to rescue his majesty from the hands of those, who detained him fronr his people and his parliament.

But the winter did now grow heavy, and immoderate showers of rain had so corrupted the ground, that the body of foot could not march, nor the train of artillery move; therefore, the lord general was inforced to continue in his winter quarters, at Windsor, until the spring; how soever, our horse did excellent service in the west, under the command of Sir Wm. Waller, and the right honourable the Lord Fairfax, and his renowned son, Sir Thomas Fairfax, atchieved many glorious victories in the north, of which it is not so proper, in this place, to deliver the story, it being the task of this pen to express only those particular services, in which his excellency was personally present.

The spring now coming on, his excellency, about the middle of April, did quit his winter quarters, and advanced towards Oxford; he seemed to pass by Reading, to render that garrison more secure, and that, the chiefest strength being gone where the chiefest danger did appear, he might take Reading with the more ease and speed; having therefore, wheeled about, he unexpectedly came and sat down before Reading, and sent his trumpeter to the governor to surrender that town unto him, for the ser vice of the King and parliament. Colonel Ashton, who was governor of it, returned a stubborn answer, that he would either keep the town or starve and die in it. Thereupon his excellency, taking compassion of the women and children, which were to undergo the common danger, he sent unto the governor, that they might be suffered to come forth, but this also was refused by the colonel.

Hereupon our soldiers began to intrench themselves, and daily to make their approaches nearer and nearer to the town; his excellency incamped on the west-part thereof betwixt Reading and Oxford, to hinder any relief that might come from Oxford to it. The enemy had many strong out-works, which were defended also by some main bulwarks; from those they continually plied us with their great and small shot, who were not remiss to answer them with advantage. They had in the garrison three thousand soldiers besides townsmen, many pieces of ordnance, and great store of provision and ammunition. The enemy had strongly fortified Causham hill which commands the whole town; from this place, by fine force, they were beaten and driven into their works nearer unto the town. This hill being gained, we instantly raised our batteries on it, which much annoyed the enemy, and, by this · means, we got the opportunity with the greater safety, to make our approaches nearer unto their works, and in many places within less than half a musquet-shot; hereupon the enemy endeavoured to make some sallies, but they were always beaten in with loss. They had planted some ord nance in a steeple, believing that from that height they might play upon our men with more advantage; but our cannon were levelled against it with such dexterity, that both the cannoniers and cannon were quickly buried under the ruins of the steeple. After this, the enemies would not adventure themselves on towers, but kept for the most part in places more secure, our ordnance perpetually beating down the houses, and Colonel Ashton, the governor, being sorely wounded in the head, by the fall of bricks from a battered chimney, which made him the more will

ing to offer the surrender of the town to my lord general, if his soldiers might have the honour to march away with bag and baggage; but his excellency did send him word, that he came for men, and not for the town only.

Whilst this was in agitation, intelligence was received that the King, Prince Rupert, and Prince Maurice were on their advance towards Reading, for the relief of the town; whereupon his Excellency did send out a strong party of horse and dragoons under the command of Colonel Middleton and Colonel Milles, who did beat up the enemies quarters at Dorchester, about seven miles from Oxford, and routed and surprised many of the King's horse, and a regiment of foot under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Vavasor, who was taken prisoner at Kinton, and afterwards released; he was absent in this service, but his captain lieutenant was taken prisoner. The King's standard was again in danger, and about one hundred and forty gallant horse were taken. Howsoever, the King continued his resolution for the raising of the siege at Reading, and, being advanced to Wallingford, he marched from thence towards Reading, with about nine regiments of horse, and nine regiments of foot, and twelve pieces of ordnance. His regiments of foot were but thin and empty. His excellency understanding of the approach of this army, and that his majesty himself and the two German princes were there in person, he commanded, that two regiments should be drawn forth to oppose them, which were the regiments of the Lord Roberts, and the regiment of Colonel Barcley; although the King's whole body of infantry were near, he only sent two regiments of his, the green and the red, to encounter these two regiments.

