Prisoners and a hot skirmish hapned between the Kings party and Essex's men near Causum Bridge wherein the former was worsted and obliged to retâ—â—â—t with some loss and in May divers sâ—â—â—mishes with various success hapned in the West between Sir Ralph Hopton who commanded there for the King and Sir Geo. Chudleige for the Parliament though the former for the most part had the advantage nor did Hostilities cease in other parts for in June divers skirmishes hapned between Prince Rupert and Essex the most material of which was in Chalgrave-field in Oxford-shire where the Prince furiously charging a body of the Parliament Horse routed it killing and wounding a great part of the Enemy and amongst the latter John Hambden who soon after dyed of his Wound as did some others and on the fifth of July Sir Ralph Hopton with a few Forces of the Kings under his Command engaged Sir William Waller who had double his number maintaining the fight from two in the Afternoon till about one the next Morning whereupon Waller perceiving him resolved to obtain the Victory or dye in the place left the field yet soon after being ashamed of the retreat he followed Sir Ralph to the Devises in Wilt-shire whither he was marched with a Resolution to set upon him of which the King having notice sent 1500 Horse from Oxford where he lay encamped to his assistance but upon the Comjunction Waller not thinking it convenient to try the event in that place drew off to Roundway-down but being hotly charged he was in a short time broken and disordered whereupon with his Horse he fled in great Confusion leaving his foot to the mercy of the Royallists who were most of them slain in the fight or taken Prisoners together with four pieces of Cannon all the Amunition and Baggage nine Cornets and 28 foot Colours so that by this fatal blow given on the 13th of July Waller having lost his Army most of the Horse deserting him in his flight he hasted to London with the lamentable story of his defeat Essex by this time with a powerful Army having relieved Glocester and surprized a Convoy of the Kings which fell into his hands through mistake marched to Newberry where the King remained as yet with his Army and had prepared to receive him in the best order the short time of notice would give leave or opportunity so that on the 20th of September 1643 both Armies confronting each other the charge was immediately sounded and seconded by the thundring of the Cannon and Vollies of small shot on either side whilst Prince Rupert with his Squadron forced the main battel and put it into great disorder but whilst he pursued his good fortune he found himself charged by two squadrons of Horse that descended from the Hill where till now they had been posted so that the fight was doubtful and bloody on all parts it being in many places brought to the Sword so that the Lord Jermin who commanded there a Regiment of horse for the King being over charged by number was obliged to force his way not without great hazard through the Battalions of foot yet was the fight maintained with considerable slaughter on either part till Night put an end to the fury both Armies keeping the field till the next day and then retired from each other as by consent The Persons of Note slain were the Earls of Carnarvan and Sunderland the Lord Viscount Faulkland and in all on both sides near six thousand In March Sir Thomas Fairfax and Mitton were set upon by Prince Rupert at Drayton in Shropshire and routed as likewise was Sir John Meldrum who had entred England with his Scotch Forces in favour of the Parliament forced to leave Newark which they had besieged with the loss of their Canon Ammunition and all their Baggage which was Relieved by Prince Rupert and only permitted to depart with their Lives But now Sir William Waller having gotten another Army Anno 1644 fell upon the Lord Hopton's Forces near Winchester at unawares and over-pow'ring him in number cut off divers of his men and obliged him to leave the field whereupon Winchester surrendred but Waller was soon after overthrown by the King's forces at Crop-ready Bridg and Essex with the gross of the Parliament Army blocked up in Cornwall and now the Earl of Newcastle being besieged in York Prince Rupert advanced with an Army of Horse and Foot to Relieve the City upon whose approach the Besiegers drew off and were upon their retreat hotly pressed and charged by a Sally from the Town when the Garrison under the command of the Earl joyning with the Prince they with conjunct Forces followed the Parliament forces to a place called Marston-Moor where both Armies drew up and with great sury joyned battel which continuing with much effusion of bloud for the space of four hours victory in the end declared against the Royalists and in this fight called by many the bloudy fight of Marston-Moor 9000 men on both sides are computed to be slain after which battel York surrendred and almost all the Towns in the North so that for a while nothing but Skirmishes happened But on the 27 of October both Armies meeting a second time near Newbury an obstinate fight ensued but the Royalists having done all that could be expected from true valour and still oppressed with fresh numbers of the Enemy were forced in the end to give way to necessity and leave the field in some disorder nor is it guessed that on both sides less than 4500 were slain after which nothing more happened in England this year but the skirmishing of