Merits The Queen began her Journey this day from Oxford towards the West of England those parts the most free from the poweâ— of her Enemies and more peaceable for her quiet rather than Oxford where though she were safe yet not secure from noise and business not much though regarding their Forces nor much troubled at the falsities for which the Parliament at VVestminster had voted her a Traitour besides the vain Libells that were let loose from Press and Pulpit in much plenty against the honour and dignity of Majesty and so she was conducted by the King Prince and Duke of York waited on with the chief Nobility and Gentry the first days Journey The King in presence of his Peers before they parted from Oxford received the holy Eucharist at Christ's Church from the hands of the Arch-bishop of Armagh used these publick Expressions immediately before his receiving the blessed Elements he rose up from his knees and beckning to the Arch-bishop for a short forbearance made this Protestation My Lord I espie hâ—re many resolved Protestants who may declare to the world the Resolution I do now make I have to the utmost of my power prepared my Soul to become a worthy Receiver and may I so receive comfort by the blessed Sacrament as I do intend the Establishment of the true Reformed Protestant Religion as it stood in its beauty in the happy daies of Queen Elizabeth without any connivence at Popery I bless God that in the midst of these publick Distractions I have still liberty to communicate and may this Sacrament be my Damnation if my heart do not joyn with my lips in this Protestation The King had caused a Garison in South Wales at Swansey a Town of good note in the County of Glamorgan under command of the high Sheriff residing there in person and were summoned from a Ship-board by Captain Molton To the Mayor and Gentlemen of Swansey Gentlemen these are to will and require you in the Name of the right honourable Robert Earl of Warwick Lord high Admiral of England Wales and Ireland and his Majesties Navy Royal at Sea that you forthwith yield the Town and Garison to the King and Parliament c. And this is the advice of your Friend who endeavours to preserve you if not I shall keep you without Trade till your forced obedience bring you to the mercie of him that tendereth to you grace and favour Milford-haven from the Ship called the Lion Ro. Molton This Lion-like sawcy Paper the high Sheriff received and suddenly sends Answer To Robert Molton Subscriber unto the Paper directed to the Mayor and Gentlemen of Swansey We cannot understand how we may with any justice or loyaltie return you the name of a Gentleman in answer to your rude and rebellious Paper in the front whereof you have the boldness and presumption in the Name of the right honourable as you term him whom we account otherwise Robert Earl of Warwick by you styled high Admiral of England and his Majesties Navie Royal which he hath illegally possessed to will and require us forthwith to yield the Town and Garison of Swansey into the obedience of the King and Parliament c. In defiance of which your traiterous Summons under a spurious shew of your loyalty and subjection to his Majestie We will not yield Town nor Garison nor any the least interest we hold of Life or Fortune under protection of his sacred Majestie but will defend the same against your proud and insolent Menacingâ— wherein your proper Trade is exhibited and in the account of a Rebell and Traitour we leave you to your self May 14. Subscribed by the high Sheriff and Gentlemen of Glamorganshire Certainly this Frolick for a Ship Captain to attach a Land Garison was not with any assurance to master it by his great Guns or that he could imagine so great fear in Master Sheriff to quit his trust upon a weak Summons rather it was with an intent to answer that Knack of a Troop of Horse in the North who finding some Sailers drinking in an Ale-house seized their Ship and Goods hard by in a blinde Creek If Captain Molton could have done so by Swansey he needed the less to give warning by Summons but he left it as he found it in the Sheriffs command Latham house was sore beset with a Siege against that noble Countess of Derby for above three Moneths by these Commanders Ashton Moor and Rigby nay by the power of Sir Thomas Middleton and Sir William Fairfax addition upon whom the besieged have sallied out and killed many at several times Colonel Moor's men erected a Breast of Mutton on a Pikes point held it up to the hunger-starved Rascals within daring them to come out and dine and the Countess was called to by name a young Gentleman Captain Chisnall desired my Lady that he might sally out ere the Table should be taken away which he did ere they had dined forced into their Trenches took divers Prisoners and some Colours which instantly they carried to the back Gates of the House opened them and shewing these Colours cried out A Latham a Latham the House is taken hereupon the Enemy being ignorant of this Deceit concluded it to be taken and advancing in a Body came in speed to the Gate where they were welcomed with three Pieces of Cannon and much execution and thus this Lady held out Latham till Prince Rupert came to her Relief For on Tuesday May 21. he marched on his way towards Lancashire and the five and twentieth towards Stopwash a border Town of Cheshire seated on the Banck of the River Mersey dividing these two Counties here the Parliament had a strong Garison who drew out with three thousand Horse and Foot and faced Rupert's Horse but at the coming up of his Foot in the Evening about six a clock the other side withdrew to the Hedges and lining them shot through which he must pass and therefore he commands Colonel Washington with some Dragoons to scowre the Hedges and forced them to the Town whom the Prince followed so close that he entered with them and took the Town Cannon Army and Amunition and many Prisoners Then being so near he sends Relief to the Countess of Derby who had now opposed a strong Siege of eighteen Weeks but her Adversaries were rising and going in fear to stay for Prince Râ—pert yet not without some Farewell therefore the Garison sallied out fell upon the Enemies Rear killed some and took Prisoners and so way was given for the Earl of Derby to return home to his own house The King having drawn out all his Forces from several Garisons to meet at Goring Heath in Oxfordshire the Parliament at Westminster was much troubled ordering that their General Essex the Earl of Manchester and Lord Grey with what Forces could be raised at London with the Garisons of Windsor and Alisbury and all to meet at the general Rendezvouz Alisbury in the
with Mr. Hotham who was in ill case to continue but must be forced to retreat to Hull The Forces of the West in Cornwall for the King began to form into a Body near Pendennis Castle the Governour thereof Sir Nicholas Slaning a gallant Gentleman and assisted 〈…〉 others Sir Bevil Greenvile who possessed themselveâ—â—â—aunston the County Town of Cornwall but not long after Sir Ralph Hopton appears in chief command over the Cavaliers The Parliament had Plymouth the neighbour Port Town of Devonshire bordering Cornwall in the South and Sir George Chudly a Stickler for them for a time onely The Kings party increased in Mid-Wales and descending Southwards as he marches the Welch come to him from all parts of Hereford Monmouth mightily increasing by the power and industry of the Earl of Worcester their Brigades reaching to Oxford and round about where Prince Rupert commanded who took Powder and Match marching through Staffordshire to reprieve Manchester The Parliament party lay about Warwick Coventrie Worcester Buckingham and their Brigades round about even to Glocester Some Arms for the King are landed at Newcastle and ten thousand pounds in Money to raise Dragoons in Northumberland and to fall into Yorkshire which appeared for the King The King on his march from Wales descended Southward and now being near Stafford the Parliament order That the Citie of London be strongly guarded and Posts Bars and Chains be erected and set up in places and by-lanes of the Parishes of St. Margarets Westminster St. Martins in the Fields St. Clements Savoy Holborn St. Giles Covent-garden St. Johns Street â—lerkenwell Criplegate Shoreditch White-chapel Islington Mile-end Southwark Lambeth or any other places necessary at the charge of the Parish by equal Assesment Octob. 22. And the Parliament declare a solemn Protestation to all the world In the presence of Almightie God for the satisfaction of their Consciences and the Discharge of that great Trust which lies upon them That no private passion or respect no evil intention to his Majesties person no Design to the prejudice of his just Honour and Authoritie engaged them to raise Forces and take up Arms against the Authours of this War whereof the Kingdom is now inflamed And after they have by clearing themselves lodged the occasion upon the Contrivers Papists about the King for extirpation of the Protestant Religion wherein principally this Kingdom and Scotland are concerned as making the greatest Body of Reformation in Christendom they conclude For all which Reasons they are resolved to enter into a solemn Oath and Covenant with God to give up themselves lives and fortunes into his hands and defend this his cause with the hazzard of our lives against the Kings Armie according to a form agreed upon and to be subscribed and to associate and unite with all the well-affected of the Citie of London and other parts of his Majesties Dominions 〈…〉 expect their dear Brethren of Scotland that they will help and 〈◊〉 defence of this Cause which if the Popish partie prevail must needs involve Scotland in the like alteration of Religion and engage them also in a War against this Kingdom to defend their own Religion And this they do again they say protest before the everliving God to be the chief end of all their counsels and resolutions without any intention to injure his Majestie either in his person or just power Octob. 22. And the Battail of Edg-hill the next morning being Sunday After the Kings party had beat the Enemy at Worcester Fight the three and twentieth of September he joyns all his Brigades near hand and marches to meet General Essex hovering thereabout to watch the Kings Designs who lodged on Saturday night October 22. at Sir William Chancies six miles near Keinton and Essex at Keinton And early the next morning being Sunday the three and twentieth drew up into a Body near Keinton and ascending the top of Edg-hill with his Prospective Glass took view of Essex his Army in the Vale of the Red Horse about a Mile distant but before the King could draw into order he was saluted with three Pieces of Cannon from the other side with three Shouts of their Souldiers And being asked by his Officers what his Majesty meant to do To give him Battel said the King it is the first time I ever saw the Rebells in a Bodie God and good mens prayers to him assist the justice of my cause And instantly ordered the Fight by the return of two Shot of Cannon in answer to theirs about two of the clock after noon the Word was God and King Charls his greatest Body of Horse was on the right Wing and on the left some Horse and Dragoons The Parliaments Army was put into this order the Foot a good space behinde the Horse when the Charge began three Regiments of Horse on the right Wing the Generals Regiment commanded by Sir Philip Stapleton Sir Balfore's Regiment who was Lieutenant General of the Horse and the Lord Fielding's Regiment which stood behinde the other two as a Reserve Sir Iohn Meldrum had the Van with his Brigade Colonel Essex the middle the General 's Regiment the Lord Brook and Colonel Hollis had the Rear in the left Wing were twenty Troops commanded by Sir Iames Ramsey Commissary General And thus they stood The Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain of England was the Kings Captain General but the Fight was ordered by the Lord Ruthen since made Earl of Forth a Scotish man and the General lead on the main Body with a Pike in his hand it is said that General Essex lead on his Forces also but then it is confessed that he was advised to retire from Danger and so he escaped when the other was killed The Forlorn Hope was commanded by Major Baâ—stake and Captain Hamond both of them Officers in Sir Lewis Diveâ— Regiment of Foot and drawn down the Hill to the side of a Ditch lined with Musquetiers and both sides had no sooner fired but that the Kings Cannon followed and discharged six or seven Shot Prince Rupert General of the Horse commanding the right Wing routed their left Wing and followed them in chafe to Keinton Town and two Miles beyond killing all whom they overtook the Lord Ruthen ordered the left Wing of the Kings Horse with the Lord Wilmot both of them doing gallant service 't is true Prince Rupert presumed that he had left a sufficient Reserve of Horse behinde under command of the Earl of Carnarvan with some other Troops who seeing the Enemies Horse and Foot to run his spirit not accustomed to stand still followed too far and left their own Foot naked of Horse which Essex espying took the advantage and with his Horse fell upon the Foot including these Regiments the Lord Generals Colonel Fieldings and Colonel Bowels a Regiment raised by the Lord Paget and did much execution upon them this service being done by Colonel Hurry afterwards Major General for the Parliament The Lord General Lindsey
being too forward in the Fight and incompassed by the Enemy his noble Son the Lord Willoughby hastned to his rescue not staying for greater assistance than such by chance about him and were both over-powred and taken Prisoners the Father â—ore wounded and evil intreated died the next day Sir Edmund Varney Knight Marshal and Standard-bearer was killed and the Standard ingaged till a gallant Gentleman Mr. Iohn Smith instantly shot him dead and rescued it for which service he was presently dubbed Knight and Bannoret the first of that Honour and bore the Standard after and relieved Colonel Fielding with some others of quality repulsing their Enemies Horse and followed the pursuit The Foot on both sides continued hot fiering untill the Day was spent and Night five a clock parted the Fight which no doubt was fairest on the Kings side had he enjoyed the Light somewhat longer to have increased his advantage towards a Victory It must be acknowledged that the General Essex his Regiment of Foot Colonel Hollis and Colonel Hambdem's stood the brunt of the Battel most of their Men being London Prentices fresh and good Firers did bold service Among the Plunder General Essex his Waggon Saddles Cloke-bags and Cabinet were taken and therein some Letters and Papers of Intelligence sufficient to discover one Blake a secret Traitor in the Kings Court for which he was forthwith hanged in the high way a sign to all Traitors betwixt Oxford and Abingdon this Fellow had been a Merchant and for some service at Sallie in Barbarie releasing English Slaves purchased repute at home which shadowed him from any suspition to be an Intelligencer at the Kings Court to divers his Corresponds City Friends for which he so suffered After the King had given the first Word espying one to steal to the Enemy he altered it to God and King Charls The Kings Troop consisted of an hundred and twenty Noblemen and Gentlemen able to expend an hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year of their own and these charged first with much courage and so performed it that Day commanded by the Lord Bernard youngest Brother to the Duke of Richmond and afterwards created Earl of Lichfield Sir Arthur Aston commanded the Dragoons and gave notice to him the Lord Bernard how he should order his Charge which was to second him and to follow the Dragoons who beat off those that lined the Hedges having that Intelligence of Sir Fortescue's Cornet who was come from Essex's Army with assurance that his Captain would follow with his Troop as he did at the first of the Fight The Kings Army was about twelve thousand the Parliaments sixteen thousand men exceeding well armed and furnished with excellent Ammunition compleat The loss by view of the dead might be between five or six thousand between them The King certainly lost the lesse in number but the most of value men of great merit but not the most in place and Office of Command But now the question will be who had the better If you will not admit it a drawn Battel consider these particulars following The Kings design was to March on his way and Essex resolution was to attach him which he did not but rather Skirted his Marchings and gave the occasion that the King encountred him though being met he began the Challenge After the Battel the King kept the field in his Coach all that Night with great fires and the next day in the Fâ—eld Proclaimed several Pardons to such of the Enemy that would submit And then Marches to Aino the seven and twentieth of October where he dated his Proclamation of Grace and Favour to the Cities of London and Westminster The King without Interruption of his Enemy buries the dead Marches to Banbury Took the Town and Castle and they take Arms under him so then he was Master of the Field commanding his own way and doing his own work which he came about and Marches to Oxford His Enemy General Essex wheeles towards Warwick does no more and retreats to London where hâ—s Army Lodges for Recruits The next day after the fight the King sends Sir William Neve Garter Herald to Essex to exchange the Lord Willoughby Earl of Lindsey for the Lord St. Iohn Hue Bullenbroke of Bletso but ere iâ— could be dispatched St. Iohns dies by which he paies the first of his debts to his Creditors and the last debt to sin and death with the undoing of many of his Country worthy Gentlemen men bound for him in great sums of Money Colonel Essex Lieutenant Colonel Ramsey both slaine But to go on with the story The King Prince and Duke that Night retreated to the side of the Hill resting in their Coach all Night keeping divers fires but could discern but one fire from their Enemy so that it was supposed their General was Marched away untill the Morning discovered them to be drawn out and Colonel Brooks Regiment of Foot and others coming to joyn with them The King draws up also upon the Hill and about noon Essex Marches away The King at Edge-hill Proclaims his pardon to the Rebells now in Arms against him so be they will come in to him and seek it the four and twentieth of October And in Aino the seven and twentieth of October He sends his gracious Proclamation of Pardon to his Cities of London and Westminster excepting therein Alderman Fulk and Manwaring On Tuesday Morning at nine a clock the King forth with his forces faced the Town of Banbury being ready to fall on Captain Marrow who Commanded the Castle treated a while and by twelve a clock delivered up the Town and Castle though there were therein two Regiments of Foot blew coats belonging to the Lord Rochford and Peterborough and Captain Saiers Troop of Horse The Prince with three peeces of Cannon and some Foot and Horse Marched against Broughton House belonging to the Lord Say and at the first shot of Ordinance through and through it was delivered up From thence to Southampton The Earl of Essex retreated this while to Warwick and so the other way Marched to London But the Kings Forces returned to Oxford so through Abington and to Henley where they refreshed two or three daies then to Mâ—idenhead Windsor and Stains Saturday being a misty morning the Kings Forces made their Rendevouz on Hownslow Heath the Parliaments Forces being that morning drawn out of Kingston giving Liberty to the King to Command both sides of the River Thames who about eleven of the clock forced the Enemy out of Brainford but ere we go on let us return to some Civil affairs which were Acted by both parties after Edge-hill fight however controverted amongst parties Interested The King Publishes his Delaration to all his Loving Subjects after his late Victory against the Rebels on Sunday the three and twentieth of October 1642. Ascribing the preservation of him â—nd his Children in the late bloody Battel with the Rebels to the Mercy and
