ΣΤΡΑΤΟΛΟΓΙΑ OR THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH CIVIL WARS, In English Verse.  
Containing a brief Account of all Fights, most Skirmishes, Stratagems and Sieges in ENGLAND.  
From the very first Original of our late Wars, till the Martyrdom of King Charles the First of blessed Memory.  
By an Eyewitness of many of them.  
A. C.  
Alta sedent Civiles vulnera Dextrae.  
LONDON, Printed, for Joseph Cranford, at the Castle and Lion in St. Paul's Churchyard. 1660   

TO THE Right Honourable AND Truly Noble CONYERS DARCY, Lord Darcy, meynel and Conyers.  

THrice noble Sir, pardon this bold address,  
In that my soaring Muse pitched on no less  
A Patronage, than your Renowned Name.  
Emboldened hereto was I, 'cause your Fame  
Recorded is amongst those Hero's; who  
The Royal Cause maintained against a Foe  
Under pretences specious that Rebelled.  
When (yet a Boy) your Colours I beheld  
And Regiment so gallant by you raised  
Even by my Infant-Muse your worth was praised,  
An Actor on this Bloody Scene you were,  
And an eyewitness of most Fields fought here  
That blood you lost your valour may declare;  
Your judgement this, that no pretence (though fair)  
Your intellect could blind; your Faithfulness  
In that you fought, till that of Soldiers less,  
Under your tattered Colours did appear,  
Then Cinquefoils in your honour's Colours were.  
Wounds you received, and much of blood did lose,  
Whilst on the field, your life you did expose  
To do your Sovereign service. Sure that blood  
Expended in a cause Royally good  
Your Honour is; your wounds then chains of gold,  
Are Ornaments more glorious to behold.  
Your sufferings since the Wars who hath not known?  
You paid both for your Soldiers, and your own  
Loyalty, nor would your brave mind submit  
To composition, till much moved to it,  
By your most virtuous Lady's prayers and tears,  
Your name the last in that black Roll appears.  
(Except the martyred Slingbies) none there are,  
Of all your Honoured House engaged in War  
Against your King: these things induced my Muse,  
You (as the fittest person) Sir to choose,  
To patronise these her first rude Essays.  
Let not oblivion cancel the due praise  
(It's the Debenters we are like to have)  
Of all those Sons of Mars, and Soldiers brave.  
That for their Sovereign fought and suffered too,  
In this they live, whilst this doth live by you.   
Your Honour's most humble and most devoted in all service AN. COOPER.   

THE EPISTLE TO THE READER,  

EXpect not, Reader, this Book should impart,  
The Flourishes of Rhetoric, or of Art;  
Such polite Strains do not indeed become  
The Camp; nor suit the Trumpet or the Drum.  
The more refined Muses have with Mars  
No intercourse, Society, commerce.  
Blunt Language doth in truth the best declare,  
The dreadful fury of our Civil War.  
Rage, blood, and death, each Page herein they show  
Of Cities, Castles, Towns, the overthrow.  
Rapine, and plunder, all those sad effects,  
Wherewith a Civil War a Land infects.  
☞ When first for Oxford, fully there intent,  
To study learned Sciences I went.  
Instead of Logic, Physic, School-converse,  
I did attend the armed Troops of Mars.  
Instead of Books, I Sword, Horse, Pistols bought,  
And on the Field I for Degrees then fought.  
My years had not amounted full eighteen,  
Till I on Field, wounded three times had been.  
Three times in sieges close had been immured,  
Three times imprisonments restraint endured.  
In those sad times these Verses rude were writ,  
For Poesy a season most unfit.  
Yet is my subject high: the History true,  
Presented in this Book unto thy view.  
Well-nigh each Skirmish, Stratagem, Siege, fight,  
In these late Wars, we here present to sight.  
And if thou shalt accept these first Essays,  
Shortly perchance we may in smother Lays  
The second part of our sad Annals sing,  
Till the blessed Restauration of our King.  
Who like the Sun after a dismal night,  
Of sad oppression, did restore both light  
And glory to these Nations ruinous,  
Whose Rising and illustrious shine on us.  
Lighted these Lines out from Oblivion's Cell,  
To which they were condemned, the world to tell,  
That though the Royal Party was Captived,  
The best of Kings, of his blessed life deprived,  
Yet Oceans of Loyal blood was shed,  
Before bold Traitors this accomplished.  
But strange that we were beat, lest it be thought,  
Upon great disadvantages we fought;  
The Parliament the Navy had procured:  
With them to side, all Armouries secured  
And Magazines, usurped the King's Lands,  
Customs, Revenues, Rents into their hands,  
With Arms, and Coin their men they could recruit,  
When ours of both indeed were destitute.  
But I transgress the bounds of my intent,  
And thee from reading these our Wars, prevent.   
A. C.   

THE ENGLISH CIVIL WARS.  

BOOK I.  

The Contents.  
See first a good, than a bad Parliament,  
The fatal causes of our discontent,  
The two Scotch expeditions; causes why,  
Ireland 's Rebellion, Strafford's Tragedy,  
London tumultuous: The King's brave intents  
Ireland for to relieve; Hotham prevents,  
By Hulls denial; which the King to take  
Forces combines: Meldrum on them doth make  
Two Sallies bold: Some Royalists are slain,  
The King for York from Hull retreats again.  
A noble Persons council, some relief  
Contributes to the King, oppressed with grief.   

SEE! where our English three Estates do sit,  
In Parliament: a Council only fit,  
Our Nation to secure from bold abuse,  
To legal form, injustice to reduce,  
To deleate bad; just laws to procreate,  
Public assigns to guide and regulate,  
To act what may conduce to the renown,  
Both of the State, Religion, and the Crown;  
England's Epitome; representation,  
My Muse invites, excites to admiration!  
Thy noble Senate, Rome, my wonder was,  
Till this high Court their lustre did surpass,  
As fair as Cynthia that pale Queen of night,  
Out-shined is, by Phoebus' glorious light:  
If admiration did thy thoughts transport,  
From Rome's Terrestrial to Heavens glorious Court,  
Much more, Fulgentius, might thy ravished mind  
From this to Heaven's a quick transition find,  
☞ But what malignity, vicious excess  
Is this, a Parliament cannot redress,  
The body politic symptoms presents,  
That all these State-Physitians discontents,  
A dolorous Corasive we must endure,  
These sad distempered Nations to recure:  
Whilst head and members do indeed agree,  
A Parliament's a Sovereign remedy  
To cure distempers, but if these descent,  
Each seems to move out of their element;  
And such a motion must in the conclusion,  
(Being irregular) induce confusion.  
The hands of food, the belly did deprive,  
(As in the fable) but how long survive?  
Those most ingrateful members, by and by,  
They with the dying belly also die.  
Our Army's sad miscarriages must be  
At Cades, Rochel, and the Isle of Rhes,  
All charged upon the King; when as the State  
Themselves made those designs unfortunate,  
By not allowing to his Majesty,  
Such supplements of Coin, and Soldiery,  
To manage those most excellent designs,  
Unto some purpose: when the State declines  
The King to second, who can then expect,  
That brave attempts, should have a wished effect?  
Ship-monies, Poles, Taxes, Monopolies,  
Illegal Pressures, frequent subsidies,  
They charge the King to have without consent,  
Imposed on us, out of his Parliament.  
But could our Royal Navies managed be,  
Commerce maintained; our Seas from Piracy  
Be kept secure, and all out of no thing?  
Crows are not killed with an empty sling,  
Or may not Kings? when as the exigent  
Of state requires, without a Parliament,  
Impose such moneys, without all abuse,  
Upon their subjects, for such Sovereign use?  
If not, then farewell Crown, and Royalty,  
Who would not rather a Plebeian be?  
But peace, as yet these things seemed to repress,  
Which did prepose a vulgar happiness,  
Till Vengeance eminent, Celestial Ire,  
Inflamed three kingdoms in the fatal fire  
Of War: for blood these raging flames to quench  
Bright English Swords, brave English veins must drench  
Nothing but blood, dolorous Phlebotomy,  
Can cure poor England of this Lethargy,  
Hot was the Zeal (too hot for to be good)  
That must be quenched with so much Christian blood.  
☞ The King now presseth a Conformity,  
In Scotland, to our English Liturgy,  
Intent all his three Kingdoms to combine,  
In Uniformity of Discipline,  
Holding that Prelacy doth most agree,  
Both with the Scriptures and Antiquity;  
For in our English Sphere even then did shine,  
Such Prelate's Orthodox, truly Divine,  
Whose learned works like blossoms redolent,  
Sweetly respire, an odoriferous sent;  
And if my genius real truth inspire,  
Their worths ensuing ages shall admire.  
That the King's Order might acceptance find,  
Some Scottish Bishops also are designed  
For Privy Councillors: But detestation  
Of Prelacy possessed the Scottish Nation,  
Shall their Presbytery now be substituted?  
To Prelacy the cause not pre-disputed?  
This Dagon ne'er their Altars shall infest,  
Their combined Synods boldly do Protest,  
This Liturgy much Popery did comprise,  
And did the Romish Missals sympathise,  
Boldly (though falsely) do the Scots relate,  
And with our Bishops thus expostulate,  
Shall Romish Missals have their toleration?  
And Scotch Presbytery total extirpation,  
Papists, than Calvinists less odious be,  
Rome, than Geneva to proud Prelacy.  
In audience of their Commons, Kirk, Estates,  
The King a Scotish Bishop imperates  
At Edinburgh this Book for to repeat,  
☞ With zealous fury: Furious zeal .  
The Scots avow their general disaffections,  
By barbarous tumults; furious insurrections,  
Had not the Bishop's heels been his redress,  
He sure had died in that tumultuous press.  
And that their zeal rebellious might appear,  
They rise in Arms, than covenant and swear  
Presbytery to defend, even with their blood:  
When as his Majesty this understood,  
(With this affront so high, who could dispense?)  
He vengeance doth avow in consequence,  
Upon the Rebels Prelacy disdaining,  
And this his Liturgies non-entertaining.  
Then to defend himself, and them to fright  
Into subjection, rather than to fight.  
The King doth a defensive Army raise,  
Yet both by messages and wise delays,  
Their furious zeal the King thought to allay,  
And their Ringleaders curb some other way,  
Then by the dint of Sword: but the more mild  
They find the King, the Scots grow far more wild  
Impudent, fierce, seditious, arrogant!  
What can induce such Zealots to recant?  
But England's ease, and peace here terminates,  
Recluded are those Iron-Temple Gates,  
Of Janus; angry Jove by frequent Thunder,  
Foretold those discontents that rend asunder  
This Monarchy: Hell's impious furies rage,  
Prodigious blazing-Comets, Stars, presage,  
England's sad fate, Armed Chivalry appear,  
Prancing upon the Clouds in full carrear,  
And huge Battalions of Armed Infantry,  
Marshaled on the Etherial Canopy  
Of Heaven; with beating Drums, Colours displayed  
And roaring Cannons, seem for to invade  
Each other: Tragedy, Murder, Blood, Dearth,  
Declare Heaven's vengeance to rebellious Earth;  
Abortive, monstrous births of every kind,  
Are to presage the rage of Heaven designed,  
Sea-monsters with innumerable swarms  
Of Fishes; bids England now prepare for Arms,  
All Creatures our sad destinies disclose,  
Sounding Alarms unto our future woes,  
But though Pandora from her Box do vent,  
All the cursed Symptoms of dire discontent.  
To England her ensuing miseries,  
Though Heaven, sea, land, and all things trumpetise  
Yet all cannot extract a just remorse,  
From England, her loved sins, for to divorce,  
men's hearts obdure, impure, impenitent,  
Impious, Seditious, proud, malevolent,  
No Rhetoric from such crimes can men persuade  
Ruine-portending Judgements to evade.  
☞ Now Beat our English Drums, for Volunteers  
Royal Commissions, to our Nobles, Peers,  
Are given, to raise great forces in all parts,  
Kings oft men's hands command, when not their hearts  
To York in April these Commanders bring,  
This gallant Army to attend the King,  
Who there designs them Scotland to invade  
And Arundel's their Captain-General made.  
☞ For Scotland now it's no time to recant,  
They vow for to maintain their Covenant  
Against the King, National devastation,  
Kirk-Disciplines intended alteration,  
Against proud Prelates, and the King's design  
They now profess they did, and will combine,  
That their rebellion might itself descry  
Yet further; these their Frontiers Fortify,  
Leavy more Forces to defend their Land,  
Which Alexander Lesley doth command,  
And to prevent the entrance of the King,  
Lesley to Kelsay doth his forces bring,  
From York with displayed Colours, beating Drums,  
To Barwick now the English Army comes,  
Where first the prospect of the Scots white Tents,  
Bold opposition to the King presents.  
For Carlisle are designed some Regiments;  
Whose inroads Lesley's vigillance prevents;  
Having a party there in readiness,  
All such attempts expected to repress,  
Finding the Scots to fight thus resolute,  
With words, not Swords, the cause they'll now dispute  
Our Grandees courage this doth much abate,  
No hopes Presbytery, to Episcopate.  
The River Tweed these Armies did divide,  
Who in their Quarters quietly reside,  
For some few months, and then strong Obligations  
Of Peace, concluded are betwixt the Nations.  
Both Armies to retreat and be disbanded,  
Are by the Generals of both parts commanded;  
☞ But while the King for London's retrograde,  
The Scots their faithless faith again betrayed,  
And in their words an odium is descried,  
Unto that League confirmed, pre-ratified.  
Nor would the Scots their Forces now disband,  
But slight the League, the Peace, the King's Command  
So much for their own ends, and by-respects,  
Scots faith upon advantages reflects.  
New Articles they feign wherein the King,  
So low in condiscentions they do bring,  
As never Monarch would (though quite subdued)  
On such dishonourable rearms conclude.  
Which when the King received, and read, said he,  
Because my Forces all disbanded be  
Will they abuse me thus; can they pretend  
That we, to these base terms would condescend?  
No said the King: London to'th' Tower is sent,  
Who did these forged Articles present;  
All Copies of which forged Pacification,  
The common Hangman burns; new preparation  
For Scotland's made: The King with new supplies  
Edinburgh and Dun-Brittan fortifies,  
Those Scottish Merchants that in England Trade,  
Their Covenant for to abjure are made.  
The King having his Army new recruted,  
His Captain-general Strafford is deputed,  
The Scots their march For England do direct,  
Strafford's advance at Barwick to expect,  
His Excellence now in the North arrived,  
This was the first design by him contrived,  
That Holland should pass Tweed, and there descry  
The Scotish Camp, number, Artillery,  
Who their Vanguard on Dunsian hills espies,  
Back with his Troops for England than he flies,  
As though his Lordship with a panic fear,  
Had been surprised to see the Scots so near,  
The Scots their Camp dislodge, march thorough Tweed  
The English Force retreat, and do receded,  
The Scot Northumber-land; Strafford's design  
Is to fight Lesley on the banks of Tine;  
The Scots for Newburne straight direct their course  
Discover, Charge, and Rout the English Horse,  
After which running Charge, flying dispute,  
Through Tine, the Scot emboldened, makes pursuit,  
After our English dispersed Regiments,  
Rumours of Conquests are of large extents,  
Newcastle is deserted, whose wide Barrs,  
Stand open to the Scottish Conquerors,  
The Newcastilians can the Scots allow,  
In prospect of their walls to rendezvous,  
Their Drums they beat, their Colours they display,  
Their Trumpets sound; the Triumphs of that day  
To celebrate; with Scottish Levites sweet,  
Thy echoing walls, Newcastle they do greet,  
The Army drawn to a form circular,  
The General in the midst began to declare,  
In Scottish Rhetoric; learned Oratory;  
This speech ensuing, to augment their glory.  
☞ Fellows in Arms, brave martialists combined  
England to conquer; Men by fate designed,  
For better Climes than Scotland can afford,  
Fair England, England, on your heart's record,  
As your debenters for past misery,  
As your reward for future gallantry,  
Each Loune shall have a Lady for his prize,  
Each Loune and Clown England will Gentelize,  
Your Bonnets shall be changed to beaver's brave,  
For lousy grey, of Scarlet Cloaks yees have,  
For Broangs, my Rooges, ye shall ha' Boots most neat  
For Plads, bram Lads, ye shall ha' Suits complete,  
For Cottages of Sods, Halls of square stone,  
And Lord it bravely, rule the roast alone,  
See, these wide gates, do our approach expect,  
As though they did our conquering Troops affect,  
We shall get riches, honours, England's goods,  
View these bram Towns, fields fertile, crystal floods  
Our Scottish Frith, equality disclaims,  
To Northern Tine, much more to Southern Thames.  
Here are some Lads the German wars ha' seen,  
And in those sharp encounters parties been,  
Who can as well, even as my cell record,  
Those sad vastations by the furious Sword,  
This English war's a Theatre for play,  
Face but the Louns, they'll span their gates away.  
This first Encounter doth good fate presage,  
The vanquished scarce with victors will engage.  
Hermaphrodites, viragoes feminine,  
Cannot dispense with Martial Discipline,  
English effeminate, Pudding-fed Lads,  
Ken not the muckle worth obscured in Plads,  
Wars, vigils, Famine's, tumults, frights, alarms,  
Will scar the Louns from dalliance, Ladies arms,  
The muckle hardlinesse that wars comprise,  
Will soon these English Louns anatomize.  
Freshwater Soldiers, milksops cannot fight,  
Our very looks them daunt; shroudly affright,  
On then, let's prosecute our conquering Fates,  
Delay breeds danger: Cow-hearts animates,  
Wars practise courage breeds, exempts dismay,  
Though now they quake to hear our Musket's play.  
☞ From Bishopric our Forces make recession,  
Now wholly yielded to the Scots possession,  
In general our Grandees the Wars decline,  
As private favourites of the Scots design,  
But future bloodshed, ruin to prevent,  
Both Arms to a treaty now consent,  
First they conclude for two months, Arms cessation  
To pay the Scots the prefixed times duration;  
North-humber, Dure-holme, Carlisle, Westmore-Land  
Are all resigned unto the Scot's command,  
For Winter-Quarters; Private wrongs, abuse  
Must not infringe the pre-concluded Truce,  
During the Peace in England. Merchandise,  
By sea and land the Scots may exercise,  
But Soldiers without Order, leave express,  
Must not from Quarters, wander or digress.  
Thus rests the Arms, and thus War's surce ace,  
Better than War, (though just) is impious Peace  
This may encourage others to Rebel,  
When as the Scots rewarded are so well;  
The Scottish League, by this time, doth expire  
Paid, and reduced, their forces home retire;  
London the King incontinent forsakes,  
And into Scotland straight himself betakes,  
Not one auspicious look these Scots would cast,  
Upon their King, as he their Armies passed.  
Yet the King's presence, in the Scottish State,  
Did their tumultuous madness much abate.  
☞ Whilst here the King resides Ireland Rebels,  
And puts in practise those Hell-stamped spells,  
Plots Jesuitical: by barbarous death,  
Poor Protestants for to deprive of breath,  
Inhuman Tyrannies, deadly persuasions,  
Licentious rage, bloody insinuations,  
Infused are by numerous distribution,  
Into the Multitude, in execution;  
These bloody Plots to put jointly conjured,  
To such attempts, Rome's Locusts are inur'd;  
Two hundred thousand Protestants there die,  
As sacrifices to Rome's Tyranny,  
A Prologue to that Tragedy whose rage,  
Must be enacted on our English Stage.  
Phoebus' th'Autumnal Equinoctial Line,  
Towards the Pole Antarctic did decline,  
The sable Queen of the black-mantled night,  
Had filled her Semi-globe with borrowed light,  
And now to Thetis lap precipitate,  
Darkness gave way these facts to perpetrate,  
Darkness, the works of darkness to contrive,  
Gave way: yet did poor Protestants deprive  
Of all resistance; whom by multitudes,  
That midnight in the night of death includes,  
Murder, death, rapine, barbarous butchery,  
A confused, dismal, hideous mid-night-cry,  
Did fill th' affrighted slumbering peoples ears;  
Fire from the burning Villages appears,  
With its aspiring flames daring the sky,  
Whole families of naked people fly  
Thinking those scorching flames for to prevent,  
Meet death, in the contrary Element,  
And are by thousands into waters forced,  
Whose souls and bodies soon are there divorced,  
☞ Whilst man and wife, securely arm in arm,  
Lie flumbering, clear devoid of thoughts of harm,  
A confused noise them both doth terrify,  
Listening, at length, they plainly do descry,  
The piteous plaints of poor injured wights,  
This from their sleep (though last) them both affrights,  
Up starts the man, opening the Casement wide,  
The Country round about on fire he spied,  
The naked people that came running by,  
Cried, Neighbour rise, fly for your life, oh! fly,  
This unsuspected, dismal accident,  
Dismays them both, but see! incontinent,  
The Rebels break up doors, the house they fire,  
And sacrifice to their infernal Ire  
The suppliant people's lives: they violate  
The wife in sight of her now dying Mate,  
They die their skins in blood, by barbarous power  
Their Maids and Virgins chaste they do deflower,  
Before their Mother's eyes, shame bids conceal,  
Those Barbarisms acted by their Popish zeal,  
For what they act, for what blood they expend,  
Commission from the King, the Rogues pretend,  
And when the Irish work's done, they profess,  
By force to London for to make access.  
To guard the King from Scotland to Whitehall,  
And tame that Juncto Puritanical.  
☞ But this was an officious Popish lie,  
Those jealousies to widen, multiply,  
That were betwixt the King and Parliament,  
The King did such compliance, scorn resent;  
And would have quelled (though with his blood's expense,  
This proud rebellion; Irish insolence.  
Thy wings (my Muse) though bloody, elevate,  
The Irish Sea, thou now must transvolate,  
Wash not thy plumes; thy bloody plumes may be  
A Symptom of poor Ireland's misery,  
And may extract remorse from hearts of stone,  
To hear thy queremonious plaints, and moan,  
Relief to grief, pray England distribute,  
What's Ireland's now, may once be England's suit.  
To London straight my dolorous Muse now flies.  
But few with Ireland's grief there Sympathise,  
For bold Petitions, by a multitude  
Of people barbarous, factious, savage, rude,  
Are brought each day into the Parliament,  
Faction, disorder, tumult, discontent  
Fills every place: Strafford, and Laud accused  
Of Treason are; the King himself abused,  
Aspersed, injured, each of his words and deeds,  
Wrested, misconstrued and from hence proceeds  
These jealousies, surmises, fears, that ring,  
In Vulgar ears, fomented 'gainst the King,  
By Cannibals, who Monarchy resent,  
Anarchy for to introduce intent.  
Hence Pamphlets, Scandals, base Libels fly,  
Plumed with abuse of Royal Majesty,  
Because the King was moderate, gentle, meek,  
Like Aesop's Frogs, these his deposal seek;  
And may a Stork dominion o'er them bear,  
That to a King so good; perfidious were.  
Few strafford's admired parts could imitate,  
The reason why, most him did emulate;  
This noble person, an ignoble crew,  
With Justice, Justice, in their mouth pursue,  
And prosecute to death; The King doth sign  
The fatal Bill, (though much he did decline)  
To pass his Royal (here scarce his) consent,  
And Strafford dies for an expediment  
Of State: In Strafford was the King o'erthrown,  
With Strafford's ruin, he subscribed his own,  
☞ Pym, Hamden, Hollis, Hasleridge and Stroad  
With scandals most injurious, daily load  
The King: whom when of Treason he accuses,  
The House to try them legally refuses;  
Can injured Majesty be pacified,  
When his demands (so legal,) are denied,  
For then the King with his sole Guard attended,  
Came to the House, thought to have apprehended  
The Traitors; but alas, the King's intent,  
Their absence purposely, did then prevent.  
All these are bad presages to suspect,  
That some did Monarchy now dis-affect,  
Such Symptoms have a dismal reference,  
Into their thoughts inward malevolence.  
Distempers will work out their malady,  
Depressed but not oppressed, such thoughts may be,  
Like furious winds seeking their rage to vent,  
Which in the concaves of the earth are penned,  
Having at length all obstacles extruded,  
Whereby their force impetuous was included,  
Rush out with too audacious insolence,  
And by their uncontrolled violence,  
Do curl the Ocean's billows, bow the Woods,  
Blow from their Channels the dispersed floods,  
Untile the houses, Sacrilegiously,  
From Churches rend their leaden Canopy,  
Jove scorning to obey, if Jove withstand,  
Till Aeolus do their retreat command,  
Thus thoughts most turbulent till now suppressed,  
Enforce their way from many a factious breast:  
Boldly their malice 'gainst the King they vent,  
Ambitious of eruption and extent.  
Conscience and council must to power give way,  
To teach the Crown, the Gown now to obey,  
The people's privileges to dissolve,  
In War and Blood, this Nation to involve.  
Their Wills as laws on England to enforce;  
Unto the Sword our Statists take recourse.  
What stratagems had long time been projected,  
Come to their birth, and must be now effected.  
Forces they raise, yet under this pretence,  
The House to Guard, to be their own defence.  
And Essex o'er their new Militia bands,  
By Order from the House, in chief commands.  
☞ At this (high time) London the King forsakes,  
And unto York his journey straight he takes;  
From whence he certifies the Parliament,  
That his resolves for Ireland were intent,  
His presence would be a most Sovereign spell,  
The Rebel's minds to charm, their force to quell:  
To his victorious Ensigns he doth vow,  
To make the proudest of such traitor's bow:  
And in pursuance of such high intents,  
He in the North will raise some Regiments,  
Which from Hulls Magazine all Armed must be  
For Ireland, to attend his Majesty.  
☞ 'Twas not the King then (as some him belly)  
That did obstruct from Ireland that supply,  
That might those Rebels Armies have subdued,  
And tamed that Savage, Popish multitude.  
To York the Northern Gentry summoned are,  
To whom the King his purpose doth declare,  
Commanding their attendance, most obey,  
With these the King for Hull straight takes his way  
Who to the gates with this Train makes address,  
☞ But Hotham there denys his King access.  
Requesting him not to demand what he,  
Cannot now grant without disloyalty  
To th' Parliament: The King soon makes reply,  
Our entrance, good Sir John, do not deny,  
I shall pass by, this your affront to me,  
And our admission shall excuse, when we  
To th' Parliament our next address shall make;  
With Hotham this mild Rhetoric will not take:  
Wherefore the King him stubborn Traitor calls,  
And vows he'll hang him up upon those walls,  
That his example may a terror be,  
To all such haughty traitorous rogues, as he.  
Like to a stream whose shower augmented force.  
Scorns obstacles that may retard his course,  
And with his swelling waters potent Tide,  
O'er banks and all retards doth bravely glide,  
Rowls down huge stones, eradicates each tree  
That to his fiercer current lets may be,  
So anger's Tied in the King's mind swelled high,  
That him Hulls entrance Hotham should deny,  
Especially he grieved for Ireland's grief,  
By this deprived of his resolved relief.  
Hotham, he Traitor doth proclaim, then make  
Warlike provision Hull by force to take,  
Yet first complaints unto the Parliament,  
Of this most bold affront the King had sent,  
Wherein he hotham's Treason did decry,  
Whom with his Act, the States do justify.  
This more incensed the King, shall Hotham be  
In his rebellion countenanced, and he  
Exposed to such affronts? he doth profess  
By dint of Sword these wrongs for to redress.  
☞ His Proclamations through each county fly,  
Plumed with complaints of injured Majesty,  
His loyal Subjects all to animate,  
With him to join, these wrongs to vindicate.  
The gentry to contribute these, request  
Assistance to their wronged King's behest,  
That his intents both just and real are,  
For Laws, Religion, Rights, he doth declare.  
These proclamations many gallants Court  
To York, now for Commissions to resort;  
Wherein short time no despicable force  
Convened is, of Armed Foot and Horse.  
But while the King pursues this Martial game,  
The State, his Acts Illegal do Proclaim,  
Prohibiting all men in any wise,  
For to abet the Kings known enterprise.  
Thus Proclamations, Proclamations thwart,  
Commands oppose Commands, Art crosseth Art,  
The King commands, the State forbidden to Arm,  
Who do the King, who not the State, from harm  
Vow to secure; Traitors both parts declare,  
Who do their mandates cross, opponents are.  
What County can pretend immunity,  
From Proclamations vain Logomachy,  
The States bid Arm for them; the King says no,  
What shall the perplexed dubious Vulgar do?  
If Arm you must, to void neutrality,  
'Tis but your duty, aid his Majesty;  
Let not their vain pretences you dissuade,  
Still their pretext Rebel's Religion made.  
Whilst these transactions are in agitation,  
The King for Hulls Siege, makes strong preparation  
Wither from York his march he now doth take  
Hotham knows well, his life lies at the stake,  
Therefore his rusty Cannons he doth cleanse,  
Putting the Town in posture of defence,  
Brasse-Pieces mount, the stoutest Townsmen Arms  
Promising reparation of all harms  
Sustained in Hulls assistance: By and by,  
The Sentinels the Kings approach descry,  
Th' Allarum's given: Hotham doth then decree,  
That all the water-sluces drawn shall be,  
The Country's drowned, men, walls, and Seas combine,  
To frustrate this his Majesty's design.  
☞ Meldrum a Soldier of no small repute,  
But yet a Scot, the Parliament depute,  
Hotham's assistant; who a party takes,  
Of the most hardy Townsmen, and out-makes  
A sudden sally, where the King he beats,  
Who with some loss, to Beverly retreats;  
But not long after this, the Parliament  
A party strong for Hull, from London sent:  
Meldrum encouraged by this new supply,  
Will of a second bout, the fortune try:  
His choicest men he soon together calls,  
And issuing out, on the King's Leaguer falls,  
Whereof some scores, in their new trenches die,  
The rest in haste (disordered much) do fly;  
A hot pursuit after whom Meldrum makes,  
At Aulaby, the King's Magazine he takes;  
Some barns, and houses, there this Scotch Knight fires  
And then for Hull, his worship, back retires.  
☞ The King perceiving all attempts in vain,  
Against the Town of Hull, for York again  
Retreats: But O! who can his thoughts express?  
How can he now (though mild) passion suppress?  
What shall he do? what will be the event  
Of these beginnings, thus malevolent?  
Reflects, his looks no reverential awe  
Upon Spectators? Dare his Subjects draw  
Their Swords against their Prince: shall he dispense  
Further with their Rebellious insolence?  
☞ But whilst the King is in this self-dispute,  
A Noble person did him thus salute:  
By Traitors shall your patience be abused,  
Your commands slighted; your demands refused?  
Courage take Sir, Divine and humane laws,  
Loudly proclaim the justice of your cause,  
See what a train of Lords do here attend,  
In your behalf, their dearest blood to spend.  
the Parliament us Traitors doth proclaim,  
Because to your assistance thus we came,  
And though they speak not out, their acts declare,  
They are intent upon you for to War.  
Why raise they Armies? what is your intent,  
Us and yourself to such a Parliament  
Thus to expose? our Swords must us defend,  
Or farewell life and fortunes, Strafford's end  
We may expect: Traitors let's them declare,  
And make provision for defensive War,  
A thousand lives who would not rather lose,  
Then see such Rebels you and yours depose?  
To see rapacious Harpies ruinated,  
This flourish of our peace, Religion, State,  
Are you so credulous these not to fear,  
When Treason 'tis, to you for to adhere?  
Review the Actions of those Monarches brave,  
That as your Predecessors Reigned have,  
See how the proudest of their foes did quake,  
Even at their frowns, which did whole Kingdoms shake,  
Whose very names, their Subjects did adore,  
Reputing them not men, but somewhat more.  
Then such Heroics courage now assume,  
Let Traitors know they do too much presume  
Upon your Lenity; Sir, make them fear,  
And know the Lion in your arms can tear.  
☞ At this the London Juncto Parliament  
Traitors proclaimed are; The King 's intent  
Is for the South-west parts to take his way,  
Posting before Commissions of Array,  
Commanding quick attendance from all those  
In Arms, that would not be reputed foes.  
Newcastles General for the North designed,  
Whose influence on those parts, soon combined  
An Army Gallant: Thus to Civil War  
Fully resolved, now both parties are.  
But so my Muse, with Morpheus' power possessed,  
Takes Leave (would England could do so) to rest.   
Finis Libri Primi.   

