no power to make them good because his field was too large for that strength and the State made an inconsiderable number of men the only stay of the remote parts These could over-run the enemies Countrey but get no ground master no strong hold nor reduce a people naturally malignant that were dashed at present but did flourish again in the reverse of the Kings Army The next attempt was made upon Worcester whither all the horse and the greatest part of the blue Regiment were drawn They at Oxford were said to have yeelded that Town for lost and to give out that Sir William was gone to take possession of his purchase For at that time Treason was the pretended cause of every losse on both sides especially if weak and unworthy Both horse and foot came up before the City where they lay a day and a night effected nothing and were drawn off at the noise of the Lord Capels advance at which instant Sir William Waller was taken off these parts and ordered to march into the West with all speed to prevent the joyning of Sir Ralph Hoptons forces with the rest of the Kings Army Sir Robert Cooks Regiment was called off from Tewksbury for the Western expedition and that Town once more slighted Hitherto Lievtenant Colonell Massie governed the City of Glocester by deputation from the Earle of Stanford whose returne was not expected wherefore the thoughts of the Citizens began to enquire after a Governour They thought well of a man neare home and cast their eye upon a knowne Patriot Neverthelesse more intelligent men upon the serious review of the Cities continuall hazard found that the necessity of this place did require a tried Souldier and that such a one might possibly be found faithfull but a timorous or unskilfull man must needs ruine all Wherfore they reflected on Massie whose good services gave them also a competent assurance of his fidelity that by the happy choice of the Citizens and the Lord Generals Commission he was appointed Governour To enable the City to defend it selfe a foot Regiment was raised by Commission from Sir William Waller out of the Townsmen for the major part both Officers and Souldiers under the Command of Colonell Henry Stephens The first intention of this Regiment was to defend the City only within the walls according to the infancy of warre but the hard service of this place did suddenly require and exact the full duty of Souldiers At this instant the City was well becalmed only there hapned one passage of inferiour nature but full of the fortune of warre The Governour with a party of an hundred and twenty Horse and Dragoons advanced towards Stow in the wold to beat up the enemies quarters By break of day he fell into Slaughter took a Lievtenant twelve Troopers horse and armes and thence marched to Odington a mile beyond Stow where he surprised a Captaine of a Troop with forty men and horse and so made homewards neglecting the residue of the enemy who drew out of their quarters with all speed The remainder of their Regiment fell upon the reere of our men neare unto Slaughter with some slight execution but were beaten back The Governour being confident he was able to fight with them upon any ground made no haste to march off till the enemy had received a supply of Horse from Sudely Castle and again charged him at Andovers foord whom our men received gallantly and repulsed without any losse The Captaine that led the Van was slain by the Governours hand and the rest wheeled about whereupon the Governour dismounted the Dragoons and divided his men into three bodies the horse to the right and left wing in this posture resolving to march up to the enemy who would gladly rid their hands of the businesse but having advanced a little distance and looking back to bring on his men saw the greater part in a strange hurry occasioned by the faceing about of some cowardly spirits and himselfe with those dismounted men desperately engaged for a while he shuffled amongst the enemies Troopes till observing himself eyed by some he sprang forth fired in their faces and came last off the field upon the maine roade He offended here by affecting too much gallantry and was deceived in his new raised men who were not hardned by the sight of an enemy Besides no ordinary care was had of securing the prisoners who were all recovered back Four of ours were slaine many wounded Colonell Stephens a Lievtenant with five and twenty private souldiers taken prisoners The springing hopes of Colonell Stephens failed unfortunately when his eager minde engaged him in the action without order and against the will of the Commander in chiefe he had no command in the action but hasted after as greedy of the service he was led captive to Oxford and a while after breathed his last in that poysonous ayre where many Gentlemen were observed in those dayes to expire Amidst these things Sir Iohn Winter a zealous Papist began to declare himselfe A subtile wit that pretended innocency till his houre was come and had almost perswaded the world that he durst deny himselfe and commit an unpardonable sinne against the Catholike Cause His house in the Forrest of Deane was at first neglected when it was in