Prisoners and a hot skirmish hapned between the Kings party and Essex's men near Causum Bridge wherein the former was worsted and obliged to retâ—â—â—t with some loss and in May divers sâ—â—â—mishes with various success hapned in the West between Sir Ralph Hopton who commanded there for the King and Sir Geo. Chudleige for the Parliament though the former for the most part had the advantage nor did Hostilities cease in other parts for in June divers skirmishes hapned between Prince Rupert and Essex the most material of which was in Chalgrave-field in Oxford-shire where the Prince furiously charging a body of the Parliament Horse routed it killing and wounding a great part of the Enemy and amongst the latter John Hambden who soon after dyed of his Wound as did some others and on the fifth of July Sir Ralph Hopton with a few Forces of the Kings under his Command engaged Sir William Waller who had double his number maintaining the fight from two in the Afternoon till about one the next Morning whereupon Waller perceiving him resolved to obtain the Victory or dye in the place left the field yet soon after being ashamed of the retreat he followed Sir Ralph to the Devises in Wilt-shire whither he was marched with a Resolution to set upon him of which the King having notice sent 1500 Horse from Oxford where he lay encamped to his assistance but upon the Comjunction Waller not thinking it convenient to try the event in that place drew off to Roundway-down but being hotly charged he was in a short time broken and disordered whereupon with his Horse he fled in great Confusion leaving his foot to the mercy of the Royallists who were most of them slain in the fight or taken Prisoners together with four pieces of Cannon all the Amunition and Baggage nine Cornets and 28 foot Colours so that by this fatal blow given on the 13th of July Waller having lost his Army most of the Horse deserting him in his flight he hasted to London with the lamentable story of his defeat Essex by this time with a powerful Army having relieved Glocester and surprized a Convoy of the Kings which fell into his hands through mistake marched to Newberry where the King remained as yet with his Army and had prepared to receive him in the best order the short time of notice would give leave or opportunity so that on the 20th of September 1643 both Armies confronting each other the charge was immediately sounded and seconded by the thundring of the Cannon and Vollies of small shot on either side whilst Prince Rupert with his Squadron forced the main battel and put it into great disorder but whilst he pursued his good fortune he found himself charged by two squadrons of Horse that descended from the Hill where till now they had been posted so that the fight was doubtful and bloody on all parts it being in many places brought to the Sword so that the Lord Jermin who commanded there a Regiment of horse for the King being over charged by number was obliged to force his way not without great hazard through the Battalions of foot yet was the fight maintained with considerable slaughter on either part till Night put an end to the fury both Armies keeping the field till the next day and then retired from each other as by consent The Persons of Note slain were the Earls of Carnarvan and Sunderland the Lord Viscount Faulkland and in all on both sides near six thousand In March Sir Thomas Fairfax and Mitton were set upon by Prince Rupert at Drayton in Shropshire and routed as likewise was Sir John Meldrum who had entred England with his Scotch Forces in favour of the Parliament forced to leave Newark which they had besieged with the loss of their Canon Ammunition and all their Baggage which was Relieved by Prince Rupert and only permitted to depart with their Lives But now Sir William Waller having gotten another Army Anno 1644 fell upon the Lord Hopton's Forces near Winchester at unawares and over-pow'ring him in number cut off divers of his men and obliged him to leave the field whereupon Winchester surrendred but Waller was soon after overthrown by the King's forces at Crop-ready Bridg and Essex with the gross of the Parliament Army blocked up in Cornwall and now the Earl of Newcastle being besieged in York Prince Rupert advanced with an Army of Horse and Foot to Relieve the City upon whose approach the Besiegers drew off and were upon their retreat hotly pressed and charged by a Sally from the Town when the Garrison under the command of the Earl joyning with the Prince they with conjunct Forces followed the Parliament forces to a place called Marston-Moor where both Armies drew up and with great sury joyned battel which continuing with much effusion of bloud for the space of four hours victory in the end declared against the Royalists and in this fight called by many the bloudy fight of Marston-Moor 9000 men on both sides are computed to be slain after which battel York surrendred and almost all the Towns in the North so that for a while nothing but Skirmishes happened But on the 27 of October both Armies meeting a second time near Newbury an obstinate fight ensued but the Royalists having done all that could be expected from true valour and still oppressed with fresh numbers of the Enemy were forced in the end to give way to necessity and leave the field in some disorder nor is it guessed that on both sides less than 4500 were slain after which nothing more happened in England this year but the skirmishing of