Covenant that the same be done by joint advice of the Committees of both Kingdoms and afterwards agreed upon by Votes of both Houses 3 That the Earl of Leven Lord General of the Scotish Forces in Ireland being now by the Votes of both Houses agreed to be Commander in chief over all the Forces as well British as Scots according to the fourth Article be desired with all convenient speed to nominate and appoint a Commander in chief under his Excellency over the said Forces to reside with them upon the place And a joynt Committee of both Kingdoms are appointed to reside with the said Forces and enabled with joint Instructions of both Kingdoms for Regulating the said Forces and carrying on of the war and accordingly the Committee were sent and so remained there Glocester now relieved the loss of their Enemy the Earl of Essex leaves with them three Culverins 46. barrels of powder and sets the Garison in order with the plunder provision of the Country filling their Granaries very plentifully and so departs The London Trained bands having done their work would needs go home but must pass the Kings pikes first and how their General also could escape the Kings Ingagement of a return was difficult not to be penned up in those parts and so made speed after the King who was Marched some miles before and passed by Cirencester leaving there a strong party where Essex his forlorn hope came and entred the Town whilst his Army surrounded it killed the Centry sleeping Marched up to the Market place without opposition being supposed Prince Maurice his forces that night expected entered their houses and surprized the people in their beds without any Allarm seized four hundred men and thirty Cart loads of Provision their onely support of the Souldier against the next battel at Newbery From thence Essex Marches to Chilleton the Cavaliers facing them on Mavarn hills but to amaze them Essex seems to retreat but sent out a party of horse who met and fired but were fain to wheel off with loss then the foot came on with a gallant charge accompanied with a volley of Dragoons and were answered as bravely by the King for an hour without ceasing and but time for Essex to bring on the Trained bands and Auxiliaries without any effect for night parted the fray and so from hence he Marches the next day to Newbery where the King being before hand had the advantage of the ground and planted his Ordinance with all the forces thereabouts On Wednesday the twentieth of September early as the sun the General takes a view of the Cavaliers set in Battalia at Newbery Common draws up and falls to firing for notice being brought to the King with his forces at Eversham that the Earl of Essex was returning from Glocester gave order to follow him and on the eighteenth of September his Majesties foot marching towards Wantage Prince Rupert with the whole body of horse advanced on the right hand to finde out Essex and got view of them that afternoon in a bottom near Aubern in Wiltshire and gave them two charges by the commanded party of Colonel urrey falling upon Essex Rear of his Horse where both encountred with equal loss Essex stands in Battalia for an hour and then marches the Prince overtakes him with a second charge adding the Queens Regiment as a reserve to the commanded party and his own Brigado to follow both Essex's horse appointed to bring up the Rear hastned forward within the Foot and brought Ruperts so near that it was necessary to decline them by falling off to the Right hand where two great Bodies of Essex's Horse came down a Hill and in excellent order received the others charge and after with eithers swords where the Lord Iermin received a slight wound on his Arm and the Lord Digby a shot on his head piece with loss of some men then those wheeling about ingaged the Lord Iermin with part of his Regiment almost to a loss but that they forced through some Bodies of Foot and got the better at that encounter onely with loss of Colonel Constable and that brave Gentleman the Marquess de la Vienville who was first taken prisoner and in cold blood unhandsomely slain and so night made either party retire The Kings Infantry was now at Wantage from whence Rupert desired them to march directly to Newbery with all speed the Horse refreshing at Lambern and Essex towards Hungerford arrived there the next morning six miles off so to Newbery but the King being come up before prevented them of accommodation there and lodged there himself that night all his Horse and some Musketiers were immediately drawn out beyond the water towards Essex his Army his whole body being within two miles and a half so as the parties fell to skirmish till dark night On goes Essex and surprizes the Kings new raised Troops at Cirencester scarce warm in their quarters And the twentieth of September the King saw his Enemy seated in a place the most advantageous the Horse Foot and Canon so planted for safety to themselves and annoyance of the King that it was conceived his Majesty was forced first to fight for a place â— to fight on which he did and gained the Hill the other pelting upon them from chosen groundâ— bushesâ— and hedges This Hill near Newbery and Enbarn-heath were the places where the most of this fight was performed The chief Commanders of Horse for the King besides Prince Rupert and the Lord Wilmot his Lieutenant General were the three Noble Lords the valiant Earls of Carnarvan and Northampton and the Lord Chandoys Sir Charls Lucas Colonel Charls Gerrard and Lieutenant Colonel Oneal In which fight were slain couragious Carnarvan whose memory since his undertaking to be a Commander is precious in Acts of honour and he that killed him lived not an instant after So was there slain the Noble Earl of Sunderland Colonel Morgan Lieutenant Colonel Fâ—ilding and many Gentlemen voluntiers by name Mr. Stroud and there were hurt of the prime Officers the Lord Andover Sir Charls Lucas Colonel Gerrard Colonel Ivers And of the Voluntiers the Earls of Carlisle and Peterborough Mr. Iohn Russell Mr. Edward Sacvile Mr. Henry Howard Mr. George Porter Mr. Progers The Kings foot were commanded by Sir Nicholas cholas Byron and the Horse by Sir Iohn Byron The chief Officers hurt were Colonel Dervy Lieutenant Colonel George Lisle who led on the forlorn hope and Lieutenant Col. Edward Villiers and here at the dispute of the Hill was slain that learned Lord Viscount Falkland Secretary of Estate The number slain on both sides are uncertain for what is confessed of the Cavalier supposes more of their Enemies I would there had been less then there were of either Only thus much is notorious not a Lord of the other side but in earnest we must give assurance many of their chief Officers were killed The slaughter fell foule on the London Trained bands
chief of the Forces in Glocestershire or Colonel Min Commander of the English Brigade that came out of Ireland or Colonel Washington at Evisham or the Governour of Berkley Castle As soon as you send an Answer you shall receive satisfaction from Your assured Friend G. D. Backhouse replies and conceives Sir William Vavisor the fittest to comply and gives his Reasons but the present payment of the three hundred pounds was waved by Stanford and as deeply pressed by Backhouse till they in private met at Coflawn without Arms or Attendants where he receives two hundred pounds and a promise to disingage a Bond of his of fifty pounds And the Plot was thus that Colonel Massie should be drawn out of Glocester with a strong party towards Berkley Castle with assurance that the Castle should be rendered in whose absence Backhouse was to open the Gates and deliver the Word but with some counter considerances The fifteenth of February was now come the time assigned and nine a clock at night the hour and a Messenger is sent to the Cavaliers Quarters with the Word but the Design of Backhouse was discovered and so nothing was effected But how Backhouse could receive the Money and dispence with his deep Oaths to be sincere and just to his promise I know not certainly so much Money could not satisfie for an evil conscience nor can his part be excused from corruption in the highest nature if duly examined The Actions of Glocester against the Welch set up Sir William Waller and the Kings party thereabout to withdraw for Sir Matthew Carew forthwith quitted Teuxbury which within twelve hours was possessed by Captain Iohn Fines with sufficient strength of Horse and Dragoons to whom also their affected Friends at Glocester came home again hastily and with much confusion but no sooner warm in their new possession but the former Forces with a greater power returned upon design The Assistance was of Horse a gallant Brigade commanded by the Lord Grandeson which came from Chiltenham without the least intelligence to the other and as little to his Lordship to be met with by Glocester Forces which came suddenly to the succour yet Fines had been surprized with all his Horse had not a ridiculous Accident prevented it Captain Fines at a Miles distance off the Town meets a Man whom they question he supposing them a party of the Parliament to curry favour tells them of vast numbers and great strength of Cavaliers but seems to defie them with indignation this frightens Fines to a Council of War and were about to fall back which delay gave an hours respite and so the Enemy entred After Sir William Waller had refreshed his Men about the first of April he advanced towards Monmouthshire invited by some Gentlemen to reduce their parts at his coming to the Town of Monmouth the Garison of the Lord Herbert retired leaving a naked place to Sir William where finding small success of his parties sent abroad for Supplies of Moneys he marched to Usk and spending some time to no purpose in that County he returns the stream of the people affording him no welcome being all universal Tenants of that County to the Earl of Worcester In this time Prince Maurice enters Teuxbury with a Brigade of Horse and Foot added to the Lord Grandeson resolving to make after Waller or to meet his return out of Wales A Bridg of Boats wafts him over Severn with a Body of two thousand Horse and Foot Waller was nimble in his Retreat not to be catcht in a noose or neck of Wales but by a Bridg of Boats came back at Chepstow with his Foot and Artillery and himself with his Horse and Dragoons passed through the lowest part of the Forest of Dean near the River side of Severn and ere the Prince had notice sends forth two Parties to fall upon two of the Princes Quarters which was performed whilest Waller's main Body slipt between both and a Party was left also to face them and make good the Retreat which came off but disorderly with loss of some Souldiers It was held a handsome conveyance and unexpected to bring himself out of the Snare by uncouth ways This Allarm soon reached Glocester and caused Massie there to send assistance of two Troops of Horse and three hundred Foot to fetch him off This Party met him two Miles off the Town where being combined they design to set upon Teuxbury and taking conveniency by the Princes absence and Waller's supposed Defeat instantly they march and come up to the Town by break of day one part whereof fell into the Ham seized the Guard left with the Bridg-of Boats and cut off that Bridg but his Horse with the rest of the Foot came up Glocester way surprized and slew the Centinel climbed over the Works cut down the Draw-Bridges the Horse and Foot rushing in and the party on the other side Avon ready to enter also There they found in the Town three hundred men commanded by Sir Matthew Carew whom the Triumph of yesterday's supposed Victory had lull'd asleep and now awakened by this sudden Allarm rowsed up to a shufflâ—ng fighting posture and then to a Retreat and after to an Escape and but some Souldiers taken These sudden Surprisals gave various intelligence to Oxford not able to credit any Relations being so strangely inconstant but onely to chances Yet a party of the Princes Horse appear from the top of the Hill near Teuxbury as if his Body were hard by whereupon Waller marches thither that Evening resolving to break down or make good the Bridg at Upton upon Severn besides which there was no Pass nearer than VVorcester but the Scouts told him the Prince was there before and guarded it The next day VValler advances and found him in Ripple-field his Army drawn up and divided into three Bodies faces him but would not fight being fewer in number no Shot prepared no Cannoneers few Foot the Winde nor Sun to friend and their Retreat if need were through a long Lane In this posture though some perswade to fight others would not and so VValler retreats into the Lane commanding a Party of Dragoons to face the Prince and the Musketiers to stand at the corner to make good his Retreat But the Prince falls on the Dragoons fly over Hedg and Ditch broke over the Bridg disordering their own and were killed or taken Massie sends to Teuxbury for Supply but Haselrig with his Troop and some Foot made a Charge which in part took off the foulness of the Flight for at the end of the Lane a Ditch stopt their haste and a Gate flung off the Hinges barred the Pursute with time to make a Stand no longer than that the Prince came up but then faced about and fled in a great hurry and loss till a Supply of Foot from the Town met them near Mith-hill and there made a false Stand rather to take breath than to fight for their
Ordnance before to choose out so many commanded Musquetiers of the English of late come out of Ireland as might well be spared out of that Garison These were a thousand Musquetiers of Colonel Broughtons and Colonel Tilliers Regiments with a hundred and twenty of Colonel Sir Fulke Huncks All these sent down by the Severne met the Prince at Bridgenorth on Fryday Of Horse he took along his own Troop and Regiment with twenty of Major General Sir Hurrey's with these Forces he drew along three Field-pieces At Wolverhamton next day was his Army recruited by a hundred Horse and two hundred Foot of Colonel Levesons On Munday night he had notice at Ashby de la Zouch of two thousand two hundred Enemies under Sir Edward Hartop sent out by Meldruâ—â— to the pass and bridge over the Sore a mile from Loughborow in Leicester-shire Their purpose was either to intercept General Major George Porter or to prevent his joyning with my Lord Loughborow For thither with four Regiments of Horse and aâ— thousand commanded Musquetiers of my Lord of Newcastles men was Master Porter now come from about Newark to hinder the farther inroads into Leicestershire Dayly slight Skirmishes here passed For Meldrum not able to force the passaâ—â— and hearing of my Lord of Loughborow's drawing out they stole away Porter thus dis-ingaged was the next day together with my Lord Loughborow's forces conjoyned to the Prince's That night they all quartered in a Close by Bingham eight miles short of Newark About two of the clock the Moon then well up the drums beat and all marched Hitherto had the marches been so speedy as fame it self was prevented for by Meldrum's own Letter sent to the Lord Fairfax which was intercepted the night before they had no more but an uncredited rumor of Prince Rupert's coming On this dayes march Rupert had notice by his espyalls how the Enemies were busied all that morning in sending away their Cannons which proved no other then their drawing them off their Batteries into their chiefe work at the Spittle or Excester House a little more then musket shot from the Town for into that one Quarter had they that morning drawn all their Regiments and Amunition The Prince having intelligence of their amassing themselves into one Body which he supposed a preparation to march off suddenly advanc'd his Van of Horse upon the spur to overtake them the rest of his Horse had order to keep along with the Foot Cannon and Amunition Coming near the Beacon-hill a mile short of Newark he perceived some Horses of the enemies who upon his approach drew down the other side to their own Grosse The Prince thus easily gaining the hill increased his natural courage upon his apprehension besides of having many advantages upon a retreating enemy Whereupon Courage sayes he let 's charge them with the Horse we have and ingage them till our Reer and Foot be march'd up to us Trooping thus to the edge of the hill he perceived the most of the enemy in Battalia Horse and Foot near the Spittle all except four great Bodies of Horse who expected him at the very descent of the hill The Prince thus ordered his own few Forces first himself with his own Troop of Life-guards undertook to attack that Body on the left hand appointing my Lord Loughborow's Troop to second him and Colonel Gerard's Troop to be as a Reserve a little on my Lords right hand The Princes Regiment was cast out into five divisions two Troops to each division in the first and very right hand of all were Captain Gardiner and Captain Richardson then Captain Cobb and Captain Martin then the Lord Grandison and Sir Thomas Dallison next them the Troops of Sir Lewis Dives and the Lord Dillon Major Leggs and Lieutenant-Colonel O-Neales Troops being next unto the Life-guards this Regiment was seconded by Major General Porters Regiment the Field-word was King and Queen theirs Religion The fight began about nine a clock and after a while grew sturdy especially on Rupert's right wing the other doubling their files from three to six deep and charged two outmost Troops upon the Flanks so hard that Captain Martin came timely in to help to beat them off the Prince himself having pierced deep into the enemies and being observed for his valour was dangerously at once assaulted by three sturdy persons whereof one fell by Rupert's own sword a second being pistoll'd by Master Mortaigne one of his own Gentlemen the third now ready to lay hand on the Princes collar had it almost chopt off by Sir William Neale He thus dis-engaged with a shot only in his gauntlet with Sir Richard Crane and his own Troop charged quite thorow that Body pursuing them in rout home to their very Works at the Spittle presently after this his Regiment with their seconds likewise routed the three other Bodies four of the Troops charging even into the Work and bringing away a Captain Prisoner Loughborow also deported himself honourably some of his shrunk at the second charge himself rode back to rally and bring them up again Major-general Porter charged with much bravery though some of his also retired up the hill in disorder Colonel Charles Gerard did here like himself but by the fall of his horse was bruised shot in the arm and taken prisoner After a while both sides began to rallie and make ready for a second charge the Prince to make impression and they to receive it and though for a good while they disputed it toughly yet by fine force were they and all the rest driven quite out of the Field beyond their own Work Foot and Cannon at the Spittle divers of them hasting by a bridge of boats over that branch of the Trent into the Island four other Troops with as many Foot-companies hasted up to Muskham bridge upon the other side of the Island and main stream of the River about three quarters of a mile both from Newark and the Spittle here they stayed till towards evening when breaking the bridge behinde them and throwing one piece of Cannon into the Trent they then hastned to Nottingham In both these stiffe bouts the Prince took Five Cornets and Ninetie Prisoners whereof three Captaines some Gentlemen three Cornets besides other Officers and two Cannoniers And now as if an universal truce had been agreed upon there was some half an hours silence excepting that the enemies Cannonado's disturbed it For the Foot had not yet advanced and their Horse by this time had enough of it As for the Prince he now stayed for his Foot and Reer of Horse both left full two miles behinde when his Van began to double their march to overtake the enemy anon came up his Foot all that day commanded by Colonel Tilliar these resting themselves a while upon the hill the first division being part of those that came from Shrewsbury were led on by the Colonel these marcht down in the face of the enemy hooting at their Cannon these