the power of this Garrison to ruine his designe But under hand he prepared for defence suddenly clapt in his owne Confidents and with a little labour made it inaccessible but with apparent great losse and maintained his den as the plague of the Forrest and a goad in the sides of this Garrison These things were acted about the time of that blow almost fatall to the Parliaments cause in the vanquishing of Sir William Wallers Army at the Devices which defeat cast these parts of the Kingdome into a miserable plight when the State had placed the whole game in the successe of this Army never providing a reserve The King became master of the field the Parliament left without an Army that could check the enemy who came up to our gates and by threats would seeme to shake the walls of the City Many began to prepare for flight whose presence no reall necessity but the peoples opinion did require They at Bristoll disclosed their feares and gave no good presages And when that City was yeelded Gloucester did stand alone without help and hope The Lord Generals Army pined away Sir William Waller at London for a recruit The Earle of Stamford shut up within the walls of Exeter The Kings Countrey reached from the utmost Cornwall to the borders of Scotland and he was able to divide his Army one part for Exeter and the other for Gloucester That sudden surrender of Bristoll which was almost beyond our feares brought forth a dark gloomy day to the City of Gloucester The mindes of people were filled with amazement and the failing of such a promising Government made most men infidels or at least to question all things But here was
Seaverne supposing the Earle of Essex at hand to assault the other side but were meerely deluded by a false Message from the Enemy with a signall accordingly given at which instant of time Prince Rupert arrived at Worcester By meanes of this deceit the Horse rush upon an Ambuscado when through the straightnesse of the passage first over a Bridge then through a narrow Lane neither the Reare could be brought up nor the Van make a Retreat 'T was an hot skirmish and performed with sufficient gallantry on our part by them that came up where persons of value were slaine and taken the rest wholly routed and fled in confusion farre beyond the reach of a persuite This Victory was of great consequence to the Enemy because the Omen and first fruits of the warre Upon this the Kings forces hearing of the approach of the Parliament Army immediately quitted the Towne so they shifted from place to place since their inconsiderable number would scarce allow them to erect any Garrison yet they encreased by their motion and quick dispatch gathered the strength of the Countries as they passed along and withall overcame the contempt of their small numbers and by frequent execution gained the repute of a Party not easily to be vanquished This they acted while the Parliament Army lay still or marched according to the slow paces of a greater Body The day after the Skirmish the Earle of Essex entred Worcester with his whole Power and there continued a moneths space sent forth severall Parties as the Lord Stanford to Hereford to prevent the Forces of South-wales whilst the King lay about Shrewsbury and raised himselfe to such an Army as was able to deale with and endanger that maine power raised by the Parliament After the famous Battaile at Edge-hill the first large field of bloud in these Civill Warres though the Kings Army was there much broken yet his strength increased and multitudes began to looke towards him as one at least-wise possible not to be overcome and in this strange confluence of men His Army seemed like that fabulous generation that sprung out of the teeth of the Cadmean Serpent buried in the earth The neglected Enemy becomes formidable and the Parliament Forces may desire their first advantage but have sufficiently learned that to give the first blow is not against the Law of a defensive warre the hopes of a subitaneous service are lost and the Kingdome is made sensible that their peace and liberty will cost much bloud Both the Armies begin to take up their winter quarters in the most defensible places and for the most part are setled according to the affections and ingagements of the people Colonell Thomas Essex marched into Gloucester with the Command of two Regiments of Foote as Governour of the Towne but as yet the Deputy Lieutenants had the sole Command of the County Foure weekes had not passed in this Government but Colonell Essex was commanded to Bristoll to secure and settle that City of so great concernment both by Sea and Land and at that time much distracted between the well-affected and malignant parties So it was that the Kings Cause and Party were favoured by two extreames in that City the one the wealthy and powerfull men the other of the basest and lowest sort but disgusted by the middle ranke the true and best Citizens Thus the present state of things had taught men to distinguish between the true Commons of the Realme and the dreggs of the people the one the most vehement assertors of Publicke Liberty but the other the first rise of Tyrannicall