THE ENGLISH CIVIL WARS.  
BOOK II.  

The Contents.  
A short dissuasive from this Civil War,  
The King sets up his Standard: doth declare  
Of his defensive Arms, the Innocence,  
London's Zeal, for the Parliaments pretence;  
Essex his Force to Coventry doth bring,  
Worcester Fight: The Battle at Edge-hill.   

Rouse up brave Martial Muse, prepare for fight,  
Let Mars desist the Cyprian Courts delight;  
Bellona's Trumpets calls our Troops to field;  
Pallas advanceth, armed with Spear and Shield.  
Combats, not Counsels, Muse, thou must rehearse,  
War, Blood, and Death, are subjects of my Verse.  
England, O England! do not thou distain,  
This flourish of thy Peace with Blood: refrain  
These Civil Wars, whose sad effects we see,  
In self-divided, ruined Germany.  
Did Scotland tremble? did the Irish flee?  
Was France once Tributary unto thee?  
Renowned England, did victorious Fame,  
From India, unto India, post thy name?  
From cold Arcturus, to th' Antarctic Sands;  
Thy admiration, England, filled all Lands:  
Whilst Providence, and valour, foreign foes  
Vanquished: shall homebred discord, work thy woes  
No Council, nor yet Rhetoric can assuage,  
Uncivil Civil Wars, tumultuous rage.  
The furious Sword, scorns to obey the Gown;  
Some with the State, some with the imperial Crown  
Take part; known Ensigns, Ensigns, do defy,  
And English blood; England's Cross red must die.  
If War we must? why do we not assay,  
On Asian ground our Colours to display?  
Mahomet's dam'd Impostures to expel,  
To their cursed Author, down to Pluto's cell;  
Why do we not out of the Seginor's hand,  
Regain our Title to the Holy-Land?  
What, might we not, with lesser bloods expense,  
Have quelled the Turks aspiring insolence;  
Razed Constantinople's world-commanding Towers,  
With her Seraglio, Egypt might be ours.  
And all the treasures of the spacious East,  
By our victorious Armies be possessed.  
As that brave Tartar, lets our Force engage,  
Bajacet-like into an Iron cage;  
Earth's greatest Monarch 's captived power to bring,  
Or let's advance against the Spanish King.  
His Eighty eight's Armadoes cursed design,  
To vindicate our Forces let's combine,  
Heaven can but grosper such a brave attempt;  
Heaven that from Spain's Invasion did exempt  
This Island, for to be Spain's dreadful scourge,  
Till all those Martyr's bloods she shall disgorge:  
Sucked in by inquisition-Butchery;  
Or let's go set the enslaved Indians free:  
Sail thither may we, with the tide and flood  
Of vengeance-crying murdered Indians blood.  
Why march we not to curb that Prelate's pride?  
Whose Scarlet vestments in the blood are died  
Of Martyred Christians? doubtless we may fear,  
His influence is too too powerful here.  
These sad incitements to this Civil War,  
Hatched surely by his Romish Locusts are.  
That Sweed Heroick to his high renown,  
Vowed to divest him of his triple-Crown:  
And from his chair-infallible, by force,  
That Beast so much admired for to divorce;  
And but that death, too cruel did prevent,  
Doubtless he had accomplished his intent.  
England, O England! Civil Wars decline,  
And prosecute that noble Sweeds design:  
Hoist up thy Sails for the Italian shore,  
The airy Alps, resolve for to march o'er.  
Fall down like Thunder into Italy,  
Th' affrighted-Scarlet Conclave let's make fly;  
And these high Walls, wherein the Beast doth trust,  
Let's raze and levelly with that bloody dust  
Whereon they stand; in blood they founded were,  
Ruddy with blood, their cement doth appear;  
Rape, Superstition, Fraud, Idolatry,  
Polythism, Murder, Theft, Theomachy,  
Hypocrisy, Pride, Witchcraft, Fornication,  
Adultery, Sodoms-lov'd-Abomination,  
Are their cursed Superstructures; Powers divine,  
Except propitious, unto this design  
Vengeance divine, our Cannons best will be,  
Upon those Walls, t' enforce a Battery;  
Needs must we conquer in so just a War,  
Where foes designed by Heaven to ruin are.  
☞ Reason should with the wise be Prevalent,  
What, have not Civil Wars a sad event?  
No joyful Triumphs in such Wars have place,  
No brave exploits do here the conquerors grace.  
No spoils are taken from the captived foes,  
But such, as even, whereby the Conquerors lose.  
Brother, doth Brother, unto death betray,  
Fathers, their Sons, and Sons their Fathers slay.  
Maids are deflowered, and Matrons chaste misused,  
Youngmen for Soldiers pressed; Old-men abused.  
Those treasures that industrious Peace acquired,  
Exhausted are, the Villages are fired;  
Cities dis-peopled, Castles ruin'd be,  
Friends even from friends (as from the Plague) shall flee:  
Justice, Laws, and properties, all stand  
As cyphers, at the furious sword's command.  
Servants will of their Masters, Masters be;  
From Tinkers, even the Constables shall flee:  
The basest men will proudly domineer,  
Rant, drink, whore, plunder, strike, curse, damn, and swear.  
Oxen, Sheep, Horses, all that you possess,  
Soldiers will take, and if you seek redress,  
Perhaps you may be cudgeled by a slave,  
Or else imprisoned, and that's all you'll have.  
O what affronts! what wrongs! what violence!  
Must all sorts suffer, under the pretence  
Of Enemies; when, whom Soldiers dispose,  
They make at pleasure, either friends or foes;  
Nay the wronged people cannot be assured,  
By whether party they were thus injured:  
Your foe, you shall not know, nor yet your friend,  
Such sad distractions Civil wars attend.  
The Sword scorns council (list) Drums beat I hear,  
The Trumpet sound, armed Horsemen do appear:  
The King from York marcheth with all his Force,  
To Nottingham they straight direct their course;  
Where first upon this Civil Wars account,  
The King his Standard Royal doth amount;  
And standing under't in the Army's view,  
His glistering Sword, he from his scabbard drew,  
Which brandished about his head, he said,  
☞ Fellows in Arms, here in your Sovereign's aid  
Conveen'd, you to inform I shall not need,  
What to this Parliament we did conceed,  
More than our Royal ancestors had done,  
(Thinking the most averse for to have won,  
By acts of Grace) we granted: But behold!  
Our Condiscentions make these men more bold,  
Things to demand against a King's renown,  
And what would they have now, except my Crown?  
When all such acts of Grace did vain appear,  
We left them, and resolved for Ireland were;  
Revenged upon those Rebels to have been,  
Whilst these into their Errors more had seen;  
Intending then at Hull to arm our Guard,  
Hulls entrance we, by Hotham were debarred,  
From Ireland; Ireland now Entombed in grief,  
This did obstruct our then-resolved relief.  
And when to Hull our next address we made,  
With fire and sword, our Camp he did invade;  
Wishing our Person in the number, where  
Some scores of our League subjects murdered were.  
By Proclamation they prohibit all,  
From their Allegiance to our Sovereign call;  
And whence do these affronts so numerous spring,  
But even from those, that me a Glorious King  
Pretend to make; The men presage my Fate,  
Only the time they seek to antedate.  
But this (at which he shook his glistering Sword)  
Even this, our best redress must now afford,  
Traitorous, here, their proceed we declare,  
Denouncing War, 'gainst them, and all that are  
Their Fautors and Abettors; know, we must  
Soldiers, to courage, and our swords now trust,  
Through wounds, blood, death our passage now doth lie  
To our detained Rights: resolve to die  
With me, my Lords, and Soldiers ere we yield,  
Essex that traitorous Cockoos in the field:  
A numerous Army 'gainst us he doth bring,  
Are these League Subjects that will fight their King?  
My Lords (as you your lives or fortunes love)  
Your utmost interest, Force to raise, improve,  
For fight we must, and if the day we lose,  
Of us and ours, the Conquerors will dispose:  
Your Regiments with speed, my Lords complete,  
I even presage, we Essex shall defeat.  
And you, my Nephews, whose Heroic might,  
Hath been approved in many a bloody fight  
Beyond the Seas (with that he cast his eye  
On Rupert and Prince Morice standing by;  
In England late arrived) Princes we must,  
To your Heroic skill and prowess trust  
The conduct of our Horse. Rupert replied,  
Uncle, what's in our power, you may confide,  
We shall effect; fear not but we shall bring,  
The proudest Rebels, you to own as King.  
☞ At this the flourished Trumpets that surround  
The King this while; commanded are to sound,  
Whose sweetest Levits from the Rocks so near,  
With airy Echoes ravish every ear.  
Then off the Troops to march commanded are,  
To Shrewsbury the intended seat of War:  
Rupert and Morice late arrived here,  
Now in the Fronts of armed Troops appear.  
Rupert the elder, of complexion fair,  
Yet somewhat swarthy, of brown-coloured-hair,  
Of body slender, yet indifferent tall,  
Of mind courageous, wondrous fair withal:  
Scorning, both fears and dangers, on he went,  
Yet inconsiderate, in the management  
Of his bold charge: which proved indeed to us  
In many fields disadvantageous;  
His forwardness excused, Europe ne'er bred,  
One who more nobly Chavalry on led.  
☞ Morice more corpulent, yea, and more tall,  
Yet not so bloody, and so tragical:  
Full as courageous, not so unadvised,  
More fortunate in what he enterprised:  
Whose prowess, and whose skill in feats of War,  
Were such as might renown a Soldier.  
☞ Out breaks the War, with uncontrolled Rage,  
Great Lords, and Gentry, on both parts engage;  
Yet more of these the Royal cause maintain,  
As not deluded with pretences vain.  
But of Plebeians less intelligent,  
More do adhear unto the Parliament;  
Their Intellectuals hoodwinked and captived,  
By those pretences, specious then contrived.  
☞ What City, Town, House, Castle now was free,  
But fortified, and Garrisoned must be?  
What Fields with Grain, Mountains with Flocks, that were  
Flourished of late; now terrible appear  
With armed Camps: what deadly Engines wrought?  
Sure not more Fields, than bloody battles fought  
Hath England now: try all the Sword would make,  
If that of blood, it could a surfeit take.  
☞ London! what Martial fury thee possessed,  
That thus with madness not to be expressed,  
Against thy King, so boldly dost engage,  
What Hellish fury did their hearts enrage?  
To strive who should most forward be in arms,  
How did they flock? adjoin themselves by swarms  
To Essex Colours; what did they intent?  
What, was Rebellion? or was Zeal their end?  
What, were they weary of that Regiment?  
The loss of which (if lost) they'll much repent;  
What do they think the name of a free State?  
More advantageous, or more fortunate,  
Or will Commerce, or Trading flourish more,  
Monarchy routed out, then't did before?  
London, O let not such conceits thee blind!  
All to thy expectation thou shalt find  
Quite contrary: But what is it indeed,  
From Superstitious Rites for to be freed  
That thou dost thus engage: Rebellion had  
Always religion's Cloak; wherewith she clad  
Her monstrous body: All the world shall see,  
Religion but a mere pretence to be  
In these sad Wars: London will be as proud,  
Her Sins will in the Ears of Heaven as loud  
Sound▪ If she had desired Presbytery,  
As now under much-hated Prelacy;  
That much pretended, wished for reformation,  
Shall have a most apparent confutation,  
From those cursed crimes, London will exercise,  
And grant her even what Form she can devise  
For Government, either in Church or State,  
But whether doth my Muse thus deviate?  
Rupert the leading having now acquired,  
Of such a Party as his heart disir'd;  
Courageous Gallants, who did scorn to fly,  
The face of even the proudest enemy,  
Thought that his smaller parties fortitude,  
Might balance Essex's numerous multitude:  
O! that their temperance had but equalised  
Their valour: would Rupert had exercised  
A stricter Discipline, and not by force  
Suffered his stout (though too licentious) Horse;  
Coin, Arms, and Horses to extort from those,  
That doubtless (but for this) near the King's foes  
Had proved: Indeed plundering, intemperance,  
Bacchus his bowls; Venus her dalliance  
Were of the Royal party the sole bane,  
How many men surprised! how many slain!  
Oft in their cups; want! want! of discipline,  
Our Cause (though just) made many to decline.  
Yet our Commanders, this to tolerate;  
The want of pay, did thus necessitate.  
Nor long to us, did any such adhear,  
Who in their service mercenary were.  
☞ By this time Essex numerous Forces were  
Drawn out of London, to North-Hampton, where  
They wait their General 's coming: and indeed,  
In number three to one, they did exceed  
The Kings: So zealously was London bend  
Against the King, to aid the Parliament.  
Essex arrived, with his Army now,  
Coventry, Warwick, and North-Hampton too  
Did fortify: Gloucester then did stand  
For th' Parliament, under Massies command.  
To Worcester Rupert his Troops doth bring,  
Thinking that City, strongly for the King  
To fortify; But Essex Horse so near,  
Prevents his stay and resolutions there,  
Nevertheless, both parties now so near,  
Scorn to retreat, as men surprised with fear,  
Before their Gallantry they have expressed,  
By skirmishing most fiercely they contest,  
They ride up close, and boldly do give fire,  
In one another's bosoms, then retire.  
Others advancing, do their rooms supply,  
Their discharged Pistols, at the heads do fly  
Then of each other, and incontinent  
Then hand to hand, unto the Sword they went,  
Some giving, some receiving many a wound,  
Till many a man lay gasping on the ground.  
But Rupert causeth a retreat to sound,  
Lest that the numerous foes should him surround,  
And from this skirmish, up his Troops doth bring  
To Shrewsbury, for to attend the King,  
Sands now his Prisoner, whose whole Regiment,  
To Rout and Ruin, in this Skirmish went.  
That famous River that Sabriua's name,  
From her drowned in it, doth as yet retain,  
Almost surrounds the Town of Shrewsbury,  
His Magazine, Mint, Coin, Artillery,  
His Person too, here did the King confide,  
A Town by Art, and Nature fortified:  
☞ During the King 's (though short) residing here  
His smaller Forces much augmented were,  
So that he takes the field, fully intent  
For London, but this Essex doth prevent,  
Who with his Force, at Worcester did lie,  
And hearing that the King was marching by,  
Draws out his Army, and to Coventry  
After the King, directly marcheth he  
Resolved to fight: Such preparations are,  
Made England to engage in Civil War;  
Whose desperate prologue, Muse thou must prepare,  
Indoleful accents, now for to declare.  
Now Phoebus did from th' Equinoctial Line,  
His course to the Antarctic Pole decline,  
Nor could the cooler air yet qualify,  
men's hotter Zeal, and desperate fervency  
To Civil Wars; this Fire alone must be  
Quenched with blood, dolorous Phlebotomy.  
In  there lies a spacious Plain,  
(Pity that Civil blood should it distain)  
Near Keinton, called the vale of the Red Horse,  
Where General Essex, with his numerous force  
Was now arrived: The Royalists hard by  
Upon Edge-Hill, their near approach descry,  
And there their Troops most gallantly display,  
Putting their Battle, quickly in Array.  
Linsey was Captain General for the King,  
But Ruthen ordered their embattailing,  
The valiant Linsey with his Pike in hand,  
Led the main Body: Rupert did command  
Those Gallant Troops, placed in the right wing,  
Bravely the left Carnarvan on did bring.  
Essex this while embattled did stand,  
His right battalions Balfore did command.  
Ramsey his left: Hurry this Day did serve  
In the right wing, and was Balfore's reserve:  
Essex a while his Infantry did head,  
Till Meldrum came, who on the same did lead:  
Essex now mounted, in his Army's sight,  
Thus to the Battle did his men excite;  
☞ Take Courage, Soldiers, from your juster cause,  
It's for Religion, Liberty, and Laws  
You fight: who would not spend their dearest blood  
Now for Religion 's sake; and England's good?  
What, do not Pressures, Poles, cursed subsidies?  
Ship-monies, Taxes, damned Monopolies?  
Now Fleece us Subjects, for no Sovereign use,  
Impudent by permission, grows abuse.  
What is not superstitious innovation  
Of Romish Rites, Cross-Altar-Adoration  
Obtruded on us? have we not permission  
Of the Mass-Idol: See! the exhibition  
Of Sports, even to the Sabbath 's Profanation,  
Are authorised by Order, Proclamation.  
Cards, Dice, Bowls, Tennis, Stage-plays, Sabbathsport  
Are made, both in the Country and the Court.  
Dare mortal men, Gods moral Laws withstand?  
What God forbids, dare earthly men command?  
O Sinful days! O impious, hellish times!  
When even by Order, warranted are Crimes,  
Bad Precedents, without indulging Laws,  
Find too too frequent, practice and applause:  
Ambitious Prelates, now do arrogate,  
In honours temporal, to Officiate,  
Their Romish Doctrines, ceremonious guise,  
All pious hearts resent and much despise.  
Nuncio's from Rome to England now resort,  
And much were honoured in our English Court?  
Wither when Jezabel's proud Sons were come,  
They much admired in England to find Rome.  
It's not against the King that we declare,  
But those that Authors, and Abettors are,  
Of these strange things: who will not rather die?  
Then be ensnared again in Popery?  
Even in your looks I easily perceive  
Your forwardness, I know you'll not deceive  
My expectations: for (methinks) I see  
You in pursuit, and yonder Troops to flee;  
Methinks I see what numbers we have slain,  
How many prisoners, Horse, Arms, Colours ta'en;  
How every Soldier is enriched with prize,  
What rare inventions London doth devise  
To grace our Triumphs: how their Bonfires burn,  
And Bells ring loud to honour our return.  
His wicked council all dispersed and fled,  
In Triumph shall the King himself be led  
By us unto his London Parliament,  
Who will reward with condign punishment  
Most of his wicked party: valorous bee,  
Take resolution, magnanimity,  
Brave Soldiers, and indeed you may confide,  
All these presages shall be verfied.  
☞ At this, a prologue, to the near dispute,  
Essex the King, daringly did salute,  
With a loud Volley of his Ordinance,  
Whose fiery balls near to the King did glance,  
As he from his prospective did survey  
Their Army, in that Valley where they lay,  
And then three acclamations, even so high  
Their Army gave; as seemed to rend the sky.  
☞ At which brave Linsey soon the King desired  
Leave to go on: Saying Essex hath fired  
His Cannons on us; and shall we stand still  
And suffer his great shot our men to kill?  
Shall we be dared thus by such proud foes,  
And thus our bodies to their Guns expose?  
☞ To whom, the best of Kings, sadly replied,  
Loath, loath I am my Sword should e'er be died  
In civil blood; my soul doth much decline  
These worst of wars; are not these people mine?  
(If undeceived) we suddenly should see  
Their Arms cast down, they all would come to me.  
☞ But now (more pity) fight indeed we must,  
Therefore (brave Soldiers) that your cause is just,  
I know you are persuaded, Loyalty  
Under your Sovereign's Ensigns here to die,  
Or conquer, doth, and did you first engage,  
How factious Zeal some Sectaries doth enrage  
Against their King, you are not ignorant;  
I hope they'll see their errors and recant.  
Others that are not such, we soon shall see  
Prove loyal, Essex leave, and turn to me.  
Wound not, who e'er of them before you flies  
Such are not yours, nor yet my enemies.  
And now your magnanimity approve,  
If you your Country, or your Sovereign love.  
See, how your King (if conquered, see no more)  
Your courage, utmost valour doth implore.  
They are more numerous; let our fortitude  
Their numbers balance; when they are subdued,  
'Twill be our glory that with numbers less,  
We did their greater conquer; on, possess  
Their Riches, Camp, Artillery, as prize,  
Yonder rich Army I to you demize,  
Win Gold and wear't: my cause's just intent,  
God now assist as I am innocent.  
The murdering Cannons now began to play,  
VVhose so well levelled bullets made their way  
Through many a rank; heads, arms, and legs, off fly  
Which hit, and oft strike dead the standers by.  
The Chain-shot, by the middle cuts asunder  
Whole Files of men; who, now in death do wonder  
How this so wide a passage open stood,  
At once to let out all their vital blood.  
How head and feet, legs, and arms, in one place,  
By this strange death conjoined should now embrace  
From Morterpeeces great Granado's fly,  
Which in their fall kill some; but to the sky  
Do in their breath blow up who stand them near,  
From others their dismembered Limbs they tear:  
Others their furious blasts do blow stone-blind,  
O hapless men to such sad fates designed.  
☞ As a tempestuous, Heaven-obscuring shower,  
With violence doth Rain, or Hail down power,  
With Lightnings, frequent flashes intermixed,  
And loud sky-renting Thunder claps betwixt.  
Even so from fire-lock-Pistolls and Carbines,  
The fire like lightning from the sky now shines;  
And fiery Bullets with their thicker flight  
Obscure the day and antedate the night.  
Sulphurous clouds of smoke toffed with the wind  
With fiery flashes glancing through them, blind  
Both Horse and man, so that they cannot see,  
Therefore less fear their quick Catastrophe.  
☞ The King's Forlorn, Dives his Regiment,  
First down the hill courageously on went.  
Where Major Backstake with his party clears  
The Hedges lined with Essex Musketeers.  
The Royalists then cheerfully descend  
The hill: as bravely Essex doth defend  
The ground whereon his Army Marshaled stood,  
Till that red Valley, redder became with blood.  
☞ But like a Lion greedy of his prey,  
At length their left wing, Rupert doth assay,  
Whose charge most furious and Heroic might  
Them break, and put to a disordered flight,  
Rupert through Keinton in pursuit doth ride,  
Then fell to plunder; Hurry soon espied  
This fair advantage; and with eagerness,  
Did now on Wilmot and Carnarvan press,  
Forcing them to give ground: Then wheeled about  
And fiercely charged on the Royal foot,  
Where soon the furious Horse asunder rents,  
Linsey's, Bowls, Paget's, Fielding Regiments.  
Brave Linsey seeing his in such distress,  
Rallies a party soon for their redress;  
And like a Tiger of her whelps deprived,  
In thickest Troops of Armed foes arrived?  
Most valiantly thousands doth kill or wound,  
Yet him the numerous foes at length surround,  
☞ But when his Son, renowned Willowby,  
His Father thus encompassed did see  
He rides up with his Troops: gave such a charge,  
As soon, his noble Father did enlarge  
But wounded, soon (too soon, alas) he died,  
A fatal loss unto the Royal side.  
☞ The Royal Standard Balfores Troops had ta'en  
Varney the Standard-bearer being slain,  
A valiant Gentleman who this espied,  
Gallantly through their thickest Ranks did ride,  
And there (the new Possessor having slain)  
The Standard Royal bravely did regain.  
For which brave exploit, Knight and Baronet  
The King bedubed him: Balfore hard beset  
With our fresh Troops, most bravely was assailed,  
And made give ground: The Royalists prevailed  
Sometimes, and sometimes Essex: Dubious  
Was Fortune whom to make victorious.  
☞ By this, that spacious Valley was bespread,  
With heaps of Men, and Horses that lay dead;  
From several wounds, the several streams of blood,  
Increased to an overspreading Flood,  
Whose stronger currents to the lower ground,  
Drove down some bodies, now both killed, & drowned,  
Thus many deaths, poor mortals do attend,  
When one's sufficient to enforce their end.  
Here might you hear the sad laments and moans,  
In doleful accents, of their dying groans,  
Some execrating their Nativity,  
Others that Fatal day: Revenged to be  
Some vowed; and with their Swords about them laid,  
Now even in Death: Some boldly did upbraid  
The Parliaments Pretences feigned, some swore,  
And off their heads, their hair they fiercely tore;  
Some Prayed, and were exceeding Penitent,  
Such several humours, dying men present.  
Who late against each other boldly fought,  
Their Reconciliation Death had wrought,  
Whose blood dispended, falling in one place,  
Kindly now, arm in arm, by Death embrace.  
Here might you see a bullet-galled steed,  
Now of his wounded, or dead rider freed,  
Fiercely run through the field, and oft out-tread  
The bowels of the living, and the dead.  
Here might you see two armed Gallants met,  
Their courage sharper than their swords was whet  
By vowed revenge, much hotter was their ire;  
Than from their clashing swords that sparkling fire,  
Whose courage, strength, dexterity, and art,  
Byinter-courses each did play their part  
Till blood and strength expended; these two foes  
Upon that bed of honour both repose;  
Whose streaming blood could not be intermixed  
Such strong antipathy was them betwixt.  
☞ A Cockney, whom blind zeal-did much inflame,  
Essex to serve, a Volunteer late came;  
Who to his fellows vaunted, they should see;  
The wicked (none pursuing) for to flee.  
Tomkins said true, the Cannons began to play,  
Down went his Arms, and straight he ran away.  
A flying piece of a Granado-shell,  
Struck Simpson into th'back, who dead down fell,  
Speaking these words, then with his latest wind  
'Tis base and cowardly for to strike behind.  
☞ A welshman, who came as a Volunteer,  
Hur King to serve, proudly did domineer  
Before the fight, vowing that her would slay,  
All Rebell-Round-heads that came in her way?  
Essex himself should not escape her hand  
If that he durst, till her came to him stand?  
Essex might long have stood; Taffy was gone  
Before the fight, and so killed ne'er a one,  
For when he heard the Cannons begin to play,  
Down went his Bill; and straight he ran away  
Swearing by got, in English he could swear,  
He ne'er before such roaring Devils did hear.  
☞ Another Welshman, armed a cap a pee,  
Upon a Charger fierce, mounted was he;  
His two-edg'd-sword, drawn in his hand did shine,  
His Pistols charged, and also his Carbine.  
To have him heard, and seen, you would have swore  
Stout master Morgan would have chased a score.  
But when't came to his turn for to have fought,  
T'have faced about, and fled, Morgan had thought.  
But his fierce Horse, that did in War delight,  
Went on indeed in Morgan's hearts despite;  
Morgan with all his might pulled at the Reign  
To stop his Horse, alas! 'twas all in vain.  
With pulling, and for fear, dead men to see,  
Backwards, even to his horse tail, bowed he.  
On went the horse: The Royalists surpassed,  
Amongst the adverse party runs at last.  
☞ A Cockney that him in this posture spied,  
Come fiercely on; hold good sir, quarter cried;  
The Cockney seeing that he made no stay,  
Turn'd's horse about, and fairly ran away.  
Morgan more valorous than he wised or wiled,  
Was thrown at last, and under's horse feet killed;  
The Cockney that fled, when he Morgan spied,  
Into a Saw-pit, broke his neck, and died.  
☞ But now the obscure mantle of the night,  
Each Army veiled, from one another's sight,  
Only the Musketeers, so thick gave fire,  
As yet gave light, to both for to retire;  
Neither could either Io, Paean, sing  
Though victory more inclined to the King:  
☞ Yet both parties claimed the triumphal Bayss,  
And noble Palm; both parties returned praise  
For Victory, to their Heavenly Deities,  
Both parties had taken Ensigns, Prisoners, Prize,  
Both parties of Victory, Trophies did display,  
And on the field that night, both parties lay:  
By those great fires, which were the only light,  
Left them in this obscurity of night.  
That night in a black cloud, the Sun had set,  
As looking on Edge-Hill, with much regret;  
Ravenous beasts, Rapacious birds of prey,  
All hovered near this fatal field that Day,  
Each man the night before, in his last sleep  
Seemed to lament, howl out, and sadly weep,  
And by Anticipation to prevent  
In fancy, this cursed days doleful event.  
☞ Titan (though late) now Thetis lap forsaken,  
And either Army, might with horror look  
Upon each other; all the Vale bespread  
Betwixt them, with their intermixed Dead.  
Nor would the Sun, bee-clouded that Day, yield  
His Rays should shine upon this bloody field.  
In Warlike posture here both Armies stand  
Until high noon, than Essex gave command  
For to march off: His Briggades to complete,  
From hence for London, strait he doth retreat.  
☞ But when the best of Kings surveyed the slain,  
He sighed and wept, and wept and sighed again,  
Saying, alas! alas! deceived were  
Some thousands of these Dead, that now lie here  
Slain in Rebellion; we lament their fate,  
And their Sepulture, here we imperate,  
As well as these, that Love and Loyalty,  
Have for our Cause engaged here to Die;  
Our gracious Pardon too, we here Proclaim  
To all, that shall or will embrace the same.  
Before that Cynthia with her borrowed light,  
Shall three times fill her Globe; at this he sighed  
And wept again, but off the Army went  
For Loyal, Royal Oxford now intent.   
Finis Libri Secundi.   

