoll and great store of wealth in her belonging to those who were his Enemies which he seized as a just booty and much to his advantage From Chepstow he marched with a swift pace to Monmouth the Towne upon composition was soone rendred to him from whence after he had put a Garison into it he marched to Vske and summoned the Country where divers Forces came in to him among others Sir WILLIAM MORGAN his Sonne of Tredegan brought him five hundred armed men and some Money where also Master HERBERT of Colebrooke raised a thousand men and seized on Abergaine for the Parliament Sir WILLIAM WALLER in this high carriere of his fortune was commanded back from the West by the Lord Generall Essex to come to the chiefe Army Which being soone understood among those of the Kings Army he was way-layed by Prince MAURICE The intention of Sir WILLIAM WALLER was to get to Gloucester with his Forces having therefore sent away his Ordnance and Baggage with his Foot to guard it over Wye to Aust himselfe with his Horse and Dragoones resolved to fall upon Prince MAURICE his Army and force a passage thorow which he did with great successe and small losse and as he marched afterward cut down all the Bridges behinde him whereby he hindred Prince MAURICE from marchimg after him This course if the Prince had taken before him Sir WILLIAM WALLER might have been kept in Wales to his great disadvantage But by that meanes of cutting down the Bridges Prince MAURICE his pursuit being hindered Sir WILLIAM WALLER by assistance of the Governour MASSEY regained many Townes possessed by the Kings Forces especially Tewkesbury Sir MATTHEW CAREW being fled from thence But there he tooke many Prisoners much Armes and Riches he placed a Garrison there and from thence according to his first designe arrived safe at the City of Gloucester Sir WILLIAM WALLER continued not long at Gloucester but being now dispenced with for returning to the Lord Generall according to his usuall celerity he flew to Hereford before any feare or expectation of his comming He tooke that Towne upon Quarter and in it many Prisoners of great ranke and quality among whom was the Lord SCUDMORE with five revolted Members of the House of Commons viz. The Lord SCUDMORES Sonne Colonell HERBERT PRICE Sir RICHARD CAVE Lieutenant Colonell CONISBY Master CONISBY and besides them Sir WALTER PYE Sir WILLIAM CROFTS Lieutenant Colonell THOMAS PRICE Serjeant Major MINTRIDGE Sir SAMUEL AMBY Serjeant Major DALTON Captaine SOMERSET Captaine SCLATER Doctor ROGERS Doctor GOODWIN Doctor EVANS and divers others who were all carried away to Gloucester Within three daies after that service he surprised the Towne of Leinster in that County twelve miles distant from Hereford where he tooke good prize disarmed many of the Kings Party there and placed a Garrison in the Towne It was feared at that time by those of the Kings side that Sir WILLIAM WALLER going on in so prosperous a way might perchance surprize Worcester and Ludlow To prevent therefore his further proceedings Prince MAURICE with a good strength of Horse was sent from Oxford with whom also the Marquesse of Hartford was joyned to fall upon him But Sir WILLIAM scowring the Countries thereabouts with his active Forces and having disarmed many of the other side in Wilts and Somersetshire came to Bath with an Army much increased of late both in number and reputation at which place Sir EDWARD HUNGERFORD Sir JOHN HORNER and Master STRODE joyned with him to oppose Prince MAURICE and the Marquesse Hartford About that part of the Country were frequent and fierce encounters which lasted for a long time and many retreats with great skill and courage were made on both sides when night parted the fury of their sights But Sir WILLIAM WALLER proved for the most part victorious whose particular actions there deserve a more peculiar relation and at last became Master of the field chasing his Enemies so farre as a Towne called the Devizes to which place he followed and besieged them The losses in all those severall encounters were very uncertaine and variously reported by reason that both Parties had many times liberty to bury their dead but on the Parliament side were lost one Major one Lieutenant and two Cornets Sir ARTHUR HASLERIG was there wounded but the danger was not very great On the other side besides the uncertaine number of Common Souldiers some of quality were slaine among whom was Sir BEVILE GREENVILE Lieutenant Colonell WARD Major LOWRE with five or six Captains Sir RALPH HOPTON the Earle of Carnarvan and the Lord MOHUN were reported to be wounded Sir RALPH HOPTON was besieged in the Devizes by Sir WILLIAM WALLER and began to treat about the surrender of it for Prince MAURICE and the Marquesse of Hartford were retired toward Oxford where suddenly the fortune of warre changed and Sir WILLIAM VVALLERS Army by an unexpected party of fresh Forces which came from Oxford for the Lord Generall