Government and the foot-stoole upon which Princes tread when they ascend the height of Monarchy In that City many of the rich men were dis-affected to reformed Religion and some more powerfull were conscious of delinquency others upbrayded themselves with their owne publicke disgrace and therefore did much distaste the waies of the Parliament and the needy multitude besides their naturall hatred of good Order were at the devotion of the rich men These therefore began to raise Commotions and hearing of the advance of the Forces from Gloucester flocked together after a tumultuary manner shut up the Gates but chiefly guarded that Port where they expected an entrance would be made and planted many Ordnance against the approach of our men with a full resolution to fire upon them They were expected in the Evening but Colonell Essex had intelligence of these preparations and from a Party within was directed that night to march to another Gate then neglected by the multitude that should be set open this was performed accordingly and betimes in the morning he entred the City with his two Regiments besides great numbers out of this County and in an instant surprized the mutineers and quashed the businesse without drawing of bloud The City of Gloucester was againe left naked till the Earle of Stamford marched hither with his Regiment of Foot and two Troopes of Horse from Hereford the Earle himselfe was commanded into the West upon his first arrivall but his Regiment designed for this City under the command of Lieutenant Colonell Massie first as Deputy Governour under the Lord Stamford afterwards with the power in himselfe which for the space of two yeares and sixe moneths continued an uninterupted and happy Government The providence of God and the felicity of the place so over-ruling that that Country which should endure the brunt fustaine so many violent shocks and beare up under the Kings whole Army should be defended by a Commander whose experience fidelity and valour with indefatigable care and industry might answer the expectation of so great a trust assisted with that Regiment whose very name proved a terrour to the Enemy and long enjoyed the honour of the most ancient Regiment in the Parliament Army though broken torne and worne out with extraordinary duty and service And because the meere pompe of Military preparations and the hopes of a sudden Victory being now past the warre hath put on a blacker visage and the sad effects thereof come home to these parts it is meete to expresse what was the state of the Country at that time The inhabitants of this County had openly engaged themselves in the State service nor as yet had they any thought of repenting though cast into the midst of an inraged Enemy Oxford is the Kings head Garrison Herefordshire possessed by his Forces upon the first removall of the Earle of Stamford into Gloucester Worcester hath already entertained a strength Wales rise on the Kings behalfe by the power of the Lord Herbert the Earle of Essex with his Army is drawne towards London the Parliament Forces in the West have their hands full and there remaine in these parts of the Kingdome onely two broken Regiments at Bristoll which was much distracted by intestine divisions and one Regiment at Gloucester so that the most slender Guard was left upon these parts where the Enemy resolved their chiefe game for the winter action And
their usuall fiercenesse did extract great Ransomes or unequall exchanges and disposed them to detaine their Captives in extreame misery and to neglect their owne friends in the like thralldome of which those that were taken at Cirencester gave a full testimony But the Parliament Garrisons knew not how to keepe a correspondence in this case but groaned under the burthen of miserable prisoners were prone to exchange or set free upon easie termes And by this meanes most of the common souldiers then taken within tenne daies were sent backe into their owne Country with an Oath never to serve against the Parliament others that tendred themselves were entertained in the service who for the most part proved Runnegadoes the Commanders and Gentlemen came off some with a Ransome and Oath which they quickly violated and the residue were wholly lost at the surrender of Bristoll The whole successe of the former action happily complyed with the maine Plot and extreamly dashed the Kings affaires in these parts The generall fame did increase and heighten the repute of Sir William Waller and the enemy possessed there with began to draw back on all sides Sir Matthew Carew forthwith quitted the Towne of Tewksbury which within twelve houres was repossest by our Forces Captaine John Fienes was commanded thither with a slender strength of Horse and Dragoones with whom the well-affected of the Town that abode in Gloucester began to returne The undertaking was hasty and confused without the observance of the Enemies motion or distance or any rationall assurance of defending the place Our Party had no sooner saluted the Towne but received an Alarme that the former Forces were returned with a greater power 'T was a gallant Brigade of Horse commanded by the