THE English CIVIL WARS.  
BOOK III.  

The Contents.  
Blake hanged: divers vicessitudes of Warr.  
Brainford fight: Rupert storms Cirincester:  
Lord Brooks his acts, his fatal wound, and death.  
The fights in Riple-fields: On Haopton-heath,  
Litchfield stormed twice: & Reading ta'en had been  
Chalgrave, Landsdown; and Roundway fights: The Queen  
At Burlington doth land: The King and she  
Meet on Edge-Hill: Gloucester siege: Newberry  
First fight: Eccleshal siege: Arundel ta'en;  
Bramdean-heath fight; where noble Smith was slain.  
Prince Griffiths gallantry, and quick defeat,  
Rupert from Newark siege, doth Meldrum beat.   

IN order good the Royalists retire,  
And now at leisure, farther do inquire  
Into their taken papers, which descry  
One Blake a Traitor, whom the King to die  
Adjudged in a halter, would each tree,  
To end the Wars, bore but such fruit as he:  
This Blake the Royal Court belonged unto,  
Worse is a secret, than an open foe.  
To Banbury the Royal Army came,  
Resolved by storm for to enforce the same.  
Rochfords, and Peterboroughs Regiments,  
All Blue-coats did lie there; Marrow prevents  
The King's assault, by yielding of the Town  
Upon Conditions. Rupert now sat down  
Broughton before, a House of the Lord Say,  
At the first Peal, his Ordinance did play;  
The House is yielded, the King's next address,  
By dint of Sword, was Brainford to possess.  
Nor could the Foes, the Kings approach descry,  
By reason of the mist-condenced sky,  
Till them the Cannon's thundering language gave  
A fierce allar'm; a while resistance brave,  
Was made by Traitorous Hollis Regiment.  
Courageously the Royalists on went;  
Enforce the Town, whose Streets are paved again,  
With numerous bodies of the men there slain,  
The Channels run, as after a great flood  
In stronger currents, with their warmer blood.  
☞ But while the King plays at this prosperous game  
Lord Brooks, & Hamden's regiments on came  
Maintaining 'gainst the King, a bloody fight,  
From Noon, till the Obscurity of night  
Parted the fray; Also the Parliament  
Had numerous Forces out of London sent,  
So That the King almost surrounded was;  
Kingston alone gave way for his repass:  
Then having given the Rebels this defeat,  
Safely for Oxford did the King retreat.  
☞ Though greater Hosts in Winter Quarter's rest,  
Yet smaller parties, sharply thus contest,  
Nor, had the Royalists alone success,  
massy did Sudeley-Castle much distress;  
Wooll-packs on rolling frames, his men had set,  
Under whose covert, to the Walls they get  
Free from the Castle-shot, the Barns they fire  
With Hand-Granado's, in the smoke aspire  
And mount the walls, but Bridges thus distressed  
A Parley sounds, and yields what he possessed.  
☞ Prince Rupert taking this in great despite,  
Resolved was, the Rebels to require;  
Therefore next day, his Force he did combine  
Sudeley before, yet was his chief design  
On Cirincester; whether when he came  
With fire and sword, he did assault the same.  
Of Hand-Granado's, a thick flight was sent  
Into the Town, for the first compliment,  
Which their Outhouses, and their Barns all fired,  
With resolution, yet to be admired,  
Over the Bul-works, than the Foot soon flew  
In full Divisions, than the Horse ensue;  
Stamford's whole Regiment, were well nigh slain,  
And twice five hundred Prisoners also ta'en.  
A timorous Footman, when the Prince drew near,  
In a Straw-mough had hid himself for fear,  
Burned was the Straw, in it the Footman too,  
Him his presumed safety did undo,  
Apparent danger's often more secure,  
Then in strong walls, ourselves for to immure.  
Next day from hence, the Prince victorious went  
To Gloucester, and in his Summons sent:  
But massy boldly his Demands denied,  
Now did the Prince before the Town reside,  
But marched off; and in great triumph came  
To Oxford, with his Prize so lately ta'en.  
☞ Some Irish also, for the King do land,  
Over which Earnly did in chief command.  
Massy to Berkley, with his Troops now came,  
And for a while stood facing of the same,  
Till Herbert with his Horse came up, they fire,  
Kill some on both parts, and then both retire.  
Near Tedbury, massy also dissipates  
All Cary's Horse: Beverston on thy gates,  
Massie's bold Foot, do fasten their Pittard,  
But their audatiousness, thou didst reward,  
Beating them off with loss: To Wotton then  
Massy (still active) next led up his men,  
Skirmishing there a while, with those within.  
Now landed Leger, and bold Colonel Min  
At Bristol with more Irish: These design  
With Herbert, Digby, Winter to combine  
And Block up Gloucester, massy suppress;  
Skirmishes oft indifferent, for success  
Happened amongst them; scarce a Town was free  
Of any strength, but garrisoned must be,  
In that impoverished County: Wretched are  
The Seats of most uncivil Civil War.  
☞ Worcester's Earl with his most noble Son,  
To Gloucester with their Welsh Forces come,  
Encamp at Higham, and demand the Town.  
Near Monmoth, as this Army late came down,  
Burrows they beat, with his new Regiments,  
☞ Massy from their Demands in scorn Dissents,  
Telling them plain, he Rupert had denied,  
And soon would curb, their Insolence and Pride.  
Can a Welsh Army think that to regain?  
Which Rupert did Demand, but all in vain;  
Glory not that you Winter did defeat,  
Slew Lunley, and did Burrows Forces beat  
Late in the Forest; shortly you shall feel,  
And know, our sword's of better-tempered steel.  
☞ Now while these Forces here encamped lie  
Against the Town, from Bristol a supply  
Came unto massy: Malmsbury now won,  
Even Waller too, did with his Army come  
To join with Massy; The Welsh they assail  
Even in their Camp, and do so far prevail,  
That in the place, some hundreds there they kill,  
The rest take Gloucester against their will.  
☞ To Hereford from hence then Waller goes,  
Scudamore, and his Roy allifts oppose  
And keep the Town; Waller against the gates  
His Guns doth play, the first shot perforates  
The boards (though strong) and did the Gate behind  
Strike off a Captain's head; some were designed  
Upon another side, assault to make,  
Which boldly Captain Grey did undertake.  
The Town distressed, unmanned, not fortified,  
Yielded, most of the Soldiers undiscried,  
Over Wy-bridge, away for Wales do pass,  
Whilst Waller busied in the Parley was;  
Nor yet did Waller keep the Town thus gained,  
Though after for the King it was retained.  
☞ Monmoth before, when Waller first appears,  
It is deserted by the Cavaliers,  
Waller it leaves, and toward England came,  
Yet for the King Lane after kept the same,  
Till Stovens by Treachery did the same surprise,  
That Lane betrayed it, some indeed surmise.  
Waller from Wales, for Gloucester intent,  
To intercept and fight him Morris went,  
Who, ere the Prince's Horse could him Descry,  
Beat up their Quarters, and so marched by.  
Morice alarmed, thus falls in his rear,  
And for a while engaged both parties were,  
And then do both retire: massy had heard,  
How waller's passage, Morris had debarred:  
And marching out to meet him, did him find  
Near Teuxbury, and their Forces now combined,  
They do resolve upon that Town to fall,  
And on they go, the Guard surprised all  
Sleeping, (indeed over secure they were,  
Dreading no danger, Morice now so near)  
The Town they enter, break up doors, inquire  
For Cavaliers; Muskets and Pistols fire  
In at the windows; Carew's men some dye,  
Some Prisoners ta'en, some hid them, others fly.  
Next day some of the Prince's Horse appear  
In Ripple-fields, the rest embattled were  
Near Upton-bridge: Waller came, doth them view,  
But fight did decline, and off-ward drew  
With his Dragoons, thinking to guard his Rear;  
The Prince advancing chargeth: all in fear  
Through their own foot upon the Bridge, they fly,  
Whose heels could not them save, there Pistoled lie  
Hasleridge comes up with a fresh recrute,  
And for a while retards this hot pursuit;  
But Morris presseth on with his bold Horse,  
And soon to flight, them all doth reinforce,  
Many of waller's, in this flight do die;  
But at Mitch-hill again a fresh supply  
Of Foot them meet; The Prince there makes a stand,  
And then an orderly retreat command.  
☞ From London with his forces came Lord Brook  
And Stafford-Avon first his Lordship took,  
Defeating Crooker; Wagstaff, and stout Twist.  
Nor could brave Leichfield then his powers resist,  
The Town first won, his zealous Ordinance  
Play 'gainst the Close. But mark what fatal chance  
Befell this Zealot; whilst he did espy  
Out at a loophole, even into the eye  
A bullet pierced him, and down dead fell he?  
Thus from a Church, the Church's enemy,  
By the Son of a Churchman here lay slain,  
His men went on, and did the fight maintain  
Winning the Close, a noble sacrifice  
Of Cavaliers unto his Ghost here dies.  
☞ But stout North-Hampton, Leichfield to regain  
Against the Close, doth a close fiedge maintain,  
Until his Scouts came in and do him tell,  
Of the approach of Brearton and old Gell.  
At this, with his Horse and Dragoons he goes,  
Boldly to meet his near approaching foes.  
Where soon his unexpected charge and sight,  
Puts all Gell's Horse to a disordered flight.  
And then the foot threw down their Arms and yield  
numerous the Prisoners were, ta'en on the field.  
Yet dear (too dear, alas) this victory cost,  
For brave North-Hampton's life, for it was lost,  
Who charging in the front, his Horse first shot,  
Dismounted there his mortal wound he got.  
But gallant 'tis on honour's bed to lie,  
And thus victorious Loyally to die.  
☞ Prince Rupert too, at Leichfield now arrived,  
His mines the Close for to regain contrived,  
Which sprung, the valorous Soldiers on do go,  
But were repulsed stoutly by the foe.  
After an hours respite, (though in vain)  
With greater courage on they went again.  
For with great slaughter they repulsed were,  
Ruddy with blood the Moats do all appear.  
And of dead Corpse in every place do lie  
Great heaps, the Breaches and the Ladders by.  
Yet to the Soldiers no discouragement  
Was this, for on the third time now they went,  
And bravely enter, russel's then retreats  
Unto the Church, and there a parley beats.  
Rupert that they in warlike equipage  
Should all march off, his honour doth engage.  
☞ This while had General Essex Force sat down  
Reading before, playing upon the Town  
With his great Ordinance; then did assay  
To scale the works; and by main-force, his way  
To make into the Town; but off was beat,  
And in despite was forced to retreat.  
After some days, again they do assail  
The Town; and did some of the outworks gain  
Though with much loss: The King sent a supply,  
Of Ammunition, Men, Artillery,  
Which safe arrived there in Essex sight,  
But this his Lordship did so much despite,  
That he commands the Soldiers to prepare  
Now for a third assault, his Ladders are  
Provided; walls, and works, his Cannons beat  
All down before them, his Granades great  
Blow up whole houses; and in furious guise  
His soldiers do attempt the Enterprise.  
Aston made brave resistance for that while  
He could do service; for a ponderous Tyle,  
Which from a house a Cannon bullet rend  
So bruised his head, that now incompetent  
Of all command he was; Fielding's resolve  
Now upon whom the power did all devolve,  
Was for to yield, a parley sounded is.  
On gallant terms, indeed both he and his  
March out: The Royalists the Act decry,  
And by a Martial Council judged to die  
Was Felding for't at Oxford: but the King,  
Pardoned the person, and forgave the thing.  
☞ Rupert and Gunter did at Chalgrave meet,  
And with their discharged Pistols boldly greet  
Each other, but Rupert shot Gunter dead,  
And whilst the Traitorous Hamden there did head  
His party, he received a mortal wound  
Even on that field, upon that very ground;  
Where first against the King he did declare,  
Even so remarkable God's Judgements are.  
Numerous the Prisoners were, that Rupert took;  
☞ But let's a while now into Cornwall look.  
On Landsdown hills, most advant agious ground  
Waller encamps; Hills, Woods, and Walls, surround  
His Camp almost; what part did open lie  
With Rampires, and strong works they fortify,  
Lining the hedges thick with muskereers,  
Slaining advanceth with his Cavaliers.  
Whose horse at the first charge disordered were.  
The Cornish foot charge up; the hedges clear;  
The Horse now rallied, bravely wheel about  
Charge home in deed; put Waller's Horse to rout  
With a great slaughter; the first hill regained,  
Brave Greenvile with a stand of Pikes maintained  
Against their Horse, and shot both great and small  
But there, alas, that valorous Knight did fall,  
With hundreds more; four brave assaults they make  
On waller's Camp: the fifth, they do it take.  
To the next hill, Waller his men retires,  
At midnight many Marches there he fires,  
Hanging the hedges with them; and so flies,  
The Royalists still firing: A brave prize.  
The morning light, to Slaining's men descried,  
Sharpe was the fight, numerous the men that died  
On both sides; for from noon even till midnight,  
Continued was this bloody desperate fight.  
☞ Through unfrequented byways Waller flies,  
Yet him Prince Morice met near the Device  
At Roundway-Down; but with two thousand men,  
And though indeed Waller was nine or ten,  
Morris him greeted with so brave a charge,  
That from close Order, soon his men enlarge  
To shameful flight, the Royalists pursue,  
Numbers of Prisoners took; numbers they slew  
Six thousand Arms, ten Cannons, and great store  
Of Ammunition, hence the Victor's bore.  
The Captives did the Victors duplicate,  
Which Round-way-Downe did Run-way nominate.  
☞ Whilst these transactions in the South do pass  
At Burlington the Queen arrived was;  
Of Arms and Ammunition store she brought,  
With the Crown Jewels late in Holland bought.  
The Parliaments great Ships that hovered near,  
When once these Royal parties landed were,  
And the Convoy returned; near shore advance,  
On Burlington with their great Ordinance  
They play off Shipboard; for an hour and more,  
And then weigh Anchor and put off from shore.  
☞ Ougleby and Montrosse to the Queen's train  
Conjoin their Troops, and first to York they came.  
Jermin was the Queen's General, th' Infantry  
Infamous Lesley led; her Chavalry  
The noble Gerrard; Leg the sole Chieftain  
Of her Artillery; and thus they came  
From York up to Edge-Hill; where the King meets  
His Loyal Consort, and most kindly greets  
Her with embraces most affectionate,  
And with great joy doth there congratulate  
Het safe return; Sweet Martial Melody,  
Doth make the Echoing Hills and Vales reply,  
And tell the World, what love and joys there are  
Conceived at meeting, of this Royal pair.  
The Thundering Cannons play at such a rate,  
Judgements loud Trump, seeming to antedate,  
So sweet the Levits were, so high the strain,  
Joying those Loyal Ghosts, there lately slain.  
☞ From hence these Royal Armies, all repair  
To Gloucester: All things provided are  
Now for the Siege: And thus the Camp sat down,  
After the King, in vain, summoned the Town.  
Upon the South, laid Ruthen Earl of Forth,  
Ashley on th' East, Vavaser on the North,  
The River, and most of the Chavalry,  
Upon the West side of the Town did lie;  
Still in the Leaguer doth the King reside,  
Ladders, and Engines, numerous they provide,  
And with their batteries, make the City-wall  
As leaves from Trees, in Autumn, for to fall:  
Yet could not enter, for the Deeper Moat,  
In which so many Faggots thrown, still float  
Upon the waters, so that they repair  
Their breaches: The King's Mines countermined are.  
The King (whilst here) much precious time did lose,  
Either the art, or prowess of the Foes,  
Or the Towns strength (this Town's) unfortunate,  
Did all the Kings assaults annihilate.  
Many bold Sallies the Besieged make  
Some wound, some kill, & some they prisoners take,  
☞ Whilst Gloucester the King besieged in vain,  
Exiter did Prince Morice powers regain.  
Before this Town a while the Prince had laid,  
And on it only with his Cannons played,  
Then makes a fierce assault, prevails so far,  
As that their mounts, works, sconces, all won are,  
And their own Cannons turned against the Town,  
In this distress they beat a Parley soon  
And yield on Quarter: Thus even the whole West  
Became the Kings, for Rupert had possessed  
Bristol before: The third or fourth Day,  
Fines had surrendered, and was marched away.  
☞ That constant Herald, even swift flying fame,  
Now told the King, how General Essex came  
To raise his Siege, who Rupert off soon sent,  
To be to Essex an impediment,  
And to retard his Marches, whilst that he  
From Gloucester drew of is Artillery.  
Some skirmishes betwixt these parties pass,  
Yet Gloucester relieved by Essex was,  
And having done this feat so much desired,  
For London he resolved to have retired.  
☞ But Rupert follows with a numerous force  
Of Chavalry, and Bodies brave of Horse,  
Marches for Wilt-shire, and to Aubern near,  
Most boldly falls in General Essex rear.  
Urry first charged, who the Forlorn did lead,  
Did execution much, many fell Dead  
His Troops before; But Essex faced about,  
And well-nigh put brave Jermins' Horse to rout;  
Jermin and Digby shot, some also ta'en,  
Constable and La-vienville slain.  
☞ On Mavern Hills, they have a second bout,  
And for a while engage both Horse and Foot,  
With success equal: But this while the King  
To Newberry, his Infantry doth bring.  
Essex goes on to Cirincester, where  
Of Royalists, too many Quartered were  
Which he surprises. Next Day he did see  
The King embattled, near to Newberry.  
At the first sight, both parts began to fire,  
But night comes on, and so they both retire.  
A plot of very advantageous ground,  
This night about two miles off Essex found,  
On which he did encamp; But the next Day  
So soon as Phoebus, did his Rays display  
Fully upon our Hemisphere, the King  
Up even to Essex Front, his powers did bring.  
With the Forlorn, brave Lisle boldly went on,  
And first did fight, for ground to fight upon:  
Then the two Byron's with much Gallantry,  
Led on the Royal Horse, and Infantry,  
Acting their parts like Soldiers excellent,  
Even to their Enemy's astonishment:  
☞ Louder than Thunder, now the Cannon's roa●  
Heads, Legs, Arms, Thighs, with violence they to●…  
From whom they hit; Of Bullets the thick flight  
Even at high noon, induce a sudden night:  
As leaves in Autumn from an Oaken Wood,  
Men fall down Dead; the field overflows with blood  
Most hideous, piteous cries, and groans, resound  
From Dying men, laid on that bloody ground.  
Some wounds so wide, at once men's bloods do spill,  
Rapiers and Tucks, do full as surely kill  
With smaller pricks, the Fauchians broad hue down  
And cleave men, to the middle from the crown.  
Here might you see two ride up close, present,  
Give fire, then both fall Dead incontinent;  
Of Musketeers, whole Bodies you might see,  
Now come to push of Pike, fiercely let flee,  
With But end of their pieces at the Head  
Of one another, striking many Dead  
Even at a blow, their brains dispersed were,  
And oft did the survivours face besmear.  
Here might you see a Bullet-galled Horse,  
Through Ranks and Files, his bloody way enforce,  
Till on the point of a well-leveled Spear  
He runs himself, and there ends his carrear.  
☞ Whole Files of men, the Chain-shot cuts in twain,  
With the Plebeians, are great Nobles slain;  
Stroud, Falkland, Morgan, Fielding, Sunderland,  
Are now by Death, sequestered from command.  
☞ Noble Carnarvans Death was eminent,  
Who now had multitudes before him sent  
To Charons-boat; At length there did him meet  
An Armed Gallant with fierce blo … 〈…〉  
Each other, from each stroke the 〈…〉  
Doth sly about them, both at length retire,  
And then ride up again, and bravely tilt  
At one another, up even to the hilt:  
The Enemy did in Carnarvan sheathe  
His bloody Blade, nor did the other breath  
One minute after; for in Death more fierce,  
Carna vans sword, his very heart did pierce,  
Thus with their swords in one another's breast,  
They fell and laid on Honour 's bed to rest.  
☞ A timorous Footman laid close on the Earth  
Amongst the Dead, only for fear of Death,  
Yet peeping up often about him spied,  
A fierce Dragoon that him lie quick descried.  
In twain, his head with a broad Pole-axe slit,  
Freed him from what he feared, by giving it.  
☞ Andover, Peterborough, and Carlisle,  
Brave Lucas, Darcy, Gerrard, Ivers, Lisle,  
All wounded are led off; But Essex lost  
Here not a Lord, though dear his victory cost.  
☞ The King and Queen as sad spectator stood,  
And see the effusion of those Seas of Blood  
That flowed upon that field, and to retire  
Their well-nigh routed Army did require.  
Shrill sound the Trumpets, and the Drums loud beat;  
To some a glad, t' others a forced retreat.  
☞ Nor now had Essex any appetite  
To rally, and renew this bloody fight,  
For with Dead Corpse having now paved his way,  
For London strait he marched without all stay:  
And to Westminster did in Triumph bring,  
His (dear bought) Colours taken from the King.  
☞ Had but the King this Fatal Siege declined,  
And his brave Troops for London then designed;  
When first he came Gloucester walls before,  
He need not sure, have fought any more.  
Essex condition desperate at that time,  
The Londoners assistance did decline  
To th' Parliament, the Lords did all accord  
To end the Wars, the King should be restored,  
The principality of all the West,  
(Save Gloucester) the King as then possessed,  
But the Erratas we commit in War  
By fates Decree irrevocable are.  
Gell, Brearton, Ridgby, Jacson, all prepare,  
Bird in his Nest, Eccleshal, to ensnare  
And take; who came, first won the Church & Town,  
And then those Barns and Stables all burn down  
That stood the Castle near; Their Guns they plant  
Play at the Walls, yet all this cannot daunt  
Those here besieged; their hold they do Defend.  
To raise the Siege his Majesty did send,  
Capel, and Hasteings, who now drawing nigh,  
I' th' Church do the Besiegers fortify  
Themselves; Bird counsel to enforce them thence,  
The Lords cannot with so much time dispense  
To beat them out, so Bird resigns his place  
(Hopeless indeed as in the present case)  
To Captain Abel, and away he went  
With the Relief, the Siege incontinent  
Renewed was, and Abel thus confined,  
After a while to Gell the place resigned.  
☞ Arundel-Castle Waller came to take,  
Assaults most furious, many did he make,  
Yet, with great loss was bravely still repelled.  
After a month or more they out had held  
They yield; In it was a full years provision,  
Wondrous well man'd, of Arms and Ammunition  
Abundance, who can value this rich prize?  
Which made the most that knew it to surmise,  
Waller with Golden Cannons here had played,  
And so this last and greatest Battery made.  
☞ For Winchester Waller doth march, the Town  
Hopton possessed, and doth to Bramdean Down  
Draw out his men, resolved Waller to fight,  
Waller comes on, the Armies now in sight  
Each of the other; with loud shouts they rend  
The very Clouds, a Daring compliment  
Of thundering Cannons, is the first salute,  
Waller the Hill had gained, the first Dispute  
Was him to dispossess; but dear it cost,  
And many a life on both parts for it lost.  
This dear-gained Hill, Stout Lisle guarded that night,  
During which both parts did desist to fight.  
Another Hill more advantageous far,  
Waller had found, hither his Foot drawn are,  
The hedges lined, his Horse themselves display  
All in the Van. No sooner had the Day  
Lightened the World, but Hopton on doth press,  
Waller of his new-ground to dispossess.  
Balfore wheels off, as though he seemed to fly,  
The Ambuscado's of their Infrantry  
Are now descried: Yet no time to retire.  
In Volleys thick from th' hedges they give fire,  
Bullets like hailstones fly, that bloody ground  
Is covered with Dead Corpse, Ruthen a wound  
Received here; Lord Stuart here was slain,  
And that brave Smith, that erewhile did regain  
The Royal Standard at Edge-Hill; Stout Scot,  
Apleford, manning's, Sandies', all Colonels, shot.  
Most violent, and bloody was the fight,  
Sulphureous Powder-clouds, obscure the light,  
And fiery flashes through them blind men's eyes,  
Clashing of Armour, tumult, dolorous cries  
Of dying men resound in every place.  
waller's Commanders also fall apace,  
The Stout Dalbier had many a wound here got,  
A Cannon Bullet Thompson's thigh off shot,  
And numbers more lay bleeding on the ground.  
☞ Hopton at length a forced retreat doth sound,  
His men disordered well-nigh to a rout,  
To Basing-house from hence he wheels about  
Winchester left; Waller doth follow near,  
Winchester yields, when once his men appear  
Before the Town? Waller's successful fate,  
Prince Griffith doth indeed so animate,  
To undertake North-Wales, obedient  
To bring by force, unto the Parliament.  
From Lonoon in a most heroic guise,  
They set him forward to his enterprise;  
His silver Trumpets, Sumpters, brave attire  
Even of his Troopers, make the most admire.  
His first design is Rupert to seek out  
They meet; This Pseudo-Prince is put to rout,  
His men dispersed, all driven into holes;  
His golden Mountains, thus do prove but Moles;  
Like Phaeton now fallen from the sky  
Of all command; his vaunts and gallantry  
Lie buried now in scorn, his means spent all,  
Debauched he lives, Pride needs must have a fall.  
☞ Newark against Meldrum close siege had laid  
And many ways the Town to gain assayed;  
His Batteries, Mines, assaults were all in vain,  
Numbers each day of his assailants slain.  
Rupert at length with a brave Army comes,  
To raise the siege, Meldrum draws off his Guns  
At his approach; and to the Spittle near  
He plants them; all his foot embodied were  
In the same place; strong trenches them surround,  
His Horse stands prancing on that champion ground  
Under the Beacon-hill; Rupert draws nigh,  
And from the Beacon doth the foes descry  
Resolved to charge them; though his Foot and Rear  
Some three miles distant yet behind him were.  
In Order good, his men the hill descend,  
Stoutly their ground do Meldrums Horse defend.  
Bloody grew the dispute, the Vale bespread  
With heaps of Men and Horses, fallen, and dead.  
Rupert's right-wing was well-nigh put to rout,  
And cowardly some did run till Martin stout  
Came in to their relief, and turned the chase  
Making the late pursuers fly; give place.  
☞ Hasting's and Porter's acts were eminent,  
And Gerrard did service most excellent  
Till first dismounted, in his arm then shot  
He yields himself a Prisoner; who did not  
Rupert's heroic valour here amaze.  
As on some prodigy men stand and gaze  
So do his actions even attract each eye,  
To see, and wonder: him his deeds descry  
Three sturdy fellows him at length beset,  
And one fast hold, did of his Choler get;  
But that hold hand Neale at a blow in twain,  
Cut from its arm; a second there was slain  
By Rupert's self, the third was Pistoled dead  
By Master Mortaign. On the Prince doth lead  
His troops victorious; charging through the foes,  
Hewing down lains before him where he goes.  
☞ At length they run even quite behind their foot,  
Up to their works Rupert pursues the rout;  
And then retires out of their Cannon shot.  
☞ Tilliar by this, up with the foot was got;  
And from the hill most boldly doth them lead,  
Towards their Bridge of Boats, for which they plead  
With Volleys thick of Muskets, intermixed  
With thundering peals of Ordinance, betwixt  
Them, there they manage a most bloody fray.  
From Muscam-bridge their horse run quite away  
For Nottingham: the Prince's force surround  
Them at the Spittle. But at length they sound  
A parley; Rupert let them march away  
With Colours, Drums, Swords, Horses; but doth stay  
Their Cannons, Muskets, Powder, Match and Ball;  
The noble Gerrard was released withal.  
Then Rupert having given them this defeat,  
Doth to his best advantages retreat.   
Finis Libri Tertii.   