his side that warred against Newarke Newarke was one of the strongest Garrisons which was then held of the Kings side replenished with many Gentlemen of Lincolneshire and other Shires and some expert Souldiers who inforced large Contributions from the adjacent Country and made rodes often times even to the Walls of Lincolne Colonell CROMWELL in his March thither as he passed thorow the County of Humingdon disarmed many that were ill affected to the Parliament and increased by that meanes his strength so farre that he was growne above two thousand strong and before he came to Newarke receiving an addition of Horse from Captaine HOTHAM he also joyned with some Forces of Lincolneshire At his first approach neere to Newarke it was his fortune to performe a good service for his side for when Captaine WRAY with his Lincolneshire Horse had too rashly quartered within a little of that Town he was set upon in the night time by a strong Party from the Towne where after some little bickering nor being able to resist so great a number he was surprized with his whole Troope but the Alarum comming to CROMWELL he advanced and at ten a clock at night fell upon the Newarkers rescued Captaine WRAYS Troope and tooke three Troops of theirs with the slaughter of many of them After this when he sate downe before the Town he was so vigilant upon all Sallyes that were made out and so successefull that he tooke many men and Colours at severall times and with his Horse watching all occasions he once defeated a strong Party of the Newarkers neere to Grantham where the odds of number was so great on their side that it seemed almost a miraculous Victory At another time he fell upon a Party of the Earle of Newcastles Army sent toward Newarke and quartering betweene that Towne and Grantham of whom he slew many tooke an hundred Horse and forty Prisoners Such things as these were the beginnings of CROMWELL at his first entrance into the Souldiery those that must be called his deeds were in the following yeares of this unhappy Warre and will require a larger and more full expression In those other Counties which were named before this Discourse of the Association the fortune of Warre during the aforesaid Moneths had been very various and daily contestations happened being for the most part betwixt small Parties and in besieging taking and re-taking of Townes and Forts In Cheshire Sir WILLIAM BRERETON a wise and vigilant man who from the beginning of these troubles had taken charge of that County serving in Parliament as Knight thereof had so well acted his part against the Earle of Darby made by the King Lord Lieutenant of that County as well as of Lancashire that he was the chiefe instrument of delivering Cheshire out of his hands and preserving it for the Parliament though the greater part of Gentry there adhered to the King But it pleased God to give many Victories to Sir WILLIAM BRERETON against them He obtained about the beginning of March a great Victory against those of the Kings Party at Middlewich in Cheshire which Towne after a sharp incounter in the fields before it he finally tooke with 500. Prisoners whereof many were Commanders and Gentlemen of great worth which Victory did much advance the Parliaments Cause in those parts He resisted with great successe the Lord CHOLMELY and Sir THOMAS ASTON two powerfull men and zealous for the Kings Party Having setled in some measure by extraordinary care and wisdome his owne County for the Parliament and raised many stout and well armed men there he was forward to give assistance to other parts and advancing into Shropshire against the Lord CAPELL he surprised a Towne called Dreyton in which Sir VINCENT CORBET a Commander of the Kings side was quartered But Sir WILLIAM BRERETON with small opposition entred the Town and tooke two compleat Troops of Horse and six Companies of Dragoneers Sir VINCENT CORBET escaped by flight He marched thence along thorow those Counties and tooke some places of great import as the affaires of both Parties stood at that time Sir WILLIAM went on prosperously and within a short time after tooke Whitchurch upon the edge of Shropshire with great store of Armes and Ammunition and many Prisoners of the Lord CAPELS Forces But Sir WILLIAM BRERETON when he joyned Forces with other men or came in opportunely to the reliefe or rescue of ingaged friends performed divers great and advantagious services to the side he tooke especially when he joyned in Action with Sir JOHN GELL of Derbyshire a constant and successefull Actor for the Parliament of whom by himselfe and together with Sir WILLIAM BRERETON I shall make a further mention The County of Derby full of Nobility and Gentry was much swayed even from the beginning of these distractions against the Parliament for scarce did any Gentleman in all that County but Sir JOHN GELL appeare for it at the first He with his brother and some of his kinred by the help of