flanked with some Horse were wheeled to the right by and by into a medow at their coming the enemy drew all their Horse and Foot within their Spittle-work and coming up against this place both sides saluted one another at too far a distance with a short volley but Colonel Tilliar was not to stay here as being by his Orders to march up to the very Rivers side to recover the boat-bridg from the enemy but this being too well guarded he was glad to go off making a stand without reach of Cannon In this time were divers more Bodies of Foot brought down into the Field who charg'd up to the enemies Works and killed many Loughborow's being left upon the hill for a reserve Thus was the valley be spread with the Princes Battaglions and in this posture stood the Army Sir Richard Byron Governour of Newark likewise before this had sent part of his Garrison both Horse and Foot into another ground on the South-East side of the Town And by this time had the Prince notice given him by a Prisoner and by one of theirs that came over to him how they were so distressed for want of victualls that they were not able to live there two dayes Whereupon He began to resolve upon other councells esteeming it cheaper to block up their trenches then to storm them And block't up they were already in a very narrow room no more then the backside of the Spittle towards the River Besides which they were on all sides surrounded by His forces On the South side by the Town on the East by the Prince and on the North by Colonel Tilliar Into the Island on the West had the Prince sent five hundred Horse besides two hundred of the Newark Troopers Thus the late blockers found themselves now besieged yea without much hope of sudden relief or safe means to sally For so well had the Prince ordered them that had they sallied forwards He had then fallen upon their first issuing out both in Front and Flanks with his Army and the Town had charged them upon their Rear Had they offered to escape over their Boat-bridg those in the Isle had disturbed their passing and others entertained their coming over By this time had the Prince commanded Sir Richard Byron with his own and Sir Gervase Eyres Horse-Regiments with eight hundred of Sir John Digbyes Foot to advance so high into the Island as to put in betwixt the enemies two bridges By which interposition was all intercourse cut off betwixt them their greater Body at the Spittle and those at Muskham bridg upon this those eight Colours at the bridg retreated as aforesaid Under favour of these Town-forces too was Rupert resolved to cast up a Redoubt that night betwixt the bridges but going now to view the ground the enemy sent out a Trumpet to desire a Parley To make way for this and the more to sweeten and oblige the Prince had Sir John Meldrum some hours before sent home Colonel Gerard yet upon the parole of a Souldier and a Gentleman to return himself a Prisoner when ever he should be called They having sent out to parley quit their bridg which his Highness presently possessed by a hundred Musquetiers For the parley was appointed Sir Richard Crane Captain of his Life-guards with Sir William Neale Scout-master General the other sending Sir Miles Hobard and Sir John Palgrave into the Town Now true though it be that the enemies were distressed yet very wise Generals have not thought it safe to make such men desperate Besides which being now in the midst of their own Garrisons they might possibly be relieved And to confesse the truth the Princes Horse were so over-marcht and his Foot so beaten off their legs that He found his men lesse able for the present for them and the enemy were more then was believed For these reasons and for that as by intercepted Letters it appeared the Lord Fairfax and his Son Sir Thomas being both commanded by the Council of State to march other places might ere long have need of his presence the Prince at length condiscended to these Articles 1. That all Match Bullet Powder Cannon and all other Fire-arms belonging to the Artillery be delivered 2. That all Souldiers march away with their Swords by their sides and Colours and Drums 3. That all Officers march without molestation with Their Arms and Horses for themselves and Servants and all Bag and Baggage Money and whatsoever doth truly belong to Themselves 4. That all Troopers and Dragoons march with their Swords Horses and Colours 5. That his Highness send a Convoy to protect us from any injury two Miles from the utmost of his Highness Quarters March 22. 1643. Because we may conceive that the 22. Divines appointed to reform might do something in order to their Pensions the latter end of this Year produced the effects A Protestation by them for setling of the Church and their particular Exceptions against the Liturgie not that the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England should be utterly abolished but purged of Innovations and Absurdities And first of the later part the Innovations and Absurdities they make to be these I. Because there be some things in it of which we know not how to make any reasonable sense viz. 1. Whatsoever is manifest the same is light Ephes. 5. 13. See Epi. 3. Lent 2. In the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity See Col. Trin. 3. Every Parishioner must communicate thrice a year and also receive the Sacraments and other Rites See Rubrick after Communion 4. God is said to be Father of all that is called Father in Heaven Ephes. 3. 15. See Epist. 16. Trinity 5. This is the sixth Moneth which was called Barren Luke 1. 28. See Gosp. Annunc 6. Or ever your Pots be made hot with Thorns so let indignation vex him as a thing that is raw Psalm 58. 8. See Gosp. Annunc 7. When the company of the Spear-men and multitude of the Mighty are scattered abroad among the beasts of the people that they humbly bring pieces of Silver and when he hath scattered the people that delight in War Then shall the Princes c. Psalm 68. 30. II. Because as far as we are able to discern there is contradiction in it 1. To the Book of Articles which denieth that Confirmation hath any visible Sign whereas the last Prayer in Confirmation makes Imposition of Hands a Sign to certifie the Children of God's favour and gracious goodness towards them 2. To it self by affirming in the Catechism that there are but two Sacraments and yet ascribing to Confirmation all things that are required to the being of a Sacrament either in that Book or in the Book of Articles III. Because to our best understanding it seemeth to contain in it some untruths 1. Innocents are said to be Gods Witnesses and to have confessed and shewed forth his praise not in speaking but in dying See Col. Inno. 2. It
County of Bucks and evermore Messages are sent to the Lord Mayor of London of all their Victories and now and then a Thanksgiving for the late Successes of Sir Waller's Victories which evermore had a long tail after that is to encourage the City to advance some speedy Payments And also vote that no Members of the Commons House that adhere to the King shall ever be received agaâ—n and if a Member of the Lords depart to the King it shall be Treason and never to be received again Colonel Purifoy with his Regiment of Horse is commanded to Glocestershire either to remove or take in the Cavalier Garisons assisted with four hundred foot with two great Guns drawn out of Glocester marched after Colonel Myn who was lodged at Rosse fortifying the Church with his own and Sir Iohn Winters Regiments but left them and marched to Ledbury in Herefordshire and there kept quarter drawing out 150. Musquetiers with all the Horse marched towards Hereford In whose absence Prince Rupert comes to Evesham with a Brigade of Horse and Dragoons intending to fall upon Upton-bridge and to get in between Glocester and Colonel Myn and Sir Iohn Winter who held Massey play the whiles in Wales where he fired Sir Iohn Winters Iron Mills and so returned where he found a prisoner Captain Oglethrop Governour of Beverston Castle by whom he understood the weaknesse thereof which stopt the passages of the County Thither he comes and demands the Castle for the King and Parliament and was rendred after some dispute and not tenable aginst such a force Some Forces in the absence of Sir Iohn Winter were sent to summon his Lady that kept Garison at home ingaging by the honour of Governour Massey that her Ladyship should receive protection for her and hers with good usage If she refuse this offer of mercy fire and sword must follow The Lady with great courage and more Loyalty sends him word Sir Mr. Winters unalterable Allegeance to his King and Sovereign and his particular interest to this place hath by his Majesties Commission put it into this condition which cannot be pernicious to any but to such as oppose the one and invade the other wherefore rest assured that in these relations we are by Gods assistance resolved to maintain it all extremities notwithstanding Thus much in Mr. Winters absence you shall receive from Mary Winter Massey marches to Malmsbury commanded by Colonel Henry Howard and being denied upon summons some Foot and Artillery were sent for from Tedbury drawn into the Suburbs causing a Blinde crosse the street to bring up his Ordinance neerer the Town within Carbine shot but in a panick fear that a Sally was coming out upon them they all fled and left their Ordinance behind Yet recovering and Rallying they gave the charge all together with a great shout came up to the Turn-pike and routed Colonel Howard and 100. men taken and so returned Then with fresh Forces he marches to Tewxbury which he took by surprise in the dead and dark night with the Governour Colonel Myn but were again beaten out by the Garrison Rallying then comes up the whole Body of Massies Foot and took the Town with much loss though the pâ—ice of his Prisoners General Essex and Sir William Waller being joyned Forces they hovered about Oxfordshire to divert them the King had a design And so the first of Iune went to Woodstock to his Horse Quarters where he supped and returned to his Foot Forces quartered at and about Wolvercâ—â— Amongst whom he was Billeted no better then in his Coach all that night and the next morning gave command for his Forces on the Charwel to come to his Army and altogether to march close to the walls of Oxford and about six a clock the same morning himself came back into Oxford The passages on the Charwel were no sooner cleared but the Parliament Forces began to account upon the effects as if the Kings Army were forced from thence with losse which was true in the main for the King lost some men But the King having setled his Orders at Oxford resolved to depart for he knew his Person was his Adversaries aime Then he commands a great Body of Foot to march towards Abington the better to amaze his Adversaries to hunt after the wrong sent And the same night the King with divers Lords and Gentlemen his own Troop and Menial servants went out of Oxford and came the next morning to Northlye where he drew up his Army of 3000. Foot and 4000. Horse 12. Drakes and 60. Carriages and left a Tertia of his Foot and a new raised Regiment of Horse under command of the Earl of Peterborough and all his great Ordinance at Oxford besides these of the Garrison and Ordnances of the place for defence thereof leaving behind also the Duke of York and the most of his Privy Council and gave Order for all Duties and Ceremonies of Court as if himself were still there present But Iune 4. news was carried to General Essex that the King was gone beyond them after whom all his Forces followed presently to Woodstock but such as scattered back again towards London no small numbers And in their march they faced Oxford again but far enough off and so drew up into Battalia upon Campsfield neer Woodstock where there fell such a prodigious storm that frighted their present enterprise of hunting the Lords Annointed like a Partridge For Captain Willoâ—ghby writes to his Couzin of Parham that his Lordship may do well to make good use of it for they suffered the anger of heaven for two houres space the Hailstones fell as big as Nutmegs thus he saies that felt them there yet no such storm was seen at Oxford The King refreshed at Mr. Parrets house in Northlye went forwards to Bourton on the water a Village between Burford and Stow on the World and there lodged at Doctor Temples the Parson there In this while Essex and Waller divided their Forces Essex attempts the River Charwell at Pitsworth Bridge but repulsed and Waller to passe Isis but was obstructed and the second time Essex is beaten back at the same Bridge but the King being gone Essex got over and Marched after him to Chipping-Norton but returned to Burford and there deputes Waller to follow the chace For the King a Party of Horse was gone towards Worcester leaving his maine Body to march softly after who were the fifth of Iune to quarter at Winchcombe a â—arge Town in the â—olswold Hills neer to Snidley Castle Essex was at a stand full well observing that he prosecuted an haâ—d taske for fighting would not so much waste his men as tedious and hungry marches after the Kings light Army when his own was loaden with heavy Ordnance and therefore resolved to give over this uncomely pursuit after his flying Soveraign And so thought it the wiser way to put this service upon his Rival General Waller and to stay for him
who whilst Waller hunted the King was gotten Westward and to please the Lo. Roberts with advice of his Iuncto Counsel a Committee of Members is perswaded into Cornwal to credit Roberts for getting his Rents his main end hitherto obstructed by the power of the Cavaliers in that County The King comes to Kingsmore in Somersetshire Iuly 23. and passed Tamer at Palton-bridge in Cornwal Aug. 1. and so to Liskard 8. miles disâ—â—nt from Essex who was at Lesttithyel in Cornwal 5. Aug. there he is encompassed his Majesty and Prince Maurice at Bonnock on one side and Sir Richard Greenvile in Bodmin and Sir Iacob Ashley at Haul which commands Foy Haven But so soon as his Majesties Army drew from Liskard he faced the enemy in their Quarters at Listithiel who had strongly fastned their Foot Quarter on one side of the Town and placed most of their Horse and some Foot on the hills beyond The Town is situate in a valley and Tyde flows up from Foy to the Bridg so as it is not Fordeable but at one passe between that and the Sea Upon sight of the enemy his Majesties Army was full of courage and desired to be engaged but that was not thought fit to be done and the way of distressing the enemy for want of Provisions was resolved on as the most secure and so drew into Quarters the King to Boconnocke the Lord Mohuns House his Army between him and a Heath that parted his Quarters and the enemy at Listithiel the distance between both being â—ot above a mile Assoon as his Majesty had fastned his which was quickly done every enclosure here being Cannon-proofe most of the chief Officers of both Armies subscribed a Letter to Essex by his Majesties consent notwithstanding his Majesties Gracious Letter to him immediately before was not vouchsafed an answer To the Letter sent by the Commanders he returned a Negative yet his denyal wrought no great effects on his Majesties Army for in this posture between the expectation of Sir Grenevile's assistance who was coming on from the West the starving of the enemy and many debates but no positive results His Majesty spent above eight dayes putting little in execution but drew out often on the Heath had some light skirmishes with the Horse Guards and so drew into Quarters again at last Sir Richard Grenevile came with his Force then the Army began more seriously in the prosecution of the design Grenevile fastning his Quarter at Lanhetherocke the Lord Robert's house beyond the River three miles West of his Majesty and possessed Leprin Bridg on the same River a mile above Listithiel and his Majesty on the other side placed Guards on all the passes on the River leading from his Quarters and Listithiel to Foy and possessing a house of the Lord Mohun's over against the Town and a Fort that commandes the very mouth of that Haven being there but half Musket-shot over this was the first work which conduced to his Majesties advantage which proved fatal to their Army they being thereby deprived of an Harbor to bring them in provisions or supplies which they had plentifully before and now they had only a small Creek at Mimibilley and Saint Blases Bay but neither of those safe for Ships yet they still possessed a large space of ground West-ward which made his Majesty after few dayes expectation conclude that he could not starve them in so short a time as was imagined and therefore drew nearer to their Quarters and fastned his Army within Encloâ—â—res on the Wings of theirs within Musket-shot each of the other between which lyes part of the Heath there not half a mile over At the farthest extent of the Kings Quarters on that Heath he built a Fort that by Cannon very much anoyed theirs though they returned daily twenty great shot for one of his the same day Grenevile on the other side of the River drew near to Listithiel took Lesterman Castle a strong Fort and a Passe underneath it little more then half a mile from the Town and hereby his Majesty bettered the communication of his Forces when he had secured these and his Quarters he lay still again expecting the event but the ill weather coming on he resolved on a new design which was to attempt on some of their Quarters by surprise and thereupon Prince Maurice's Army was ordered to have fallen on two dayes successively on the next Quarter to them but the first day it was thought neither easie to get nor advantageous being got and the next by delay and the enemies discovery of the design nothing was effected to the trouble and dislike of many who thought the same more easie then perchance it was yet that failing necessity forbad any longer idlenesse and so again his Majesty resumed the former design of starving them to which purpose General Goring with most of the Horse and Sir Thomas Basset with fifteen hundred Foot of Prince Maurice his Army were sent West to stop all provisions coming in at Saint Blase and to reduce them to straits by keeping their Horse and Foot close together This wrought the expected effect for on Friday night came intelligence that they were drawing their Cannon and Baggage towards Foy whereupon his Majesty made ready not knowing what they had done with their Horse who the next morning before day in great fear marched between his Majesties two Quarters being about two thousand five hundred commanded by Balfour but his Majesties Horse followed them though they made so great hast as that they were timely at Saltash near which Sir Edward Waldgraves brigade lay and was almost surprised but the gallant old man got his men together Flanked them slew a hundred took Major Abeâ—cromy and many prisoners Being well bruised here they laboured to transport themselves over the River for Plymouth their Horse being very weak and tired but in the afternoon that day General Goring and most of the Horse had order to pursue them and timely notice was given to all Forces in the Southern parts to meet them in the Front but failed Their Foot Army drew out likewise on Saturday and by eight in the morning marched away towards Foy his Majesty presently followed and having got the Bridg and Town of Listithiel advanced the Hill where he found two rare pieces of Cannon and about a mile farther three or four more with powder and Amunition which in their hast they left behind them Thus marching after them his Majesty fell in their Rear two miles from Listithiel and from hedg to hedg enforced them to an hasty retreat at length having got some advantage of an inclosure they made a stand and with their remaining Horse regained some fields whence they were forced before whereupon the King sent presently Captain Brett with the Queens Troop who in the Kings view forced them to retire regained the ground lost got more and returned gallantly and in good order with the losse only of four men and