Parties and taking of Towns and Castles but in Scotland the Marquess of Montross with inconsiderable forces raised by virtue of a Commission from the King routed divers Armies of the Covenanters putting all Scotland in fear of being Reduced to its obedience by his Prowess Anno 1645 Essex having laid down his Commission it was taken up by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Cromwel was made Lieutenant General most of the prime Officers of the Army being changed yet the King's party strugled strongly for the Royal cause though many finding things in a manner desperate had retired from the Army and passed the Seas for besides divers skirmishes Collonel Massey in April was routed by Prince Rupert at Lidbury with considerable loss But in June following the King's forces were defeated at Langport where about 200 were slain and 1400 taken Prisoners which occasioned soon after the surrender of Pomfret Scarborough Bath and Bridgwater yet in August the Parliaments Quarters with some slaughter on both parts were beaten up about Tame and the Scots defeated at Kielsieth in Scotland by Montross and in September Montross was defeated at Phillipphaugh in the said Kingdom and the King's forces in England were Routed on Routon heath near Chester and in October the Lord Digby was likewise defeated at Sherborn in the County of York and in March following the Lord Ashley was
Scots entered England as far as Durham when King Edward preparing to meet them marched to York and there making a halt sent the Lord Montacute to oppose and hinder their further Progress but being encountered on Hedgly Moor by the Lords Hungerford and Ross together with Sir Ralph Peircey he after a sharp dispute took Sir Ralph Prisoner which success incouraged him to pass on and give battel to King Henry who lay encamped at Hexam where both Armies striving to do their utmost devoir a bloody conflict ensued but many being slain and much blood spilt divers of the Commanders wounded and disabled and taken Prisoners Victory declared against King Henry who finding himself unfortunate in War fled into Scotland in this battel 5600 were slain and the Duke of Somerset with three other Lords and one Knight taken Prisoners who were all beheaded And now King Henry returning privately into England in disguise was taken Prisoner and carried to the Tower so that Edward seem'd established in his Throne yet Fate not satisfied with English Blood though the wounded Nation had bled such Streams as made her faint and languish another cruel War arose and the Factions began again to bandy as fierce as ever for Warwick who was called afterwards the make King of those Times being sent to solicite a Marriage between King Edward and the Lady Bona Daughter to Lewis Duke of Savoy and having finished his Negotiation to the liking of the Lady and her Father found upon his return thaâ— the King was married to Elizabeth the Widdow of Sir John Gray slain in upholding the Cause of King Henry at which the Eatâ— supposing his Honour that had been ingaged in the Savoiards Court greatly to suffer grew much inraged and finding mean to withdraw himself joyned with diver Nobles raised a Power and proclaimeâ— King Henry declaring for him and epousing his Interest growing on a suddeâ— so strong that King Edward was forced tâ— draw out his Army and march against him pitching his Camp at Wolney four Milâ— from the Plain on which Warwick was encamped but his Guards being negligent and the Earl having notice thereof entereâ— the Kings Camp and took him Prisoner yeâ— used him very courteously allowing him for his Keeper his Brother George Nevilâ— Arch-Bishop of York who suffering him tâ— ride abroad a hunting and to follow otheâ— Recreations till one day being with a slender Guard far from the Castle and meeting a great Troop of his own Men those thaâ— were with him durst not speak to him 〈◊〉 returning to his Confinement but were glaâ— to leave him behind them and escape for their Lives so that being again at Liberty he was received by his Army with great Joy and passed to London to the great discontent and dislike of the Earl of Warwick Things being at this pass Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells raised an Army of 30000 consisting mostly of the Commons of Lincolnshire on the behalf of King Henry in revenge of which King Edward caused the Lord Wells and Sir Thomas Dimmock his Kinsman to be beheaded and so marched to fight Sir Robert when charging furiously upon the unexperienced Plebeans they scarcely sustained the second shock but throwing away their Coats and Weapons fled for their Lives from whence it was called the Battel of Loose-Coat-Field and the Execution â—eing hotly pursued by the inraged Soulâ—iers 10000 of them are accounted to be â—ain As for Sir Robert Wells and Sir Thomas Deland who commanded under him â—hey were taken Prisoners Upon the News of this Defeat the Earl of Warwick and the Duke of Clarence Brother to King Edward â—ed to Callais but being denied entrance â—hey departed thence to the Court of France where they found Queen Margaret where gathering great Forces they returned to England every where proclaiming King Henry so that the People from all parts hasted to their Standart as well the Nobles as the Commons viz. the Earl of Pembrook the Lord Faulconberg and others so that marching towards London and King Edward finding his Mandates in many places disobey'd thought it not convenient in that juncture