THE ENGLISH CIVIL WARS.  
BOOK IU.  

The Contents.  
Essex and waller's Forces are combined,  
Essex for Cornwall goes: Waller's designed  
The King to fight: Copedray-bridge dispute:  
The King doth after Essex make pursuit;  
Essex defeat in Cornwall: Malsmberry ta'en,  
Pennington Siege and Banburies': Min is slain;  
Ast-ferry fight: Monmoth lost and regaind:  
Newberry second fight: Norton constrained  
Baseing to leave: Wye- fight. Shrewsbury won  
Some Northern actions that this while are done.   

THe winged Musicians pleasantly did sing  
Their airy notes, to welcome in the spring,  
Tellus in her Green Livery was beclad,  
Flora the Meads with Flowers enamelled had,  
And now what County, or what Hamler clear  
Of Armed Camps, and Martial tumults were?  
Great expectation of some actions great  
Possess the World, for Oxford-shire the seat  
Of three great Armies was; combined here  
Essex and waller's numerous Forces were  
Against the King: who fight did Decline,  
With their united Forces; and design  
Them to divide, and then the one assail.  
Nor did the King his expectations fail,  
For he with winding Marches flies about,  
And they pursue their Guns, their numerous Foot,  
Their Carriages: their Marches so impede,  
That Essex doth from Waller now recede,  
And into Cornwall his great Guns doth bring,  
Waller alone left to pursue the King,  
☞ But ere they part the Heavens did evidence,  
Their Frowns on their Rebellious Insolence,  
And made them feel the thundering Jove well knew  
That his Anointed, none should dare pursue,  
A most prodigious storm of hail there fell  
Near Woodstock on them, out of Heaven, even Hell  
Seemed to be poured; every stone so great,  
As to the ground, down Horse and man did beat;  
Thus for two hours, the angry Clouds did pour  
Upon their heads this more than furious snower;  
Yet in the Royal Camp no hail at all,  
But two miles distant (wondrous strange) did fall.  
But let's return to Waller, and the King,  
His Majesty to Worcester doth bring.  
His Army Waller follows, Beudley then  
The King marched towards. Waller with his men  
Here got before; thinking the King would fly  
Strait up the River, unto Shrewsberry.  
The King wheels back for Worcester, and so  
Some two-days march had got before his foe.  
When first the King to Worcester drew nigh,  
From Dudley-Castle the Besiegers fly.  
In winding marches hence the King doth pass  
To Buckingham: his next March ordered was  
For Banbury; But Waller in his way,  
Upon Croach-hill, his Army doth display  
To the King's view: From that time, even till night,  
For Burley, and for Nethrope they do fight,  
Two Villages betwixt their Camps that laid,  
The loss was equal; but when night displayed  
Her sable Mantle o'er our Hemisphere,  
Waller advanced to Burton-hill; more near  
To Banbury, and here his Excellence  
Embattled stood: nor could be drawn from thence.  
For Daintry, off then march the Cavaliers,  
Leaving the Bridge well man'd with Musketeers  
To guard their Rear: Waller his Cannons sends  
First down the Hill, and then himself descends  
With his main Body, falls in the King's Rear,  
Compton and Cleaveland, first commanded were,  
With noble Bernerd's brave reserve of foot  
To make a stand, and then to face about  
And charge: most nobly on the Lords do go  
Charge through, and through the proud advancing foe.  
Nor Waller's thundering Cannons did they fear,  
Of which, the most here from him taken were.  
Wilmot, the Lords did second gallantly,  
Many of waller's on the Turf do die.  
Bloody the fight with courage brave maintained,  
Yet victory Nobly was at length regained  
On the King's part; Wilmot twice Prisoner ta'en,  
The valiant Clerk and Bootlier, both here slain.  
Haward and stout Cornwallis Knighted were  
Who seeing Wilmot Prisoner void of fear  
Rush through their thickest foes, and hundreds send  
To Charon's Boat; reschew their honoured friend.  
Waller by this gave ground, sounds a retreat,  
Fearing indeed a total rout, defeat;  
Nor could the King his victory home pursue,  
Cause Waller his advantages too, drew.  
☞ Some Leathern Guns; twelve Brass here taken were  
With Weems that Scot; their Master-Cannoneer,  
Who both against his Oath, and Loyalty  
Unto his Prince; Waller's Artillery  
Commanded; oh! ingratful mone-sworne- Scot,  
Against the King to act; who sure did not  
Deserve at thy hand; two hundred foot,  
Were also taken prisoners at this bout.  
And the like number on the ground lay slain  
Of Waller's men; for London now again  
For fresh recruits Waller his march doth take.  
Haste after Essex, hence the King doth make.  
In Cornwall now arrived Lestithiel near  
Where General Essex forces quartered were.  
The King's victorious forces upon sight  
Would needs go on, engage them there to fight.  
But them to starve the King resolves, and so  
Encamps his Army very near the foe.  
Himself at Mohum's house Boconnock lies.  
Greenvile came up at length with more supplies,  
And now by force of Lesterman possessed  
Essex was straightened much, much now distressed.  
A Fort and House near to Foy-Haven stood,  
The King got these; Essex deprived of food  
Was from the Sea by this; for these now man'd,  
The King that harbour solely did command.  
Yet 'cause the foes ground had so much still West  
And two small Harbours there as yet possessed.  
Morris upon their quarters doth design  
To fall; yet after some advice, decline  
The enterprise; for them to hunger out  
Was held the best: gore's Horse, Basset's Foot  
Therefore went West, betwixt them and Saint Blaze  
Obstructing all relief, in this sad case,  
Balfore doth with their Horse break quite away  
Leaving their Foot: Walgraves near Saltash lay  
Whom with his men, Balfore had nigh supprised.  
But when the old man better was advised  
That they were foes; his Brigade out he drew,  
A hundred of them on the place there slew,  
Took Abercony Prisoner, and some more  
Goring pursued too, but they got o'er  
To Plymouth: in the mean time all the foot  
Lestithiel left; to Foy-ward marching out,  
Many brave Cannons left behind them were  
The King possessed them; follows in their Rear  
From hedge, to hedge, most bravely doth them beat.  
At length they face, and force the King retreat,  
Having got an advantage of the ground,  
On goes brave Bret, (and though he got a wound)  
With the Queen's Troop, and forced them run again,  
Only some four or five of his were slain,  
For which brave service he was dubbed Knight.  
Nobly Lord Stuard did in this same fight  
Behave himself; With the King's Troop: Wray's Foot  
Twice forcing from their hedges, to a rout;  
But night comes on and parts this running fray,  
And in this night their General stole away  
With Meirick, and Lord Roberts in a beat,  
To Plymouth o'er the Waves they nimbly float.  
Leaving their Army in this great distress.  
Pity such men should General's names possess;  
Who will not with their men participate,  
In most adverse, as well as prosperous state;  
O timorous men! notorious cowar dize.  
Ten thousand men to leave in such a guise.  
But the swift hours by this induce the day,  
And known it was Essex was run away,  
Butler his Drums a parley caused to beat,  
And with the Royalists on terms they treat.  
And in conclusion, thus they do agree,  
To leave their Powder, Arms, Artillery.  
Only to officers it granted was,  
With Pistols, Swords, and Horses off to pass.  
Ten thousand Arms, brass Pieces forty nine,  
Seven hundred Carriages they here resign  
Of Powder too; three hundred barrels: then  
Their Armless Army march: yet of their men  
Some thousands take up Arms on the King's part.  
From Cornwall doth his Majesty departed  
For Oxford; and sole Master of the field  
Barstable, Ilfercombe, and Saltash yield,  
To his victorious Troops, (Saltash was ta'en  
By storm, and therefore many of them slain.)  
Thus in the West, the King was prevailent  
Gloucester near, the game against him went,  
As though that county were designed to be,  
The King and Kingdoms, sole Catastrophe.  
Massy at Beverstone once worsed; again  
Draws out his men that Castle to regain,  
Makes an assault; but least unto the foes  
The places weakness should their lives expose,  
Upon conditions the Defendants yield.  
Nor yet could Malmsbury Colonel Howard shield  
From Massies powers, the suburbs first they gained.  
But Howard sallying out boldly; constrained  
Them to give ground; what cowards will you flee?  
Said Massy to them, rally, follow me,  
On then again they go, the Town they win  
Many put to the Sword, of those within.  
On Teuxbury Massy had his next design  
Which he surprises; but they soon combine,  
Their dispersed for ces beat him out again  
Massy comes on afresh; many are slain:  
Min routed in disorder fled away,  
The Town to Massy left is as a prey.  
☞ The Fox so politic had left his den  
Of Tamworth and to Beudley leads his men,  
Pretends to Rupert that he did retain  
Demands access, it's granted; the Guard's ta'en,  
The Town he enters falls upon his prey,  
Littleton and his men all led away  
His Captives are; Mythologists applaud  
In Foxes, not their sortitude, but fraud.  
Dennington-Castle Middleton comes to take,  
And an assault unparalleled did make;  
With more than desperate fury they maintain,  
This fierce assault six hours, but all in vain,  
A hundred Soldiers on the place there fell,  
Nine of their Captains, and a Colonel;  
Hundreds more wounded, but Blois of his men  
Both killed and wounded, had not full twice ten.  
Middleton marches off towards the West,  
Bridge-water, near Courtney, and he contest  
Sharply a while (the hedges all were lined  
With Musketeers, in Ambushes designed,  
Middleton to catch) but off he wheels and flies,  
Many first killed: at Sherburn doth surprise  
A Troop of Royalists, and some doth slay,  
Victor and Vanquished in the selfsame Day.  
☞ Dennington too, now Horton comes before,  
Twelve nights & days, his thundering Cannons roar,  
And play most furiously against those Walls,  
Some part whereof unto the ground there falls,  
Three lofty Towers they raze too, to the ground,  
Yet all attempts in vain, experience found  
For the Defendants gallantry, and art  
(Maugre their malice) forced them to departed.  
☞ With numerous Colliers now comes Colonel Fines  
From Bedworth, Banbury-castle undermines,  
Thought in a cloud of Sulphur, to have sent  
These Walls up to the Skies: Waters prevent  
His wished attempt, frustrate his Collier's skill.  
Then with his thundering Cannons next he will  
The work effect, a breach full wide he made,  
With Sword and Pistol they the same invade,  
In four Divisions more, on came his Foot  
With Scaling-Ladders on their shoulders; stout  
To admiration, the Defendants were,  
Nor could the assailants any Ladder rear,  
But with a vengeance all beat back again,  
Except some hundreds on the place left slain.  
The next means for to win it, Fines doth try,  
Is with Granado's them to terrify  
Out of their hold; with streaming fires these blaze  
Amongst the Clouds, while the Defendants gaze  
With wonder, Down precipitate they fall,  
Whose thundering language did indeed, them all  
At first affright, some kill, and some blow blind,  
As Dust in streets, is by a whirling Wind  
Blown every way; So bullets, many a nail,  
With shattered shells the standers by assail  
When these do break; the only way's to fall  
And lie prostrait, so to avoid them all.  
Whilst multitudes of these, Fines on them plays,  
North-hampton comes with Gage the Siege to raise.  
Fines faced the Earl a while, than off-ward Drew  
To Hanwell, but North-hampton doth pursue,  
Falls in his rear; Fines faces, many slain,  
Two hours and more, both sides the fight maintain  
With resolution, and much gallantry,  
At length Fines Forces do disperse and fly,  
Three carriages of Powder, Match and Shot,  
With one brave Cannon, here the Victors got.  
☞ Mins grand design was Massy to ensnare,  
And to this purpose many projects are  
All set on foot, but fail; Hartpury near  
Some few of Mins Rearguard surprised were,  
But near to Elderfield their whole Brigade  
Advance; and there their Ambuscado's laid,  
Lining the hedges with their Musketeers,  
Their Horse stand in their Front; massy appears  
Next morning, chargeth: Mins Horse soon retire,  
Thinking their Ambuscado's should give fire,  
Upon the now advancing Enemy,  
And so they did; but forced at length to fly.  
Min with two-hundred on the turf were slain,  
And near three hundred Prisoners of them ta'en.  
Wounded and taken Passer was also,  
Slain Min's Brigade as he came posting to,  
To let them know more Forces were at hand.  
And though those follow under his command;  
Yet their pursuit was vain, the feat was done,  
And Massy with his prize and prisoners gone.  
☞ Rupert Ast-ferry to secure intent,  
Six hundred Horse and Foot thither had sent,  
These for their Guard entrench that neck of land,  
That Wye and Severn's confluence betwixt did stand.  
Massy this hears, and therefore doth Design,  
Thence to enforce them, ere their works and Line  
Perfected are; thither therefore he went,  
A Squadron of his Musketeers are sent  
Privately on; rupert's men them descry,  
And at them all, their Guards at once let fly,  
In a loud Volley all their shot; again  
Ere they could charge, Massie Forlorn amain  
Now mount their works; then his reserves on came,  
A bloody fight both parts a while maintain;  
But in conclusion massy got the Day,  
Except whose heels and Boats bore them away,  
All slain and Prisoners are; So various are  
These sad successes of this Civil Warr.  
Kirle to massy, Monmoth had betrayed,  
Which to effect, thus they their plot had laid.  
Massy to Monmoth first advanceth near,  
Then feigns a Post him to recall; they hear  
In Monmoth Massie gone; Draw out, pursue  
Kirle commands this party, who well knew  
Where Massies Ambuscado's now were laid,  
Thither he leads his party; all betrayed,  
And now surrounded, yield to Massy; then  
To Monmoth with a part of Massie's men  
Kirle returns, saying these Prisoners were  
They on the Gates; But, behold, in the Reat  
massy comes up; then Kirle and those got in,  
Declare themselves, to wound and kill begin  
The Guard; let down the bridge, massy comes over  
The Garrison they instantly o'er power,  
The Governor, advantaged by night  
With many more, escape their hands by flight.  
Broughton intends Godridge to fortify,  
Hereford Forces his design descry,  
Draw out, the first assault they on it make,  
Broughton and all his men they Prisoners take.  
Now Massies Horse to Monmoth quartering near,  
Bravely assailed by valiant Blaxton were,  
Many he took, many of them were slain,  
Yet fresh supplies came up, and back again  
Blaxton enforce with loss. massy also  
With Gerrard and with Winter had to do,  
Skirmishing oft. Massy from Monmoth gone,  
Throgmorton had the Regiment alone,  
And Drawing out on Chepstow to attempt,  
From Ragland and from Godridge some are sent,  
Who in Throgmorton's absence now devise  
A Stratagem, Monmoth again surprise.  
What Treachery lost, Policy bravely won  
These nobly did, but Kirle had basely done.  
☞ Stephen's, Raudon to relieve, flies with his Horse  
To give him ground doth the besiegers force,  
Whilst he alights, makes merry with his friends,  
Renowned Ashley a strong party sends,  
They block him up, who others thought to free  
From a strait siege, besieged himself is he,  
And all together yield, so excellent  
Such Stratagems was Ashley to invent.  
☞ Manchester, Essex, Waller, all combine  
Forces, the King for to surround, near Spine  
They randezvow; then off their Horse they Draw,  
First to enforce the Royalists from Shaw,  
A hot dispute Prince Morice Horse and they,  
Maintain with loss on both parts all that Day.  
Nor did their thundering Cannons cease the while,  
Some men they kill, some houses they untile,  
And with those tiles, oft strike some Soldiers Dead.  
Then for a Mill on Kennet next they plead,  
Where (many Royalists surprised and slain)  
That Mill and passage the Essexians gain,  
Till noble Ashley with his Valiant Foot,  
Came up (the Foes put all to flight and rout,  
And many in the River Drowned) regained  
The Mill and Passage: Bennet too maintained,  
Waller against a bloody fight: Whose Horse  
For to retire, Legs Chavalry enforce.  
Yet rallying Leg did bravely charge again,  
Routs Essex's Lifeguard, whose Commander slain  
By Bennet was; The Duke of Yorke's Brigade,  
Led on by Leaguer, gallant service made,  
Thus on the West of Newberry went the game.  
☞ But on the East the bold Essexians came  
With confidence, and resolution on,  
And noble Goring pressed sore upon;  
Who did with courage no whit less oppose  
The numerous, and as yet prevailing Foes.  
Till on goes Cleaveland with his own Brigade,  
And those insulting Foes to fly soon made:  
In this same charge was Major Urry slain,  
And Cleaveland's self, that Noble Earl was ta'en.  
☞ Manchester's men this while on the North-East,  
To Shaw-ward in this bloody fight, the least  
Part had not managed: where Renowned Lisle,  
Had bravely kept them Martial play this while;  
Astley and Brown here service brave had done,  
And had some Cannons from the Rebels won.  
Thus was this fight maintained in a round,  
Till with dead corpse that blood-ore-flowing ground  
Newberry on each side, lay thick bespread,  
And Kennets ruddy streams discoloured  
With several rivulets of crimson blood,  
United, and augmented to a flood,  
Nor on the Day alone here did they fight,  
But in loud Volleys fired all the night,  
The Echoes of their thundering Guns, loud cries,  
In Doleful accents from those woods replies,  
And neighbouring vales, tumult, licentious rage,  
Fills every place; here armed Troops engage,  
There great Battailions of brave Infantry,  
With Death-Defying magnanimity:  
The Earth seemed for to tremble and rebound,  
Whereon the prancing Horse did charge; a wound  
Brainford received i'th' mouth, Alford i'th' thigh,  
Leaguer and Leak stout Royalists here Dye,  
Their honour lost in Cornwall to regain  
The Roundheads fight; the King's part to maintain  
Their Honour got; the motives equal were  
Courage to breed, and to exempt all fear.  
☞ A Cornish Foot man slipped and got a fall,  
As he was running nigh a Garden wall,  
Even at that time, that a thick flight of shot,  
Came whistleing o'er his head, he swore by God  
That he was slain; and panting there he said,  
For Saints and Souls, Desiring his Comrade  
Him there to Bury: But to search his wound,  
A Surgeon came; behold! none could be found.  
They bid him rise, and fight, for nought him ailed,  
But all their words with him nothing prevailed:  
Rather, said he, Inter me here alive,  
Then I should in such Dangerous times survive.  
Cold grew his limbs, his pulse beat weak, his breath  
Fetched thick, at length he Dies, for fear of Death.  
☞ Dubious as yet, was victory whom to grace  
With her triumphant Palms, for in one place  
The King prevails, takes Cannon, when hard by,  
The like success attends the Enemy.  
Here might you see some fly, others pursue,  
Fresh Horse advance, those victors late subdue.  
Both sides had Ensigns, Cannons, Prisoners ta'en,  
Numbers of both parts on the field lay slain,  
Dubious it was, to whom to attribute  
Victory, in this so late, and fierce Dispute.  
Yet Trophies more on the King's part appear,  
Now marching off for Wallingford: whose Rear  
Till midnight on that bloody place did stay,  
And then without Disturbance march away.  
☞ Basin had been besieged nigh half a year,  
Many th' assaults, many the batteries were  
Against it made; yet those attempts all vain,  
Defendants few, numerous assailants slain.  
Many assaults Waller upon it made,  
Who six whole weeks battering before it laid.  
Then Norton's, Morley's, Onslow's Forces come,  
Out the Defendants Sally oft, kill some  
At each adventure; but at length the King  
Sends them relief, which on stout Gage did bring.  
On Chidnam-down, Norton and he doth meet,  
And with a gallant Charge most nobly greet  
Each other; In conclusion Norton flies,  
Basing-house furnished is with all supplies  
Now necessary, Gage doth back retreat.  
Johnson and Cufford Sallying out did beat  
Up Onflows Quarters, many Prisoners ta'en,  
One Demi-culvering, with some hundreds slain.  
But the besiegers rally, and again  
Renew their Siege: To whom Manchester came  
With a great Army, yet here did not stay,  
But to meet Essex marched strait away.  
When the besiegers heard of Essex fate  
In Cornwall, and that battle passed late  
At Newberry: with the King's approach, they fire  
Their Huts, and rise; to Reading strait retire.  
☞ Winter intends a passage upon Wye,  
For his advantages to fortify.  
But Massi'es forces all upon him came,  
Put him to rout; Gamne and Vangerris slain,  
And Poor of Barkley drowned; the Prisoners were  
Many (though Winter's self escaped) here.  
☞ Shrewsbury to surprise, Mitton had laid  
His project, which now took: some say betrayed  
Into his hands, that Town and Castle were,  
Great was the loss the King sustained here.  
Commanders many of great dignity,  
Arms, Ammunition, Men, Artillery,  
Abundance here were ta'en: Plymouth also  
Surrendered had to her beseiging foe.  
Weymouth was yielded too; even every where  
Sharp seidges, bloody skirmishes there were.  
So active Mars was on the Southern Stage.  
☞ No whit less furious was his Northern rage.  
New-Castle's numerous Forces now advance,  
Haward to Pras-bridge comes, whose fatal chance  
Was there for to be slain, Hotham that day,  
Had faced; at night draws off, marching away.  
Newcastle comes to York; where Cumberland  
conjoins these forces under his command,  
To Tadcaster they march, where the bold foes,  
Fairfax and Hotham's forces, them oppose.  
The Town well nigh New Castle's mwn had got  
Till Lister's men (though Lister's self was shot)  
Did in disorder beat them back again,  
About a hundred Royalist; here slain.  
Fairfax at night (the fight maintained all day)  
Clear quits the Town, for Selby marched away.  
☞ Young Fairfax with his Troops from Bradford came  
To Leeds, and fiercely did assault the same.  
After some hours dispute the Town they win,  
Many are slain and ta'en of those within.  
Savile doth fly to Pomfret; Beaumont drowned  
In swimming Air: Briggs here received a wound  
And so did Leigh: some twenty of these slain.  
Fairfax his Horse, Foot, and his Club-armed train  
To Sea-croft leads, after a sharp dispute  
Routed is Fairfax, nigh to Leeds, pursuit  
After his dispersed men the conquerors make,  
Many they kill, great numbers Prisoners take.  
Wentworth with his Brigade at Wakefield laid,  
Fairfax comes thither, doth the Town invade,  
All Wentworth's men (just as the Trojeans) here,  
Drunk, or asleep, in bed, surprised were  
Though Wentworth scaped, the Prisoners taken thus  
Then the assailants were more numerous.  
Chamley the Quarters of the Cavaliers  
Oft with success attempted when he hears,  
Slingsby at Gisborough to be resident,  
Bointon and he conjoined, thither went,  
After a sharp encounter, Slingsby's ta'en,  
With nigh two hundred more, many are slain;  
Many the Arms the Royalists lost here.  
☞ Active the Royalists at Latham were.  
Before Manchester did Lord Strange Display  
His new-raised forces, but was beat away  
Thence with some loss: alas! who can declare,  
All the occurrences of this sad War.  
The valiant Tinsley did with sword and fire  
Lancaster fall upon; the Rogues retire,  
Out of those flaming streets, discoloured  
With blood, and with dead corpse also bespread;  
Then on the Castle Tinsley makes assay,  
But leaves it, and for Yorkshire marched away.  
Girlington stout, Thirlan his house maintained  
'Gainst a sharp siege; yet was at length constrained  
On terms for to surrender, Horneby too  
Had yielded to the now prevailing foe.  
Leviston with his valiant Skiptoneers  
To Setle came; the Town assaults, Briggs fears  
His men would not hold out; up th'hills he flies,  
Only some three in this dispute there dies.  
After a while, Briggs did to Skipton near,  
Conjoined with some of Hothams' Troops, appear.  
At Carleton or Kildwick these remain,  
Often they skirmish, often some are slain.  
In Richmondshire the noble Darcy had,  
Agallant Regiment in blue-coats clad;  
Under blue Colours raised for the King,  
Which Regiment he doth to Skipton bring.  
With these conjoined, 'gainst Thornton-Hall we go,  
Make an attempt out thence to beat the foe  
But neither House nor Barns, scarce once hit were,  
At twenty shots, by our blind Cannonier;  
Whilst some Dragoons alight on foot to play,  
Some of our horse the foes had stolen away;  
Only some Barns we at this bout did fire,  
And thence for Skipton with some loss retire.  
☞ To Thornton-Hall, that Country that lay near  
Much dis-affected to the King's part were,  
Clown's for the most part sturdy, savage, rude,  
Whom fair pretences did trapan, delude  
And court into Rebellion; these did fear  
'Cause some; that all of us even Papists were;  
Their whining Preachers made them think the King  
Strange innovations on the Church would bring  
And that his studies all he did employ  
The Laws to change, Propriety destroy.  
And on the contrary they did pretend,  
The Parliament the country would befriend  
Popery rout out; make them a people free  
From any Tax, from any Subsidy,  
And all their charges in these Wars defray;  
(These things they did the clear contrary way.)  
And still their exhortations thus did end.  
Your Coin and Plate on public Faith now lend.  
The Parliament is on your good intent,  
O freely then, aid you the Parliament.  
Such fair pretences, promises untrue,  
To sad rebellion multitudes soon drew.  
And did much Coin into their Coffers, bring  
To manage these late wars against the King.   
Finis Libri Quarti.   