Lord Grandeston which immediatly came from Cheltenham whereof our men had not the least intelligence it seemed by the event that the Enemy expected none from Gloucester however there was quicke dispatch on both sides yet Captaine Fienes with his whole Party had bin surprised had not those Horse been kept off at a miles distance by a ridiculous accident It so fell out that they met a man comming alone from the Towne whom they fell to question whether any Forces were there of what strength and by whom commanded the man intending nothing lesse then the escape of our Party but supposing them a part of the Parliament Forces and willing to curry favour begins to talke of a maine strength and vast numbers with so many Guns and all kind of preparations and withall defies the Cavalliers with much affected indignation which words so farre prevailed that they presently held a Counsell of War and once were about to fall back This delay gave an houres respit to those within to prepare for a flight who had no sooner recovered the end of the Towne but the Enemy had entred amazed to see themselves so miserably deluded When Sir William Waller had refreshed his men some few daies about the first of Aprill 1643. he advanced towards Monmouthshire at the solicitation of divers Gentlemen of that Country with a promise of concurrence in reducing those parts to the obedience of King and Parliament When he came neere the Towne of Monmouth where the Lord Herbert had began to place a Garrison the Souldiers did not abide his comming but all shifted for themselves by flight Sir William entred the naked and open Towne where he stayed a while and sent many Parties abroad the Country for supplies of money thence marched to Vske where he set free some prisoners kept there but the reducing of the Country came to nothing for the Gentlemen did not perform and he found there what usually comes to passe in such cases that men desirous of alterations invite upon ample promises but never make good and feldome appearein the businesse till the Souldier hath done the worke to their hands or they have gotten some stronge Hold to secure their ingagements So that the well-affected would not declare themselves because a running Army could be no lasting support and they had no strong Hold nor the stream of the people which were at the devotion of the Earle of Worcester almost an universall Land-lord in that County Whilst these things are acted Prince Maurice enters Tewksbury with a power of Horse and Foot added to those former under the command of the Lord Grandeston resolving to make after Sir William Waller and to intercept his return out of Wales for he was gotten into such a nooke of the Land in the Enemies Country that the Prince might easily drive him to a Nonultra Wherefore a bridge of Boates was made over Seaverne at Tewksbury that they might passe to and fro nearer the retreat of our Army Here the Prince marched over with a body of two thousand Horse and Foot confident of this designe and therefore too remisse slow in his advance Sir William was nimble in the retreat caused his Foot and Artillery to passe over Seaverne at Chepstow and himselfe with his Horse and Dragoones passed through the lower part of the Forrest of Deane neare the River side and before the Enemy had notice of his march sent forth two Parties to fall upon two of their maine quarters which was performed whilst the maine body slipt between both and a Party was left to face them and make good the retreat which came off something disorderly and with the losse of a few private Souldiers 'T was an exquisite conveyance and unexpected felicity that brought them out of the snare through those intricate waies This Alarme quickly reached Gloucester and Lieutenant Colonell Massie drew out three hundred foot and two troops of horse to fetch off our men but if he found them dis-ingaged for a further designe This Party met them within two miles of the Towne where the Governour made knowne to Sir William Waller his purpose to set upon Tewksbury and taking the opportunity of the Princes absence and the Enemies jollity at our supposed totall defeate instantly advanced upon them and by break of day brought up his men before the Towne one part whereof fell in to the Ham seased upon the Guard left with the bridge of Boats and cut off that bridge the Horse with the rest of the Foot came up Gloucester way the Forlorne Hope surprised and slew the Sentinell climbed over the workes and cut down the draw-bridge whereupon both Horse and Foot-rushed in and the party on the other side of Avon ready to enter there were left in the Towne neere three hundred men commanded by Sir Matthew Carew whom the triumph of yesterdaies conceived Victory laid asleepe and the sudden Alarme roused up first into a shuffling fighting posture and after halfe an houre to a nimble escape Sir Matthew Carew fled and many escaped the hands of our men who wanted numbers to surround the Towne but most of the common Souldiers and some valuable Officers were taken Oxford was as miserably gulled in these passages and in a few