those Freeholders and Yeomen that inclined that way made a Party to resist those great ones at such a time as must needs renowne his courage and constancy And it pleased God to make him prosperous in that great and hazardous undertakings and to carry it so during the whole Warre After the Battell at Keynton he tooke a Commission from the Earle of Essex with great care and cost he provided Arms and timely seized upon the Town of Derby which Town he so well fortified that it proved a sufficient defence against the assaults of potent Enemies and a refuge upon all occasions to the Parliaments friends it was likewise no doubt a great incouragement to many of the neighbouring Counties to stand upon their guard in the like kinde But the Walls of Derby could not immure Sir JOHN GELL nor hinder him from acting his part abroad In many Services he joyned himselfe not without good successe with Sir WILLIAM BRERETON with Colonell CROMWELL and marched sometimes with the Lord GREY of Grooby before mentioned Lord Lieutenant of those Counties against Master HASTINGS and against the Towne of Newarke In the Moneth of February he marched with those Forces which he had under the conduct of the Lord BROOKE into Staffordshire to take in Lichfield which was then possessed by a Garrison of the Kings side Having entered the Towne they found hot and sharpe resistance from a place of great strength called the Close or Cathedrall yard a place famous in the succeeding Warre as being often gained and re-gained with the losse of much blood on either side CHAP. V. The death of the Lord BROOKE and of the Earle of Northampton A short mention of some Actions in divers Counties The low condition of the Parliament at that time The siege of Gloucester WHile the Parliament Army continued at the siege of Lichfield Close their Generall the Lord BROOKE as he looked out of a window was unfortunately shot into the head and dyed immediately
by the House of Commons guilty of High Treason for foure causes 1. Disobeying the House in refusall to speake at their command when he was Speaker in Parliament in the fourth yeare of King CHARLES 2. For threatning some Judges in the matter of Ship-money 3. For his illegall and cruell Judgements in the Forrest businesse when he was Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas. 4. For drawing that injurious Declaration after dissolution of the last Parliament Upon which a Charge was drawne up against him and carried up to the Lords upon the 14. of Ianuary three weeks after his flight by the Lord FAWKLAND who presented it with a very pithy and sharpe Oration against the man These two last Delinquents though men of eminent place in the Common-wealth as they did not long trouble the Parliament nor much retard the progresse of publike businesse preventing their Trialls by timely flight so can they take up no large roome in this Historicall Narration CHAP. VIII The Tryall and death of the Earle of Strafford Conspiracies detected during the agitation of it An Act for continuance of this present Parliament With a mention of that Grant of the Trienniall Parliament in February before BUt now a greater Actor is brought upon the Stage THOMAS Earle of Strafford Lieutenant of Ireland a man too great to be let escape no sooner accused but surprized and secured for a Tryall Which Tryall of his if we consider all things the high nature of the Charge against him the pompous circumstances and stately manner of the Triall it selfe the time that it lasted the pretiousnesse of that time so consumed and lastly of what moment and consequence the successe of it must prove I may safely say that no Subject in England and probably in Europe ever had the like So great it wasâ— that we can hardly call it the Triall of the Earle of Strafford onely the Kings affections toward his People and Parliament the future successe of this Parliament and the hopes of three Kingdoms depending on it were all tryed when Strafford was arraigned Many Subjects in Europe have played lowder parts upon the Theater of the world but none left it with greater noise nor was the matter of his accusation confined within one Realme three whole Kingdoms were his Accusers and eagerly sought in one death a recompence of all their sufferings That we may say of his case as CLAUDIAN of RUFFINUS Offensis Ruffinum divide terris Within ten daies after the Parliament began the Earle of Strafford newly returned from the North was sitting in the House of Lords when Master PYMME an ancient Gentleman of great experience in Parliamentary affaires and no lesse knowne fidelity to his Country came up to the Lords and in the name of all the Commons of England accused THOMAS Earle of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland of High Treason and desired their Lordships that he might be sequestred from Parliament and forthwith committed to Prison as also to let them know that the Commons within very few daies