ten times over Here they remained pretending a Peace but in earnest to settle Trade and to see which way the Game went and having leave to go to the King they caress him with their Masters the States great inclination to cement these Differences but the King knew their mindes not to engage for him and so they returned in the end of this year The Marquess of Newcastle had been besieged above nine Weeks by the Parliaments Forces in the North for the raising of which Prince Rupert advances out of Shropshire marching with his Army through Lancashire raises the Siege of Latham House takes three Garisons Stopford Bolton and Leverpool he came forward towards York and on Sunday last of Iune enquartered at Knaresburgh fourteen Miles off the next morning over Burrough-bridg and that night along the River to York upon whose approach the Besiegers quit their Quarters and those in York pursue the Rear and seize some Provisions the next morning Iâ—lie 2. the Prince advances after them resolving to give them Battel by noon yet was it almost seven a clock ere they began and upon disadvantage enough for the Parliaments Forces had choice of the Ground and stood it on a Corn Hill on the South side of Marston Moor four Miles from York and so the Prince taking their leavings fell on upon their Horse who began to shrink and their right Wing of Horse and Foot were routed by the Princes left Wing commanded by General Goring Sir Charls Lucas and Major General Porter And thus confessed by themselves Our right VVing of Foot say they had several mis-fortunes for our right VVing of Horse consisting of Sir Thomas Fairfax 's Horse in the Van and the Scots Horse in the Rear wheeled about and being hotly pursued by the Enemies left VVing came disorderly upon the Lord Fairfax his Foot and the Reserve of Scotish Foot broke them wholly and trod the most of them under foot The Fight was sharp for three hours till night put a period Some of the Prince's Horse followed execution too far and none advancing to supply their absence the Enemy rallied and did the work and many slain on both sides and Prisoners also taken three Prisoners of quality on the Cavaliers party Lucas Porter and Colonel Tilliard The Scots were the Reserve in all their three Armies but smarted at last because their Van both of Horse and Foot not standing brought execution upon them The Parliament printed two Relations the one a Scotish Captain says That Prince Rupert had got the Ground with VVinde and Sun of the Scots when it is certain it was late in the Evening that the loss of men of qualitie upon their parts was but one Lieutenant Colonel and some few Captains And yet he says that the Earl of Eglinton's Regiment lost four Lieutenants the Major the Lieutenant Colonel and the Earls Son mortally wounded that the number of their slain about three hundred and that of the Cavaliers almost three thousand that Prince Rupert took all the Ordnance out of York and lost them in this Fight which Sir William VVallar says were eight and twentie Pieces Another Relation five and twentie And another says twentie That in this Fight were taken ten thousand Arms. Sir VVilliam Waller says six thousand Another Scots Captain says three thousand For Colours they shew a Scene of 47. Colours The truth is that the Horse of both Armies were sufficiently scattered by night next morning the Prince marched towards Thursk and can onely say That he relieved York with some Cattel raised the Siege and was soundly beaten Yet from thence he marched with six thousand Horse and three thousand Dragoons into Lancashire But from the last Fight divers of the Kings party took leave to depart the Kingdom and landed at Hamburgh the Letters from thence names them the Earl of Newcastle lately made Marquess with his two Sons and his Brother Sir Charls Cavendish General King the Lord Falconbridg the Lord VViddrington the Earl of Cranworth the Bishop of London Derrie Sir Edward VViddrington Colonel Carnabie Colonel Basset Colonel Mozon Sir VVillam Vavasor Sir Francis Mackworth with about eighty other persons Sir Thomas Glenham was Governour of York a gallant Gentleman maintaining it against the Siege of all the main Northern Forces of the Parliament the Earl of Manchester the Lord Fairfax and his Son And although Prince Rupert had so far relieved the City as to send them in some Cattel but neither Men nor Amunition so that after his fatal Blow at Marston Moor and now marched away the City left utterly from further expectation of assistance and the Parliaments Forces now resolving to fall upon the storming which the Governour opposed with as much gallantry as his necessitous condition could afford but being over-powered and his wants increasing he was inforced to surrender the City upon honourable terms on the sixteenth of Iulie 1. That all Officers and Souldiers â—hall march out on Horse back with their Arms flying Colours Drums beating Matches lighted Bullets in Mouth with Bag and Baggage 2. VVith a Convoy to Skipton 3. The Sick to depart at pleasure 4. That no Souldier be plundered or enticed away 5. The Citie to enjoy their Trade 6. The Garison to be two parts of three Yorkshire men 7. The Citie to bear Charges with the Countie as usual 8. To dispose and enjoy their Estates according to the Laws of the Land without molestation 9. The Gentlemen there to dispose and carrie away their Goods at pleasure 10. That the Churches be not defaced no man plundered justice to be administred by the Magistrate as before 11. That all persons whose Habitations are within the Citie though now absent shall enjoy the benefit of these Articles The Parliament ordain new Levies to be raised ten thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse and one thousand three hundred Dragoons out of nineteen Counties South Counties Suffolk Norfolk Huntington Oxford Berks c. Not only to raise these thousands but must advance as much money as will pay them during their imployment so as it was said that the two Houses at Westminster would devour all the Houses in London It was murmured that as these two had ruined all the rest so ere long they would pull down one the other for the Lords were daily baited by the Commons as Peers which yet doe but should not sit above them so as Mr. Blaston lately told the Lower Members That the Lords had been allowed too long to domineer and we see said he how often they have been defective the Lower stickling to heave out the Higher by the strength of whose Votes and Number the Committee of State is newly reared up which at long running will be too hard for them both and then that very Committee will perchance split into two Factions when our Northern Brethren may prove the better Gamesters because the Elder at this kinde of Contract untill at the last the whole Cause will appear in its
many Arms and Ladders Hovvever they doe their best vvith Granadoes and great Shoâ— 154. of the first and of Canon above 800. Wherefore Lieutenant Colonel Green sallied out slevv and vvounded more and no doubt the Castle lost many But the Earl of Northampton for the King vvith good strength of Horse came from the Rendezvouz near Newbury quartering at Farnborough and then to Beechen-tree to meet Colonel Gage from Oxford vvhose Horse vvere commanded by Colonel Webb the Foot by Lieutenant Colonel Gerard and Major Kirke and all joyning they march to Aderbury and came to Banbury October 25. finding Colonel Fines his Horse in several bodies dravvn up on the South side of the Tovvn Here they stand a vvhile and face the Earl but soon retreated to the West side tovvards Hanwel their Foot novv come out of the Tovvn in some disorder follovved their Horse having sent their Baggage and Artillery that vvay the night before The Earl pursued them vvith three Regiments of Horse the Earl of Brainfords the Lord Wilmots and his ovvn and some Dragoons Colonel VVebb being sent on the left hand round about Crowth-hill with the most part of Oxford Horse to face or charge them in the Flank In the mean time Colonel Gage vvith the Foot enters Banbury Tovvn and relieves the Castle Northampton overtakes his Enemies neer Hanwel a Forlorn-hope being dravvn out by Captain Brown and joyning vvith Gages Oxford Horse but vvere valiantly opposed so that they vvithdrevv to the Ear◠〈◊〉 main Body vvith him and after a long and round dispute to 〈…〉 the enemy retreated somevvhat hastily and neer Hanwel they dispersed some to Copredy Hanwel Tovvn Broughton and Compton leaving their Carriages one Field piece and three Wagons of Arms and Amunition vvhich vvere sent to Banbury Castle and thus much it cost them for these vvere slain Captain Brown Captain Tylly the Earl of Brainford shot in the mouth and Colonel Webb vvas hurt in the hand so was Lieutenanant Colonel Smith and one Boteler commended for his gallantry was slain nine Troopers and many Common Souldiers killed and hurt But they that fled must needs be more the high waies could testifie many prisoners Cap. Vint and Lieutenant Vernon four Cornets of Horse many Horses and six Barrels of Powder Match and Shot c. Glocester being recruited by â—olonel Stephens with three Troops of Horse and tvvo Troops of Colonel Harlyes Regiment they drew out against Colonel Myn an active Cavalier and perpetual vexation to Massie who had discovered that some Forces out of Wales vvere to passe at Ast and advanced thither and missed narrowly of the Lord Herbert these being abroad Colonel Myns design was that their Forces in both Counties of Hereford and Worcestershire should joyn at Casselane and so march to the Gates of Glocester Massie therefore returns homewards from whence he sends for 220 Musquetiers and 100. more from Tewxbury to meet him on the march to cope with Myn. But being arrived and all things prepared to set out a dispute increased betvveen two of their own Majors Grey and Hamond and after a box on the ear they drew and for the blow Hamond kills him whose Souldiers now in Arms ready to advance turned back to the revenge which the Governour had much adoe to pacifie which gave the Enemy time to come on within three miles of the Town and to prevent their further advance Massies men at Highleaden passed the Brook and finde the Cavaliers quartered in Hartpury Fields quiet and still but was upon them by dark night took ten prisoners and some Forragers their main Body being gon that night to Redmarly and were followed to Eldersfield two miles from them At break of day Massie marches and by six a clock advanced to their Rendezvouz being 160. Horse and 850. Foot drawn up into Batalia and the Hedges lined with Musquetâ—ers The other divided his Foot into two Bodies and drew out his Horse into single Troops the Inclosures not giving room for a larger form and having disposed one Troop with the Tewxbury shot he drew out the remain to another place of advantage Massie leads the Van of three Troops being seconded by three other Troops commanded by Backhouse and thus drawn out they march to their Adversaries charging suddainly put them from their Ambuscado's beat their Horse to a flight and so got into the Van of their Foot and worsted them bâ—oke their whole Body many wounded and slain and some prisoners Myn slain in the place and 170. Major Buller seven Captains four Lieutenants five Ensignes twelve Serjeants and near 250. common Souldiers taken Prisoners But in this encounter Myn was alone for the Hereford and Worcester Forces were not joyned which was hourly expected and had done the deed as they designed it and so Myn was lost and those with him for Lieutenant Colonel Passy who commanded a fresh party of 150. Horse and 500. Foot just at the close of the fight was comâ—ng post to Myns Brigade to bring news of the others arrival but he was met by the Scouts and wounded and taken so neither of their parties had knowledge to prevent this mischief But up they did come being first discovered by Colonel Broughton met with some straglers in the pursuit such they cut off but the Body got home with all their prisoners Myns body was carried to Glocester and for his worth and honour they vouchsafed him burial his death much lamented with the losse of the English Regiment from Ireland Englishmen not Irish as many would now make the world believe them to be of the Irish Rebels but most untrue this defeat ruined the Kings power in South Wales Prince Rupert's Forces lay stragling between Shrewsbury and Worcester a while after the great Northern defeat at Marston Moor which were now rallied into an Army for the close of this Summers action To make a diversion from the West part and so to befriend Essex all the Glocester Forces that could be spared were drawn out towards Bathe with a thousand Horse and Foot Waller having returned to him the former Forces which he borrowed on purpose to disturbe the Kings Quarters and so to enforce him to withdraw a part of his main Body to enable Bristol and Bathe and hoped likewise to encounter Prince Rupert from Bristol who was there in person but in few dayes upon knowledge of the utter losse of Essex his Army in the West all these designes flatted But indeed it was time for Massie to return and look to himself for Prince Rupert had commanded Colonel Charles Gerrard out of Wales with other Forces to break their way through Glocestershire into the Western parts these were suppose◠〈◊〉 lye neer Worcester and to march to Cotswold Hills or by the borders of Herefordshire to make into Dean Forrest and thence over at Ast passage and to hinder these designes Massie retreats and in his return falls down before Berkley lodged in the Town two dayes and
then summons the Castle commanded by Colonel Vele made some assault but was worsted with losse Yet somewhat he did by the way he burnt the Boats at Ast Ferry and intending to passe over Severn to meet Prince Rupert who was nearer hand by an Allarm already in Casselane and by other Scouts it was assured that many Troops under command of Sir Marmaduke Langdale were come into Herefordshire and a party of them joyned with Colonel Lingens Horse had advanced within six miles of Hereford spoyling and plundering those Parishes that were in Association and defence with Glocester Prince Rupert being stopt at Casselane took his course towards Worcester joyning with Colonel Sandis Horse and Sir William Russels Horse and Foot and such other Foot as Dudly Castle could afford him and now abled in power with advantage of the march having left Massey in the Rear beyond Severn as was supposed He resolved to break through and to relieve Banbury in his way Massey hath intelligence and therefore forthwith conveyes his men over Severn at Tewxbury and was got as far as Stanway and gave notice to a Major of Horse neer about that brought 200. Horse and sent away his Foot already tyred and with his Horse resolved to joyn with Colonel Fines at Banbury but on the suddain he heard that 500. Horse were got over the River on this side Evesham approaching to his Quarters and that a Party of Foot were set at the Bridge to make good their repasse one half of their Forces being at Pershore the otehr at Eveshaâ— but four miles asunder but Massey got clear of them Prince Rupert keeps Rendezvouz neer Hereford with fourty two Troops of Horse resolving to passe at Ast Ferry and to guard it sends five hundred Horse and Foot fortifying Beachly for a standing Guard a place of strength a gut of Land tending between Severn and Wye the only commodious passage from Wales to Bristol and to the West of England the main entercourse of the Kings Army Massey hears of this and four dayes after the Cavaliers first fortifying ere the Line was half intrenched from one River to the other amd the other part well guarded with a high Quickset Hedge lined with Musquetiers and Ditched within with a fair Medow re-intrenched and here they had 600. Horse and Foot in all But being faced by an Enemy in the Evening within Musket shot they knew no more hurt could be done till the next morning for at high water it was inaâ—â—â—ssible being guarded by some Ships with Ordnance level with the banks and clearing the face of the approach from Wye to Severn Massey draws up for the onset neer the place of entrance where the otehr party had intended a Draw-bridge and there to storm Out of the Forlorn hope he selects ten Musquetiers to creep along the Hedges and thence to fall upon the very breach these gave the first Allarm to the intrenched who spent their first shot in vain and ere they recharge on went Massey's Forlorne hope the reserve follow ran up the Works rushed in among them they within did their parts gallant and well resolved but were surprised and overpowred with losse and some prisoners but many recovered their Boats and were saved nor could the Assailants boast much more for the bravery then success being in view of a multitude on Chepstow side that saw all their great Guns doing no Execution from each River casting beneath the Bank at low Ebb. Kirle was Lieutenant Colonel to Col. Holtby Governour for the King of Monmouth intending treachery of long time but his cowardize durst not indanger his own person in the design but now he takes occasion of Massey's quartering neer Monmouth and thus it was effected Massey feigns a Post from Glocester side requiring his suddain return with his Forces thitherward to secure that part of the Countrey from the Enemy who was now in plunder out of Bristol and Berkley this Message was come to his hands at Master Hollis house of High-medow a true Cavalier on purpose that he might post the news to the Governour of Monmouth which he did which gave reason for Lieutenant Colonel Kirle to be commanded out with his Troop to follow the Rear of Massey's retreat which he suddainly feigned towards Glocester and three miles on his way lodges his Forces in a Thicket of the Forrest sending his Scouts abroad prevented the discovery of any if in case Kirle should be honest The intelligence reaches Monmouth of Massey's marching away Kirle accordingly is sent out with his Troops to follow his Rear whom Massey surprises at midnight in High-medow House with all his Horse with whom in all possible silence he advances to Monmouth where the Alarm was gâ—ven by a Cornet of Kirles who escaped the surprisal and which Massey now knowing was in some doubt of honesty in Kirle to betray them all and therefore though denied with infinite Oaths he was mistrusted and an eye upon him whom yet Massey intrusts with a hundred Horse to march to Monmouth now in Alarm and upon Guard expecting and Enemy but Kirle comes up to the Draw Bridge pretends a return with many Prisoners perswaded the Guards and so prevailed by Oaths to the Officers of the Guards that the Governour commanded to let down the Draw-bridge with a little jealousie and a weak Guard and the Bridge drawn up again But Kirle with his Company now declares themsâ—lves overpower the Guard and made good the Bridge for a Body of Horse and Foot at hand and had a large Entrance subdued the Town in a moment the Governour and greater part of the Garrison escaping by the dark rainy night over the dry graft the rest put to the Sword divers Prisoners a Major three Captains and other Officers sixty Common Souldiers five Barrels of Powder and some Armes but the Town the best prize being the Key of South Wales and the only safe entercourse for the Kings Army between the West and Wales and the Northern parts Kirl's name hateful to the Countey for this base treacherie but Moumouth was regained in the week following This losse gave Alarm to the Earl of Worcester at Ragland Castle and to the whole Countey who called in Prince Ruperts Horse to assistance and appear in Arms. Massey sends out a small party of Musquetiers commanded by Captain Rochford who finde out the Countreymans Rendezvouz defended by Captain Gainsford and with him joyns Sir William Blaxton with a Brigade of Horse fall upon Massey's Horse Quarters two Troops and a hundred Musquetiers commanded by Captain Baily and Lieutenant Page beat them and put them to rout when their Major drew up the rest of their Troops and Massey came out also from Monmouth rescued their distressed Forces and overpowering the Cavaliers â—lew some and took others prisoners Colonel Gerard for the King draws up his Forces to Ragland Sir Iohn Winter with four hundred from Bristol to fortifie Beachly which Massey must hinder ere they adjoyn
and therefore at midnight with eight Troops and a hundred Musquetiers drew up to Clinewall to meet the Newnham Foot appointed for this design And in the close of the next Evening they came near the Cavaliers and that night forced their Ambuscado into their Works and the next morning make the onset and here Massie made one Principal being so put to it his Head piece knocked off with the Butt end of a Musquet but rescued and so the full Body coming up they had the better and so prevented the joyning of the Parties for that time During this time Colonel Broughton out of Glocester undertakes to Garrison Godridge Castle where he rousted with great undertakings Skirmishes and surprisals as all the other Garrisons usually did one from the other successefully Some Hereford Forces hearing of it drew out a small Party Summoned him Stormed and took him and his prisoners and carried them all above one hundred to Hereford nimbly done without any noise The King in his march out of the West sent part of his Army upon several Services yet still his Adversaries marched before him towards London as far as Basing near which place their strength were gathered into one Body the General Essex the Earl of Manchester and Sir William Wallers marching to a general Rendezvouz Wednesday October 23. but did not hazard their Forces against Basing House but left it after their Outguards were rowsed by Captain Markham with a Party of Horse The Kings Forces then at Kingscleer and the Enemy in Aldermarston Park and on Thursday night came privately over the Water at a Ford near Padworth and the next morning drew to Bucklebury five miles from Newbury where the King then was On Bucklebury Heath the Enemy made their Rendezvouz having refreshed their Army from Reading from hence they sent out several Parties to have fallen upon the Kings Horse Quarters but were repulsed by Lieutenant Colonel Bovel About twelve a clock on Friday they drew down their whole Army between Thatcham and Shaw where by strong Parties they attempted to force the Horse Quarters at Shaw but were Skirmished with a Part of Prince Maurice Horse some killed between them and then drew back to a Field before Shaw leaving some Foot and Dragoons to dispute the Hill vvhich vvas done till Midnight On Saturday morning Essex dravvs his Canon vvith four great Bodies of Foot and some Horse to that Hill there they stand in Batalia and shot with their Ordnance all that after-noon to loss in which time they drew the rest of his Army through Winterburn towards Boxford to have girâ— in the King which was all they did that night Early on Sunday morning October 27. about a thousand of the Earl of Manchester's Forces and London Trained Bands came down the Hill to pass over that part of the River Kennet which runs betwixt the Hill and Newburie these passed the River Eastward and therefore undiscerned of some of the Kings Foot who kept a Pass at a Mill Westward of the place where the Enemy passed over it being then not fully break of day and advanced upon those few Foot at the Pass over-pressing them with numbers had much the better untill Sir Bernard Astley Son to the Lord Astley came up with four hundred Musquetiers and fell on them to a Rout the while two other Bodies hasted over the River to second the first but the other rout their Seconds and both run through the River and some drowned The rest of Essex's Army consisting of his own Regiment and VValler's whole Forces with part of the E. of Manchester's Horse pursue their Design in surrounding the King towards Spine and about three a clock after-noon four thousand of their Horse and Dragoons with five hundred Pikes and some Cannon appeared on the West side of Newburie where the Cornish Foot and the Duke of York's Regiment commanded by Sir VVilliam St. Leaguer were setled with five Field Pieces and a Brigade of Prince Maâ—rice's Cornish Horse charged home and got ground at first till they were beaten back which some affirm to be the reason why the Foot retreated to the East side of Spine which place they made good till their Enemy left the Field but those Guards were spread so thin there and so many thousands of their Adversaries pressing on the Advantage that they there gained the Kings five small Pieces which they hastily drew off Essex's Horse having forced back the King 's advanced with a Body of five hundred Horse part being Essex's Life-guard and a sufficient Strength of Musquetiers betwixt Newburie and Spine where the King's Life-guards and Sir Bennet's Brigade were drawn up Major Leg was sent with a party of Horse towards those of the Enemy who finding himself over-powred made a Retreat whereupon the other advanced with Musquetiers on their right hand towards the River there being three small Inclosures betwixt Colonel Bennet and them which made him wheel off which his Enemy calls a Routing but indeed though his Enemy came on upon him yet when his Regiment came up not ready before he faced and charged handsomly as the other confesses and was seconded by the Lord Bernard Stuart Brother to the Duke of Richmond and Lenox fell upon their Flanks and routed them and execution followed among whom was the Commander of the Earl of Essex his Life-guard whom Bennet shot dead and others slain The King lost Captain Catlin of Sir VValgrave's Regiment and some Troopers Captain VValgrave Sir Edward's Son was dangerously hurt and their Adversaries advanced to that ground again and thus it happened with Essex's Forces on the West side of Spine But those on the East side were more confident of Success having setled three Bodies of Foot in certain Inclosures advanced over a Ditch with a great Body of Horse hoping to break in through the Kings Guards but were prevented by General Goring who instantly drew up the Earl of Cleveland's Brigade put himself in the Head of it together with the old valiant Earl and his other Colonels of his Brigade Colonel Thornhill Colonel Hamilton Colonel Culpeper and Colonel Stuart the General told them they must now charge home and suddenly advanced up to the Gap where about fourscore of the Enemy were come over these he fell upon and forced them back and followed them over the Ditch but hastily and not in order the Enemy killed many untill a new Body came to second them and both together joyned and ordered forced their Enemy to scatter and there they had the better and killed Major Urrie Colonel Urrie's Kinsman In this Charge it was that the good Earl of Cleveland he deserves a better Title for in earnest he was always valiant and faithfull to his Principals and now engaged and over-powered he was forced their Prisoner These Particulars are confessed in the most Pamphlets but it were not much amiss if either side would forbear over-triumphing when no cause is given for this I must say not partially No English