Parties and taking of Towns and Castles but in Scotland the Marquess of Montross with inconsiderable forces raised by virtue of a Commission from the King routed divers Armies of the Covenanters putting all Scotland in fear of being Reduced to its obedience by his Prowess Anno 1645 Essex having laid down his Commission it was taken up by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Cromwel was made Lieutenant General most of the prime Officers of the Army being changed yet the King's party strugled strongly for the Royal cause though many finding things in a manner desperate had retired from the Army and passed the Seas for besides divers skirmishes Collonel Massey in April was routed by Prince Rupert at Lidbury with considerable loss But in June following the King's forces were defeated at Langport where about 200 were slain and 1400 taken Prisoners which occasioned soon after the surrender of Pomfret Scarborough Bath and Bridgwater yet in August the Parliaments Quarters with some slaughter on both parts were beaten up about Tame and the Scots defeated at Kielsieth in Scotland by Montross and in September Montross was defeated at Phillipphaugh in the said Kingdom and the King's forces in England were Routed on Routon heath near Chester and in October the Lord Digby was likewise defeated at Sherborn in the County of York and in March following the Lord Ashley was
more Glorious Rise Englands Pharsalia or the bloody Civil War between King Henry the Sixth of the House of Lancaster Richard Duke of York and Edward the Fourth of the House of York describing the several Fights and pitch'd Battels wherein 100000 Men on both sides are accounted to be slain c. RIchard Duke of York taking distaste at the Release of the Duke of Somerset by King Henry the Sixth he with the Earl of Warwick and divers others his Accomplices fell to open Force and levied an Army about the Marches of Wales with which they marched towards London under pretence of redressing Grievances and removing evil Counsellors to oppose whom King Henry drew out and both Armies meeting at St. Albans in the County of Hertford the Duke sent to the King to demand divers Lords that were about him and such as he should name or prescribe but being rejected with disdain the charge was sounded and both Armies joyned Battel furiously and maintained a doubtful fight till at length Victory began to declare for the King but the Scale was soon turned for Warwick breaking through the Gardens with about 2000 men and his approach not being there suspected the Kings Army many of the chief Nobility being slain was broken yet would he not fly but stood the shot of the Archers till wounded in the Neck he was taken Prisoner and being carried to London and a Reconciliation made on both parts the Duke being shortly constituted Governour of Ireland In this fatal Batal of St. Albans between the Houses of York and Lancaster fell forty eight Noble-men Knights and Esquires and amongst them the Earls of Somerset Northumberland and Stafford together with 5000 of the meaner sort and many were wounded amongst whom was the King. Long did not the seeming Reconciliation last but the Duke of York raising new Troubles was together with the Earls of March Rutland Warwick and Salisbury with others of less Note attainted of High Treason in Parliament but it so little discouraged them that drawing out from the several places where they were retired with their Army consisting of 25000 men they took the Field against whom the Kings Army advanced with great speed so that meeting at Northampton a cruel and bloody fight ensued but in the end the King being unfortunate in War his Army was worsted and himself a second time made Prisoner there being on both sides not less than ten thousand men slain and of Note Humphry Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Shrewsbury and the Lord Egremont and a Parliament being called the Duke laid claim to the Crown deriving his Pedigree from Leonel the Third Son of Edward the Third elder Brother to John of Gaunt the Father of Henry the Fourth Grandfather to the King so that after a great debate at length it was concluded on all parts that King Henry during his natural Life should quietly possess and enjoy the Crowns and Kingdoms and afterwards they to remain in general Tail to the Duke of York and his Heirs But the Queen a Woman of a Masculine Spirit not approving that her Son Prince Edward a Youth of great hope should be so excluded withdrew her self into the North and there without the consent of the King raised Forces to secure his Right against whom the Duke advanced with an Army but unadvisedly giving her Battel near Sands Castle before his whole Forces were come up and falling into several Ambushes laid for the purpose he himself after a bloody and doubtful fight being slain together with the Earl of Rutland his Son and the Earl of Salisbury with three thousand more of lesser Note and his Head being cut off was crowned with a Paper Crown and in derision carried through the Queens Victorious Army The Duke slain many hoped that this Calamitous War would have an end but failed in their Expectations for Edward Earl of March having raised an Army of 23000 men in the Marches of Wales and hearing of his Fathers Death advanced with great speed overthrowing in a great Battel the Earls of Pembrook and Ormond who endeavoured near Ludlow to oppose his passage in which Battel were slain 3800 men and several