to attend the Sequel but with divers of his trusty Friends leâ—â— England and fled to his Brother-in-Law the Duke of Burgundy who had a little before married his Sister so that King Henry waâ— Re-in-throned but continued not long iâ— that Estate before King Edward returned landing in the North with a small Army proclaiming King Henry as he passed and pretending he came only as a private maâ— to possess himself of his Inheritance bâ— which means deceiving the People hâ— surprized the City of York and having garrisoned it pulled off the Vizor and marched towards London reconciling himself by the way thro' the means of a Maiâ— who had been brought up by the old Dutches of York to his Brother the Duke of Clâ—rence whereupon the Citizens opening their Gates and every where proclaiming him King Henry was again taken Prisoner anâ— send to the Tower and now the whole weight of the War lying upon Warwicks shoulders he desperately resolved to carry the day or fighting courageously dye in the Bed of Honour and thereupon directed his March towards London out of which King Edward drew his Forces to meet him and on Easter Day joyned Battel near Barnet since known by the Battel of Barnet-field where either of the Generals impatient of so tedious a War drew on their Forces with great force and fury Warwick charging upon the Kings Squadron broke in with his Sword and made such Distruction that they fled on that part and the Battel had gone on his side had there not been a mistake in part of his Men who by mistaking their Cognizances charged upon their fellows which making them suspect some Treason or sudden Revolt they threw down their Weapons and fled which Warwick perceiving and not finding it in his power to retain them or restore the Battel though he laboured by Example and Perswasion to do it resolving not to out-live the day â—he rushed furiously amongst the Squadrons of the Enemy and there fighting valiantly fell upon the heaps of the slain and with him died his Brother the Lord Montacute and three other Lords were slain on the part of King Edward and of the meaner sort on both sides 20000. The News of this defeat made known to Queen Margaret and Prince Edward her Son by such as fled the field she took Sanctuary in the Abby of Ceerne but the Lords that escaped the Battel of Barnet rallying their scattered Forces gave King Edward another Battel at Tewxbury in which they were overthrown with the loss of 3000 men and of Note the Earl of Devonshire and the Duke of Somerset's Brother there likewise Prince Edward was taken and soon after stabbed by Crook-back'd Richard Duke of Glocester in the Presence of King Edward and soon after King Henry was murthered and his Queen taken from Sanctuary and put to a great Ransom Thus stop'd the Stream of Blood
supply him against such powerful Opponents the Christians recovered all that had by the Infidels been torn from the Greek Empire and then in a full Council of the Princes agreed that an Oath should be administred to each individual Person that none should return till Jerusalem was taken which as well the Officers as Souldiers joyfully embraced and so the Army passed over the River Orontes forcing their way with shot of Arrows through the Turks that guarded the further banks and took the other Antioch in Surrya on the third day of June Anno 1098 and repulsed with great slaughter an Army of 100000 Horse and Foot that came to relieve it killing 20000 of them upon the place which made Corbanus the Persian Sultans Lieutenant raise his Siege from before Edassa and haste to oppose the progress of their Arms but joyning battel after a furious and obstinate fight he was overthrown with almost incredible slaughter of his men so that the Valleys were filled in a manner with Blood and the Bodies of 100000 slain the Christians not losing above 4000 in this Enterprise and the next day took 5000 Camels richly laden and thus conquering on and taking all the Cities in their way they came to Jerusalem at the sight of which they raised such a shout as made the Country resound with joyful Acclamations when with Hands and Eyes extended towards Heaven they called upon the Name of Jesus and many of them in respect to the place where our Blessed Saviour had preached his Gospel fell on their Knees and kissed the Ground making fresh Vows never to leave the City till they had wrested it out of the hands of the Infidels and thereupon although their strength was much impair'd by sickness as well as frequent fights and skirmishes it was resolved in a Council of Princes not to defer the siege although they knew the Governour upon the approach of the Christian Army had increased his Garrison and provided necessaries to enable him the better to defend the City and make a resolute resistance so that on Christmas day they sat down before it on the North side for towards the East and West the Quars broken Rocks and shatter'd Hills forbad them access or at least rendered any approach on those parts very difficult and incommodious the order of the incampment being in this manner viz. Next to the Wall incamped Godfrey of Bulloin Duke of Lorrain with his Lorrainers and Germans next him on the right Robert Duke of Normandy Son to the Conquerour and the Earl of Flanders pitch'd their Tents and over against the West Gate were alotted the Stations of Tancred and the Earl of Tholous Bohemund and Baldwin being then absent the one remaining King at Antioch and the other