Noble-man or Gentleman of worth ever deserted the King that had before fought for him Of Scots there were a couple whom I except In this time the Earl of Manchester's Army plyed their work upon the North East of Newburie near Shaw about four a clock they came down the Hill before Shaw advancing towards those Guards which the Lord Astley disposed under command of Colonel George Lisle the Colonel appointed Lieutenant Col. Richard Page to keep Mr. Dolman's House and Garden and Sir Thomas Hooper with his Dragoons and other Foot to keep the Hedges and Lane Col. Thelwel with his own Regiment and others of the Reading Brigade being for a Reserve The Earl of Manchester's Horse and Foot with the Trained Bands of London came down the Hill advancing hastily upon Colonel Lisle's Guards and worsted them but then Sir Io. Brown advanced with Prince Charls's Regiment of Horse charged the Foot and after received a Charge of a thousand Horse and then retreated to the Foot in the Garden At the same time when Sir Io. Brown charged with Horse the Reserve of Foot came on which were three hundred of Lesley's Tertia commanded by Colonel Thelwel whereto were joined those Musquetiers in the Lane and those other fourty that were driven from the Hedg and this Body of Foot came up and gave fire upon the new gotten Hedg and both sides fought well falling on with their But-ends of their Musquets till the Hedg-men retired out of the Field leaving their Colours and two Pieces of Cannon behinde which were taken and drawn off which the first Owners endeavoured with a Body of Horse half an hour after to recover but were forced to return to their other Cannon upon the Hill for those were past recovery In this last Charge Lieutenant Colonel Page was shot through both his Thighs and through his Arm. The Kings side had plenty of Pillage and killed many the number uncertain of his party there fell Sir Anthonie St. Leaguer Lieutenant Colonel Leak and Lieutenant Colonel Topping not more of note and many common Souldiers Some eminent persons wounded Sir Io. Greenvile Sir Bevil's Son and Sir Richard Campsfield Major Alford shot in the Thigh and the General the Earl of Brainford in the Head This Fight lasted four hours from four a clock after-noon till eight at night The King marched to Wallingford without any Allarm to his Rear which staid upon the place till mid-night General Essex marched into Newburie and then summoned Dennington Castle three several days three several times and three several Assaults but were beaten off The Kings Army in Oxfordshire increased expecting the joyning of the Welch under conduct of Colonel Gerard and Massie was sent unto with all speed to hinder their conjunction or to joyn with the Parliaments Army and so calls off his own Regiment of Horse from about Monmouth and with them marches towards Evesham where the Cavalier was before eight for one leaving Monmouth under command of Throgmorton who was Serjeant Major to Colonel Harley designed Governour by the Parliament and being forward in his fresh Authority to merit draws out three hundred Horse and Foot to take in Chepstow Castle the Cavaliers from Ragland and Godridg about break of day Novemb. 19. lodg themselves undiscovered behinde a rising ground near Monmouth and viewing all Advantages fourty of them came up to the higher side of the Town towards Hereford having a sloping Bank cast up of good height with a Ditch over which they pass mount the Bank and climbed over and so got to the next part fell upon the Guard some killed others â—led and with an Iron Bar break the Port Chain forces the Gate and opens it to the Horse who rid up with full career to the Main Guard seized them and took the rest in their Beds with Colonel Broughton four Captains as many Lieutenants and Ensigns the Committee all the common Souldiers two hundred Prisoners two Saâ—â—ers a Drake nine Hammâ—r Guns Amunition and Provision and five hundred Musqueâ—s This News comes to Throgmorton who had no heart to follow his Chepstow Design but marches away to meet Maâ—â—ie at Burford onwards upon the Parliaments Order and now meant to way-lay the Lord Grandeson with the Worcester Forces going to Oxford buâ— turned on the other side in hope to come to the Relief of â—embridg Castle being an Out-guard to the Garison of Monmouth but the Bridg was broken down and the Castle forced to surrender upon Quarter but all the Souldiers turned to the King Monmouth now becomes a famous Garison and strong Association with all the Countrey and Neighbours to oppose them sundry Garisons are erected in the Forest the Garison of Hichmeden to affront Monmouth Ruredeant was a stop to the Cavaliers from Hereford and those at Lidney are kept in by another party at Nast This dead of Winter the Kings Forces were dispersed Cirencester and the Hill-countrey of Glocestershire was assigned to Sir Iacob Astley having three Brigades of Foot and assisted with four Regiments of Horse the Queens Prince Maurice's Prince Rupert's and the Lord Wilmot's and others whose Incursions on that side and the Bristol Forces about Berckley with the Forces of Worcester Hereford and Monmouth on the other side acted daily to the destruction of a miserable Countrey crouching under the burden of two parties evenly resolved to destroy all Such hereabout and so in all other Counties remote from London but for the most part the Seat of War was here more certain Massie Commander of Glocester Association places a Guard at Lipiat commands a party of Horse and Dragoons to Stroud and other Guards of Horse and Foot at places of Advantage Sir Iacob Astley his Antagonist for the King draws out of Cirencester four Regiments of Horse to Hampton Roade divides his men three several ways where each party ransacks surprizes and return with Prisoners and Spoil And himself assaults the Guard at Lipiat where he found slender Resistance the Lieutenant slain and fifty common Souldiers besides Prisoners and Spoil and becomes so formidable that he commands Contribution to the very Gates of Glocester The Earl of Worcester the Lord Herbert and Sir Iohn Winter procure from Prince Maurice at Worcester a Regiment of Horse and Dragoons for the service and use of Lidney Garison in the Forest of Dean which hotly disputed with Massie ere they could get in and so Massie draws off when they of Lidney sally out upon Sully House a Mile distant Massie comes to the Rescue where both partâ—es dispute to the close of neithers advantage and so part And now the Ordinance being passed for continuance of the Martial Law for four Moneths longer Sir Iohn Hotham and his Son came to their Trials The Earl of Manchester and others assigned to be their Judges sate in the Hustings Court at Guild-hall London the first of December where the Father came first and his Charge in effect That he had traiterously betraied the trust reposed
himself from the Ladder without any remorse for his monstrous Crime And now being executed for his Villany it may merit the moving why he was refused his Trial by Peerage The King had a great desire to remove the Siege against Dennington Castle but were beaten off and therefore it was concluded by the Council of State that Essex's Forces should not draw out of Newbury into the Field lest the King should possess it for a Winter Quarter but that they should fight him at his Retreat but he retreated to Marlborough without opposition and the Parliaments Forces quit Newbury which the King possesses and reserves as a covert Quarter for his Army when the other lay in the open Fields and forced from Basing Siege withdrew to Reading Hereabout we finde the first appearance of Exception which the Parliament had against the good management of their Armies Essex being now suspected as careless or discontent and therefore they fall to debate hereabout in the House for Colonel Norton had writ a Letter to them that he had received a Warrant from a chief Commander in the Army to withdraw from Basing which was a thing unexpected he says but accordingly he hath obeyed nay the commands of the Committee of both Kingdoms to the Army were lately much neglected and complained of It grew into a high Debate How chance the Parliaments Forces permitted the Enemie to relieve Dennington Castle when they were two for one and why the Town of Newbury was quitted before the Enemie was marched away as the pretence of not fighting before was because we would not quit Newbury And now the Kings Forces were quartered at Basing Odjam Newburie Blewburie and Marlborough and Essex at Reading Henley Abington and Farnham And whilest they thus lodg in Quarters the Actions of the Parliaments Army are arreigned and committed And the Earl of Manchester makes the Relation concerning the carriage at Dennington Castle of great length in writing wherein his Lordship makes his own Defence and gives a Charge against Lieutenant General Cromwel a Member of the Commons who had deserved much honour for his good Service to the State and who made answer to several particulars therein mentioned and the point of privilege of Parliament upon the transmitting of that business from the Lords before any Charge was brought to the House of Commons but it was committed and they to receive the proofs for making good of the Earls Information concerning Lieutenant General Cromwel and to make protestation of secrecy therein and so silent they were that we never heard more of it General Essex having sped so ill in the West was now returned to Westminster where the Faction was powerfull in the Commons House against him being suspected somewhat more royal than the House would have him to be And after long Debate it was resolved to new model the Army and by degrees and in time to be rid of their old General and to bethink of a new one in quality not more than a Knight with intention not over-long to trust to the Lords at all And begin with an Order That no Member of either House shall during this War enjoy and execute any Office or Command Military or Civil which hath been granted or conferred on any Member of either House or by any Authoritie derived from either House This was subtilly done and but very poor Reasons publick to satisfie the world in this policy That in relation to the Armie all Commissions to Parliament men being void the new molding the Armie may be carried on with less exception when all are concerned alike That all Differences militarie among the great Commanders Parliament men which may retard the work is hereby quieted And those that shall be new made Officers may be elected of the lesser quality and the sooner subject to question and punishment and the Armie maintained at a less charge And after fourty days expiring this Order all their Commands and Offices in the Army shall be null but in order to justice they publish their Resolution to pay off their Arrears which was slenderly performed when their Offices were out of date And to crown this Design they fast and pray and to boot the well-affected City give them thanks and promise to live and die with them for this their new voting And somewhat to sweeten the Earl of Essex's sowreness the Parliament ordered him ten thousand pounds per annum out of Delinquents Estates for his good Service and his great Losses and amongst their Commanders they elect Sir Thomas Fairfax in his room But this great Ordinance of Molding goes on slow and suffered much Debate and Alteration for the Lords House began to foresee the effects and would not assent untill Petitions from the City and several Counties drew them to conclude it with this Title An Ordinance for the raising and maintaining of Forces for the defence of the Kingdom under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax Who is sent for to London out of the North and comes in private and the next day Feb. 19. is conducted to the Commons House by four of their Members a Chair was set and he to sit therein M. Speaker telling him the great trust the Kingdom had put upon him in the command of this Army and the good opinion they had of his valour and fidelity for the defence of Religion Laws and Liberty encouraging him to go on as he hath begun Great Disorders in the modelling this new Army and long time setling hastened an Order to the Scots Army to march Southward with all speed This new Army consisted of twenty one thousand viz. fourteen thousand Foot and six thousand Horse and a thousand Dragoons The House of Commons finding the Peers so pregnant as notwithstanding the great Exceptions and publick discourse of an intention to lessen their Lordships it was thought fitting to caress them by an appointed Committee March 18. to congratulate their happy concurrence and to assure them of the Commons real affections and endeavours to support their Lordships in their Honours and Privileges A language which heretofore the Lords would have disdained to have received from them The List of the Officers thus passed were these besides those of the old which are kept in Sir Thomas Fairfax Commander in chief Major General Skippon who was indeed the City Champion New Officers of Foot Colonels Crayford Berkley Montague Aldridg Holborn Fortescue Ingolsby Pickering Rainsborough New Officers of Horse Colonels Middleton Sidney Graves Sheffield Vermindon Whaley Levisay Fleetwood Rossiter Sir Robert Pie The Kings Army was now under the chief command of the Prince of Wales Prince Maurice and Prince Rupert in the Northern parts and association of the Counties adjoyning the Earl of Derby and Sir Marmaduke Langdon in Byrone and Gerard in VVales Southward and these Counties thereabout Hopton Goring and Greenvile in the West with several small Armies Amongst those of the old Commanders for the Parliament I finde Lieutenant General Cromwel the
the King but Cromwel pursues them thither and by Treaty had the House and Garison rendered up to him upon Articles with all the Powder Amunition and Armes and seventy two Horse 24. April and this the first successe of the new Model This so sudden surrender startled those at Oxford and the Colonel was call'd to a Council of war condemned to be shot to death which he took with patience and courage clearly excusing himself not to be able to hold out against so great a Power and being besides over-swayed by the pewling tears of some Ladies got thither in a visit of his fair Bedfellow-Bride However his hopeful years so soon blossomed was presently resented by the King who graciously provided for his Widow and blamed Prince Ruperts malicious instigating with devised reasons to hasten the execution thus presently repented The Town of Taunton closely besieged by Greenvile Goring and Hopton for the King and lately have taken Colonel Pophams House and Garison at Willington by Storm fifty slain with a hundred and fifty Prisoners and much Amunition and Plunder The Scots not as yet marching Southwards and the General Fairfax not yet forwarded fit for the Field Indeed Cromwel was now returned from the West and lay surrounding Oxford and thereabouts with a Party of Horse fell upon Sir Henry Vavisor quartered neer Bampton Bush and surprized him and his whole Party one Colonel two Lieutenant Colonels a Major five Captains eight Lieutenants eight Ensignes Doctor Dunch a Divine twenty Serjeants two hundred and thirty Prisoners two hundred Arms and much Amunition Prince Rupert marching all night came now before Ludbury 22. April who intercepting some Scouts came upon Massie with an Alarm charging him into the very Town with whom were Major Farlow Baylie and Bacchus Kerle Gifford and More with their Forces and two hundred Musquetiers of the County 't is true they were suddenly put to it drew up at sight of Rupert came close and fought till Massies Foot might Retreat toward Glocester and the rest did little lesse then march off with hot charges wherein the Lord Hastings was slain But the Cavaliers followed the Retreat of the other whose Horse left the Foot to mercy and many cut off two hundred Prisoner with Major Bacchus almost dead and Harlow hurt Rupert had a mind to Massie and shot his Horse dead he hardly escaping with this Victory He returns towards Ludlow and so for Shrewsburie with reasonable Force neer six thousand Horse and Foot But hearing that Fairfax and Skippon with nine thousand men were marching together and onwards on their way from Windsor and Andover toward the relief of Taunton in the West Rupert Wheels off with Goring and comes to Burford twelve miles from Oxford purposely to clear the passage for the King and his Artillery to march out thence to draw towards Bristol and break into that Association and therefore Fairfax was ordered from Westminster to intrust Colonel Graves with a party of three thousand Foot and a thousand five hundred Horse sufficient to relieve Taunton and himself and Skippon to return and joyn with Cromwel and Brown to keep the King in or if abroad to attend his motion But the King with gallant Forces marched from Oxford attended on by Prince Rupert and Maurice towards Cambden and intending towards the relief of Chester his Infantry advancing after and commanded by Goring with thirty Field Pieces and other Carriages towards Worcester and pursued by Cromwel But how comes that to passe he being liable to the great Ordinance as a Member of the Commons but Cromwel was dispenced with by Order not to attend the House and to continue his Command for fourty daies longer which signified for ever The like Order for Brereton and Middleton in Chester Association and so had some others both of the Sword and the Gown the Commissioners of the great Seal and the Master of the Roles also for fourty dayes upon receipt of the Parliaments Order Fairfax returns but sends Colonel Graves with Forces to relieve Taunton and on Sunday 11. of May came before the Town with so great power that the Besiegers quitted their Trenches and marched away leaving a poor starved Town few left alive the Countrey haressed by Cavaliers and depopulated And for this and other good services of Colonel Blake the besieged Governour of Taunton he had thanks and from henceforth came into esteem both by Land and Sea but the Town was soon besieged again by the Cavaliers Fairfax is returned to Newburie and there rested his wearied Souldiers and then sits down about Oxford contracting his Forces into a narrow compasse Cromwell and Brown come to him to compleat the design being now at Maston a mile of Oxford The Garison therein fire the Suburbs drown the Medows slight the Out-garisons of Walverton and others such At his first coming and walking on the Bowling-green and viewing the Works an eight pound bullet whisked by his head and moved his Hat brims And now the States Ambassadours Borrel of Amsterdam and Reinsworth of Utrecht both made Knights and Barons by the King being sorry that the differences of these civil wars are beyond their endeavours of Reconciliation they take their leave And this Declaration sent after them from the Parliament To the High and Mighty Lords the States c. Most High and Mighty c. We the Lords and Commons of England in Parliament Assembled doe with all thankfulnesse acknowledge your Christian and Neighbourlie zeale to the Peace of this Nation by your Ambassadours for inviting our King to return to his dutie and for restoring us to a better confidence of his future carriage notwithstanding their fair intentions which perhaps being well managed might have produced better effects we may not conceale from you your Ministers grosse abusing their trust to our prejudice themselves rather interessed parties then publick Agents You have been thereby deceived and we despised and affronted by them We think fit to present these inclosed to your consideration wherein they were not satisfied to approach us to our faces and to take upon them to judge the quarrel against us except they glorie in it to make their boldness publique and increasing by the Addition of their own Authoriâ—ie other Particulars concerning these persons we have here authorized these bearers unto whom we desire credence to relate unto you and to demand justice upon them on our behalf upon the whole matter we do not doubt but you who verie well know how much more ill there is in War then in oppression will either afford your best assistance in suppressing tyrannie and preserving our Religion or at least be indifferent spectators of our labours to deliver our selves And God be blessed for it our condition is not yet so low but that we can resent if not return both courtesies and injuries which we therefore adde because we know it will be comfortable to our friends to hear and because we desire to give a