would resort to their Lordships with the particular Articles and grounds of this Accusation The Earle was required to withdraw and after a debate thereof called in was committed to safe custody to the Gentleman Usher And immediately after upon the 13. day of November a Serjeant at Armes was sent into Ireland for Sir GEORGE RATLIFFE a great Favourite of the Earles and one that under him had beene very active in the oppression of Ireland a man of subtle wit and knowledge of the Law as having before beene educated at the Innes of Court and taken the degree of Barrister Sir GEORGE accordingly upon the fourth of December came in and yeelded himselfe to the Speaker from whence he was committed to custody And foure daies after the Lords of Parliament sent the Earle of Strafford to the Tower with a strict command to the Lieutenant that he should keepe a close guard upon him Much time was interposed betweene the severall proceedings against this Earle of Strafford by reason of the multiplicity of weighty businesse which the Parliament then had But before the end of Ianuary a long Charge was read against him in the House of Commons and a Message not long after sent to the Lords to desire that he might be sequestred from all his places of Dignity and Honour in England and Ireland The Charge against him consisted of nine Articles which afterwards upon a further impeachment were extended to eight and twenty All those Articles are to be seene at large in the Records But for further satisfaction of the Reader I will give a briefe touch of the scope of them The first and second being much alike concerning his ruling of Ireland and those parts of England where his Authority lay in an Arbitrary way against the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome which Lawes he had indeavoured to subvert Thirdly his retaining part of the Kings Revenue without giving a legall account Fourthly The abusing of his Power to the increase and incouragement of Papists Fifthly That he maliciously had indeavoured to stir up Hostility betweene England and Scotland Sixthly That being Lieutenant Generall of the Northerne Army he had wilfully suffered the Scots to defeat the English at Newburne and take Newcastle that by such a losse and dishonour England might be ingaged in a Nationall and irreconcileable quarrell with the Scots Seventhly That to preserve himselfe from questioning he had laboured to subvert Parliaments and incense the King against them Eightly and lastly That these things were done during the time of his Authority as Deputy of Ireland and Lieutenant Generall of the Northerne Armies in England The Commons saving to themselves a liberty of further impeachment against the said Earle c. do require his legall answer to all The further impeachment consisting of 28. Articles was for the most part branched out of these and insisted upon in more particulars concerning his Tyranny in Ireland over divers persons contrary to Law Concerning which the Reader must be referred to the Records themselves as being too large to be here inserted The Earle of Strafford upon the 23. of February was brought before the Lords to give in his answer which he accordingly did the King himself being there present to heare it read It was very large and when it was done he was sent back to the Tower there to remaine till further Order A Committee being appointed to consider of that businesse upon the fourth of March following made report in the House That they would mannage and maintaine their Accusation of Treason against him and thought it not fit to reply to his Answer but call him to speedy triall Immediately upon which a Conference was had with the Lords concerning that Triall and some Circumstances which were thought fit to be used at it The Commissioners of Scotland had likewise a Charge against the Earle of Strafford concerning those injuries which as they conceived their Nation and Kingdome had suffered from him
House upon the eighth day of June last past they refused to appear and returned a scornful Answer by a Letter under their hands directed to the Speaker of the Lords House and remaining there upon Record For which Crimes and Misdemeanours to the interruption of the proceedings of Parliament and great Affairs of the Kingdom and tending to the dissolution of the Parliament and disturbance of the Peace of the Kingdom I am commanded in the name of the said Commons to demand of your Lordships that the said Lords may be forthwith put to their Answer and receive speedy and exemplary punishment according to their demerits The Commons saving to themselves liberty at all times hereafter to exhibite any other or further Impeachment or Accusation against the said Lords or any of them Upon this Impeachment of the nine Lords the House of Peers about a month after being in their Robes entred into debate of the said Impeachment and after divers Speeches made by some Lords setting forth the