Prisoners of Note taken and amongst them Owen Tuder Father-in-Law to the King whose Head by the Command of the Earl was cut off and so he continued his March to fight the Army that yet remained with the Queen who was advanced as far as St. Albans and had overthrown the Londoners who came to oppose her entering their City with the slaughter of 2000 of them and took the King whom they had brought along with them to countenance their undertaking But Edward Earl of March approaching her with his Army which was much increased by the way she thought it not convenient to give battel but suffering him to enter London retired into Scotland Whilst he taking upon him the Title of King was Crowned at Westminster but was not setled in his Throne before News was brought that King Henry with divers Lords were in the North with a great Army whereupon he drew out his Forces to give them battel marching directly to Pomfract in York-shire sending the Lord Fitz-Walter before to take the Charge of the Passage of Ferry Bridge where that Lord with many others were slain and King Henry's Forces gaining the Pass the Armies came in sight of each other and drew up in Battalia being the greatest that had been seen in England since the Conquest Edwards consisting of 48660 and Henry's of 60000 fighting Men when after some pause the Trumpets sounded the Charge and the Army moved furiously when Warwick who lead the Vaunt-guard to incourage his men put from his Horse by whose Example many did the like resolving to win the Field or dye in the Battel so that after It had continued with great slaughter for the space of ten hours and most of theCommanders on King Henry's part slain his Battel swerved nor could the Courage and Skill of those that survived restore it but a fearful flight ensued while the Victors following the Execution covered all the Field with dead Bodies whilst the Blood streamed in Channels for in this Battel fought between the Towns of Towton and Saxton on the twenty ninth of March fell Persons of Quality to the number of 375 amongst which were Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland and John Lord Nevel Brother to the Earl of Warwick John Lord Clifford and John Lord Wells and of the meaner sort 35091 whereupon King Henry with his Son and Queen fled into Scotland and Edward returned to London This fatal blow though it put a damp to their Spirits did not altogether discourage the Lancastrians for Queen Margaret going into France raised new Supplies in that Kingdom but making towards England her Fleet was scattered by a Tempest and she driven upon the Coast of Scotland with the smaller part of it yet finding her Husband in the Scotish Court highly entertained by James their King she took heart and soon after the
the King charged being put to the retreat an Officer of the Cuirasiers knowing the King broke desperately thro' the Ranks that sheltered him and coming behind him as he was Retreating shâ—◠〈◊〉 through the Body with his Pistol 〈◊〉 at the same time this is the right bird yet enjoyed it not for scarce had he done it before himself was shot dead on the place by Luchan the Master of the Dukes horse and so lost his expected Reward yet so hotly the Cuirasiers charged that the Swedes were not capable of bringing off the dying King but were obliged to let him fall where he was barbarously mangled by the Enemy who stripped him every one getting something that could conveniently come at him as a Trophy of honour all that he was heard to say as those report who were about him when thâ—as demanded who he was for at first those that stripped him did not certainly know him was viz. I am the King of Sweden who do Seal the Religion and Liberty of the German Nation with my bloud and then after some hesitation subjoyning Alas my poor Queen and so recommending his Soul to God gave up the Ghost yet was his Body after ward Rescued and honourably buried his death being lamented even by his Enemies and although the King was thus slain yet he was a Conquerour even in death for the Swedes instead of being discouraged grew more inraged and breathing nothing but revenge for the death of their King charged so furiously on all parts that although â—resh Supplies came hourly to the assistance of the Imperialists yet after nine hours obstinate fight not only their right Wing but their main battel was broken and disordered which obliged the Generalissimo under the favour of the Night to draw off yet in such confusion that most part of his Souldiers fearing the pursuit of the Swedish horse disranked and fled leaving their Cannon and a great part of their Baggage behind them together with their wounded men and 6000 dead upon the place many of them of great Note when on the Swedes part there died not above 2000. the chief of Note on the part of the Imperialists were the Abot of Fulden by his place a Prince of the Empire the Counts Puppenheim and Bartholdus Walenstine's Serjeant Major General Bruner Lodovicus Westrum Lancius Comargo Witzeb and Fines all Collonels of the respective Regiments together with Borda Taxheim Lampart and Cammarhoff Lieutenant Collonels besides divers Serjeant Majors Captains and Lieutenants and on the Kings side of Note was himself Nicholas Count of Wesenburg Grave Nelees Serjeant General Isler and Collonel Gersdorf with some Lieutenant Collonels and divers Captains Thus great Gustavus fell yet conquering dy'd Fortune ne'er gave the battel from his side VVhere'er he