Governour at Edassa and so having refreshed themselves it was concluded among the Princes that on the fifth day of January the Assault should be given which was accordingly performed with much bravery and resolution nor were the Turks Jews and Sarazens wanting to make an obstinate defence though as they stood to it upon the Walls and Towers they were miserably overwhelmed by showers of Arrows so that some thousands were lost on either side for the Christians wanting scaling Ladders to ascend at what time the Archers caused the besieged to give back and the Weather being exceeding hot the Generals thought fit at that time to sound the retreat upon which the Souldiers who at the utmost hazard were desirous of nothing more than winning the City unwillingly retired yet that the besieged might have littlerest on the tenth day of January another fierce assault was given which being managed with the Engines of War made the Walls tremble nothing therein being omitted that Policy or true Valour could afford yet this as the former through the excessive heat of the Weather and want of Water took not its desired effect for before the arrival of the Christians the Infidels having poisoned all the Wells about the City or stopped them up they could not be easily discovered so that none but that of Siloe which had worked out the Poison and was become wholesom yielded them any relief and that yielded the Army not half enough through the defeat of which they suffered great Extremity yet armed with a Christian Courage and Patience they endured it without the least repining and soon after were recruited by a Fleet of Genoess who arriving at Joppa sunk their Gallies for fear of being taken and marching over land arrived safe at the Camp where as expert Engineers they became very serviceable in making Engines for assault and moving Towers with flying Bridges covered with raw Hides to prevent their being fired for from these the Christians upon equal terms fought hand to hand with those that kept the Walls and Bulwarks these Towers overlooking even their highest Battlements so that now all things being in a readiness for a third general assault whilst the besieged were preparing to fire the Towers the Wind by a sudden Providence drove back the Flames with such fury that many of those that kept the Walls were stifled and others forced to retreat of which Godfrey duke of Lorrain taking the advantage mounted the Engine and being supported by others leaped upon the Wall and there fixing his standards defended it in spite of all the resistance that was made continuing there fighting with his drawn Sword amongst a shower of Arrows till such time as his venturous attempt incouraged the rest of the Princes to hasten to his Relief who pressing on with great fury a terrible slaughter ensued the Souldiers in their Rage not sparing Man Woman or Child that they found in the first heat of their entrance which made the most couragious of the Turks Sarazens and Jews after an obstinate fight of two hours to retire into Solomons Temple in the entrance of which they desperately disputed it till thousands of dead bodies covered the place and all the Pavements were slipery and overflow'd with Blood And in this fight were the Christians so eager in rushing on that those who pressed to get forward pushed many of their Fellows who were before them upon the Enemies Weapons yet the slaughter increasing and the Infidels finding the City irreparably lost gave back and in an obstinate mood betook themselves to the vaulted Roofs of the Temple where with such Weapons as they had they defended themselves till the fury of the Christians was over and a Trumpet by the command of the Princes sounded as the signal of giving Quarter at what time they yielded and had their Lives spared Thus was the famous City of Jerusalem retaken by the Christians in thirty days Anno 1099 after it had been in the hands of the Infidels for the space of 409 years and so great was the joy conceived by the Christians who inhabited it and had suffered so many Cruelties under the Turkish Governours that with tears of Joy they embraced the Souldiers every where singing Praises for their Deliverance
And now a King being wanting that good Order might be maintained the Princes in full Assembly proposed that Honour to Robert Duke of Normandy but he having notice of his Brothers death declin'd it as being desirous to return and take possession of his Kingdom of England though he afterward found it prepossessed by his younger Brother Henry nor long was it e're he deprived him of his Dutchy of Normandy and finally of his life by putting out his Eyes which many attributed as a Judgement for refusing the profferâ—d Scepter of Jerusalem but upon this refusal Godfry of Bulloin Duke of Lorrain was unanimously chosen King yet refused to be crowned with a golden Crown where his Saviour for the Salvation of Mankind had sometimes worn a Crown of Thorns And although an Army of an 100000 Turks and Sarazens advanced to recover the City yet the Princes drawing out their strength gave them Battel with so fearful an overthrow that all the Hills and Plains for the space of nine miles were covered with the bodies of the slain and so Jerusalem with other exceeding large Territories continued in the Possession of the European Christians during the Reign of nine Kings and for the space of an 100 Years when through their own Dissentions it was lost to Salladine the Sultan of