greatnesse of their Offence they were censured 1. Never to sit more as Members of that House 2. That they should be utterly uncapable of any benefit or priviledges of Parliament 3. That they should suffer Imprisonment during their pleasure After which Censure it was concluded that the said Lords should be demanded in the behalf of both Houses of Parliament to submit to the said Censure About that time when the Members of both Houses of Parliament did daily forsake their station and repair to the King at York another accident fell out which gave a great wound to the Parliament and much encouragement to the King in his designes which was the carrying away of the Great Seal of England from London to York EDWARD Lord LITTLETON on whom the King when the Lord Keeper FINCH fled out of England as is before related had conferred the keeping of the Great Seal he being before Lord chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and created a Baron of the Realm had continued for some space of time after the rest were gone to York firm to the Parliament in all appearance and upon all occasions voted according to the sense of those that seemed the best affected that way and among other things gave his Vote for setling the Militia by Ordinance of Parliament insomuch that there seemed no doubt at all to be made of his constancy till at the last before the end of the month of Iune a young Gentleman one Master Thomas Eliot Groom of the Privie Chamber to the King was sent closely from York to him who being admitted by the Lord Keeper into his private Chamber when none else were by so handled the matter whether by perswasions threats or promises or whatsoever that after three hours time he got the great Seal into his hands and rid post with it away to the King at York The Lord Keeper Lâ—TTLETON after serious consideration with himself what he had done or rather suffered and not being able to answer it to the Parliament the next day early in the morning rode after it himself and went to the King Great was the complaint at London against him for that action nor did the King ever shew him any great regard afterwards The reason which the Lord Keeper LITTLETON gave for parting so with the great Seal to some friends of his who went after him to York was this That the King when he made him Lord Keeper gave him an Oath in private which he took That whensoever the King should send to him for the great Seal he should forthwith deliver it This Oath as he averred to his friends his conscience would by no means suffer him to dispense withal he onely repented though now too late that he had accepted the Office upon those terms The Parliament to prevent so sad a War sent out two Orders one to all Sheriffsâ— Justices and other Officers within 150 miles of the City of York that they should take special care to make stay of all Arms and Ammunition carrying towards York until they have given notice thereof to the Lords and Commons and received their further direction and to that purpose to keep strict Watches within their several limits to search for and seize all such Arms and apprehend the persons going with the same The other was to the Sheriff of Lancashire and other adjacent Counties to suppresse the raising and coming together of any Souldiers Horse or Foot by any Warrant from the King without the advice of the Lords and Commons in Parliament as likewise to declare all that should execute any such Warrant from the King disturbers of the peace of the Kingdom and to command the Trained Bands to be assistant to the Sheriffs in that service These Orders of the Parliament were immediately answered by a Proclamation from the King forbidding all his Subjects belonging to the Trained Bands or Militia of this Kingdom to rise march muster or exercise by vertue of any Order or Ordinance of one or both Houses of Parliament without Consent or Warrant from his Majestie The Parliament notwithstanding proceed in setling the Militia of the Kingdom having made on the second of Iune an Order for those revolted members to return to their duty again before the 16 of that month under the forfeiture of an hundred pound to be disposed to the Wars in Ireland besides undergoing such punishment as the Houses should think fit and had by this time at many places began to settle the said Militia Upon the same second of Iune also the Lords and Commons sent a Petition to the King with nineteen Propositions which the King received with great indignation as appeared in his Answer to them both in general and in divers Particulars concerning those Propositions as esteeming himself injured in restraint of his Power and Prerogative The Petition and Propositions were as followeth The humble Petition and Advice of both Houses of Parliament with Nineteen Propositions and the Conclusion sent unto His Majestie the second of Iune 1642. YOur Majesties most humble and faithful Subjects the Lords and Commons in