the greatest mischiefe of all Many were not wanting to debate upon the maine cause of the Kingdom malignant spirits took the advantage of our misery and unstable mindes who beholding only the surface of things and led by the common voice of their equals were flushed in prosperous times now became crest-fallen and questioned the passages of State conceiving each miscarriage a fundamentall errour and accounting their present sufferings not for Religion and Liberty but some scruples of State policy The state of things required strong resolution the usuall posture could not pretend to the safety of the place The souldiers therefore acted with mindes more sturdy and vigorous as desperate concerning the enemy but not in despaire of their owne party The Commanders reserved no place of retreat and if causlesse jealousies over-clouded any they put themselves upon a free Declaration The old and carefull souldiers who were unlucky in the censures of the people upon the first arrivall of the sad newes from Bristoll vented themselves in sharp and cutted speeches which bursting from the fulnesse of the thoughts did imprint and pierce were received for good prognosticks and repaired likewise that credit which the presumption of a conceived opinion bore down and an ordinary good behaviour could hardly raise up but happily regained by one violent and severer passage The Officers were to give in a full resolve that no place be left for an after dispute wherefore they vowed never to see within the gates the face of a conquering enemy But chiefly the hearts of the people were to be held up wherefore the Governour appeared in publike rode from place to place with a cheerfull aspect and bearing before him no change in the sudden alteration of fortune To them that enquired into his very thoughts hee gave assurance of safety concealing the danger or lessening its esteem Fear did not beget confusion but things were transacted in a calm and constant order The presages of misery were exquisitely shunned and the least shew of distraction and weaknesse forbidden Money Plate valuable goods or any kinde of riches were not suffered to passe the Gates but here to rest as in a safe Treasury that the people might resolve upon a happy Deliverance or an utter Destruction Neverthelesse whosoever was weak and faint-hearted had leave to depart the City Meane while the enemy dealt underhand and by the mediation of seeming friends affectionately sollicited a Surrender with terrible information of our manifold losses abroad of the rage of the Kings Army and inevirable desolation and withall tendred the opportunity of an Accommodation between his Majesty and the Citizens The mouthes of the viler people were filled with curses against the authours of our engagements We received strange intimations of dreadfull things concerning the State The whole Countrey forsook us and employed some to represent their desires and thoughts of the businesse who in the generall had so farre revolted from themselves as to perswade us to make our peace with the enemy and to befool and execrate our perseverance for they conceived the standing out of Gloucester however advantagious to the Common-wealth yet miserable for them because by the falling down of a great Army they expected a destruction of corn and cattle and if at last the King should not take in this place to stoop perpetually under two burthens and be cast into a remedilesse condition of misery and poverty Whereas if the enemy should prevaile they were sure to rest in the heart of the Kings Countrey farre from spoile and plunder and have as free and ample trade as in times of peace The Citizens examined their own strength and grounds of perseverance a Common Councell was held the Officers being present their late protestation brought to remembrance by which they were all obliged never to act or comply with the adverse faction and upon that pretext joyntly refused the tender of peace Neverthelesse a great number of the Inhabitants were only not malignants but born up by the zeale of the rest and the souldiers power and those stuck most to the businesse who were held up by the deep sense of Religion or acknowledged a necessity to withstand a malicious and enraged enemy whose implacable hatred urged them to offend against their own designs and by horrid threatnings to make the attempt more desperate A den of Rebels was the common language A few dayes respit recovered the City and reports of a sudden reliefe did reare up the spirits of the common people No crosse show or doubtfull resolutions did hinder the businesse all suspended their private cares and the women and children acted their parts in making up the defects of the fortifications The strength of Gloucester was no more then two Regiments of foot an hundred horse with the Trained Bands and a few reformadoes there were besides about an hundred horse and dragoons from Berkley Castle in the whole about fifteen hundred men forty single barrels of gunpowder with a slender artillery The works of a large compasse not halfe perfect From the South-gate eastward almost to the North Port the City was defended with an ancient Wall lined with earth to a reasonable heigth thence to the