Aegypt Thus Fame and Piety drew Arms from far And made proud Asia reel with heavy War Whilst Christian Faith 's regrafted on the stem Where it first flourish'd great Jerusalem Whilst Jacob's Heritage the Promis'd Land Do's find her Scepter in a Christian hand A Description of the Famous Battel fought near Cressy between the English under the Leading of Edward the Black Prince and the French under the Leading of Philip their King c. KING Edward the third of England having in the right of his Mother laid claim to the Crown of France and the French opposing to it their Salique Law by which the Heirs Female are disabled from governing he rais'd a powerful Army to gain by the Sword that Right which was deny'd him by a pretended Law made to exclude the Daughters of France c. taking upon him the Title of King of France Quartering the Arms of that Kingdom with those of England which have so continued from that day and landing in the North parts he wasted the Country with Fire and Sword as far as Turwin defeating such Forces as came to oppose him and reduced many Towns to his Obedience soon after destroying their Fleet of 400 Sail of Ships and in it 30000 men many of them of the prime Nobility but still being refused to be invested in the possession of the Kingdom having refreshed himself in England and settled his Affairs levied an Army of 32500 Horse and Foot with which he repassed the Seas and brought such a terror upon the French that many great Towns were abandoned without resistance which obliged Philip the French King to raise the whole power of his Country consisting of 100000 Horse and Foot the Flower of France c. and with them advanced by hasty marches to give the English battel or to oblige them to retire of which King Edward having notice by his Espials caused his Horsemen to quit their Horses and marshal'd his Army on foot in three Battalions the chief of which himself retained as a reserve mostly composed of men at Arms and the other two under the leading of the Black Prince his Son and divers Nobles he caused to advance into the Plain where the French coming on with great Fury as not expecting but to obtain the Victory were received in the front by the Avaunt-guard of the Men at Arms whilst the wings of Archers sent showers of Arrows amongst them which gauling their squadrons of Horse in the flank put them into great disorder at which the French Commanders of the Horse growing impatient broke through their own foot and made a strong effort upon the Princes Battel by continually pressing on with fresh men which made the Lords who guarded the Prince send to the King entreating him to advance with his battel to their Succour To which he returned answer That he designed the Glory of the day to his Son and that whilst he was alive they must not expect any Succour from him but fight valiantly to win Honour and Renown which Answer so animated the English that they fought more desperate than ever insomuch that the French Horse being in confusion by the goaring of Pikes and the shot of Arrows and the Foot not able to relieve them the men at Arms brake in with such fury and in a firm battel piercing their squadrons that they could find no place of retreat or rally so that the other Battalion charging in the flank and the Archers still delivering their Arrows with great Celerity Victory declared on the part of the English whilst nothing but flight and slaughter ensued on the part of the French insomuch that in six hours space the field was heaped with the bodies of the slain and nothing was heard so loud as the Crys of the dying men whilst happy was he that could escape the Swords of his fierce Pursuers In this battel were slain the Kings of Navar and Bohemia two Princes of the blood seven Earls and 15000 Barons Knights and men at Arms with not less than 30000 of-lesser note besides a great number taken Prisoners and many of those of the first rank which were afterwards put to their ransoms The battel being entirely won the King and Prince marched to Calais and besieged it when as the Governour having capitulated for some time and the attempts to relieve it proving unsuccessful he surrendred it to the King who placed an English Colony therein and whilst this War lasted David King of Scotland taking part with the French and invading England in the absence of the King was defeated near Durham and himself taken Prisoner by one Copland most of his Army being slain and was after eleven years imprisonment redeemed at 100000 Marks nor was Prince Edward less victorious in a second battel fought between him and John the French King Son to the foremention'd Philip who came against him with 100000 Horse and Foot or as some will have it 130000 in which battel fought near Poâ—tus there were slain fifty two Noble men most of them Dukes and Earls 1700 Knights and Esquires and 16000 common Souldiers the King himself together with Philip the Dauphin one Arch-Bishop ten Earls and about 200 Knights and Esquires were taken Prisoners besides a great number of lesser note though here the French were three to one in the Field Thus England's Antient Glory rais'd by Arms The World through Fame's loud breathing Trumpet charms And this Memorial through all Lands does spread That no Land has more valiant Hero 's bred A Relation of the fatal Battel fought on the Plains of Cossovia between Amurath the first King of the Turks and the Despot of Servia in League with divers other Christian Princes