Parliament having nothing in their thoughts and desires more precious and of higher esteem next to the honour and immediate Service of God then the just and faithful performance of their duty to Your Majestie and this Kingdom And being very sensible of the great distractions and distempers and of the imminent dangers and calamities which those distractions and distempers are like to bring upon Your Majestie and Your Subjects all which have proceeded from the subtil informations mischievous practices add evil counsels of men disaffected to Gods true Religion Your Majesties Honour and Safety and the publike Peace and Prosperity of Your People after a serious observation of the causes of those Mischiefs Do in alâ— humility and sincerity present to Your Majesty their most dutiful Petition and Advice that out of Your Princely Wisdom for the establishing Your Own Honour and Safety and gracious tendernesse of the Welfare and
and Gentlemen inhabited none at all of note stood for the Parliament but Sir JOHN GELL and his brother of whose actions it will be seasonable to speak in another place Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire were in no lesse combustion In Leicestershire the troubles were far greater and early begun by Master HENRY HASTINGS second son to the Earl of Huntingdon whom the King had made Sheriff of that County and put into the Commission of Array who raised great Forces to seize upon the Magazine of that County Against whom the Earl of Stamford was sent by the Parliament as Lord Lieutenant with a considerable strength who arriving there did much curb the proceedings of Master HASTINGS and took possession of the Town of Leicester Great was the Contention about that time in Warwick-shire between the Earl of Northampton for the King and the Lord BROOK for the Parliament not without sharp encounters and slaughter on either side The Earl having seized the Ordnance at Banbury marched with great fury into Warwick-shire spoiling the Countrey as he went though not without opposition of the people and the Lord BROOK'S Forces against whom he could not at all prevail The Earl of Pembrook had setled the Militia in Wilâ—shire with small ado though it continued not long so And the Earl of Holland in Berk-shire being but saintly resisted by the Earl of Berk-shire the Lord LOVELACE and others For soon after the Earl of Berk-shire together with Sir JOHN CURSON Sir ROBERT DORMER and others for the Commission of Array who came to Watlington in Oxfordshire to seize the Magazine of that part of the County which was laid up in that Town were there taken prisoners and sent up to the Parliament by Colonel HAMDEN and Colonel GOODWIN two Members of the House of Commons and Knights of the Shire for Buckingham But the further that this Discourse travels Westward the greater and more remarkable you shall finde such contestations especially considering the number of Lords and Gentlemen of great rank and many of them Members of Parliament who sided with the King against the Parliament and were therefore afterward voted out of the House One great Head there was of all those Western Counties WILLIAM Marquesse of Hartford whom the King by his Commission of Array had appointed Chief and made him Lord Lieutenant-General of Devon Cornwal Somerset Dorset Wilts Southampton Gloucester Berks Oxford Hereford and seven Counties within the Principality of Wales who notwithstanding his high Command was never able to atchieve any great matter for the King's side so much were the common people of the West at that time inclined to the Parliament and so active were those Gentlemen who stood for it such as were the sons of Sir FRANCIS POPHAM Master ALEXANDER POPHAM HUGH and EDWARD who were more animated by the example of their aged father Master STRODE a Deputy-Lieutenant and others against all those frequent attempts which the Marquesse made Great was the number of considerable men in those Countries which took part with the Marquesse against the Parliament and very industrious in their several Stations to put in execution the Commission of Array as the Lord PAWLET Sir RALPH HOPTON and Sir JOHN STOWEL both Members of the House of Commons and for that reason put out of the House Sir RICHARD SLANY in Cornwal another Member put out also for the same cause as likwise were Sir EDWARD RODNEY and Master COVENTRY both Parliament-men who followed the Marquesse in some of his actions Sir BEVILE GREENVILE an active man another Member of Parliament was very industrious for the Array both in Cornwal and Devon joyning himself with the Earl of Bath who came for that purpose to his house at Tastock in Devonshire and assisted by many Gentlemen as Master CULINS Sheriff of that County M. BAMFIELD M. ASHFORD M. GIFFORD M. SAINTHIL Baronet SEYMOUR and M. COURTNEY to whose assistance Squire ROGERS came with Forces out of Dorsetshire Various were the Successes which Marquesse Hartford assisted