THE English CIVIL WARS.  
BOOK V.  

The Contents.  
Atherton fight; Hulls Siege yet these between,  
At Gainsborough and Nantwitch do interveene  
Some actions. Winsby fight: Hulls siege doth rise:  
New Castle meets old Levens enterprise  
Invading England, his Oration  
His Covenanters to; Bowden-Hills on  
And Pinshaw; Skirmishes: Corbridge dispute,  
Fairfax 's forces mightily recruite  
In Yorkshire: Selby stormed is by them,  
Renowned Redman's Cauwoods Stratagem.   

NEw-Castle had received a brave supply  
Of Arms, Commanders, great Artillery,  
Late from the Queen: against Bradford than we go,  
That town devoted so much to the foe,  
That scarce a Royalist in it was found.  
The place is situate on declining ground;  
A craggy River on the South doth glide.  
With Bulworks strong the Town was fortified.  
Trading had flourished, rich the Boars late grew  
Of which no cause, but self-desert they knew.  
A deep dissembled, verbal, sanctity  
Was their Religion; for true piety,  
Truth, and good manners had small practice here,  
Bishops and Papists hated of them were.  
Also the Gentry; facile to persuade  
Upon the Account of liberty: to aid  
The Parliament, which made them in such swarms;  
Under rebellious Ensigns now bear arms.  
Such is the Town, such is the Country too,  
With which our Forces now must have to do.  
Leeds is forsaken; before Howley-Hall  
We then encamp; a breach soon in the wall  
Our thundering Cannons make; they yield, than we  
Bradford towards, draw our Artillery.  
Near Atherton a whinny More doth lie,  
Full of old Coalpits, now filled up, and dry:  
☞ Fairfax in these his Ambuscado's laid,  
From out of these, our Forlorn they invade  
Put them to rout, our seconds also fly,  
Till General King came with a fresh supply.  
Whose words, and actions much encouragement,  
Unto our flying Cohorts did present  
So that they Rally; and charge up again,  
Many of both parts on the field lie slain?  
Sharp was the contest, desperate, fierce and hot,  
Thick flew the volleys of dead wounding shot,  
Loud roared our Cannons; a tumultuous rage,  
Filled every place, Bodies of Foot engage,  
(Having their Powder spent) at push of Pike,  
And with the Butt-end of their Muskets strike  
Out one another's brains, so fierce each stroke  
As Barrels bowed, and Stocks to shivers broke,  
Leaving their Pans oft fixed in the head  
Of whom they wounded, or had last struck dead.  
Fairfax's Horse advantage had of ground,  
In number ours, Haward a mortal wound  
Received; our Swords, Rapiers, and Tucks we Dye  
In one another's blood: Pistols now fly  
With more than furious, angry violence  
At one another's heads: most brave defence  
The foe still made, though we press on amain,  
So difficult was victory to obtain.  
Hieron and Talbot meet, most dexterously  
At one another let their pistols fly  
One in the breast, the other in the head  
Shot; from their horses on the Turf fall dead.  
Now victory, that of late was dubious,  
Had her triumphant Palm bestowed on us;  
The foes before our Troops victorious fly,  
In this pursuit numbers of theirs do die.  
A zealous Puritan amongst the rest,  
Before the fight did Fairfax thus request?  
‛ Beseech your worship let's not quarter give,  
Pity these wicked Cavaliers should live.  
Their party beat; a Cavalier did ride  
Up to this Zealot who soon quarter cried?  
Villain, said he, no quarter thou shalt have,  
Who will not give, pity they should receive.  
☞ From Hallifax a club-armed short-shorne crew  
Zeal for the cause, unto this battle drew,  
Who, while the day seemed on their side to go,  
Pursued and cried, see! God doth rout our foe!  
At length the battle sore against them went,  
Their Clubs and Sythes thrown down incontinent  
They run, and cried, oh! God where art thou now  
These Cavaliers, alas! will us undo.  
Smalwood had told them, Preaching in a tree,  
Ten before one, ninety 'fore ten should flee;  
Smalwood was a true Prophet in this case,  
One now might ten, and ten might ninety chase.  
A Northern Trooper after Briggs did ride,  
About to strike, his club-foot he espied,  
Turning his horse he said thus in great fear,  
Alas! Comrades is not the foul Fiend here?  
But with the fight the day began to close  
To several guards our Prisoners we dispose.  
Lousy to grow indeed they need not fear,  
For now of  as thin as hair they were:  
From close cropped heads, and long ears preminence  
The name of Roundheads late they did commence.  
☞ Next day betimes Bradford we came before,  
Against the Town our thundering Cannons roar,  
Resolved the place by storm to force we are.  
But for the onset while we do prepare  
Advantaged by obscurity of night  
Fairfax with some Commanders take their flight  
To Selby-ward, which when our General knew  
A party strong are sent, them to pursue.  
Fairfax having got (start enough) arrived  
At Selby safe, th'old Lord and he contrived,  
That Town to quit and straight for Hull to make.  
To Selby come our Horse, some kill, some take,  
Ere o'er the River they all Boated had.  
☞ Bradford this while was ta'en, a plunder sad  
(But yet deserved) it suffered. Rotheram ta'en  
We had before, with Sheifield: To regain  
Hull, fatal Hull, our Army makes address  
Hotham of this by force to dispossess.  
Fairfax on Gainsborough an assault doth make,  
Enters the Town, in it doth Kingston take,  
Who in a Pinnace down the river's sent  
To Hull; King meets them as they thither went,  
And plays upon them with his Musketeers,  
The noble Earl upon the Deck appears,  
To cry for quarter, for his enemies,  
But by a Bullet shot from Shore, he dies.  
Thus by his friends the noble ●earpoint's slain.  
Cavendish marcheth Gainsbrough to regain  
From Newark, and close siege thereto had laid,  
But Cromwell comes to the Defendants aid,  
They fight: a many Royalists there die,  
The rest for safety are enforced to fly.  
Not many hours after this fight was done,  
New-Castl's Army to the field up come.  
For Lincoln, Cromwell his Retreat doth make,  
And Gainsborough soon New-Castle's Army take.  
Want of Intelligence, thus cast away,  
Many brave gallants on this fatal day.  
☞ Nantwitch before, the Siege some while had laid  
When Monk at Chester-lands, and Byron made  
Both with his own and these received supplies,  
Them to relieve, this following enterprise.  
At his approach off the besiegers drew,  
They meet, and fight, thick now the Bullets flew,  
Many of both parts on the ground lie slain,  
Fairfax at length is victor, Monk's hear ta'en,  
And Byron put to a disordered flight,  
And nigh to Chester walls pursued that night.  
☞ Kingston before, our Army late sat down,  
Mounts high were raised, Cannons against the town  
Are planted, furious batteries many made;  
Many Granades on the Town are played,  
Great Engines, many Ladders frame were  
Only perhaps to put the Town in fear,  
For no assault was made, the siege throughout.  
With the Defendants many a bloody 'bout  
Our Army had, the strength of that cursed hold,  
Made them in frequent sallies far more bold.  
Their numerous Cannons from the walls they play  
Beat down our works, many Commanders slay  
One fatal shot Leviston of his head  
Deprived, and struck another Captain dead.  
Alutus with many more of Eminence  
Here lost their lives; Witherington led from hence  
A party brave, Boston (as some surmise)  
To take; but Cromwell meets the enterprise.  
They fight, at length the Cavaliers do fly,  
The valiant Hopton, and brave Bowls do die,  
With hundreds more, numerous the Prisoners were  
And great the prize, Cromwell obtained here.  
☞ As with her Train the Queen late Southward went  
Bravely she had regained Burton on Trent.  
Of Darcy's Blue-coats some the River wade,  
Whilst that their Colonel had his entrance made  
Upon the Bridge, their Cannon leapt upon  
This is the Kings, said he, thence nobly on  
His men he leads into the very Town,  
Their Rampires and their Bulworks all thrown down  
Many of the Defendants there do die,  
And Burton's taken by their gallantry.  
Not many hours after the Town was ta'en,  
Within the Church by accident the Trane  
Took fire; the Leads into the Air it blew,  
And of Legg's men, some lamed, and some it slew  
'Gainst Hull the siege was stoutly still maintained  
Though but small hopes that Town should be regained  
But the same day of Winsby's late defeat,  
Boldly they sally out in numbers great,  
Beating up many of our Guards; they take  
And kill a number. And the Scots now make  
Their entrance into England, and we were  
Drawn off to meet and stop the Scots Carear.  
From Hull the Camp thus risen, oh! fatal place,  
Out of our Annals let's even quite dirace  
Of Hull and Gloucester those odious names,  
Rebellions hellish sin them much defames,  
And infamous for ever let them be,  
Till they repent of their disloyalty.  
☞ In that same month from Janus that bears name  
The Covenanters into England came;  
Deep was the Snow, congealed the Rivers were  
With crystal Ice, drowning they need not fear?  
No though the Ice had not been half so strong,  
Seldom the water doth the Halter wrong.  
Thus cold the winter, but the zeal was hot,  
Of the rebellious, and fallacious Scot  
Some twenty thousand strong, they march in men  
And with great Guns about some two times ten.  
Each Loune had numbers of those creatures bold,  
That sit till taken napping at their hold.  
If winter their increase did not prevent,  
Each Loun had bred his triple Regiment;  
For a reserve they bore amongst their rags,  
At least a couple of well crammed meale-baggs,  
His Can, his Pan, his muckle large-horn-spoone,  
The luggage was of every lousy Loune.  
A Piper did before each Cohort play,  
Each Jockey had his Ginny by the way  
To mow with now and then; All was their own  
They could lay hands on, the long Robe and Gown  
Especially they hate; nor did they irk,  
(Though sacrilege) to plunder every Kirk.  
What there they found, as bats of Popery  
Most superstitious do the Louns decry?  
This deformed army for the Reformation,  
Is hired to fight, of this our English Nation.  
If out of Hell an army they had sought,  
Sure not such Villains, could from thence be brought.  
☞ This Army now advanced Newcastle near,  
The General bade each Lad, draw nigh and hear  
What to their expedition he could say.  
'Tis not bram Lads those Louns that run away,  
Some five years since, not far from this same place  
With which we are to fight: Indeed the case  
Is altered now; all England than were foes,  
But now theyare friends, let's only beat but those,  
(Casting his eye upon New-Castle's men)  
Our work's then done, home we may turn again?  
What, said I home again, nay by my faith,  
Not till we have received even all our pay.  
If then all England fled at our first sight,  
These Cavaliers ne'er dare our forces fight,  
Methinks as yet, that running Charge I see,  
When quite through Tine disordered they did flee.  
And if my Genius, Lads, do truth presage,  
These Cavaliers ne'er will with us engage,  
Our cause is now the same that it was then,  
We have as many, and as gallant men.  
The Parliament will let us nothing want,  
Being engaged in our good Covenant;  
These Louns before us we shall hunger-starve,  
The names of soldiers they do scarce deserve;  
We need not fight, this snow, this frost, this hail  
Hunger and cold, 'gainst them will soon prevail,  
And make them either run away; or die  
By multitudes, methinks I do descry,  
Discouragement already in them all.  
Many good prizes to our share will fall;  
Plunder of the Malignants we shall take,  
But who are such? even whom we please to make,  
Bra' Quarters we shall have, bra' commodation,  
we'll put ourselves into the English fashion.  
Each Ginny here shall have her silken Gown,  
Those Cloaks, bra' suits, good Beavours, all our own  
Shall be we find: we'll then far of the best.  
With good your worship, th' English shall request  
The worst Lad here, even for their own: for we  
Of them and theirs, will the sole Masters be.  
Take courage then, and hardship let's endure,  
Toil is a mean will wealth and ease procure,  
Even in the height of future gallantry,  
Past toils to think on, will most pleasant be.  
Thus said th'illiterate General while the rest,  
By a loud shout their high flown hopes expressed.  
☞ Newcastles Army was arrived near.  
On Bowden-hills, therefore these Blue Caps were  
Straight ordered to their post, whence all that day,  
From their advantages both Armies play  
Upon each other, Volleys thick of shot,  
Yet at the push of Pike engaged not.  
On Pinshaw-hills they have a second bout,  
And for some hours in volleys thick the foot  
Upon each other play: The English stand  
Embattled, much desiring acommand  
For to fall on: But all that Winter's spent,  
And yet no service that was eminent  
Performed, except at Corbridge; Langdale here  
Had charged the Scottish horse, who by him were  
Routed toth' purpose: numbers here he slew  
Took many; did their flying Troops pursue  
With execution great: The Jockeys had  
ne'er such a breakfast; but my Lord forbade  
The further prosecution of the game.  
Whereas if he had seconded the same  
By fresh supplies, many good Soldier's thought,  
Ruin on all the Scots that day had brought.  
But seeing fight was indeed declined,  
Thousands now Winter starved, or hunger pined,  
And Englishmen impatient of delay,  
Newcastles Arm mouldered quite away.  
Whom for a while we leave, Fairfax by this  
In Yorkshire with his Troops arrived is;  
And grows each day more and more numerous,  
Many that were arrayed late by us,  
And run away, with him do arms up take,  
From Hallifax, and Bradford many make  
To him address. Sole master of the field,  
Many of our less holds to him do yield.  
☞ Selby before, his forces now he drew;  
The Town denied him, on his Soldiers flew  
With fury; several entrances they make,  
More than themselves, of ours they Prisoners take.  
Whether our men surprised were with fear,  
Or for those narrower streets too numerous were  
We shall not now dispute: The Conquerors know,  
Scarce where their numerous Prisoners to bestow.  
Manchesters' Army towards York repair,  
Wortley and Nostill taken by them are,  
As down they came; Nostil they burn to ground,  
Putting the most to sword they therein found.  
Now hover about York these Armies laid,  
The Scots advance expecting by whose aid  
York closely to beleagure, they might be  
Put into a complete capacity.  
Before which siege, one stratagem of War,  
For Pomfrets' honour shall my Muse declare.  
☞ The valiant Bedman Canwood to surprise,  
From Pomfret marching, doth this plot devise;  
Of Orrange-Ribbons bought that morning store,  
Flourished in our Hats each soldier wore;  
Six men from the waste upwards, stripped were  
Into their shirts, with blood we all besmear,  
Their heads and shoulders; These before us drive  
As Prisoners. At the Town when we arrive,  
Their Centinel bids stand; come draw thy chain  
We answered; we to Cromwell do retain  
And Prisoners brought: That Sentry did obey,  
Then up the Town we straight direct our way  
Unto the Castle gate, where there did stand  
A Sergeant, with his Halberd in his hand.  
Of him access demanded, straight the Gate  
He opens, bids us welcome prosperous fate.  
Thus brought us to our wish, some there were slain  
And twenty only of them Prisoners ta'en.  
Their Cannons we dismount, some gall aunts free  
(Their Prison's broken) from Captivity;  
Yet Girlington (though Prisoner there he were)  
And called upon oft by us; did not hear,  
Not yet could we him find though him we sought  
In many a Room. To Pomfret safe we brought  
Our Prize, and Prisoners, though the foes in view,  
Did even nigh to the Castle us pursue.   
Finis Libri Quinti.   

THE ENGLISH CIVIL WARS.  
BOOK VI.  

The Contents.  
Newcastle from the North, the Scots before  
Doth fly: York Siege: The fight at Marston-more,  
Newcastle England leaves; a short reveiw,  
Of all those Northern Seiges that ensue.   