Kings cause the danger of the Kingdome and after all to beseech a conference with Montrose But he returned answer with peevish scorns Wherefore Montrose resolves to surprise into reason Therefore in depth of Winter the last of December he marches through Angus over Gransbaw hills and so with a few men he comes direct North into Sâ—ratbogge where Huntly kept in hold but with wondrous cunning escaped to his Castle Bogye upon the mouth of the River Spey that runs North and South Thither posts Montrose with two men and so disguised rushes in and salutes him Where they confer and over-mastred with Montrose's reason and perhaps loyalty to his Sovereigns cause they agree and shook hands in earnest Huntlâ—y to pass over the Spey and fall down into Murray Land South-West Montrose to march Southwards on the East side to Strath-spey and then suddenly to meet and Besiege Innerness a Garison in the North of Murray Land on the Sea Coast above the great Lake Nessa which was near froze And his two Sons Alboin and Lewis coâ—firmed friendship and obedience hereto upon the most assurance by oath that could possible be given from men of Honour and by force of fair means to draw to them the Earl of Seafort Montrose accordingly Marches with his Forces towards Innerness and sends Patrick Graham and Dromond to raise the whole men seven hundred who were put to it for the Arguile Party and others were fallen upon the Mack-Gregories and Mack-Nubies who sided with Montrose with fifteen hundred men Having already fired a Town in the Lakes and besieged Ample Castle from which they are forced by the Athole men and pursued but Face about and fight and being Routed fly and many slain and so return to Montrose Of whom we take leave till we meet the next year The Foraign Affairs speak the surrender of Dunkirk to the French the tenth of October and the same day the news was carried to the King and Queen Regent newly arrived at Paris from Fountain-Bleau the Spaniards have now but three Haven Towns in Flanders Newport and Baukerber which are not fit for greater Vessels then of ten Tun and that of Ostend in truth capable of greater but those less safe there than in the open Road. The Besieged Marched out of Dunkirk that night with fifteen hundred Foot and three hundred Horse besides four hundred sick and wounded persons they have lost in their defence six or seven hundred of their best men those that marched out were conducted to Newport The Duke of Anguien now Prince Conde put in the Marshall of Rantzaw Governour thereof The Holland Ships assisted the French here We may not confound the Original and Natural Inhabitants with an heap of divers Nations who being brought under the Banners of Spain into their Haven commodious for Sea-roads did exercise that Piracy which naturally the Spaniard doth not profess The chiefest of the Natural people are Flemings a Generation of good men lovers of Traffique Improvers of Handicraft as appears by the great Trade and Commerce of those most populous Towns of Flanders and the rest of the Netherlands Another sort of them subsisting wholly by Thieving and Piracie The fifth of September the Emperour at Prague came attired in his Emperial Robes with his Eldest Son in white cloth of Tyssue early into the Cathedral Church of the Castle attended with divers Princes and Lords that bare several dignities and honours in the State of Germany the Emperour sat upon a Throne of Gold the Son upon Silver who having been re-attired with Royal Abiliments in a side Chappel was conducted by the Estates of Bohemia unto his Throne where after Masse he went and kneeled down before the Cardinal of Harach invironed with sixteen Prelats in Pontificalibus Annointed him and put on his Head a Regal Crown whereupon he was proclaimed King of Bohemia and received the Oath of Allegeance of the Peâ—rs and States of that Kingdom and the Ceremonies and Feastings finished the Father and Son went to Lintz The Parliament and Scot having bought and sold the best Bargain are soon decieved of their Prize by a third party as bad as both the other The Parliament jealous of any present Power to prevail but themselves by degrees debate the lessening of the Army thereby to be rid of such whom they misliked And to send over thousands of them into Ireland to manage that War against the Rebells there But the Souldiers set on begin to Mutiny and being ripe for acting their Commanders underhand abet them and after some alteration it â—ell into Sedition and so into Division those for the Parliament fared the worse and were Cashiered And therefore â—twas necessary for some truly affected to discriminate the other Those who were intrusted were called Agitators two out of each Regiment who indeed with others of more power Acted for erecting a Democracie having seized the King out of custody of the Parliaments Commissioners under pretence of favour and freedom of his person they indulge him with many small Experiments for the present of his Chaplains converse with his Children caress him to his most eminent Palace so that the Camp and Court seemed one nay they frame Proposals to provide for the King the Army and people envy at the Parliament accuse divers Members of high Treason urge the Dissolution of the Parliament regnant and all this seemingly for the Kings Interest In fine the Military march up to the Parliament and formidable put them in fear Some of the Members of either Houses with their Speakers fly to the Camp for succour the City and such as stay behinde prepare for a Defence whose Circle being too wide for their Management and unfaithfull to themselves fall into Factions the whole City submit to the Discretion of the Army who first ingratiate the Speakers and Members in the Camp and setle them into their Seats again with condign punishment and Impeachment of high Treason upon the Lord Mayor Aldermen divers Lords and many Members The Tower and City Militia are new-modelled into other hands their Fortifications demolished and their Lines of Communication levelled the Admiralty ordered into Commissioners ad yet for all these punishments the City give thanks and pay a Largess to the Army Thus the former eminent power the Presbyter by their own weight and pride sink and raise the other yet these are at their wits end also unresolved and unsetled The people at gazâ— for a Government Proposals from the Army and Propositions from the Parliament the King refuses as in hope to have them lessened which they take for an advantage to themselves The Wheel turns and he is threatned and under hand advised of some Danger to his person which whilest he seeks to avoid he falls into their Pit prepared for him and afterwards into eminent Destruction which the story too soon discovers We may wonder what becomes of the Prince Elector Palatine he remained at Westminster for his Interest might
so much of the success of our English Army in Scotland 27. Sept. The Scots Armies are accordingly Disbanded Barwick and Carslile delivered up to the English and the Writs gone out for a new Parliament 20. of Ianuary And a fresh General Assembly of their Kirkmen Somewhat strange in the capitulation that the English Assistants to the Scots in both these Garrisons are submitted to the mercy of the Parliament of England And a Letter of thanks is sent from the Committee of Estates of Scotland to the Lieutenant General Cromwel for his orderly government of his Forces and his many civilities and respects to that Nation and they excuse themselves from any guilt or connivance in the late engagement against England acknowledging that his Army so near is the means and occasion of advantage to that Nation to make peace and to prevent distraction and confusion which otherwise had continued amongst them And for confirmation of all he is invited to Edenburgh to Feasts and Banquets with all expressions of Honour of Arms and so returns homewards Octo. 20. by the way is received with Hosannah's of joy by all the Northern Counties and invited to take in the strong Garrisons of Pomfreit and Scarborough which infested the County all about them But let us return to Sea affairs This while the Prince was put aboard the Revolted Ships which with some others of his own were formed into a Fleet and with him his brother the Duke of York Prince Rupert Lords Hopton Wilmot and Willoughby Earls of Branford and Ruthen formerly General for the King the Lord Culpepper and Sir Henry Palmer and increasing number came into Yarmouth Rode with twenty Sail and two thousand men the Town being much divided in affection some would have him land and march to Colchester then besieged with such as will come to his assistance To prevent him Colonel Scroop is coming not fourty miles off with Horse and Foot to attend his motion if he land some hopes he had of landing and therefore provided a Declaration his forerunner 27. Iuly The establishing of Religion according to his Majesties agreement 26. December last The performance of the said Agreement and pursuance of all Concessions on the Kings part The restoring the King to a personal Treaty The maintenance of the just priviledges of Parliament The liberty of the Subject abolishing of Excise contribution for quarter c. with an Act of Obliâ—ion The Disbanding of all Armies setling Peace The defence of the Narrow Seas securing Trade support of the Navy and Sea-men His Commissions to his Commanders were thus stiled Charls Prince of great Britain Duke of Cornwal and Albany Highest Captain General under his Majesty of all Forces both by Sea and Land within the Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Barwick c. Whereas we hold it convenient to Arm and set forth to Sea for the weakning and suppressing the usurped power c. Bearing date heretofore from St. Germin in Laye 6. June 1648. A correspondence likewise we finde fixed with the State of Scotland by Letters intercepted and directed to Sir Alexander Gibson Clerk of the Signet at Edenburgh from London 26. Iuly telling him that we are here in the City very right only Skippon makes disturbance by listing Horse and Foot whom we hope to out of his Office The Lords wait for some further incouragement from the City to which purpose the Common Council are framing petitions Our Design to free Colchester is not yet ready c. But the Prince finding no footing in Norfolk sailed back Southwards to the Downs in Kent seizing what Merchants Ships and goods that he could light upon sending Letters to the City of London together with his Declaration and that if the City will redeem their goods they must send him two hundred thousand pound But Anchoring in the Downs he hath a Design upon the Parl. Besiegers of Deal Castle in which were Royalists and Lands five hundred men who March forwards and at first beat off the Horse which Colonel Rich and Hewson had drawn out to Encounter them untill some more Forces of Foot followed routed the Princes Forces killed many and took others Prisoners and the rest hardly got aboard again Whilst the Prince Anchors with his Fleet in the Downs the States of Scotland invite him May it please your Highness Amongst all the Calamities which this Nation these late years hath wrastled under none doth more wound and afflict us next to his Majesty your royal Fathers sad condition and restraint then your Highness long absence from this Kingdom whereunto your right Title is so just and unquestionable and seeing our Forces are now again in England in pursuance of their duty to Religion and his Majesties rescue we humbly beg That your Highness would be pleased to honour and countenance with your presence and assistance our pious and Loyal endeavours which we look upon as the only means of uniting us in this great work being confident that your Highness will effectually apply your self to procure from his Majesty just satisfaction to the desires of Parliaments And if your Highness will grant these our humble requests and trust your peâ—son amongst us we doe ing age the publick Faith of this Kingdom for your well being in honour freedom and safety either here in Scotland or with our Army in England and to remove from us or the Army when or whither you please And these they send by the Earl of Louderdale with Letters of Credence in what he shall further communicate to the Prince From the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland in whose Name and Warrant are signed Aug. 10. Crawford Lindsey The Parliaments Vice-Admiral Batten having heretofore served them with faithfulness and good success was by the Army Voted out of his place and Rainsborough a Land Captain put into his Command Not long after being Governour of Deal Castle which cost him six hundred pound repair He was turned out and made a Delinquent upon the old quarrel for suffering some of the eleven Members to pass beyond Seas Rainsborough was refused by the Sea men not suffering him to come aboard then they â—aress Bâ—â—ten to take up his Commission again which he disdained the Parliament being in distress for a Commander they Vote in the Earl of Warwick who was served so before And now Batten comes to the Prince in Holland who receives him with favour and honours him with Knight-hood where he publishes the reasons of his declining the Parliaments Service and was faithfull to the Prince for ever after It was the middle of Iune as aforesaid that the Kâ—mish Insurrectors got over to Essex and from thence into the Town of â—â—lchester and with such Forces as they could gather they strengthen the place and prepare for a Siege The Commanders in chief were the Eâ— of Norwich old Goriâ—g the Lord Capel Sir Charles Lucas and others in opposition to 〈…〉 and all
remember my Father moved by your counsel and won by your perswasions brake the Treaties in these perswasions I was your instrument towards him and I was glad to be instrumental in any thing which might please the whole body of the Realm nor was there any then in greater favour with you then this man whom you now so traduce And now whâ—n you finde me so sure intangled in war as I have no honourable and safe retreat you make my necessity your priviledge and set what rate you please upon your supplies a practise not very obliging towards Kings Mr. Coke told you it was better to dye by a foreign enemy then to be destroyed at home Indeed I think it is more honourable for a King to be invaded and almost destroyed by a foreign enemy then to be despised at home This was sharp and sowre yet the Câ—mmons kept close to their custom and reply with a Remonstrance That with extream joy and comfort they acknowledge the favour of his Majesties most gracious expressions of affection to his people and this present Parliament That concerning Mr. Coke true it is he let fall some few words which might admit an ill construction and that the House was displeased therewith as they declared by a general check and though Mr. Coke's explanation of his minde more cleerly did somewhat abate the offence of the House yet were they resolved to take it into further consideration and so have done the effect whereof had appeared ere this had they not been interrupted by this his Majesties message and the like interruption â—efel them also in the businesse of Doctor Turner As concerning the examination of the Letters of his Secretary of State as also of his Majesties own and searching the Signet Office and other Records they had done nothing therein not warranted by the precedents of former Parliaments upon the like occasions That concerning the Duke they did humbly beseech his Majesty to be informed that it hath been the constant and undoubted usage of Parliaments to question and complain of any person of what degree soever and what they should do in relation to him they little doubted but it should redound to the honour of the Crown and safety of the Kingdom Lastly As to the matter of supply That if addition may be made of other things importing his service then in consultation amâ—ngst them they were resolved so to supply him as might evidence the truth of their intentions might make him safe at home and formidable abroad The King tired with pro and con Petitions Answers Speeches Remonstrances was resolved to reply to them in brief That he would have them in the first place to consult matters of the greatest moment and that they should have time enough for other things hereafter But their designes were otherwise and the Important business to them was an Inquisition against the Duke and Incourâ—gement to the Parliament to any Informations The Earl of Bristow being excluded the House petitions them to prefer his Accusation which was soon admitted whom the Duke necessarily incounters and begins the charge against him But it is some Scandal to vertue to say that many good men were passing jocund at the contest Indeed the Lower Members might make it their mirth to finde the Upper Ones so malitious and imprudent to persecute each other being a presage of ruine by degrees and time to them all when as the policy of the Commons would not suffer one of theirs to be questioned till themselves considered of their Crimes which kept them close together Imboldned thus to preserve themselves to the last But the Duke ptocures the King by his Attorny Generall to summon Bristow to the Lords Bar as a grand Delinquent and to his face accuses him of High-Treason To which he Answers That he was a fâ—ee man and a Peer unattainted and had somewhat to say of high consequence Being bid to proceed Then saith he I accuse that man the Duke of Buckingham of High Treason and will prove it And forthwith produceth twelve Articles of his Charge May the second 1 That the Duke did secretly conspire with the Conde of Gondamâ—r Ambassador of Spain before the said Ambassadors last return into Spain 1622. to carry his Majesty then Prince into Spain to the end he might be enforced and instanced in the Romish Religion and thereby have perverted the Prince and subverted the true Religion established in England 2. That Mr. Porter was made acquainted therewith and sent into Spain and such message framed at his return as might serve for a ground to set on foot the conspiracy which was done accordingly and thereby both King and Prince highly abused 3. The Duke at his arrival in Spain nourished the Spanish Ministers not onely in the beleef of his own being Popishly given by absenting himself from all exercises of our Religion then constantly used in the Earl of Bristows house and conforming himself to please the Spainard by kneeling to and adoring their Sacraments but gave them hope also of the Princes conversion which caused them to propound worse conditions for Religion then had been formerly setled and signed by the Earl of Bristow and Sr. Walter Aston 4. That the Duke did many times in the presence of the Earl of Bristow move his Majesty at the instance of the Conde of Gondamar to write a letter to the Pope which the Earl utterly disswaded and that although during the Earls abode in England he hindred the writing any such letter yet the Duke after the Earls return procured it wrot 5. That the Pope being informed of the Dukes inclination in point of Religion sent him a particular Bull in parchment therein perswading him to pervert his Majesty 6. That the Duke in Spain did abuse the King of Spain and his Ministers so as they would not admit of a Reconciliation with him whereupon seeing the match would be to his disadvantage he endeavoured to break it not for any service to this Kingdom nor dislike of it in it sâ—lf nor for that he found as since he hath pretended thâ—t the Spaniard did not really intend it but out of his particular end and indignation 7. That he intending to cross the match made use of Letters of his Majesty then private to his own ends and not to what they were intended as also concealed many things of great importance from his late Majesty thereby overthrowing his Majesties purposes and advancing his own ends 8. That for the foresaid ends he hath abused both Houses of Parliament by a sinister relation of the carriage of affairs as shall be made appear in every particular of that relation 9 That he imployed his power with the King of Spain for the procurement of favours and offices which he bestowed upon unworthy persons for the recompence and hire of his lust which is a great infamy and dishonour to our Nation that a Duke a privy Counsellor and Ambassador eminent in his Majesties favour and