The fight was fiercely begun about Causham bridge, and on both sides excellent demonstrations of valour and resolution were expressed; at the first charge the Lord Roberts was absent from his regiment, but, hearing that they were engaged with the enemy, he did ride up with all speed unto them, and by his courage and example did admirably serve to expedite and increase the victory; after less than half an hour's fight, the enemy began to give ground, and leave many of their men behind them, and about three hundred arms; their horse also, which came down the hill to assist their foot, were gallantly repulsed, and forced to retreat to the hill from whence they came. There were about one hundred of the enemy slain upon the place, amongst whom Serjeant-major Smith was one, whose pockets being searched, there was found good store of gold. The number which were said to be slain, on our side, are so few, that I am afraid to name them, lest (being too short in my account) I should be accused to dissemble with the truth. I dare not grow too bold on the common report; there is, undoubtedly, a moderation with judgment to be used by all those who undertake to deliver to posterity the actions of their own, or foregoing times, which, whosoever, either through faction or affection, shall wilfully transgress, shall lose the grace of a true historian, and the reputation of an honest man.

The enemy being thus beaten in the field, and retreated unto Wallingford, his excellency, the Earl of Essex, did proceed in the treaty with the governor of Reading, for the surrender of the town. Colonel Bolles, Lieutenant Colonel Thelwell, and Serjeant-major Gilby were sent forth

to treat on the articles for the surrender of it, and the Lord Rochford, Lieutenant Colonel Russel, and Serjeant-major King were sent in as hostages for their safe return. It was desired, in the town, that some might go to the King's army, to acquaint the commander in chief with the terms. This was granted, and, upon the return, his excellency received a letter from Prince Rupert, and not long after it was concluded on, that the town of Reading should be surrendered on these conditions:

I. That the enemy should march away with arms and ammunition, with colours flying, bag and baggage.

II. That those persons, who are not inhabitants, should have liberty to go away with their goods, except such as had been of the army of the parliament.

III. That those goods be excepted from the baggage of the soldiers which had been taken from those who were friends to the parliament, and from the western carriers.

IV. That they should have liberty to march to Wallingford,or Oxford, without any molestation from our forces, provided they offer no assault to any in the way.

V. That they shall carry but four pieces of ordnance, and the town not to be plundered either by them or by the forces of the parliament.

VI. That four and twenty hours be allowed them for the performance of their articles, and that they give up their outworks immediately, and three persons of quality as pledges for the faithful performance of these articles.

Not long after this it pleased Almighty God, to visit the army of the parliament with sickness, by which many of our young men perished, and the rest by reason of their weakness were disabled from doing any great service in the field. His excellency omitted nothing that might give redress unto them. Physick, and whatever else was thought expedient, was sent from London, and care was taken, both for money and cloaths for the soldiers; and, to make our condition yet worse, Sir William Waller had received some loss not far from Bristol, and the Marquis of Newcastle was grown very powerful in the north. In the mean time, the King, having possessed himself of Bristol, was marching up to London with a puissant army; in his way he summoned Gloucester, unwilling to leave any town behind to continue in the power of the parliament, and, Bristol being taken, disdained to sit down before a town and not to carry it; but the courage of the gallant governor, Col. Massey, was so remarkable, that he not only did put a stop to the furious march of the King, who, having gained Gloucester, would have forthwith advanced to London, but, by holding him in play, he gave an opportunity to his excellency to recruit his army, and, under God, was a principal instrument of the safety of this kingdom.

In extraordinary necessities, we do use extraordinary expedients; the trained-bands of the city of London, who, before, were never known to make so long a march out of the city, did now readily consent to lend their best assistance, and, to their eternal honour, prefering the publick,

before their private good, they resolved to adventure their own lives, to preserve the city, state, and kingdom.

In this resolution they met his excellency on Hounslow-Heath, who being right glad to see them, he thanked them for their love, and applauded them for their courage, and uniting the armies both into one, he forthwith marched to the relief of Gloucester, which, at that time, did much need the assistance of so brave an army. The King's forces, with great violence, did prosecute the siege, which continued from the tenth of August, to the fifth of September, on which day, the enemy hearing of the approach of his excellency, did begin to send away their carriages, and their foot and horse did march after them, and the besieged (it being a day set a-part for a publick fast) did turn it into a day of joy, and paid unto God their humble thanks, for so gracious a deliverance.

We have not the liberty to give unto you the discourse of this siege at large, because it doth not so properly belong unto this subject: it may suffice, that, as it was raised by the prowess of the most noble the Earl of Essex, so it was most resolutely sustained by the valour, industry and dexterity of the heroick governor, Colonel Massey, who contrived all stratagems, and occasioned all the sallies, for the ruin of his enemy, and the protection of the city.