North-gate with a slender work upon a low ground having the advantage of a stone Barn that commanded severall wayes Vpon the lower part of the City from the North to the West-gate being a large tract of ground there was no ancient defence but a small work newly raysed with the advantage of marish grounds without and a line drawn within from the inner North gate under the Colledge wall to the Priory of St Oswálds From the West towards the South gate along the River side no more defence then the River it selfe and the meadowes beyond levell with the Town from the Castle to the Southport a firme and lofty work to command the high ground in the Suburbs The ditches narrow but watered round In this posture did the City stand when the Kings forces hovoured over the hills and now and then skirted upon the Town before a close siege was laid upon the tenth of August they came down like a torrent full of victory and revenge with indignation that a forlorne City should stand before them Neverthelesse they would faine overcome without bloud and the losse of time then pretious in their full career of victory For which end His Majesty came in person before it that the terror of his presence might prevaile with some and the person of the King amaze the simple and seem to alter the case Thus they began to work because the Mayor had answered a former summons from Prince Rupert that according to his Oath he kept the Town in His Majesties behoof and some whisperers gave a malignant intimation that the Kings presence would sway the people And it was so that the Town was held for the use of His Majesty but according to the sense of the houses of Parliament and the Citizens put no difference between
once entred a breach there they were instantly possest of the highest part of the Town On this side therefore were their Ordnance brought up and first two Culverin of sixteen pound bullet were planted on the East side a little out of musket-shot where they made some store of shot but did no execution Next they planted three pieces of Ordnance of foureteene and five and twenty pound bullet upon their battery in a square redoubt on the South-side and began to batter the corner point of the wall and a brick house adjoyning where one of our men was killed without more harme Then they played upon our Ordnance mounted against their battery point blanck and made some slight breach which was quickly stopped up with wooll-packs and Cannon baskets By this time they had drawne the trench neer the moate where they made a kind of mine to drain it and sunk much of the water and attempted to cast faggots into the moate but were beaten off by our musketiers At severall times they shot large Granadoes out of their Morter-pieces many fell into houses and brake but did no harme and one that fell in the street had the fuz quenched before it came to ground was takenup whole and found to weigh three score pound After the Welch and Worcester forces came up foure peece of Ordnance were drawn a good distance before the place of their leager and one planted against the Awnegate and the Sconces thereunto adjoyning Wherefore a party of about foure hundred Musketiers commanded by Major Pudsey and Captaine Gray assisted by Captaine Faulkner and Captaine Massey sallied forth of the Norrhgate Meane while a Lieutenant with fifty Musketteers was sent over the works to give them an Alarm whilst the greater party got behinde their Cannon and breastworkes fell upon their maine guard slew many Officers two Canoneers with about a hundred common Souldiers mortally wounded took a Lieutenant with foure more prisoners nayled their Cannon and retreated with the losse only of two slaine and about foure taken prisoners The Enemy having planted three pieces of Ordnance against the Southside and now three more on the Eastside and two more neer the Eastgate within Pistoll shot of the Town wall began a most furious battery upon the corner point and made above an hundred and fifty great shot against it whereby the stones were sorely battered but the Earth workes stood firme By all this shot only two persons were hurt for the Battery was so neare that if the Bullet missed the wall it flew quite over the Town or lighted at randome yet in the intervalls of the great shot after each discharge our musketiers playd hard and killed foure principall Cannoneers neither were the people daunted at the noyse of Cannon which by the slender execution became so contemptible that at that very time women and children wrought hard in lining the walls and repairing the breaches The enemy continued the storme by sending Granadoes which were guided by the hand of providence into by-places and sometimes falling upon the houses did rend and teare the buildings when the people within were preserved After ten dayes siege two severall parties were designed for the nayling of the enemes cannon These were commanded to fall into the trenches and march on till they met each other The one party of about two hundred Musketiers of the Town Regiment commanded by Captaine Stevenson and Captaine Moore sallied forth at the Northgate to have fallen into their Trenches at the East