and thither comes Tilly and whilst they melt themselves at Magdeburgh Gustave marches up the Oder and beats the Emperialist at Frankfurt slew 3000 and forced the rest to pace it to Silesia and so he marches to succour the besieged The Duke of Saxony head of the Protestants Assembly at Leipsick and confederate to succour Magdenburgh to joyn with Swede and to resist the Emperour and Gustave to be Captain General for them all and so forfeited as you have heard before with all the confederate foreign Princes and States promising to himself the Empire if but fortunate in one Battel Papenheim and Tilly though beaten abroad yet ply their siege mastered all the out-works forced into the Town then repulsed and on again fired the first house and in four hours He consumed all to ashes and the people to death the reproach of Tilly for so much innocent blood And having done there he marches into Saxony being beaten at Werben the confederates resolve to face him who having taken the Town of Leipsick encamped hard by and so gives occasion to fight a Battel the hazzard of Two Electoral Caps the liberty of Germany the hopes of the Catholiques the effects so bloudy as made the old Banes to fly for it But this Battel we must refer to its time and place the next year and see what is done in England This foreign newes flew hither which hastened forward the Marquesse Hamilton in his intended designe to wait upon that Kings fortunes That was his outward aim though his ambition had an eye homeward in that undertaking for he having sent thither David Ramsey a Gentleman of the Kings privy Chamber a most turbulent boutefeau Sr. Iames and Alexander Hamilton and Robert Meldram and also to endear the Marquesse to the Scots Officers in that Army to proffer his service to the King with the aid of some Regiments of foot This madman more like an Ambassadour from a great Prince then a Messenger from a Peer took his place before the Lord Rey his Countreyman and a Colonel in Arms who to honour him the more procured the other Scots Officers to make addresses and to attend him discovering thereby that the Marquesse his aim was of deeper consequence not to fight under the Swede And following his apprehension with prudent observations he won upon Ramsâ—y to history out the mystery of the Marquesses designe By this means to raise forces under a formal colour but in earnest to make himself King of Scotland and thereof he draws a Pedigree of his Right and Title from King Iames the first and in several froliques of mirth and wine to ascribe unto him Soveraignty Of which Rey returning into England told it to the Lord Uchiltry yet living who forthwith acquainted the Lord Treasurer Weston and he the King And at the same time Major Borthick accused the said Meldram to have under oath of secrecy communicated to him the whole designe the grounds and reasons which he justified before the King and Councel and Meldram faintly denied but was committed to the Fleet prisoner two years and then released by the Marquesse Some time before this discovery S. William Elphiston Cup-bearer to the King was sent over Convoy to the King of Denmark and with him the Marquesse would enforce a companion Meldram who had private Instrustions to the principal Scots officers in the armies and thereby more respected then the Kings Messenger Elphiston but at their return to Gravesend a Scots man dependant of the Marquesse gave Intelligence to Meldram that all was discovered but was imboldned to come to Court where he was accused The Lord Uchiltry for reporting the discovery to Weston was afterwards sent prisoner to Scotland where the Marquesses power was more dreaded and there coming to examination and tryal Ucheltry spake out so plainly but without further hearing he was conveyed close prisoner to the Castle of Blacknesse where he remained till the English set him free Meldram was after preferred Secretary to General Lesly at New-Castle Alexander Hamilton with a pension of 500 l. and afterwards General of the Covenanters Artillery But as to the Marquesse and his small Army impoysoned with secret Treasons at home got over to the King of Swede but so distressed with hunger and want of all necessaries for War that the Marquesse being neglected and his forces falling to decay he returned home again till some other designe might set up his Treasons again Having much to say concerning Non-conformists generally noted under the Title Puritan as also some good men being scandalously included We shall therefore distinguish his Name render his Esence in the very property and whose several kindes Essentially differ The Name Puritan is ambiguous so it is falacious The good Puritans are pure in heart and so blessed that they shall see God The evil Puritans desire to seem to be so but in their Doctrine and Discipline are the underminers of our True Protestant Reverend Church The Essential definition of him is A Protestant Non conformist A Protestant is his Genus his kinde of being A Non-conformist his differentia his essential difference or quality Non-conformist contradictist to the Scripture sence in three things The first is in the 39. Articles of our Churches Reformed Faith Secondly Our Common Prayer Book Thirdly The Canons of our Church All which three are contained in the deduceable sence of holy Scripture The several Articles which he opposeth are the 3. 6. 9. 16. 17. 20. 21. 23. 26. 27. 33. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. The selected Prayers in the Common Prayer Book he rejecteth which were collected though corrected and purged out of the Masse book Against the several Canons from the 1. to the 15. 24. 29. 30. 31. 48. 49. from 54. to 58. 60. 61. 73. 127. But who is this Puritan Mr Rogers in his Preface to the 39. Article saith that since the suppression of Puritans by Arch-Bishops Parker Grindal and Whitguift none will seem to be such Read the Survay of the pretended holy Discipline and here it is evident that himself knows not what he is nor what he would be The Species Specifical kinds of this Puritan are numbred First The Perfectist Secondly the factious Sermonist Thirdly the Seperatist Fourthly the Anabaptist Fifthly the Brownist Sixthly Loves familist Seventhly the Precisian Eighthly the Sabbatarian Ninthly the Antidisciplinarian Tenthly presuming Predestinatists Every one of them differing in his proper essential quality yet the same subject of inhesion may be all Ten. 1. The Perfectist His purenesse is continuata perseverandi actio significans never to sin after Baptism the Novatian Catharist and this man sins against the 16. Article 2. The factious Sermonist He serves God with sermons and extemporary prayers according to his suppositious Iusjuration This professor is against the 26. Article and his opinion is that Preaching is better then Prayer 3. The Separatist is the Pharisee That onely he is Elect Regenerate and Faithful all others not so are
affections of the four Inns of Court presenting the King and Queen with a most glorious and gallant Masque Heretofore they usually divided themselves in assistance Lincolns Inn with the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple with Greys Inn but now they unite all in some regret against Master William Prynn an Utter Barrister of Lincolns Inn for his late Book Histrio Mastix invective against Stage-plays the solemn Musick used in the Cathedrals and the Royal Chappels against Masques and Dancings at Court the Hospitality of the Gentry at Christmass not without scandal to the King and Queen and some Passages very dangerous to their Persons for which an Information was preferred against him by Noy the Attorney General and the Cause near Sentence the Inns of Court ashamed of such a Member amongst them discovered to their Majesties their disdain of his Doctrines and so in this gallant way of expressing their duties they would out-do any that had been before accompanied also after the Masques with a Train of Christian Captives many years enslaved in Chains under the Emperour of Morocco and now sent by him a Present to the King for his assistance in taking of Sally and destroying those Pyrates to the future security of all Traders in the Mediterranean Sea And the City willing to do something answerable feasted their Majesties a Fortnight after at the Lord Maiors house Alderman Freeman so magnificent that to please these People the Inns of Court Revellers adorned the Kings Feast at Merchant-Tailors Hall where that Masque was again shewed to the City The first Act of open Popularity to them enough to beget hearty affection to him which they seemed to fain but with false hearts ever after And those two places of Feasting are mistaken not being at Guild-Hall Whilest the Deputies of the obedient Provinces Flanders c. were â—usie in seeking for an end of their Evils in some happy Overtures of Peace the Infanta Clara Eugenia their Governess dies whom the Cardinal Infanto succeeds A Lady she was of excellent fame for her milde and gentle Government over them foreseeing that those Treaties then on foot would produce little effect although the other Provinces disobedient Netherlands were offered conditions advantageous enough The States stood fast upon Impossibilities and the other could not exclude their Master And indeed the Prince of Orange his Dispatch of taking Rhinburgh in three Weeks made the Treaty more insolent on his part being hindred by the French Minister that eloquent and able Charnasse who by his diligent pursuits broke off the Treaty and brought the States back again to take up Arms with his Master the French King and so follows on with the Confederacy of the Swedes against the Marques of Aitona for the Spaniard amongst them all in this Militia were such insolencies committed as almost dissolved and spoiled the Hollands Discipline But Aitona marches towards the Maze where he seizes some Prisoners Complotters with Count Henry of Bergues the Prince of Espinoy already fled into France and the Duke of Arscot gone into Spain and the Cause examined dissipated and tried Then he sends the Marques de Ledio who took the strong House of Argentean and retook the Dutchy of Limbergh making a shew of besieging Mastrick thereby to have the passage open into Germany But the Prince of Orange to divert him from this Design plants himself before Breda but not willing to meddle with the Spanish Army now marching towards him to dislodg him from thence he retired five days after And thus ended this years fighting in the Low-countreys The English Coasts were much infested by the Pirates of all our neighbour Nations nay from out the Mediterranean Turks Algiers And as they were generall afflictions to all honest men that came in their way so the great Traders Merchants suffered much and the English because of their generall commerce the most of all and the State being busied in that honourable design of suppressing them our neighbour Dutchmen minded the more their gain and were almost Masters at sea in the Northern fishing which because so farr and so small return they went away with the whole benefit But then for they to settle upon the Hering Busses and the general fishing of the very British seas and our own Coasts after much muttering of our fish-mangers and the complaint upon their Markets the State were rowzed up by several overtures and Projects concerning Bussos for our own Coast and prevention of strangers as an Inlawd over all the Narrow-Seas some petty quarrels there about happened between us and the Hollander and then began the dispute which that able Scholar Grotius intended to conclude by his Tract of Mare Liberum and although the English right was not now to be questioned by a new challenge of the General interest and so to make the case common to all and that by the Pen. Yet to answer him therein also he was incountred by as learned a Piece intituled Mare Clausum the Author Mr. Selden able enough to make it good and did so far as he intended towards them proving the Soveraignty of those Seas under the dominion of this Crown of England and by continual practise of our former Kings levying monies of the Subject meerly for that purpose to maintain that Right But when the King found that it was now in controversie and must be kept by force which his Coffers fayled to perform Herein he considers the way and means to require supply of his Subjects by duty which hitherto had been refused of Curtesie or by Privy-Seals or by Loans which are miscalled disgustfull Impositions illegal they were not so they had been lawfully demanded and no Impositions but seemly and necessarily used by all former Soveraigns Disgustful indeed they might be so are all demands of mony from hard-hearted Subjects and being restrained by his own consent to the late Petition of Right he would depend upon his own the revenue by his right of Prerogative And having Precedents of former Soveraigns he sets on foot that payment of Ship-mony as a duty for indeed Mr. Selden comes short of home in his proofs bringing his Levies of Naval-aid but to the time of Henry the second and might no doubt by his reading have reached home without helpe even of a Parliament But the course went on by the orderly legal proceeding of Writ in effect an ancient President of raising a Tax upon the Nation for seting forth a Navy in case of danger And being managed by that excellent Artizar of Law the Atturney Noy whose Readings and search had no doubt hapened upon Records for Levying a Naval-aid by sole authority of the King for safety of the Kingdome as also in time of those Parliaments when free subsidies and this enforced command of aid came together the one by their love to support what might refer to himself this other by authority when it concerned the publique But the wisdome of State made
Remonstrances he being deprived of his Printing Presses at London and the Universities And so reades to them his former Protestations and Orders Copies of them to the Sheriffs to publish being in Manuscript The next day being come to Shrewsbury he tells them as much and sends for a Mint to melt his Plate and offers his Land to sale or mortgage thereby to lessen the charge of the County to provide for his Army The Parliament having information that the King intends to march from Wales to London expecting a party here to joyn with him as he was invited what a noise and disquiet it wrought amongst the Citizens and all the Counties thereabout All the Trained Bands of the Associate Counties of Essex Hartford Middlesex and London are to rendezvouz and all to be ready at an hours warning And all passages into any parts of the Suburbs Islington Mile-end and Westminster be set up with Posts and Chains and Courts of Guard to stop the passage of Horse if any come in their way And with this Declaration the Parliament imprint a Discovery of a Plot by one David Alexander a pitifull poor Scot perswaded thereto by a Confident of the Kings one Sir Iohn Hinderson a Papist to kill Sir Iohn Hotham which he refused to do as being the work of a Butcher and not of a Souldier That the King should send for him twice at Beverley and appointed a sum of money to be given him That afterwards Henderson should propose to Alexander to fire the Magazine of the Parliaments Army and therefore to get imployment in the Train of Artillery but was discovered and examined The story is thus Alexander had a minde fit for desperate base Attempts but finding no preferment with the King he comes to London and joyns with one Sir Balthazar Gerbier of the same even condition and out of repute both with the King and Parliament for his doubling with either these Copesmates discoursing together Gerbier forthwith discovers to the Parliament this Tale of Alexander who being cheated into a hope of getting preferment by this story believed it himself and the truth by examinations appearing he was a while imprisoned and so let loose to practise with his Companion Gerbier Knave and Fool together Every day increasing the suspition and fear of the Kings marching from Wales to London the Parliament vote That such as will not contribute shall be secured and disarmed And so the Mayor of London is set on work to search and seize the Arms of several Citizens Iefferson Austin Bedle Batty Long and Lewis all Broadstreet Ward Bluâ—â— Wright Drake and Walter of other Wards and for their sufferings deserve to be remembered That the Fines Rents and Profits of Arch-bishops Bishops Deans and Chapters and other Delinquents shall be sequestred for the service of the Common-wealth That all the Kings Revenue arising out of Rents Fines in Courts or Composition for Wards be sequestred for the State And a Committee of Sequestration appointed Sir Iohn Byron with five hundred Horse having entered the Town of Worcester and at that time not the least part of the Kings Army marching in a Body but flasht through the County the Voluntiers of the County under the Lord Say raised themselves and by some of their own were lead towards Worcester expecting to meet Mr. Nathaniel Fines whom his Father had created a Colonel of Horse he had faced the Town and drawn off again ere the Foot came there and so they followed him who with Colonel Sandys returning fell upon the Town on the Welch side of Severn supposing their General the Earl of Essex at hand to assult the other side being deluded by a Spie who mistook him for Prince Rupert whose Horse rushed upon his Ambuscado when through the â—traitness of the passage over a Bridg and after in a Lane neither the Rear could come up nor the Van retreat where all were slain or routed Sandys and some others taken Prisoners the rest ran away far beyond the reach of a pursuit The consequences of this a good omen to the royal party being the first fruits of the War but the Parliaments Army with Essex marching thither the other Forces quit the Town not being considerable to erect any Garrison yet by their motion and quick dispatch gathered strength and at last repute of a party not easily to be vanquished whilest the Earl of Essex and his whole Army entered Worcester who continuing a Moneth sending forth parties the Lord Stamford to Hereford to prevent the Forces of South-Wales and the King at Shrewsbury with such an Army as was able to deal with and endanger his Enemy Both Armies begin to take up Winter-quarters Colonel Thomas Essex into Glocester with two Regiments of Foot as Governour but the Deputy Lieutenants had command of the Countrey and after four Weeks he was commanded to Bristol a Town of great concernment by Sea and Land and much distracted between both parties The best and basest in degree were for the King the middle men Citizens for the other and amongst them all those of the Religion intermixing distinguished call them what you please into two Factions Prelate for the King Presbyter for the Parliament but afterwards as either party could nick-name into Heresie and Schism but the general distinction of the Armies that of the Kings called Cavaliers and the Parliaments party Round-heads these flock together shut up the Gates but guarded that Fort and planted Ordnance where they expected the Forces from Glocester but Colonel Essex in his way had timely intelligence to march to another Gate which was set open to him in the night who entered with his two Regiments with others of the County and so surprized the Mutiniers and quashed their Disturbance without bloud Glocester was now protected by the Earl of Stamford with his Regiment of Foot and two Troops of Horse from Hereford but soon commanded into the West he left his Government to his Lieutenant Colonel Massey as his Deputy but afterwards had the sole power for two years and a half The Earl of Essex about Worcester sends from thence two Regiments and ten Troops and five small Pieces towards Kiddermaster and Bewdly and to joyn with the Lord Wharton and Sir Cholmley's Regiments to make a Brigade against the Cavaliers if they march that way who were designed for Wolverhampton and Coventry and so on towards London as was supposed and at Coventry and Warwick lay their Enemies Sir William Constable the Lord Peterborough and Colonel Brown with Forces and the third Brigade was in Worcester under Government now of Colonel Essex The Town of Yarmouth seised a Ship with an hundred and fourty Cavaliers and three hundred Barrels of Powder that came from Holland for to do service for the King The City of York is over-powred by the Cavaliers the Earl of Cumberland Sir Francis Wortley Sir Marmadâ—â— Langdale Sir Iohn Kay Mr. Francis Nevil Sir Thomas Glenham he is resolved to fight