fought be was victorious still His body only Fate had powr to kill A Brief Description of the memorable Battels and Skirmishes c. that happened during the unhappy civil Wars in England c. in the Reign of King Charles the First as they are taken and drawn from warrantable history c. AFter many Indignities had been put upon King Charles the First of blessed Memory by an inexorable Parliament whom no favours nor concessions could oblige he thought it highly convenient to oppose their force with force and thereupon in August 1642. he set up his Standard at Nottingham so that the Hostilities being begun after the loss of about twenty men by a Sally out of Hull and the routing of Collonel Fines and Sands by Prince Rupert at Worcester with coÌ„nsiderable slaughter of their men c. The King resolved to march towards London but finding the Earl of Essex who by this time was made General for the Parliament marched after him and hung in a manner upon his Rear he faced about to give him battel or oblige him to retire so that the Armies facing each other and the King having discovered the number of the Rebels from a convenient stand with a Prospective and desiring God and all good men to assist his cause on the 13 of October 1642. he drew into a large Field or Plain between Edghill and Keinton in the County of Warwick where Essex was putting his Army in order so that both Armies being drawn up in battel array the Charge was sounded and thereupon a dreadful fight began continuing bloudy and doubtful Prince Rupert who there commanded the King's horse making a great slaughter and pursuing the Enemies horse even beyond their Baggage so that they forsook the field but fresh Troops coming in the fight-was maintained with doubtful success till Night put an end to the fury yet the King soon after had many Places surrendred to him and marched triumphantly into Oxford with 150 Colours there taken and in this battel are computed to be slain between 5 and 6000 men on both sides And now the King's Army being Recruited and increased by the coming in of many Troops and the Revolt of two Regiments and a Troop of Horse from the Parliament upon his taking of Banbury he marched towards London whither Essex was retired upon which Essex with an Army composed mostly of Prentices and the City Trained Bands drew out to oppose his passage which made the King advance to gain the Bridge to prevent his being hemm'd in by reason the Parliaments forces possessed most of the Towns in those parts but part of Hollis's Regiment made head against him being seconded by two other Regiments the Passage was hotly disputed which lasted till Night at what time the Parlimentarians retreated and left the Town to the Ksng together with 200 of their men dead upon the place eleven Colours and fifteen Pieces of Ordnance but he slighting that place returned to Oxford with his Army nor was the King's success in other Parts less for in February following Prince Rupert with a select Party of 4000 horse and foot making shew to Regain Hadly Castle a little before taken by Collonel Massey marched immediately to Cirencester and charging the Guard forced his way into the Town with considerable slaughter possessing it in two hours dispute with all the Magazine of the County and 2000 Arms making at the same time 1100 persons Prisoners yet this Joy was somewhat lessened by the Defeat of 1500 Welch-men raised by the Earl of Worcester and his Son for the service of the King at Hingham house by the Forces under the command of Collonel Massey and Sir William Waller as for the rest of the Year 1642. it was passed over in sundry light Skirmishes sometimes successful to one Party and sometimes to the other the most material of which was that in Hoptón-Field near Hautly in Staffordshire where the Earl of Northampton was slain and that of Bramham Moor wherein Sir Thomas Fairfax was routed In April 1643 young Hautham the Son of Sir John Hautham whose Father had denied the King entrance into Hull was routed by Collonel Cavendish near Ancasâ—er in Lincolnshire and most of his party slain or taken
defeated near Stow and Dening surrendred to the Parliament yet the great blow that caused the Royal Cause so much to decline was the unfortunate battel of Naseby fought near the Town of that name and so as it was the saddest I shall conclude with the description of it this unfortunate War. The Armies meeting near Naseby and the King in a Council of War resolving to give battel to Fairfax who had for some time followed him in the Rear he so ordered it that himself commanded the main Body and Prince Rupert assisted by his brother Prince Maurice the right Wing and the Lest was committed to Sir Marmaduke Langdale there were likewise two Reserves the one commanded by the Earl of Lindsey and the Lord Ashley and the other by the Lord Bards and Sir George Lisle of the Rebels Army Fairfax and Skippon commanded the main Body the Right Wing was committed to Cromwell and Collonel Rossiter and the left to Ireton there were in the Army likewise two Reserves under the charge of Collonel Pride Rainsborrough and Hammond The Armies being in array the Charge was sounded whereupon Prince Rupert advanced with great Resolution charging the Left Wing commanded by Ireton which after some Resistance was forced to give ground in this conflict Ireton was wounded in the face and thigh and had his Horse shot under him and was taken Prisoner so that the Prince pursuing this advantage