BEhold of men a Concourse from all parts  
Of England: with armed hands divided hearts,  
Conjured of King and Parliament, the right  
To try by dint of sword, and Martial might;  
And Yorkshire by the Fates designed to be,  
The Stage whereon, to act this Tragedy.  
Newcastle now deserts the Banks of Tine,  
And to the Scots those Quarters doth resign,  
His numerous Army almost ruined now,  
By means insensible; And who knows how?  
But that I may the noble General here,  
From all suspicion of dis-loyal clear  
I'dare engage; that Boreaes might take wing,  
Sooner at Nilus-head: Tygras-spring,  
Sooner in Itie Island: than that he  
Perfidious prove, unto his Majesty.  
Whether then, fate conspired to aid the Scot  
Or General King with Lesley did complot,  
This gallant Army basely to betray,  
And Fabious like to conquer by delay  
Is still unknown, yet this is too too plain,  
That Lesley did this victory only gain,  
By times procrastination, hunger, cold,  
O how resolved! how numerous! and how bold  
Upon our first advance our Armies were,  
How few! how hunger-starved! surprised with fear;  
Now in Retreat, what thousands run away!  
Or killed by hunger, cold, or base delay.  
Neither the number nor the fortitude  
Of Lesley and his Scots, our men subdued.  
If that our army at our first advance  
Against the Scot, had bravely tried the chance  
Of War: these Victors might have been captived,  
Our Northern Army had York-siege survived,  
The Scots like mercenary slaves most slain,  
The rest sent with a vengeance home again.  
But see! the Scots do march, this barbarous crew  
Even to the walls of York, our men pursue.  
Oxen, Sheep, Horses, all thats' in their way, Spoons  
To these rapatious Harpies proves a prey.  
Their Cans, their Pans, their Meal, their long-horn  
Their rags, their bags, so load the lousy Louns,  
Their Drums, their Guns, their Plundering in the way  
Their slower marches do so much delay,  
That York hath for a siege, time to prepare,  
And our now dispersed Troops united are.  
Ramsdale from Leeds, doth lead his Regiment;  
From Knaisbrough, and from Pomfret some are sent  
And those too under Belhouses command,  
That late at Selby did escape the hand  
Of Fairfax: come these broken parties all  
Conveen'd at York: Our honoured General  
Beckoning his hand, our silence to request;  
Thus to the Army his designs expressed?  
☞ Soldier's we cannot in the field withstand,  
These Rebels that flock in on every hand?  
'Tis not the Scots alone but Fairfax too,  
With whom at present we must have to do;  
Selby is won, most of our Soldiers ta'en,  
And what but York to Leaguer doth remain.  
Manchesters' Army also now draws near,  
All these combined are, to besiege us here.  
Therefore in York these Foot I will secure,  
Till from the King assistance we procure,  
Hulls bloody siege in kind we will requite,  
And with these walls, and guns we'll make them fight  
With sallies bold their courage we'll forestall,  
With thundering shot, their body's wound and gall.  
May Yorks siege prove as sad, disastrous  
To Fairfax, as his Hulls hath done to us.  
May all these Blew-Caps once before us flee,  
As Caesar's men Torguatus did from thee.  
Langdale shall with these Troops fly to the King  
And such relief will shortly hither bring,  
As shall these Rebels all then put to flight,  
Or bravely vanquish if they dare to fight.  
Within these walls, provision here's in store,  
For half a years subsistence or for more,  
These Citizens all Loyal, here secure,  
Within these walls we may ourselves immure.  
Necessity admits no Law, we must  
Now to these walls, soldiers, ourselves intrust,  
And though to be besieged be some grief,  
Yet here's our joy, certainty of relief.  
At this, the Horse now for the South designed  
March off: The Foot are unto York confined.  
By this the pale Queen of the silent night.  
With her dark Mantle vailed had the light,  
The Gates commanded are for to be shut,  
And round upon the walls strong Guards are put.  
☞ The first besiegers that discovered were,  
Were the Scotch Armies, who next day appear  
Ranged in battailions great; Then Lesley takes  
Bishop-Thorpe for his Quarters, Fairfax makes  
At Forforth, residence; Manchesters' force  
Encamp at Clifton: Thus with foot and horse  
Of armed foes, under three Generals,  
Surrounded are Yorks now well managed walls.  
But no assault this City for to take  
By violence did these besiegers make,  
Save Manchester alone; whose great design  
Was, these our City walls to undermine.  
Blow up, and enter; but his Minors skill  
Failed, with the execution of his will.  
As stronger winds striving their force to vent,  
From Caverns under ground; furiously rend  
The Rocks, and make even mountains to give way  
And to their uncontrolled rage obey,  
Causing the Earth to gape and to devour  
Whole Cities, yea whole Islands; even such power  
This Mine now sprung had; for up to the sky,  
Earth, Walls, and Towers, and men on these do fly  
In a sulphurous globe; till down at length,  
They fall, the Powder having lost its strength.  
Then in the place you quickly might espy  
Those lofty walls, and Towers entombed to lie  
In their own ruins: he are a soldier's head,  
And there his legs, or arms discovered.  
But not the City, but the Manour-wall,  
By this sulphurous Powder-blast doth fall.  
At this, the Armed foes with great fury run,  
Up at the breaches, and doubtless had won  
The City, but that here the inner wall,  
Still standing firm, their expectations all  
Deceived: And here bagan a fierce Dispute,  
Their error by repulse ours would refute;  
And they by further violence maintain  
Against our Sally-Ports; till from the slain;  
The mannour-Guard like to a great Land-flood  
Did overflow with intermixed blood;  
Yet at the length the enemy was worsed,  
And from the breaches headlong reinforced,  
Where now on heaps, wounded, and dead they laid  
And buried in those graves their own Mines made.  
But the besieged and the besiegers here  
We leave a while; Prince rupert's Troops draw near  
Worcester and Bridge-North, now left in haste  
And all those Western Counties now surpassed.  
His swifter Troops new Quarters do acquire,  
In the adjoining towns of Lanca-shire.  
Stopwash, the Prince to stop did first design,  
And therefore did their thick-set-hedges line  
With numerous companies of Musketeers;  
But Washington of these the coast soon clears,  
Charging them in their flanks, making them flee  
Into the Town, in whose pursuit even he  
Entered; putting some hundreds to the Sword,  
Leverpoole to surrender doth accord.  
And off from Latham the Besiegers run,  
Hearing what Rupert had at Stopwash done.  
☞ Though thus the Princ's numerous Troops affright  
The most: yet Bolton dare oppose his might.  
In their more bold affront they dare assay  
His Quarters up to beat; and men to slay.  
But to correct their prouder insolence,  
The Prince can with so much of time dispense  
To storm the Town, and cause them to lament,  
Thus to provoak a Prince's discontent;  
For full three hundred Widows here are left,  
Which were of husbands in this storm bereft.  
And not the Towns men only, here are slain,  
But hundreds more of soldiers, that maintain  
The town against us: All which town as prise  
The Prince unto his soldiers doth demize.  
From hence to Skipton, Rupert's Army come,  
But by the way they Thornton-Hall had won,  
Which down unto the ground they burn with fire  
That Rebels thither may no more retire.  
From hence to York the Prince's marches were  
Directed: But when the Besiegers hear  
His near approach, they raise their siege in haste,  
Leaving their Cabins, Huts, and Trenches waste;  
And their three Generals those their forces all,  
To Randezvow immediately do call,  
Where they consult, both where, and how to fight  
The Prince's Army; marching off that night  
Towards Long-Marston, where a spacious Plain;  
From Hessom, or Long-Marston bearing name  
Doth lie; in some places full thick beset,  
With whin-bushes, and Marshes deep and wet.  
Lest these Disorder should their Horse, they take  
A field well grown with Corn their camp to make.  
The only, and most advantageous ground,  
That round about that spacious Moor was found.  
Here they their murdering Cannons plant, and then  
In order good Imbattaile do their men.  
Of intermixed English-Scottish bands  
Their main battallia stood; Crawford commands,  
And leads on these: On the left wing and side  
Cromwell with his Manchestrian Troops doth ride.  
The right wing was Sir Thomas Fairfax care,  
To whom the Scottish troops conjoined are,  
Which David Lesley leads, the Generals find  
A place, the main battalions close behind  
To lodge their Tents: Thus these three Armies large,  
Stand Marshaled to expect the Prince's charge.  
☞ By this, Newcastle a brave party had,  
Of Foot, in white-Coats uniformly clad,  
Led out from York, some Gentry, Volunteers,  
Attend the General, and his Soldiers  
Well mounted: we near Popleton do meet  
The Prince's Army, and embrace and greet  
Our old acquaintance, (for the fate's decree,  
That these the last embraces now shall be  
Of thousands of us) Ouse having o'er past.  
The Prince the Army marshaled all in haste.  
But some Commanders thought by wise delay  
He might have famished and made run away  
Even without blood, the numerous enemy.  
Pomfret, York, Knaisborough, Garrisons had we  
Environing the foe, which might have stayed  
Provisions from their Camp; and doubtless made  
Them to remove, fresh Quarters to have sought,  
And so for us a fair advantage wrought.  
But rupert's purpose nothing can dissuade,  
But even that night, their Camp, he will invade,  
And to our disadvantage make them fight.  
☞ Goring our left wing leads, Byron the right,  
In the main battle do our white Coats stand  
With others; the word's given, and strait command  
To fall on; Thus on our own Ruin bend,  
Our soldiers all courageously on went.  
☞ With equal fury now both Armies meet,  
And with their Cannon-Rhetorick loudly greet,  
Bullets begin at distance the dispute,  
Till their thick flights Sword Logic could refute.  
The Horse Ranged in battalias proudly prance,  
While fire oblickely through their eyes doth glance  
From thundering Guns, like lightning from the sky  
Whose fiery balls, thicker than hailstones flies  
Shrill Trumpets sounding, with loud beating Dr …  
Clashing of Armour, with great roaring guns  
Rattleing of Pikes, Powl-Axes, naked Swords,  
From different minds different effects affords.  
These sights the Valorous more do animate,  
But Cow-heart, timerous-courage, quite abate,  
And if dismay should not diminish fear,  
Such would fall dead before they wounded were.  
The empty air is filled with dolorous cries,  
The ground with bodies of the men that dies.  
Whole Ranks and Files by Cannon fiery balls  
Asunder cut, upon the ground there falls.  
Here without head, there without legs or thighs  
In blood, dismembered bodies wallowing lies.  
And that pale Death may potently fulfil  
Her pleasure; she most barbarously doth kill  
The Living, with those Limbs dashed off the Dead;  
Here flies an Arm, there flies a soldier's head  
Which strike their fellows down even to the ground  
Thus friends by friends a way to kill Death found.  
The smaller shot clouded bright Phocbus light,  
Darkening the Air with their far thicker flight;  
Whose whistling fury quickly did assail  
The strongest brest-peeces, and best Coats of male,  
And through the strongest armour passage found,  
To death, even brave Commanders for to wound.  
But where no armour did their fury stay,  
Theough many bodies they enforce their way;  
〈…〉 them gasping on that bloody ground.  
〈…〉 … am the nigh Valleys and the Woods re-sound,  
T … doleful occhoes of their dying cries,  
But most of all the Sword doth Tyrannize  
And glut itself with the expense of blood,  
Which now like to an overspreading flood  
Ran under our Horse feet; for every sword  
By this time, had some breast or other gored,  
And issues made, by which their souls had left  
Their bodies, now of blood, and life bereft.  
These several streams of blood from several wounds  
Winding along those Valleys, lower grounds  
Thy lesser waters Nid, do multiply,  
Thy streams discolour with their crimson Dye,  
Thou into Ouse dis-burthenest the same,  
Who swiftly down to York with tidings came.  
And to the Citizens did soon descry,  
In bloody colours, this dire tragedy.  
But still most furiously both sides maintain  
The fight, though thousands on the ground lie slain.  
Here might you see a strong courageous Horse,  
Whose wounds add fury to his former force,  
(His liveless Rider thrown) through friends through foes,  
Through ranks, through files, make way; and where he goes  
Doth mwn by scores of their last breath deprive  
Whose falls himself doth not so long survive,  
Till on the point of a well levelled Spear,  
To'th'he art himself he runs in his carear;  
And falling with his heels about him lies,  
Till strength and blood expended, there he dies.  
Here might you see a wounded Rider thrown,  
There others from their horse come tumbling down  
Hang by the stirrups, dashed against pikes and swords,  
Thus fate to one, more deaths than one affords,  
For with the fall the frolic horse affright,  
Through thickest Ranks takes his enforced flight,  
Tossing about his hanging Rider's head,  
Killing the living, often with the dead.  
A timorous footman did himself immure,  
Amongst dead corpse, thinking to be secure  
From flying shot, where closely as he lay,  
Some Troops of Horse designed to charge that way,  
Came prancing down the Moor, in full carrears,  
Squeesing the blood, out of his nose, mouth, ears,  
As he lay sprawling under their horse feet  
Who flies from one, another death doth meet.  
A Cannon bullet struck off Sandies' head,  
And with it hit poor Wolley who fell dead,  
Crying alack! alack! I ever kened,  
Sandio's fauce head, would bring me to my end.  
A thick grown wood, unto the Moor stands near  
Where many a blew-Cap hid himself for fear.  
Patrick behind the bulk of a grown Tree.  
Peeped often out, the battle for to see,  
Thinking that if his party lost the day  
To span his gates, for Scotland run away.  
But as poor Patrick at bopeep thus played,  
A bullet shot at random did invade  
His forehead naked; who falling, mercy cried  
Alas! alas! for Ginny, and so died.  
When Wolly heard the smaller shot to play,  
In such thick whistling Volleys, he away,  
Spanning his gates through Ranks, and Files, at last  
Presuming he all dangers had fur-past  
He stops to see, and hear, the fights event,  
A bullet from a Piece at random sent,  
Hit Wolly where he stood devoid of fear,  
Under the long of his right side leau-ear,  
Who falling dead did never there intent  
Under a whin-bush thus to make his end.  
But thickest ranks of armed foes to assay,  
Is still more safe than thus to run away.  
☞ The victory still was very dubious,  
Yet rather seemed to smile, and fawn on us,  
For our left wing, had routed now their right,  
The Scots and the Fairfaxians put to flight.  
All their three Generals now the field forsook,  
To Bradford ward Lesley his fleet betook,  
Whom we pursue, his Scots now curse the time,  
That e'er they crossed the Northern Tweed, or Tine.  
Their rags, meal-baggs, gull-pans, long-cans down cast  
They span their gates, and run away full fast.  
In doleful accents, now the Louns do cry,  
Mercy and Quarter, O! how thick they lie  
Wounded and slain, how many Prisoners were,  
How many Colours taken? in their Rear  
We follow still, thinking the day our own  
But Goring our Commander should have known,  
That to pursue one party was not good,  
Whilst any of the adverse Body stood;  
If after we had put that wing to rout,  
Against the other we had wheeled about  
And on the flank have charged them, sure we might  
Victors have been; Crommwel's men put to flight  
And Routed, unto Cauwood sent them all,  
After old Fairfax and their General.  
☞ But now when Cromwell (apt enough to take  
Advantage) see our Horse the field forsake  
Now rifling, now pursuing such as fled  
In their right wing he presently up led  
His Troops; to whom in brief he thus did say,  
Assure yourselves, brave soldiers of the day.  
How stand these foot, and horse to us exposed?  
How easy are they all to be enclosed?  
How will they fly our Armed Troops before,  
And for the rest that now have left the Moor  
In pursuit of our other wing they'll yield  
Or fly; when we are masters of the field.  
If but one Troop of ours fall in their Rear,  
They'll run, surprised with unexpected fear;  
Only the time at present doth require,  
Your valour to demonstrate; you desire  
The spoil of this rich field; Victors to be;  
And from our wish, but one brave charge are we.  
Our Generals all now off the field are gone,  
The Victories glory will be ours alone.  
And what the Prince and his brave Chavalry  
Possess; after one Charge all ours shall be,  
Their Sumptors, and Portmantles, by and by  
We shall have time to search. Then furiously  
On Byron's wing they charge, routed, and broke  
Our bravest Regiments: Each bloody stroke  
That their Pole-Axes gave was present death,  
And thousands did deprive of their last breath;  
Scarce one of ours escaped without a wound,  
But our vain strokes and thrusts again re-bound  
Off their Armed breasts and heads; The Prince doth fly,  
And yield the field to the proud enemy.  
Now when the Prince's Horse thus routed were,  
A party wheeled about, and in the Rear  
Charged on us; broke our disordered Horse,  
And from the pursuit of the Scots enforce  
Us unto a base flight; Yet our brave Foot,  
Especially our white-Coats stood it out.  
For though the foe on each side them surround  
They scorn to yield, but drawing to a round  
On every side most stoutly do give fire,  
Forcing the conquering foe oft to retire,  
Till all their Ammunition's spent and gone,  
Our Horse all fled the field, they left alone  
Night drawing on, and many of them slain;  
No hopes at all the victory to obtain.  
Rather oppressed by th'adverse multitude,  
Then by true valour conquered, theyare subdued;  
Taken, killed, wounded, even most barbarously  
By the insulting desperate enemy.  
☞ After their Arms down thrown, they Quarter cried  
Their armed Troops amongst them fiercely ride,  
And put them to the Sword, in vain to live  
Most of them supplicate; Cromwell would give  
No quarter: Much delighting in that blood,  
That ran under his horse-feets like a flood.  
Like as a ravenous Wolf greedy of prey,  
Is not content alone, to kill and slay  
So many of the flock as shall suffice  
His greedy Jaws; but even doth Tyrannize  
Over the sheep, and hundreds of them kill,  
To satiate his so natural-savage will.  
So Cromwel's bloody mind not satisfied,  
With all that blood's expense of such as died  
During the fight, and while we kept the field  
Murders even Captives, after they did yield,  
And to the mercy merciless expose  
Themselves of such inhuman savage foes.  
☞ The bloodyest field of all our Civil Wars  
Now fought is; the furious Conquerors  
Our Cannons and our Carriages possess.  
Here Cary, Slingsby, Prideaux acquiesse  
Upon the bed of fame; affociates  
Are Wentworth, and stout Gleddal in their Fates,  
Here Lampton, Dacres, Metham, Kirton, die  
Hure, with Fenwick these accompany.  
But now the kind obscurity of night,  
Gave an advantage of far safer flight  
To Rupert, who (though with a fresh supply  
Claveren came up next day) yet will not try  
The chance of War again: but rather yield  
What's lost, then hazard more, by a new field.  
Nor were our hopes then altogether vain,  
If we next day had Rallied to regain  
The victory: even those of them that stayed  
Upon the field, it would have much dismayed,  
To see us on the Moor again appear,  
Before their broken Troops united were.  
☞ But Rupert flies, (though Northward first he went  
Up to the South, in mind much discontent;  
That this great fight had such a sad effect.  
What sure said he, it was not my neglect  
In Marshalling my men, no want of skill  
Or valour on my part, that to this ill,  
And fatal Rout, exposed my soldiers,  
Only I was too forward as appears.  
Why did I Charge this night? or why not stay;  
Till Claveren's coming up? (though his delay  
His Army's service did this day prevent)  
Must I be rash, 'cause he was negligent.  
Why did I not refresh my men before?  
I did attempt to march up to the Moor;  
Both Horse and Man our longer marches tired,  
And of repose some longer time required;  
If we before we fought a while had stayed,  
Perhaps some fair advantage to our aid  
Conspired had: Seldom the Powers Divine,  
Do give success unto a rash design.  
☞ This night strange thoughts New-Castle's head possessed  
At length in passion he these words expressed.  
O! resolution strange of adverse Fate!  
How am I thrown from a most prosperous state,  
Into misfortunes nethermost abyss  
Yet this the honour, of my sufferings is,  
And that which seasons all my sorrows well,  
That with, and for, my Sovereign's cause I fell.  
Where shall I fly? where shall I be secure?  
Within what walls shall I myself immure?  
Did forty thousand Soldiers once appear,  
Under my Colours, did the Rebels fear  
My numerous forces? and their Dreadful Powers?  
Were all the Towns 'twixt Trent and Tweed then ours  
Excepting Hull: And now behold! even I  
Where to secure myself, whether to fly  
Am dubious: had I Hulls siege declined,  
And to th' associate Countys then designed  
My marches, sure our cause had gained thereby.  
Or if the first time we the Scots did eye,  
We had them fought, no doubt but than we might  
Have put those ragged Ruffians all to flight.  
But time, with fair advantages now past,  
Are not to be recalled: With this, in haste  
He Posts to Scarborough, where both King and he  
The Seas do take; intent for Germany.  
☞ Gleman, of York the government doth take,  
And for a Siege the best provision make  
That time would then admit; Scorning to yield  
The City yet; though we had lost the field.  
☞ By this, all their Three Generals that had fled  
The field: returned, and up to York they led  
Their men: The City to besiege again.  
Each General his old station did retain  
Having their Cannons planted, night and day,  
Most furiously against the walls they play;  
They vow, the work by storm for to effect,  
Nor age, nor sex, their Swords shall then respect.  
But Gleman doth their prouder vaunts defy,  
Yet at the length Provision's scarcity  
Prevails; On terms they do capitulate,  
York's yielded: Gleman marcheth out in state  
And Martial gallantry: To Carlisle where  
We leave him for a while; The Scots appear  
By this before Newcastle, on the wall  
Make furious batteries, while their Miners fall  
To work, which work they to perfection bring,  
And trains now laid, their several Mines they spring  
As great sulphurous globes of stone and fire,  
From Aetna's hideous Jaws the clouds aspire;  
Whence falling, all the neighbouring Vales they spread  
With Coals adust, the fire extinct, and dead  
Even so the trembling earth was heard to roar,  
Which, with those walls, and Towers the Powder tore  
Up with great violence, and lightly threw  
Into the air; here like a Comet flew  
A soldier's head all on a flame, and there  
Whole guards in those sad Ruins buried were.  
Up at the breaches fly the Scottish Foot,  
Though the Defendants made resistance stout,  
And bravely did from street, to street maintain  
The fight; till numbers of both parts were slain,  
And Tines augmented Tide discoloured,  
With the great influx of the blood here shed.  
Entered now were also the Scottish Horse,  
Which Marley to the Castle doth enforce,  
Upon the which, they forthwith Batteries make,  
But good Conditions while they might partake;  
Surrender's made. Then did the Scots sit down  
Carlisle before, boldly demand the Town,  
Thinking perhaps the New-Castilian Fate,  
The valiant Gleman could Disannimate.  
At his Defiance furiously they play  
Their battering shot, by Mineing to assay  
To make their entrance, Ladders they provide;  
But the Defendants bravely curb their pride  
By frequent sallies, killing multitudes,  
Which the Scots high presumptions all excludes,  
Of taking Carlisle by armed violence.  
Therefore most strongly they themselves entrench  
Knowing what force could not, that famine will  
Effect. Provisions fail, Horses they kill  
Within those walls; their Horses all up eat,  
Dogs, Cats, old shoes, Mice, Rats, nay Frogs are meat.  
Yet Gleman e'er to yield he will consent,  
To know the pleasure of the King had sent.  
Phillipson bravely mounted through their guards  
Had charged; and now rides post to Oxford wards,  
At Borrow-Bridge some English Horse him took,  
But a close friend by chance in that same Troop  
Secured his Horse and Arms, till he could make  
From York, which soon he did, his wished escape.  
Near Ferry-Bridge, the place his friend assigned,  
(Thither now got on foot) he safe did find  
His Horse and Arms; hence to the King he went,  
To whom he Gleman's Letters did Present  
In Oxford, whence he with the King's reply  
Returned, and now to Carlisle drawing nigh,  
Quite through the Scottish Troops he bravely road.  
But famine will not suffer their abode  
Longer within those walls, which to the Foes  
Surrendered are: Gleman to Oxford goes,  
With a small train, lean, naked, hunger-pined  
And the Scots are, for Hereford designed.  
 Fairfax was made Generalissimo,  
A party strong he Hemsley led unto,  
Where while in Leaguer with his men he laid,  
One from the wall so dexterously had played  
A shot; that three inch lower had debarred  
Him, from what victories he got afterward.  
But he recovers, and the place doth take,  
Though Skiptoniers it to relieve did make  
A brave attempt. Scarborough was battered sore,  
The greatest Tower whereof asunder tore;  
Half standing, half into the Sea down fell.  
Upon the top there stood a Sentinel,  
Who in the renting, to the standing side  
Had leaped, and saved his life. But to abide  
Longer within those walls, famine forbade  
And Chamley yields, what he possessed had.  
Devoid of any grounded hopes of aid,  
Scroop of his Bolton had surrender made.  
Not long on Knaisborough had their Cannons played  
 breaches wide in those old walls were made,  
Which Croft (though valiant) did necessitate  
Now to submit to a surrenderers Fate.  
With Horse and Foot, Pomfret they do surround  
Some Towers whereof were battered to the ground  
And the Defendants much distressed, when we  
With a brave party, from the South do flee.  
(Langdale commands in chief) swifter than flame  
On the besiegers with our Troops we came  
After a short Dispute, few slain, we take  
Of Prisoner's store, Pomfret relieved, we make  
A quick return: To Melton-Mowberry near,  
With Rossiter we skirmished had, and there  
Were valiant Girlington, and Gascoin slain  
As we came down. Pomfret's besieged again,  
And though with frequent Sallies they assail  
The enemy, yet Famine doth prevail,  
Which Lowder doth on terms to yield compel.  
The Sandalliers had played their parts full well;  
And made the enemies full often feel,  
Their swords were made of the best tempered Steel.  
Yet famine's lean Pittard enforced the Gates  
A passage for the Foe, this perforates  
To enter; and for the besieged away  
To march: 'Gainst Latham the besiegers lay  
A year, what Art, or Force, could do, to win  
This House was done, but bravely those within  
Not only their own Interest did maintain,  
But hundreds of the enemy had slain.  
Resolved the gallant Countess was to try  
All straits,  Rebels she will gratify  
By a surrender; but, alas! compelled  
To yield what she so stoutly had withheld  
By famine, this Virago noble is.  
Though Greenay valiantly held out,  this  
Yielded it was. Now Skipton they assay  
Enter the Town, plunder, and bear away  
What lighter than stonewalls in it they find;  
Batteries against the Castle were designed,  
Numerous Granades in the interim played;  
When here the Leaguer had some few days laid  
From Apleby upon Paroll I came,  
Having exactly first performed the same.  
I to the Castle with a Trumpet went  
Whom we returned. Their Scouts stood eminent  
On Rumles-Moore, from whence they might us  
When any party we together drew.  
Therefore some twenty in their sight do mount, view  
They take th'Alarm, and to their Guards account  
Our motion; In the interim we drew out,  
Three hundred undiscovered Horse and Foot,  
Their Horse all mounted, our small party drew  
Straight on our ambuscado: out we flew;  
Their three divisions soon we put to rout.  
Briggs had some parties to draw out of Foot  
Whereof some slain, the rest we dissipate,  
Take Briggs with many more. So fortunate  
In such attempts, were the bold Skiptoneirs;  
Their gallantry, in these their acts appears,  
In their own meadows, numerous Horse and Foot,  
A party small of them did break and rout,  
Tripleing their number with the Prisoners ta'en.  
At Ast-wick-Fair how many had they slain,  
Taken, and broke; their party very small;  
Wren's Regiment we beat at Eshton-Hall.  
But with a hundred Horse, Kighley's design  
Was gallant, though alas! the love of Wine  
In some Commanders, a miscarriage wrought  
Fatal. But we to yielding terms are brought,  
And hence, conveyed to Leichfield, march away  
In Arms complete, and soldierlike array.   
Finis Libri Sexti.   

THE English CIVIL WARS.  
BOOK VII.  

The Contents.  
The Model new, with some of Cromwel's deeds:  
Lidney Siege raised: Ludberry fight succeeds.  
Taunton besieged: The King storms Leicester;  
Naisby fight: goring forces routed are  
At Lang-port: what's at several Sieges done,  
Routon and Shearburn- fights: Westchester won  
Kilsithe fight: Digby 's rout on Carlisle Sands:  
Torrington fight: Goring his men disbands.  
Stow fight: Oxford besieged: The King doth make  
Thence in disguise unto the Scots escape:  
Hereford is surprised by a Plot:  
Newark Siege: North the King goes with the Scot   