by so many of the Gentry found in his several Enterprises sometimes prevailing but more often distressed In one Skirmish which about the beginning of August himself the Lord PAWLET Sir RALPH HOPTON Sir JOHN STOWEL and M. SMITH another Member of the House of Commons made against the Deputy-Lieutenants in Somersetshire he prevailed against them and possessed himself of the Town of Shepton-Mallet Ten men were slain and many wounded Going afterwards to Wells he had been besieged by many thousands of the People who arose against him but that having timely notice of their coming he escaped a back-way out of the Town About which time the Earl of Bedford was sent down by the Parliament against him with three hundred Horse by whom the Lord Marquesse the Lord PAWLET Sir RALPH HOPTON Colonel LUNSFORD and many other considerable men were besieged in Sherburn For great numbers out of the Country came daily to the assistance of the Earl of Bedford Many weeks did that Siege continue many Sallies were made out and sharp encounters on both sides performed with great courage the Parliament side being in firm hope to have taken them at last which was conceived a thing of great moment and advantage to their affairs if they could have possessed the persons of so many men considerable both in their Fortunes and Valour and who proved afterwards very strong and cruel enemies Yet that hope was frustrate for about the beginning of October they all escaped out of Sherburn the Earl neverthelesse pursued after them and in the Chase took M. PALLART Sir HENRY Sir JOHN and Sir CHARLES BARCLAY prisoners Within a week after the Earl of Bath was apprehended and brought up a prisoner to the Parliament It cannot be much wondered at that Division was found in Countrey-Towns and Villages so far remote from the Parliament where the people were variously wrought upon by perswasions or fears from either side when London it self the Seat of that great Councel and chiefest Bulwark of their defence was not without some taste of these Distractions Which besides the actions of some private Citizens too petty to be here rehearsed may appear to the Reader in one thing which cannot be omitted The Lord Major of London was at this time a prisoner in the Tower committed by the Parliament Sir RICHARD GURNEY Lord Maior of London for that yeer was charged by the House of Commons on the seventh of Iuly for being a mover of Sedition in the Kingdom in causing the King's Proclamation concerning the Commission of Array which was declared by both Houses to be illegal to be proclaimed in the City And the Charge being perfected was sent up to the Lords desiring that he might forthwith be called to his Answer which was accordingly granted Four days after while the Lord Maior was attending the Lords House upon this Charge and additional Impeachment was read against him in the House of Commons brought in by the Common-Councel of London for divers breaches of
Liberties and interest which they had in the Common-wealth Untill at the last the Earle of Stamford a stout Gentleman who had beene before imployed about Leicester against Master HASTINGS with a Commission from the Parliament as Generall of Some Counties was sent into the West The Earle of Stamford was by the Parliament made Lord Generall of all South-Wales and the foure next adjacent Counties as Glocester Worcester Hereford and Cheshire with power to raise Forces in all those Counties to appoint Officers and Commanders over them to traine and exercise the men and to fight with all that should oppose him The Lord GRAY Sonne and Heire to the Earle of Stamford was appointed to succeed his Father in his former Charge and made Lord Lieutenant of five Counties Leicester Nottingham Derby Rutland and Lincolne to continue the Warre against Master HASTINGS the Earle of Chesterfield and others who opposed the Parliament in those parts The Earle of Stamford at his first comming into the West was successefull against Sir RALPH HOPTON whom he raised from the siege of Plymouth but Sir RALPH HOPTON not long after by a stratagem of faining flight entrapped many of the Earles men conducted by a Lieutenant of his and gave an overthrow to the Parliament Forces betwixt whom and the Earle of Stamford upon the fifteenth of March 1642. a Truce was made for twenty daies The Earle after the expiration of that Truce againe taking the field with a competent Army was a while prosperous against Sir RALPH HOPTON but not long after overthrown by the revolt of young CHUDLEY Sonne to Sir JOHN CHUDLEY by whose assistance before those Parliament Forces had been victorious The Earle of Stamford was then inforced to betake himselfe to the City of Excester whither HOPTON and CHUDLEY followed him to lay siege to the place But Prince MAURICE was soone after sent thither to command in chiefe to whom at last as is before expressed it was upon faire Articles surrendred by the Earle of Stamford