followed the chace even to the Town of Naseby and upon his return summoned the Baggage and Artillery to surrender but without success in the main for by reason of the Prince his not timely returning to the battel Cromwel had the best opportunity to charge the King 's Left Wing which he did with such fury that he soon broke and disordered it whereupon that Wing fled leaving the main battel wherein was the Person of the King open and unguarded in either flank so-that the Reserves not being able to make it good and Cromwel returning with his victorious party before the Prince charging in the flank whilst the battel of the Enemy did the like in the Front notwithstanding the great Resistance that was made the King's battel of Footmen became broken and disordered so that although it came to handy-strokes with much Resolution and obstinacy on either part yet fresh Supplies of the Parliament foot coming in and the Royal-Army considering the safety of the King who was pressed on all parts finding it self unable to make longer resistance retreated out of the Field as the Prince was advancing who perceiving the bad fortune of the King's Army since his absence and despairing to restore the battel retired likewise Fairfax pursuing the King till within two miles of Leicester though in the way a Retreating-fight was maintained on the part of the Royalists so that the King not thinking himself safe in Leicester marched without staying directly to Litchfield In this Fight about twenty Collonels and Officers of lesser note together with 600 common Souldiers were slain of the King's Party and many wounded amongst whom of note the Earl of Lindsey Lord Ashby Collonel Rastol c. but almost all the Foot together with their Officers were taken Prisoners and in all six Collonels eight Lieutenant Collonels eighteen Majors seventy Captains 4500 private Soldiers 200 Ensigns one of the King's Coaches with part of his Treasure and almost all the Waggons Ammunition and Baggage together with his Letters and Furniture with twelve Pieces of Ordnance 8000 Arms and the KING's Standard which quite broke the strength o◠the Royalists insomuch that they could no◠bring any formidable Army into the field afterward nor was it long before the King◠being besieged in Oxford made His escap◠thence and cast himself upon the Scotch Army who for a Summ of Money delivered Him up to the Parliament whose usage towards Him was so Inhumane that it cannot be mentioned without a deep sence of sorrow by any good Christian Wherefore in silence let us mourn His fate Who dy'd a Martyr for the Church and State. A Brief Description of the second Battel of Worcester fought on the Fatal Third of September Anno 1651. KIng Charles the Second of blessed memory being crowned at Scone in Scotland entred England with an Army for the Recovery of his Right in August 1651 and by easy Marches with little difficulty entered Worcester on the 22 of August being Joyfully received by the Town 's men who were glad of that opportunity to Return to their Allegiance and there it was solemnly debated whether he should stay there and expect the event or immediately march to London but in the end the former was concluded at least so long till the Soldiers had well Refreshed themselves which gave the Enemy advantage to gather about that City from all parts yet care was taken for fortifying the place and securing the advantageous Passages to which purpose a Line and several Mounts were raised yet Major-General Lambert who commanded for the Parliament sending suddenly a Party of Horse to discover the difficulty of the passage at Vpton where Major General Massey commanded 300 Horse and Dragoons for the King about fifty of them venturéd over on a piece of Timber accidentally left cross that part of the Bridge that was broken down and although the Royal party immediately took the alarum and beat them into a Church where they defended themselves yet so speedy was Lambert in sending over a greater number of men that after a hot dispute Massey having his Horse killed under him and himself shot through the Arm was obliged to Retreat and now Cromwell's Army that had followed the King in the Rear out of Scotland began to joyn with those Parties that were already gathered out of divers Counties making in all between 50 and 60000 Men when as the King 's whole Power exceeded not above 10000 so that with these numerous Forces he was in a manner encompassed and there being no hopes left of marching away without coming to a battel after divers Sallies with various success the fatal day drew nigh for Cromwell Fleetwood and others after the gaining the pass at Vpton endeavoured to make themselves a clear passage to the City that their Army might joyn in the Leaguer to which end two Bridges were ordered to be made the one over the Severn and the other over Thame over the last of which Fleetwood advanced to attaque the City on the West part which so Alarum'd the Royal Army that then lay within their Leaguer at St. Jones that to hinder the approach they sallied out with the greatest part of the Horse and Foot so that a hot dispute ensued till overpowred by number more than by true valour they were obliged to Retire again into their Leaguer But whilst this encounter was on the West side Cromwell passed his Army over Severn and marched directly towards the Wall which the King perceiving sallied at the head of the Horse and charged with so much courage and bravery that