The city of Gloucester being thus bravely relieved, and the siege raised, his excellency, the Earl of Essex, did prepare to follow the enemy, who always fled before him, and refused to stand to the hazard of a battle. The earl perceiving that the main intent of the enemy was to cut off all provision from his army, he made a bridge over the river of Severn, as if he would march to Worcester, to amuse the enemy, and to cause them to draw part of their forces that way, which accordingly they did; and, on a sudden, he wheeled about another way, and marched to Tewksbury, and from thence to Cirencester, where he found two regiments of the King's horse, which were but newly entered into the service. In one of their standards, the invention was the effigies of the parliamenthouse, with two traytors heads fixed on two poles on the top thereof; the inscription was this, Sicut extra sic intus; which is, as without, so within. The indignity whereof left such a just impression of disdain in the breasts of the parliament, that it was voted, that the contriver of this ignominious invention should be strictly searched out, and, being known, that he should be for ever banished the kingdom, as being unworthy to live in the English air. This good service was performed about two of the clock in the morning, the enemy, for the most part, being taken prisoners in their beds, and their horses feeding in the stables: there was also a magazine of victuals seized on, which was a welcome booty to our soldiers. There were taken, in all, four-hundred prisoners, and as many soldiers.

From hence his excellence marched into Wiltshire, and, being advanced towards Auburn-hills, he had a sight of his majesty's horse, which appeared in several great bodies, and were so marshalled to charge our army of foot, being then on their march in several divisions; which caused our foot to unite themselves into one gross, our horse perpetually skirmishing with them, to keep them off from the foot. In the mean

time, the dragoons on both sides gave fire in full bodies on one another, on the side of the hill, that the woods above, and the vallies below, did eccho with the thunder of the charge. There were about fourscore slain upon the place, and more than as many more were sorely wounded.

Our horse also made a great impression upon the queen's regiment of horse, and charged them again and again, and cut in pieces many of her life-guard. In this service, the Marquis of Vivile was taken prisoner: it seems he would not be known who he was; but endeavouring to rescue himself from a lieutenant that took him prisoner, and thereupon, having his head almost cloven asunder with a pole-ax, he acknowledged himself, in the last words he spoke, which were, Vous voyez un grand Marquis mourant; that is, you see a great marquis dying. His dead body was carried to Hungerford, by the lord general's com mand. It had not been long there, but the King did send a trumpet to his excellency, conceiving that the marquis had been wounded only, and taken prisoner, and desired that his chirurgeons and doctors might have free access unto him for his recovery. His excellency certified the trumpet that he was dead, and returned his body to the King, to receive those funeral rites as his majesty would give it. Some say, that his body was ransomed for three-hundred pieces of gold.

His excellency being come to Hungerford, the army of his majesty, which was more numerous in horse, had got before him, and was advanced towards Newbury, and sweeping the country before them, had left it destitute of provision, insomuch that, his excellency finding little or nothing at Hungerford, to satisfy the necessity of his army, he was forced to march away that night towards Newbury, to which place (although it is but seven miles distance) it was the next day before he came; when he was within two miles of it, he did understand, by his scouts, that the whole army of the King were at hand, and that they had not only possessed themselves of Newbury, but that they had made themselves masters of all advantages that could be desired, for the disposing of the battle.

Their main body did stand in a large plain, and were resolute and ready to receive our forces, which in the van, were to pass through a1 lane unto them, in which but six men could march on breast.

Besides, by this means, our foot were deprived in those places of the succours of our horse, and our cannon was made unprofitable. Neither was this all, for our army was also in great danger to be charged in the rear; and therefore, the most worthy Major Skippon was called off from the front, to provide a valiant remedy against all dangers that should invade the rear. All that night our army lay in the fields, impatient of the sloth of darkness, and wishing for the morning's light, to exercise their valour; and the rather, because the King had sent a challenge over night to the lord general, to give him battle the next morning. A great part of the enemy's army continued also in the field, incapable of sleep, their enemy being so nigh; and, sometimes looking on the ground, they thought upon the melancholy element of which they were composed, and to which they must return; and sometimes look ing up, they observed the silent marches of the stars, and the moving scene of heaveD.