THe Parliament now their Grandees recall  
All from command: Young Fairfax General  
Is made of England: By this Model new,  
Many advantages to them accrue  
Emulous Lords now being laid away,  
Men of less note, will need the lesser pay,  
Spirits most active for the Cause they choose,  
Of milder Zeal. Commanders they refuse  
As useless now: Cromwell for Eminence,  
Was now the MAN next to his excellence.  
Northampton's Horse, with the Queen's Regiment,  
At Islip-bridge, in Quarters resident  
Cromwell upon them comes, they fight, at length  
The Royalists ore-powered are in strength;  
Cromwell some hundreds of these Horse doth take  
With the Queen's Colours: then pursuit doth make  
To Blackington after the rest that fled.  
Cromwell demands the House; delivered  
By Windebank on terms it is next day,  
Both Horse and Arms they leave, and march away  
To Oxford: where a Martial Court decree,  
Windebank shall for this delivery  
Be shot to Death: when too late to prevent  
This Colonels Death, the King doth it resent,  
Blaming Prince rupert's too much urgency,  
In this young Gallants late Catastrophe;  
His Royal bounty doth the King express,  
(All he could do) to his Relics distress.  
Near Bampton-Bush, Vavisors party lay,  
Cromwell his marches doth direct that way  
So privately, that he surprised them all,  
Numerous his Prisoners, and his prize not small.  
Lidney against Massy close Siege had laid,  
Langdale at length to the Defendants aid,  
Came with a party brave, Massy off beat,  
Many he slew, and took, in this defeat.  
To Ludberry Rupert with his Forces came,  
Massy before possessed was of the same,  
But seeing rupert's Horse so near drew out;  
Whilst off for Gloucester he sent his Foot,  
He charged with his Horse: fierce the dispute,  
Massy at length doth fly, in the pursuit  
Rupert shot Massie's Horse, doubtless his aim  
Was at himself, though short his bullets came;  
Harlow was ta'en, Bacchus laid on the ground,  
Bleeding of his (now last) and mortal wound.  
Numbers were killed, numbers of them were ta'en,  
On rupert's part, was noble Haisting slain.  
☞ Hopton on Tauntons' Siege had now designed,  
Greenvill and Goring were with him combined:  
Willington-House by storm they late regained,  
Many within put to the sword: maintained  
This Siege was with much courage, and more art.  
Nor wanted these on the Defendant's part,  
Which Blake advanced unto such renown.  
Many assaults were made against the Town,  
Mounts high were raised, off which their Cannon played  
Fairfax sends Graves at length unto their aid,  
At his approach th' Assailants march away,  
Tauntons relieved, nor longer Graves would stay.  
Th' Assailants soon renew the Siege again,  
Where to their work we leave them to remain.  
☞ Massy recruited, Evesham comes before,  
Demands the Town, Legg no such spirit bore  
To yield at the first Summons, massy then  
Commands the storm; with loss three times his men  
Were bravely beaten off; Sevorn grew red  
Soon with the influx of the blood here shed;  
But at the fourth assault, the Town they win,  
Many put to the Sword of those within.  
☞ Fairfax and Brown, Oxford before sat down,  
But the Defendants all the Meadows drown,  
Slight their out Forts, and all the Suburbs fire,  
Cromwell doth from the King's pursuit retire.  
(For Cromwell had a while followed the King,  
But now recalled) doth to the Leaguer bring  
His well-armed troops; while Fairfax veiws the town  
And o'er the Bowling-green rides up and down,  
A Cannon-bullet from the works doth fly,  
(Pity it missed) which wafts his head hard by,  
Which made his excellence in great fear,  
Once veil his Beavour to a Cavalier.  
But now let's leave this Leaguer, and review  
The King's transactions, who together drew  
A gallant Army, and Northwestward went,  
The Siege at Chester for to raise intent.  
Brearton his Siege draws at the King's access,  
The King wheels East; to Leicester address  
We make, demand the Town in vain, for they  
Within do entrance to their King deny.  
At this, command is given to storm the Town,  
After our Guns wide breaches had beat down,  
(Though those within did make resistance stout)  
Resolutely we enter, Horse and Foot.  
Those enemies that yet survive do fly  
To th' Marketplace, where their Artillery,  
With some fresh Companies of Horse and Foot  
Did stand, with these we have a bloody bout;  
For full two hours and more they here maintain  
The fight, in fine the most of them were slain;  
Here laid whole heaps of Scotish Volunteers,  
There Dalbin's men by scores; ruddy appears  
The Sour with blood, the Channels did convey  
Out of those streets; here Gray's men slaughtered lay  
The Town was plundered, Grace and Hacker were  
Prisoners: Great was the prize was taken here.  
☞ Fairfax hears of these actions of the King,  
Rises from Oxford, and doth Northward bring  
His Army: Orders unto Cromwell sent,  
(Who lately to the Isle of Ely went,  
From Oxford Siege) to march; Naisby fields are  
For the most fatal fight of this sad War  
Designed the place: The King had got the wind,  
Which now stood West; to Rupert was assigned,  
With Morris the right wing, Langdale did head  
The left; the King did the main Battle lead,  
The right hand Tertia Linsey did command  
Bards, and stout Lisle the left; Ashley did stand  
With Linsey. Skippon now had Marshaled  
Fairfax's Army, Skippon's self up led  
The main Battalia, Cromwell the right wing,  
Ireton the left, Pride, Rainsborough, Hammond bring  
On the reserves; The Hill was their intent  
To get, which the King hastens to prevent.  
The Signals given, the thundering Cannons play,  
Of smaller shot, thick flights obscure the day,  
That vale seemed all in one united fire,  
Which in a Pile sulphurous did aspire  
The very clouds; the Air shrill Trumpets wound,  
Clashing of Armour, the tumultuous sound  
Of different voices, reach th' Olympic Sky,  
Numbers of both parts, on the ground now lie  
Bleeding, the last of their, yet vital blood,  
Which now the field o'erflowed like to a flood.  
That Brook from Welford that doth downward glide  
Ran now more blood than water; proudly ride  
The prancing and curvetting Horse about.  
Rupert by this, put their left wing to rout,  
Who like a swelling stream down fiercely bore,  
All opposition him that stood before.  
While Rupert follows the pursuit amain,  
As far as Naisby, numbers having slain  
Of their dispersed Troops: with slaughter Great,  
Cromwell with his, did our left wing defeat.  
Our Northern Troops too much enriched were  
At Leicester, to stand well to it here,  
If these of Leicester's prize less had thought,  
Perhaps much better here they would have fought.  
Yet did stout Langdale here himself behave,  
Like to himself, making resistance brave,  
While either skill or courage might prevail.  
Our Foot their main Battailians do assail  
Most boldly, putting most of them to rout,  
Skippon and Ireton wounded at this bout,  
The last our Prisoner too: Cromwell doth see  
Their Foot, back on their own Reserves to flee,  
Rides thither and doth reinforce them on  
Joining his Horse, mainly they press upon  
Our standing bodies; who assailed were  
At once, both in their Fronts, Flanks, and their Rear,  
For some indeed to admiration fought,  
Whilst others by their heels for safety sought.  
☞ A Cobbler from North-hampton lately came  
Fairfax to serve, but here he got a lame,  
Having in his right Leg received a shot,  
Tush saith the Cobbler, Sirs I value't not,  
For running from my work, my Wife me beat,  
Now shall I sit much closer to my Seat.  
As Mars himself against the Giants fought  
On Phlegra's Plains, when Heaven to scale they thought;  
So active was the King in this same fight,  
Giving his Soldiers of Heroic might,  
A still to be admired precedent  
Sometime engaged, numbers his own hand sent  
To Erebus; sometimes he did recall,  
And rally such as fled; a General  
He showed himself, both valorous and expert,  
Acting Ulysses and Achilles part.  
His words the Timorous much did animate,  
His acts the Valorous strove to imitate.  
Such as did run, he did implore to stand,  
To every wing he Road and gave command,  
For what to our advantage might conduce.  
For Cowardice who now could plead excuse?  
Seeing their Sovereign King thus to engage,  
In the most sharp Encounters, Fury, Rage,  
Tumult, Disorder every place doth fill,  
Sirrah, the Sword! and then no more but kill,  
Pistol, strike down, here heaps of men do lie,  
With Horses intermixed; here some do fly,  
Others pursue; here lay a Leg, or Head,  
And there an Arm, under our Horse feet Dead  
Many were trod, nor could we understand  
Whom to obey, to whom to give Command,  
Such the confusion; thick our Pistols fly  
At one another; all the Ground doth lie  
Bespread with these; Pole-axes cleave Men down,  
Which oft left fixed are in the patient's Crown.  
From covered Armour our charged Tucks rebound,  
And in the Glance oft times do kill or wound  
That party whom against we did not aim.  
☞ By this the sword might sole dominion claim  
Over the field, with this alone we plead,  
Till many a Gallant on the field lay Dead:  
Brown, Dallison, Cave, Band and Markam slain,  
Linsey, and Ashley wounded, now 'tis vain  
Ours to entreat to stand. They round beset  
Most of our Foot, the Coach, the Cabinet,  
The Royal Standard of his Majesty  
Are taken; all our great Artillery,  
The thousand Arms, well nigh five thousand men;  
☞ To Leicester-ward now we fly, but when  
His Majesty came there, he would not ftay,  
But even that night for Litchfield road away.  
Cromwell pursues, takes many, then beset  
Leicester, till his Excellence could get  
Up with the Foot; which on in haste they bring,  
Thinking perhaps, here to have ta'en the King.  
The town they Summon; their demands denied,  
They vow to storm it, and forthwith provide  
The Onset for: Mounts raised, Batteries they make.  
But Haisting, while as yet he might partake  
The Benefit of good conditions yields.  
☞ Many successful Skirmishes, and fields.  
About this time, fall to the Parliament:  
Gell towards Newark late a party sent,  
Which met a Troop from thence, they fought, and beat  
The Royalists; Mitton a great defeat  
Near Shrewsberry, had given to some of ours:  
Brearton near Chester also now o'er powers  
A party, near two hundred Prisoners took,  
Hingham's now yielded, but a while let's look,  
To Fairfax who marched Taunton's siege to raise.  
Goring draws off to Lang-port, there Displays  
His Army; Massy first charged in his Rear,  
Ere the Fairfaxians Troops advanced were  
Up to the field: neither could vaunt success  
In this contest, Fairfax comes, doth possess  
Himself of Sutton fields, where upon sight  
Of Goring he draws up, intent to fight.  
Goring presaging that he might be beat,  
In the best order, for his safe retreat  
Unto Bridge-Water, did his men dispose.  
Many strong Hedges did those Lanes enclose,  
Which with his Musketeers he lined, then stood  
His Cannon, and his Horse in order good  
Ranged in the Lane: Fairfax by this drew nigh,  
Though at some distance thick the Bullets fly,  
And many a Man lay Dead upon the plain.  
But goring Foot at length they do constrain,  
Quite from their post, bethel then charged the Horse  
Who with a vengeance did him reinforce  
With loss; till Desborough his reserve came on,  
And pressing sore the Royal Horse upon  
Put them to rout; Goring did what he could,  
To bring the most of his safe to his hold,  
Odd of a thousand on both parts were slain,  
Some Cannon Goring lost, many were ta'en  
Of his: The rest, Fairfax amain pursues  
Up to Bridge-water: first the Town he views,  
Then sends his summons in, to yield on sight  
(As Burroughs now had done) or else that night  
He vows to storm the Town, put all to sword,  
Goring is gone; Digby returns him word  
To do his worst: But Fairfax makes a pause,  
Till Peter's Preached the justness of the cause,  
And till his men received had their pay.  
And then with fire and sword he did assay  
The Town; The storm was furious, many slain  
But in the end the low Town they regain.  
And Fairfax Colours on the works display,  
To grace those bloody Triumphs of that day.  
☞ Out of the high Town, the Defendants power  
Upon their heads, a most stupendious shower  
Of great Granado's, which the low Town fire  
About their ears; Fairfax doth much admire  
Their Courage, for a second storm prepares.  
Yet more for's own security than theirs,  
Offers conditions; which refused, they rear  
Their Ladders, and go on, but bravely were  
Repulsed, with th' effusion of much blood;  
On heaps they lie now dead, their Ladders stood  
Forsaken, and the Trenches round were filled  
Now with the Arms and bodies of their killed.  
Fairfax thus beat, his thoughts doth soon Reflect  
Upon a new design, which took effect,  
Numbers of Iron Bullets strait they make,  
Which shot red hot, straw, Hay, and Houses take  
A sudden fire, the Town's all on a flame.  
Eliot to treat for the Defendants came,  
But Fairfax all his offers now refused,  
Telling him they his patience had abused,  
And that indeed he'll put them all to sword,  
Or burn them there: Yet doth recall his word,  
And grant them with their lives to march away.  
Thus of that Town to ground burned both parts lay  
No house or harbour the poor Townsmen had,  
Of Civil wars a spectacle most sad.  
Hence unto Bath, Fairfax directs his way,  
Rich with his Forlorn did the Town assay,  
Gaining some outworks,  the General came.  
But on these terms Bridges doth yield the same;  
That he and his, in warlike posture should,  
To Bristol march; To Shearburn that strong hold.  
Next Fairfax came, of which being denied  
His Mines, and Batteries, for a while he plied;  
Vain were his Mines, his Batteries do prevail,  
Making wide breaches, on they go, and scale  
In furious wise; The Cannons while they played  
Had the Defendants not so much dismayed.  
But Dives bids them fight, and lets them know,  
In valour, their security all now  
Consisted: But the enemies on press,  
On every side the Castle they distress;  
Those walls not able longer them to shield;  
They beat a Parley, and on terms do yield.  
☞ Bristol before, the General next sat down,  
Boldly of Rupert doth demand the Town;  
Yet  the summons, Rupert sallied out,  
And from the fired Suburbs beat their Foot?  
But on again they come, the works down tear  
With thundering shot, the Moats all filled were  
With Faggots, than they force their bloody way  
Up Ladders; and in spite of fate Display  
Their Colours on those works, from whence they beat  
The Royalists: Rupert makes his retreat  
Into the Castle; but thus yields next day,  
That Soldierlike he march with his away.  
☞ Next the Fairfaxians before Dartsmouth came  
To whom when Pollard had denied the same,  
Encouraged with successes, on they go,  
What walls or works can keep out such a foe?  
Hammonds Brigade first enter on the West  
The Gatehouse, with mount Flagon soon possessed,  
Forward they go: Pride had like prosperous Fate,  
Having now entered at the Northern Gate.  
Through every street they force their bloody way,  
Kingsworth alone, as yet did hold them play.  
But as of blood they had been Prodigal,  
Or scorned their lives, most furiously they all  
With mounted Ladders this strong Fort assay.  
Twelve murdering Guns at once upon them play  
And numerous Volleys of dead wounding shot,  
But mounts they'll raise of corpse; rather than not  
Now conquer: But all the Defendants tired  
With killing, these Conditions yet acquired,  
Unto the Castle safe to march away.  
Which Castle fiercely they assail next day,  
The storm so bloody the Defendants crave,  
Their lives and liberties alone to have;  
Which Fairfax Nobly grants. And marcheth hence  
To Exeter: where we his excellence  
Shall leave a while, Cromwell and he now were  
Parted; two Suns could not shine in one Sphere.  
☞ On the Devises Cromwell first Designs,  
The Governor his offers all declines,  
Which made him on a desperate battery fall  
After a while down tumbling comes the wall;  
And the Defendants a surrender make.  
To Winchester Cromwell doth then betake  
Himself, the Gates against him there are barred  
To which his men affixing a Pittard  
With other combustibles, burn them down,  
And in despite make entrance on the Town.  
The Castle, which to, the Defendants fled,  
Is to some purpose by him battered,  
That the within besieged, for terms do suo,  
Which granted: Unto Basin Cromwell drew  
His great Artillery, Batteries soon they make,  
And then the House to storm they undertake.  
Had all been Cromwell's, had all thought upon out  
A Crown, as he, sure not more fiercely on  
They could have gone: That house that had stood  
Both many a siege and many a bloody bout,  
By force they enter; The Defendants crave  
Quarter alone, which Cromwell nobly gave.  
But who the prize can value taken here,  
Let's leave't to Cromwell; for we must: And hear  
A while the exploits of the Scots. By this  
Near Hereford arrived, Cannon-Froom is  
The place, which first to storm they do accord  
Which they perform, putting the most to Sword  
Within that house; to Hereford next came  
Leaven with all his Mercenary train.  
Their lines they draw, Mounts raise, batter the wall  
With thundering shot, employ their Miners all  
Under the ground, of Ladders store provide;  
Yet by all this, not one whit terrified  
Are the Defendants. Mines they countermine,  
Their battered walls, with earth they counter-line:  
On the Besiegers often sallying out,  
Many they kill; oft put whole Guards to rout.  
But when the Louns heard how the King drew near  
They quit their siege and Northward march forfear.  
Hereford-shire of these Scotch guests may rue,  
Their curses even to this day them pursue.  
☞ The King this while embodied had of Horse,  
With some Dragoons, no Despicable force;  
And late to Worcester advancing near,  
Even at his name, the Scots had fled for fear  
From Hereford: From hence the King went East,  
And here and there some enemies suppressed.  
At Huntingdon arrived, the Town he won,  
Some put to sword at entrance, than we come  
By Cambridge; and so unto Oxford went.  
After a while the King is fully bend  
West-Chester's siege to raise; thither we go,  
Skirted still in our marches by the foe.  
At length on Routon-Heath, West-Chester near  
Arrived we make a holt; Pointz doth appear,  
After a while, and boldly doth assail,  
Our now imbattailed Horse: who shall prevail  
Is dubious for a while. Hot the dispute,  
At length they fly, we follow, in pursuit  
Many are ta'en and killed; but in our Rear,  
Louthian and Jones do suddenly appear,  
With a fresh party, both of Horse and Foot  
Drawn from the siege; Pointz Rallies, wheels about  
As soon as e'er their signal Cannons play.  
Our Front and Rear at once they do assay  
With a fierce charge; Ours did what men could do  
But in conclusion with the numerous foe  
O'er pressed, we fly: many of ours they kill  
And numbers take, Churches with these they fill.  
Where Hunger-starved they keep them to repent,  
And grow Religious (as the Parliament.)  
The King with hundreds more from this sad fight  
Arrived at Chester, where we lodge that night.  
Then into Wales again take our recourse.  
After a while some two Brigades of Horse  
Conveen'd we had, near Welbeck we divide  
Our forces. Part do with the King reside,  
And part march North with Digby; our design  
Was Forces with Montrosse for to combine,  
Who at Kilsithe in Scotland lately beat  
The Covenanters, with a grand Defeat.  
☞ Forward we go pass Ferry-Bridge, and then  
At Shearburn are opposed by Colonel Wren,  
Whose Regiment of Horse, we put to rout  
Surprising there too, nigh a thousand Foot  
With all their arms, many we put to sword.  
'Twas but small rest our Quarters did afford;  
For while our men parting their prizes were,  
Many fresh bodies of their Horse appear,  
Whom Copley did command: strait out we drew  
With courage great on one another flew;  
Sharpe was the charge, Copley's own Regiment  
Had cause indeed this meeting to repent.  
Routed to purpose, many of them dies;  
But in conclusion, with their fresh supplies  
O're-powred we are; turning our backs, we fled  
Our Prisoners and our prize relinquished.  
Three hundred Horse, Digbies Coach, Letters, Cook  
A Countess, with five Colonel's here they took.  
Carnaby, and Sir Richard Hutton slain.  
To Skipton ward we fly, when we attain  
That Garrison, we find them there in fight,  
Near to the Town, our presence did affright  
The enemy; making them run; before  
Who were well nigh victorious; full a score  
Of them we took and slew: Digby goes on,  
(After some rest) but Browne fell him upon  
On Carlisle Sands, and put his men to rout,  
Many were ta'en, some slain too, at this bour.  
To Workington Digby and Langdale post,  
Whence to the Isle of Man the Seas they crossed.  
And thence for Ireland do their voyage take.  
☞ Newark about, the King this while did make  
His residence, where to his discontent,  
Amongst his Officers most eminent  
A sad Dissension fell, resolves they make,  
Their King in's greatest need for to forsake.  
But hence the King (saddened at this in heart)  
With some few Horse for Oxford did departed,  
Whom Pointz met by the way, they join in fight,  
The Royalists o'repowered are put to flight,  
And forced to ride for't now to save their lives.  
But while the King at Oxford safe arrives  
In person, Pointz before Belvoir displays  
His Troops, with Sword and Pistol, then assays  
The place to storm, first the out works they win  
The Barns and Stables; putting all within  
Unto the Sword; but dear his victory cost,  
For many of his Troopers here he lost.  
When some months more the Castle out had held  
Provision's failing, Lucas was compelled  
To yield: His terms in soldierlike array,  
That he with his for Leichfield march away.  
☞ We left West-Chester by her foes oppressed,  
Who now the suburbs had by storm possessed,  
Their Mines and Batteries strenuously they plied.  
Nor yet impunely did their men reside,  
Before the Town, oft Byron wondrous stout,  
With execution on them sallied out.  
Many attempts of fatal consequence  
Unto the King, the siege to raise from hence  
Were made: the first design unfortunate,  
Was by the King to Routon-Heath of late.  
Then Vanghan with at least two thousand went  
This siege to raise: Mitton and Jones are sent  
Against him, near to Denby both parts met;  
In a like Order both their battles set,  
With equal fury charge: Many there die,  
But in the end the Royalists do fly,  
Losing, at least, a thousand of their men.  
Days had not passed above nine or ten,  
Ere noble Aston in the enterprise,  
Was met near Sturbridge, in this fight there dies  
Many of both parts; for both stoutly fought,  
But at the length safety, alas! was sought,  
By flight on Aston's side, wounded was he,  
And Prisoner to th' insulting Enemy.  
From Litchfield, Worcester, Ludley, Bridge-north,  
Then the Lord Ashley draws some Forces forth;  
To Chester-ward we march, but our design.  
Was with some Irish Forces to combine;  
Which Combination Mitton did prevent,  
So, nought effected, back again we went.  
Now of relief all expectations void,  
Many within for want of Food Destroyed.  
The City suffering under miseries great,  
On terms of yielding, Byron's forced to treat.  
Though Brearton had the Town now at his will,  
What terms he grants, he nobly did fulfil,  
A shame to those who often falsified  
Those Articles, they had pre-ratified.  
The Herefordians Warrants did direct  
Into the Country, unto this effect,  
To bring in men, their Frost-congealed Moats  
To break; Morgan this hears, in rustic Coats  
Suborns a party: Thither doth them send,  
Rustics to be themselves they do pretend,  
And fall to work, long ere the break of Day,  
At length the Guard, these for admittance pray,  
Pretending they store of Tobacco had,  
The Guard admits them (of the news full glad)  
But being in they fall upon the Guard,  
Their Ambuscado's near, their Signal heard,  
(For Birch did with some Firelocks lurk hard by,  
And Morgan with a thousand Horse) these fly  
O'er the Draw-bridge, which now they found let down,  
And in an instant do surprise the Town.  
☞ Fairfax we left for Exeter intent,  
(For to this Siege both he and Cromwell went)  
Pouth-rain to them surrendered is: and then  
On Boats of Bridges, over Ex their men  
They march; enclose the City on each side,  
To Waller then this siege they do confide,  
And march themselves for Cornwall; by the way  
At Torrington, Hopton and Digby lay:  
At sight of the Fairfaxians they Draw out,  
Charge, put the Rebels Forlorn unto Rout,  
But on their Army comes, Hopton is beat,  
Who through the Town, doth with some loss retreat.  
The Enemy pursue, the Town they take,  
Then to the Church (not for Devotion sake)  
They haste, for there was Hoptons' Magazine,  
But by a train (many of them within)  
Of Powder, eighty Barrels fired were.  
This blast the Timber, and the lead did tear  
Off from the Church; and for their Men made way,  
Elijah-like (as Peter then did say)  
In this same fiery Chariot, Heaven to mount,  
But surely Peter lied on this account,  
For in a sin-like Witchcraft, they were slain,  
Their mangled bodies tumbling down again.  
But while this Dreadful Stratagem doth take,  
Afurious charge Hopton and Digby make,  
Upon the fear-surprized Enemies,  
Many of whom in this confusion Dies;  
And then for Cornwall do their party lead,  
Hopton i'th' Thigh, Digby shot in the Head.  
Fairfax pursues, to Lamiston come near,  
Basset did quit the Town; the Prince doth hear  
These tidings, and Pendennis doth forsake,  
Then to the Isle of Scylly him betake.  
Capel, Culpepper, Hid attend his Grace,  
With many more Commanders: In this space  
Goring that did that Army left command,  
On Fairfax Summons, yields for to Disband  
Upon some terms: Himself the Seas then crossed,  
Thus the whole West to the Fairfaxians lost.  
In Triumph they return to Exeter,  
With thundering Volleys welcomed here they are,  
And strait this Summons unto Berkley sent,  
To yield what he commands incontinent,  
Or to expect nothing but fire and sword.  
Hopes of relief all void, he doth accord  
To treat, and then upon some terms doth yield.  
☞ From several holds Ashley had Drawn to field,  
About three thousand gallant Horse and Foot,  
With these from Litchfield, by Bridge-north about  
To Worcester we came; a Siege hard by  
We raised; into a Church some Rebels fly,  
Leaving some Cannons which we soon possessed.  
The Church we enter, earnestly request  
Those in the Steeple, Quarter for to take,  
But they refusing, under them we make  
A mighty fire, and leave them there to burn,  
Or break their necks; to Bramiard we return,  
And so do march about, but our Design,  
Was with some Horse, ourselves for to combine  
At Farrington, and so an Army make,  
At length our marches thither-ward we take.  
☞ Morgan and Brearton follow in our Rear,  
Whom for to fight, at Stow inforc'd we were;  
For having Skirmished with them there that night,  
When the swift hours induce the morning light,  
Of Horse and Foot their Bodies we Descry.  
Our General said, Soldiers, let's nobly Die  
Or Conquer now, 'tis base to turn, and fly,  
This will bring shame, or else Captivity,  
The other fame: the King's condition's low,  
To raise it, let's our hands and lives bestow.  
Suppose his Majesty stood you before,  
And did your utmost courage now implore;  
Suppose, as Forlorn Prisoners now of War  
Led all we were, by the proud Conqueror  
To nasty Gaols; there scorned and Hunger starved,  
And might from all these miseries be preserved  
By Valour: nay, suppose they should Decree,  
That we should hanged be for our Loyalty;  
(For they of Loyalty can Treason make,  
If we be vanquished) rather courage take,  
And these by a more noble Death prevent.  
This said, with resolution on we went,  
As scorning wounds and death, up to the face  
Of th' Enemy: Pistols are fired a pace,  
Some of their Bodies soon we put to rout.  
Nor with less Gallantry on went our Foot,  
Levelling their thick-vollied shot so well,  
That numbers of the Enemy there fell.  
Indeed both Horse and Foot had here expressed  
Such bravery, as the Enemy confessed,  
Their number, not their Valour won the Day.  
Lucas did here, there Vaughan did assay  
Fresh parties: while that these we Dissipate,  
Hydra-like she new Heads repullulate.  
At length our Foot the Enemy surround,  
Our Horse ore-powered enforced are to give ground,  
And after to enlarge to open flight,  
Some fifteen hundred ta'en were in this fight,  
'Mongst whom our General, who aloud did say,  
Your work's now done, put up your swords & play,  
For now no Army had the King on field.  
Dennington to the Foe, stout Bloys doth yield  
This while: Barnstable also they possessed,  
Ruthen, and Woodstock too: Now from the West  
Comes Fairfax, before Oxford doth sit down,  
Which hitherto blocked up had been by Brown.  
To take the King Fairfax did think to have  
The Glory: but the King doth him deceive,  
Who in disguise, Oxford, alas! forsook,  
And to the Scots at Newark Siege betook  
Himself: the Scots having received the King,  
From Newark rise, him to Newcastle bring.  
Five months 'gainst Newark had the siege now laid,  
Fiercely the Town oft times had been assayed;  
Sand-fort the Scots had now some time possessed,  
Th' English and they in their attempts, contest  
Who should most active be; Granado's store  
Shot on the Town; their thundering Cannons roar  
Against the Castle, Houses down are burned,  
Sinite and Trent are from their Channels turned,  
And nothing unattempted for to win  
The Town: No whit less active, those within  
Make many sallies bold upon the Foe.  
The Quarters of the Scots sometimes into  
They fall, with fire and sword: sometimes they try  
Rossiter, Pointz, or Copley's Gallantry,  
At every sally slain are more or less,  
Each enterprise was Growned with success,  
On the Defendants part: but Fatal still  
Th' Assaillants to, his Majesty doth will  
Bellas to yield: And Terms concluded are,  
Then to the North the King and Scots repair,  
Where (ah! good King) with this perfidious crew,  
We leave him, Southern actions to review.   
Finis Libri Septimi.   

THE ENGLISH CIVIL WARS.  
BOOK VIII.  

The Contents.  
The Royal Garrisons distressed much are,  
The Scots the King do sell: The second Warr.  
Horton doth Poyer, and Lang-horn both defeat,  
The London and the Kentish Forces beat.  
Barwick and Carlisle, Langdale doth surprise:  
Duke Hamilton' s successless enterprise.  
The Kirk, late Cromwel's Foes, with him now side.  
Colchester ta'en: Cromwel's cursed Regicide.   