Port but by the mistake of their guide over a marish ground and full of ditches were brought round about to Sir Iacob Ashleys quarter where most of them came not up only fourty Musketiers encountred with five Colours of the Enemy slew divers of them took two Lievtenants prisoners forced back the rest and marching a little farther faced and fired at eight Colours more and so retreated In the retreat two Troopes of the Enemies horse came on the Reare whom our men facing about and charging forced to fall back and made good their own retreat in this distracted skirmish two of ours were killed three hurt and a Sarjeant taken prisoner The other party of the Lord Stanfords Regiment commanded by Captaine Blunt and Captaine White sallied by boat down the River on the Southpart of the Town towards the maine Leagre marched up to a Square redoubt our Cannon in the mean while playing upon the houses in the Suburbs beat them thence killed a Major with some common Souldiers and advanced to meet the other party But the design failing through the misguidance of the other party they were called off and by the help of our Ordnance made a faire retreat without losse of any onely two wounded The failing of the enterprize crossed a brave exploit and seasible they might have scoured the Trenches under the shelter of our Walls Neither did the Enemy take care to prevent them by turning the mouthes of any one piece of Ordnance upon the entry of the entrenchment Neverthelesse the crosse event did much amaze them that a small party should runne up to their Head-quarters force their men and recover back without a sensible losse Certainely the care of a higher providence preserved and brought off those many severall parties when the vanquishing of any one of them must needs run the City upon extream hazard for our whole strength remained upon the works day and night except the reserve of a hundred and twenty men at the maine Guard One rare and slender Rank were to receive the storme without seconds yet the safety of the whole did require those frequent sallies a desperate remedy to a despairing City not only to cast back the enemies preparations but to amaze them that the Souldiers should be held up in such heigth of resolution and cause them to expect more hot service from within the works Our men likewise were to be kept in the heat of action to prevent the fainting of the spirits Their hands also imbrued in bloud did the more enrage them Nor by safer meanes could they overcome the terrour which by the reputation of the Kings Army might possesse their minds The Enemy were kept waking by continuall Alarums to waste and weary them And t was the care of the Governour to cause a perpetuall noise that whensoever their Cannon had been silent for a while one or two of our Guns gave fire to disturbe the calm and signifie to the Country that we were yet alive for the besiegers ever and anon scattered reports of the taking of the Town with a purpose to prevent our reliefe All things within did presage a deliverance The sadnesse of the times did not cloud the countenance of the people they beheld their fortunes with a clear brow and were deliberate and chearfull in the endeavours of safety No great complainings were heard in our Streets no discontent seized on the Souldiers at other times prone to mutiny men of suspected fidelity did not faile in action Every
Castle which the Governour was ready to embrace that Wales might fall under the power of the Parliament but with much warinesse having many irons in the fire Neverthelesse lying under a greater weight of envie he resolved to obey the former Orders against the progresse and reason of his affaires wherefore he called off his owne Regiment of horse from about Monmouth where the enemies vigilancie was not little and the malignity of the towne wondrous great with the Regiment of horse he hasted towards Eversham where the Enemy had arrived before whose march he could not interrupt or retard since they were eight for one But before this march having drawne a small party out of Monmouth he commanded from Gloucester his own company and another company of the same Regiment to the security of that Garrison and committed the charge of the Towne in his absence to Major Throgmorton then Serjeant Major to Colonell Harley who by Order of Parliament was designed to that Government but with no Power to command out a Partye upon any designe having no thought that the forces left there were fit to be imployed upon any service more then the defence of that place Besides he had waved the offers of Chepstow till he might gaine an assurance of making good so much ground in an enemies Country for it was alwayes his desire in ingaging any people to those masters whom he served to foresee a possibility of continuing that engagement least hee might doe them a greater disservice by dashing the resolution of others who intended the same course and by grasping beyond his reach take off their inclinations who might be gained in due time Notwithstanding the Governors expresse Order at the earnest solicitation and promises of some well-affected in the Country and the vehemencie