Close Committee For Subjects to make foreign Confederacies without their Soveraigns assent to invade the Territories of their undoubted King to go about by force to change the Laws and Religion established is grosse Treason without all contradiction and in this case it argues strongly who have been the Contrivers and Fomenters of all our Troubles No Covenant whatsoever or with whomsoever can justifie such proceedings or oblige a Subject to run such disloyal courses If any man out of Ignorance or Fear or Credulity have entred into such a Covenant it bindes him not except it be to Repentance Neitheâ— is there any such necessity as is pretended of your present posture your selves cannot allege that you are any way provoked by us neither are we conscious to our selves of the least intention to molest you Those ends which you propose are plausible indeed to them who do not understand them the blackest Designs did never want the same pretences If by the Protestant Religion you intend our Articles which are the publick Confession of our Church and our Book of Common Prayer established by Act of Parliament you need not trouble your selves we are ready to defend them with our Bloud If it be otherwise it is plain to all the World that it is not the Preservation but the Innovation of Religion which you seek however by you styled Reformation And what calling have you to refâ—rm us by the Sword We do not remember that ever the like indignity was offered by one Nation to another by a lesser to a greater That those men who have heretofore pleaded to vehemently for Liberty of Conscience against all Oaths and Subscriptions should now assume a power to themselves by Arms to impose a Law upon the Consciences of their fellow Subjects A vanquished Nation would scarce endure such Terms from their Conquerours But this we are sure of that this is the way to make the Protestant Religion odious to all Monarchs Christian and Pagan Your other two ends that is the honour and happiness of the King and the publick Peace and Liberty of his Dominions are so manifestly contrary to your practice that we need no other motives to withdraw you from such a course as tends so directly to make his Majesty contemptible at home and abroad and to fill all his Dominions with Rapine and Bloud In an Army all have not the same intentions We have seen the Articles agreed upon and those vast Sums and Conditions contained in them as if our Countreymen thought that England was indeed a Well that could never be drawn dry and whatsoever the intentions be we know right well what will be the consequents if it were otherwise no intention or consequent whatsoever can justifie an unlawfull action And therefore you do wisely to decline all disputation about it it is an easie thing to pretend the Cause of God as the Jews did the Temple of the Lord but this is far from those evident Demonstrations which you often mention never make Consider that there must be an account given to God of all the Bloud which shall be shed in this Quarrel The way to prevent it is not by such insinuations but to retire before the Sword be unsheathed or the Breach be made too wide you cannot think we are grown such tame Creatures to desert our Religion our Laws our Liberties our Estates upon command of Foreigners and to suffer our selves and our Posterity to be made Beggars and Slaves without opposition If any of ours shall joyn with you in this Action we cannot look upon them otherwise than as Traitours to their King Vipers to their native Countrey and such as have been Plotters or Fomenters of this Design from the beginning But if mis-information or fear hath drawn any of yours ignorantly or unwillingly into this Cause we desire them to withdraw themselve at last and not to make themselves Accessaries to that Deluge of Mischief which this second Voyage is like to bring upon both Kingdoms The Scots for a Moneth together have likewise spread abroad this slander That divers of the Nobility have lately deserted the King which the Lords of the Assembly of Parliament at Oxford took upon them to convince that in time to come there might not be left one Loop-hole of Excuse for this their Rebellion Directing their Letters To the Lords of the Privy Council and Conservatours of the Peace of the Kingdom of Scotland Our very good Lords If for no other reason yet that Posterity may know we have done our Duties and not sate still whilest our Brethren of Scotland were transported with a dangerous and fatal misunderstanding c. We have thought it necessary to tell you that when you are informed that the Earls of Arundel and Thanet and the Lords of Stafford Stanhop Coventry Goring and Craven are beyond Seas and the Earls of Chesterfield Westmerland and the Lord Montague of Boughton under restraint at London for their Loyalty and Duty to his Majesty and the Kingdom your Lordships will easily conclude how very few now make up the Peers at Westminster there being not above five and twenty Lords present or privy to these Councils And so they go on to give their Reasons why this Assembly at Oxford are dissenting and absent from Westminster being forced away by the Multitude of the meaner sort of the City Rabble of London and prosecuted by unparliamentary Debates and Votes without freedom or safety to their Lives And therefore we do protest against any Invitation made to the Scotish Nation to enter this Kingdom with an Army And we do conjure your Lordships by our common Allegeance under one gracious Sovereign by the amity and affection of both Nations by the Treaty of Pacification and by all obligation divine and humane which can preserve peace upon earth to prevent the effusion of so much Christian Bloud and the confusion and desolation which must follow this Invasion c. And therefore your Lordships may be assured we shall expose our lives and fortunes in the just and necessary defence of the Kingdom Engaging our Honours to be our selves most religious observers of the Act of Pacification and we hope to receive such an answer from you as may preserve the two Nations c. Your Lorships most affectionate humble servants And signed by all the Lords and Peers of the great Assembly at Oxford about sixty as before in the Roll aforesaid We will end this year with Prince Ruperts relief of that gallant Garison at Newark from the three weeks hot siege of Sir Iohn Meldrum for the Parliament wasting his Army from seven thousand to five thousand the manner was thus Prince Rupert being at West-Chester upon Tuesday night March 12. received his Majesties commands to march with all speed to the relief of Newark with four thousand Foot under five Regiments and four Colours and two thousand Horse and Dragooners Upon these Summons he made haste to Shrewsbury speeding away Major Legge General of the
little darknesse upon nature but thou by thy mercies and passion hast broke through the jawes of death So Lord receive my soul and have mercie upon me and blesse this Kingdom with peace and plenty and with brotherly love and charity that there may not be this effusion of Christian blood amongst them for Iesus Christ his sake if it be thy will Then laying his head upon the Block and praying silently to himself he said aloud Lord receive my soul which was the signal to the Executioner who very dexterously did his Office at a blow This one Note I may not forget as a truth from an Honourable person then present upon the Scaffold that though the Chinks were stopped yet there remained a small hole from a knot in the midst of a Board and in which his finger of the right hand happened to fall into and to stop that also that his desire might be fulfilled lest his blood might descend on the peoples head his soul ascending to Heaven and leaving his body on the Scaffold to the care of men imbalming it with their tears His body was accompanied to the earth afterwards with great multitudes of people whom love had drawn together to perform that Office and decently Interred in the Church of Allhallows-Barking a Church of his own Patronage and jurisdiction according to the Rites and â—eremonies of the Church England He deserved that honour at his death being the greatest Champion of the Common Prayer Book whilst he lived Nor need Posterity take care to provide his Monument It being well observed by Sir Edward Deering He who threw the first stone at him that St Pauls Church will be his principal Monument and his own Book against the Iesuite his lasting Epitaph and so I leave him to that comfort which the Psalmist gives him The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance and shall not be affraid of any evil report Psal. 112. 6 7. Take this though for the present Thy brave attempt on Pauls in time to come Shall be a Monument beyond a Tombe Thy Book shall be thy Statua where we finde The Image of thy Nobler part thy Minde Thy Name shall be thy Epitaph and he Who hears or reads of That shall publish Thee The Kings Party had Garisoned a repaired Castle at the Devises and Colonel Devereux had a Garison at Roudon House between the Devises and Malmsburie being set upon and Besieged Colonel Stephens in Wiltshire newly made by the Parliament Governour of Beverston Castle was willing to give aide to the Besieged at Roudon and sets upon the Besiegers with three Troopes of his own and some Malmsburie Foot without staying for Devereux assistance broke through the Cavaliers and Relieves the House with Provision and Powder and alighting would needs eate and refresh himself with his friends giving time to the Cavaliers Party to Rally and cast up a Brestwork before the passage and so he with 1400. Horse and Foot cooped up all together and so the Besieged more straitned then before News gets to Glocester from whence comes sixty Horse well commanded and were to joyn with one hundred Horse and Dragoons from Malmsburie to break through the Cavaliers and these added to the four hundred and thirty within the House were conceived to force a Passage through the first Sconce But then comes Sir Iacob Ashlie with three thousand Massie raises the County about Strodewater doing what he could to face the Garison at Cirencester and to divert the danger of the Besiegers but nothing prevailed and so they were faine to Surrender upon bad quarter The Cavaliers grow strong on all sides and a stream of ill success rushes in upon their enemies upon Colonel Hopton having raised sixty Horse and fourty Foot Garisoned Castle-ditch near Lidburie in Herefordshire a Party from thence of three hundred Horse and Foot in twenty four houres took him Horse and Foot Prisoners to Hereford Sir Iohn Winter hath Guards set round about upon him to straiten his Garison his own House in the Forest of Deane but they break out through all those Guards and joyn with a Party of Foot from Cheystow which Landed at Lancaught intending to make good the Passe over Wye and so to issue out of Wales at pleasure To oppose them all the Guards drew together thither Sir Iohn violently charged the Forlorn of Foot who gave back to let in their Foot and so both Horse and Foot fell upon him some were slain Colonel Gamne and Vangerris Colonel Pore of Berkley Castle drowned but Sir Iohn and his escaped being the industrious enemy to all his Parliament neighbours These things happened the latter end of the year February about the time of surprizing Shrewsburie by the Parliament Prince Rupert falls back out of Shropshire and comes upon Herefordshire with all his Army the greatest in the Kingdom being a confluence of these Forces his own formerly Prince Maurice Colonel Gerard Lord Hastings Lord Ashlie and Sir Marmaduke Langdale and yet impresse more men in aboundance in all the neighbouring Counties with store of Arms necessity casting them in such waies of violence and coercive power prest-men of suspected fidelity and lesse value often deceiving them in Battle yet the King was forced to these waies for conducing to the sudden forming of an Army when the Kings affairs became desperate and so thrust in with the old Volunteers made up the bulk of a great Body when the Parliament had no such necessity to enforce rather a more cunning way to win upon that party the City of London being the undrained Magazine of Men and Money the common Asse that bare the burden and so ends this year A continuance of the brief Narrative of the Kings Affairs Military in Scotland under Conduct of the Marquesse of Montrose Montrose with considerable Forces enters Scotland 13. April 1644. comes to Dunfrize seises that Town expecting Antrims Irish but being there in some danger returns to Carlisle with his men for the Earl of Calander had raised a new Army in Scotland to second General Leslie in England and now besieging York Montrose having beaten a Garison out of Morpith pillaged the Castle and took a Fort at the mouth of Tine He plentifully sent Victuals to Newcastle which come from Almwick And is now sent for by Prince Rupert then in his way to raise the siege of Yorke but could not possible get to him till the retreat from that unfortunate Battle of Marston-moor and so returned back to Carlisle with a few but faithful gallant men He sends the Lord Oglebie and Sir William Rollock into the heart of Scotland in disguise who return with sad news that all Strengths in Scotland were possessed by the Covenanters The Earl of Traquair contrary to his Oaths and promises to the King was an Agent for the Covenanters Yet this man was more in the Kings Favour then any Scotish except the Hamiltons Montrose in these Difficulties sends Oglebey with his earnest
And the advantage that each party in Ireland had of the other was to burn kill and devastate the whole nation so that it appears a very deluge of destruction to the next years actions there One word more for the foreign affairs At Munster the Treaty concluded a peace between Spain and the united Provinces the 16. of February the circumstances thus Pignoranda and Le Bran Plenipotents of Spain there for the Arch-Bishop of Cambrey is dead came and visited the States Ambassadors in the after noon where after some conference and debate both parties signed in the name of their respective Masters viz. those two for Spain and seven for the six Provinces viz. two for Holland and one for each of the rest all but Nel-shurst for Utrecht who refused at which time came in a Letter signed by Longue Ville and Servient for the French to the State Ambassadours seeking to divert or retard their Pacification but in vain the Dutch Ambassadours declaring they had hitherto waited for the complyance of France and now at last had given them upon their desire fifteen daies respite which expired they have concluded yet giving them leave to come in within two moneths which is like to be the time of Ratification and Publication for the Papers must be sent into Spain for the Kings own consent Nel-shurst pretended he cannot in conscience sign because of the States confederacy with France without leave of the French Their Treaty bindes them in making peace to go paripassus This Act hath not so much pleased Spain as vexed France and many more The French Ambassadour La Tuillâ—ry endeavours to raise men in Holland to carry on the war next summer with Swede with the greater vigour and give out that they will call their Ambassadours from Munster and break up that meeting which now Spain will not fear The very day of concluding this Treaty there came in aâ— Rotterdam one Rololledo a Spanish Ambassadour coming as he saith from Denmark and sent hither for his pass much debate there was whether he should be prisoner for the Hostility lasts till the Publication but sith he came by England and by accident of cross winds and the peace so near it was waved and he had a pass And so we go on to the next year 1648. The King is laid aside the People Act for him And although the Parliaments Declaration against him may not indure any Answer from himself in his own defence yet sundry Pamphlets perignotos are scattered abroad endeavouring to clear him by many Apologies the Preachers coldly execute the publick commands yet some speeches by others appear gratulatory to the Parliament but the most of men universally murmur and Petition for setting on foot a Treaty with the King the Parliament in vain opposing multitudes of the Counties Petitions and other places who are ill intreated Part of the Parliaments Navy revolt the Scots invade England with bad success and accordingly the Princes Fleet make a kind of defection from him The Parliament consult of Peace Repeal their Votes of Non Addresse to the King and resolve to Treat with him by Commissioners with strict propositions and do yet the King grants many things giving hopes of a good agreement for the Grandees of the Army seem to carress peace whilst the Souldiers are dissenting and demand the King to Justice and to that end Rendevouz neer London and frame a Remonstrance against Peace in the name of the whole Army which is approved in a Council of War and exhibited to both the Houses the Commons seem to consider of the Kings concessions which the Army decline and seiz the King in the Isle of Wight and with him march to London and enquarter about the Parliament whilst the Members of the Commons debate the Kings concessions and Vote them a good foundation towards the setling of a peace to which the Lords assent The Grandees of the Army beleaguer the Houses and purge the Parliament and ill intreat the Members by imprisonment and order the rest to their intentions and determine of the chief affaires of the Kingdom of punishing the King and of modelling the foundation of Government And first confirm the Votes of No Address to the King and annull those for commencing a Treaty with him Promise Votes reflecting upon his life Erect a Tribunal constitute Judgement of all sorts of the Army and of the Members The Higher House neglected yet they reject the others Votes and therefore such of them are expunged out of the number of Judges against the King and all such others as are of their opinion The Presbyterian Ministery outed of all declaim against the proceedings the Scots also protest the States of Holland interpose the Lords doe their duty and the people grumble contrariwise others of the Pulpit pray them to proceed against the King the High Court of Justice is fitted the King Arraigned condemned and is beheaded We will enter this year with a notable Reformation The University of Oxford was supposed to be in disorder For upon the Ordinance of Parliament the last year for the Visitation and Reformation thereof they Ordained certain Gentlemen of several qualities or any five of them to be Visitors Amongst whom were Sir Nath. Brent Mr. William Prin of Lincolns Inn Mr. Reynolds Mr. Cheynel Mr. Wilkinson Mr. Harris Mr. Palmer c. to inquire hear and determine all Crimes Offences c. And accordingly they send their Summons And had Answer of the Delegates Wherein their Vice-Chancellor and Proctors being the Magistrates and publick Officers of this University have beâ—n required to appear they having imparted the same to us the Delegates of this University who doe humbly conceive we cannot acknowledge any Visitors but the King or his immediate Substitutes which we are bound to defend by Legal Obligation by our late Protestation as his Majesties undoubted Rights and also are obliged by divers Statutes and Oathes to maintain also and cannot submit otherwise without manifold multiplyed perjuries And this we hope to make more evident before our proper and competent Judges and to Answer whatsoever Crimes or misdemeanour shall be laid to our charge How violently and active the Resentments of liberty and freedom are in the mindes of men this late War hath given evidence wherein the most earthy souls with earnest zeal have sacrificed their blood unto the name and empty shadow of it and if the bare shape and apparition could actuate these Icie Spirits we may wonder to think that the more free and aëriall who endeavour to restore the soul to its native priviledge and Birth-right should be senceless of their just interest where Religion addes his Tittle unto Right and private Liberty built upon publick priviledge in its fall engages his foundation and renders the neglect of a single safety a desertion to the General and Treason to succession and therefore they refuse to submit to any Viâ—itors but to the King And which they make