We that from Stow (routed of late) had fled,  
In divers Holds are now beleaguered,  
With Sieges close the Enemies distressed,  
Even all those Garrisons that we possessed.  
Dudley against Brearton a while had laid,  
Many Granado's on the Castle played:  
Of mines and batteries too, use he did make,  
When none of these, nor yet them all would take,  
Levison doubting of relief doth yield.  
☞ Not yet our hopes on no grounds did we build,  
We did presume that the King's presence might,  
The Scots into an understanding right,  
Of these late bloody differences induce.  
We did presume the Irish might take Truce  
With one another, and their Forces bring  
England into, for to assist the King.  
Some hopes we had too of Domestic Jars,  
'Twixt Independents, and the Presbyters.  
But all our hopes and expectations failed,  
With fire and sword the Enemy assailed  
Bridg-north this while, not one house i'th' high town,  
(Except in rocks) but burned were all down.  
The town (or rather now no town) thus won,  
The least part of their work they had not done,  
For from the Castle oft we sallied out,  
One Colour took, and put whole Guards to rout.  
Scarce Pistol shot a barn stood from the wall,  
In which a Guard they kept, on this we fall,  
Kill some, beat out the rest, and then return,  
But first the Barn down to the ground we burn.  
The Church th' Assailants made their Magazine  
For Powder, while Alarmed they pressed in:  
A spark that from a lighted match did fly,  
Their Powder fired, which sacralegiously  
Rend off the Church the timber and the Lead.  
Some scores blown blind, some scores stricken quite dead  
Here of their men: those that had burned the Town  
Burned were i'th' Church, and to the clouds up blown  
Like fiery meteors down their bodies came,  
Their  and hair all in a smoking flame.  
Five hundred of their battering shot each day  
Fiercely against our walls th' Assaillants play;  
Of great Granado's too, full many a flight  
They sent into these walls, us to affright;  
And in those Rocks, their miners did employ  
Us in a blast, Sulphureous, to destroy,  
As many of themselves i'th' Church late were.  
But our Provisions to an end grow near,  
On terms we yield, which terms they falsified,  
Those march on foot, who promise had to ride;  
No Martial Law th' insulting Foes regard,  
Of recompense they think us quite debarred.  
Hence to the Scots many of us repair,  
Who gave us words, made promises full fair,  
But their performances, their minds descried,  
'Tis bad to trust such as we have not tried;  
This we may say, their dealing was with us;  
Their words full fair, their acts perfidious.  
☞ Though many a futious Battery, Bloody bout,  
Courageously Banberry had stood out  
Her Foes, and famine now grow prevalent,  
Needs must she yield, though much she it resent.  
The Valiant Byron was again immured  
Within Carnarvan, where he had endured  
A Siege most sharp: by batteries, storm, and mine  
To win the place, the Enemy's design:  
But the Defendants answered each attempt,  
With so much gall antry, as did exempt  
All hopes the place to gain by violence.  
But now provisions fail, who can dispense  
With famine? thus stonewalls will penetrate,  
This lean Pittard will break the strongest Gate,  
And make the stoutest Champion condescend  
To terms; His Trumpet out doth Byron send,  
With some proposals of delivery,  
Then to surrender next day doth agree.  
Close siege to Worcester this while was laid,  
But Washington despairing now of aid;  
And for to yield having the King's command,  
Not able long the Foe for to withstand,  
Gins on terms for to Capitulate,  
Then yields: even Oxford falls under the fate,  
Of all the rest of the King's Garrisons.  
Here Fairfax self with all his Myrmidons,  
Had laid some months, and done what in them laid  
The place to force; Batteries most furious made,  
And many desperate bold attempts to scale,  
Nor could their Mines, & great Granad's prevail.  
Never was place with greater Gallantry  
Defended, nor assailed; The Enemy  
Thought it more Honour, Oxford to regain  
By storm, than all those Holds they yet had ta'en;  
Those undertake great, they did reveiw,  
Accomplished late; how o'er the Works they flew  
At Bristol, Basin, Dart-mouth, and else where,  
And shall their fury be resisted here?  
What, shall this Town not yield when they command?  
Shall this 'twixt them, & their grand triumph stand?  
Nay, Cromwell knew it was the only Town,  
That interposed betwixt him and a Crown.  
Rather than Oxford shall their hopes defer,  
Rather than Gleman shall protract the War,  
As many Pioners they swear they'll bring,  
As Oxford all shall into Isis' fling  
With Spades: the City all to fire they vow,  
Man, Woman, Child, to put the sword unto,  
And e'er of sudden Conquest they will fail,  
On one another's shoulders, mount and scale.  
Not their attempts (though bold) much less their vaunts,  
The valiant and resolved Gleman daunts,  
Not only Oxford bravely he Defends,  
But often sallying out, some hundreds sends  
Of these insulting Foes to Erebus.  
The Muses proud to Mars propitious,  
For Scholars now turned Soldiers stoutly fought,  
And more by swords, than words, for honour sought,  
The Gown indeed did love the Royal cause,  
Consisting with Religion and the Laws,  
Which life and limb they ventured to maintain  
Most bravely; what, Oxford by storm be ta'en?  
They vow they'll rather on the works all dye,  
Gleman doth therefore all their powers defy.  
If Oxford yield, he must; conditions good  
he'll have, or with the town resign his blood.  
Shall the King's Fort, Metropolis, submit  
To terms unworthy, not becoming it?  
First to worse straits, than e'er he yet endured  
In Carlisle, in these walls he'll be immured,  
Not only Mice, Cats, Horses, shall be meat,  
But Boots, and shoes, nay, Humane flesh they'll eat.  
These brave resolves enforce the Enemy,  
On noble terms, with Gleman to agree,  
And Oxford's yielded: the two Princes are,  
Rupert and Morice shortly to repair  
To foreign parts: The Duke of York must go,  
His noble Brother, and his Sisters to,  
Now at St. James': For the Parliament  
Had all the Royal Children up there penned,  
Except the Prince who had escaped their hand.  
From Exeter of late they did command,  
The youngest Daughter thither to be brought,  
What they'll do with them divers things are thought  
Let Royalists pray, and presage the best,  
This absent is a safety to the rest.  
☞ But whither doth my wandering Muse digress,  
Than Articles, the Roundheads nothing less  
Perform: this the Oxfordians fully find.  
Wallingford is to Fairfax too resigned,  
Though Blague the place most nobly did defend,  
But who 'gainst swords and famine can contend?  
This place like others must submit to fate.  
☞ Litchfield the next comes to capitulate  
On terms: here valiant Tinsley played his part,  
Not all their Force, not all their Miners art,  
Not all their Batteries and Granado's great  
Prevail; at every storm, they off were beat  
With loss, and shame enough; the Moats were filled,  
With bodies of th' Assailants in them killed.  
This place by storm had been twice ta'en before,  
Which did th' Assailants animate the more  
To bold attempts; but so they answered were,  
That no more Ladders did they dare to Rear,  
But close laid in their trenches and the town,  
But now provisions wondrous scarce are grown  
Within; that Horseflesh they begin to eat,  
Necessity Tinsley inforc'd to treat  
With th' Enemy, and now to yield the place.  
☞ Of all our Garrisons Ragland the Grace,  
And honour had, even out the last to hold,  
Nor the Old Marquis this surrender would,  
For all that Morgan with his Force could do,  
(Though much he did) Fairfax arrived here now  
The Marquis tells; as good terms he would give  
If they shall yield: So none of them shall live  
Refusing: Life and Death stood in his power,  
Expecting answer once within an hour.  
The Marquis to this Summons doth reply  
In time; nor did he Fairfax quite deny;  
After some intercourse of Letters sent,  
The house is yielded: Out the Soldiers went  
With Colours flying, and their Drums did beat,  
All armed in Martial furniture complete.  
Having some miles marched in this Gallantry,  
Of Horse and Arms, they make delivery  
To Fairfax, the Triumphant Conqueror.  
☞ The mercenary Scots money prefer  
Before their King; he's sold to th' Parliament,  
And from Newcastle first to Holmby sent.  
☞ The King had not long been here resident,  
Before five hundred Horse the Army sent,  
Which him surprise, and then to Hampton-Court  
Do with their Prize (or Prisoner) next resort.  
Thus though a King indeed be in distress,  
'Tis valued much, his person to possess.  
Here of access though friends admitted were,  
Perhaps, their projects that the King might fear  
The less; yet some gave him an intimation,  
'Gainst him of a resolved assassination,  
Therefore in a most dark tempestuous night,  
Hence he's enforced to his life-saving flight.  
Though thus these Harpey's Talents he evade,  
By th' imprudence alas! he is betrayed  
Of Berkley and Ashburnham, to the hands  
Of Hammond, who the Isle of Wight commands,  
Where most of that sad time he yet survived,  
he's kept of worldly comforts quite deprived.  
☞ But out again most fiercely breaks the War,  
Poyer and Laughorn for the King declare,  
Confessing they Deluded had been long.  
The Cavaliers conjoin, potent and strong  
They grow at Pembroke; Chepstow do surprise,  
Rout and kill Fleming: but with fresh supplies,  
Of well armed, and well ordered Horse and Foot  
Comes Horton, fights them, to a total rout  
Puts these unarmed, scarce Marshaled Cavaliers.  
Cromwell before Tenby then soon appears,  
And falls to storm, indeed so furiously,  
That the Defendants soon for Quarter cry,  
On mercy yield: Pembroke and Chepstow are  
Surrendered too, to this proud Conqueror.  
☞ The London Mutineers this while are quelled  
The General by, the Kentish men compelled,  
After the fight at Maidstone to disband  
Upon Black-heath: nor did the Essexians stand  
To a field Fight, but into Colchester  
Do fly, besieged by Fairfax. Parties are  
Combined at Kingston upon Thames, and led  
By Holland: whose designs discovered,  
Roured they are to purpose, many ta'en,  
And that young Lord stout Francis Villiers slain,  
Brother to Buckingham, who did escape,  
Then to beyond Seas strait himself betake.  
☞ Langdale this while did in the North surprise  
Carlisle, and Berwick; and with him do rise  
Many the Northern Gentry; whom unto  
Advanceth the Scots Generalissimo  
Hamilton, with his numerous Regiments.  
Lilburn of Tinmouth also now resents  
Rebellion, and doth for the King declare,  
But a short time, for a Siege to prepare,  
To him and his doth Hasleridge afford,  
The place he storms, and puts them all to sword.  
The other Lilburn did this while surprise,  
Some hundreds of brave Gallants who did rise  
Near Anwick for the King. To Apleby  
Hamilton comes, Lambert and his do fly,  
With some small loss o'er Stainmore: but their way  
To make through Lancashire the Scots assay  
With Langdale: As they march they do declare,  
The King from thrall resolved to free they are.  
But when the King heard who did thus engage,  
Successess their design he did presage.  
But Cromwell having Pembroke lately won,  
And all his Western work 'gainst Poyer now done;  
Northward by expeditious Marches flies.  
Lambert near Skipton with his Forces lies  
Conjoined, ten thousand strong upon the Scot,  
Directly they advance, that fight was not  
Deferred, whereof the King presaged true,  
And the Scots their sad expedition rue.  
Cromwell goes forward Lancashire into,  
Near Preston his Forlorn engage the Foe,  
But e'er the Scots will draw their Forces out,  
Langdale's exposed unto a total Rout,  
Then charge the Scots thinking to bear away  
The Victory, and sole Glory of the Day,  
But no such facile thing it was to beat  
Cromwell; the Scots are forced to retreat  
Into the Town: Cromwel's Horse them pursue,  
Soon clear the Streets, and numbers of them slew.  
The Duke doth with a stand of Pikes maintan  
The Bridge, till many of his men were slain,  
And till the wished obscurity of night,  
Gave him advantage of a further flight.  
With execution great pursued those were,  
Who fled to Lancaster-ward: every where  
Great heaps of slaughtered Scots by th' way do lie.  
To Wiggon-ward this night the Duke doth sly,  
Yet a strong Barn he manned by the way,  
This for a while Cromwel's pursuit doth stay,  
And did some execution on his Horse,  
But for to yield on mercy they enforce  
The Scots, who from them little mercy find.  
From Wiggon the third day, the Duke designed  
For Warrington: but by the way, of ground,  
Having a plot most advantageous found,  
They make a stand: so fierce a fight maintain,  
That Roundheads there are full a thousand slain  
In half a hour, the rest reacy to fly.  
At which Cromwell ride, up, aloud doth cry,  
Come follow me, and on himself then goes,  
Leaping the Hedge t' amongst the thickest Foes,  
Of whom some hundreds on the place are slain,  
And full two thousand of them Prisoners ta'en.  
The routed Scots strait to the Bridgeward make,  
The Duke with all his Horse doth here forsake  
His Foot; which at the Bridge delivered are,  
With all their Arms, as Prisoners sad of War,  
By Bayley unto Cromwell, who did go  
Northward triumphantly to meet Monroe.  
☞ Hamilton to Nantwatch directly flies,  
Against him every where the Country rise,  
At Uxiter Lord Grace doth him enforce  
Himself to yield, with nigh three thousand Horse.  
Thus are his men all routed, ta'en, or dead,  
And he himself adjudged to lose his head.  
Heaven in their kind the Scots repay now would,  
Who sold the King, by multitudes are sold.  
☞ Cromwell by this had Barwick bounds acquired,  
Monroe for Scotland had again retired.  
And the Kirk party do most Zealously,  
The Duke's late expedition, curse, decry.  
At Edenburge they feast, applause, and stile,  
Cromwell the man, who now could reconcile  
Their Differences; whose presence, prowess, wit,  
Made the Malignant party now submit.  
For Lannerick and Monroe are forced t' agree  
Now with Arguile, the Kirk, Presbytery.  
With Cromwel's part, but late Sectarians styled,  
The Kirk's cemented, and fresh reconciled.  
Thus Proteus-like the Kirk's even what you list,  
An Hamiltonian or a Cromwellist.  
☞ Barwick and Carlisle too delivered are  
To Cromwell, who for England doth repair  
Triumphantly; Scarborough and Pomfret's won,  
☞ Though the Colchestrians act what might be done  
By art or valour, in their own Defence  
Though with his Fleet, the Prince not far from thence  
Hovered at Sea, yet Famine doth prevail,  
All expectations of relief them fail,  
And yield they must to Fairfax; whose Decree,  
Was Lisle and Lucas shot to Death should be.  
And thus in short we end the second War.  
☞ Cromwell his hopes no longer will defer,  
Cobbet is sent to Carisborough for the King,  
To Hurst, and then to Windsor they him bring.  
☞ Of Justice an High Court they then erect,  
A thing most unjust, horrid, these effect,  
Their King arraign, condemn, and execute,  
What Hellhounds thus did Cromwel's purpose suit?  
What Judge durst Sentence pass so Impious?  
Was there no Gods that had respect to us?  
Or to our King? what, will the powers Divine,  
Their Vengeance from such Miscreants heads decline?  
If such acts irreligious shall go free,  
Who will believe there's any Deity?  
Or that these things sublunary, at all  
Under cognizance of the Gods do fall.  
The Gods on Mortals can inflict no wrath,  
Jove's but a fiction, and no thunder hath  
Tisiphone! there no such Fury is,  
Hell's but a fable and her Nemesis,  
No matter whether Heaven we love or hate,  
There's no such place; all things are ruled by Fate.  
Ah! whether doth my passion me transport,  
Justice dispensed will be from Heavens high Court,  
On the High Court of Justice: blood for blood  
Cries out aloud, and will be understood,  
Revenge whereof although the God's delay,  
It's with more Fury, that they may repay,  
Their Miscreant Enemies, and make them know,  
They have respect to things done here below.   
Finis Libri Octavi.    

A TABLE Of the most remarkable passages contained in this Book.  

MEldrum's first sally upon the King's Leaguer at Hull. pag. 22.  
A second sally. ibid.  
The King sets up his Standard Royal at Nottingham pag. 29.  
The King's speech to his Army pag. 30  
Prince Rupert's Character. p. 32.  
Prince Morice his Character. ib.  
Worcester's fight p. 35  
Sir Lewis Dives and Prince Rupert set upon Essex his Army p. 42  
Mr. John Smith regains the Royal Standard p. 43  
The King's Proclamation of pardon to all that shall return to their Allegiance p. 48  
Blake hanged p. 49  
Banbury yielded to the King p. 50  
Broughton-house yielded to Rupert ib.  
Brainford Battle ib.  
Sudeley Castle yielded to Massy by Bridges the Governor p. 51  
Cirincester stormed by Rupert ib.  
Prince Rupert summons Gloucester p. 52  
Some Irish land ib.  
Herbert and Massy fight ib.  
Massy routs Carey ib.  
Massy beat off from Beverston ib.  
More Irish Land ib.  
Herbert, Digby, and Winter, block up Gloucester p. 53  
The Earl of Worcester summons Glocefter ib.  
Massy scorns the summons ib.  
The Welsh Forces routed by Waller ib.  
Hereford yielded to Waller p. 54  
He leaves it un-garisoned ib.  
Monmouth left to Waller, and left by him ib.  
It is Garisoned for the King ib.  
Waller beats up Prince Morice's Quarters ib.  
Prince Morice and he Skirmish ib.  
Massy came to bring off Waller, and both fall upon Teuxbury, and surprise it p. 55  
Prince Morice and Waller fight ib.  
Waller Routed ib.  
Hasleridge comes to Wallers relief ib.  
Morice puts them to chase again ib.  
A fresh supply comes to Waller. ib.  
Morice Retreats ib.  
Strafford-Avon taken by Lord Brook ib.  
Leichfield taken by him p. 56.  
His fatal wound and death ib.  
His men storm the Close ib.  
North-hampton befiegeth the Close ib.  
Brearton and Gell, come to relieve it ib.  
They fight on Hopton-Heath ib.  
Brearton and Gell Routed ib.  
The Earl of North-Hampton slain ib.  
Prince Rupert comes to Leichfield, Undermines the Close p. 57  
The Mines sprung, they scale it. ib.  
They enter at the third assault ib.  
Reading besieged by Essex ib.  
He storms it. Is repulsed ib.  
A second assault ib.  
A third assault p. 58  
Reading yielded ib.  
Fielding adjudged to die for yielding ib.  
The King pardons him ib.  
Chalgrave fight ib  
Landsdown fight p. 59  
Wallers Horse Routed ib.  
Wallers Camp assaulted, at the fifth assault it is won ib.  
Wallers stratagem to march off ib.  
Round-way-Down fight ib.  
Waller Routed p. 60  
The Queen arrives at Burlington ib.  
The Parliaments ships play on her at her arrival. ib.  
Montrosse and Ougleby conjoin with the Queen ib.  
The King and Queen meet at Edge-Hill. ib.  
Gloucester besieged p. 61  
Exeter taken by Prince Morice p. 62  
Bristol surrendered to Prince Rupert in three day's siege ib.  
Essex comes to relieve Gloucester ib.  
The Camp riseth from Gloucester ib.  
Gloucester releived ib.  
Newberry first battle p. 63  
Carnarvans gallantry p. 64  
His noble death p. 65  
Several Lords wounded on the King's part ib.  
Eccleshal siege. Bird Governor p. 66  
He is relieved ib.  
Eccleshal yielded p. 67  
Arundel-Castle besieged by Waller ib.  
It is yielded to him ib.  
Bramdeon-Heath fight betwixt Waller and Hopton ib.  
Balfore draws Hoptons' Horse upon their Ambuscadoes p. 68  
Colonel Dalbier and Colonel Thomson wounded ib.  
Winchester yielded to Waller p. 69.  
Colonel Griffith, commonly called Prince Griffith, sets out from London gallantly ib.  
Newark besieged by Sir John Meldrum ib.  
Prince Rupert raiseth the siege p. 70  
Essex marcheth into Cornwall p. 73  
A prodigious Tempest ib.  
Waller follows the King p. 74  
Dudley siege raised ib.  
Waller and the King skirmish at Burley ib.  
The fight at Copedray-bridge ib.  
Waller Routed p. 75  
The King marcheth into Cornwall p. 76  
His Army engage Essex ib.  
The King encamps near Lestithiel ib.  
Greenvile stormed a Castle and Fort near Lestithiel. ib.  
Balfore breaks away with the Horse. ib.  
Walgraves skirmisheth with Balfore p. 77  
Essex and the King skirmisheth ib.  
Brets' gallantry ib.  
The Lord Stuard's gallantry ib.  
Essex, Meirick, and Roberts steal, away by water in the night ib.  
Essex his men treat with the King. The result. p. 78  
The Kings prise which he took at Lestithiel ib.  
Barstable and Ilfercomb yielded to the King ib.  
Salt-ash stormed by the King ib.  
Beverston yielded to Massy ib.  
Malmsbury stormed by Massy p. 79  
Colonel Fox his stratagem against Beudley, whereby he took it. ib.  
Middleton storms Dennington-Castle ib.  
Bloyes repulsed Middleton ib.  
Middleton and Courtney fight p. 80  
Middleton put to flight, and in his flight surpriseth a Troop of Royalists near Sherburn ib.  
Horton batters Dennington, and retreats ib.  
Fines undermines Banbury, batters and storms it, is repulsed ib.  
The Earl of North-hampton relieves Banbury p. 81  
He fights with Fines, and routs him ib.  
Min and Massy engage near Elderfield p. 82  
Min slain, and his Brigade routed there ib.  
Rupert and Massy fight at Ast-ferry p. 83  
Monmouth betrayed to Massy by Kirle ib.  
Colonel Broughton surprised at Godridge, by the Herefordians p. 84  
Sir William Blaxton assails Massy ib.  
Monmouth surprised again by the Cavaliers ib.  
Stephen's relieving Rauden, is himself besieged therein ib.  
Rauden yielded to Ashley ib.  
Newberry second fight ib.  
Waller besiegeth Basing-house p. 88  
Gage relieves it, Norton and he fights, he routs Norton ib.  
Basing-house besieged again, relieved by the King ib.  
Many eminent Commanders slain p. 89  
Shrewsbury surprised by Mitton, in it were eight Knights, forty Colonels, Majors, and Captains, two hundred Soldiers, etc. ib.  
Plymouth and Weymouth surrendered to the Parliament ib.  
Haward slain at Pease-bridge ib.  
Captain Lister slain in the fight at Tadcaster ib.  
Sir Thomas Fairfax takes Leeds p. 90  
Sir William Savile flies to Promfret. Major Beaumond drowned in swimming Air ib.  
Captain Briggs, and Captain Leigh are both wounded ib.  
Fairfax routed at Sea-croft, by the King's party ib.  
Sir George Wentworth surprised at Wakefield by Fairfax, where he took one thousand four hundred, or, one thousand five hundred Prisoners ib.  
Cholmley and Bointon, defeat and take Slingsby at Malton, with many Prisoners and Arms ib.  
Lancaster stormed, and some streets burned by Tinsley p. 91  
Thirlan-castle, and Hornley, both taken by siege ib.  
Settle taken by Leviston, left by Briggs ib.  
Bradford, and the Inhabitants thereabout described p. 95  
Leeds regained, and Hooley-Hall taken ib.  
Fairfax and King fight on Atherton-Moor ib.  
Bradford taken, and plundered p. 98  
Rotheram and Sheffield both taken by the King ib.  
Gainsborough taken by the Parliament ib.  
The Earl of Kingston slain, and Cavendish routed ib.  
Earl of Newcastle regains Gainsborough p. 99  
Nantwitch besieged. Byron and Monk attempting to raise the Siege, are routed ib.  
Hull besieged by the King ib.  
Witherington and Cromwell fight at Winsby p. 100  
The Queen takes Burton on Trent ib.  
The siege raised from before Hull p. 101  
The Scots Armies enter into England ib.  
Lesleyes' speech to his Covenanters p. 102  
The Scots & English skirmish on Bowden-Hils p. 104  
Another skirmish on Pinshaw-Hills ib.  
Langdale and the Scots fight at Corbridge ib.  
Fairfax taketh Selby p. 105  
Sir John Redman's stratagem to take Pomfret p. 106  
In Pomfret was taken, Sir, Peter Middleton, and about twenty Officers more ib.  
The Scots march toward York p. 108  
The Lord General's speech at the head of his Army p. 109  
Fairfax, Manchester, and Lesley, besiege York p. 111  
Manchester springs a Mine ib.  
Manchesters' Error in undermining the Manor wall instead of the Cities, his men enter the breaches ib.  
The fight in the Manor Yard, wherein he is reinforced p. 112  
Prince rupert's march to Worcester and Bridge-North ib.  
He takes Stopwash, and Leverpool ib.  
Latham siege raised, and Bolton stormed p. 113  
Rupert burns and takes Thornton-Hall ib.  
He marching to York, they withdraw their siege ib.  
They Incamp in a Cornfield, near Hessom-Moore p. 114  
The Parliaments Army consists of English and Scots ib.  
Prince Rupert, Goring, and Byron Imbattail on Hessom-Moore p. 115  
The Parliaments right Wing routed p. 119  
Cromwel's speech to his Horse, for a second Onset p. 120  
Cromwel's furious charge on Byron's Wing p. 121  
He putteth Prince Rupert to flight ib.  
The Gallantry of New-castle's white-coats ib.  
Cromwel's cruelty in giving no Quarter p. 122  
York besieged by the Parliaments three Generals p. 125  
York yielded. Gleman marcheth to Carlisle ib.  
Newcastle besieged by the Scots ib.  
The Scots storm Newcastle, and take it p. 126  
The Scots besiege Carlisle, and take it p. 127  
Hemsley, and Scarborough yielded to Fairfax p. 128  
Bolton-Castle, and Knaisborough yielded ib.  
Pomfret besieged, Langdale raiseth the siege ib.  
Langdale and Rossiter skirmish at Melton-Mowberry ib.  
Pomfret since besieged again, yieldeth p. 129  
Sandal yielded. Latham besieged, and yielded ib.  
Greenay-Castle yielded. Skipton besieged, and yielded p. 130  
Essex, Denby, Manchester, etc. recalled from command p. 132  
The Parliaments New-Model of their Army p. 133  
Cromwell routs North-hamptons Horse ib.  
Blackington delivered unto Cromwell by Windebanke ib.  
Vavisor and his party surprised by Cromwell ib.  
Massy beat from Lidney siege, by Langdale p. 134  
Rupert and Massy fight at Ludberry ib.  
Massy routed by Rupert ib.  
Taunton besieged by Hopton ib.  
Willington-house stormed by him ib.  
Fairfax sends Graves to relieve Taunton ib.  
Taunton besieged again p. 135  
Massy storms Evesham, kept by Legg ib.  
Fairfax and Brown block up Oxford ib.  
Brearton rises from before Westchester ib.  
The King storms Leicester p. 136  
A bloody fight in the Marketplace ib.  
The bloody fight in Naiseby-field ib.  
Rupert Routs the Parliaments left wing ib.  
Cromwell Routs the Kings left wing ib.  
Fairfaxes main Battalia much broken p. 138  
The Kings Gallant behaviour in the fight ib.  
The King's Army totally Routed p. 140  
Cromwell regains Leicester ib.  
The Parliaments many successes ib.  
Fairfax Routed Goring at Lang-port p. 141  
Burrows taken, Bridge-water stormed p. 142  
The low town burnt, the high town stormed ib.  
The high town burnt by Fairfax, yielded p. 143  
 yielded. Sherburn besieged, and stormed ib.  
Sherburn yielded. Bristol stormed p. 144  
The Castle yielded. Dart-mouth stormed ib.  
Dart-mouth Castle, and Fort, yield on Quarter p. 145  
The Devizes battered and stormed by Cromwell ib.  
Winchester stormed by Cromwell, the Castle yielded ib.  
Basing-house stormed, yielded on Quarter p. 146  
Cannon-Froom stormed by the Scots ib.  
Hereford besieged by the Scots, and the King raiseth the siege ib.  
A fight on Routon-Heath, near Westchester p. 147  
The King and Pointz Routed ib.  
Kilsith's famous battle in Scotland p. 148  
A fight at Sherburn, near Ferry-bridge ib.  
Digby Routed on Carlisle Sands p. 149  
Belvoir stormed by Pointz, is yielded p. 150  
The Lord Aston Routed. Westchester yielded p. 151  
Hereford surprised by a stratagem to break Ice ib.  
Hopton and Digby fight Fairfax at Torrington p. 152  
Goring disbands all his Horse p. 153  
Fairfax goes to Exeter, it is yielded to him ib.  
Lord Ashleys' speech at Stow on the Would p. 154  
The fight at Stow on the Would p. 155  
The Lord Ashley Routed and taken ib.  
Dennington, Barnstable, Ruthen, Wodstock, yielded, ib.  
Oxford besieged, the King leaves it and in disguise goes to the Scots before Newark p. 156  
Newark besieged, and yielded ib.  
The King carried to Newcastle by the Scots ib.  
The King's Garrisons all distressed p. 158  
Dudley besieged, and yielded p. 159  
The high Town of Bridge-north taken and burned ib.  
The Church blown up, with many men in it p. 160  
Bridge-north Castle yielded ib.  
The Scots perfideousness. Banbury yielded ib.  
Carnarvan besieged, and yielded p. 161  
Worcester besieged, and yielded ib.  
Oxford Scholars, their gallant Commendation p. 162  
Oxford yielded. Rupert and Morice depart England p. 163  
The King's Children disposed of at St. James' ib.  
Wallingford yielded p. 164  
Litchfield besieged and yielded ib.  
Ragland holds out the last of the King's Garrisons ib.  
The King sold to the Parliament by the Scots p. 165  
He is brought to Holmby. Surprised by the Army, by them brought to Hampton-Court ib.  
The King put himself into Hammonds hands ib.   

The beginning of the Second War.  
POyer and Laughorn turn Royalists, surprise Pembroke, Chepstow, Tenby, etc. rout and kill Fleming. Horton routs them p. 166  
Cromwell storms Tenby ib.  
Pembroke and Chepstow, surrendered to Cromwell ib.  
Fairfax quells the London Mutineers ib.  
Routs the Kentish Insurrection. Pursues them to Colchester, and besiegeth it. Breaks Holland's party ib.  
The Duke of Buckingham escapeth, his Brother being slain. Langdale surpriseth Carlisle and Barwick. Duke Hamilton enters England. Lilburn revolteth at Tinmouth. Hafleridge storms it, putteth Lilburn and all his to sword. Colonel Lilburn surpriseth a brave party of Royalists near Anwick. Hamilton and Lambert Skirmish at Apleby. The King's presages of Hamiltons' Army p. 167  
Preston-fight. Langdale exposed by the Scots to a rout. Preston gained by Cromwell. The Bridge maintained by Hamilton. The Bridge won, the Scots routed. Hamilton man's a strong Barn in his flight to Wiggon. Cromwell puts them all to Sword. The fight at Red-Hill near Warrington. Cromwell ready to fly. p. 168  
Cromwel's Resolution. The Scots routed. Hamilton leaves his Foot. Bayley surrenders himself, with all the Foot, to Cromwell. Hamilton yields himself with three thousand Horse. Hamilton beheaded. Monroe retreats into Scotland. Cromwell feasted at Edinburgh. p. 169  
Lannerick and Monroe submit. Carlisle and Barwick surrendered. Scarborough and Pomfret surrendered. Colchester surrendered. Lucas and Lisle shot to death. Cobbet sent by Cromwell, brings the King from the Isle of Wight. The High Court of Injustice erected. The King Martyred. bradshaw's infamy for his sentence. p. 170  
A Presage. p. 171   
FINIS.