of others who thirsted after the glory of some atchievement in the Governors absence the Major yeelded for the drawing out of a party for Chepstow and stretched his power beyond the knowndiscipline of warre fearing either the brand of cowardise or the censure of a man unwilling to doe his Country service though he declared his judgement against it Wherfore he advanced towards Chepstow with three hundred commanded men having some conceived assurance of gaining the Castle by surrender or onslat The newes is conveyed forthwith to the Enemy who draw together all the strength they can make of horse and foote from Ragland Abergeveny Hereford and Godridgâ— and November the nineteenth about breake of day came neere the towne and lay undiscovered behind a rising ground at a quarter of a miles distance never thinking to make an attempt muchlesse to surprise it but as the Governors inavoydeable absence and the impertinent enterprize of Monmouth garrison did cause their approach there being not above a hundred and fifty left there so the negligence of the Captaine to whom the Keyes were intrusted in the Majors absence gave up the towne into their hands So remisse were the slender guards that the Treually was beaten none tooke the alarme The enemy observed it and tooke the courage to attempt the surprisall came upon the higher side of the towne that looked towards Hereford having onely a sloping banke cast up to a reasonable height with a dry graft of no depth Insomuch that the Gaurds and Sentinells being all asleepe or supinely negligent above forty men presently climbed over and fell downe to the next Port where they found no more then sixe men who fled from the guard upon their comming on with that one takes an iron barre breakes the chaine forces the gate and sets it open to the whole body of horse who rid up the towne with full career seased upon the maine guard before one man could be ready to give fire and cooke the rest in their beds it was done in a moment where wee lost Colonell Broughtom foure Captaines Lieutenants and Ensignes some of the Committee together with common souldiers in all about one hundred and threescore prisoners two Sakers besides a Drake and nine hammer Guns taken at Beachly with Ammunition and Provision and at least foure hundred muskets The newes of the taking of Manmouth reached Colonell Massie neere Burford prosecuting the commands of the Committee of both Kingdomes and there abiding to meete the Lord Grandesâ—on with the Worcester forces who endeavour for Oxford hence he makes haste to the reliefe of the party sent out against Chepstow and to bring off the rest that remaine upon their guards in that County and at Gloucester understood that the party sent for Chepstow were safely landed on this side Wye having effected nothing of their designe the Governor met them in the Forrest and thence marched to Rosse where he hoped to have passed the bridge to the releefe of Pembridge Castle which was made an out-guard to the garrison of Manmouth but found the bridge broken downe and the river made unpassable by the sinking of boates on the other side and a guard of horse to defend it Here we had some disputes with the Enemy for two dayes but those in the Castle having no meanes of a longer subsistence were inforced to surrender upon quarter and the freedome of their persons most of the common souldiers revolted being formerly of the Kings Army and our prisoners The base neglect of the Officers had not the least share in the unfortunate losse of Manmouth and daily wants increased the neglect and weakned the Governours hand in inflicting condigne punishment And as the Parliaments Service was by many degrees cast backe by this misfortune so the Forrest in speciall was hereby sorely plagued being left open to the spoyle of the enemy against whom they were preingaged by Colonell Massie and of late had declared themselves more freely And though the generall multitude seemed to be brought in by the hatred of Sir John Winter whose name and faction the people did abhorre yet at that time the tye of affection and necessity drew them to a strong combination To provide for their safety was the Governours maine care wherefore instead of one good baracadoe the Towne of Monmouth sundry Garrisons are erected in the Forrest for want of an ample strong-hold and these expended greater portions of Men and Ammunition though the limits of the Government were much contracted The Garrison of Highmeadow did affront Monmouth and furthered the preservation of that side Ruâ—rdeane was a stoppe to the Plunderers from Hereford And those at Kidney were kept in by another party at Nâ—â—t These lesser places distracted the Governour on every side willing but not able to preserve all them that desired to live under his protection Some weekes before the Governour had commanded a party to Tate-Court within ten miles of Bristoll to secure the Neighbourhood being a well affected people but in this distraction he resolved to call off those men who peradventure might maintaine themselves in a kinde of imprisonment but in no wise preserve a Countrey that was then filled with the Kings forces