Notwithstanding so many misfortunes as had then fallen upon the Parliament side about the end of May 1643. they did not despaire of regaining the whole West by the active valour of Sir WILLIAM WALLER who about that time was very prosperous in those Counties and some parts of the Principality of Wales and whose name was growne to be a great terrour to his Enemies Of his actions and by what degrees he grew into esteeme and strength it will not be amisse to relate in a continued Series considering how great a Generall he became afterwards in these Warres and in what low Command he began He was a Gentleman of faire experience in Military affaires by former travels and services abroad of good judgement and great industry of which he gave many testimonies to the Kingdome Sir WILLIAM WALLER about the time of the Battell of Keynton received a Commission to be Colonell of Horse and moving that winter following as occasions of the present Warre required performed many exploits he tooke in Farnham Castle and passed Southward after that Portsmouth by his assistance had been taken from Colonell GORING and some other quick services at Winchester and in the Country thereabouts which he had performed joyning himselfe with Colonell BROWNE a Citizen of London who tooke up Armes at the beginning of this Civill Warre and continued till the very end in high Commands and reputation as high of whose actions more must be delivered in the sequell of this History Colonell HURREY and some others passing into the Westerne part of Sussex he layed siege to the City of Chichester in that City many Gentlemen of ranke and quality had fortified themselves and gathered together much Armes and Ammunition for service of the King against the Parliament About the middle of December appearing before Chichester he was there met with some Forces Troops of Horse and Dragoniers that came to his assistance from Kent and Sussex under the conduct of Colonell MORLEY a Member of the House of Commons a Gentleman of good ranke in Sussex and great activity in the Parliament Service and Sir MICHAEL LEâ—VESEY a Kentish Knight The Battery was placed by Sir WILLIAM at fit places and all things ordered with great skill but before the battery began to save effusion of blood Sir WILLIAM by the consent of all his Officers summoned the Town by a Trumpet with such Conditions offered which were judged too high by the besieged and therefore at first not accepted of yet after eight daies it was rendred to him upon no other Conditions then onely Quarter and faire usage The Prisoners which were taken there of note were immediately sent toward London to the Parliament who were Sir EDWARD FORD high Sheriffe of Sussex Sir JOHN MORLEY Colonell SHELLEY Master LEAUKNER Colonell LINDSEY Lieutenant Colonell PORTER Major DAWSON and Major GORDON with Doctor KING then Bishop of Chichester and many other Officers and Commanders in Armes to the number of 60. about 400. Dragoniers and almost as many Foot Souldiers In the March following his imployment was in the Westerne parts of England where he raised Forces The next in command under him who continued with him in almost all his actions was Sir ARTHUR HASLERIG another Member of the House of Commons serving as Knight for Leicestershire a man that in all Battels and Skirmishes gave great proofes of his prowesse and personall valour Sir WILLIAM WALLER having now raised a competent force and marching out of Bristoll on the nineteenth of March within two daies after approached Malmesbury Colonell HERBERT LUNSFORD a stout Gentleman and a good Souldier Brother to Sir THOMAS LUNSFORD that was taken at Keynton Battell was then Governour of Malmesbury who upon the first approach sent out seven Troops of Horse to begin an encounter with him but they were no waies able to indure the force of those Horse which Sir WILLIAM had drawne out against them but fled immediately some of them back into the Towne many of them conceiving that there was small safety in the Towne for them fled quite away Sir WILLIAM assaulted the Towne the same day but not prevailing then he lodged there all night preparing the next morning for another and more fierce assault But the besieged conceiving the place unteneble desired a Parley and yeelded upon Quarter He tooke at Malmesbury one Peece of Ordnance about three hundred Prisoners whereof Colonell LUNSFORD and Colonell COOKE were the chiefe with almost twenty Officers great and small good store of rich prize and Ammunition the Conquest was bloodlesse and very few slaine on either side Within few daies after he obtained a very considerable Victory neere to Gloucester against the Lord HERBERT of Ragland Sonne to the Earle of Worcester who with a great Army of Welchmen lay against that Towne which for the manner of it in briefe was thus Sir WILLIAM with his Forces comming neere to Cirencester made shew the better to conceale his purpose as if he intended to fall upon